The Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts board of directors are made up of community leaders. The board has very broad experience with non-profit and arts management and brings a variety of expertise in a number of important areas.
photo by Crescent Rose Photography LLC
Nancy Ferguson has had a long relationship with the Ramsdell Theatre. She met her husband on stage and married into a family with three generations of Ramsdell affiliations going back to the 1950s. She has performed, directed, written plays, and taught classes for the Ramsdell Theatre since 1978. In 1990, she resurrected a dormant theatre program at Manistee HS and went on to create a thriving program including multiple classes and productions. She also assisted with the design of the auditorium in the new high school and served as its first facility manager. Nancy has a BFA in Theatre Arts.
photo by Crescent Rose Photography LLC
Virginia “Gini” Pelton moved to Manistee 20 years ago and serves as a real-estate agent with Century 21 Boardwalk. She is a high-spirited individual involved in community service boards such as United Way of Manistee, Downtown Development Authority, Professional Ladies of Manistee, and the Manistee Elks Lodge 250. She has received numerous accolades in Manistee from the Manistee Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Development Authority, and the Manistee Elks Lodge. She is an active volunteer with the local Vogue Theatre and Ramsdell Theatre and is proud to join the Ramsdell in her new capacity. Her enthusiasm and spirit bring great energy to the Ramsdell board.
photo by Steve Growcock
Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Steve’s decades-long career as a consultant to the electric utility industry provides to The Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts (RRCA) a fresh, outside perspective. With his strong interest in the arts and music, he is also linked with the Manistee Shoreline Showcase; the hosts of the Tuesday night summer music series. Additionally, since his retirement, Steve has rediscovered his passion for Street Photography and has participated in several group and solo gallery shows in the Manistee regional area. Steve’s background and energy will help in continuing to advance The RRCA’s vision to be a vibrant regional center for cultural arts, education and community engagement.
Bill originally became familiar with the Manistee area as a youth while tagging along with his father to trout fish on the many streams and rivers in the area. He remembers thinking to himself, someday I’d like to live here. That became a reality, when Bill and his wife Peg decided to make Manistee their retirement home in 2013. Bill’s career stops include executive management positions at Schlumberger, Mead Paper, Rubbermaid, Textron and Dollar General. He has a Masters of Business Administration Degree in finance and is a certified professional in Mergers and Acquisitions and Equities/Securities management.
photo by Johnnie Moreno
Sherri is the Marketing Director for the Manistee County Tourism Authority and has a passion for highlighting the natural and historic beauty of the Manistee area. She received her BA in Public Relations from Western Michigan University. Her family’s love for the Ramsdell Theatre goes back generations. Her grandparents, Sharon and Dennis Switalski, had the bust of TJ Ramsdell which currently resides in the RRCA lobby commissioned in the 90’s. She has trained with the Second City Theatre in Chicago studying stand-up and comedy sketch writing and had the opportunity to showcase a comedy set on the SCT stage. Sherri has performed on the Ramsdell stage under the direction of the Manistee Civic Players, Rick Plummer, Conservatory of Dance and the WSCC Collegiate Show Choir. In addition to performing, she has worked and volunteered at the Ramsdell Theatre and is excited to now offer support as a board member.
photo used with permission from Richards & McDougall
Jackie attended Manistee High School and stayed loyal to her first job in banking for 29 years. In December 2018, she decided to try a new adventure and Joined the team at Richards & McDougall, P.C. as a bookkeeper and brings years of experience and energy.
Jackie has been on many committees and boards, including the Downtown Development Authority, Stomp out Cancer and the Salt City Rock and Blues organization. She was voted Volunteer of the Year in 2015. Jackie has volunteered at the Ramsdell Theatre and wanted to help support the Theatre where her specialties lie.