Very Special Arts of California

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Staff Biographies

Alice Parente: Alice Parente, Executive Director of VSA arts of California, has been involved with VSA arts since its formation in 1974. She worked as a Music Therapist at Fairview State Hospital before being chosen as Director of Curriculum at the Alan Short Center in Stockton—one of 10 model sites for VSA arts. Alice has coordinated VSA arts of California at Sacramento for the past 21 years. She was chosen as Woman of the Year by the YWCA in 1986 and was honored for outstanding contributions to education by California State University Sacramento in 2001.
Amy Picard: Amy Picard has been working with VSA arts of California since January 2005. She holds a B.A. in Religion and Visual Culture from the University of California at Santa Cruz and has published essays on Pre-Columbian art history through the annual conference of the California American Studies Association. From 2003-2005, she was the artist-in-residence for the Child Services Program at Sacramento Food Bank & Family services. She is also a freelance artist, creating murals and smaller works for patrons throughout California.

Board of directors biographies

Kelly Wiltermood, Chairperson: Kelly Wiltermood is a creative individual with a broad background in education, art, marketing, and management. She holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Sculpture, a Master in Arts Education in Art, and a teaching certificate. As a professional artist her work has been collected throughout the United States, shown in galleries, and extensively published. She was chosen by her peers as one of nine emerging artists for the Post Alley Project in Seattle and was selected to work on the Bob Hope Memorial. As an arts educator she currently recruits and trains artists to work with local school districts developing site-specific arts curricula for elementary and secondary students aligned with VAPA. Her lesson plan on Cartouches was the published cover story for SchoolArts and she has written a book on Sculpture for secondary education. She has a proven track record of turning businesses in crisis and new ventures into industry leaders, including the Yuba-Sutter Regional Art Council. As the former Executive Director, she led the failing non-profit into one of the top recognized agencies in the State. Always active in her community, she has served on many boards and held leadership positions in many organizations.

Nydia Algazzali Gonzalez, Vice-Chairperson: Nydia formerly served as Manager for the Art and Public Education Division at East Bay Center for the Performing Arts where she created the Artist Training Program and led professional Development workshops for teachers. She is a Maestra in Son Jarocho and has published nationally replicated curricula linking Mexican Music and Dance with academics. At Youth In Arts she develops and administers artist residencies for mainstream and special needs classrooms in the Artists in Schools and VSA arts programs. She selects artists, customizes instructional packages with schools and teachers, makes recommendations based on school needs and artist specializations, observes artists and students, and administers evaluations. Nydia has a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley.

Robert Reich, Treasurer: Robert Reich is the Executive Director of the Yuba Sutter Regional Arts Council in Marysville and the Coordinator of VSA arts of California at Yuba Sutter. He has over 32 years of professional experience in all facets of arts management with academic, government, and nonprofit organizations throughout the west. The programs he has developed or worked on include outreach to artists and audiences with disabilities and special needs, special programs for audiences with disabilities and increasing access to arts programs and events.
Phyllis Berenbeim

Phyllis Berenbeim is associated with VSA arts of California at Orange County and the Orange county Office of Education. Her bio is coming soon!
Suzy Boyett: Suzy Boyett is the Special Events Coordinator for Los Angeles County Music Center Education Division and VSA arts of California at Los Angeles. Her bio is coming soon!


Kate Marusina: Kate Marusina is a consultant to biotech industry. Her specialization is marketing and business development. She advises her clients on business opportunities for their product, and performs market, competitive and financial analysis. Dr. Marusina holds Ph.D. and MBA degrees from the University of Cincinnati.

Laura McNamara: Laura McNamara is the Executive Director of Arts Outreach and the Coordinator of VSA arts of California at Santa Barbara. Her bio is coming soon!

John Russell-Curry: John Russell-Curry is the Program Coordinator of the Merced County Office of Education and Very Special Arts California at Merced. He has worked with Very Special Arts California at Merced for over 20 years. He is also involved with an assortment of related Boards (such as Cerebral Palsy Association of Merced County, Merced Arts Council…) and activities, working with those with disabilities and their families in Merced County since 1975.
Elise Tran: Elise Tran is a Management Consultant and the founder/former coordinator of Kids With Dreams/VSA arts of California at Palo Alto. Her bio is coming soon!

VSA Advisory Board members:

Troy Botello: Troy is an 8th generation Californian working all his career within fields for which he has the greatest passion, arts and education. Achieving his BA in Music Therapy from Cal State Long Beach, his MA from Cal Poly Pomona in Administration, and his Ph.D. in Administrative Law from Stanford. He also holds a California Developmental Centers Administrative Credential, an Arts Management Certification from USC, and specialized certification in non-profit management from International University. He worked for 19 years for the Los Angeles County Office of Education in special education, for 6 years with the Los Angeles County Music Center, for 14 years as founding Director of Education for Orange County Performing Arts Center, and the last 3 years as President/Sr. Consultant for The FAME (Family Arts Management Enterprises) Group.; Troy trained as a “concert” level pianist winning several local and community awards. As a “young composer” he had 3 original compositions for piano published, he received the Outstanding Arts Educator from Arts Orange County, Citation of Excellence in Arts Education from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Outstanding Leadership to the Field by the National Association of Arts and Disability, Outstanding Teacher of the year from Los Angeles County Office of Education, and the Breeman Award for Service to the Arts from the National Assembly for Human Dignity. He also serves on numerous boards and committees that serve the community, state-wide, nationally and internationally.
Nancy Carr: Nancy's bio is coming soon.
Herm Dustman: Herm Dustman has twenty years of sales and marketing experience with the California State Lottery. He was also was an administrator for student services at New York University. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and Stanford University.
Karla Geller: Karla Geller was appointed by the Governor to the office of Commissioner for the California Department of Education Advisory Commission on Special Education. She is a retired Consultant and Educator at Los Angeles County Office of Education and Coordinator of Very Special Arts Festivals for Los Angeles County. Karla was appointed by the Orange County District 5 Public Access Committee to ensure accessibility and ADA compliance for Orange County courts and public facilities. She is also a twenty-year member, first woman, and first member with a disability of a popular 17 piece swing band as well as member of 7 piece jazz combo performing for over 12 years at the Los Angeles County Music Center.
Jan Schmidt: Jan's bio is coming soon.

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