Meet the Team

Columbia Center for the Arts consists of many individuals working to increase access to the arts and provide unique educational opportunities. Board of Directors, Staff Members, and Committee Members, and outstanding CCA volunteers play a key role in helping CCA thrive.

Board of Directors

Judie Hanel, Board Chair
Anna Cavalieri, Co-Chair
Ashley Huckaby May, Secretary
Tim Mayer, Treasurer

Ron Cohen
Genevieve Scholl
Amirra Malak

Staff Members

Yasmin Arlette Acosta-Myers
Interim Executive Director
director@columbiaarts.org
541-387-8877 ext. 3

Yasmin Arlette Acosta-Myers comes to Columbia Center for the Arts with an M.S. in Arts Administration, extensive time on local education and cultural boards–including Arts in Education, Big ART Project, Hood River Cultural Trust– and a license in Neurology of Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace.

Born and raised in Tecate, Mexico, just across the US/Mexico border, Acosta-Myers moved to Dillon, Montana at the age of 14. After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Arts Education and Elementary Education she worked as an Art Educator before pursuing a Master’s of Science in Arts Administration. Her Master’s research focused on how place and social interactions in relation to art become sustainable cultural assets in the formation of a sense of place and belonging. Acosta-Myers continues to explore her dual cultural background through involvement with several arts and cultural boards, organizations, programs, and now with Columbia Center for the Arts.

Rachael Erickson
Gallery Manager
gallery@columbiaarts.org
541-387-8877 x 5

Rachael is a practicing artist who heralds from Northeast Ohio. Before becoming CCA`s Gallery Manager, Rachael received her BFA from Kent State University in 2010 and MFA at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 2014 with a focus in glass. She has received scholarships to Pilchuck School of Glass as well as Pittsburg Glass Center. Rachael has also taught workshops at various schools around the U.S.

Post MFA she worked as an artist assistant, was manager at the Mark Payton Glass Center in Louisville Kentucky, and worked as Gallery Assistant and Gaffer at Nichols Art Glass in The Dalles.

All of her experience as an artist, educator, instructor, and manager have led her to her current position at CCA.  Being relatively new to the Gorge, she is thrilled to be able to spend her free time enjoying all of the beauty and outdoor activities the area has to offer as well as drawing inspiration from it for her craft. Rachael strongly believes in living in the present moment and trying to make light of life. One of her favorite quotes to live by is “ Man suffers only because he/she takes seriously what the Gods made for fun”-Alan Watts

Mattea Schwab
Gallery and Administrative Coordinator
galleryassistant@columbiaarts.org
541-387-8877

Mattea joined the CCA team in February of 2021 and looks forward to being more immersed in the art community of the Gorge. She has lived in the Columbia Gorge her whole life and loves and appreciates the beauty of her hometown! Growing up she always knew she wanted to be an artist and be in a creative environment. She is so grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside some amazing local artists who have become some of her most valued mentors. She enjoys working in a creative atmosphere and collaborating with creative people. Amidst the pandemic she received her Associates of Arts with a focus in Studio Arts & Illustration from Central Oregon Community College in Bend, OR. She aspires to share her love for art with the community and spreading kindness and love to those around her.

Hannalies Bosman
Operations Manager
adminasst@columbiaarts.org

Hannalies joined CCA in March of 2021. Working behind the scenes in a number of small to medium enterprises over the years, she has served and supported organizations to effectively manage, organize and optimize their results. A master of the client journey, organizational systems and processes, Hannalies brings together diverse information in projects into a format that is easy to understand and cohesive to automation and scalability. When she’s not at CCA, Hannalies works with clients as an RTT hypnotherapist and coach. She has lived in the Gorge for 11 years and was raised in a musical household with a love of theater, live music, and the classics. She is an avid gardener, baker, knitter, and amateur herbalist.

Colson Zack
Video Producer

Colson Zack recently joined the CCA Team as our Video Producer. He is passionate about creating film, photography, and more. Colson is a Hood River local and is very involved in the community here in the Gorge. He has worked alongside Columbia Gorge companies like Sailworks, HMK and others!

Being born and raised in Hood River has shaped Colson into the creator and adventurist he is today. As a graduate of Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon with a Bachelors in Digital Cinema, Colson is actively creating for passion and clients daily. Having already worked with a wide variety of clients throughout his time in university, Colson has established CLZ Media, a successful media company.

If the cameras are turned off, you can find Colson ripping mountain bikes in the forest, foiling on the river, or taking off in his plane at the local airport. 

Joe Garoutte
Tech Manager & Operations Support
avtech@columbiaarts.org
541-387-8877 ext. 6

Committee Members

Gallery

Amirra Malak
Anna Barker
Dena Gadomski
Joe Cantrell
Scott Stephenson

Theatreworks

Personnel

Anna C. Cavaleri
Ron Cohen
Tim Mayer

Fundraising & Development

Finance

Ron Cohen
Judie Hanel
Tim Mayer

Founders – 2004

Founding Board of Directors

Judie Hanel, Executive Director
Gordon Mayer, Chair
Lynn Everroad, Treasurer
Chris Smith
Genevieve Scholl-Erdman
Mark Dane

Gallery Committee

Bill Sturman, President
Bonnie Reynolds, Vice  President
Chris Smith, Treasurer
Cathleen Rehfeld
Erika Doring
Georgette Jones
Jennifer Kaden
Leila Prestia
Jules Burton

CAST Committee

Tom Penchoen, President
Carolyn Walls, Treasurer
Jeanette Burkhardt
Jim Bull
Leith Gaines
Mary Fassel
Richard Parker