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.
Kathleen Welch
Marketing Coordinator
kathleen@thornapplearts.org
Kathleen Welch joined TAC in 2018 as Program Director before transitioning into Marketing Coordinator in early 2020. She holds a BA in English Language & Literature and has experience in both professional writing and graphic design.
Amanda Conley
Programming and Administrative Assistant
amanda@thornapplearts.org
Amanda Conley joined TAC in early 2020 as Programming and Administrative Assistant. Conley has been the Administrative Assistant at TAC’s Hastings Community Music School since 2017 and is a member of the ongoing Leadership Barry County class of 2020.
Norma Jean Acker
Hastings Community Music School Coordinator
commussch@gmail.com
Norma Jean Acker joined TAC in late 2016 as the Coordinator of the Hastings Community Music School. 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.
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.
The Thornapple Arts Council office is located in the Barry Community Enrichment Center (the former First Presbyterian Church of Hastings) at 231 South Broadway, Hastings. When corresponding with us via US mail, please use this address:
Thornapple Arts Council
PO Box 36
Hastings, MI 49058
