LEADERSHIP
Office Staff
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Justin Heimbecker has served as Executive Director of Berks Arts since 2021. Originally from the Philadelphia area, Heimbecker holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Heimbecker has spent nearly 18 years in the world of nonprofit arts management, leading local, regional, national, and international programming in events related to scholastic music education in the marching music genre. Among his notable achievements, ensembles under his leadership have claimed multiple world championships and performed in two presidential inaugurations.
He has advocated for arts funding through successful “Save The Arts” campaigns and designed educational programs specifically geared toward underserved students and communities. Heimbecker remains committed to inclusive programming, providing access and opportunity to world-class experiences for individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and socio-economic statuses.
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As Event Operations Director, Tish Davis is responsible for leading the operations teams for all Berks Arts events, including Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest, the Reading Blues Fest, and Berks Summer Fest. The teams take care of stage production, hospitality, transportation and other operational and logistical needs related to the events.
Born and raised in Reading and now a resident of West Reading, Davis volunteered for the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest for 18 years, primarily as a stage manager. As she retires from three decades at the R.M. Palmer Candy Co., she is continuing her personally fulfilling behind-the-scenes career.
In addition to her volunteer work, Davis has worked as a professional stage manager at the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Fest and the Low Country Jazz Fest in Charleston, S.C., through the Atlanta Backline Co. and the Carolina Backline Co. She says she is thrilled to be working full-time for Berks Arts because “it makes me happy and feeds my soul.”
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As Community Programs and Office Manager, Amanda Ehst leads Berks Arts’ community programs like Fast Lane Art (a juried contest and exhibition for high school artists), The Art of Jazz (a juried show held during Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest), and PA Council on the Arts grant programs. She also supports educational initiatives through getJazzed (the educational component of Berks Jazz Fest) and Music Educators of Berks County (MEBC) scholastic festivals.
As a former operations manager for scholastic music events, and a former music teacher, band director, and administrator, Ehst brings a unique and valuable set of skills to this position. Currently, on staff with the Boyertown Area Senior High School Marching Unit, she has taught music in Fairfax County, VA; Roxboro, NC; and Pennsburg to children ages 1 to 18. She has coordinated volunteers and planned marching band events both locally and across the nation.
Ehst earned her bachelor’s degree in music education from The College of New Jersey. She now lives in the Boyertown area with her four musically-inclined children.
Executive Committee
Glenn Fox
President
Executive Vice President, ACTS
Debbie Waters
Vice President of Administration
Senior Field Manager,
NORC at University of Chicago
Brian Bubnis
Vice President of Programs
Matthew Chamberlin
Treasurer
Academic Director, Center for Lifelong Learning
Ann Woodward
Secretary
Realtor, Berkshire Hathaway
Mike Kuczala
Past President
Academic Director, Center for Lifelong Learning
Board of Directors
Frank Buttaro
Director of Development,
Boyertown Area Multi-Service
Thomas Dareneau
Art Educator
Dan Esterly
Social Entrepreneur &
Mental Health Professional
Marisela Fuster
External Affairs Consultant, FirstEnergy
Troy Kantner
President & CEO, Solve IT Solutions
William Nelson
Retired Music Educator
Lee Olsen
President, Olsen Design Group
Jayme Rhoads
Community Advocate
Michael Sedoti
Resident Service Manager,
HDC MidAtlantic
Lee Spenadel
Application Sales Manager, CALIX