STAFF
Amanda has built a successful platform of community-based arts programs and events. Always advocating for the Paseo Arts District, she continues to foster wider local and state relationships, associations and partnerships enhancing community support. She focuses on revenue generation, increasing the annual budget by 202 percent and increasing fundraising revenue by 475 percent. In 2020, she moved and expanded the PAA offices from 1,200 square feet to 6,000 square feet, creating the Paseo Arts and Creativity Center with three art galleries, a gift shop supporting all Oklahoma artists, 10 artist studios, photography studio and designated office space. Her contributions to the Paseo Arts District strengthen its legacy as an arts and cultural district, the Oklahoma arts destination.
Amanda Bleakley - Executive Director
Theresa Hultberg - Programs & Exhibitions Manager
Theresa manages the administration and planning of annual artist-based programs at the Paseo Arts Association including the Paseo Arts Festival, Paseo FEAST, the 4x4 Art Show and Auction and the Robbie Kienzle Artist Workshop Series. Theresa also coordinates art classes/workshops and monthly art exhibitions held in the Paseo Arts and Creativity Center’s three galleries, managing over 30 art exhibitions per year including five juried exhibitions. Theresa is originally from Oklahoma City and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Oklahoma, with a minor in art history. She is also a practicing artist in painting and printmaking and a resident artist at In Your Eye Gallery.
Emily Ahearn - Community Engagement Manager
As Community Engagement Manager, Emily manages fundraising campaigns and sponsorships for the PAA, logistics for the Paseo Arts Festival and the Paseo Arts Awards, and manages grant writing, PAA membership and donor relations. Emily is from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and now lives in Oklahoma City. She has attained her Bachelors in Communication and Masters in Adult and Higher Education from the University of Oklahoma. Before joining the Paseo Arts Association team in 2024, Emily worked at the University of Oklahoma within their Fraternity and Sorority Programs and Services department. She enjoys spending time with her friends, family and pets as well as exploring the city with her husband.
Connor Albrightson - Marketing & Events Coordinator
Connor is responsible for managing marketing efforts and social media for both the Paseo Arts Association and the Paseo Arts District, including managing two websites, monthly press releases and email campaigns. He manages the Paseo Arts District merchant relations and administration as well as assisting with program and event operations. Originally from Weatherford, Oklahoma, Connor holds a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Connor is also a practicing artist and illustrator.
Avril Martin - PAA Spring Intern
Avril Martin is a multifaceted artist from Moore, Oklahoma. She currently attends the University of Central Oklahoma majoring in Studio art with a concentration in jewelry & metalsmithing. Her main crafts include crocheting, sewing, and working with metal. She sees art as a way to express individuality and bring community together. In her free time Avril enjoys diving into new books and making new experiences. After undergraduate school, she intends on pursuing graduate school or teaching art in the local community.
Juliana Trillo - PAA Spring Intern
Originally from Dallas, Texas, Juliana is a second-year student at the University of Oklahoma. Having a passion for the arts, galleries, and fostering community, Juliana is currently pursuing a BFA in Art History with a minor in Arts Management and Entrepreneurship. This spring she is working as an Undergraduate Research Assistant at the University of Oklahoma’s School of Visual Arts, and is also the secretary of her school’s Italian Club. Outside of class and work, Juliana is a big music lover and an avid writer.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President: Janice Mathews-Gordon
Vice President: Kelly Pearson
Treasurer: Candler Barnett
Secretary: LaQuincey Reed
Joel Dixon ● Lauri Gormley ● Precious Jenkins ● Lea Morgan ● George Oswalt ● Laurie Stansbury ● Bob Rosenberg ● Jamie Moore ● Terri Sadler ● Margaret Walsh
Collin Rosebrook, Lifetime Member ● John Robison, Lifetime Member
Joy Reed Belt, Founding Member
Candler Barnett, President
Janice Mathews-Gordon, Immediate Past President
Margaret Walsh, Vice President
Terri Sadler, Treasurer
Bob Rosenberg, Secretary
Lauri Gormley, Board Member
Precious Jenkins, Board Member
Kelly Pearson, Board Member
LaQuincey Reed, Board Member
Jamie Moore, Board Member
George Oswalt, Board Member
Lori Dickinson-Black, Board Member
Lawrence Black, Board Member
Lesley Rawlinson, Board Member
Dan Tero, Board Member
Joy Reed Belt, Founding Member
Collin Rosebrook, Lifetime Member