|
|
Ken Strickland
President
|
president@performoutkc.org
|
Ken has a Bachelor of Science in music education and has been involved in some form of performing arts most of his life. Career
and volunteer work has allowed Ken to develop skills in organization, facilitative management, strategic planning, marketing and
development. He has served several not-for-profit organizations in event planning, volunteer coordination, membership services and
board development. PerformOUTKC has been Ken’s passion since 2008, and he is thrilled to be able to work with such a talented
and dedicated group of people. The young artists of PerformOUTKC motivate him to keep pushing forward.
|
|
|
Eric Aufdengarten
Treasurer
|
Eric has sung in school, church, and community choirs in Iowa and Kansas since his 6th grade middle school choir in Norwalk, Iowa.
He has been a singing member of the Heartland Men’s Chorus since 2007, and was a founding organizer of PerformOUTKC in 2008.
Eric graduated in 1999 with dual degrees from Kansas State University with a B.S. in Political Science, and from Manhattan Christian
College with a B.S. in Bible / Christian Service with a minor in Educational Ministry. In 2003, he obtained his law degree from the
University of Kansas School of Law. Eric is an attorney with Kutak Rock LLP in Kansas City, Missouri.
|
|
|
Elven Hickmon
Secretary & Business Manager
|
businessmgr@performoutkc.org
|
Elven Hickmon is a native of Kansas City, Kansas. He attended high school at FL Schlagle, and pursued his Bachelors of Arts &
Science from Kansas State University. Elven has a true passion for the performing arts. He participated in the world re-known
Stallion Marching Band in high school, sang in his church choir and is a proud member of the Heartland Men’s Chorus. HMC helped
Elven realize the significance of music and community and how one can use music to build a sense of community. This led to his
contribution as one of the founding members of PerformOUTKC. POKC was born to allow young adults to experience the sense of
building community, performing their personal best freely through the performing arts. PerformOUTKC will be my life-long passion
and fond treasure in my life experience.
|
|
|
Joy Cherry
Board Member
|
Joy Cherry is a Certified Life Coach through Martha Beck Incorporated. Prior to life coaching, Joy was a highly successful financial
services marketing and management professional with a Master of Arts in
Business Management from Webster University with over 12 years of managerial experience. She successfully led large and small
teams, taught training and financial education classes, and provided life coaching services to senior management and staff. Joy’s
work with her clients focuses on healing repetitive negative patterns from the past. She guides them to find out what they really want
and how to deal with whatever obstacles are in their way. Consequently, they discover new ways to live what is important to them.
|
|
|
Jason Coats
Board Member
|
Jason has been directing youth performing arts for nearly ten years, including acting as Artistic Director of POKC for its formative
years. He has also taught and directed with the Coterie, the Kansas Academy of Theatrical Arts, and the Barn Players of Johnson
County. Jason has performed himself in several venues throughout the metro area. He began performing professionally 13 years
ago with StoneLion Puppet Theatre. He has been seen on stage at The Barn Players, the Olathe Community Theatre Association,
River City Community Players, and City Theatre of Independence. He currently is the Director of Theatre at Westridge Middle
School, acts as the Education Director for the Barn Players, and sings with the Heartland Men’s Chorus.
|
|
|
Christopher Johnson
Board Member
|
Christopher Johnson currently resides in Kansas City, though originally from Central MO. He attended the University of Central
Missouri in Warrensburg. Christopher earned the Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout honor in 1997 and through the late 90’s and
early 2000’s gained experience working with youth as an Assistant Scout Master. Christopher currently serves as the Regional
Training Manager for U.S. Bank’s Southeast Region where he oversees the creation, coordination, and delivery of corporate
initiatives and expansions. Additionally, he brings 13 years of financial services and management experience to the PerformOUTKC
Board of Directors. Christopher serves as a Board Member for the City in Motion Dance Theatre, Inc with offices in Midtown Kansas
City. He looks forward to leveraging his personal and business experience to help PerformOUTKC thrive for many years to come.
|
|
|
Daniel Kirk
Board Member
|
Daniel Kirk serves as the Director of Bands at Blue Valley West High School in Overland Park, KS. His
teaching responsibilities include the Red and Silver Brigade Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, AP Music Theory, and
Music Theory. He assists with Concert Band and Freshmen Band. He graduated
from Missouri Western State University in the fall of 2007 with a B.S.E. in Instrumental Music Education and a piano performance
emphasis.
Under his direction, his concert ensembles have received Superior Ratings from every judge at every entered festival. He has
attended Conducting Symposiums coached by Craig Kirchhoff, Steve Davis, Eugene Corporon, James Jordan, Rick Blatti, and
William Wakefield. Daniel has been a summer faculty member with the George Parks Drum Major Academy the past four summers –
having served as a faculty member at the Music for All Summer Symposium. In 2004 and 2005, Daniel toured with the Madison
Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, serving in the percussion section and in the color guard respectively. For three fall seasons, he
served as the front ensemble coordinator at Lee’s Summit North High School. Daniel began judging winter guard in 2006 with judging
in the individual analysis caption of equipment. Marching band consultation and winter guard program design have been key areas
in his professional
experiences. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the PerformOUTKC youth performance ensemble. He credits mentors Dr.
David Bennett (piano), Jane Wheat (piano), Dr. Craig Miller, and Avian Bear. His professional memberships include KMEA, MTNA,
MENC, MMTA, JAMA, Alpha Chi Honors Society, and Kappa Delta Pi.
|
|
|
Dr. Chris Michaels
Board Member
|
Living in Kansas City, Missouri in 1990 and has served as Senior Minister for over twenty years. As an educator and counselor, he
has helped thousands of people understand the basic spiritual principles that govern our lives. With over two decades of study into
the spiritual nature of life, Chris is a leading authority on the new spirituality movement. He is the author of The Prosperous Life,
Spirit is Calling – A Daily Journal and Your Soul’s Assignment available at Barnes & Noble nationwide or at www.chrismichaels.net His
most recent release, Practice the Presence – A Daily Journal has been used in dozens of New Thought churches in Canada and the
USA.
In addition to speaking engagements at conferences, churches and special events nationwide, Chris was also a guest on Martha
Stewart Living heard on SIRIUS satellite radio. His own weekly radio program, The
Prosperous Life now in it’s sixth season, can be heard on Unity on-line radio at www.unity.fm His spiritual
lessons are offered via video and audio podcast on www.itunes.com and www.cslkc.org In 2010, there were 64,000 downloads, from
74 different countries around the world.
|
|
|
Scott Thompson
Board Member
|
Scott moved to Kansas City in 1997 to further his education and nursing career as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Currently, Scott is the
Clinical Nurse Manager for Mother/Baby and Newborn Nursery at Saint Luke’s Hospital. His career emphasis has been in pediatrics
and women’s health. Scott has also had a passion for performance arts since his youth. He was active in choir, small singing
ensemble groups, and theatre throughout his middle and high school years. PerformOUTKC offers Scott the outlet to mentor youth
in the performance arena he loves. Scott is thrilled and thankful for the opportunity to be a team member of PerformOUTKC.
|
|
|
Vanessa Urias
Board Member
|
Vanessa recently earned her Bachelors of Business Administration from Baker University with plans to eventually return and
complete a Masters in Marketing. She has worked in the ExamOne Insurance Client Services division of Quest Diagnostics for over
five years. Vanessa spent six years singing and assistant conducting with the Kansas City Women's chorus. She lives with her
partner and two very cute dogs in Kansas City and is very hopeful to utilize both her business and music strengths to help
PerformOUTKC thrive and grow.
|
|
