Board Of Directors

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Anthony Fellow – President: Before obtaining his doctorate from USC, Tony was a reporter and editor with the San Gabriel Valley Tribune where he was a city editor, columnist, and covered state and national politics. After he was graduated from USC, he taught at Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Fullerton, where he was chair of the Department of Communications and then the Department of Cinema and Television Arts, and USC. He learned to paint in Florence, Italy, where he taught American students for 18 years. He grew up in El Monte, where he served as vice mayor and councilman. He also was a Pasadena City College trustee, and is a director on the Upper San Gabriel Valley MWD and sits on the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. He is currently earning a graduate degree in theology at St. Joseph’s College. He is author of five books, including American Media History.

Christine Geltz – Past President: Christine is a retired energy efficiency consultant experienced in community outreach, stakeholder engagement, and marketing and social media. She was a frequent speaker and conference presenter on energy efficiency topics who has served on the boards of directors for national energy services and energy manager professional associations. Christine holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Concordia University Chicago and a Master of Arts degree in communications from Cal State Fullerton. She is also a professional musician and amateur painter with a passion for nurturing the arts in Monrovia and the region. Christine has served on the MAFA Board since 2006 and chaired the 2015 through 2019 Celebrate the Arts Shows and Chalkfests. She was also the 2016 recipient of MAFA's Heart in the Arts Award.  Assemblyman Chris Holden honored her as the 41st Assembly District's 2019 Woman of Distinction for the City of Monrovia for her work to promote access to the arts and art education in the area. christine@monroviafinearts.org

Eric Watkins - Vice President, Art in the Park Chair, Galleries Manager: Eric is one of the newest MAFA board members of MAFA but is no stranger to the arts. He’s been an actor, singer, dancer and mime in the performing arts as well as a graphic designer for many years. Eric joined MAFA in 2016 and since then he’s painted four utility transformer boxes for the City of Monrovia and won an award as “Best of the Show” in the first Juried Art Show in 2018. You can see Eric’s art displayed in various restaurants, galleries, and art walks throughout the surrounding communities. Eric was awarded MAFA's Heart in the Arts Award in 2021 and manages MAFA artist members' and students' exhibits in local businesses and the Artist Alley Gallery at the Monrovia Community Center. eric@monroviafinearts.org

Jacqueline Hasty - Treasurer: Jacqueline is a resident of Duarte where community engagement has always been part of her everyday life. Jacqueline is a member of the Duarte Chamber of Commerce and a supporter of many non-profit organizations. She was recently elected chairperson of the Duarte Route 66 parade and also partners with the L.A. County Parks and Recreation Department's Parks After Dark events. Jacqueline is currently a caregiver for the In-home Support Services (IHSS) program and is also a fee & charge instructor for both the City of Monrovia and the City of Duarte, where she offers arts and crafts workshops and tutorials that include die-cutting machine (i.e. Cricut, Gemini) projects, Sip N Paint-inspired projects, and more. Jacqueline attended Colorado Technical University in Colorado Springs where she earned two Project Management Certifications. Her professional career includes working for multiple public and private corporations as well as non-profit organizations. Jacqueline hopes to share her passion for arts and crafts with community members of all ages, genders, for any reason and any season!

Frank Zgonc – Recording Secretary & Jury Committee Director: Frank is a professional photographer, blogger and bon vivant. A Board member since 2007, Frank chaired the annual Celebrate the Arts Festival from each year from 2005 to 2011. He was Board President in 2006 and Vice President in 2005 and 2007 through 2013. Frank was named Celebrate the Arts Featured Artist in 2007 and received MAFA's Heart in the Arts Award in 2017.

BOARD MEMBERS AT LARGE

Darcey Arena: Darcey was born and raised in Monrovia. She is second of three generations to attend Monrovia schools. Darcey has retired from her 35-year career as Vice President of Sales for a construction and industrial supply company based in Arcadia. She has played an active role in our community as a member and president of the Wildrose PTA, Monrovia Youth Baseball League and Monrovia Jaycees. She has also hosted free ceramic painting sessions for the Monrovia Girls Republic. Darceyʼs artistry is in dichroic glass fusing.

Carol Curtis: Carol, an English as a Second Language professor at Pasadena City College, has been a MAFA member for 13 years. With a Bachelor of Arts degree in photography, Carol has work on file at the California Museum of Photography in Riverside, CA. Carol was the Celebrate the Arts Featured Artist in 2011 and has served as MAFA President.

Katie Gundersen: An occupational therapist by profession, Katie is also a retired dance competitor and continues to teach social dancing in Monrovia. She is widely known in Monrovia and surrounding communities for her volunteer leadership and service for many civic and nonprofit organizations. She has been named Monrovia’s Volunteer of the Year with her husband John Watson. Katie served as MAFA’s Treasurer for 11 years and received MAFA’s Heart in the Arts Award in 2014.

Mayor Becky Shevlin - City Council Liaison:  A resident of Monrovia since 1988, a Monrovia City Councilmember from 2009 to 2022, and the newly elected Mayor in 2022, Becky is also a hard-working participant and supporter of many local volunteer and nonprofit organizations in her efforts to help build and sustain a strong and responsive community. She has a passion for the arts and was awarded MAFA's 2015 Heart in the Arts recognition for her support. Becky helps MAFA coordinate seamlessly with City Hall and Community Public Services.

Bill Shieff: Bill is a veteran of the Vietnam war serving in the South China Sea and the Gulf of Tonkin aboard aircraft carriers. Now retired, he spent all of his career in the pharmaceutical and nutritional supplement industry, developing new products and delivery systems for specialty markets and big box stores. His last twenty years in the industry, he represented both domestic and international manufacturers of finished products, raw materials and packaging suppliers under the dba Shieff and Associates. Bill holds a private pilot license and is an avid road cyclist. Bill and his wife Sue are supporters of the arts and active in community service. Bill currently serves as a Monrovia Planning Commissioner, a Monrovia Art in Public Places Committee member, and Director on the Monrovia Rotary Club Board and is a past president of that organization. Bill also served as Secretary of the Monrovia Renewal Citizen Advisory Committee and was a founder of Move Monrovia, helping to develop the Monrovia Bike Master lan.

Joan Whitenack - Foundation Grants: A longtime Monrovian, Joan’s work experiences include nearly twenty years as real estate broker specializing in investments and exchanges, as partner and VP in an industrial supply company and as president and owner of a plastic manufacturing company. In her most recent position as the executive director of Foothill Unity Center for 17 years, she helped it grow from a small food pantry serving approximately 300 families to a multi-service regional organization serving over 4,000 low-income families in eleven cities. After retiring from Foothill Unity Center, Joan discovered the joys of painting with oils on canvas.  She often paints scenes from her travels and loves to share her work with friends and family.  She is dedicated to helping MAFA become even more of a positive influence in the community.

BOARD MEMBERS EX OFFICIO

Lisa Barrios: Lisa is the recently retired owner of Paint ‘n’ Play Art Studio and Art Gallery located in Old Town Monrovia. She has been a MAFA Board member for 19 years. Her passion for the arts is demonstrated by her dedication and work bringing art to our ​community at large.  Partnering with MAFA has allowed her to bring this creative experience to all ages. Lisa has hosted workshops in her studio for the elderly, special needs and at-risk youth just to name a few ​that might not otherwise ​have the opportunity to ​experience the arts. She was the first recipient of the Heart in the Arts Award by MAFA and Citizen of the Year by the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce for her work as a businesswoman with a volunteer heart.

Darrell Brooke, Esq.: Darrell has lived in Monrovia for 25 years, has owned a business here for 12 years, and currently serves as chair of the City of Monrovia's Planning Commission. His involvement with the arts movement in Monrovia began when he volunteered his legal background to the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group.  With the assistance of Councilmember Gloria Crudgington, he prepared the contract with the United States Postal Service to preserve and to maintain the beloved WPA Bear Mural, formerly collecting dust in the basement of the old Monrovia Post Office, as a part of the Monrovia Public Library, vibrant in perpetuity. As president of the Levitt Pavilions LA – Pasadena, he worked with the City of Monrovia to bring quality free music to the Monrovia Station Square amphitheater. MAFA presented its prestigious Renaissance Award to Darrell in 2017 for his perennial support and sponsorship of MAFA initatives and events as well as the overall arts scene here in the community.

Becky Rivanis: With her background in accounting, Becky donates her time and expertise to MAFA providing year-end tax consulting. But she may be better known to attendees of MAFA events (as well as those of many other Monrovia organizations) as the owner and driving force of Rivanis Baking Company, a catering company that is second to none. She and her husband Dave are fixtures wherever community groups meet and need festive decorations and delicious refreshments. And she received MAFA’s prestigious Renaissance Award in 2020 for her support of the arts throughout the community.

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