For Immediate Release:
October 24, 2006

Media Contact: Roxann Henze
703-725-8167; roxann.henze@verizon.net

LOUDOUN ARTS COUNCIL ELECTS NEW BOARD MEMBERS AT ANNUAL MEETING

LEESBURG, Va. - At its annual membership meeting at Lightfoot Restaurant on Thursday, October 19, members of the Loudoun Arts Council (LAC) elected its 2007 board of directors.

New and returning officers included:

• President - Kathy Farmer, marketing research project director, Dominion Group, member and past president of the Masters Singer, and choir director at St. Theresa Parish
• Vice President - Heather Stillings, theatre instructor, Franklin Park Performing and Visual Arts Center
• Secretary - Jeffrey Stern, general manager, Wayside Theater
• Treasurer - Chellie Cameron, manager of the Airport Administration Department at Washington Dulles International Airport

LAC outgoing President Jeff Stern reviewed the accomplishments of the past year at the meeting, after which followed the induction of three new members to the LAC board of directors.

• Lauren Slaiman - legal assistant at Boies, Schiller & Flexner and choreographer
• Benjamin Shoenberger - customer service assistant, Franklin Park Performing and Visual Arts Center
• Beth Goldsmith - artist and owner of Creative Works Inc.

Background for New Directors:

Lauren Slaiman
Lauren Slaiman recently relocated to Hamilton from New York. She received her bachelor's in both history and ballet from the University of Antwerp, Belgium. Slaiman worked with the Saks Inc. Foundation, planning and managing the distribution of a two million dollar foundation budget. She has coordinated many events, both large and small and has extensive administration and organizational experience in for profit and nonprofit organizations. Slaiman is an accomplished choreographer, dancer and teacher, having run her own dance company, Lauren Slaiman Dance, whose work received positive reviews in the New York Times.

Benjamin Shoenberger
Benjamin Shoenberger resides in Middleburg and received his bachelor's in fine arts in musical theater from Shenandoah Conservatory. Shoenberger ran the theater program at the Wakefield School for several years before teaching at Hill School in Middleburg. He has directed numerous productions in Loudoun County for Hill School, Franklin Park Arts Center and VSA, where he is a board member. Shoenberger currently works at the Franklin Park Arts Center.

Beth Goldsmith
Beth Goldsmith is an artist participating in the Loudoun Arts Council's 2006 Designer Show house. Goldsmith recently moved to Loudoun County from Fairfax County where she was an accomplished special education teacher for 11 years. She has a wealth of experience in managing nonprofit and for profit organizations and is a dynamic speaker. Goldsmith currently runs her own fine and decorative painting business out of Purcellville.

The Loudoun Arts Council is a nonprofit organization that promotes the development of artistic expression throughout Loudoun County by supporting visual, performing and literary artists and arts organizations. For more information, contact the Council at 703-777-7838 or visit the Web site at www.loudounarts.org.

###