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Staff and Board
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2011-2012
CHAIR  Connie Robertson, Marketing Communication Consultant, StudioEnso

VICE CHAIR  Bart Spaulding, Co-Founder/Managing Partner, Parkwood Real Estate Partners

SECRETARY  Leslie Horna, Director of Corporate Communications & Community Affairs, HealthONE

TREASURER   Susan Aplin,  Employee Development Director & Wholesale Banking Sales Coordinator, Vectra Bank, Colorado
 
Mark Kling, Executive Director, Family Resource Center Association
Jeffrey Hirschfeld, Co-Founder, Antonoff & Co. Brokerage, Inc.
Joey Porcelli, Freelance writer/editor
Robin Rule, Owner, Rule Gallery
Cynthia M. Treadwell, Founder/Partner, The Treadwell Law Firm LLC

Non-voting members
PAST CHAIR  Amy Cara, Chief Financial Officer, East West Partners, Denver, Inc.
Trish Thibodo, PlatteForum, Executive Director, PlatteForum
Judy Anderson, PlatteForum, Artistic/Founding Director, PlatteForum
STAFF
Trish Thibodo, MA, Executive Director since August 2006, has over 18 years experience in the non-profit and higher education sectors. Prior to joining PlatteForum Thibodo was the executive director of the Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence, a statewide association providing resources, education, policy and advocacy on domestic violence issues. Trish has extensive experience in administrative, board and program management, fiscal planning and management, grants management and public outreach. Her chocolate lab, Dove, can sometimes be found at PlatteForum greeting guests.  Outside of PlatteForum Thibodo can be found gardening, cooking, hanging out with her dogs, kitty and seven backyard chickens.

Judy Anderson, Founder and Artistic Director, is an arts administrator, artist, and educator with more than 30 years of experience in the arts field. In addition to serving as artistic director at PlatteForum, she is owner of Judy Anderson Studio. Before moving to Denver in 2002, she was Professor and Chair of the Division of Design, School of Art at the University of Washington, past President of the University and College Designers Association, and member of the boards of Graphic Design Education Association and American Institute of Graphic Artists Seattle. Anderson has taught at universities in Colorado, California, and Washington. Her work has been exhibited in major galleries and museums in the country, has toured in exhibitions in Japan, England, United States, Europe and the Soviet Union, and is in the permanent collection at the Getty Museum, Walker Art Center, New York Public Library, and the Universities of Utah, Delaware, and Washington. Her print and book designs have received numerous regional, national, and international awards, and have been published in national and international journals. Outside of PlatteForum Anderson can be found working in her studio, traveling, riding her bike, going to movies, and playing with her cats Coco and Cheeto.
 
Meagan Terry, Education Director since May 2008, has extensive experience coordinating youth development and mentoring programs for high-risk youth both in Washington and Colorado.  Prior to joining PlatteForum, Terry was Program Coordinator with Adams County Connections a program of Peer Assistance Services that serves underprivileged and marginalized middle school students with mentoring. Terry brings skills in program development and, evaluation and assessment; youth development and skill building curriculum, and program management. She is a certified Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist. Terry is currently pursuing her masters degree in Counseling Psychology at the University of Colorado Denver. Outside of PlatteForum Terry can be found playing with her dog Jack Bauer, cooking, running and studying for school.

Erin Bassity, MA, Advancement Coordinator since 2011, is a communications professional with a background in arts administration, arts advocacy, communications strategy, writing and editing, messaging, grants administration, and marketing. Prior to joining PlatteForum, Bassity worked as director of marketing and communications for the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF), a regional non-profit arts service organization headquartered in Denver, as well as for the state of Colorado at the Department of Public Health and Environment as a health policy and communications coordinator. She is a member of and webmaster for Colorado's state arts advocacy organization, Arts for Colorado. Bassity also serves as a commissioner on the Denver Commission on Cultural Affairs and is the former chair of the Denver County Cultural Council of the Science and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). She earned a master's degree in communication from the University of Colorado Denver, and in her free time enjoys cooking, music, cycling, traveling, and spending time with family, friends, and her Aussie mix, Jack.

BOARD
Susan E. Aplin, Employee Development Director & Wholesale Banking Sales Coordinator, Vectra Bank, Colorado
At Vectra Bank, Aplin supports over 500 employees in achieving their career aspirations and goals.
“I feel fortunate to have two places in my life, Vectra and PlatteForum, that allow me to focus on helping people tap into their talents and put them on their path to greatness and success, whatever that looks like for them. Being on the Board of Directors for PlatteForum allows me to serve my community in a meaningful way. The power of art and its creation saved me from becoming a negative "teenage statistic" and I hope to do the same for others. As a board member, I can assist youth in accessing the program as well as give support to artists.”

Amy Cara, Chief Financial Officer, East West Partners, Denver, Inc., PlatteForum Past Chair
At East West Partners, Cara oversees financial and land use matters including land procurement, entitlement, development planning, financing, sales, and leasing.  She has been part of the management team for the Riverfront Park development from the ground up and is actively engaged in Denver’s Union Station redevelopment.
“I have been active in the arts community for years, but I really found a home at PlatteForum because of the extraordinary things that happen when youth and the arts connect. An active member of the board for the past five years, I am also very proud to mentor one of the ArtLab youth at PlatteForum, Hajia Muya, a senior in high school this year, who aspires to be a first generation college graduate.”

Leslie Horna, Director of Corporate Communications & Community Affairs, HealthONE
As Director of Corporate Communications & Community Affairs for HealthONE, Denver’s largest healthcare system, Horna supports eight hospitals, 13 ambulatory surgery centers, 30 occupational medicine/rehabilitation facilities; sports medicine, specialty, and outpatient diagnostic imaging clinics; and AirLife, a critical care air and ground transportation service.
“Being on the Board of Directors for PlatteForum allows me to serve my community in a most meaningful way. Anyone can write a check and that is definitely appreciated and needed, but I believe it’s the dedication of people involved who make the organization worthwhile. They’re the ones who engage others to volunteer, donate, or participate. Creativity is a powerful vehicle to engage and connect with youth; namely at-risk youth who need and benefit most from the programmatic resources and support that PlatteForum provides.”

Jeffrey Loren Hirschfeld, EdD, Co-Founder, Antonoff & Co. Brokerage, Inc.
Hirschfeld’s firm, a commercial real estate company, specializes in the sales, leasing, and investment aspects of the shopping center industry. He is also Founder of Mile High Trading Company, an international trade company specializing in the art product industry. 
“I have been a participant in the arts and have helped at-risk youth in some form or fashion for most of my life, but not always at the same time. As a PlatteForum Board Member, I am able to fuse these two life long interests to help create a meaningful contribution to the Denver community. PlatteForum offers a creative outlet for individuals who would not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in an artistic endeavor. This experience is done in a caring and non-threatening environment that fosters growth both personally and artistically.”

Mark Kling, Executive Director, Family Resource Center Association
The Family Resource Center association consists of 23 family resource centers that promote the well being of children and families across Colorado by nurturing
effective, collaborative, community-based services. Kling previously served
as General Counsel for Space Imaging, Inc., and has held other corporate
and legal positions, conducting business in over 20 countries. 
“I am interested in the continuing work of PlatteForum because it serves a unique niche in the community, helping at-risk youth connect and work with master artists to be able to discover and communicate their artistic, creative voice is a safe, stable and multiple-learning community environment."

Joey Porcelli, freelance writer/editor
Porcelli writes screenplays, magazine features, and restaurant reviews.  She is the author of three books and teaches creative and memoir writing at the Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities.  Active in the film community, Porcelli’s short film “Condemned” screened at the 2010 Denver International Film Festival.
“I applaud PlatteForum’s dedicated staff and volunteers who expose at-risk youth to the creative process by pairing them with skilled master artists.  During my term on the board, I have witnessed some miraculous transformations on both sides.  Because I  am a firm believer in the old saying, “Art saves lives,” I am proud to serve on the board of an organization that is doing just that.” 

Connie Robertson, Marketing Communication Consultant, StudioEnso
Robertson specializes in brand development, key messages, communication strategies & implementation for non-profits & small businesses.  She is an avid supporter of creative endeavors and a lover of the visual arts, film, music, and writing.
“I believe in the power of the arts and the creative process to transform. My support and commitment to PlatteForum is based on that belief and how I see it manifest in our creative residents, the youth we work with, and our community.  At PlatteForum, artists are given the luxury of time and space to work and the unique opportunity of collaborating with our youth.  They and their work evolve and they are propelled into new ways of thinking.  In addition, evidence supports the fact that when students have exposure and involvement in the arts, critical thinking expands, self-esteem heightens, and engagement in all academics increases. The youth involved in our programs are proof of just that. The kids truly see themselves and the possibilities before them for the first time and it is life changing. Our community is enriched not only by the amazing contribution of the artists and the youth, but also by the openness and collaborations found at PlatteForum. Truly a gem and a model for the rest of the country, we are fortunate PlatteForum is a part of our community and I am proud to support it.”

Robin Rule, owner, RULE Gallery
Over the course of 25 years, Rule, owner of RULE Gallery, has gained international recognition and acceptance. RULE Gallery's primary focus is on contemporary abstraction and conceptual works, including painting, sculpture, photography and works on paper. RULE continually showcases Denver's most innovative artists. Rule, a leading voice in the Denver art scene, was on the board of the DAM Contemporaries for 10 years and currently serves on the advisory board at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design.

Bart Spaulding, Co-Founder/Managing Partner, Parkwood Real Estate Partners
Spaulding is a managing partner of Parkwood Real Estate Partners, a private equity real estate investment company. A native of Kansas, Spaulding currently lives in Denver. He is passionate about the Colorado mountains and enjoys them while skiing, biking, and fishing.

Cynthia Treadwell, Founder/Partner, The Treadwell Law Firm LLC
Treadwell is proud of her busy, independent law practice, but prouder still of the work she does at PlatteForum.
“I am passionate about the powerful transformational opportunities we provide and the manner in which our programs teach math, writing, life skills, self expression, critical thought and resiliency through art. There is no other program in the country that does what we do. Through exposure to artists and the creative process, our kids find their voices, their wings, and their place in this world.  They begin to see themselves and their opportunities in a fundamentally different way. Above all, I am proud of THEM.”