Our executive staff

Linda Wise, CEO

is responsible for the development, oversight and coordination of the properties, affairs and finances of The Fine Arts Association. She holds an M.E. in Education Administration from Kent State University; and a B.M. in Music Education from Miami University. She served as a member of the Board of Education of Solon City Schools for 19 years, 5 as president, and was awarded an honorary lifetime membership to Ohio PTA. Linda taught music at Hawken Middle and Lower School for 6 years and then became Assistant Director of the Middle School in 2000. She is a 2009 graduate of Leadership Lake County and a member of the board of Willoughby Rotary, Painesville United Methodist Church, where she is a member of the Staff Parish Relations Committee and the Western Reserve Junior Service League.

lwise@fineartsassociation.org
(440) 951-7500 x107

Jeannie Fleming-Gifford, Director of Education

is responsible for the oversight and coordination of all educational programs: music, art, theatre and dance. She holds an M.A. in Family and Consumer Sciences with a specialization in Child Development and a B.A. in Fine Arts with a specialization in Music (French Horn). She is also a graduate of Cleveland Bridge Builders. Previously, Jeannie acted as Director of CHABAM, a locally owned, early childhood arts-education based program, Director of Education for Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio and The Columbus Symphony Orchestra and Workshop Programs Supervisor, Volunteer Coordinator and Outreach Program Demonstrator for COSI Columbus. She is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, serves on the Historical Review Board for the City of Willoughby and is PR/Marketing Chairperson for Guiding Eyes for the Blind Cuyahoga Region.

jfleming-gifford@fineartsassociation.org
(440) 951-7500 x118

James Mango, Roger & Anne Clapp Chair of Performing Arts

is responsible for the oversight and coordination of performance program efforts in all artistic disciplines. He holds a Master's of Management from David N. Myer's University, a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Cleveland State University and an A.A. in Music from Lorain County Community College. He founded and was Artistic Director of Charenton Theatre Co. before working as Entertainment Department Supervisor at Geauga Lake and Program Coordinator for Chagrin Valley Little Theatre's Accent on Youth outreach program.

As a professional theatrical artist Mr. Mango has worked as actor, director, musical director or producer on over 100 productions at such theatres as The Cleveland Play House, Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Magical Theatre Co. , Cleveland Public Theatre, Dobama, and many others. Musically he has performed with the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus at Severance Hall, Chautauqua, Blossom and Carnegie Hall. As a composer his work has been performed by the Cleveland Chamber Symphony as part of their young and emerging composers series. Popularly he has sung back-ups for Kenny Rogers and Andy Williams and spent the majority of his formative years as a bass player in many pop and rock bands.

James is a Painesville Rotarian and Adjunct Faculty at Lake Erie College where he teaches Arts Management and Theatre Appreciation.

jmango@fineartsassociation.org
(440) 951-7500 x113

Wanda Wareham, Director of Communications and Marketing

has held the position of Director of Communications and Marketing of The Fine Arts Association since 2001. She is responsible for the development and coordination of all marketing, publicity, public relations, and advertising for the organization. Formerly, she was employed for 12 years as Executive Director of the Willoughby Area Chamber of Commerce. Wanda holds a B.A. in Sociology and Psychology from Clarion University in PA and a certification in Organizational Management from the Institutes for Organization Management at the University of Notre Dame. She completed the Dale Carnegie Course and was awarded the Highest Award for Achievement. She serves on the board of Lake Communicators and on the Steering Committee of Lake Kidz Biz. She is also an active member of Americans for the Arts.

wwareham@fineartsassociation.org
(440) 951-7500 x104

Deanna Rowe, Chief Financial Officer

brings an extensive background in accounting, finance and business operations to The Fine Arts Association.Formerly employed at Glidden Paints as Senior Manager of Store Operations and Support, she holds a B.A. in Accounting and an M.B.A. from Lake Erie College.

drowe@fineartsassociation.org
(440) 951-7500 x108

Yvonne Delgado, Director of Development

raises funds to support The Fine Arts Association through individual donations, as well as corporate, foundation and government grants.  Formerly, Yvonne was employed 13 years with the Lake County Educational Service Center (LCESC) most recently serving as the Director of Human Resources & Development.  Prior to, she was responsible for operations and development as the Director of the Porter Center for Science & Mathematics at LCESC and as the Director of Workforce Development at Lake County Economic Development Center.  Yvonne holds an M.S.E. in Education Administration from Youngstown State and a B.S.E. with a concentration in English from Kent State.  She is an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Lake Health Women’s Advisory Board.  She also held longstanding membership with the Painesville Area Exchange Club and L.E.A.F. Board. She volunteers at the Geauga County Department of Aging and paints rain barrels for the Geauga County Soil & Water Conservation District to support their education programs.

ydelgado@fineartsassociation.org
(440) 951-7500 x112

Judy Nagel, Adminstrative Coordinator

joined The Fine Arts Association staff in 2007.  She works directly with the CEO, CFO, Board of Directors and Development Department. Among her various responsibilities she also coordinates the rental of the facility.

jnagel@fineartsassociation.org
(440) 951-7500 x106

Ann Hedger, Programming Coordinator

has been involved with The Fine Arts Association's theatre productions since 1982. She joined the office staff full time in 1994 and currently is the Programming Coordinator working with both the Theatre and Education Departments and handling the Fine Arts IT system. In addition, Ann has performed, directed and stage managed over 80 productions at the Fine Arts and other area theatres over the past 25 years. Ann created the FAA Annual One Act Festival and has been involved as an actor or director since its inception in 1997. She has directed productions at many area theatres and favorite directing projects include To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday at the River Street Playhouse, Frost/Nixon, Educating Rita, Broadway Bound, Brighton Beach Memoirs and Sleuth at Rabbit Run Theatre and You Can't Take it With You and Barefoot in the Park at Geauga Lyric Theater Guild.

ahedger@fineartsassociation.org
(440) 951-7500 x103

Brett Harris, Technical Director

joined The Fine Arts Association in 2011.  Brett earned his BA in Theatre Technology from the University of South Florida and his MFA Technical Director from the Ohio University. He has worked as the floor manager for the main theatre on the Carnival Miracle, as technical director for various productions including Grapes of Wrath, Marisol and Trojan Women, as master carpenter on Loves Labours Lost, Macbeth and 3 Musketeers at Colorado Shakespeare Festival and as technical manager for the Chaos House at Busch Gardens, Florida.  He also interned with Cirque du Soleil's Las Vegas resident water show "O."

bharris@fineartsassociation.org
(440) 951-7500 x117