Executive Director
Kari Bullion
Kari has been involved with CPA for since _____ and has served on the board in the past for different capacities including treasurer and president. Dance has been a passion of Kari's since she was 8 years old. From the age of 15, she started working in various dance studios as an instructor. She is trained in tap, jazz, ballet, modern dance, and clogging. She has performed with numerous dance companies including The Canepa School of Dance, Judy Peterson Dancers, Dance Unlimited and others. Currently, she teaches and performs with The Pleasant Valley Cloggers. Her theater experience has grown from performing with dance troupes in community theater in her home town Baraboo, WI. She has served as choreographer for CPA for 4 years. Kari also has a BA in marketing from UMD, and has worked in management for a large company. Currently, she runs her own business providing office support services for marketing and bookkeeping for various types of businesses. Kari is adept at organizing people and systems. She also volunteers and mentors families through the Food Allergy Support Group of MN. Typically, her work involves finding solutions that allow children to be integrated into classroom and extra-curricular activities while supporting their needs. Kari believes in the value of CPA for children. She believes that every child who participates in our programming walks away with a confidence that will be with them for years to come. That having the courage and ability to speak, sing, act, and dance in front of an audience of hundreds is a skill we can all admire.
Artistic Director
Carrie Carlson
Carrie is CPA’s Artistic Director and Production Education Team Manager. Carrie has a BA in Psychology and has been involved with performance groups that have traveled across the United States from New York to California. Carrie has been a part of CPA for since _____and has been the primary director since ______. As a past board member she was instrumental in acquiring a 501(c) 3 for the organization. Carrie is passionate about being aligned with non-profits.
Fundraising Director (Volunteer)
Sharon Hanifl-Lee
Sharon has been involved with CPA since _____. She has been on the board since ______. She has a MBA in Business Administration with an emphasis on marketing. She also volunteers for the Flips Gymnastics Club Booster Club, the Hanifl Foundation Board, Arts Garden Theater Group and the Mahtomedi Soccer Association. She actively supports research and education for kids with special needs.
Development Coordinator
Melissa Niederkorn
Melissa has been involved with CPA since 2014, and served on the board of directors for two years prior to becoming a staff member. She has prior experience in inventory management, office management, and customer service. Melissa currently owns and operates her own photography business. She assists in a variety of duties including: overseeing the grant program, PR, and the design and maintenance of the website. Melissa is passionate about preserving memories for students and facilitating community involvement in the arts.
Marketing Coordinator
Jake Stendahl
Jake has been involved with the performance arts for over 12 years. While he still performs, he realized that giving back to the activity and his community were equally important. He wishes that an organization like CPA was available to him when he was younger he would have started doing theater much earlier. In the spirit of that he joined CPA to provide the younger generations of performers the access he wish he had and the experience he has had to enrich their involvement in the activity. The best parts of him come from theater and he hopes that other kids end up with a similar experience through CPA.
Kari Bullion
Kari has been involved with CPA for since _____ and has served on the board in the past for different capacities including treasurer and president. Dance has been a passion of Kari's since she was 8 years old. From the age of 15, she started working in various dance studios as an instructor. She is trained in tap, jazz, ballet, modern dance, and clogging. She has performed with numerous dance companies including The Canepa School of Dance, Judy Peterson Dancers, Dance Unlimited and others. Currently, she teaches and performs with The Pleasant Valley Cloggers. Her theater experience has grown from performing with dance troupes in community theater in her home town Baraboo, WI. She has served as choreographer for CPA for 4 years. Kari also has a BA in marketing from UMD, and has worked in management for a large company. Currently, she runs her own business providing office support services for marketing and bookkeeping for various types of businesses. Kari is adept at organizing people and systems. She also volunteers and mentors families through the Food Allergy Support Group of MN. Typically, her work involves finding solutions that allow children to be integrated into classroom and extra-curricular activities while supporting their needs. Kari believes in the value of CPA for children. She believes that every child who participates in our programming walks away with a confidence that will be with them for years to come. That having the courage and ability to speak, sing, act, and dance in front of an audience of hundreds is a skill we can all admire.
Artistic Director
Carrie Carlson
Carrie is CPA’s Artistic Director and Production Education Team Manager. Carrie has a BA in Psychology and has been involved with performance groups that have traveled across the United States from New York to California. Carrie has been a part of CPA for since _____and has been the primary director since ______. As a past board member she was instrumental in acquiring a 501(c) 3 for the organization. Carrie is passionate about being aligned with non-profits.
Fundraising Director (Volunteer)
Sharon Hanifl-Lee
Sharon has been involved with CPA since _____. She has been on the board since ______. She has a MBA in Business Administration with an emphasis on marketing. She also volunteers for the Flips Gymnastics Club Booster Club, the Hanifl Foundation Board, Arts Garden Theater Group and the Mahtomedi Soccer Association. She actively supports research and education for kids with special needs.
Development Coordinator
Melissa Niederkorn
Melissa has been involved with CPA since 2014, and served on the board of directors for two years prior to becoming a staff member. She has prior experience in inventory management, office management, and customer service. Melissa currently owns and operates her own photography business. She assists in a variety of duties including: overseeing the grant program, PR, and the design and maintenance of the website. Melissa is passionate about preserving memories for students and facilitating community involvement in the arts.
Marketing Coordinator
Jake Stendahl
Jake has been involved with the performance arts for over 12 years. While he still performs, he realized that giving back to the activity and his community were equally important. He wishes that an organization like CPA was available to him when he was younger he would have started doing theater much earlier. In the spirit of that he joined CPA to provide the younger generations of performers the access he wish he had and the experience he has had to enrich their involvement in the activity. The best parts of him come from theater and he hopes that other kids end up with a similar experience through CPA.
