Release Date: October 15,2024
Summit Artspace Welcomes Five New Board Members
Akron, OHIO (October 15, 2024) — Summit Artspace elected five new members to its Board of Directors: Ace Epps, Alexandra Eliopoulos, Micah Kraus, Amanda Novelli, and Brandon Waithe. The five professionals began their roles as acting board members over the summer, supporting Summit Artspace’s mission to connect local artists to the resources they need to thrive professionally, creatively, and financially.
“We are thrilled to welcome these five accomplished individuals to Summit Artspace’s volunteer leadership,” states Kristen Dowey, Board President, about the new appointments. “Their passion and expertise in various fields will help us support and empower local artists.”
Ace Epps is a local visual artist, radio show host, DJ, and Vice President and Community Manager for the Akron office of JPMorgan Chase & Co. Ace formerly served as an entrepreneur-in-residence and Director of Inclusive Entrepreneurship at Bounce Innovation Hub, co-founded BMe Community, was a Curriculum Facilitator at Akron Urban League, and worked in HR/Recruitment at Oriana House, Inc. Epps is certified facilitator for the Ice House Entrepreneur Program and has twenty years of experience in the areas of workforce development, Black male engagement, and minority business support.
Alexandra Eliopoulos is an art educator and museum professional with nearly ten years of experience in education, operations management, interpretation, curatorial collections, budgeting, and exhibition planning. She recently moved back to Northeast Ohio and serves as chair of the art department and an art teacher at Old Trail School in Bath, OH. Prior positions include Collections Administrator at Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and Teaching Artist at Institute of Contemporary Art Boston. Eliopoulos is passionate about creating and supporting equity and opportunity in and outside the arts.
Micah Kraus is a local artist and educator who lives and works in Akron. Kraus operates Work Studio LTD, an art and design studio that specializes in printmaking. He worked as an art educator and department chair at
Archbishop Hoban High School for 22 years and taught printmaking, photography, and art career field experiences. Kraus has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions regionally and nationally while engaging in community-based public art projects through organizations such as East Akron Community House.
Amanda Novelli is the Director of Development and Communications at Grace House, a hospice center that provides a loving home for indigent, homeless, and abandoned individuals at the end of life. She leads the organization's fundraising, external communications, community partnerships, and events. Before working at Grace House, Novelli founded and operated the Bespoke Chocolate Company in Bali, Indonesia. Early in her career, she worked in child welfare and youth violence prevention development in Washington, DC.
Brandon Waithe is an experienced talent development professional whose work has spanned corporate, start-up, non-profit, and military sectors. Throughout his Air Force career, he held various positions of leadership in training development. After marrying an artist, Waithe found his love for the arts. As the Director of Education and Learning at the Akron Urban League, Waithe promotes and implements an exemplary, culturally competent, inclusive, and safe learning environment for the students and adults of Greater Akron.