Board Members & Staff - Orange City Arts Council

Orange City Arts Board Members & Staff

Mary Fernow

President

Mary has lived in Orange City since 1977 and has worked in sales at Staples Promotional Products since 1990. “I have always enjoyed the Arts. What piqued my interest the most was OnStage in the summers. The variety of music we have for all ages”. Mary is the current Vice President and has been a member since 2019.

Dennis Rockhill

Secretary

Dennis and his family moved to Orange City in the summer of 2005. Before that, he had served as a worship pastor in Orange City and at three different churches in the Chicagoland area for over 25 years. After retiring from Sekisui Aerospace, he has returned to his first joy, the arts, by serving alongside some “great people” on the Orange City Arts Council. Dennis continues to serve in a local church, with much of that service being in in the area of music, singing, and playing guitar. Another passion of his black & white photography. Dennis is married and has two grown daughters.

Brian Keepers

Vice President

Brian grew up in northwest Iowa (Spencer) and is a graduate of Northwestern College (Orange City). Art has always been an important part of his life. Brian believes that art has the power to connect us to one another and can help an entire community flourish. He has loved serving on the Orange City Area Arts Council. Brian is the lead pastor of Trinity Church (Orange City) and is married to Tammy. They have two daughters and one granddaughter.

Kaleb Schrock

Treasurer

As Northwestern’s director of annual giving, Kaleb is responsible for raising money for the Northwestern Fund, managing the phonathon and its student callers, and planning and staging AllNDay, the college’s annual day of giving. Kaleb graduated from NWC with degrees in marketing and Spanish.

Amy Sharar

Board Member

Amy came to Orange City for a K-8 art teaching position for MOC-FV Schools. She has a variety of interests, including making glass mosaics, face painting, and balloon sculpture. Amy enjoys her 7 fur babies, her grandchildren, and exploring the visual arts. She has been a board member since 2022.

Dr. Juyeon Kang

Board Member

Juyeon Kang, a Korean-American concert pianist and professor of music at Northwestern College in Orange City since 2003, has had the privilege of performing on four continents and in over a dozen countries. She made her debut recital at Carnegie Weill Hall in New York City and has had three of her CDs published. Having spent two years in Vienna, Austria on various research projects, she has been a part of the OC Arts board since 2021, where she has been able to use her expertise to contribute to the community through her performances and by helping to plan for the season.

April Benson

Board Member

April Benson and her husband, John, moved to Orange City is 2021. She is an artist and stay at home mom, and he is the Pastor of Newkirk Church. They have 2 children, John Asher (their lego builder, is 6) and Adelaide (their playdough chef, is 3). She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. She has been painting with oils for over 20 years. She really enjoys the control, rich look and silky feel of oils. Oils allow her to paint and still be a mommy (when you have little ones that want to snuggle you or that want held while you are in the middle of painting, you can put your brush down and not worry if the paint will dry and ruin your brush). Her faith, strengthened from her husband’s influence and a strong church family, inspired her to paint for God, to honor Him with her work ethic and the paintings she produces.

Leanne Bonnecroy

Board Member

Leanne Bonnecroy is a transplant to OrangeCity from Chino, CA where she grew up on a dairy farm. Marriage to Jim Bonnecroy, a local farm boy at heart, brought her to settle in Orange City. Best decision she ever made!! Leanne and Jim have 2 incredible sons, Jack and Sam and a beautiful daughter-in-law Kylee. Leanne loves all things theater: directing, acting, singing, producing and behind the scenes and thrifting: volunteering time, sorting and creating something new from something old or repurposed. Leanne is thrilled to be an active part of the OC Arts team!

Duha Lee

Board Member

Duha Lee grew up in Taiwan in a family where everyone is an artist. Influenced by her family, Japanese comics, and Studio Ghibli's films, she studied painting, advertising, and graphic design in college. From Taiwan to New Jersey and Orange City Iowa, Duha now lives in Alton with her husband and two children. She likes putting her kids in her illustrations and loves to share the culture of Taiwan and her journey. The first children's book she illustrated, Sleepy Baby Samurai and the Magic Painting, was published in June 2021. Duha has been a board member of OCArts since 2021 and enjoyed serving with these creative people.

Sharon Foughty

Board Member

Sharon has been a music educator in Orange City since 1988. She enjoys participating in and learning about all kinds of artistic expression with a particular love for folk music and instruments, international community dance, drum circle and fiber art. She also enjoys spending time with her parents, children and eight amazing grandchildren.

Phil Scorza

Board Member

Professor Scorza’s interests and experience lie in the area of graphic design and photography. He teaches Introduction to Studio, photography and the graphic design courses for the department. A former Northwestern College student, he earned a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from Iowa State and a Master of Fine Arts from Lesley University College of Art and Design. Prior to joining Northwestern's faculty, he established a career as a graphic designer and creative director for over 20 years, both in the corporate setting and as a freelancer. He frequently uses his art to serve nonprofit and community-based organizations.

Emie Andrulewich

Executive Director

Emie brings her experience in non-profit program management with a passion for the arts. Creatively, she has over 20 years of art experience, including teaching art, showing and selling work, and designing jewelry. "I am honored and thrilled to be involved in planning and facilitating what happens at Orange City Arts and excited to bring great programs and artists to the community and beyond." She resides in Alton with her family.

Alisha Hauber

Creative Administrative Assistant

Alisha and her husband moved to Remsen in May of 2023. After graduating with a degree in Business Administration, she has been working in Administrative positions in various different industries. She has a passion for creativity and enjoys mixed media painting, drawing, sculpting, pottery, crochet, and has even dabbled in some blacksmithing.