Katie Ameral, Human Resource Manager

Ms. Ameral has over 18 year experience in human resources. She holds a BS degree from Western Oregon University. She currently is the manager of Human Resources at Peoples Bank of Commerce. Ms. Ameral is committed to investing in her local community and improving opportunities for local youth.

Rose Batignani, Marketing Manager, S+B James Construction

Rose, a recent transplant from Orlando, FL, has exchanged the palm tree vibe for the serene atmosphere of hiking trails amongst the pines. With over 15 years of marketing experience in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, she brings a strategic mindset, creative energy, and a strong commitment to volunteerism, fundraising, and board service. Her leadership experience includes serving as Past President of SMPS Central Florida and Co-Chair of the Communications Committee for CREW Orlando, where she played a key role in shaping the professional voice of Central Florida’s built environment. Outside of work, Rose practices aerial silks and enjoys hiking with her partner, Jed, and their three energetic black labs. She loves exploring encaustic wax, alcohol ink, and cyanotype art, embracing the creative process without labeling herself as an artist.

Beth Braden, Retired nonprofit manager

Ms. Braden grew up in Medford and received her BA degree in psychology from Oregon State University. For 32 years she was a manager at a large nonprofit organization in Florida that serves persons with disabilities. Upon retirement and returning to Medford in late 2019, Ms. Braden is committed to serving the community through participation in nonprofit organizations.

Adrian Chavez, Painter, Muralist, and Tattoo Artist

Born, raised, and based in Southern Oregon, Adrian has been an active artist throughout the Rogue Valley. He exercised in drawing from an early age and later moved from graffiti to painting portraiture. With a pictorial style aimed towards Impressionism, he displays the relationship between light and dark, both visually and contextually. Adrian graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Southern Oregon University and is currently enrolled at Southern Oregon Tattoo Academy, where he aims to build on his practice. His experiences range from curating exhibitions, teaching private courses, gallery management, and painting public murals.

Pam Shay, Educator and Artist

Pam has been an educator spanning over forty years in a variety of settings–all of them challenging non-profits and all of them requiring a unique brand of leadership. She was the principal of two all- girls’ high schools and the director of a Montessori elementary/ middle school in the San Francisco Bay Area. Pam also served as the Director of Education and Training at St. Mary’s Medical Center, San Francisco, providing organizational development for the hospital’s administration. Pam most recently retired to Ashland after serving as the first woman principal of Bishop O’Dowd High School— 1,200 student Catholic high school in Oakland, California. She currently holds leadership positions on several boards. She enjoys being an artist member of the Gallery and delights working in watercolor and ink.

Ed Houck, Retired Hospital Lab Technician Manager, current ranch and farm owner of Houck Farms Inc. in Northern Idaho

Mr. Houck graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in Microbiology and was the Chief Medical Technologist of Providence Hospital’s medical laboratory for 30 years. He and his sister are current owners of Houck Farms Inc. in Northern Idaho. Ed is a singer of both Rogue Valley Chorale and Southern Oregon Repertory Singers and is a former board member of both RVC and SORS.

Board Vice President, Ryan Moon, Oil Painter & Instructor

As a second-generation immigrant, Ryan has been blessed to call Southern Oregon his home for nearly four decades. Growing up in the Rogue Valley has inspired him to pursue many creative opportunities to showcase our diverse cultures and led him to found Marrow Collective, a group of artists focused on advancing the movement of the local art scene. During his youth, Ryan graduated from the Southern Oregon Academy of Art and shortly after became a painting instructor for the institution. He currently works out of his painting studio in Downtown Medford curating large-scale arts exhibitions and teaching private courses. From the beautiful and vivacious shows that he organizes to the meaningful connections he fosters with his students, he is a true patron of the creative arts in our area.

Tammy Ryan, Marketing & Creative Production

With over 35 years of experience in marketing and creative production, Tammy has a proven track record of managing multiple large-scale creative projects for the entire lifecycle. A UCLA graduate with a degree in Mass Communications, she spent 11 years as a Senior Marketing Production Consultant at Wells Fargo, leading quarterly print marketing campaigns for more than 4,300 branches nationwide. Tammy has worked with top design firms and agencies across the Bay Area, specializing in print production, vendor management, and cross-functional team leadership.

In addition to her marketing expertise, Tammy is a self-taught acrylic pouring artist with a strong background in color theory, brand management, and visual production. Known for her calm, collaborative approach, she is passionate about creative experimentation and the joy of artful discovery.

Outside of work, Tammy enjoys hiking and biking with her family, walking her dogs, gardening, and supporting her favorite soccer teams. She is actively involved in her community, serving as President of the Women’s Leadership Connection, and has recently discovered pickleball, which she plays as much as she can!

Board President, David Weber, Dental Technician

Mr. Weber has 40 years’ experience as a dental technician. He started his own laboratory in Northern California in 1985. He moved to the Rogue Valley with his family in 2004. He has served on various Boards and in dental focus groups. In addition to “sculpting” teeth, he is an avid outdoorsman, art enthusiast, and photographer.

Board Treasurer, John Williams, Businessman

Mr. Williams is a software developer, entrepreneur, and 3rd-generation Ashland resident. He graduated from UC Berkeley in 1988 and founded or co-founded more than half a dozen innovative software and biotech companies in the past 25 years, including one of the largest digital art publishing companies on the Web, Letters & Arts. He currently co-owns a wide variety of software and biotech companies from Seattle to Berkeley, including two in the Rogue Valley. In the past decade, he served on the Ashland School Board for 6 years, chaired various city commissions, and is currently the president of an arts fundraising organization benefitting Ashland public schools.

Kristen O’Neill—Executive Director

Kristen O’Neill grew up in the mountains outside of Santa Cruz, CA, and then graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2003 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. In Chicago, she worked for the Department of Exhibitions and Events for the school, giving her the first look at the work it takes to run galleries. After moving to Southern Oregon in 2015, she immediately dove into being part of the artistic community. Kristen worked at the Grants Pass Museum of Art from 2016 to 2022. There, she co-chaired the Open Studios committee, helped create the 5th Grade Field Trips Program, helped organize and led dozens of art classes for both adults and children. She installed numerous exhibitions and worked on many fundraisers. Kristen is also the Treasurer of the Josephine County Cultural Coalition. She worked for Alyson Stanfield at ArtBizSuccess as an artist mentor for six years. There she worked with artists from around the world to develop their skills and their professional art businesses.

Kristen believes art can help people and communities find common ground, believe in themselves, and is a necessary part of culture.

Jenny Calaba—Exhibition Coordinator

Jenny first started at the Rogue Gallery & Art Center as an Art Instructor in 2013. She enjoys working in many mediums especially ceramics and glass, and has a Master’s degree in studio art from California State University, Northridge.

Sidney Reha—Education and Event Coordinator

Sidney Reha is an interdisciplinary and multimedia artist local to the Rogue Valley. She graduated from SOU with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in 2025 and is dedicated to fostering accessibility and sustainability with the arts.

Cassondra Phillips—Office Administrator

Cassondra, with Oregon roots, brings a wealth of experience from Santa Barbara to the vibrant Los Angeles art scene, where she has collaborated with leading contemporary artists and worked in renowned galleries. In 2025, she served on the Luna Gallery committee, a pioneering initiative placing art on the Moon to preserve humanity’s creative legacy. An avid hiker and passionate advocate for the arts, she delights in inspiring others to follow their own creative paths.