Creative Individuals

Ann Gaasch: Gaasch has served as the CEO of FamilyWise, a statewide nonprofit, since 2013. She graduated from Carleton College and went on to earn her master's in counseling at Saint Mary's University. Gaasch also has a certificate in trauma leadership, coauthored a grief support curriculum, and provides local and national training. Gaasch has worked as the staff liaison to a resident composer working with women and children on an original piece of music. ; Katelyn Johnson: Renee is a professional artist and creative entrepreneur. She paints acrylic on birch panels with resin. Renee's work is edgy with a veneer of cute fairytales. In addition to art making, she has been an arts business blogger and consultant for creative professionals. Renee received a master's in art and cultural management from Saint Mary's University, where she focused on arts entrepreneurship. She also has undergraduate degrees in art and art history from the University of Minnesota.; Elina Kotlyar: Kotlyar is currently the director of education and interim executive director at In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, working on growing educational and community programming, creating partnerships with various community organizations, and supporting emerging artists. Kotlyar is also a speech language pathologist experienced in providing services to young children and specializing in neurodiversity affirming care. She graduated from Emerson College (Boston, MA) with a MS in speech language pathology and a MFA in theater from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.; Elizabeth Mann: Mann is the relationship officer of strategic partnerships at Greater Twin Cities United Way, where she writes corporate, government, and foundation grants on behalf of the organization. She previously held various roles at the Michael Reese Health Trust and the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center in Chicago, and before that, she held various roles in the fundraising department of the Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis. She serves as a volunteer board member for the Three Rivers Park District Foundation. ; Daniel Pinkerton: Pinkerton holds a MA in history and a MFA in playwriting from the University of Minnesota. For 27 years, he was an editor at the University of Minnesota's Center for Austrian Studies; he is now retired. Pinkerton is a playwright, lyricist, and coproducing artistic director of Fortune's Fool Theatre, where he has coproduced fourteen shows since 2006. Pinkerton is also on the board of Open Eye Theatre and has served on grant review panels since 2005.; Anat Shinar: Shinar is a Minneapolis based dancer, choreographer, visual artist, educator, curator, and artistic director of Young Dance. She completed her master's degree in arts and cultural leadership at the University of Minnesota and holds a BFA in dance and a BA in visual arts. Her work has been commissioned and presented by theaters, galleries, and institutions nationwide. She serves on the Minnesota Department of Education Culturally Responsive Arts Education Advisory Committee, was a 2018 Naked Stages Fellow at Pillsbury House Theatre, served on the 2014 Dance/USA Host committee, and is a Hennepin County Master Gardener.; Lawrence Weinberg: Weinberg is a lifelong working artist and painter who studied under George Morrison, David Feinberg, Raymond Hendler, Tom Busa, and others at the University of Minnesota. These artists helped shape his art making process. He has participated in numerous solo and group shows. His newest project is "Visions form the World,? made up of paintings completed at various locations around the world. His goal is to push the boundaries of the relationship of color to the environment using acrylic and paper.