Meet Our Team
Click the picture to learn more about each team member.
SHEILA SUDERWALLA, MSW.
Executive Director |
JANE JANSSEN RIESO
Art Facilitator & Arts Administrator |
MACAYLI HAUSMANN
Program Manager
LETICIA BROCK
Operations Coordinator |
NAMI RUTHERFORD
Studio Manager & Art Facilitator |
Meet Our Board of Directors
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Jimauria Evans, Board Co-President is a family member and primary caregiver to an artist attending Artists First. She is employed as a Senior Data Analyst for a Fortune 500 company and has a Masters of Arts in Human Resource Management from Washington University in St. Louis. Her professional career includes work in early childhood education, healthcare management, meeting and convention planning, and community development programming. These experiences allow Jimauria to support Artists First with grant research and writing, office automation, organizational development, and fundraising activities. By using professional skills gained over the last 25 years, she is able to help Artists First thrive as an organization, giving back to a group that has directly produced significant personal growth for her family member.
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Anne Hollin, Board Co-President is an Executive Assistant at the Family Court of St. Louis County and the owner of sHe Handmade Soaps. Anne has been employed by the Family Court for 15 years, the last 8 years of which she has served as the Assistant to the Family Court Administrator. In this capacity, Anne provides administrative support to the Court’s Administrator and also works closely with the Administrative Judge and department directors. Anne volunteers with the court’s SAFETI Program (Substance Abusing Families Engaged In Treatment and Intervention), a voluntary program for parents whose children are involved with the Court. She is a member of the St. Louis County Domestic and Family Violence Council, a committee highly geared toward educating the community, law enforcement and court staff about domestic violence. Anne is also a handcrafted soap maker and owner of sHe Handmade soaps. facebook.com/sHeHandmadeSoaps
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Nancy Newman Rice, Board Member was born in New York City and was educated at Cornell University and at Washington University, where she earned a BFA with honors and an MFA. She has received awards that include a National Endowment for the Arts/MMA Fellowship for painting, and nominations for a Tiffany Award and an AVA Award in the Visual Arts. Ms. Rice has exhibited her work internationally and has had a number of solo exhibits in both galleries and museums including the Saint Louis Art Museum, MO; The Regina Quick Center for the Arts, NY; Museum Gallery of Southeast Missouri State, MO; Duane Reed Gallery in St. Louis MO, and in Chicago IL; and the Sazama Gallery in Chicago IL. Ms. Rice has also had paintings curated into galleries and museums including, The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, IA, The Wustum Museum of Art WI, the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, MO; Katharina Rich Perlow Gallery NY; the Craighead- Green Gallery, Dallas, TX. Her work is included in private collections in the U.S. and abroad. nancynewmanrice.com
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Dede Raskas, Board Member is a business consultant, community volunteer and mother of three who was able to see firsthand how Artists First’s unique programs and dedicated staff change lives for the better. Her oldest daughter Jasmine was able to launch a successful art career while battling numerous health challenges with the support of the staff and volunteers at Artists First. Dede holds a B.A. in English Literature from Washington University and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Strategic Communications & Leadership at Maryville University. She has held various agency and corporate positions throughout her career, and recently celebrated her ten-year anniversary at Wells Fargo Advisors where she currently serves as a Vice President for the strategic solutions team in the firm’s First Clearing division. In addition, she is a member of the Wells Fargo Diverse Abilities Team Member Network and serves as a United Way volunteer financial coach.
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Rene' Zar, Board Secretary has a B.A. in Psychology from Gustavus Adolphus College and M.S. in Occupational Therapy from Washington University with experience in pediatric, geriatric and mental health care. She is a wife and mother of three, as well as a caregiver of two adults living with disabilities (one who is an Artist with Artists First). She enjoys volunteering at her children’s school, coaching and cheering for youth sports, creating mixed media art, and learning new art techniques. Rene’ appreciates how Artists First positively impacts the quality of life of her friend and brings Artists together, and is honored to be part of a team fostering these creative experiences. Rene stated, "I joined the A1 Board to share an adaptive voice to facilitate art accessibility for everyone."
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Douglas Hall, Board Member has become the go-to expert for navigating virtual and digital transformations for organizations, teams, and individuals. With a rich background in programming, promoting and producing live entertainment, as well as his experience in building and operating new media and virtual experience start-ups, it is no wonder he is on the short list of experienced leaders who understand the new virtual landscape. In January of 2020, Hall stepped away from an executive role in the virtual events market, to create D. Advocate & Associates.
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Christina A. Gurnett, MD PhD, Board Member is a physician who directs the Division of Pediatric and Developmental Neurology and organizes research activities for the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center at Washington University. After establishing long-term relationships with her young patients as the Neurologist-in-Chief at St Louis Children’s Hospital, she has become passionate about empowering children to lead fulfilling lives. Not surprisingly, the artwork of her talented patients fills her clinics and office. She has three grown children and dabbles in art with friends.
John Orbe, Advisory Board Member is an experienced corporate attorney currently employed by Emerson Electric Co. where he specializes in domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, as well as venture investments. A native St. Louisan, John has a strong commitment to giving back to the community which has lead him to serve on non-profit boards and maintain a robust pro bono practice throughout his career. This pro bono commitment has resulted in John being named to the Missouri Bar’s Pro Bono Wall of Fame on multiple occasions. John’s practical legal background and pragmatic approach to problem solving makes him an asset to Artists First.
Audrey Jones, Advisory Board Member is a St. Louis based fashion designer and the founder of Figure 8 Designs' Mannequins on the Loop a yearly public art instillation on one of the top 10 traveled streets in America, University City's Delmar Loop. Mannequins on the Loop allows creative minds to come together and unleash their imagination.
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Robert A. Powell, Advisory Board Member is a recognized sculptor whose works are in the permanent collections of Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art and the Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas. He is also the founder and Executive Director of Portfolio Gallery and Educational Center. Portfolio, a 501C3 arts organization in the city of St. Louis, Missouri educates, enriches lives and to fosters a greater awareness of American artist of African American heritage. Portfolio Gallery impacts on the lives of 5000 citizens yearly. Portfolio Gallery is the recipient of many awards including the River Front Times 2003 Best Citizen award, Best of St. Louis, the 1995 Missouri Arts award and the 2009 recipient of Excellence in the Arts award from the St. Louis Arts and Education Council.
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Debora Davidson, Advisory Board, Retired Board President
Debora Davidson, PhD, OTR/L is an occupational therapist and owner of Bright Futures, a private practice serving adolescents and adults. Debora fell in love with Artists First through her clients, who she sometimes brings to the studio when they are looking for opportunities to expand their creative expression and leisure activities. Debora has served as the president of the Artists First board since July, 2014. |
Artists First Ambassadors Board
Artists First's Ambassadors Board offers volunteer and leadership opportunities to volunteers who serve as Ambassadors.
A1A board members create awareness, enhance our service delivery, and help implement the organization’s strategic plan.
A1A board members create awareness, enhance our service delivery, and help implement the organization’s strategic plan.
Artists First Agency Partners Include:
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ARTISTS FIRST
7190 Manchester Road, Maplewood, MO 63143
(314) 781-4440
7190 Manchester Road, Maplewood, MO 63143
(314) 781-4440
Artists First is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization rated in Good Standing with the State of Missouri and a Platinum Seal of Transparency recipient on Guidestar that builds positive social change through art.