Staff Members
Kim Keith
Executive Director
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Kim Keith is a catalyst for creative oriented endeavors in Northwest Colorado with an eye for innovation and creative problem-solving. Her prodigious creative skill set and experience revolving around design, marketing and event coordination, advocacy and community development ensure a multi-faceted approach to the Steamboat Springs Arts Council non-profit organization (DBA: Steamboat Creates), benefiting the entire region of Routt County and Northwest Colorado. Kim is the Executive Director of Steamboat Creates and also serves on the CO Humanities Board of Directors, Colorado Mountain College Advisory Committee, the Routt County Economic Development Council, many task force and community collaborations. Prior to becoming an arts administrator and certified Change Leader through the Colorado Creative Industries, she worked as a creative consultant for Advocates – Building Peaceful Communities, conceptualizing and creating a symbol for the victims that had been helped by the Advocates organizations in their 30 year history (2013). Over 7,000 origami doves were folded, each one to represent each person helped by Advocates: men and women, children and adults, those who died and those who survived.
Kim believes that everyone has the capacity to create and through the creative process, we can live a more informed, empathetic and healthier life. She harnesses the powerful forces of talented staff, complimentary nonprofits, thousands of passionate volunteers, entrepreneurs and students. Art has the capacity to heal our hearts, communicate our
unique perspective and maximize our social sector to create the change we want to see in the world, in our communities and in ourselves.
Kim is an accomplished artist in her own right with work including sculpture installations, mixed media, poetry and photography. With numerous gallery exhibitions and vast commissioned work, her art resides in private collections throughout the United States and abroad.
Contact Kim at kim@steamboatcreates.org
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Robin Miller
Operations Manager
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Searching for a new adventure after college, Robin Miller packed up the car and moved to Steamboat Springs in 2002 sight unseen. It was a true leap of faith but making Steamboat her home is one of the best decisions she has ever made! Robin has a degree In Public Relations and Business Administration from The University of Tennessee. Like so many others, she began her career in town working various jobs in the resort industry. For the past decade she has been working in the corporate world refining her skills in sales, marketing and business management. She is passionate about the arts and it has always been a dream of hers to work for a creative nonprofit in Steamboat. She is thrilled for the opportunity to be the Operations Manager at Steamboat Creates and is excited to bring the knowledge she has learned over the years to help contribute to Steamboat’s wonderful creative community.
She loves birds, sparkly things and tropical beaches. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and exploring the outdoors with her partner, Jacob and their dog, Dolly.
Contact Robin at robin@steamboatcreates.org
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Thea Wigglesworth
Programs
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Thea Wigglesworth is an educator, administrator, director, and designer. She works across performing arts disciplines in theatre, opera, and dance to innovate old and new works. Born in Kentucky, Thea first began her arts career as a dancer with the School of the Lexington Ballet. Upon graduating from Mount Holyoke College, with a BA in African and African American Studies, she worked in many theaters throughout the Eastern United States, including Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania, back stage, in administrative roles, and occasionally on stage. Thea co-founded Cutout Theatre in New York City with her sister, Avery Wigglesworth. She serves as Producing Director for the small company, currently an informal think tank for new play development. She holds an MFA in Stage Direction from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.
Thea directs and designs in music theatre, most frequently in collaboration with the School of Music at the Ohio University. She also serves as the Director of Community Engagement for Opera Steamboat and is a member of the Hayden Arts Council, and can be found teaching the occasional acting class at Perry-Mansfield, or music class at North Routt Community Charter School. When she’s not in the office, you can find her hiking or baking (altitude style) at her home in Hayden.
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Steamboat Springs Arts Council Board Members
Jim Kissane
Treasurer & Finance Committee
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Jim has lived in Steamboat Springs, permanently, since 1979. He originally came to Steamboat in 1970 after graduating from Colorado State University. After spending several years as an accountant, controller and supervisor on the Front Range, he moved back to Steamboat Springs. He was the Chief Financial Officer for TIC at the time the company was acquired in 2008 and retired in August 2012. He has been married to his wife, Erin, since 1993. They have four children. Jim has served on the Board of the Family Development Center, the Yampa Valley Medical Center and the Steamboat Springs School District. He likes to ski, hike, mountain bike and read.
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Candice Bannister
Advisor
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- Has worked in Steamboat Springs nonprofit sector for 20 years; 14 years as Executive Director of the Tread of Pioneers Museum
- Colorado Creative Industries Certified Change Leader; Leadership Steamboat Graduate
- Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Management | Bachelor of Science: Anthropology/Psychology
- Promotes and organizes Routt County and Steamboat Springs cultural and heritage events and tourism
- Creative District Seat = History and Heritage
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Keith Hensley
Advisory
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Director of Exhisting Industry – Routt County Economic Development Partnership. As a driven and detail-oriented leader, I am passionate about learning and expanding local businesses in the Yampa Valley. In my current role, I am actively engaged in supporting local businesses by identifying and removing barriers to expansion and strengthening the community’s ability to attract, expand, and retain businesses within Routt County. My focus is on driving economic vitality and helping businesses succeed by providing them with the resources they need to thrive.
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James De Francia
Board Member
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- Served on several non-profit boards
- Chaired Committee on Public Art for the Urban Land Institute
- Advisor on planning and growth, including public art placement, to several US cities as well as foreign governments
- Past public service in historic preservation in Colorado
- Graduate of the US Naval Academy
- Creative District Seat = At Large
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Carrie Requist
Business & Tech
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Carrie moved to Steamboat in 2000 with her husband and three children (a 3 year old and 1 year old twins) for the outdoor lifestyle and the fantastic community. Carrie’s background is in technology, having worked at both large tech companies (Adobe, Symantec, Sun Microsystems) and startups. In 2011, Carrie co-founded her own technology Startup, U Grok It, here in Steamboat. U Grok It was acquired by a large tech firm in 2017. Carrie’s children took advantage of being raised in Steamboat by ski jumping with SSWSC and being part of the public school bands from 5th-12th grades. It is through band that Carrie was connected to Steamboat Creates and all it does to support the children of Steamboat as well as the full community. Carrie’s Linked In is https://www.linkedin.com/
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Lauren Yeates
President & Marketing Committee
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With more than 10 years of experience in in marketing strategy, content creation, social media, advertising, email, and SEO, Lauren offers successful digital marketing solutions for national insurance and financial services companies, publishers, small businesses, and nonprofits.
Lauren have her MBA from University of Denver’s Daniels School of Business. She is HubSpot Inbound certified, Hootsuite certified, and has won two national Azbee Awards. In addition, Lauren has served on the board of the Colorado chapter of the American Marketing Association and the Business Marketing Association.
Lauren is exploring the world with her husband and dog Telle, eating good food, practicing yoga, skiing, and gardening.
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Kirk Aigner
Secretary & Performing Arts
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Kirk Aigner vacationed in Steamboat Springs both winters and summers as a teen, and finally moved out here to stay back in 2007. He is a Case Manager with Horizons Specialized Services, an organization that he has been with also since 2007. Kirk is an actor who is proud to be one of the founding members of the Chief Players, and has also been in many Piknik Theatre and Cabaret productions. He is also proud of being voted as the 2nd best Community Actor in the most recent “Best of the Boat” awards. He serves as the Secretary for the Steamboat Creates Board of Directors.
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Jack Dysart
Performing Arts Committee
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Bio coming soon!
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Jennifer Wilkinson
Vice President
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Jennifer Wilkinson, was born and raised in Kentucky, went to college at the Museum School of Fine Arts in Boston and graduated from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Jennifer moved to Steamboat Springs in 2000, raising two amazing girls in this fantastic valley. In 2003 she helped facilitate one of the first ArtWalks in the valley. She co-owned and operated a children’s visual art school in Steamboat called “ArtFuel” from 2006-2008, alongside several talented Steamboat artists. Jennifer worked at Smartwool for over 15 years and currently works as a technology recruiter for cloud, cybersecurity and AI. She has a professional background in marketing, merchandising, retail and ecommerce. Jennifer is addicted to yoga, backcountry skiing, gravel cycling and Steamboat’s Artwalks and ensures she has time to do it all. Her LinkedIn profile:
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