BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sandra Williams - Associate Professor or Art/ Visual Artist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Kimberly Bazata Weeks - 6th Grade Teacher, Auburn Public Schools

Andrea von Kampen - Singer/Songwriter/Entrepreneur

DeWayne Taylor - TV/Radio Host, Public Speaker, Beatboxer

Dr. Pat Tetreault - Founding Director of the UNL/LGBTQA Resource Center and Director of Women’s Center

Marie Amthor Schuett - Playwright and Social Media and Marketing Specialist, Oxbow Animal Health

Harmony Rea - Dancer and Staff Member, Fiserv

Oscar Rios Pohirieth - LPS Cultural Specialist and Coordinator for the Bi-lingual Liaison Program/ Artist

Dr. Mary Kay Quinlan - Freelance Journalist and Oral Historian

Dr. Darl Naumann - Business Development Executive, Ayars & Ayars Inc.

Rachel McConnell - Event Operations Manager, Sheldon Museum of Art

Dr. Deepak Keshwani - Associate Professor of Biological Systems and Engineering, College of Agricultural, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Ashley Kobza - Theatre Artist and Omaha Taproom Manager, Zipline Brewery

Paul Duban - Senior Brand Manager at Bosselman Enterprises

Sonya Howsden - Senior Accountant, Infinite Systems

Bryan Daize - Artist and Recent Graduate

Dr. Jay Chipman - Professor of Communication/Theatre Department Chair, Nebraska Wesleyan University

Breanna Carodine - Happiness Engineer, Flywheel

Carly Woythaler-Runestad, Director, Mourning Hope Grief Center

STAFF

PETRA WALQVIST
Executive Director

​Petra Wahlqvist, co-founder of Blixt Locally Grown, has over 15 years of experience as a project creator, educator, and producer. She has an extensive grant-writing record, including winning six consecutive awards from the National Endowment for the Arts for community engagement programs in the arts. She previously served as the Education Director at the Lied Center for Performing Arts, where she co-created projects with artists such as the Actors’ Gang, STREB, and Pilobolus, and curated and coordinated statewide performance tours. Petra teaches in the Johnny Carson School of Theatre & Film at UNL. Before moving to Lincoln in 2008, Wahlqvist worked as a theatre maker on multiple international tours, and as a Performing Arts Specialist and Mentor with Artis, a performing arts education company in London, UK.

FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES

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Becky Boesen
Executive Consultant
Becky Boesen is a Nebraska-based creative, educator, speaker, consultant, and community builder. Whether developing new works for the stage or helping bring out the best in others, Boesen specializes in unleashing potential and possibilities through creativity, connection, and innovation. Becky is a consultant for Nebraska Community Foundation and Adjunct Faculty Member at Nebraska Wesleyan University. She was named one of Lincoln Journal Star's "Top 20 under 40" business leaders and was recently selected as a Chime Change Maker, a national honor bestowed upon 25 Americans committed to the pursuit of building stronger communities from within. She is also a co-founder of Blixt Locally Grown. www.beckyboesen.com  ​

MACKENZIE DAVENPORT
Creator and Host, Homegrown Theatre Camp
Mackenzie Davenport is the lead Teaching Artist for Homegrown Theatre Camp. Mackenzie studied theatre at Nebraska Wesleyan University, and recently spent a semester at the Freie Universität in Berlin, Germany. In 2018 he received a Mayor's Arts Award for his empowering work alongside youth while producing high-quality live productions at Silicon Prairie Theatre, and has directed and written for multiple summer camps for the former Haymarket Theatre in Lincoln, Nebraska. He served as a production assistant and provided education and engagement support for the ASCAP Grow A Show Workshop at Lied Center for Performing Arts in 2019 and is a frequent Blixt Locally Grown collaborator.

About Homegrown Theatre Camp:

HOMEGROWN THEATRE CAMP
Homegrown Theatre Camp is a partnership between First Ensemble artists and Blixt Locally Grown. We offer young people scripts, exercises and knowledge so that they can make a play in their own homes. Our videos and resources are free, and can be accessed at any time. Our camps provide structure, covering performance techniques, script analysis and tech tips, in a simple week-long format, and can work around any kids’ schedule.

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