Creative Individuals-Round 2

Zachary Colby: For five seasons, Colby served as an artistic codirector and tenor with Cantus, an eight-member vocal chamber ensemble based in the Twin Cities. After teaching at the University of Nebraska Omaha for three years, Colby is now the development manager at Cantus. Colby holds a bachelor of music education from Butler University (Indianapolis, IN) and a master?s and doctorate in voice from the University of Minnesota.; Susan Gainen: Susan Gainen is a Whimsical Wildlife Documentarian, Author, and Abstract Painter. She has written five books: The Small Friends? Chronicles; Meet the LLLamas (their spellling); The Backyard Roosters of Saint Paul; Max-the-Cat and His Friend; and The Parliament of Owls. In a twisting career path, she has worked in the food business and the car business; practiced law; been a headhunter for lawyers; served the University of Minnesota Law School as Career Services Director; owned a national career consulting business, a tiny cooking school, and, currently, owns an art business. She served as a Grants Reviewer for the Arts Board.; Amanda Gomand: Born in Minneapolis, Gomand has been making art since she was about two years old. Since working at Dock 6 Pottery Gallery, Gomand has discovered a passion for helping other artists grow their businesses and helping guide them into expansion and creating new connections. She has an associate?s degree in fine art, and an associate?s degree in Web design and front-end development. She currently works as a banquet bartender at the American Swedish Institute, bartender at Green Room, and assistant to Plymouth based candlemaker Jeremy Schneider of Black Pearl Candle Co.; Elise Grabowska: Grabowska is the coordinator for student activities and events at the University of Minnesota Morris, where they work to support student engagement and coordinate the university's performing arts series. They previously worked as the administrative coordinator of the Mankato Symphony Orchestra; a grant-funded position supported by the Minnesota State Arts Board at the time of their employment. They graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato, with a bachelor?s degree, doubling in mass media and English, and an undergraduate certificate in nonprofit leadership. They later earned a master of science in professional media and media management from Southern Illinois University (Carbondale, IL).; Lucy Heegaard: Heegaard, a freelance story producer, is an interdisciplinary artist who uses writing, photography, sound recording, and video production to tell stories of who we are at our essence?before we are shaped and shifted by our experiences in the world. At the heart of her work is the human voice, first-hand accounts of life experiences. Heegaard recently earned a master of fine arts degree from California Institute of Integral Studies. She also holds a master's degree from the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs and worked in the nonprofit affordable housing community earlier in her career.; Catherine Menick: Menick is a loan officer and financial specialist with Propel Nonprofits. She has worked in the public and nonprofit sectors for more than ten years after receiving a master of public policy degree from the Humphrey School. She currently sits on the board of a local environmental nonprofit.; Nicole Zickefoose: Zickefoose has a background in writing, including technical and grant writing, and taught English composition at the community college level for several years. She now focuses on freelance work in the writing and editing arenas. In her free time, she enjoys reading, running, and spending time with her horse.