Board of Directors

Darnell Pierre Benjamin
Vice President & DEIA Ambassador

  • AEA Actor, Performing Artist, Multidisciplinary Artist and Movement Specialist Professor – Northern Kentucky University School of the Arts
  • Board Member since September 2016

Laura Berkemeier
President

  • Associate Vice President, Non-Profit Services — Ignite Philanthropy
  • Board Member since December 2023

Ayauna Goodwin

Ayauna Goodwin

  • Founder – Goodwin Talent & Strategy
  • Board Member since September 2025

Daryl Harris

  • Professor Emeritus — Northern Kentucky University School of the Arts Theatre and Dance Program
  • Board Member since September 2016

Alexandra Kesman
Secretary

  • Salesforce Solutions Architect — Perficient
  • Board Member since June 2021

Gina Kleesattel

  • Retired Artist Educator (School for the Creative and Performing Arts)
  • Freelance theatrical director; focus on Shadow Interpreted shows for the Deaf
  • Board Member since September 2025

Whitney Maxson

  • Attorney At Law — Katz, Teller, Brant & Hild, LPA
  • Board Member since February 2012

Josh Neumeyer
Treasurer

  • Director, Project Management — Woxi, Inc.
  • Freelance Stage Manager
  • Board Member since January 2008

Kyrié Eleison Owen

  • Community and Events Coordinator — Rhinegeist
  • MFA Creative Writing Nonfiction, UC Riverside
  • Publications: Lunch Ticket, The Nasiona, Waxing & Waning, and others.
  • Board Member since November 2023

Thomas Popa, M.D.

  • Internist – The Christ Hospital (retired)
  • Board Member since January 2008

Derek J. Snow

  • Founder/Writer — Missing Front Plate Productions
  • Company Member — The Performance Gallery
  • SAG-AFTRA Film and Voiceover Actor
  • Board Member since November 2020

Travis Speice, Ph.D.

  • Applied Research Director, Women’s Fund of Greater Cincinnati Foundation
  • Board member since September 2025

Shanda Sugg

  • Artist, Photographer, Storyteller
  • Architect of Surrender, Kinetic Surrender, LLC
  • Board Member since December 2023