Operating Support
Operating Support
The mission of Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre and School is to enrich our community by drawing people of diverse backgrounds close to the power, passion, and virtuosity of the flamenco dance and music tradition, and by expanding on that tradition, to create an innovative art form that explores the issues of contemporary life.
Ardell Brede: former mayor of Rochester; Peggy Burnet: entrepreneur, art collector, and community volunteer; Uri Camarena: business consultant, Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA); Michael Charron: executive director of grants and sponsored programs for Saint Mary's University of Minnesota., Saint Mary's University of Minnesota; Sean Dowse: former mayor of Red Wing; former executive director, Sheldon Theatre; Anthony Gardner, vice president, marketing and communications at CentraCare; Philip McKenzie: team lead with Boutique Air, founder and owner of Bluedoor 74, adjunct college faculty; Mary McReynolds-Pellinen: executive director, Lyric Center for the Arts; Thomas Moss: consultant to nonprofits and government agencies; Dobson West: retired attorney; Christina Widdess: nonprofit consultant; former managing director, Penumbra Theatre
Kristie Buchman: Buchman is the executive director of Choice, unlimited, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting adults with disabilities who are experiencing barriers to employment and community inclusion. She has worked for the organization for over 25 years, providing career exploration, skill assessments, job development, job placement, mentoring, training, and community access.; Michael Cook: Cook retired from U. S. Bank in 2017, where he was a senior vice president. During his more than 36 years there, he also was a financial analyst and finance director, and was involved in budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis. Most recently, he was system director of a customer profitability system used throughout U. S. Bank. Prior to joining U. S. Bank, he was a junior and senior high school math teacher in Onamia. Cook is treasurer of the board for the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, volunteered for Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis, was president of the Onamia Teachers Association, and previously volunteered with the Cub Scouts. Cook has served as an Arts Board panelist and artistic evaluator for the Operating Support program. In 2016, he received the Circle of Service Excellence Award at U. S. Bank. Cook has a BA in math and education from the University of St. Thomas.; Cody Henrichs: Taken from Henrich's website CV - Henrichs is currently CEO director of Coffey Contemporary Arts, a studio space offering a comprehensive, professional, creative working environment for practicing artists. Henrichs is also the curator for the Lord Grizzly Gallery and the head curator for the Washington Pavilion Visual Arts Center. In addition to his work as CEO director and curator, Henrichs has worked as a professional arts educator at the high school and collegiate level in the Mortheast as well as the Midwest.; Judith Hickey: Hickey has been an arts administrator for Rochester organizations for more than twenty years, serving as an executive and program director, grant writer, teacher, and board member. She has worked in the programming of artistic disciplines such as theater, music, dance, and visual arts. Hickey has reviewed grants as a panelist for the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council for two three-year terms. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in theater arts. In 2017, Hickey received an Ardee Award from the Greater Rochester Arts and Cultural Trust for Outstanding Volunteer in the Arts.; Rodney Nordberg: Nordberg is chair of Heartland Arts, the Park Rapids Lakes Area Arts Council, which helps to produce arts events and coordinates sixteen Park Rapids area arts organizations. He also serves on the City of Park Rapids Arts and Culture Advisory Commission and as a board member of Armory Arts and Events Center. Nordberg was previously a Park Rapids city council member, director of Red Bridge Film Festival, and taught film production at University of Southern California after his retirement from a career as a documentary film editor. Nordberg has a BA in television from the University of Minnesota and attended Harvard University's Institute in Arts Administration.; Patrice Relerford: Relerford works at the Minneapolis Foundation and directs the organization's education grantmaking and strategy. She previously worked for People Serving People, a family homeless shelter in Minneapolis; and as a reporter for the Star Tribune. She graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor's degree in journalism and earned a master's degree in public administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago.; Lori Anne Williams: Williams is a fundraiser for Catholic Charities and has worked in the nonprofit community, primarily as a grants specialist, for nearly three decades. She has worked with social service, arts, and education organizations and has taught grant writing at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, the University of St. Thomas, and many other organizations. She has a BA from the University of Southern California and a master's degree in liberal studies from the University of Minnesota.
ACHF Arts Access
Diversity and Inclusion. Increase the access of Minnesotans of different ages, abilities and backgrounds to Zorongo flamenco classes and performances. Diversity and Inclusion. Surveys analyzed by venue size, demographics, price point, etc.; focus groups; sites, sponsor and number of community-based performances, classes, free events; Board makeup. 2: Succession. Implement strategic plan to identify, hire and train a flamenco artist to assist, and later succeed, Zorongo's founder/Artistic Director. Succession. Achieving each of the stages identified for this goal in Zorongo's FY2021-24 Strategic Plan; analysis of progress at Board meetings and annual retreat; course correction when needed.
Sustain access/diversity/inclusion of MN's of different ages, abilities and backgrounds to Zorongo flamenco classes/performances during COVID. Surveys (qualitative/quantitative feedback; observation; number of free online opportunities; progress on post-COVID pre-planning; Board makeup.
Other, local or private