Board and Staff

Board Members

Lisa Nesmith

Board President

Ms. Nesmith is a visual artist, educator and arts administrator who has been involved as a volunteer with NoBo since 2011. She joined the Board in 2013 and has formalized our operations to create reporting and business frameworks for growth and increased the organization’s communication and outreach. Since 2013, Nesmith has been the primary worker bee for day-to-day operations. NoBo has recently hired Leah Brenner Clack as Acting Director and is transitioning to a paid Director.

Michael Deragisch

Board Vice President

Mr. Deragisch is a former radio host with KGNU, avid cyclist, skier, and mobile artist. He has a Masters in Communications from CU Boulder and ran the Career Counseling office for CU Boulder until his retirement. As a Board member he focuses on Membership; running our member’s mixers and greeting new members.

Kelle Boumansour

Secretary

Ms Boumansour has over a decade of experience working in project management, event planning and coordination, outreach and communications, and program development and implementation. She joined the NoBo Art District board to unite her passion for the visual arts with her professional skills. As a board member, she supports the First Friday Summer Market, public art installations, strategic planning and DEI.

Rob Cavalier

Treasurer

Mr. Cavalier retired after 27 years with Westcon-Comstor Americas, where he was Director of Sales Operations, North America. He has a broad background in business operations and finance. He provides ongoing support for financial planning and grant applications. He has an MBA from CU Leeds School of Business and maintains his musical practice with a small jazz combo.

Karen Lester

Board Member

Ms. Lester is a financial advisor with Edward Jones Financial Services who has an up-and-coming business in the Art District. She is a skilled connector in the neighborhood who visits door to door distributing our event maps every month. She has a background in the Aeronautics Industry (American Airlines) as a large scale project manager. She is an avid collector of local art.

Adderly Grant-Lord

Board Member

Ms. Grant-Lord is an abstract painter who was born in the Caribbean Island of St. Vincent. She studied at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. She regularly creates events featuring the talents of local POC artists and created an exhibit in honor of Black History Month in our Gallery. Ms. Grant-Lord brings marketing skills and dynamic energy to the Board.

Cara LeFebvre

Board Member

Ms. LeFebvre is a full-time professional photographer. She was the Board Secretary for the Englewood Arts District in Kansas City, while simultaneously running the gallery space in that district. Her experience includes marketing and advertising, preparation and set up for fundraising events, and idea-generation for growth and grants.

Connie Luebbert

Board Member

Ms. Lubbert is a graphic designer and owner of Salt and Light Studios with clients worldwide. She has extensive experience in marketing, social media, web design, and publishing. She publishes and designs Salann Magazine, an artist magazine focused on giving artists a voice. She is also re-emerging painter, currently working in watercolor and India ink wash, on rice paper within a variety of series: Animals, Americana, and Landscapes, and encaustic.

Staff

Leah Brenner Clack

Interim Director

Leah Brenner Clack is a community centric arts leader and administrator committed to advancing for public art, providing platforms for artists and empowering youth and communities through arts education, programs and events. Leah is deeply connected to the local arts community with over 12 years of experience in arts and culture within the City of Boulder. She is a certified Change Leader through CCI and a graduate of the CBCA Leadership Arts program. Leah is also the Founder and Director for Street Wise Arts and served on the NoBo Board of Directors for two years prior to her position as Interim Director.

Erin Calkins

Gallery Manager

Erin Calkins has been working in the arts since 2006 when she began her career with the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, CA. Since then she’s pursued her passion in the arts by working with art studios, galleries, and nonprofits large and small. Erin earned her BFA in painting and printmaking and her own artistic pursuits have spurred her interest and desire in becoming involved in art organizations as an administrator, educator, director and currently as the Gallery Manager for NoBo Art District.

Julie Ireland

Art + Place Curator

Julie Ireland is an active community member and textile artist with a background in event management, program and partnership development, and community outreach. Her story tells of creativity and service to a broad range of people in municipal, education, business, and non-profit organizations. Julie joined NoBo Art District in 2020. She manages the Curate Art + Place program that places NoBo member artists’ artwork in NoBo business member spaces, and she organizes and curates the annual NoBo Member Group Show.