Board of Directors
Jamie L. Halavais, Chair
Partner, Husch Blackwell LLP
Angela Rodela, Vice Chair
Brand Manager, Bar S Foods
Alvaro Sande, Treasurer
Development Principal, KATERRA
Christine Macias, Secretary
Account Executive, Clear Channel Outdoor
Martyn Bridgeman
Realtor / Manager of Corporate Relocation, Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices
Carla Logan
Owner, Carly’s Bistro
Gary Nolan
Regulatory Compliance Advisor, APS
Cynthia Standley
Director, Art in Medicine; Professor, Dept. Bioethics and Medicinal Humanism, UA College of Medicine-Phoenix
Steve Valderrama
Sr. Management Consultant, Point B
Committee Members
Patrick Keig, Development Committee
Commercial Loan Analyst, Keig Financial Corporation
Dewey Leitch, Development Committee
Disability Claims Manager, Lincoln Financial Group
Staff & Associates
Lauren Henschen, Chief Executive Officer
Noemi Garcia, Director of Development
Jessica Valiente, Programs Manager
Lindsey Krause, Thunderbird Manager
Will Snider, Campus Manager
Tania Desir, Patron Services Lead
Mirinda DiBiase, Creative Designer
Cadel Grisinger, Technical Coordinator
Ruben Aguilar, Patron Services Associate
Silvia Avila, Patron Services Associate
Miros Domenzain, Patron Services Associate
Kevin Lopez, Patron Services Associate
Meenakshi Kapur, Patron Services Associate
Gabi Arias, Patron Services Associate
Ted Ciccone, Community Arts Curator
Nuvia Enriquez, Community Coordinator
Maria Cruz Cordoba, Thunderbird Camp Manager
Ileyna Witenstein, Intern – Teen Artist Guild
To contact a staff member you may send an email to: the first letter of their first name dot last name (at) phoenixcenterforthearts.org (no spaces). There is only one exception to this; Will Snider, who can be reached at will.snider(at)phoenixcenterforthearts.org.
Chief Executive Officer
Lauren Henschen
Lauren Henschen has served as Phoenix Center for the Arts’ CEO since July 2019. Lauren has been with the organization since 2012, most recently serving as Deputy Director from 2016-2019. Prior to coming to the Center, Lauren spent 8 years on the Communication Arts Network team, focusing on marketing and public relations for local businesses and arts organizations. Lauren serves on the boards of Phoenix Community Alliance, the Hance Park Conservancy, and the Evans Churchill Community Association. She is a proud Arizona State University graduate and big Sun Devil Football and Arizona Cardinals fan. Lauren is also a published songwriter (BMI, Fervor Records), with music featured in some of your favorite television programs. She is an Arizona native, a Valley Leadership alumna, and a committed community advocate.
Lauren’s Superpower: Game planning
Office Hours: 9am-5pm Monday-Friday
Contact: 602-254-3100 ext. 304
Director of Development
Noemi Garcia
Noemi Garcia serves as the Director of Development for Phoenix Center for the Arts and helps lead the organization’s fundraising efforts. She serves on the boards of the Scottsdale Community College Achieving a College Education Initiative and the Humane Society of the United States. Originally from Newark, NJ, Noemi spent many years living in New York City and San Diego before making a home in Phoenix. Her background has been primarily working in Latino nonprofit organizations focused on community empowerment, neighborhood revitalization, and the promotion of arts and culture. A proud Sun Devil, Noemi is currently pursuing a degree in Public Administration. Noemi is a first generation Afro-Latina from the Dominican Republic who loves afro-cuban jazz, salsa music and drawing. Noemi is committed to helping increase access to quality, engaged arts education in our schools.
Noemi’s Superpower: Creating magical connections!
Office Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm Monday-Friday
Contact: 602-254-3100 ext. 302
Programs Manager
Jessica Valiente
Jessica Valiente is a powerful Latina! She was born in San Francisco and raised in “La Phoeniquera.” When she isn’t being awesome as Phoenix Center for the Arts’ Programs Manager, she is busy doing awesome things in her community. As a business owner, Jessica focuses on connecting talented Phoenicians to unexpected audiences, by creating memorable events and productions. She is also a core member of the Isac Amaya Foundation; an organization that raises scholarship funds for students who are undocumented. In her free time, Jessica enjoys meeting new people, engaging in various cultural events, and learning about new and upcoming trends. Her favorite quote (which her mother repeated many times throughout her childhood) is ” dime con quien te juntas, y te digo quien eres” (translation: “tell me who you surround yourself with and I’ll tell you who you are”). Jessica takes pride in making sure that she is always surrounded by powerful and determined individuals. Her inspirations come from those who keep fighting the fight to achieve their goals and their dreams.
Jessica’s Superpower: She’s a Multipotentialite
Office Hours: 10:00am-6:00pm Monday-Friday
Contact: 602-254-3100 ext. 303
Thunderbird Manager
Lindsey Krause
Lindsey Krause is a long-time volunteer and teaching artist at the Center. As the manager of Thunderbird Arts Center, she is inspired to offer unique and diverse programming for the community. Lindsey is personally and professionally passionate about art and believes it can be used to heal, empower, and enact social change and connection. Lindsey holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with a minor in Studio Art (Magna Cum Laude), and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Humanities. Lindsey is a practicing artist, proficient in oil painting, and enjoys depicting the human form. She has exhibited and received awards for her work in Pennsylvania, her home state. In her free time, Lindsey is in her studio enjoying all things ART!
Lindsey’s Superpower: Idea generator
Office Hours:
12:00am-9:00pm Monday-Thursday
Contact: 602-293-3267
Campus Manager
Will Snider
Will started at Phoenix Center for the Arts as the Technical Coordinator in 2017 and took over the Campus Manager position in 2019. Previously, he was a working theater technician in Arizona since 2012. In his role as Campus Manager, he aims to create an affordable and supportive space for all organizations, students, and teachers at The Center. In his spare time, he enjoys watching television, seeing movies and plays, and playing video games with friends all across the world. Will hopes to one day start and run a successful podcast with his friend and colleague, Mirinda.
Will’s Superpower: My easy-going attitude
Office Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm Monday-Friday
Contact: 602-254-3100 ext. 306
Creative Designer
Mirinda DiBiase
Mirinda is a graduate of Arizona State University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Visual Communication. She has several years experience in the graphic design industry and has an extreme passion for all things creative. As a Creative Designer, Mirinda helps create and update the graphic design materials used for Phoenix Center for the Arts, Thunderbird Arts Center, and Central Arts Alliance. Originally from Tucson, she came to Phoenix to pursue her dreams of finding a way to contribute her knowledge and enthusiasm to the art community. When not at work, she can be found exploring new mediums and methods for creating all forms of art. Her favorite quote comes from Mark Twain, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” She is grateful that Phoenix Center for the Arts has given her the opportunity to do what she was born to do.
Mirinda’s Superpower: Making others smile
Office Hours:
10:00am-6:00pm Monday, Wednesday, Friday
10:00am-1:00pm Tuesday & Thursday
Contact: 602-254-3100 ext. 311
Patron Services Lead
Tania Desir
Tania is an energetic, imaginative, and hyper focused individual. With a strong interest in arts and culture, she has worked as a TV host and reporter at TV Azteca Sonora and also as a journalist and editor at the newspaper El Sol de Hermosillo. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications, with a minor in Media Production from the University of Sonora in Mexico. In her free time Tania enjoys learning new things and catching up on her favorite Korean dramas.
Superpower: Turning my dreams into reality
Office hours: 9:00am-5:00pm Monday – Friday
Contact: 602-254-3100 ext. 309
Contact: 602.529.1809
Patron Services Associate
Andres Valiente-Marin
Born in San Francisco, Andres grew up in the West Valley. Andres currently attends Arizona State University and pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Urban Development, with a minor in Urban Geography. Andres has taken a number of art classes, including ceramics, drawing, painting, theatre, and comic book penciling. You can find him both at our Downtown Phoenix and at our North Phoenix location, Thunderbird Arts Center.
Andres’ Superpower: Adaptability
Office Hours: Varied
Patron Services Associate
Ruben Aguilar
Born and raised in Phoenix, Ruben is excited to work alongside the amazing staff, teachers, and students (or pretty much anyone that walks into the Center). As a self-professed extrovert, he enjoys communicating with and helping people. In his spare time, he volunteers for Aliento, which is a young adult led organization that focuses on community healing through the arts. Some of his interests include: learning, sports, music, and photography…in reality, the list is almost endless!
Ruben’s Superpower: Friendliness
Office Hours: 5:00-9:00pm Monday, Wednesday, & Friday
Contact: 602-254-3100 ext. 312
Patron Services Associate
Silvia Avila
Silvia was born and raised in Tijuana, Mexico. She lived in San Diego for 7 years and moved to Phoenix 3 years ago. She is super excited to be working with such amazing people, and to get to know the teachers, students, and everybody that walks into the Center. Silvia has over 10 years of experience in customer service. In her free time, Silvia volunteers for the Isac Amaya Foundation, an organization that focuses on raising money for scholarships for students who are undocumented, as well as provides workshops to students and parents on how to effectively apply for scholarships and fund their educations. Silvia enjoys learning, reading, hiking, swimming, and dancing…pretty much anything fun!
Silvia’s Superpower: Spreading love
Office Hours: 5:00-9:00pm Tuesday & Thursday, 12:30-4:30pm Saturday
Contact: 602-254-3100 ext. 312
Contact: 602-254-3100 ext. 312
Patron Services Associate
Kevin Lopez
Kevin is a creative, mellow, and curious person. He is always looking for something creative to fill his day and keep his imagination flowing. Whether it’s creating something at home or being involved in local art and fashion events. He is a graduate from Arizona State University with a Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Communication and Media Analysis. He has a strong interest in media and visual and performing arts. One of his overall goals is to make a positive impact on people’s lives with art.
Office Hours: 5:00-9:00pm Tuesday & Thursday, 8:30-1:00pm Sunday
Community Arts Curator
Ted Ciccone
Originally from the East Coast, Ted earned a bachelor of science degree in industrial design from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. His background includes diverse roles in the arts. As part of the executive team at Scottsdale Arts he oversaw the marketing for the Center for Performing Arts, SMoCA and Public Art. Ted also served The Art Institute of Phoenix as director of communications, where he helped young artists and designers explore career options in the arts. While at The Art Institute, he lead the outreach efforts and formed many partnerships with nonprofits and community leaders. Currently, as the community arts curator, he manages a variety of art shows including the Student Art Series and the Thunderbird Art Works. In his free time, Ted enjoys creating new forms in clay as a ceramics student at the Center.
Ted’s Superpower: Super vision for the small details
Office Hours: Vary
Thunderbird Camp Manager
Maria Cruz-Cordoba
Maria Cruz-Cordoba is the Camp Manager at Thunderbird Arts Center. She is a firm believer in creative arts as a form of learning and says that being Camp Manager brings together two loves: her love of children and her love of art. As an almost “empty nester,” Maria enjoys being around kids because they have a lot of creative energy and are unlimited envisioning themselves as young artists. As an adjunct Theology Instructor at Benedictine University at Mesa, she incorporates art in her teaching there, and affirms to her Ben U. students that art is an expression of God, who created everything and gives us the “eyes” to recognize beauty. Maria has two young-adult sons and one “almost” grown daughter of her own and loves to be creative whenever she has the opportunity.
Maria’s Superpower: Coming soon…
Office Hours: Varied
Contact: 602-293-3267
