Create Wisconsin welcomes new board members
For immediate release
Contact: Anne Katz
608 255 8316 | info@createwisconsin.org
January 6, 2024
Create Wisconsin, the state’s community cultural development organization, is pleased to announce that four arts and civic leaders from throughout Wisconsin have joined the Board of Directors:
Stephen Goodhart, Sheboygan; Volunteer Programs Coordinator, Victory Gardens Initiative, Milwaukee
Growing up around nonprofit work, creative people, and entrepreneurs Stephen’s passion lies at the cross sections of community improvement and empowering others to build a more resilient society.
Stephen interned with Create Wisconsin in his senior year of college, working in advocacy, promotion, and program development. During his internship, he coordinated Wisconsin's annual arts and creative sector advocacy conference, Create Wisconsin Day, and was the Event Coordinator for the Przekrój magazine, based in Poland, celebrating their international launch of the publication in Milwaukee on Make Music Day, June 21.
During the pandemic, Stephen optimized the output of food distribution at The Working Family Bread Basket as the Coordinator with the organization seeing a 300% increase in recipients seeking food assistance from January to April 2020 while navigating a team reduced by 50%.
Stephen holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from UW-Madison and seeks to incorporate nonprofit work with policy advocacy at the local, statewide, and federal level.
Olivia Hill, Wausau; General Manager/Associate Director, Grand Theatre, Wausau
Originally from Miami, Florida, Olivia Hill spent 10 years in Colorado before coming to Wausau in 2019. Hill joined the Grand Theater as General Manager/Associate Director in 2023 and oversees the operations, administration, and personnel at the Grand. With a focus on arts and community impact, Olivia is an ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award recipient and has a bachelor’s and MA in music and arts administration from Florida State University.
Melissa Kono, Independence; Professor, Community Resource Development with UW-Madison, Division of Extension
Professor Melissa Kono is passionate about rural development, and all things that make small towns vibrant, particularly downtown development and revitalization. She is a contributor to the Creative Use of Downtown Buildings in Small Towns publication from the Center for Community & Economic Development at UW-Madison, Extension. Professor Kono provides technical assistance to local tourism and community development groups.
Professor Kono trains election workers on the local level and has been featured in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, the BBC, PBS Wisconsin’s Here and Now, CBC’s As it Happens, and Newsweek.
Professor Kono holds a Masters Degree in Public Policy and Economic Development from the Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and a Bachelors Degree in Global Studies and Sociology also from the University of Minnesota. She is originally from Brookings, South Dakota.
Kim Willems Mauthe, Appleton; Events, Promotion and Social Media Coordinator, Mile of Music, Appleton
Kim interned with Mile of Music during the festival's inaugural year in 2013 and now has eleven festivals and hundreds of other original music showcases under her belt. In addition to coordinating social media, event and public relations efforts, Kim also organizes the festival's 500+ volunteers.
Kim graduated with a degree in Advertising/Public Relations from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and interned as the University's Social Media Intern until her graduation in 2015. Kim is currently a Community Board Member on the Community Early Learning Center (CELC) board in Appleton and has previously served on the Fox Cities Leadership Academy Board and the Career Based Learning Committee, both through the Appleton Area School District.
At the board’s December 2024 meeting, a slate of new board officers was confirmed:
President: Carolyn Nelson-Kavajecz, Superior; Director, Sterling Silver Studios, and Board Member, Superior Council for the Arts and Superior Public Art Committee
Vice President: Dr. Nicole Foster, Ashland; Associate Dean, Northwoods Technical College
Secretary: Tom Targos, Kenosha; marketing and fundraising consultant and horticulture student
Treasurer: Chris Clemons, Viroqua; Owner, The Noble Rind
Additional board members are:
Sam Luna, Phelps; Musician, Artist, Entrepreneur, and Educator
Zach Vruwink, Madison; Deputy Director, League of Wisconsin Municipalities
“We’re thrilled to welcome our new board members to the advocacy, service, and development work of Create Wisconsin,” says Carolyn Nelson-Kavajecz,, President of the Board. “All bring their unique perspectives, ideas, and of course, creativity, to the organization’s mission, vision, and purpose. Together with our continuing board members, we’ve got a great team of activists guiding the organization to new and exciting opportunities that benefit everyone, everywhere in the state.”
At the December meeting, Create Wisconsin bid a fond farewell and thanks to retiring board members Chiwei (Jerry) Hui of Eau Claire, Mal Montoya of Milwaukee, Christopher Naumann of Green Bay, Dana Sonnenberg of Stevens Point, and Jennifer Stephany of Appleton.
Create Wisconsin is the only independent statewide organization bringing together people, organizations, businesses, and communities to activate and strengthen Wisconsin’s creative economy, workforce, and civic life by:
Advancing local, regional, and statewide creative economies
Advocating for and supporting creative people, businesses, organizations, and places
Championing the arts, culture, and creativity as fundamental to community engagement, access, and opportunities
Engaging policy-makers and the public by sharing information, generating ideas, and taking action to improve quality of life, drive equity and inclusion, and engage and connect everyone, everywhere in the state.
Contact Create Wisconsin to learn more about the arts, culture, and creativity throughout Wisconsin at www.createwisconsin.org.
