Board of Directors & Administrative Staff

Mark Richardson, Executive Director
Chandler, Arizona
mark@arizonaacademy.org

Josh Thye, Corps Director
Phoenix, Arizona
josh@arizonaacademy.org

Jenny Alan, Business Manager
Tempe, Arizona
jalan@arizonaacademy.org

Kelsey Brunson, Corps Manager
Stone Mountain, Georgia
kbrunson@arizonaacademy.org

Sherry Rogers – Member Manager
Tempe, AZ
srogers@arizonaacademy.org

Rich Frazier – Board President
Chandler, AZ
Vision Connect, Nonprofit Consulting
rfrazier@arizonaacademy.org

Dwight Farris – Secretary, Board Member
Phoenix, AZ
Faculty IT/Cybersecurity
Grand Canyon University
dfarris@arizonaacademy.org

Kent White – Treasurer, Board Member
Mesa, AZ
VP Finance (ret.) Ecolab Inc.
kwhite@arizonaacademy.org

Robert R. Kuske, Jr., MD – Board Member
Scottsdale, AZ
AZ Breast Cancer Specialists, Retired
rkuske@arizonaacademy.org

Michael Thompson – Board Member
Chandler, AZ
Senior Program Management
Intel Corporation
mthompson@arizonaacademy.org

Dr. Valerie Richards – Board Member
Gilbert, AZ
Pharmacist
vrichards@arizonaacademy.org

Lauren Ripley – Board Member
Scottsdale, AZ
Electronic Theater Controls
lripley@arizonaacademy.org

Brandon Wilson – Board Member
Brentwood, CA
Procurement Director, JP Morgan Chase
bwilson@arizonaacademy.org

Ian Templin – Board Member
Queen Creek, AZ
Product Director, n2y
itemplin@arizonaacademy.org

Cynthia Crowe – Board Member
San Tan Valley, AZ
City of Columbia, MO Police Department (ret.)
ccrowe@arizonaacademy.org

Mike Ripley – Board Member
Phoenix, AZ
Financial Advisor, Ripley Financial
mripley@arizonaacademy.org

Jalissa Pier – Board Member
Commerce City, CO
Audit Manager
jpier@arizonaacademy.org

Ken Varga – Board Member
Phoenix, AZ
CEO, RealTime Consulting
kvarga@arizonaacademy.org

Jamie Warhus – Ex Officio Member
Mesa, AZ
Youth Guard Director
alumni@arizonaacademy.org

Jim Hudson – Board Advisor
Gilbert, AZ
Director of Athletic Bands
Arizona State University

 

Join the Board of Directors

The Arizona Academy of the Performing Arts, Inc. (“AAPA”) is committed to providing exceptional life experiences through its unique performing arts programming to young people in Arizona and beyond. The AAPA Board of Directors comprises leaders from the nonprofit and for-profit sector who are dedicated to the organization’s mission, “Building great people through great performances.”   Serving on the AAPA Board of Directors is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who is passionate about the marching arts and about strengthening leadership skills in young people.

With a small staff and an engaged board, the 20-year-old AAPA is embracing the future, developing a strategic vision that will provide our members and staff the resources needed for sustained growth and success. We are looking for board members who can help implement strategies and make the vision a reality. 

AAPA fosters a culture of belonging at all levels of the organization. We are committed to an equitable and culturally competent board of directors, with an inclusive recruitment practice. We are currently recruiting for leaders with expertise in the following area:

PROFILE 1:

Advocacy/Marketing Professional

AAPA seeks an experienced advocacy/marketing/fundraising professional who has planned and implemented advocacy strategies, marketing plans, and fundraising campaigns to support an issue or cause. We seek a board leader to help cultivate the board’s leadership role in advocacy in support of staff as part of a broader commitment to increase awareness about the importance of our mission, influence public policy, increase our fundraising base, and expand our reach. 

PROFILE 2: 

Fundraising/Philanthropy Experience

AAPA seeks individuals experienced in the ways of nonprofit fundraising – as a donor, as a fundraiser, or as a volunteer – who are willing to put those skills to use benefitting AAPA. Connectors and Influencers welcome who will be able and willing to make introductions on behalf of the AAPA to further our mission.

PROFILE 3:

Member Safety and Security

AAPA seeks a well-connected leader with experience in the medical field, law enforcement, or with other health and safety related experience.  We seek a board leader to help develop programs and oversee the health and wellbeing of the members of the Academy Drum and Bugle Corps as well as all other student member organizations under the AAPA direction. The ideal board candidate should have prior nonprofit board member experience or have received formal board training.

PROFILE 4:

Information Technology Services

AAPA seeks a well-connected leader with experience in information technology systems.  We seek a board leader who understands today’s ever changing information technology world, can oversee, develop and/or create, provide guidance, know-how, and leadership to the development of effective websites, telecommunications systems, email systems and any other form of media AAPA may want to utilize to help increase awareness about the importance of our mission, influence public policy, increase our fundraising base and expand our reach. This board candidate will help AAPA identify how technology could be leveraged to meet programmatic needs as a part of strategic planning and decision making. The ideal board candidate should have prior nonprofit board member experience or have received formal board training.

PROFILE 5:

AAPA Alumni Coordinator/Support

AAPA seeks an active Alum of AAPA who is passionate about their past experience as a member of AAPA and can leverage his/her network and resources in support of efforts to positively impact the policy environment in which AAPA does its work.  The board candidate will work closely with the alumni from AAPA to help establish programs and involvement in AAPA from the alumni association.  The ideal board candidate should have prior nonprofit board member experience or have received formal board training.

PROFILE 6:

Advocacy Connector

AAPA seeks a well-connected leader who is passionate about AAPA’s mission and can leverage his/her networks and resources in support of efforts to positively impact the policy environment in which AAPA does its work. The ideal candidate has had a track-record of supporting youth membership in musical organizations and strong connections to high school districts and individuals, community leaders, local/state/national politicians, media personalities, and other community decision makers who are in a position to positively impact AAPA’s work to “Building great people through great performances”.  The ideal board candidate should have prior nonprofit board member experience or have received formal board training.

The following are general expectations of all Board Members: 

  • Board members are expected to have the financial acumen to read and understand AAPA’s financial statements and to otherwise help the board fulfill its fiduciary responsibilities (or are willing to learn).
  • Board members are expected to attend all the monthly board meetings per year. They are expected to read board materials in advance of board meetings and to come prepared to ask questions and participate in discussions.
  • Board members are expected to serve on one or more committees of the board and to actively participate in committee work.
  • Board members are expected to play an active role in securing the financial resources necessary for AAPA to achieve its mission. As much as possible, Board members are asked to help the AAPA team make connections with others who can help advance the mission.
  • Board members are expected to responsibly represent AAPA to their respective communities and to advocate for AAPA’s mission, programs, and services as appropriate.
  • Board terms last for three years and board members can serve multiple consecutive terms.
  • Board members are expected to make a financial contribution that is personally significant.

To access the AAPA Board of Directors application, please submit this form here.