Marla was introduced to Keshet in 1999 while stage managing Nutcracker on the Rocks. Somewhere between the rats and the rock n’ roll, she fell madly in love with a community of amazing human beings creating and supporting meaningful art. After five years of working at Keshet, Marla spent the rest of her career at United Way, ARCA, and the University of New Mexico, but her heart never left this merry band. She has volunteered in several roles as well as helping to launch the Keshet Ideas and Innovation Community (KIIC), a program supporting artists as entrepreneurs. After retiring early, she has been thrilled to join the board where she brings her passion for the arts and her dedication to sustainable non-profits to her role as a board member in order to strengthen and support Keshet and this remarkable Keshet community.

Thomas Wolinski is a long-time supporter of Keshet Dance and Center for the Arts, serving on the Board for many years, and more recently helping create the ABQ Wine Classic on behalf of
Keshet. He is a long-time entrepreneur, having founded, owned and operated The Bean coffee houses and Taos Roasters coffee roasting in Taos, Fiasco Fine Wine alcohol distributorship in Santa Fe, as well as Wayward Sons Craft Distillery. A change of direction led him into law school at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, from which he graduated in 2024, and is now a practicing
attorney in New Mexico. Outside of the work world, Wolinski enjoys time with friends and family, bocce ball and curling, food and wine, and being in the mountains as much as possible.

Janet M. McHard, CPA, CFE, MAFF, CFF, Founding Partner of The McHard Firm, is an award-winning speaker and long-time faculty member for Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.  The McHard Firm is a firm specializing in forensic accounting, fraud prevention, and accounting reconstruction. Together with her partner and staff, Janet conducts forensic and investigative accounting in matters concerning alleged white-collar crimes, embezzlements, employee theft and as well as disputed accounting issues.  Janet holds a BA in Dance from UNM as well as an MBA from the UNM’s Robert O. Anderson Graduate School of Management.  In 2016 Janet was inducted in the UNM Anderson Schools of Management Hall of Fame.  She holds a CPA in New Mexico, Arizona and California.  She has served on several boards including the Albuquerque Housing Authority and was previously on the Keshet Dance Company board more years ago that she’s willing to admit.  She is also currently a member of the Audit Committee of the San Diego County Bar Association.

Sam Adams is a mother and wife, a GiGi, a lawyer, a teacher, and now a proud Keshet Board member. Keshet has been at the heart of Sam’s family’s pulse for many years, and she is so honored to have the opportunity to serve our community in this way. Keshet gives us permission to feel and to express, to have a voice and to have passion. Shira and Keshet remind us that, by virtue of simply being, each of us has the right to find ourselves, and Keshet gives us the chance to see our own possibility and ability. With her training as a lawyer and devotee to non-profit work, Sam hopes to contribute to Shira’s and Keshet’s vision as it grows in its way this year.

Sam Adams is an AV® Preeminent lawyer and has been awarded the highest ratings for professional ethics and legal ability by her peers. Benchmark Litigation® has repeatedly recognized Sam as one of the Top 250 Women in Litigation in the United States and as a Litigation Star in New Mexico.  She has been repeatedly named among those in Southwest SuperLawyers®. Sam is proud to have been recognized locally by New Mexico Business Weekly as a “Woman of Influence” and category winner. Sam is a two-term past-president of the New Mexico School of Law Alumni and currently serves on its board. Sam is the current President of the Albuquerque Bar Association, an active member of the State Bar of New Mexico and is a Fellow of the American Bar Association.

Prior to attending law school, Sam was a senior claims representative for Farmers Insurance Company of Arizona, where she was responsible for litigated files and arbitration of insurance disputes.  Today, in addition to her law practice, Sam regularly serves as an adjunct professor at the University of New Mexico School of Law and the UNM Anderson School of Management, and she incorporates her trial practice experience into every class.

Dovya Friedman first volunteered at a Keshet brainstorming session in 2011 and never quite left the table. With over thirty years of experience in branding, communication and marketing, she was immediately drawn to Keshet’s lived artistry, community, diversity, generosity and passion. As a small business owner, every opportunity to engage with the community is a gift; serving on Keshet’s Board of Directors has been a gift that keeps giving. I am proud to be counted amongst board members who stand up for what is right for Keshet Dance Company and Center for the Arts, for creatives in Albuquerque (and beyond) and for our city and state as a whole. 

As the Founder of Keshet, Shira holds a position on the board as a member-at-large. The first non-profit arts board Shira ever served on was that of the Minnesota Shakespeare Company shortly before she started Keshet. Since then, Shira has had the honor to serve on multiple inspiring boards and committees and loves the process of working with dynamic teams of individuals to bring fantastic visions to life. One of her favorite things about the Keshet board is the abundance of passionate and brilliant people who generously share their perspectives, lenses, skills, and talents with the organization as advocates and stewards of Keshet Dance Company and Center for the Arts.  It’s a joy to be surrounded by such passion, kindness, and knowledge.

Benjamin Rose has always maintained a strong connection to creative pursuits and the arts.  A lifelong writer, he has worked on countless artist profiles, magazine articles and catalog essays. He further authored a book on renowned Santa Clara potter Tammy Garcia. Keshet, and its unique mission, have become dear to Ben’s heart since he returned to New Mexico.  He has discovered a deep respect and admiration for the organization after initially getting involved in the Wine Classic fundraiser.  Ben has served on the Board of Directors for the past year.
Born and raised in Taos, New Mexico, he graduated with honors from the University of Washington with a dual major in Architecture and English Literature. His lifelong passion for food and wine has driven his 30+ year career in all aspects of wine, foodservice, retail, business and leadership. A Sommelier and Certified Cheese Professional, Ben applies his broad experience and love of food and wine to his career and pursuits. He further commands high-level experience in the areas of operations, business processes, finance, marketing, project management, innovation, communication, competitive analysis and data analysis.
Ben spent his last 15 years working for Whole Foods Market/Amazon in many leadership capacities across the country. Most recently, he served as the Regional Vice President for the North Atlantic region, overseeing and carrying financial accountability for 50+ stores across 6 states. He is a graduate of the Stagen Leadership Academy which trains executives in organization, communication, listening skills, efficiency and foundational leadership qualities. he makes it his mission to treat everyone with dignity and respect.
Ben has returned to his New Mexican roots to be closer to family and friends and embark on his new role as General Manager of Fiasco Fine Wine.

Vanessa Shackleford is a Program Analyst with over 20 years experience. She brings extensive knowledge of project controls and strategic planning, finance and accounting to her position on the board. Vanessa started at Keshet as a community dancer in 2011 and has been here ever since.  She loves how authentic Keshet is in its approach to dance and how that is applied to each person that walks through the doors. Vanessa was asked to join the board three years ago and has enjoyed learning the other side of the company.

Delores D. Stroud, MBA; Ph.D. in Child and Family Psychology (aka Deedee) is a new member to the Keshet board of directors as of July 2024.  Deedee’s love of dance and devotion to youth like those supported in Keshet’s M3 Program made her a perfect match for Keshet.  Deedee has dedicated her life to supporting children in our community. Deedee recently retired from over 27 years at All Faiths Children’s Advocacy where she was most recently Business Development Officer and previously COO. Prior to All Faiths, Deedee worked at Albuquerque Public Schools as the Director of School and Community Partnerships where she learned the importance of quality afterschool community programming like Keshet.  She loves to hike, dance, play Mahjong and make greeting cards.  She has been married to Sean Stroud for over 30 years and has an adult daughter, Samantha, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in environmental science at the University of Oregon. Besides her devotion to her family and children in our community, Deedee loves her 3 spoiled rescue dogs. Currently, Deedee runs “It Takes a Village Consulting” which is contracted with the state of NM to support other nonprofits as they develop or maintain behavioral health programs for children.