CNY Arts, Inc.

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CNY Arts Board of Directors Announcement

It’s time to say a big thank you and farewell to several of the CNY Arts Board of Directors members who have served for six years and are ending their terms. We are sorry to see them go, but so appreciative to have benefitted from their dedicated service to CNY Arts and their advocacy for the arts in our region! 

Carol Dumka – Carol is stepping down after serving as our Board President for three years and Vice President for one year. She brought insightful leadership plus her perspective as a musician and expertise in arts education as a music teacher to her role, as well as her experience as a member of the Executive Board of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 78, and President of the Crane School of Music Alumni Board. Carol will still be serving on the board in an ex-officio capacity and is a great connection to the Mohawk Valley region for CNY Arts.

Merike Treier – Merike chaired the Nominating Committee and served on the Board for six years. We thank Merike for all her contributions, including her leadership in recruiting new board members with a variety of skills and backgrounds. As Executive Director of the Downtown Committee, Merike brought her skills in business, innovation, and community collaboration to the board.

Fritz Messere – Fritz has served for six years, including three as Board Vice President, and one as President. As the Dean Emeritus of the School of Communication Media & the Arts, SUNY Oswego, Fritz has been of tremendous assistance in establishing Innovations Group of CNY Arts, our LLC that supports the rapidly developing Central New York film industry. We’re pleased that Fritz has agreed to remain on the Fundraising Committee.

Kieran Daley – Kieran served one full term. As a CPA, formerly with Bowers & Company CPAs PLLC, he was a great resource for a range of financial topics, and he brought a family theater background and energetic support for the arts in our community to the board. Kieran has left the area for a professional opportunity in North Carolina.

We also say goodbye and thank you to Alden Smith and Joan Shkane, who served for abbreviated terms. Both are great supporters of the arts who generously give of their own time and talents to their communities.

 

CNY Arts welcomes two new board members:

Jefferson Dedrick, J. D.

Jefferson is Coordinator of Staff Relations, Office of Human Resources, Syracuse City School District, and a graduate of Syracuse University College of Law.

Here’s what he shared about his connection to the arts:
The arts were always an important component of my life - growing up I was in the percussion in my school band, sang (badly) in the school choir, participated in each school musical or play, and explored pottery and other art forms in classes. When I went to Fredonia and met many talented artists and musicians, I found a new role celebrating the arts and promoting arts education and clubs as a student leader. Since then, I have witnessed first-hand the healing and transformation art offers to both artists and consumers as my mother embraced pottery through her cancer recovery journey. My mom is in remission, I have a household full of "TShed Originals," and I believe now more than ever that all forms of art are essential to not only the culture and vitality of our community, but to each of us as individuals.

 

 Nicholas Shires, CPA 

Nick is Partner in Charge of Tax Services for Dannible & McKee, LLP. He has over 16 years of experience providing tax and consulting services. Nick is also the author of a range of articles and presentations on tax-related topics, including most recently one on the CARES Act.

 Here is what Nick said about his arts connection: I have been involved in organizations promoting the arts in the past. Specifically, I served on the board of directors of Music for the Mission, which is an organization that raises funds by promoting musical events.  Those funds are distributed annually through mini-grants aimed to support grass-roots organizations helping to aid the hungry and homeless.