Ashley S. Jordan, Director Arts & Cultural Programming
Ashley values the work and ongoing tradition Black Arts MKE is building and continuing to set the tone for creative greatness, educational growth in our schools through the arts and more. She is currently pursuing her MBA at Alverno College. She served as a Lead In-House Program Coordinator at PEARLS for Teen Girls. She had the joy of being a Lead Teaching Artist, Recruitment Coordinate, and Community Engagement Associate for Milwaukee Repertory Theater for the August Wilson Monologue Competition now known as Next Narrative Monologue Competition. She considers herself an advocate for equality and justice working with Leaders Igniting Transformation and African American Roundtable. She was Co-founder of Lights! Camera! Soul! While bridging the gap with the theater community at Alverno College and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Ashley holds an Associate Degree from Milwaukee Area Technical College in Marketing Management and a B.A. in Leadership from Alverno College. She is a proud alum and owes all of her gratitude to the fine women and aunts in her life. She continues to create and promote theater to bring a powerful change and impactful conversations to the MKE community.
Barbara J. Wanzo, Executive Director
Barbara Wanzo has invested over 25 years in the corporate sector employing her leadership expertise in new business start-ups, technology, sales and marketing. Barbara seized the opportunity to launch a new nonprofit arts organization when hired as Executive Director for Black Arts MKE. The organization's mission is to increase the availability and quality African American arts and culture. Embracing the core values of integrity, innovation, and growth, Barbara is an exceptional business leader, public speaker and change agent. She serves on Black Arts Fest MKE and Next Door Foundation boards. Barbara holds an Executive MBA from Marquette University.
Kyndal J., Outreach - Arts Education, Artistic Associate
Kyndal is a multi-faceted creative. She ventures in the art of singing, songwriting , fashion, and creative directing. She combines her many talents with confidence and style, curating a complete experience. Kyndal J. works heavily curating fashion experiences with theater
companies such as Black Arts MKE, Milwaukee Chamber Theater and magazines such as CopyWrite Magazine. Through her diverse creative avenues, she has also helped develop projects with artists and companies such as WoLf Studio’s, R&B singer B~free, and Milwaukee’s Bronzeville Week. Kyndal continues to use her creativity to help develop Milwaukee’s growing creative scene.
Malaina Moore - Artistic Associate
Malaina Moore is a Milwaukee based actress, playwright and director. Graduating from Marquette in 2020, Malaina has been featured in PRINCIPAL, PRINCIPLE! AND PIPELINE at Next Act Theatre, STEW with Milwaukee Chamber Theatre and participated in several capacities of the first two years of the Milwaukee Black Theatre Festival. She is very excited about being able to celebrate a space safe for black and brown artists to create.
Marti Gobel - Artistic Consultant
Marti Gobel is a nationally recognized actor, director and teaching artist. Upon graduating from UW-Whitewater in 2008 with a degree in Performance Theatre and Philosophy (with an emphasis in Religious Studies). Ms. Gobel began a rich career in both theatre and television and film. Her need to add to the tapestry of the mid-west professional theatre scene led to the founding of the now defunct UPROOTED theatre. As Producing Artistic Director (from 2009-2015) worked tirelessly to diversify the arts through her efforts. Ms. Gobel is a current member of both Actors Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA.
Rebecca L. Owen - Chief Development Officer
Rebecca is the Chief Development Officer for Black Arts MKE responsible for strategic fundraising and development. She brings a wealth of experience in all aspects of philanthropy. Rebecca will advance Black Arts MKE's mission to mentor youth of color in underrepresented nonprofit management career fields including the dynamic and rewarding fundraising/development sector.
Rebecca has served as the Development Director for Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, Deputy Director, Development at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center and Vice President of Development for the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. She served as a member of the Board of the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra and Bookwork Gardens and belongs to the Association of Fundraising Professionals, FUEL Milwaukee and REV Collective. Rebecca has a Masters of Art in Museum Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in History.
In her spare time, Rebecca loves to spend time with family and friends (especially her dog!), traveling, reading, writing, playing music, photography and volunteering.
Sheri Williams Pannell - Producing Artistic Associate
Sheri Williams Pannell is a native Milwaukeean who has performed, directed, or written for a number of Milwaukee’s theater and arts organizations including Bronzeville Arts Ensemble, First Stage, Florentine Opera, Milwaukee Chamber Theater, Milwaukee Fringe Festival, Milwaukee Rep, Milwaukee Symphony, Milwaukee Art Museum, and Skylight Music Theatre. Beyond Milwaukee, Pannell has worked at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Utah’s Old Lyric Theatre, Children’s Theater of Madison, University Opera and University Theater at UW Madison. Pannell was selected to direct a production as part of the United Nations Conference on Genocide, hosted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 2017, Pannell was honored as an Artist of the Year by the City of Milwaukee. In 2020, Pannell wrote the libretto and directed the Florentine Opera School Tour of BRONZEVILLE BOHÉME. A founding member and artistic director at Bronzeville Arts Ensemble, Pannell is also a senior artistic associate at Black Arts MKE, and co-director of the drama ministry at Calvary Baptist Church. Pannell is a co-founder of the Milwaukee Black Theatre Festival. Pannell is an assistant professor and area head for the Musical Theatre Program at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, College of the Arts and Architecture. A graduate of Spelman College, Pannell also holds an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.