Longmont Creates Staff and Board of Directors
The Longmont Creates Board of Directors currently oversee Longmont Creates. They advance the organization and serve the Creative District.
Eric Kawczynski, Coordinator
Born and raised in Longmont, Eric Kawczynski joins the Longmont Creative District and Longmont Creates as our new Coordinator! Eric graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in Art History, Theory, and Criticism from Metropolitan State University of Denver. During his 10 years living and attending school in Denver, Eric discovered his love for non-profit work and community development. Eric moved back to Longmont in November of 2022 and began working at the Firehouse Art Center. In under a year, he took on the role of Community Engagement Manager and assisted in the coordination and production of Firehouse Art Center's annual ArtWalk and annual Dia de Los Muertos celebration.
Joanne Kirves, Board Chair
Joanne Kirves has been an active participant in the Longmont art community for over 22 years. She was past Executive Director of the Firehouse Art Center, ArtWalk Longmont, and Arts Longmont. She is the principal consultant with All Things Social, a marketing and social media company that works with artists and arts nonprofits. She is also a ceramic artist with a studio in Old Town Longmont.
Joseph Perrotto, Treasurer
Joseph is a Principal of Burden Incorporated and its Senior Vice President. He is also a licensed Colorado Real Estate Broker and co -owns and manages 21 commercial properties in the north Denver metro area.. Joseph graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Union College in Schenectady, NY in 1995. He received his MBA from Northeastern University’s Graduate School of Business Administration in 2000. Over the past 26 years, Joseph has worked in finance in a variety of Fortune 500 and Fortune 1,000 service related companies. In the 10 years prior to joining Burden Incorporated, he managed, led, and fiscally turned around organizations within the healthcare industry in Massachusetts and Florida through his positions as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance. Joseph is a member of the Board of Directors of the Longmont Downtown Development Authority and has served as a Board member, former President and current Vice President since 2009.
Joseph resides in Broomfield, CO with his wife Emily, son William and daughter Elena. Joseph’s interests include participating in and training for Ironman and Half Ironman races, flying a variety of different aircraft, sailing/boating and skiing.
Makenzie Davis
After completing her three year Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Hawaii, Davis returned to Longmont in May of 2022 where she continued her career in collegiate arts education at Front Range Community College as their Drawing 1 and 2 instructor. In addition to joining the Longmont Creates Board of Directors in June of this year, Makenzie also serves on the Firehouse Art Center's Board of Directors as the Vice President. She was selected as Firehouse Art Center's Summer 2023 Artist In-Residence - offering a way to reconnect to her art practice outside of academia and observe changes in the local landscape. During the two month residency, she expanded upon her painting and paper-making practices by taking a deeper look into the transforming environment of her home in the Front Range.
Antonio Lopez
Antonio Lopez is a quiet man with somet
hing to say. His music is like an onion, each layer revealing something more. His adept guitar work and composition skills are never used in a showy way but rather like the spices in a delectable home-cooked meal. The result is a feast of emotions that delights the listener. His latest release, Roots and Wings, won Album of The Year and Song of The Year in the Colorado Playlist Listener’s Poll. Lopez was born in Alamosa, CO, steeped in the Chicano culture of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. Since 2012 Lopez has been living in Longmont.
Jean Ditslear
Jean Ditslear, who hails from Ohio, settled in Longmont in 2000. She and her husband established a graphic design agency, Red Wall Communications shortly after. They grew their roots here, doing design and illustration work for small businesses as well as pro-bono work for non-profits and arts organizations. In 2014, they caught the craft beer bug and founded 300 Suns Brewing, a hyper-local brewpub just south of the tracks in downtown Longmont. Jean is grateful that having two businesses in Longmont has given her an avenue to stay connected to the Longmont community in meaningful ways. In her free time, Jean has illustrated a children's book and is mom to two musically and artistically talented teen-aged children.
Our Creative District Champions
The Longmont Creative District Champions currently oversee the Longmont Creative District. They are the Creative District Advisory Committee for Longmont Creates.
Jean Ditslear, 300 Suns Brewery
Joyanna Gittings, Obra Arts
Sergio Angeles, Longmont Public Media
Tim Gulsrud, Soundpost Sessions
Eli Kalen, Porchlight Real Estate Group
Gili Wolf, Big Bad Industries
Sabrina Ehlert, Sabrina Ehlert Art
Sean Gaffner, The Roost, Jefes, Smokin' Bowls
Matthew Spencer, Inner Court Creatives
Elaine Waterman, Firehouse Art Center
Joanne Kirves, All Things Social
Catherine Beeson, Longmont Symphony Orchestra
Josie Brockmann, Longmont Public Library
Courtney Pletcher, Longmont Museum
Cynthia Barnes, Cynthia Barnes Art
Leigh Putman, Longmont Museum
Justin Veach, Longmont Museum
Ann Macca, Longmont Museum
Angela Brill, Arts in Public Places
Our Staff
Kimberlee McKee, Executive Director, LDDA
Colin Argys, Marketing & Events Coordinator, LDDA
Emelie Torres, Program Coordinator, LDDA
Amy Mullen, Creative District Coordinator, Americorps VISTA
Other working committees, assisting in management of the District include:
- Retail Committee This group works to get more businesses involved in 2nd Friday celebrations, including pop up art opportunities, joint promotions, etc.
- Downtown Street Team This experienced-based group focuses on blog and social media posts that highlight different aspects of the Creative District.
- Mobile Block Party Team This group provides curated tours to local neighborhood group associations during 2nd Fridays in the Creative District.
- Downtown Block Captains This group has a representative from different blocks within the District that meet monthly to discuss issues including clean/safe, placemaking, marketing, events, development and connectivity.
The Longmont Creative District is an important part of the community. In the next few years, it will continue to work on sustainability efforts that are outlined in the Updated Sustainability Plan.