EXECUTIVE BOARD Mary Celeste Geiger Kal Goren Katherine Wainright Shensky BOARD OF DIRECTORS Patricia Straus Danielle Keller Vivio Heather Martin Krason Kathleen McIntyre Carolyn Moses Katey Wagner ADVISORY BOARD Jen Ball Arlene Dalida Michael Ratze GUILD CHAIR/EX OFFICIO Melissa Scheck HONORARY MEMBERS Dr. and Mrs. Gerald Swiacki, D.O. |
EXECUTIVE BOARD MARY C. GEIGER is the founder and Artistic Director of MCBC. She danced professionally in Europe for over ten years, culminating as Principal Dancer with the Royal Ballet of Flanders. She has given master classes at Western Michigan University, Interlochen Dance Academy, Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre, Nyon and Vesoul, France. She has been the director of the Geiger Classic Ballet Academy since 1985. She and her husband, Dix, reside in West Bloomfield. KAL GOREN is a founding board member and its legal counsel since the company's inception in 1989 and is a member of the executive board. He has performed with the company in The Nutcracker and other full length productions for 20 years. When not involved with the company, Kal is a partner in the Troy law firm Miller, Canfield, Paddock, and Stone, PLC. He is married and lives in Bloomfield Hills. KATHERINE WAINRIGHT SHENSKY serves on the Legal and Policy committees. She was active in community productions for many years, and still takes classes at the Geiger Classic Ballet Academy for the discipline and physical benefits dancing offers. When not involved with the company, Katherine is a partner in the Farmington Hills law firm of Wood, Kull, Herschfus, Obee & Kull, P.C. She specializes in family law, employment and ERISA law, and insurance defense. Katherine lives in West Bloomfield. |
THE BOARD
| BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
| GENERAL BOARD PATRICIA STRAUS (Company Administrator) has served on the Board of Directors in various roles for fifteen years. She also serves as school administrator for Geiger Ballet. Her passions in life include ballet, ballroom dance, Pilates and yoga. Patricia is pleased to be back as company administrator this year. DANIELLE KELLER VIVIO has served as the Educational Outreach coordinator on the board. Danielle studied with the Geiger Ballet beginning at age 8, where she enjoyed performing and choreographing with MCBC. She left the school to pursue an education in fine arts at the University of Michigan. Danielle started Vivio Design Studios in 2006, a fine jewelry design and manufacturing studio. She and her husband, Brian reside in White Lake with their children, Max and Lily. HEATHER KRASON is a native of Michigan and began her ballet training with the former Michigan Youth Ballet. She studied, performed, and received scholarships at a variety of schools including Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, National Academy of the Arts, the Milwaukee Ballet, and was a leading dancer with the Grand Rapids Ballet and Michigan Ballet Theatre. She attended Eastern Michigan University where she studied Early Childhood Education, and graduated with a degree in Sociology. Since that time she has rekindled her love for dance teaching ballet to young children in the Detroit Metropolitan area. KATHLEEN MCINTYRE has worked at Ford Motor Company for the past 16 years and has held positions in Finance, Treasury, Governmental Affairs and currently manages Ford’s employee volunteer program. Prior to working for Ford she worked for Electronic Data Systems and GM, and holds B.A. and M.B.A. degrees from Michigan State University. Kathleen is active in the community, and in addition to serving on the MCBC board, also serves on the boards of the Livonia Community Foundation and The Senior Alliance. Kathleen is a strong supporter of the arts and helped out as a volunteer at MCBC performances of the Nutcracker in the early 1990s. She is very happy to have reconnected with the MCBC and looks forward to a great year. Kathleen and her husband, Brian Culliton, reside in Livonia with their two sons, David and Patrick. CAROLYN MOSES joined the Board in 2010. The parent of a former dancer, Carolyn has remained active in the Company for many years. She is involved in a family business that does Residential Property Management in the area. Carolyn lives in Berkley with her husband and two dogs. KATEY WAGNER joined the Board in 2008. She danced for 6 years with the Michigan Classic Ballet Company after beginning her training with the Geiger Classic Ballet Academy. Katey continued to support MCBC through volunteer work during the productions. She is currently the office manager at Pest Arrest Pest Control. Katey lives in Berkley with her husband, Mitchell. |
| ADVISORY BOARD JEN BALL previously sat on the board for two years with the Publicity committee and this year will rejoin as an Advisory Board member coordinating Educational Outreach. Jen began her ballet studies at Geiger Ballet at the age of 7 and danced many principle roles for MCBC through 1996. She currently works in online advertising for the MSNBC Digital Network and resides in Royal Oak. ARLENE DALIDA has been a member of the board since 1996. She is currently a Principal with Software Advisory Services, a holistic professional services firm helping client partners achieve performance excellence through application of lean enterprise concepts and techniques. She is also owner Aussie Pet Mobile of western Wayne County. Arlene has a key interest in the arts, and specifically in using dance as an outreach to the community at large. She resides in West Bloomfield with her husband, Michael, and their son, Edmond. MICHAEL RATZE (Treasurer) has joined the Advisory Board of the Michigan Classic Ballet Company as Treasurer. Michael is the Senior Tax Manager at AlixPartners, LLP. He is a member of the Finance Committee at Highland Park Baptist Church. Michael also serves on the Board of the Northwest Suburban Swim League. He is the proud father of three ballet dancers – Elizabeth, Karenna, and Molly. MELISSA SCHECK (Parent Guild Coordinator) has been a board member since 1995. She served as the Treasurer for 13 years and has worked as Ballet Mistress since 1993. She is an alumnus of the company, where she danced many principal roles for MCBC, and won the Monticello award for choreography. Melissa is a physical therapist at Clegg and Guest Physical Therapy in Sterling Heights. She and her husband, Richard, live in Troy with their daughter, Sarah. |
| BIOS |