Meet the Artpark & Company Team

LEadership:

Dave Wedekindt
Interim President
Dave joined the Artpark team in 2018 with extensive experience in performing arts marketing, sales, communications, programming, sponsorship and development. Previously he was the Director of Marketing for the University at Buffalo Center for the Arts in Amherst, NY for 15 years, preceded by five years as Associate Director of Marketing for the CFA. He started his career as Associate Director of Development for Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo, NY. A strong advocate for the arts, he also serves on the Board of Directors of MusicalFare Theatre and is President of the Board of Directors for Arts Services Inc. He holds an MBA from the University at Buffalo and BS in Business Administration from SUNY Fredonia. Dave resides in Amherst with his wife Susan and his interests include bicycling, playing the saxophone, and attending live performances. Contact

 

Programming: 

Tanis Winslow
Director of Education and Interpretation
Tanis was born and raised in Youngstown, NY. She studied fine art and visual studies at Purchase College and arts education at Buffalo State College, and earned her MA from Boston University. She has worked at galleries in Manhattan, NY and has served as the Audience Balloting Coordinator at the Hamptons International Film Festival and as a Theater Manager at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. Tanis has been involved in Artpark for twenty years. Here she has been involved in the inception and directing of various festivals, art programs, fine art installations and arts education experiences working with numerous local organizations. Tanis has curated and installed works by many local and international artists and her own artwork has been exhibited at galleries throughout Western New York. Contact

 

Gil Rose
Director of Opera and Sonic Exploration
Gil Rose and his orchestra Boston Modern Opera Project have consistently earned rave reviews, and honors including Musical America’s Ensemble of the Year award. As recently as April 2023, The New York Times called them “ some of the finest orchestral playing heard in the city this year”. Often referred to as “a musician helping to shape the future of classical music”, Gil Rose is acknowledged for his “sense of style and sophistication” by Opera News, noted as “an amazingly versatile conductor” by The Boston Globe, and praised for conducting with “admiral command” by The New York Times and has been called “one of the most adventurous conductors in the world” by KUSC Radio. Over the past two decades he has built a reputation as one of the country’s most inventive and versatile conductors. His dynamic performances on both the symphonic and operatic stages as well as over 100 recordings have garnered international critical praise. More info. 

 

Michele-Elise Burnett
Indigenous Arts Producer
Métis/Algonquin, Bear Clan, is President of Kakekalanicks, an Indigenous arts and consultancy company which educates, enlightens and entertains broad audiences through the promotion of Indigenous knowledge through art, artists and performers. Ms. Burnett is the co-founder of Landscape of Nations 360°, a unique Indigenous education and tourism initiative. She is creator and Artistic Director of the Celebration of Nations and the Indigenous Arts Producer at Artpark, where she curates the Annual Strawberry Moon Festival, and Indigenous Ways of Knowing on-going programming, all which provide a far-reaching platform for the community to embrace and honor the unique heritage, diverse cultures, and outstanding achievements of Indigenous peoples. Ms. Burnett has recently been part of multiple large and meaningful art installations and memorials in various capacities including: the Landscape of Nations Commemorative Memorial in Queenston Ont, the Curtain Call installation at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in St. Catharines Ont, the Native American Peace Garden at Artpark, and conceptualized and produced the Indigenous site reactive audio Journey – "Her Moccasins Talk" for Artpark’s Sonic Trails. Contact

 

Cynthia Pegado
Director of Artpark Bridges
Cynthia brought 15 years of non-profit organization management, strategic goal achievement and program development when joining the Artpark team in 2019. Her work at the intersection of arts and chronic disease management has garnered awards from New York State Council on the Arts, Parkinson's Foundation, Garman Foundation and Health Foundation. Cynthia holds a BFA cum laude in Dance Performance from University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. Artpark played a formative role in Cynthia's pre-professional life as a young ballet student, giving access to world renown artists and repertoire as she grew into a principal dancer of a local WNY company before touring the world with American and European ballet companies. Her professional stage career now translates into directing site-specific performance and art-making.for people living with neurodiversity or progressive disease. Her work as an interdisciplinary artist in sculpture and photography has been exhibited in WNY arts institutions and her solo exhibit "Simple Footsteps, Deep Echoes" as Artpark Artist in Residence gave tribute to Artpark's impact on her past and present. Hiking and intuitive sound composition are favorite pastimes. Contact

 

technical and production: 

Susan Stimson
Production Manager
Susan has been with Artpark for 21 years. She went to North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston Salem, NC. After college she toured with two National Tours throughout the U.S. and then landed in Manhattan, where she helped to manage Philip Glass, Diamanda Galas and Spalding Gray. She then joined the ranks of Broadway with shows like: SUNSET BOULEVARD with Glenn Close, DAMN YANKEES with Jerry Lewis, CATS, FAUST – a workshop with RANDY NEWMAN. She then headed to Boston and headed up BLUE MAN GROUP for four years as their Stage Manager. Susan has worked proudly with Neglia Ballet, BPO and Shea’s on various productions through the years. Susan’s hobbies include bedazzling, making clothes for her cats and hanging out with rock stars. Contact

 

IATSE Local 121

Jack Wrobel - Carpenter & Steward
Tim Wrobel - Head Electrician
Jeremy Granger- Head Sound
Mark T Gardner 
Lars Stolpe
Jaidan Ptasnick

 

 

DEVELOPMENT and fundraising: 

Wendy Diina
Director of Development 
Wendy joined the Artpark team in 2022. Prior to her arrival she served as Vice President, Corporate Relations & Special Projects at the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra for eleven years where her work included strategic planning and project management for new organizational initiatives and securing funding from corporate contributors. Wendy served in various roles in public television and radio for seventeen years at WNED (Buffalo) and KTEH (San Jose, California) and she authored fundraising scripts for the national Public Broadcasting System’s fundraising campaigns. Wendy received her undergraduate degree in communications from SUNY Fredonia and masters degree from the University at Buffalo in arts management in 2012 where she now serves as an adjunct professor. Wendy is a graduate of the Leadership Buffalo Class of 2016, and serves on fundraising committees for Build Promise, a campaign that is building a homeless shelter in East Buffalo, and Buffalo’s Central Terminal. She is the proud mother of Nick, a junior at Ithaca College (music major) and Violet, a sophomore at SUNY Fredonia (theater major). Contact

 

Michael Riccio
Associate Director of Development 
Michael came to Artpark in 2019 with nearly 10 years of nonprofit experience and holds an MS in Communication and Leadership with a focus in Nonprofit Management. As part of Artpark's development team, Michael coordinates grants and donor letters, manages Artpark's Raiser's Edge database, and supports all other Artpark fundraising efforts. Michael is also Artpark's unofficial membership coordinator, serving as the first point of contact for all of Artpark's members. Having many interests, Michael has played piano for over 20 years, worked as a set designer for Canisius College's Little Theatre for almost 10 years, is an avid rec league softball player, and a proud dad. Contact

 

marketing: 

Andy Dulski
Director of Marketing & Sales
Andy joined Artpark in Summer of 2022 with over 25 year in media sales, marketing and branding experience with area businesses across WNY. He grew up in WNY with a background in musical performance and theater. He holds a BA in Communications Degree from SUNY Buffalo State College. Andy recalls coming to Artpark as a youngster back in the early ArtEl days, then later coming here for theater and music performances with friends, and then again when his daughter joined the Artpark Theater Camps. Andy lives in Williamsville with his wife, Stephanie, and when not enjoying their daughter performing in theater and music or cheering for their son on a soccer field, you might find him still DJing fun events, planning for their next Disney vacation or shopping retro estate sales for cool sci-fi items! Contact

 

Jordan Oscar
Marketing Associate & House Photographer
Jordan began covering events at Artpark in 2018 as our House Photographer. He has a Bachelors in English from the University at Buffalo, and has worked as a freelance photojournalist in the Buffalo area for over 6 years. His role expanded in early 2022 when he joined our full-time staff as a Marketing Associate to assist with managing our website, social media, and press relations. In his spare time, Jordan is often found photographing concerts throughout Western New York, drawing in coffee shops, hiking, or relaxing in his hammock at home. Contact

 

 

BUSINESS OFFICE: 

The Bonadio Group, Financial Management
HR Buffalo, HR Management
TronconiSegarra & Associates, Audit

 

BOX OFFICE:

Sean Chambers
Box Office Manager
Sean joined Artpark in the Spring of 2022 with 7 years of experience between the Buffalo Bills & University of Buffalo in box office and event operations. He also has a wide array of customer service & sales experience, including his active work as a real estate agent. He has a Bachelors in Sport Managementfrom Ithaca College & an Associates in Business Administration. Sean resides in Lockport with his wife, Ilene. They enjoy hiking, traveling, exploring new places, and relaxing with movies & TV shows in their spare time. Contact

 

 

Ann Perno
Associate Box Office Manager
Ann is thrilled to be back with Artpark for another exciting season. She got her start as a stagehand at Melody Fair and continued to work throughout WNY and New England in both theatre administration and production before becoming the company manager for Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre. Upon moving back home to WNY she was the production manager at Alleyway Theatre and is currently a stage manager for O'Connell & Company. When she is not at Artpark or the theatre, Ann homeschools her son, John, and enjoys running, yoga, and naps. Contact

 

 

OPERATIONS AND CUSTOMER SERVICES:

Francine DelMonte
Volunteer Coordinator
Francine was an Artpark volunteer for several years before joining our staff in 2017. She oversees a dedicated volunteer corp of over 140 people who work the various shows, programs and events that Artpark is famous for presenting each season. Francine’s connection with Artpark dates back to its early years as a patron who enjoyed visiting the Art El and seeing once-in-a-lifetime performances by Mikhail Baryshnikov, Sting and Joe Cocker. Later as the New York State Assemblywoman representing the western half of Niagara County, she secured millions of dollars in state funding to support infrastructure improvements for the Mainstage Theater. Francine appreciates the unique treasure Artpark is in Lewiston and looks forward to its future. Contact

 

Leah Sawyer
VIP Skybox Supervisor
Leah started working at Artpark in 2013 as a server in our VIP Skybox Area. She has an Associates Degree in Sociology from NCCC, a Bachelors Degree from Buffalo State in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing. Leah has over 10 years’ experience in management roles, including currently being an account manager with park place installations doing commercial, residential, and educational technology installations. Leah enjoys spending time and vacationing with her daughter Ella Joyce and husband Steven, the CrossFit community, and rollerblading.