MAFA Board of Directors: (l-r) Becky Rivanis, Eric Watkins, Sharon Romero, Carol Curtis, Catherine Gallagher, Sally Weiss, Anthony Fellow, Ph.D., Joan Whitenack, and Christine Geltz. Not pictured: Mayor Becky Shevlin and Judy Watkins.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Anthony Fellow, PhD – 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.

Eric Watkins - Vice President and 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

Catherine Gallagher, CPA, CMA, CFM - Treasurer:  Catherine graduated from Brown University with a double major in Studio Art and Political Science.  As part of the partnership between Brown and Rhode Island School of design, she studied sculpture and weaving (as well as a bit of arts management) at Rhode Island School of Design.  Years later, she got her Master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Arizona, where she put her pattern recognition skills to work in the field of financial operations and accounting.  Catherine volunteered for six years as international board member for the ICMA, which is the credentialing arm of the Institute of Management Accountants. In 2023, she retired from Kaiser Permanente, where she had worked for over 15 years in progressively more responsible finance roles, and reached out to MAFA to volunteer her skills to help the organization continue its mission of community engagement with the arts.

Christine Geltz, MA – Recording Secretary and Workshop Chair: 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, chaired the 2015 through 2019 Celebrate the Arts Shows and Chalkfests, and served as President from 2016 to 2023. 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

BOARD MEMBERS AT LARGE

Carol Curtis, Jury Chair: 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.

Sharon Romero, MS, CATC: Sharon is a trained and licensed counselor who works with addiction and relationship issues and specializes in art therapy. She is also a prolific artist who has shown her work in many venues. She conducts workshops in schools for students, parents and staff and also for corporations and nonprofit organizations on such topics as bullying, managing anger, healthy family relationshops and conflict mediation. Sharon has a Master of Science degree in Psychlogy and Certification in Alcohol/Drug Counseling through the State of California (CAADE). She is also a Certified Anger Management Facilitator and was trained through the L.S. Bar Association as a mediator.

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.

Judy Watkins - Art Walks Chair: Born deaf, but fluent in reading lips, Judy found her love for art as a way to express herself in non-verbal ways through the use of art tools and supplies. She retired in 2023 from the Monrovia Unified School District after 25 years as an Instructional Aide working with children with special needs. She helped these children by creating a safe learning environment and designed an art curriculum that supported every child in experiencing the joy of making art. In 2024, Judy became a board member of MAFA and chairperson for our annual Summer Art Walks. She is currently teaching art to senior citizens, but always looking for ways to help promote the appreciation for art in the community.

Sally Weiss, MBA - Marketing Manager: Sally is a relative newcomer to Monrovia, having moved here from Rochester, New York in the fall of 2021. Looking for an art community, she joined MAFA shortly after arriving here.  Sally is a market research professional with a consulting business since 2007.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Advertising and a Master of Business Administration, both from Michigan State University. While living in Rochester she joined the board of NAMI (National Alliance on Metal Illness) to form a marketing committee and eventually became the board chair. As a part of MAFA, she’s looking to grow her practice as an acrylic artist and help others in the community find the joy of art.

Joan Whitenack: A longtime Monrovian, Joan’s work experiences include nearly twenty years as a real estate broker specializing in investments and exchanges, as a 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

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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