Executive Board of Directors

Leslie Yunis - Art Buddies Board Chair
Special Projects, KNOCK inc.

Jean Hurlbert - Art Buddies Treasurer
Relations/Team Manager, Capital Management Associates Inc

Karisa Buechner Michel - Art Buddies Secretary
Director of Client Engagement, Prime Therapeutics

Heidi Rich - Art Buddies President
Executive Director, Art Buddies

Alla Ilushka
Project Manager

Denise Linette
ELL Teacher, Whittier International Elementary School

Elliott Payne
Founder & Principal, Sense Datum, LLC.City Council Minneapolis Ward 1

Reginaldo Reyes
VP Brand Experience and Environmental Design, KNOCK, Inc.

Kailey Mo Becker
Founder, President, and Designer, Oya Beauty and Pinky Design Shop

Laura Norton
Director of Office Services, Carmichael Lynch

Lora Lhavsa
Marketing KNOCK, inc

Amy Jarrard
Freelance Art Director and Copywriter

Denise Malmgren
ELL teacher, Whittier International Elementary School

Cheryl Meyer
Vice President and Creative Director, Treat and Co.

Suyao Tian
Artist, Designer, Independent curator

Fartun Ismail
Whittier Alliance Coordinator

Dominique Mueller
Director of Inclusive Product Design, Target Corporation

Community Advisory Board

Jesus Barrera, Kindergarten Teacher Whittier

Racquel Banazek, Artist

Nuuria Osman, Community Liason Lucy Laney Elementary

Our Honorary Board Members

Lee Lynch, Honorary Board Member
Served on Art Buddies’ Board of Directors for 10 years
Chairman of the Board, MinnPost
Board Member, Planned Parenthood of Minnesota & South Dakota
Board Member, Growth and Justice
Board Member, The Benton Foundation
Former Board Chair, Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Retired Founder, Carmichael Lynch

Michael O’Keefe, Honorary Board Member
Served on Art Buddies’ Board of Directors for 10 years
Former President, Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Former CEO, McKnight Foundation
Former Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Services
Former Board Member, Board of Regents, University of Minnesota
Former President, Consortium for the Advancement of Private Higher Education, Washington, D.C.

Joe Selvaggio, Honorary Board Member
Served on Art Buddies’ Board of Directors for 16 years
Founder, MicroGrants
Founder, One Percent Club
Founder, Project for Pride in Living

Carol Thacher, Founding Board Member
In memoriam for 20 years of service