Laura Ortiz
Executive Director
Laura Ortiz-LaVelle serves as Executive Director for the Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts. Prior to joining the RRCA Laura spent many years working in education as both a teacher and a Library Director. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and has dedicated much of her career to serving communities through education, literacy, and the arts. While pursuing her Master’s, she came across a quote from Bob Kendrick that deeply resonated with her: “Find something you are passionate about and let that drive you in this nonprofit world”. That philosophy continues to guide her work today.
Through her experiences in education and nonprofit leadership, Laura discovered a deep passion for supporting the arts and creating opportunities for communities to connect through creativity. She is grateful for the opportunity to help facilitate and champion the art in many forms through her work with the RRCA.
Rachel Brooks
Fund Development Coordinator
Rachel Brooks serves as the Fund Development Coordinator for the Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts. Prior to joining the RRCA, Rachel was the proprietor of a Downtown Manistee boutique and served as the executive director for the Munson Manistee Hospital Foundation. In this role, she raised more than $1.2 million to support healthcare in Manistee County. She also has instructed public speaking and communication courses at the college and university level.
Rachel received a Master of Arts in Communication and Multimedia from Saginaw Valley State University and a Certificate of Fundraising Management from the Fundraising School at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
Jeremy Engwall
Events Manager
Stuart Kuenzer
Facility Caretaker