Mission Fulfillment
- ChathamArts provides exceptional programs in visual, performing, and media arts that encourage dialog across community boundaries.
- ChathamArts augments core curricula in local schools through student scholarships, exhibits, after school outlets, and classroom residencies.
- ChathamArts rewards artistic and creative efforts through various grants and scholarships.
ChathamArts Staff
Executive Director - Cheryl Chamblee, cheryl@chathamarts.org 919-280-9040 (cell)
Program Coordinator - Gwendolen Gray, gwendolen@chathamarts.org 919-260-5665 (cell)
Board of Directors
Lori Major Carlin is the director of Theatre Arts at Northwood High School. Lori completed her undergraduate degree at Clemson University and then attended NC State to finish her doctorate in Educational Research & Policy Analysis. Lori has been the theatre teacher at Northwood for going on sixteen years and loves who, what, and where she teaches. She was co-founder of the Northwood Arts Education Foundation and currently serves as Arts Community and High School Liaison for Chatham County Schools. Board member since Oct. 2012
Bett Wilson Foley currently serves as a Commissioner on the Pittsboro Town Board. She is also a floral designer with Fearrington Village and provides promotional and graphic design support for Chatham Habitat for Humanity and Chatham County Partnership for Children. Foley earned a degree in Journalism and Art from UNC-Chapel Hill and was formerly the Arts Editor at the Chapel Hill News and the Communications Director at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro. She also established the children's program at Chatham County Libraries. Board member since Oct. 2012
Gina Harrison (Arts in Education) is a UNC alumna and an instructional designer. She directs the FPG Child Development Institute publication office at UNC-Chapel Hill. An arts education advocate and long-time volunteer in Chatham County Schools, Harrison is past president of the Northwood High School Arts Education Foundation and she's the newest member of the board of ArtsNC, NC's statewide advocacy organization for the arts. Harrison is a 25+year member of Duke’s Chapel Choir & Schola Cantorum and is vice-president of the Friends of Duke Chapel Advisory Board.
Lesley Landis-Voller (President) is a graphic designer with 25 years experience. She is principal of Lesley Landis Designs where her clients include Chatham County Economic Development Corporation, Orange County Artists Guild, Duke University Special Collections at Perkins Library, and the National Humanities Center, among others. Landis-Voller served as a steering board member of Carolina Culture Zone, is a co-founder of Wake-Up Wednesday and is a board member of the Chatham County Fair. Board member since 2006
Pierre Lauffer is the current VP of the Shakori Hills Community Arts Center. A former agricultural extension agent in the Congo with the Peace Corp, Pierre has served on the NC Board Peace Corp Assoc. and was on the Executive Board of the Haw River Assembly. Pierre has more than 22 yrs of professional experience in natural resource management programs mixed with a vast range of community action and economic development work in the public and nonprofit sectors. Board member since 2012
Gilda McDaniel (Past-President, Events) is Special Events Manager at the Fearrington House, focusing primarily on weddings, but other events as well. She is privileged to work closely on the annual Fearrington Folk Art Show. Born in Stockholm, Sweden, McDaniel grew up in Asheville and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a BA in Art History, English and History. She's been on the board of ChathamArts since 2003, was Board President from 2005-2009 and now chairs the Events Committee. McDaneil served on the boards of the NC Arts Incubator and the United Way of Chatham County. Board member since 2002
Marcelle Pachnowski is a working artist with a BA and MFA in Painting. Her artwork is in numerous national and international collections. Marcelle has extensive experience with not-for-profits from grass roots arts councils to being president and serving on the governing board of the National Association of Women Artists. She also has many years of teaching art to diverse populations and was an artist-in-residence with the Georgia Council for the Arts and the City of Atlanta. Board member since 2011
Kathie Russell (Arts in Education) is the founding and managing partner of Russell Goetcheus & Velasquez, PC. Russell concentrates her practice in Real Estate, Business, Entertainment and Contract Law. Kathie graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law in 1994, where she was a member of Holderness Moot Court Negotiation Team. From 2006-2010, Russell served on the Chatham County Board of Education. She currently serves on the board of directors for Shakori Hills Grassroots Music Festival. Board member since 2010
Rev. Dr. Peter Thomas is a retired Episcopal clergy person who, with his wife Carolyn, has lived in Fearrington Village for the past 8 years, during which time he has been the president of Fearrington Cares and the Home Owners Association. Peter's interest in the Arts is focused on the importance artistic expression has for developing healthy, creative people, programs, and community. He is especially interested in the development of programs in all aspects of the arts which would benefit children, underprivileged persons and seniors in Chatham County. Board member since Oct. 2012
Bill Walden is a musician, sound engineer and owner of Walden Sound in Siler City. Bill's love of audio started with providing the sound effects for his high school plays. He’s since done sound for artists such as BB King, .38 Special, and Taylor Swift, among many others. Bill expanded his family business to include a recording studio, a web design service, and more. The Walden Sound family produces the Siler City Alive Festival each May which brings music, visitors and vibrancy to downtown Siler City. Board member since 2012
Advisory Board
Linda Booker documentary filmmaker with By The Brook FIlms
Debbie Bousquet assistant facilities planner at UNC-Chapel HIll
Maggie Crandall
Mark Hewitt author and principal potter at W.M.Hewitt Pottery
Florence Johnson former Executive Board member, watercolorist
Molly Matlock concert and special event coordinator at the NCMA
Jan Nichols
Jane McEvoy former Executive Board member, retired English teacher with the CCCS
Efrain Ramirez
Dee Reid Director of Communications, College of Arts & Sciences, UNC-Chapel Hill
Randy Voller Mayor of Pittsboro
Daryl Walker
Jeffrey York Public and Cultural Arts Administrator for the Town of Chapel Hill
David zum Brunnen touring actor and arts educator with EbzB Productions
