COCA Logo

COCA Board of Directors

Laura Thompson – President, board of directors

She is the founder/president of a leading Southern California event production company specializing in fundraising and development for nonprofit organizations. Former Board President, Pasadena (Calif.) Museum of History, also serving on the boards of the American Red Cross, YWCA, and Rotary Club of Los Angeles. An active visual artist, Laura has a long history as an impresario, selecting and hired top-line musicians and actors for a wide variety of performances. Former community development executive. Retired. Lives in Redmond.

Stefanie de Gruyter - Secretary, board of directors

Brings her multi-cultured and international experience, knowledge and perspective, acquired from her 20 plus years of living, working, and volunteering in Europe, South America, Canada, and Africa. She currently works in criminal justice system for Deschutes County, and among her many roles, she serves as an interpreter and is coordinator for the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Team, with a passion for inclusivity. She is a co-founding member of The Decency Project. Stefanie lives in Bend.

John Kish

Horticulturist, actor, director, and business owner, John Kish, has been in the Bend arts community for over 8 years now. He is the founder of Bend’s premier indoor plant shop, Somewhere That’s Green. He also is now the creator and founder of Bend’s newest theater space, The Greenhouse Cabaret, which can be found within his plant shop. John graduated from Circle in the Square Theater School in 2013 and has acted/directed in numerous productions in New York, Portland, Albany, and Bend.

Michael Gesme

Conductor of the Central Oregon Symphony and Professor of Music at Central Oregon Community College for 24 seasons. In addition, he conducts the Cascade Winds, the Central Oregon Chamber Orchestra, and various performances for Opera Bend.

Peggy Kinkade

Peggy has lived in Bend since 1993 with her husband Brent and their three (now grown) children. She serves on the High Desert Education Service District board (currently as Chair) since retiring from the Bend-La Pine School Board. During her 12 years at Bend-La Pine Schools, Peggy was twice board chair and gained experience with bond campaigns, construction planning, policy rewrites, collective bargaining, and community outreach. She is a classroom volunteer and teaches an early morning class with high school students from her church.

Valerie Pitts

A 40-year veteran educator and superintendent of schools in the San Francisco Bay Area. Has overseen the construction of several performing arts and theater facilities in schools. Consults on executive searches, board training, and educational projects. Resides in Sunriver.

Jon Thompson

Print journalist, author, award-winning reporter and editor; wood carver, photographer, multi-instrumentalist who performs folk and bluegrass music. A longtime choral musician who has performed in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles and the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. Retired from Los Angeles Times Community News.

Board Member Emeritus

Larry Sewell

A retired police lieutenant from the LAPD, as well as a retired English and history high-school teacher. Long-time choral singer who for the past 10 years has sung with the Central Oregon Mastersingers. Three years ago, he spearheaded the idea that the Central Oregon Center for the Arts needs to be built.

As of January 2023

Let’s Keep in Touch!

Sign up for our newsletter and always be in the know about our upcoming events and milestones!

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.