Meet the Arts for Learning Staff

Staff Directory

JoEllen Florio Rossebo

President, Chief Executive Officer
317-925-4043, ext. 115
jrossebo@artsforlearningindiana.org

PROGRAM DIRECTORS

Ploi Pagdalian

Senior Director of Programs
317-925-4043, ext. 116
ppagdalian@artsforlearningindiana.org

Regions: Franklin Township, Decatur Township, Shelby County

Sarah Tirey

Program Director
317-925-4043, ext. 123
stirey@artsforlearningindiana.org

Regions: IPS, Center, Perry Township, Warren Township, Lawrence Township, Boone County, Hancock County, Johnson County, Madison County, Morgan County

Angela Yetter

Scheduling & Program Director
317-925-4043, ext. 114
ayetter@artsforlearningindiana.org

Regions: Washington Township, Pike Township, Wayne Township, Hamilton County, Hendricks County, Northeast Region, All Unlisted Counties

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF:

Calle Tinkham

Director of Artist Programs
317-925-4043, ext. 113
ctinkham@artsforlearningindiana.org

Jessica Knudsen

Grants Manager
317-925-4043, ext. 122
jknudsen@artsforlearningindiana.org

Jennifer Collins

Director of Development
317-925-4043, ext. 112
jcollins@artsforlearningindiana.org

Karla Surmacz

Accountant
317-925-4043, ext. 110
ksurmacz@artsforlearningindiana.org

Anya Stucky

Marketing and Communications Specialist
317-925-4043, ext. 120
astucky@artsforlearningindiana.org

Executive Committee

Tami Earnhart / Chair
Partner
Ice Miller LLP

Tami is a partner at Ice Miller and has been practicing as a labor and employment lawyer for over 15 years. She received her Bachelor of Science in Legal Administration from the University of Evansville and her Juris Doctorate from Indiana University Maurer School of Law. Tami has served on various community and professional boards, including the Board of Directors of Social Health Association, the Executive Council for the Labor and Employment Section of the Indianapolis Bar Association, and the Parish Board of Consultors of Saints Francis and Clare Catholic Church. During her time on the Board of Directors of Arts for Learning, Tami has been a member of the Program Committee and participated in the planning of the Leap into Arts Fundraising Event, as Chair, Co-Chair, or Committee member. Tami and her husband, Chris, have two children, Asher and Bryce, and reside in Greenwood, Indiana.

Charlie Schlegel / Vice Chair
Founder/Principal
School. Community. Insight.

Charlie currently is a consultant, working with a variety of school districts in strategic planning, leadership development and program evaluation. He previously served as the Superintendent of the Community Charter Network (CCN), a small group of charter schools in Indianapolis serving nearly 1200 K-12 students. Charlie started his career in education as an upper elementary school teacher in New Orleans and, later, became a leader with Citizen Schools, a Boston-based afterschool program focused project-based learning and civic involvement. For nearly eight years, Charlie served as the principal of Wayland Middle School, a public school just west of Boston, and the Avondale Meadows Academy, a K-5 public charter school in Indianapolis. Charlie and his wife, Mindy, are the proud parents of three daughters who, together, keep their parents busy, humble and appreciative of the creative, engaging, confidence-building opportunities they are afforded through the arts.

Sherri Glass / Treasurer
CPA/Treasurer
Hurco Companies, Inc.

Sherri has helped support the Arts for Learning mission in many capacities over the years. Her roles have included internal controller, or Audit Committee member, or Audit Committee Chair. Sherri received a Bachelor of Science in Business-Accounting degree from Indiana University. She worked in public accounting in Illinois before returning to Indiana to raise her family. She is currently a Senior Accountant for Hurco Companies, Inc. Sherri allows time for reading, gardening and biking.

Susan Oliver / Secretary
Program Manager for Cloud Services
Salesforce

Susan is a Program Manager for Cloud Services at Salesforce. Her past positions at Salesforce (formerly ExactTarget) include project manager in IT and, more recently, program manager for the ExactTarget Foundation. At Salesforce, Susan works with various employee resource groups, including Volunteerforce and Outforce and serves in a leadership role for the Women’s Inspiration Group (WIN) on the WIN Gives Back Committee. Susan has a Bachelor of Science degree in Studio Art, with a concentration in oil painting and cinema studies, from New York University. Since graduating and moving back home to Indianapolis, Susan has worked as a media specialist for Indiana University School of Medicine, as a writer and producer for Creative Street Media Group, as well as a program manager for VMS. Prior to joining the Board of Directors of Arts for Learning, Susan was a member of Arts for Learning’s StART Young Professionals Board. She also regularly volunteers for Girls Inc. and Second Helpings.

Board of Directors

Kate Appel
Community Volunteer

Kate is a life-long supporter of the arts, education and youth. She taught and produced theater before raising a family, but continued being active in the arts and education as a volunteer. She was a founding member of Orchard in Bloom (OIB), an annual community event, fundraiser for The Orchard School, and benefit for Holliday Park, and chaired the event for several years; she started a gardening symposium in adjunct with OIB and co-chaired that for several years as well. Currently, Kate serves on the Boards of Directors of Paul’s Church, Women 4 Change, and The Fine Arts Society, and on the Advisory Board of Classical Music Indy; she is an Honorary Board member with Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre and a Founding Board member of University High School. Kate has previously served on the Boards of Directors of Paul’s Music, the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Prize/Indianapolis Zoo, The Eiteljorg Museum, and the Indianapolis Opera. She also assisted in the creation and funding for the art therapy department at Riley Children’s Hospital.

Peter Barickman
President
McFarling Foods

Peter is a business executive with expertise in Food Logistics and Sales. He joined Indianapolis-based McFarling Foods as President in January 2017 after returning to Indianapolis from a 21-year hiatus. With significant portions of his career spent in East Asia (Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Singapore), Peter has an expansive, inclusive view of cultures, history and wide societal normatives. He has developed business leadership teams in Thailand, China, Philippines and Indonesia. Peter and his wife, Betty Watanabe, have a daughter, Makena. Peter also has two sons, Alexander and Evan, who live and work in Seattle and London. Peter holds a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the University of Illinois, and attended the Executive Management Program, at the Kellogg Business School at Northwestern University.

Jediah Behny
Superintendent of Schools
Charles A. Beard Memorial School Corporation

Jediah is the Superintendent of Schools for Charles A. Beard Memorial School Corporation, a rural school district located in Knightstown, Indiana. Jediah attended Saint’s Joseph’s College, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education in 1999. Upon graduation, Jediah began his teaching career at Anderson Community Schools, where he spent 12 years teaching a variety of grades and subjects before becoming an instructional coach for the district. After receiving his master’s degree in Education Leadership from Indiana University in 2010, Jediah was named principal of Knightstown Elementary, a position that he held until 2014 when he became superintendent of the district. In 2016, he received his Education Specialist Degree from Indiana State University. In addition to his duties within the district, Jediah serves as the Board President for the New Castle Special Services Cooperative, a member on the New Castle Vocational Cooperative Board of Directors, a member of the Hoosier Educational Computer Coordinators Board of Directors, and is very active within a variety of educational associations.

Lisa Boncosky
Community Volunteer

Lisa is an Air Force brat who had the good fortune to marry a native Hoosier and is delighted to be rearing her two children in Indianapolis. Maggie and Sam are active in orchestra (French horn and trombone, respectively) and are lucky enough to attend a school with a keen focus on the importance of the arts. Lisa has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Secondary Education from James Madison University and received her Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Denver. She is a photographer by trade and loves the creative outlet, but her business has taken a backseat to parenting for the time being. Lisa served in the Children’s Museum Guild from 2004 to 2010, has served on the jury for Heartland Truly Moving Pictures since 2005, and enjoys being a member of the Contemporary Art Society at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Her husband, Bill, is the President of Art to Remember, a company that raises funds for arts education.

H. Daphne Chiu
Waste Water Project Manager
Citizens Water

Daphne is originally from Taiwan and has lived in United States since 1997. She attended Purdue University for graduate school. Daphne has over nine years of experience in wastewater systems as an engineering project manager for the City of Indianapolis and, now, Citizens Energy Group for sanitary sewers, combined sewer overflows treatment, and wastewater treatment plants. During her free time, Daphne enjoys music, hiking, and travel. She lives in Avon, Indiana, with her husband and son. She is an active member of North United Methodist Church where she sings in the choir and is involved in various mission ministries.

Todd Clevenger
Grant Administrator
Hamilton County

Todd is the Grants Administrator for Hamilton County where he helps evaluate the County’s grant readiness, identify grant opportunities, secure grant awards, manage grant projects and funds and ensure compliance with all grant requirements and regulations. During his career, Todd has served as a corporate marketing and communication executive as well as an outside consultant. His experience building, implementing and managing strategic marketing and communications strategies spans numerous industries including: healthcare, education, non-profit, government, finance and technology. Todd is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Journalism and holds a Masters in Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. He and his wife Sue have two sons, Jonathan and Jordan, and live in Cicero.

Denise Halford-Holder
Vice President – Wealth Management
David A. Noyes & Company

Denise is a Senior Vice President, a board member of David A. Noyes & Company, and a Certified Financial Planner who is consistently named as an Indianapolis Monthly Five Star Best in Client Satisfaction Wealth Manager. Denise received a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Indiana University and a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Accounting from Boston University. She has attended the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy – Fund Raising School. In the community, Denise serves or has served as board member with Stanley K. Lacy Leadership Alumni, Russian Ballet Academy of Indiana, Indianapolis Museum of Art (Young Friends of Art), Planned Giving Group of Indiana, Network of Women in Business. She is an active member of the Columbia Club, Riviera Club, and Woodstock Club.

Bart A. Karwath
Partner
Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Bart has practiced law in Indianapolis for 26 years and is a partner with Barnes & Thornburg. His practice includes representing companies, government agencies and utilities in litigated matters involving construction issues, eminent domain, municipal law, employee benefits, and commercial disputes. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Public Affairs from the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs and his law degree from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law. Bart has previously served on the boards of various non-profit and community organizations, including Dance Kaleidoscope and the American Heart Association. Bart and his wife, Karen, have two teenage daughters, Greta and Robin. The family resides in Carmel, Indiana.

Anson Keller
Principal Architect
DkGr

Anson is Founding Partner and Principal at DkGr Architects in Indianapolis. As an instructor for the Indianapolis Art Center, Anson has taught classes ranging from basic drawing to stop-motion animation in the Center’s outreach program. In his free time, he enjoys working on his 19th-century home and his mid-20th-century motorcycles.

Allison Meta
Vice President /Branch Manager
Chubb Group of Insurance Companies

Allison joined the Indianapolis team of Chubb Group of Insurance Companies as the Branch Manager in October 2003. Her 20-year tenure with Chubb includes branch management and various roles in underwriting and marketing. Previously, she served as the Southeast Regional Marketing Manager in Atlanta from 2000 to 2003. Allison started her Chubb career in the Birmingham, Alabama, office in 1994 after spending five years in underwriting and marketing positions with another property and casualty insurance carrier. She is a graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing.

Susan Gran Michal
Director of Early Childhood Education
The Children’s Museum

Susan has over 20 years of professional experience in education, having taught and directed in public, private, and charter schools in Indianapolis and in Tucson, Arizona. Susan has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Purdue University and a master’s degree in Educational Administration and leadership from Butler University; she has also spent time in Finland and Sweden studying their educational systems. Susan and her husband, Rich, have three grown daughters, Lily, Isabelle, and Sophia, and live in the Broad Ripple area of Indianapolis.

Anne Surak
Founder
art + space

Anne Surak has been an art dealer and curator for twelve years. She has an extensive background in exhibition planning, art consulting, gallery management and design. Before relocating to Indiana she was the inaugural director of Project 4 in Washington DC, a gallery that represented mid-career and emerging contemporary artists. In 2014, she founded art + space, an extensive art consulting and curatorial service emphasizing trends in contemporary art and design. art + space was originally conceived in 2006 in Washington, and has been re-launched in Indianapolis to involve the city in a greater international artistic dialogue by broadening the scope of work being exhibited and commissioned, while also nurturing the careers of a small group of promising, local artists by introducing their work to a more global audience. In Washington, Anne served on the Board of Directors of the Washington Project for the Arts; in Indiana, she has served as the Board President of the Contemporary Art Society at the Indianapolis Museum of Art and is currently the Director of Exhibitions of Exhibit Columbus.

Kelly Lamm Teller
Director of Development
Park Tudor School

Kelly Lamm Teller is currently the Director of Development at Park Tudor School in Indianapolis. She has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Northwestern University and attended law school at Indiana University.

Sarah Walter
Manager of Marketing & Communications
Managed Health Services

Sarah Walter currently serves as Manager of Marketing & Communications for Managed Health Services (MHS), a local health coverage provider. In this role, she develops and executes marketing plans to provide clear, comprehensive information to Indiana’s Medicaid population and healthcare providers. Prior to joining MHS, she was the Director of Communications at the Indiana Perinatal Network, a non-profit working to improve the health and outcomes of Indiana’s mothers and babies. She holds a degree in Public and Corporate Communications from Butler University. Sarah volunteers as a tutor with School on Wheels and is a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni Association. She lives in Butler-Tarkington neighborhood of Indianapolis with her husband, Adam, and enjoys running on the Monon Trail, going to concerts, and, of course, cheering for the Butler Bulldogs.

Advisory Board

Megan Blackwell Behny
Second Grade Teacher
Spring Mill Elementary School

Megan is an elementary teacher in the Metropolitan School District of Washington Township. She received a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Xavier University and a master’s degree from Butler University. Megan shares her instructional expertise as a guest lecturer, conference presenter, and mentor for aspiring teachers. Megan and her husband, Jediah, who serves on the Board of Directors of Arts for Learning, live in Westfield, Indiana, with their three daughters, Grace, Lauren, and Caroline.

StART Young Professionals Board

Formed in 2014, StART is comprised of 8 to 15 young professionals from diverse backgrounds. Their mission is to raise funds and awareness for Arts for Learning by planning special events and serving as ambassadors of the organization in the community.

Click here for the application.