The Arts Council Board of Directors

Cesar Flores, President

Cesar Flores, a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), has over 30 years experience with El Teatro Campesino.

His most recent theatrical endeavors include La Pastorella (El Teatro Campesino), Rain of Gold (Western Stage Company), and The Late Henry Moss (Magic Theater, SF).  He has also been involved in numerous television and film projects.

Marla Pleyte, Secretary

Ms. Pleyte obtained her BA. degree in Economics and an MBA. in Marketing and Organizational Behavior from Tulane University.  She obtained her Juris Doctor degree from UC Davis School of Law in 2006, where she was Editor-in-Chief of the UC Davis Business Law Journal and graduated Order of the Coif.

Prior to attending law school, Ms. Pleyte gained experience handling family law, civil, and criminal cases while working full-time with her father, James R. Pleyte, in his Hollister law practice.

Mike Grace, Treasurer

Kathy Bisbee

Originally from western Maine, Kathy is the Executive Director of Community Media Access Partnership (CMAP) serving the communities of Gilroy, Hollister and San Juan Bautista. Kathy has completed her Masters Degree in Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) with a concentration in Public Relations at Golden Gate University in San Francisco. 

Kathy produced five years of CruzioTV, a monthly technology education program at Community Television in Santa Cruz, CA. Her social documentation projects have been featured in three film festivals and as a 2008 winner of a Hometown Video award. Kathy has credits on many video productions, as producer/director, host, camera operator, line producer, editor and executive producer, including as co-producer on "Cafe Maya," a documentary about agro-ecology, sustainability and community organizing among the Maya of Guatemala. Cafe Maya was recently named as a finalist for the 2008 Western Area Video Awards.

Kathy currently serves on the regional board of the Alliance for Community Media-West, and was an organizer for the Access Without Borders Conference in 2008. When she's not working, driving, on the phone, or editing, Kathy can be found kayaking on the Monterey Bay.

Kent Child

Kent spent his early childhood in Cheyenne, Wyoming. His family moved to California and he spent most of his school and college years in the San Francisco Bay Area.  After earning A.A, B.A. and M.A. degrees in art in college, Kent moved to San Benito County to teach studio art at Gavilan College.  His 35 year career at Gavilan shifted from teaching to serving as a dean during the last 17 years, until his retirement in 2002.  He is currently an elected member of Gavilan's Board of Trustees.

A former member of the San Benito County Art Commission in the 1980s, Kent joined the Board of the San Benito County Arts Council in early 2009. 

Kent continues to produce artwork in a variety of media, but his primary focus is pottery, producing wheel-thrown and sculptural stoneware and porcelain ceramics.  He also works with wood and metal sculpture and oil painting.  He resides in Hollister, where he operates Sally Street Studios with his wife, oil painter Kathy Sheridan.

Mark Huber

Mark Huber has over 20 years of nonprofit administration and fundraising experience with symphony orchestra and chamber music organizations, educational institutions, and community development organizations.  Most recently, he was Executive Director of the Santa Cruz County Symphony.   He earned his MA in Arts Administration and BA in Music Theory from the University of New Orleans.  In addition to arts administration, Mark has experience as a musician and music producer.  He has been a resident of Hollister for the past six years.

Jane Rekedal

Jane Rekedal is a professional potter and long time resident of San Benito County, having moved from Minnesota in 1975.  She teaches ceramics at Gavilan Community College and maintains her own studio, Family Gooey Pottery, in a rural setting in Aromas.  She hosts her own studio opening twice annually and participates in art events throughout the area.  Jane also currently serves as a director on the Executive Board  of the Aromas Hills Artisans.

Jane produces stoneware and porcelain pottery that is both sculptural and functional, inspired by historical ceramics, yet contemporary in character.  Recent sculptural work focuses on a series of animals including sea otters, horses, birds, dogs, and cats.

Stephanie Hicks, Executive Director

Stephanie has over 15 years of non-profit development and marketing experience.  She was Development Associate for the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Development Director for the Volunteer Center for Monterey County.   Also in her career, she was responsible for new client development for international adoptions focusing on Russia and Ukraine programs for Adoptions and Aid International in the San Francisco Bay Area.  As a performing arts enthusiast, Stephanie has more than 30 years of classical ballet experience and was a member of the Central Valley Civic Ballet Company.  She is currently a ballet instructor at the San Benito Dance Academy and choreographer for many local stage productions for the San Benito Stage Company.