Kingman Center for the Arts Board of Directors and Team
Delphine Brandt, Chair
Born and raised in France, Delphine was fortunate to have grown up with access to a wide variety of artistic expressions, ranging from music, performance art, visual art, and literature. This early exposure sparked a passion and a deep appreciation for the transformative power of the arts. When approached to participate in the Beale Street Theater Renovation Project, she was quick to recognize the potential benefits that this endeavor could bring to her community of Kingman, AZ, and wasted no time getting involved. She dedicated long hours to raising awareness about the importance of the renovation project. Her efforts have helped mobilize support from community members and stakeholders and inspired many to get involved with KCA and the Beale Street Theater.
Delphine has been on the Board Of Directors for KCA since 2016. She has served on the fundraising and event planning committees and has participated in developing the Disney Musical in Schools Program offered to some of our local elementary schools. Delphine has also had the opportunity to direct and act with the Beale Street Theater. She is now Co-Chair of the Productions Committee.
Delphine has a university degree in Communications and Marketing from ECS France. In the United States, she has worked for the Mayo Clinic Rochester’s International and Language Departments. She is currently the Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Directors for Kingman Academy of Learning and has served on the Board of Directors for Grace Lutheran Church. She hopes that her volunteer work will create a vibrant and inclusive theater and art center where all forms of art and expression can thrive and flourish.
Matt Hecht, Vice Chair
Matt Hecht has been doing theatre in the community for over 30 years now. Graduated with a degree in Theatre and Computer Science, he found himself in Kingman without an outlet for his theatre background. When he heard about the theater project he was “all in” and has been a part of Kingman’s community theater from the beginning.
Chanel Turner, Secretary
Chanel Turner has been involved in local non-profits for the last 10 years. The first 18 years of her career were in bank management and two years ago, opened her own real estate brokerage with her husband and became a full-time real estate agent. Chanel brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her work with local non-profits, and she firmly believes that the non-profit sector is what sets her small community apart. As a member of the Fundraising Committee for the Kingman Center for the Arts, Chanel aims to place an emphasis on raising funds to help bring the Beale Street Theater back to life.
Roger Jacks, Treasurer
Mr. Roger Jacks obtained his bachelor’s degree in Social Studies, a master’s degree in Sociology, and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership. He has served as a Classroom Teacher, Principal, and a Superintendent of Schools. He was appointed by the Governor of Arizona to The State Board of Education. He served in the military as an Air Force colonel, base commander, and as an aviator in B-52 bombers and SR-71 aircraft. Roger has a strong belief that “The Arts” are crucial in the education of the whole child and the cultural strength of a community.
Christine Fredriksen, Director
Christine has been involved in the non-profit sector for 15 years and worked as the Executive Director for a breast cancer support non-profit before moving to Kingman. She has experience in grassroots fundraising and non-profit leadership. She began her career as an attorney in Vancouver, British Columbia; but became interested in non-profit work several years into practicing law. Christine has a passion for the arts. She is a cartoonist and illustrator, with graphic design experience. Her first non-profit job was as an editor and illustrator in an international non-profit’s publications department. While there, she illustrated a cartoon strip, edited publications and helped lay out the non-profit’s magazine. Christine has been a member of the KCA Board of Directors since 2017. Her work on the board has been largely in fundraising for the Beale Street Theater Renovation Project, and she was formerly the Chair of the Board. She established the creation of board committees and is currently the Chair of the Human Resources Committee, working in training and policy development. If you have questions for Christine, please email [email protected].
Sara Peterson, Director
Jamie Stehly, Director
David Stehly, Director
David Stehly has been a long time resident of Kingman. With both parents as art teachers at Mohave Community College, art was an immersive experience for him and David chose to express himself through the trumpet. He started playing in 4th grade to eventually become part of the Northern Arizona University Jazz band. David received a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from NAU in 1994. He worked several years in the auto industry in vehicle development. A drive for working outdoors pushed David to start a landscape company. 22 years ago he opened Vision Landscape and Design and has been the Operating Officer ever since.
Kristina Michelson, Executive Director
Kristina is an avid participant and consumer of the arts. She has over 30 years of experience as a pianist, both in performing and teaching. She loves to accompany other artists as well as solo. She is also experienced with hand bells, having played in a professional hand bell choir in the Las Vegas area. Kristina also has 10 years of experience in community dance programs including tap, jazz, ballet and modern dance. She is the mother of five boys and hopes to bring more opportunities for arts based programs to the city so her boys can share in her passion.
Kristina has spent the last six years as executive director of Kingman Center for the Arts. During this time, she has been executive producer to over 26 live community theater productions. She is currently overseeing the renovation plans of a local historic theater into a performing arts venue. Other activities she is engaged in are Disney Musicals in Schools, a program that creates sustainable live theater programs in the city’s elementary schools, SOAR, Student Outreach and Art Renditions, an art based, opioid education program and oversight of the KCA Gallery and the education space that is run by Kingman Center for the Arts.
Sidney Valdez, Education Director
Sidney Valdez is a dedicated and passionate artist who strives to create more art and theater opportunities for all in our community. Sidney has been involved with Kingman Center for the Arts for six years now, and has directed or been directly involved in over 15 Beale Street Theater Productions. Sidney serves as our KCA Education Director, one of our Disney Musicals in Schools Teaching Artists, an MSTEPP SOAR Instructor, and an Artistic Director for Beale Street Theater. She also teaches several musical theater classes through our partnership with Wildflower Art Studio and Gallery both for kids and teens and invites all of our local youth to get involved in our thriving theater and arts community.
