Staff & Board
STAFF
Donald Byrd, Artistic Director – See Donald’s Page
Susie Purves, Executive Director
Susie has been leading art organizations in the Seattle area for over twenty years. Her career represents a personal commitment to support artists and the creation of new work as well as to build and sustain a vital local arts community. She spent 6 years as Managing Director of Northwest Film Forum, held the position of Executive Director at both Center on Contemporary Art and Kirkland Arts Center, and was on staff at On the Boards, Seattle International Children’s Festival. She also produced the Living Treasures film series for Northwest Designer Craftsmen.
Shawn Roberts, Director of School and Extension Programs
Shawn is a successful dance educator in the Seattle Area. Her teaching style and method have attracted students of varied ages and abilities throughout the Northwest. The popularity of her classes has lead to collaborations with many of Seattle’s public and private schools, varied arts organizations, as well as being featured on PBS Television. She began with Spectrum in 1997, teaching classes in creative, jazz, and ballet. In 2004, she was appointed Education Outreach Director and a year later was appointed Spectrum’s School and Education Director, her current position. With a back ground in dance, theater and psychology, Ms. Roberts studied at Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle University, University of Phoenix, Santa Fe Dance Foundation, Creative Dance Center’s Educator Training Program, and Freehold Theater and Acting Studio, where she studied on full merit scholarship. Her belief that “dance is for every body” has lead her to teaching dance to children and adults with varied physical and/or mental challenges for the past 10 years. In 2009, Ms. Roberts completed Mark Morris’s Dance for Parkinson’s Teacher Training program and has been successfully teaching Dance for PD in the Seattle Area for the past two years as well as managing Seattle’s fantastic team of Dance for PD Teachers. She is honored to be a part of an organization that impacts the lives of so many youth and adults.
Shirley Wong, Studio Manager
Kate Ashworth, Production Manager
Van Diep, Marketing and Communications Manager
Susan Daggett, Front Desk
Marisa Daggett, Front Desk
Bob Gribas, Front Desk
Angie Bolton, Front Desk
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Wayne Thurman, President
Wayne has 25 years in civil engineering project management both domestically and internationally. With an BS in Architecture from MIT and an MBA from Stanford his career ranged from deputy chief architect to project and business services manager. He is now semi-retired while maintaining a private consulting business. Prior to joining Spectrum Board of Directors in 2009, Wayne served 4 years on Pacific NW Ballet Board and also 4 years on the Seattle Chamber Music Board.
Deborah L. Cochelin, Vice President
Deborah joined the board in 2009 and has served as Vice President since 2010. Deborah is an attorney devoted to estate planning, guardianship, probate, and elder law through the Law Office of Deborah L. Cochelin, PLLC, since 1994. She has served on two United Way boards, chaired a Washington State Bar Association committee, and continues to serves on several professional committees related to elder law. Deborah has been affiliated with Spectrum since 1998, when her daughter first started taking dance lessons. Deborah takes weekly adult open ballet classes at Spectrum, enhancing her passion for dance that started at age six in Charleston, South Carolina.
JoAnna Lau, Secretary
JoAnna joined the Board in 1992, and has been the long standing Chair of Spectrum’s key fundraising event, the annual Gala Auction & Dinner. She is past Treasurer and remains a Financial Advisor on the Executive Committee. A graduate of the University of Washington, JoAnna is manager and co-owner of Frank Lau Jewelry, Inc. which encompasses the design, manufacture and wholesale of fine jewelry. JoAnna has studied dance in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and in Seattle at Cornish and is an arts advocate. She has also served on the Board of Directors of UW World Series at Meany Hall.
Anthony DiSalvo, Director
Tony joined the board in 2009. A results and people-oriented business and IT professional with deep management, planning, program management and systems expertise, Tony formed his Management Consulting company Syntezi in 2007, to provide services aimed squarely at helping companies embrace change. Tony’s interest in the performing arts deepened as his daughter progressed through youth ballet classes to masters’ programs in acting. He was initially captivated by the raw energy, artistry, talent and athleticism of the dancers, and the brilliance of Donald Byrd’s choreography experienced during several studio series performances.
Patricia Conover, Director
After serving over three years on Spectrum’s Advisory Council, Patricia joined the board in 2011. Patricia has over 20 years experience in industry including Aerospace, IT, Manufacturing and Retail. With a Masters Degree in Organization Development, she has effectively developed teams and programs that engage all of the stakeholders. She has applied her expertise to team workshops in Effective Communication, Conflict Dynamics Profile, and Leadership Development. She has also been a community volunteer with such organizations as United Way of King County, and Little Bits Therapeutic Riding. Patricia enjoys art & dance as a way to challenge our thinking about “truth” in the world.
Kathy Lindenmayer, Director
Kathy joined the Spectrum board at the end of 2010. With nearly twenty years of non-profit management and fundraising experience at such organizations as the Frye Art Museum, Seattle Children’s Theatre, and Spoleto Festival USA, she is thrilled to be part of an organization that integrates critical arts education practices as well as a focus on developing future generations of working artists. Kathy also curates visual arts exhibitions and co-produces the Rock Lottery, a regular music event in Seattle; Denton, Texas; and Brooklyn, New York. City Arts Magazine in its version of a power list included Kathy Lindenmayer as one of Seattle’s Fifty 2010 Culture Makers.
Karen Jo Gustafson, Director
Karen joined the board in 2011. Utilizing degrees in both Economics and nursing, her careers have ranged from retail management to nurse administrator for blood service at a trauma center to private investor. Karen began to take periodic dance classes at age nine and hasn’t stopped yet. She also currently enjoys art classes.
