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Careers in the Arts

This 10-episode video series will help students in grades 6-12 explore the many career opportunities the fine and performing arts have to offer.

Each episode includes an introduction to the career, an interview with a professional, an opportunity for the professional to share something with the students, and an activity to extend learning. An online resource guide is also available for students to learn more about each career.

President & CEO

MONDAY, MARCH 29 | 10 AM

In this episode, Chad Whittington, CAPA's President & CEO, Dr. Frederic Bertley, COSI's President & CEO, and Janet Chen, ProMusica's CEO, discuss their careers in nonprofit leadership.

View the President & CEO's Resource Guide

About Chad Whittington: Chad Whittington started his professional career at CAPA in 1998. Chad worked in operations and in the Accounting Department as a financial analyst until he was promoted to Controller in 2000. Chad was promoted to the position of Chief Financial Officer at CAPA in 2010. In 2014 Chad was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for CAPA. Chad was named as the President & CEO for CAPA in August 2017 after filling the role on an interim basis since October 2016.

In addition to his responsibilities for CAPA, Chad also serves as the Managing/Executive Director to partner cultural organizations including the McCoy Center for the Arts and Drexel Theatre. Chad has been a Tony Voter and member of the Broadway League since 2018. Chad is an honors graduate of The Ohio State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. Chad was chosen as a recipient of the Columbus Business First Forty Under Forty Award in 2014. Chad serves as the Chair of the Columbus Cultural Leadership Consortium, is a Trustee on the Big Brothers Big Sisters Foundation Board, and is a non-Board advisor on the Columbus Metropolitan Club Finance Committee. He is married to wife Melinda, and they are the proud parents of Violet. Chad enjoys recreational aviation and spending time with his family.

About Dr. Frederic Bertley: Dr. Frederic Bertley is a scientist, scholar, and evangelist for innovating thinking. As President and CEO of COSI, he is shepherding the leading science center to its next iteration in a legacy of success. Prior to being President of COSI, Bertley was the SVP for Science and Education at The Franklin Institute, where he oversaw a portfolio of initiatives supporting innovation in STEM learning, the partnership with Science Leadership Academy, The Color of Science, and programs such as the Benjamin Franklin Awards Program.

After graduating from McGill University where he studied Physiology, Mathematics and the History of Science, and earned a Ph.D. in Immunology, Bertley worked internationally in preventative medicine and basic vaccines in Haiti, The Sudan, and the Canadian Arctic. He continued this focus by joining a vaccine research group at Harvard Medical School focusing on the development of DNA vaccines for HIV/AIDS. Dr. Bertley's background also includes collaboration on educational and science projects in Egypt, Paraguay, Senegal and the Caribbean.

Dr. Bertley has been an invited speaker at distinguished institutions including The United Nations, The White House, and the National Academy of Sciences. He has received honors, including: Honorary Doctorate from Otterbein University, Dell Inc. Inspire 100 World Changers, Harvard Medical School Dean's Service Award, Philadelphia Business Journal's 40 Under 40, Philadelphia Business Journal Minority Business Leader of The Year, the George Washington Carver Award, The President's Award (Merck), Citation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, CEO of the Year, and two Mid-Atlantic, National Academy of Television and Science EMMYS™.

About Janet Chen: Born in America and raised in Taiwan, Janet Chen has led an active and diverse career as a performing musician, arts administrator, and music educator. She holds both a bachelor's degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and a master's degree in flute performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. She completed the Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders in the Arts— a joint program of the Stanford Graduate School of Business and National Arts Strategies. In 2019, Janet was named Chief Executive Officer of ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, having previously led the organization as Executive Director since 2006. In 2018, she was one of ten members representing Columbus at the Young American Leaders Program at the Harvard Business School. She has been selected as one of Columbus Business First's "Forty Under 40," and one of "19 Non-Profit Innovators" by CityPulse Columbus. Janet has been featured in Columbus CEO Magazine, The Columbus Dispatch, and is a selected artist as part of Columbus, Ohio's "Art Makes Columbus" marketing campaign. Most recently, she was named a 2021 honoree by the Women for Economic and Leadership Development (WELD). In 2018 she was recognized as a YWCA Columbus Woman of Achievement and honored by Business First as one of the "Most Admired Executives in Central Ohio." Janet serves on the Board of the Columbus Music Commission and is a member of the Columbus Cultural Leadership Consortium.

Prior to joining ProMusica, Janet served as Assistant Principal Flute with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra in Taipei, Taiwan, and appeared as guest soloist several times performing Nielsen's Flute Concerto and Mozart's Concerto for Flute and Harp. Janet also spent two summers as a flute instructor at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan, where she coached and taught students who attended the Interlochen Summer Arts Camp.

Graphic Designer

MONDAY, MARCH 1 | 10 AM

In this episode, Lisa McLymont discusses her career as an artist and graphic designer.

View the Graphic Designer's Resource Guide

About Lisa: Lisa McLymont was born in Manhattan, NY, and has called Columbus home since the age of ten. Formally educated in graphic design and visual communications at The Ohio State University, McLymont's career as a self-taught, multi-disciplinary artist started in 2009, and has included forays into drawing, painting, sculpture, and jewelry design. A graduate of The Ohio State University, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Design and was a 2010 Fellowship Recipient of The Ohio State University Arts Initiative Fellowship for Emerging Artists. In addition to creating an ongoing body of portrait paintings, McLymont works as a graphic designer for CAPA, and as Lead Artist & Project Manager of the Maroon Arts Group's Deliver Black Dreams Public Art Campaign. A former member of the Ohio Art League and the Columbus Society for Communicating Arts, McLymont is one of the inaugural coordinators of the Greater Columbus Arts Council's Columbus Open Studio & Stage event, The Art and Artists Of Ohio, an emerging artist's online community, and a founding member of Black, Out, & Proud.

Vice President of Programming

MONDAY, MARCH 8 | 10 AM

In this episode, Rich Corsi shares the history of his thirty-year career at CAPA and discusses his position as Vice President of Programming.

View the Vice President of Programming's Resource Guide

About Rich: Currently the Vice President of Programming for the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA), Rich has served the organization for over 30 years, initially in ticketing before moving to the programming department in 2005. In addition to booking more than 50 acts for CAPA's eight historic theatres each season, Rich also programs the CAPA Summer Movie Series, Festival Latino, and a concert series for the McCoy Center for the Arts.

Ticketing Specialist

MONDAY, MARCH 15 | 10 AM

In this episode, Brandon Smith discusses his role as a CAPA Ticketing Specialist and his work with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.

View the Ticketing Specialist's Resource Guide

About Brandon: Brandon Smith has worked in ticketing since 2014, starting as the group sales manager for the Olmsted Performing Arts Center in Cleveland, OH. While in Cleveland, he studied Arts Administration at the University of Akron. He also holds a B.A. in History from Miami University. Brandon has been instructor and a performer in multiple arts disciplines for over 15 years. This includes musical theatre, professional dance, WGI (Winter Guard International), and DCI (Drum Corps International). Notable regional performance credits include Hairspray, RENT, Hair, The Nutcracker Ballet, Pride of Cincinnati Winter Guard, and Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps. Brandon is originally from Lexington, KY, and has lived in Columbus since 2017.

Director of Education

MONDAY, MARCH 22 | 10 AM

In this episode, Amy Handra discusses her work in Education and Outreach.

View the Director of Education's Resource Guide

About Amy: As Director of Education for Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA), Amy works to create innovative, diverse, and impactful programs that serve the mission to make the transformative power of the arts accessible to everyone. Since joining CAPA in 2018, she has created and launched the CAPA Marquee Awards, a regional program of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards®, the Passport to Learning student matinee series, Dig Deeper video tutorial series, and Careers in the Arts virtual series. She has also conceived and delivered free outreach programs to engage the community, including a spoken word project inspired by themes from the musical HAMILTON and a community arts day inspired by SUNJATA KAMALENYA. As a performer, Amy starred as "Kate" in the Off-Broadway premiere of Olympics Über Alles. She has worked extensively in theatre both internationally and regionally and her commercial work includes Verizon Wireless, Healthgrades, Hyundai Motor Corporation, and Morris Furniture Company. She earned a BFA in acting from Wright State University, an MS in teaching from the University of Dayton, and an MFA in theatre from The University of Alabama. During her twenty-five years as an arts educator, Amy has taught workshops, classes, and courses for people of all ages.

Technical Director

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2 | 10 AM

In this episode, CAPA’s Associate Vice President of Operations, Jason Gay discusses the career of technical director.

View the Technical Director's Resource Guide

About Jason: Jason Gay is a Columbus native and a graduate of Otterbein University with over 25 years of experience in live entertainment working with local talent and world-renowned touring artists. Recent projects have included Columbus Symphony’s Holiday Pops and Twisted 2. Jason shares his home in Granville with his teenaged daughter and son. Other interests include running 5k races, restoring his Victorian era home, and freelance photography and video projects.

Marketing Manager

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9 | 10 AM

In this episode, Lisa Minken discusses her career as CAPA’s Broadway Marketing Manager.

View the Marketing Manager's Resource Guide

About Lisa: Lisa Minken is the marketing manager for Broadway In Columbus. She also hosts a weekly web series, “Broadway Dish,” sharing Broadway news, gossip and local behind-the-scenes footage every Friday. A self-proclaimed Broadway geek, Lisa was bitten by the Broadway bug at the age of 10 when she was cast as an orphan in Annie. She co-founded the Marysville Summer Theater Workshop, a summer theater program for students in grades 5-8. The program is in its 25yh season. Lisa is also involved in the Columbus theater community having appeared in and directed several productions. She currently serves on the board of King Avenue Players and Marysville Summer Theater Workshop. When she’s not obsessing about theater or singing showtunes, Lisa enjoys reading, spending time with her dog, Desi, and attempting to play the piano.

Lighting Designer

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16 | 10 AM

In this episode, Brendan Michna discusses his career as a Columbus-based lighting designer.

View the Lighting Designer's Resource Guide.

About Brendan: Brendan Michna attended college at Ohio Wesleyan University and has been working as a full-time lighting designer in Columbus since 2013. Brendan often designs for Thiossane West African Dance, MadLab Theatre, CATCO, Available Light Theatre, and Highball Halloween. He is also the lighting designer for the CAPA Marquee Awards Showcase.

Photographer

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23 | 10 AM

In this episode, Marysville native Evan Zimmerman discusses his career as a Braodway photographer.

View the Photographer's Resource Guide

About Evan: Evan Zimmerman is a New York City based Broadway Production Photographer. Evan’s work in Theatre Photography has taken him internationally and to all areas of the country. Photos of Evan’s work have appeared in Broadway Marketing Campaigns (including this season’s Tony Nominated Play, The Inheritance), People Magazine, Vanity Fair and The New York Times. He grew up in Central Ohio (Marysville) and was a frequent member of the Columbus theatre community. Evan studied at Otterbein University and received his BFA in Musical Theatre and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity.

Community Development Manager

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30 | 10 AM

In this episode, Diana Pagán discusses her career as a community development manager and her role in producing the annual event, Festival Latino.

View the Community Development Manager's Resource Guide

About Diana: For more than 10 years, Diana Pagán has built relationships throughout the community in the corporate, non-profit, and business communities for CAPA as the Manager of Inclusion and Community Development. She especially enjoys her role with CAPA’s Festival Latino, securing creative sponsorship opportunities and supporting local businesses that positively impact the local economy. Diana is a graduate of the 2020 Fundraising Leadership Academy and was named a Business First 2018 40 Under 40 recipient. She studied at The Ohio State University with a specialization in world economy and business and a minor in Spanish and Italian.

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