Brattleboro Arts Initiative Elects New Board and Officers
Brattleboro Arts Initiative is pleased to announce the election of new officers and the recent addition of six new board members. Brattleboro Arts Initiative is a non-profit organization, responsible for supporting and enhancing the Latchis Memorial Building’s potential as a center for the arts and community events, and providing leadership and advocacy in the arts. The new board members are artists, educators, music promoters, and entrepreneurs, bringing a new depth of knowledge and experience to the organization.
Ben James, born and bred Brattleboro resident, musician, and president of Interworld Music, follows retiring board member Pam Matweecha as President of the Board. The offices of Vice-President and Treasurer are being filled by Lisa Bloch, systems analyst and sole proprietor of Accounting Systems Design, specializing in the custom design of accounting information systems and training for QuickBooks users. Joining the Executive Committee as Secretary is new board member Carol Schnabel, a professional weaver and teacher, who has had her own business in Guilford for over 25 years.
Anne Latchis of Brattleboro grew up in and around the Latchis Hotel and Theatre, and will be an invaluable resource for her historical perspective and small business expertise. For the past five years she has worked as a Regional Sales Director and Compliance Director for Eurobrew, Inc., an international beer and wine importer.
Andy Yoder lives in Newfane and is an artist and sculptor, whose work has shown in Germany, Iceland, and throughout the U.S., including the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center where his famous licorice shoe held center stage in 2005.
Heddy Pomazi, experienced Latchis volunteer, works in Information Services at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. A town resident since 1994, Heddy has been involved in Brattleboro’s arts, education, and recreation opportunities and will bring this grounded perspective to the board.
Rich Perra, attorney, remembers raising heck at the Latchis growing up, and says now's the time to make amends! He sees what Brattleboro Arts Initiative and the Latchis mean to Brattleboro and wants to help advance the cause.
Andy Shepard has been a Brattleboro resident for 6 years, relocating from Salt Lake City. While in Salt Lake Andy helped start a booking agency, Spike Productions, LLC, providing entertainment for events such as the Sundance Film Festival and the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics. He is interested in bringing more live music to the community.
Continuing on the board is charter BAI member Jim Maxwell, lawyer, whose commitment and devotion to the Latchis Project has been invaluable. Valued board member, consultant and educator Naima Wade, recently retired from the board after serving for six years.
“Brattleboro Arts Initiative has been fortunate in the length of service of Pam, Jim and Naima and lucky for us, Jim returned to the board a year or so ago,” said President Ben James. He added, “BAI is in a great position to move forward with sustainability, by producing our own Live at the Latchis events, instituting a $1.00 per ticket fee at Live at the Latchis events, and continuing to appeal to the community for its generous support as we guide the Latchis, now seventy years old, to further success in the next seventy years.”