Meet the Team for the Northwest Art Alliance
These are profiles of some members of the Board of Directors, NWAA Staff, and key leadership volunteers. This is a group of dedicated creative enthusiasts who want to share art with the community.
Kathy Whitman - Guemes Island
NWAA Board of Directors, President
Education: University of Washington with degrees in Art and Recreation.
Profession: Retired from career in Recreation; now finding time for Art (sketching, colored pencil, watercolor, luminaries, fabric), beach walks, and gardening.
Favorite Children’s Book: Harold’s Purple Crayon which I read to my granddaughter.
Passions: My love of “living with art” is found throughout my home, both inside and out.
Personal Quote: “When I retired, I made a commitment to two things every day…something outside, and something artsy.”
Marissa Motto - Clinton, Whidbey Island
NWAA Board of Directors, Event Director
Education: BFA, California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA.
Profession: Event Director Favorite Children’s Book: Island of the Blue Dolphins.
Passions: Walking the dog on Whidbey; good films, friends, and wine. Getting my hands dirty making art and in the garden.
Favorite Quote: “We don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents.” — Bob Ross
Cheryl Brown - Edmonds
NWAA Board of Directors, Secretary
Education: Eastern Washington University with Recreation Administration, and Art.
Profession: Recreation professional; and professional artist using mixed media often featuring birds and maps.
Favorite Children’s Book: The Mitten - great drawings of animals who sleep in a warm mitten in winter months.
Passions: My sons, my yard, birds, and time to create.
Favorite Quote: “Make visible what, without you, might perhaps never have been seen.” — Robert Bresson
Barbara DeCaro - Arlington
NWAA Board of Directors, Treasurer
Education: University of Washington, BA in Botany
Profession: Avid Gardener, Horticulturist, and Horticulture Instructor
Favorite Children’s Book: Charlotte’s Web, when I learned to love spiders!
Passions: Many, many passions but top of the list includes sharing my love of Horticulture with others, the artistry of Gardening, wildlife, collecting books of botanic illustration, enjoying great jazz music, and great wine.
Favorite Quote: “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Raeanne Goldwire - Seattle
NWAA Board Member
Education: University of Washington – BA in Communications and Social Science and a Certificate in Fundraising Management Profession: Co-founder and Executive Director at Seniors Creating Art, my husband and I co-founded, Realtor, and Former Director of Life Enrichment at a continuing care retirement community. Favorite Children’s Book: Where the Sidewalk Ends Passions: Being out in nature, gardening, taking walks and exploring neighborhoods, being creative Quote: “Every passing minute is another chance to turn it all around” – Cameron Crowe
Gregg Goolsby - Fall City
NWAA Board Member
Education. BS Degree in Finance - University of Alabama, MBA University of Georgia Profession: Business Owner- OSP Images, LLC, Goolsby Industrial Investment Partners Favorite Movie: A River Runs Through It Passions: Family, Art, Photography, Wildlife Conservation, Hiking Personal Quote: “Colors are the smiles of nature”
Jessica Kolta - Seattle
NWAA Board Member
Education: BS Electrical Engineering & MS Engineering Management - Missouri, University of Science & Technology Profession: 25 yrs (and counting) in the Aerospace Industry Favorite Children’s Book: “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” by Dr Seuss; I have a sketch from the book on my dining room wall. Passions: Collecting art and jewelry from around the world; watching my son’s baseball games; going to the opera; watching movies; spending time in the mountains; talking to interesting people Personal Quote: “…People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” - Maya Angelou
Laura Colman - Seattle
EMERITUS - NWAA Board of Directors
Education: University of Washington - BSMT; City University-MBA; North Seattle College - AFA Equivalent.
Profession: Retired Medical Technologist & Healthcare Business Manager; currently on the Board of Book-It Repertory Theater.
Favorite Movie: A Wonderful Life
Passions: Family & Friends; Travel; Art Collecting and Making; Theater; Education.
Personal Quote: “Never Stop Learning.”
Alex Strazzanti - Wedgwood
Organizational Coordinator - Show Staff
Education: MSW, Master of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, MO.
Profession: Professional Photographer, Social Entrepreneur, BNW Virtual Show Designer
Favorite Children’s Book - Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Passions: Kayaking, hiking, traveling, puzzles, video games.
Favorite Quote: “Empty your mind; be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Be water, my friend.” — Bruce Lee.
Kim Groff Harrington - Bothell
Show Staff
Education: Fashion Merchandising and experience, experience, experience....
Profession: Artist
Favorite Children’s Book or Favorite Movie - My Side of the Mountain
Passions: Gardenscaping, Art
Favorite Quote: Hmmm….so many. How about “Have no fear of perfection; you’ll never reach it.” — Salvador Dali.
Amanda Paul - Everett
Special Volunteer- Website
Education: BS Computer Engineering Utah State University
Profession: Photographer at AJ Paul Photography; Software Engineer (retired); NWAA Website Lead
Favorite Children’s Book: The Velveteen Rabbit
Passions: Hiking, backpacking, skiing, snowshoeing, wildlife, travel to cold and rugged places, my dog, and of course photographing all of the above. Also crafting and drinking good wine.
Favorite Quote: “Not all those who wander are lost.” — J.R.R. Tolkien
Kathleen Neely - Lynnwood
Special Volunteer
Education: Formal education in Biology/Fisheries (MS), Lots and lots of Art classes.
Profession: Research Fisheries Biologist, Artist, Computer Graphics, Designer of BNW show graphics.
Favorite Children’s Book or Favorite Movie: How to Train Your Dragon
Passions: Family, pets, gardening, photography, travel, painting, building, woodwork, classic cars, animals, conservation of endangered species, chocolate.
Favorite Quote: “Keep the shiny side up.”
Pamelagrace Beatty - Seattle
Special Volunteer
Education: BA Foreign Languages, WSU; MA Management, JFK University; MA Consciousness Studies, Holmes Institute
Profession: Human Resources Consultant
Favorite Children’s Book - The Patchwork Girl of Oz, one of the Wonderful City of Oz series by L. Frank Baum.
Passions: Singing jazz, painting on canvas, and contributing my volunteer time to make a difference in the community.
Personal Quote: “Dreams have no expiration date.”
Stacie Lyn Kentop - Bothell
Special Volunteer- Website and social media
Education: Marketing, Social Work
Profession: Professional Organizer, Clinical Research Data Manager, NWAA virtual show, website, and social media volunteer
Favorite Children’s Book: Pat the Bunny
Passions: Making Art
Personal Quote: “Making bad art is better than making no art. Go make something.”
Are you a good fit for the NWAA team?
We are so grateful for the wonderful volunteers at the Best of the Northwest shows and other Northwest Art Alliance events. If the points below apply to you, then volunteering with NWAA would be a good fit:
I like to have fun! I love being around art! I like to be a part of a winning team! I want to be a spoke in the wheel that helps move NWAA forward!
Contact us HERE
CONSIDER JOINING THE NWAA TEAM
Northwest Art Alliance is in search of a new member of the Board of Directors who will bring energy, ideas, & skills to a group that is focused on the future of the NW art community. The Board is like a puzzle in need of one or two more pieces…
We are looking for expertise to complement the talents that now exist to help keep the organization moving forward. Could this opportunity be right for you?
Click HERE for more information. Click HERE to download a board member application. We look forward to hearing from you!