Meet the Artpark & Company Team

LEadership:

Dave Wedekindt
President
Dave joined the Artpark team in 2018 as Director of Marketing & Sales, bringing extensive experience in performing arts marketing, sales, communications, programming, sponsorship and development to the organization. He was promoted to Vice President of Concerts & Marketing in 2021, then to Vice President in 2022, and was named President on November 26, 2024 following a national search. Previously he was the Director of Marketing for the University at Buffalo Center for the Arts in Amherst, NY for 15 years, preceded by five years as Associate Director of Marketing for the CFA. He started his career as Associate Director of Development for Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo, NY. A strong advocate for the arts, he also serves on the Board of Directors of MusicalFare Theatre and is past President of the Board of Directors for Arts Services Inc. He holds an MBA from the University at Buffalo and BS in Business Administration from SUNY Fredonia. Dave resides in Amherst with his wife Susan and his interests include bicycling, playing the saxophone, and attending live performances. Contact

 

Programming: 

Tanis Winslow
Director of Education and Interpretation
Tanis was born and raised in Youngstown, NY. She studied fine art and visual studies at Purchase College and arts education at Buffalo State College, and earned her MA from Boston University. She has worked at galleries in Manhattan, NY and has served as the Audience Balloting Coordinator at the Hamptons International Film Festival and as a Theater Manager at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. Tanis has been involved in Artpark for twenty years. Here she has been involved in the inception and directing of various festivals, art programs, fine art installations and arts education experiences working with numerous local organizations. Tanis has curated and installed works by many local and international artists and her own artwork has been exhibited at galleries throughout Western New York. Contact

 

Gil Rose
Director of Opera
Gil Rose and his orchestra Boston Modern Opera Project have consistently earned rave reviews, and honors including Musical America’s Ensemble of the Year award. As recently as April 2023, The New York Times called them “ some of the finest orchestral playing heard in the city this year”. Often referred to as “a musician helping to shape the future of classical music”, Gil Rose is acknowledged for his “sense of style and sophistication” by Opera News, noted as “an amazingly versatile conductor” by The Boston Globe, and praised for conducting with “admiral command” by The New York Times and has been called “one of the most adventurous conductors in the world” by KUSC Radio. Over the past two decades he has built a reputation as one of the country’s most inventive and versatile conductors. His dynamic performances on both the symphonic and operatic stages as well as over 100 recordings have garnered international critical praise. More info. 

 

Michele-Elise Burnett
Indigenous Arts Producer
Métis/Algonquin, Bear Clan, is President of Kakekalanicks, an Indigenous arts and consultancy company which educates, enlightens and entertains broad audiences through the promotion of Indigenous knowledge through art, artists and performers. Ms. Burnett is the co-founder of Landscape of Nations 360°, a unique Indigenous education and tourism initiative. She is creator and Artistic Director of the Celebration of Nations and the Indigenous Arts Producer at Artpark, where she curates the Annual Strawberry Moon Festival, and Indigenous Ways of Knowing on-going programming, all which provide a far-reaching platform for the community to embrace and honor the unique heritage, diverse cultures, and outstanding achievements of Indigenous peoples. Ms. Burnett has recently been part of multiple large and meaningful art installations and memorials in various capacities including: the Landscape of Nations Commemorative Memorial in Queenston Ont, the Curtain Call installation at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in St. Catharines Ont, the Native American Peace Garden at Artpark, and conceptualized and produced the Indigenous site reactive audio Journey – "Her Moccasins Talk" for Artpark’s Sonic Trails. Contact
 

Cynthia Pegado
Director of Artpark Bridges
Cynthia brought 15 years of non-profit organization management, strategic goal achievement and program development when joining the Artpark team in 2019. Her work at the intersection of arts and chronic disease management has garnered awards from New York State Council on the Arts, Parkinson's Foundation, Garman Foundation and Health Foundation. Cynthia holds a BFA cum laude in Dance Performance from University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. Artpark played a formative role in Cynthia's pre-professional life as a young ballet student, giving access to world renown artists and repertoire as she grew into a principal dancer of a local WNY company before touring the world with American and European ballet companies. Her professional stage career now translates into directing site-specific performance and art-making.for people living with neurodiversity or progressive disease. Cynthia is also a Certified Dementia Volunteer (CDV), National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP). Her work as an interdisciplinary artist in sculpture and photography has been exhibited in WNY arts institutions and her solo exhibit "Simple Footsteps, Deep Echoes" as Artpark Artist in Residence gave tribute to Artpark's impact on her past and present. Hiking and intuitive sound composition are favorite pastimes. Contact

 

Brent Chancellor
New Music in the Park Curator
Brent Chancellor is an award-winning conductor, composer, and curator recognized for his powerful, dynamic style and direct human communication. A passionate educator and founder of the immersive orchestra project LUX, he has performed throughout the US, including at Carnegie Hall, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Symphony Space, DiMenna Center, and New Jersey Performing Arts Center. His music and sound installations have been featured at the Festival of New American Music, Festival of the Arts, Sacramento Film Festival, and NY Fashion Week. Fascinated by the intersectional merging of interdisciplinary arts, performance practice, and education, his programming explores collaborations that present important works. Brent joined the Artpark team to help expand our New Music in the Park series' programming in 2023. More info

 

technical and production: 

Susan Stimson
Production Manager
Susan has been with Artpark for 26 years. She went to North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston Salem, NC. After college she toured with two National Tours throughout the U.S. and then landed in Manhattan, where she helped to manage Philip Glass, Diamanda Galas and Spalding Gray. She then joined the ranks of Broadway with shows like: SUNSET BOULEVARD with Glenn Close, DAMN YANKEES with Jerry Lewis, CATS, FAUST – a workshop with RANDY NEWMAN. She then headed to Boston and headed up BLUE MAN GROUP for four years as their Stage Manager. Susan has worked proudly with Neglia Ballet, BPO and Shea’s on various productions through the years.  Contact

 

IATSE Local 121

Tim Wrobel - Carpenter & Steward
Lars Stolpe  - Head Electrician
Jeremy Granger- Head Sound
Mark T Gardner 
Seth Ptasnick

 

 

DEVELOPMENT and fundraising: 

Wendy Diina
Director of Development 
Wendy joined the Artpark team in 2022. Prior to her arrival she served as Vice President, Corporate Relations & Special Projects at the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra for eleven years where her work included strategic planning and project management for new organizational initiatives and securing funding from corporate contributors. Wendy served in various roles in public television and radio for seventeen years at WNED (Buffalo) and KTEH (San Jose, California) and she authored fundraising scripts for the national Public Broadcasting System’s fundraising campaigns. Wendy received her undergraduate degree in communications from SUNY Fredonia and masters degree from the University at Buffalo in arts management in 2012 where she now serves as an adjunct professor. Wendy is a graduate of the Leadership Buffalo Class of 2016, is a member of Buffalo Toronto Public Media’s Community Advisory Board and serves on the fundraising committee for Buffalo’s Central Terminal. Wendy is proud to have summited Mount Kilimanjaro in 2022 and hiked the Andes Mountains to Machu Picchu in 2024. Contact

 

Michael Riccio
Associate Director of Development 
Michael came to Artpark in 2019 with nearly 10 years of nonprofit experience and holds an MS in Communication and Leadership with a focus in Nonprofit Management. As part of Artpark's development team, Michael coordinates grants and donor letters, manages Artpark's Raiser's Edge database, and supports all other Artpark fundraising efforts. Michael is also Artpark's unofficial membership coordinator, serving as the first point of contact for all of Artpark's members. Having many interests, Michael has played piano for over 20 years, worked as a set designer for Canisius College's Little Theatre for almost 10 years, is an avid rec league softball player, and a proud dad. Contact

 

marketing: 

Andy Dulski
Director of Marketing & Sales
Andy joined Artpark in Summer of 2022 with over 25 year in media sales, marketing and branding experience with area businesses across WNY. He grew up in WNY with a background in musical performance and theater. He holds a BA in Communications Degree from SUNY Buffalo State College. Andy recalls coming to Artpark as a youngster back in the early ArtEl days, then later coming here for theater and music performances with friends, and then again when his daughter joined the Artpark Theater Camps. Andy lives in Williamsville with his wife, Stephanie, and when not enjoying their daughter performing in theater and music or cheering for their son on a soccer field, you might find him still DJing fun events, planning for their next Disney vacation or shopping retro estate sales for cool sci-fi items! Contact

 

Jordan Oscar
Marketing Associate & House Photographer
Jordan began covering events at Artpark in 2018 as our House Photographer. He has a Bachelors in English from the University at Buffalo, and continues to work as a freelance photojournalist in the Western New York area. His role at Artpark expanded in early 2022 when he joined our full-time staff as a Marketing Associate to assist with managing our website, social media, and press relations. In his spare time, Jordan is often found photographing concerts, drawing in coffee shops, hiking, or relaxing in his hammock at home. Contact

 

 

BUSINESS OFFICE: 

Wade Stuckwisch, CPA
Accounting Manager
Wade arrived at Artpark in 2024 after multiple decades working in many aspects of entertainment, ranging from accounting and royalties to set lighting for film and television. He's currently licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in California, and he's studied business and accounting at California State University, Los Angeles and UCLA Extension. He also has an MFA in Film Production from Florida State University and a BA from Hampshire College. Wade grew up in nearby Pendleton, NY, and currently lives in Niagara Falls. In his spare time, Wade enjoys hiking, photography, and ear-splitting music, and also volunteers locally for the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Contact

 

The Bonadio Group, Financial Management
TrueBuffalo HR, HR Management
Tronconi Segarra & Associates, Audit

 

BOX OFFICE:

Sean Chambers
Box Office Manager
Sean joined Artpark in the Spring of 2022 with 7 years of experience between the Buffalo Bills & University of Buffalo in box office and event operations. He also has a wide array of customer service & sales experience, including his active work as a real estate agent. He has a Bachelors in Sport Managementfrom Ithaca College & an Associates in Business Administration. Sean resides in Lockport with his wife, Ilene. They enjoy hiking, traveling, exploring new places, and relaxing with movies & TV shows in their spare time. Contact

 

 

Ann Perno
Associate Box Office Manager
Ann is thrilled to be back with Artpark for another exciting season. She got her start as a stagehand at Melody Fair and continued to work throughout WNY and New England in both theatre administration and production before becoming the company manager for Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre. Upon moving back home to WNY she was the production manager at Alleyway Theatre and is currently a stage manager for O'Connell & Company. When she is not at Artpark or the theatre, Ann homeschools her son, John, and enjoys running, yoga, and naps. Contact

 

 

OPERATIONS AND CUSTOMER SERVICES:

Charlie Simon
Customer Experience Manager
Born in Buffalo, NY, and Growing up in Phoenix, Arizona, Charlie embarked on his hospitality journey after graduating from the University of Montana with a degree in Hospitality and Tourism. With over a decade in food and beverage management, his career highlights include roles at Paradise Valley Country Club, Congressional Country Club in Washington D.C., Dorset Field Club in Vermont, and Wanakah Country Club in Hamburg where he became the Assistant General Manager. On days where Charlie isn't working he likes to play disc golf with friends, golfing and hanging out with his wife Hannah, and two labs Boomer and Porter. Contact

 

Francine DelMonte
Volunteer Coordinator
Francine was an Artpark volunteer for several years before joining our staff in 2017. She oversees a dedicated volunteer corp of over 140 people who work the various shows, programs and events that Artpark is famous for presenting each season. Francine’s connection with Artpark dates back to its early years as a patron who enjoyed visiting the Art El and seeing once-in-a-lifetime performances by Mikhail Baryshnikov, Sting and Joe Cocker. Later as the New York State Assemblywoman representing the western half of Niagara County, she secured millions of dollars in state funding to support infrastructure improvements for the Mainstage Theater. Francine appreciates the unique treasure Artpark is in Lewiston and looks forward to its future. Contact

 

Leah Sawyer
VIP Skybox Supervisor
Leah started working at Artpark in 2013 as a server in our VIP Skybox Area. She has an Associates Degree in Sociology from NCCC, a Bachelors Degree from Buffalo State in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing. Leah has over 10 years’ experience in management roles, including currently being an account manager with park place installations doing commercial, residential, and educational technology installations. Leah enjoys spending time and vacationing with her daughter Ella Joyce and husband Steven, the CrossFit community, and rollerblading.