Susan Archibald
Current Board Member / Board of Directors Chair
Role: As the Board Chair, my administrative duties include helping set the the Board’s monthly agenda, meeting weekly with our Office Manager, helping with class organization and overseeing events. I also attend monthly and quarterly meetings with other organizations. As a member of the Curatorial committee, I help install the gallery shows, plan and participate in receptions, and work with our volunteer docents.
Relevant experience: My interested in art started as a child. I was given art supplies and enjoyed taking art lessons. As an adult, I worked as a Country Social Worker for forty years. I held the positions of worker, supervisor, and program manger. I interacted with a variety of people including co-workers, other professionals, and clients. During my career I also sat on two boards dealing with issues related to child welfare. Upon my retirement, I began taking painting classes. When the Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center opened it’s doors in my neighborhood, I became involved. I like that the Art Center is so focused on serving people in these small mountain towns, where I have lived for thirty years. I greatly enjoy meeting and working with people in our local schools, business and nonprofits.
Frank Bäuerle
Current Board Member / Treasurer
Role: Frank has been the treasurer and a Board Member at the Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center since February 2019.
Relevant experience: Frank Bäuerle was born and raised in southern Germany. He did his undergraduate work in Mathematics and Computer Science at the Technische Hochschule in Karlsruhe, Germany, after which he received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from The University of California at San Diego. He has been a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics at UC Santa Cruz since 1994. He is married and has two adult children. He likes to travel, hike, and plays darts for recreation.
Henry Burnett
Current Board Member
Role: Henry documents many of the Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center activities with photography. He enjoys the many exhibits, events and presentations at the Art Center.
Relevant experience: Dr. Henry J. Burnett is an educator and futurist fully committed to expanding access and success for students. Strategies for responding to a greater variety of student learning styles and introducing new technologies are high priorities for him. He is interested in the educational aspects of the Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center as a teaching facility in the arts. Dr. Burnett has been at the forefront of several technology transformations in California Higher Education and has particular expertise in the legal and political aspects of Open Learning.
Chris Finnie
Current Board Member / Ceramic Department Coordinator
Role: I teach beginning wheel throwing and serve as part of the steering committee for the ceramics department. In between, I’ve done everything from mixing glazes to recycling clay. From painting shelves in the wheel room to fixing wheels. From using my professional skills as a marketing copywriter to publicize events at the art center to using my sales skills at sidewalk sales. Since we’re a mostly volunteer organization, we all contribute to make it run.
Relevant experience: I bought a pottery studio in Los Angeles 50 years ago.
I found a new ceramics home when I started teaching wheel throwing again at the Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center. Over the years since then, I’ve gotten more involved as a volunteer, finally being elected to the board some years ago.
Regina “Gina” Firpo-Triplett
Current Board Member
Role: Gina is new to the Board and lends her business experience running an innovative small business and working for a variety of non-profits.
Relevant experience: Gina Firpo-Triplett, MPH, MCHES, is a public health educator and executive who has dedicated her career to building products and providing services for health equity. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of dfusion which creates digital innovations for health and well-being. Gina believes in community service and has served as a volunteer Board Member for the Conflict Resolution Program of Santa Cruz County and the San Lorenzo Valley Children’s Center, and also volunteered with Valley Churches United. The emerging artist grew up in a very creative home, has always enjoyed the visual arts, and knows how important art is for the health and well-being of individuals and for the community.
Noëlle Lightbourne
Current Board Member / Ceramics Instructor
Role: After my internship and assisting in ceramics at our center I stepped into the volunteer position of managing the department with my partner and co-chair David Kurtz. We see that various duties in our studio are given to volunteers to make sure our ceramic department is run safely and efficiently. I have been on the Board since 2016.
Relevant experience: Coming from a diverse background including Montessori Preschool teaching to Women Spirit event coordinator, I have always enjoyed working with people. This served me well in my 35 years as a massage therapist.
Johanna McCormick
Current Board Member / Curatorial Chair, Graphics & Web Design
Role: My role at the SCMAC has recently changed from marketing to become the Curatorial Chair. I am in charge of the exhibits in the Thomas Gallery and lead the Curatorial Crew in all aspects of presenting the exhibits — from yearly selection of themes and gallery maintenance to submissions and hanging the shows. I also design the graphics and all collateral material for the exhibits. I have been a Board member since 2014.
Relevant experience: Owner of McCormick Design, a commercial graphic design firm, for almost 40 years. Specialized in the horticulture industry, also worked extensively with non-profits and the hotel/travel industry. Performed all design tasks from client contact, job initiation and vendor supervision through completed projects.
Ann Scobie
Current Board Member
Role:
Relevant experience: I’ve loved art as long as I can remember. It was my focus in college and has always been a priority in my life. I would be honored to serve as a SCMAC board member I have served on a number of other boards in the past. I enjoy the exchange of different ideas and visions for an organization. I believe the SCMAC is an important, creative membership group that greatly benefits the entire San Lorenzo Valley and beyond.