About Our Board of Directors

Kate Hart

Produced 50 special events including two of the largest festivals in the State of Washington; The Winthrop Blues Festival and Northwest Folklife. She created and produced the Pioneer Square Fire Festival, Ballard Blues Bash, the Washington Blues Society annual awards and currently is producing The Harsens Island Bluegrass Festival (fund-raiser for local charities including Emergency Fund for Families in Need). Worked as Assistant Program Director for the Northwest Folklife Festival as well as a jury advisor for Bumbershoot.

Created Seattle Women in Rhythm and Blues, Detroit Women in Blues, Alone Again with Friends, Lucy Mongrel, The Northwest All-Stars Band and Kate Hart and the Bluestars along with an original play, We Are Not Good Girls (running close to a dozen times, including Detroit’s City Theatre). Organized and developed over 25 benefits. Generated media coverage on television, radio and newspapers on national basis for close to 40 years. Designed Sponsor packets and raised media sponsorships and corporate sponsorship for events. Have managed budgets up to $250,000 and realized consistent profits. Set up sound systems, stage designed and directed lighting. Scheduled and designed programs. Produced festivals on a turnkey basis. Created and Promoted National “We Are Not Good Girls” Tour, joerecords.com, Voice Records, Cricket Garden Newsletter and Self-sustaining neighborhood model, Magik Nuts, Michigan Voice Over Talent Network and The Women’s Onelist. Appointed Seattle Chapter Head for international organization, Women of Music – Music of Women and headed up the Northwest office for Raindot Publicity. Created and maintained an ongoing relationship with the press on a local to international basis. Responsible for hiring talent and production staff for both large and small venues. Advised numerous community organizations, from clubs to festivals, websites and recording projects on talent requirements. Contracted international talent. Advised talent on contracts and professional development and bands on promotion. As an artist Kate has been the recipient and/or nominee for over 50 industry awards, including four Grammy nominations.

Patricia Nemeth

Patricia Nemeth is an attorney and the founder of Nemeth Burwell, P.C., a boutique management labor and employment law firm. Established in 1992, Nemeth Burwell is now the largest woman-owned law firm in Michigan to exclusively represent management in the prevention, resolution and litigation of labor and employment disputes. Ms. Nemeth is one of Detroit’s leading professional women. In 2009, she was named one of Michigan’s 25 Leaders in the Law by Michigan Lawyer’s Weekly. That same year, she received the distinguished alumni award from Wayne State University.

She has been named a Michigan Super Lawyer under her primary area of practice, Employment & Labor, since the honor was first presented in 2006 and has also been included on the Super Lawyers list of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in the state. She was also named a Best Lawyer for 2010 and 2011.

In addition to being a litigator, Ms. Nemeth is certified as a mediator. She is a member of the Michigan Bar Association – Labor and Employment Section and International Section, and the American Bar Association – Labor Section and Alternative Dispute Resolution Section. She is a member of the Michigan Bar and the Illinois Bar and is also a graduate of Leadership Detroit, class of XXVI (2004-2005).

Ms. Nemeth is a long-term member of NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) and in 2002 was named one of the top 10 Business Women in Michigan by NAWBO. In 2007, Patricia was named by the women’s professional group, Inforum, to the prestigious Inforum Inner Circle, which recognizes women with exemplary leadership skills.

Ms. Nemeth represents the legal profession exceptionally well outside the courtroom through her activities in local charities. She has been a hands-on volunteer at Vista Maria in Dearborn Heights since 1998 and currently is an executive board member (Vice Chair). Ms. Nemeth also served as Chair of the Fund Development Committee and a member of the Campaign Planning Committee. In addition, she has served on the Personnel Committee for Girl Scouts of America. Ms. Nemeth was recognized in 2005 as a “Distinguished Volunteer” by the Association of Fundraising Professionals for her collective volunteer efforts.

Ms. Nemeth holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctorate and LLM in Labor Law from Wayne State University School of Law. She is a member of the Michigan Bar and the Illinois Bar.

Jill Slocum

Co-Chair on Fundraising

Jill is an award-winning Portrait Photographer. Prior to her portraiture business she traveled the country extensively as a photography production coordinator and set stylist for a variety of national clients and brands, including Jeep, Chevrolet, and Ford. She served as lead creative director and producer for Way Elementary's Variety Show for four years and was the 2010 Chairman of the Oakland Hills Country Club Women's Golf Association. An avid volunteer and organizer she is involved in several annual community fundraising programs and projects. Jill studied at Western Michigan University and Lansing Community College Photography Institute. Currently, she lives in Michigan with her husband & son, a not so little dog named Biscuit, and Famous the fat cat.

 

 

 

 

 

Karie Dombrowski

Spokesperson for Pennies for Paws campaign to save endangered wild tigers-partnered with Detroit Tigers baseball. Volunteer, Chairman, Detroit Teams Up for Autism Benefit for Jack's Place for Autism; J. League of Greater Miami; Chi Omega Sorority – National Recruitment Team Instructional Video Host; WTVJ-TV – Sports Anchor, Reporter, Covered MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL. Sunshine Network – Host/Miami Dolphins Monday Night Magazine; MIZLOU Sports, Sports News Network – Sports Anchor, Host College Football Show, Host NHL Pre-game Show; ESPN – Sports Center Anchor, College Football Game day Reporter, Sunday Showcase Host; WBNS-TV – Sports Anchor, Included producing, writing, and editing, Associated Press Award – Three Years; KOCO-TV – Sports Reporter, Included producing, writing editing, live and taped segments; KOKH-TV – News Anchor – Wrote own copy for six newscasts per shift including daily wrap-up of news, weather and sports. PUBLIC RELATIONS – Representative for US Cotton Industry, Traveled Europe, Asia and United Sates working with the Media; PRINT – University of Oklahoma Hometown News Bureau ,wrote and distributed press releases. Married to President and GM of Detroit Tigers.




Rhonda J. Bantsimba

Ms. Bantsimba has worked in STD/HIV prevention and reproductive health for 14 years. She has been drawn to social/community service work since her early days at University of Michigan, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Women’s Studies.

After graduation from college, Ms. Bantsimba worked within the University Health Systems in various capacities and finally as a social work assistant for the Social Work department where she worked with the pediatric cardiology social workers providing assistance to them and to families receiving services at the hospital.

In 1996, Ms. Bantsimba began working as a community educator and counselor for Planned Parenthood Mid-Michigan, remaining there for six years.

While there, she provided reproductive and sexuality education in various settings including schools, churches, detention facilities/jails, private homes as well as in the clinic. She conducted puberty workshops for parents and puberty-aged children. She also provided options and abortion counseling for patients coming in for pregnancy testing and/or abortion services.

In November 2002, Ms. Bantsimba was hired as a training consultant for the Michigan Department of Community Health, Division of Health, Wellness and Disease Control (DHWDC), HIV/AIDS Prevention and Intervention Section, Education, Training and Resource Development Unit (ETRDU). From 2005 to 2009, she served as the ETRDU manager. As of 2009, she took on the role of Provider Education and Resource Coordinator for the DHWDC, serving as the liaison between the division and providers in the community in order to foster ongoing relationships and assist providers in fully accessing and utilizing the services of the DHWDC.

Ms. Bantsimba has been involved with music since childhood, from singing in the church choir to being a member of The Detroit Women, a touring blues band, for 4 years. After the dissolution of The Detroit Women in September 2007, she entered into the graduate program in 2008 for a Masters of Social Work at the University of Michigan, graduating in August 2010.



James W. Bates – Education and Environment

Jim is most intrigued by the possibilities of creating learning environments and agreements that engage the individual in their awareness of self in space and time as resonates with them ( special focus on The Tracker School ). Being present in the moment while open to connecting with the greater life energy around us. He feels that the tactile, hands on, minds open (whole person) learning appears to be the most direct route to opening those channels. Jim’s goals are developing unique applications for renewable energy, food production and hands-on immersive learning systems and to teach others in the use of 21st century skillsets relating to Electrical technology, energy conservation and environmental management. Education & Certification - Master Electrician License, Oakland University, Macomb County Community College, Liberal Arts Curriculum Technical Schools – US Navy Aviation Electronics, Dale Carnegie Training. Community Advocate in Non Profit – Working to create positive improvement in how we learn as individuals and as a society. Past Member of Michigan Wind Working Group Professional Associations: Endeavoring to collaborate with C.A. N. Art Handworks & The Journeyman Project, Society for Organizational Learning, South West (Detroit) Artists Network (SWAN), Macomb County Community College Renewable Energy Board, Warren Consolidated Schools Renewable Energy Institute. Work Experience - President and Master Electrician for Bates Electric Inc., President of Southern Exposure Renewable Energy Co. Specialty Areas: -Industrial, Commercial and Residential Electrical Wiring Systems, Solar Heating Systems, Solar Electric Photo Voltaic, installations both on and off grid, Windspire Vertical Axis wind turbines systems, Wiring of hazardous locations class 1 and 2- division 1 and 2, Fire Suppression Systems Wiring – Certified by Fike (Explosion Protection Fire Suppression Systems), Lightning Protection System, Marine vessel wiring, Industrial Machine tools and Controls wiring -Controls wiring for Industrial, Railroad, Marine, Renewable energy and other systems, Timber Frame, log cabins & SIP panel wiring. Other Work Experience Lawrence Technological University-Campus Facilities Electrician (May 2008-April 2010), Railroad Signaling with AMTRAK as last employer Railroad Lead Signal Maintainer highest position achieved. (4 years total experience), Aviation Electronics Technician US Naval Reserve, Chrysler and Pontiac Motors Electrician, Construction Electrician with various contractors, Watch Engineer on Dustpan Dredge – New Orleans, LA, Volunteer for nonprofit construction projects.

Junior Board Sophina Saggau

Up and coming actress and Detroit native Sophina Saggau, 14, has been involved with music and theatre since she was 5. Sophina, who recently moved to St. Clair Shores, attended Friends School in Detroit for elementary school (Pre-k to 8) and is currently a freshman at Grosse Pointe’s prestigious University Liggett School, where she received a performance scholarship and is currently part of the cast for the spring musical, Hairspray. While a sixth grader at Friends, a school based on the Quaker tradition, Sophina founded the school’s annual Peace March. The one mile walk to Downtown Detroit was established to commemorate International Peace Day (September 21st) and symbolize the positive messages that stem from children marching for peace.

While at Friends, she participated in numerous school productions and is also a three year veteran of the acclaimed Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, the area’s leading youth theatre program. Mosaic named Sophina its 2010 Outstanding Actor and 2010 Ensemble Member of the Year. She has also appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and a health care television commercial and was featured in a local ad campaign for Friend’s School. In 2009, Sophina took first place in the Access Broadway acting category for her age and won a second place award in 2010. She had a small role in the Rob Reiner directed movie, “Flipped,” which was shot in Ann Arbor, Saline and Manchester, Michigan in 2009 and released in the summer of 2010. Rick Sperling, founder of Mosaic Youth Theatre and Sophina’s director for numerous performances says, “Sophina's acting and singing talent are undeniable, but what really separates her is the incredible professionalism and work-ethic for someone her age."

Sam Slocum

Sam is 11years old and currently in 6th grade. He is a member of SAG and AFTRA and has feature film, commercial, voiceover and stage experience. Feature Film: 2009 “Alleged” with Brian Dennehy & Nathan West, Commercial: 2010 UAW. Voiceover: Hear Sam @ www.michiganvoiceovertalent.com, 2011 Michigan Lottery, 2010 National Oscar Mayer, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, 2009 SVS Vision Theatre: 2010 ‘Tosca” & “La Boheme” @ Michigan Opera Main Stage, 2009 “The Very Last Green Thing” with MOTCC, 2009 Chip in “Beauty and the Beast”, 2008 Bookseller boy in “Oliver” Bloomfield Players, 2007 Newspaper Boy in “It’s a Wonderful Life” Baldwin Theatre. Interests: acting, singing anything from pop to opera, playing piano, writing, lacrosse, basketball, golf, & swimming to name a few. He loves hanging with his friends & family and making them laugh.

Jackie Torgerson

has spent most of her life creating music and spreading peace. She has performed for the non-profit organization “Concert Prodigy” as well as sang at a concert to benefit Crossroads of Michigan, a social service outreach agency. She is currently working as the Assistant Program Director and Vending Coordinator for the Harsens Island Bluegrass Festival (a fund-raiser for local charities). She created Telegraph, an electronic band. Founder and President of the Glee Club at her high school, Cranbrook Kingswood. Member of Madrigals, a small girls’ choir. Did voice-over work for Noodlebug children’s videos. Has been in several theatre productions including Grease (Sandy), The Sound of Music (Liesl), Rumors (Cassie), Once Upon a Mattress (Lady Larkin), and Children of Eden (Yonah). She will be studying theatre and psychology at Northwestern University.

Darbi Dombrowski

Darbi Dombrowski’s Theatre credits include: Destination Broadway, New York, Michael Rafter (Jersey Boys), “Beauty & the Beast” (Silly girl): Village Players, Birmingham, “Dear Edwina” Edwina (Lead): Dynamic Stage Productions, “Aladdin”, 1st Narrator & Soloist: Village Players, July, “Oliver”, Orphan/Chorus: Village Players, Birmingham, MI, “101 Dalmatians”, Jasper (lead): Cranbrook Theater, “Wayside School”, Miss Pearl (lead) Cranbrook Theater, “The Jungle Book”, Cranbrook Summer Theater, “Tom Sawyer”, Tom’s friend: Detroit Country Day School, “The Grammy Awards”, Weezy: Detroit Country Day School Film: “Eddie & the Alternate Universe”, Harvard Thesis Film TV: “Spotlight on Dave Dombrowski”, Detroit, MI, Nat’l TV: Sang “God Bless America” at Comerica Park for Detroit Tigers Baseball Game. Training: Voice: Kate Hart, Royal Oak, Bob Marks, NYC, Acting: Diane Hardin, NYC, Karen Storm, L.A., Voice and Acting, Dance, Michigan Opera Theatre Children’s Chorus, Hunter/Jumper, Piano, Flute Awards: Launch winner” Chicago, “Access Broadway”, 1st place, Winner, Winner, Las Vegas Founded Darbi’s Department 2007; Equestrian, French; Recorder; Computer; Brownie Scouts; Volunteerism; Tutor; Gymnastics; Swimming; Field Hockey, Cross Country.