Katy Menne
President
Katy Menne moved to Astoria in 2022 to become the education director at Columbia River Maritime Museum. She has taught in informal and formal spaces for over 10 years and has been in maritime museums for eight years. She has a B.A. in history and a master’s degree in teaching, both from the University of South Carolina. Menne was recognized as the emerging museum professional of the year by the Southeastern Museums Conference in 2020. She has won awards for her technology and DEAI initiatives.
Kris Evans
Kris has had a longstanding passion for the arts and personally loves trying and working with any medium. She loves helping others get engaged with the arts and advocates for recognition of the therapeutic value she believes the arts hold. Professionally, she has assisted with arts therapy (individual and group) sessions and has volunteered at numerous visual arts events and in galleries.
Valerie Garrett
Secretary/Treasurer
Valerie holds a B.Arch. and has built her career designing, remodeling and managing projects ranging from high-end residences to affordable housing, with a special love for preserving vintage homes. After relocating to Astoria to be surrounded by nature and historic architecture, she joined Ten Fifteen Productions as their Theater Operations Coordinator. When not traveling, Valerie can often be found volunteering with local arts and animal welfare organizations. She’s passionate about live theater, visual arts, concerts and the vibrant sense of community they create.
Danyelle Tinker
Danyelle was born and raised in Portland and graduated from Western Oregon University with a degree in theatre arts in 2000. After graduating, she performed in theaters throughout the Willamette and Yamhill Valleys before co-founding Twilight Theater Company in Portland in 2013, where she served as their executive managing director until relocating to Astoria in 2018. Danyelle is the executive director for Ten Fifteen Productions in Astoria.
Laura Janes
Laura is a painter who has made her living as an artist for over three decades and has also had careers in teaching, sales, and small business. She owned and operated “Iconica,” providing murals, paintings, and decorative work for the interior design industry in Southern California. She has created art workshops and art camps as an artist in residence in the San Bernardino National Forest. She has been actively involved in several arts organizations in both Palm Springs and Portland and now serves on the board of Astoria Visual Arts. Her paintings can currently be seen at the Geezer Gallery in Portland, and her watercolor notecards can be found at locations in California and throughout Oregon.