TAC Staff

Thornapple Arts Council Staff

Megan Lavell	Executive Director exd@thornapplearts.org

Megan Lavell joined TAC as the executive director in 2009. Prior to joining TAC, Lavell earned her BA in journalism and worked at Hastings papers, building strong relationships with area individuals, organizations, and businesses that continue to benefit TAC today. Lavell is a 2010 graduate of Leadership Barry County and a 2012 recipient of the Athena Young Professional Award.

Megan Lavell

Executive Director
exd@thornapplearts.org

Kathleen Welch	Marketing and Technology Coordinator kathleen@thornapplearts.org

Kathleen Welch joined TAC in 2018 as Program Director before transitioning into Marketing and Technology Coordinator in early 2020. She holds a BA in English Language & Literature and has experience in both professional writing and graphic design.

Kathleen Welch

Marketing and Technology Coordinator
kathleen@thornapplearts.org

HCMS Staff

Community Music School Staff

Norma Jean Acker	HCMS Coordinator commussch@gmail.com

Norma Jean Acker joined the Hastings Community Music School as Coordinator in late 2016. She holds a BA in English from Oakland University and an MAT from Marygrove College. Acker is president and co-founder of the Thornapple Players, a Barry County-based community theatre group. Acker retired from teaching for Maple Valley High School after 34 years and from Michigan Virtual after 13 years. Acker is a graduate of Leadership Barry County 2015 and a recipient of the 2016 Athena Award.

Norma Jean Acker

HCMS Coordinator
commussch@gmail.com

Amanda Conley	Administrative Assistant commussch@gmail.com

Amanda Conley joined the Hastings Community Music School in 2017. She is a 2020 graduate of Leadership Barry County.

Amanda Conley

Administrative Assistant
commussch@gmail.com

Amanda Conley joined the Hastings Community Music School in 2017. She is a 2020 graduate of Leadership Barry County.

2021 Board of Directors

Michelle Duits, President
Jennifer DeWitt, Vice President
Ayesha Franklin, Secretary
Michael Kinnary, Treasurer
Jeff Buehl, Immediate Past President
Jordan Brehm
Jan Hawthorne
Sally Shuster Schoff
Dale Svihl
Ashley Ulberg

Board meetings are held at 5:30 pm on the third Monday of every month in the Thornapple Arts Council office.