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Speaker Biographies
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2003 Convention Overview Home - 2003 Convention Home
- Alecia Townsend Beckie
- Randy Cohen
- Dwight Gee
- Geoff Gephart
- Margot H. Knight
- Mary McCullough-Hudson
- Surale Phillips
- Christian Rasmussen
- Mary Roney
- Peter Shiras
Alecia Townsend Beckie
Alecia Townsend Beckie has been campaign director and deputy director of the Greater Hartford Arts Council since 1997. Formerly development director of New York's Dance Theater Workshop, she holds a master's degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in performing arts journalism.
Randy Cohen
Randy Cohen is vice president of research and information at Americans for the Arts, where he has produced such projects asArts & Economic Prosperity, the national study on the economic impact of the nonprofit arts industry in the United States; directed the Institute for Community Development and the Arts; and published numerous reports about local arts agencies, united arts funds, arts education, and public and private sector support for the arts.
Dwight Gee
Dwight Gee has been vice president for Seattle's ArtsFund since 1989, where he helped create a strong and continually evolving corporate volunteer program with more than 125 members. He is also consultant to the Soros Foundation in establishing an arts council in Mongolia.
Geoff Gephart
Geoff Gephart is the president of Arts United, a united arts fund in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Formerly he served as the deputy director of the Indiana Arts Commission and the executive director of the Fort Wayne Cinema Center.
Margot H. Knight
Margot Knight is the president and CEO of United Arts of Central Florida. She has also served as president and CEO of United Arts Council of Raleigh & Wake County, executive director of the Idaho Commission on the Arts, and assistant director of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. She has served on the executive committee of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, United Arts Funds Council, Western States Arts Federation, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, and the Idaho Rural Partnership.
Mary McCullough-Hudson
Mary McCullough-Hudson is president and CEO of the Fine Arts Fund in Cincinnati, a position she has held for nine years following ten years as the director of the Fine Arts Fund's annual united arts campaign. During her tenure, the Fine Arts Fund campaign has grown from $2.5 million to $10 million (2003). A past recipient of the Michael Newton Award for fundraising excellence, she is immediate past chair of the United Arts Fund Council of Americans for the Arts.
Surale Phillips
Surale Phillips has 15 years experience working with cultural organizations nationwide. She specializes in conducting research to inform planning. Recent clients include United Arts of Central Florida, Greater Columbus Arts Council, Fresno Arts Council, and Maryland Citizens for the Arts.
Christian Rasmussen
Upon the close of Bank of the Northwest’s merger with Pacific Northwest Bank, Mr. Rasmussen became President of Pacific Northwest Bank – Oregon. Chris Rasmussen joined Bank of the Northwest in May, 2000. As President, he is responsible for the Commercial Banking, Real Estate, Consumer Lending and Cash Management business lines for Pacific Northwest Bank – Oregon. He is also a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Management Committee.
Mary Roney
Mary Roney has been with Nike over eight years and is currently the global employee involvement manager at Nike, Inc. at its World Headquarters in Oregon. She oversees Nike's matching gift, community involvement, charitable giving (workplace giving), and board placement programs. During the four years that she has been in her current position, Nike's community involvement numbers have increased dramatically with nearly 90 percent increase in volunteer hours and cash giving.
Peter Shiras
Peter Shiras is senior vice president for programs at Independent Sector, a national coalition of nonprofits, foundations, and corporate giving programs. His responsibilities include oversight of programs on research, public affairs, ethics and accountability, and emerging issues. Prior to joining Independent Sector, he was vice president and director of government relations and public outreach of InterAction and worked at Catholic Relief Services (CRS) for 13 years.
