SCPA Alumni Association History

History of NAAcSCPA

The Informal Years: 1980-2015

Credit for keeping the flame of alumni memories continually in tact and accessible since 1973 belongs to Michael Husman ‘82. It is with deepest appreciation for his friendship, devotion, skills, time and energy that we are able to create this historic narrative.

The early years of the association were based on the hopes to find and reconnect alumni with their SCPA experiences and friendships. As early as 1980, The Crescendo, the school newspaper, announced and pictured the first association leaders: Shawn Collins, Jamey Focke, Jennie Carol and Narkita Montgomery.

The next milestone came when the Alumni Association Facebook page was created, which provided an accessible and consistent method of communication among alumni. As a result, the alumni found a place to share stories, news and plans for class reunions. In 2011, Michael Husman posted an extensive list of SCPA Angels, or  “a list of people associated with SCPA that had passed away.” Alumni, friends and their families have continued to communicate others’ passing in order to add to that memorial list.

During this period, Robbie Todd ’82 became the association’s de facto leader, and, with an advisory committee committed to reconnecting the SCPA family, reunions flourished.

The group’s efforts to become an official nonprofit organization were delayed in favor of providing active support to SCPA’s new building, keeping SCPA’s original name and logo, and opposing changing the school’s name to honor Maestro Eric Kunzel. With Robbie’s determination, the alumni activism was successful, and the school’s name and its treasured logo– created by the school’s first art teacher, Erv Raible– were retained. Robbie and his advisory group will always be associated with this distinction of activism.

In 2015, Robbie initiated the process toward the official formation of the association into an IRS-recognized 501(C)3 nonprofit organization, incorporated in the State of Ohio. Robbie invited organization and development professional, Marcia Goldsmith, to provide a plan and support that process.

Present Day: 2016 – Present

Over the next two years, transition of leadership followed from the initial advisory committee to a Task Force and an initial Interim Board of Directors. In 2016, Robbie Todd announced his retirement from the Association leadership.

Kenneth Gibson ’87 and Michael Husman ‘82 assumed shared leadership roles with a new Interim Board of Directors through the 2017 national election. At a special meeting on January 26, 2018 on the stage at SCPA, the inaugural Board of Directors was installed by Michael Husman, retiring Co-Chair of the Interim Board of Directors.

In 2020, under the leadership of Alumni President Joshua Trotter ‘14 and Vice President Tomica Chitterson ‘97,  the Alumni Board of Directors created The Dare to Dream Scholarship, an Alumni Funded Scholarship that would benefit SCPA Seniors by making their dreams into reality in spite of the challenges they face.

Here is a Link to SCPA School History: https://scpa.cps-k12.org/about/history

It is with sincere appreciation we list the names of those devoted alumni whose commitment to serving over the decades has led to this historic beginning. They will forever be associated with the establishment of the official National Alumni Association of Cincinnati School for Creative and Performing Arts.

1980 Alumni Leaders

Jenni Carroll ‘80
Shawn Collins ‘79
Jamey Focke ‘80
Narkita Montgomery ‘80

2015 Advisory Committee/Task Force

Douglas Ball ‘82
Becky Wissel Cohn ’91     
Casandra Cooper ’87
Kenneth Gibson ‘87
Traci Gibson ‘81
Beth Hertzig ’82
David Hertzig ‘80
Michael Husman ‘82
Kevin Manuel-Scott ‘87
Holly Strong Spence ‘87
Jerry Taylor ‘90
Robbie Todd ‘82
Joshua Trotter ‘14
Aimee Felder Vaughan ‘81

2016 Interim Board of Directors #1

Douglas Ball ‘82
Bill Christ ‘81
Becky Wissel Cohn ‘91                           
Casondra Wright Cooper ‘87
Kenneth Gibson ‘87
Bethany Hertzig ‘82
David Hertzig ‘80
Michael Husman ‘82
Jennifer Bowers Pang ‘92
Holly Strong Spence ‘87
Jerry Taylor ‘90
Joshua Trotter ‘14
Aimee Felder Vaughan ‘81

2017 Interim Board of Directors #2

Kenneth Gibson ‘87 – Co-Chair
Michael Husman ‘82, Co-Chair
Will Hammelrath ‘86 – Governance (Election) Committee Chair
Douglas Ball ‘82
Joshua Trotter ‘14                           
David Hertzig ‘80
Angel McIlwain ‘80
Michael Inman ’13
Steve Hammelrath ‘86
Casondra Cooper ‘87
Bethany Hertzig ‘82
Jerry Taylor ‘90
Holly Spence ‘87

2018/19 Inaugural Board of Directors

Kenneth Gibson ‘87 (President)
William Hammelrath ‘86 (Vice President)
Kathleen Riemenschneider ‘88 (Secretary)
Karen Winkler ‘79 (Treasurer)

Semion Androne ‘91 (Development Chair)
Michele Battle ‘82 (Governance Chair)
Joshua Trotter ‘14 (Marketing and Communications Chair)

Pamela Bradshaw ‘82
John Calhoun ‘79
Douglas Ball ‘82
Lesley Carroll Folen ‘88
Steve Hammelrath ‘86
Michael Inman ‘13
Kelli Starks-Harris ‘85
Rob Young ‘83

Board Aide:
Consultant – Marcia Goldsmith
Company Assist – April Richardson

2019/20 Board of Directors                       

Kenneth Gibson ‘87 (President)
William Hammelrath ‘86 (President)
Joshua Trotter ‘14 (Vice President & Marketing and Communications Co- Chair)
Allison McElfresh ’97 (Secretary)
Karen Winkler ‘79 (Treasurer)

Semion Androne ‘91 (Development Co-Chair)
Michele Battle ‘82 (Governance Chair)
Vicka Bell-Robinson ’96 (Development Co-Chair)
Tomica Chitterson ’97 (Marketing and Communications Co- Chair)
Catreece Tatum ’14 (Alumni Engagement Chair)

Dennis Betz ‘85
Pamela Bradshaw ‘82
John Calhoun ‘79
Lesley Carroll Folen ‘88
Steve Hammelrath ‘86
Rob Young ‘83

Board Aide:
Company Assist – April Richardson

 

2020/21 Board of Directors

Joshua Trotter ‘14 (President)
Tomica Chitterson ’97 (Vice President)
Allison McElfresh ’97 (Secretary)
William Hammelrath ‘86 (Treasurer)

Vicka Bell-Robinson ’96 (Development Chair)
Catreece Cannon ’14 (Alumni Engagement Chair)
Michele Battle ‘82 (Governance Chair)

Dennis Betz ‘85
Dana Bradley ‘82
Pamela Bradshaw ‘82
John Calhoun ‘79
William T Chaney ’79
Neatra Lockett-Foreman ’95
Rannie McCants ’12
Aaron Zlatkin ’91

Board Aide:
Company Assist – April Richardson

 

2021/22 Board of Directors

Tomica Chitterson ’97 (President)
Dana Bradley ‘82 (Vice President)
Mark Hein ‘86 (Secretary)
Vicka Bell-Robinson ’96 (Treasurer)

Catreece Cannon ’14  (Engagement Chair)
William T Chaney ’79 (Scholarship Chair)
Rannie McCants ’12 (Development Chair)
Joshua Trotter ‘14 (Marketing and Communications Chair)

Douglas Ball ‘82
Dennis Betz ‘85
Robyn Cassidy ‘82
Jamaica Gilliam ‘11
Neatra Lockett-Foreman ’95
Allison McElfresh ’97
Aaron Zlatkin ’91

2022/23 Board of Directors

Joshua Trotter ’14 (President)
Dana Bradley ’82 (Vice President & Governance Chair)
Rannie McCants ’12 (Secretary)
Semion Androne ’91 (Treasurer)

Robyn Rex Cassidy ’82 (Marketing and Communications Chair)
William T. Chaney Jr. ’79 (Scholarship Chair)
Ari DeWolf ’09 (Development Co-Chair)
Jamaica Gilliam ’11 (Alumni Engagement Chair)
Lynn Fredrick Hawley ’89 (Development Co-Chair)
Aaron Zlatkin ’91 (Marketing and Communications Chair)

Douglas Ball ’82
Criag Hartl-Rangel Bahia ’11 
Stephanie Jeter ’83
Neatra Lockett-Foreman ’95

 

2023/24 Board of Directors

Joshua Trotter ’14 (President)
Gerrick Kennedy ’05 (Vice President)
Robyn Rex Cassidy ’82 (Secretary)
Semion Androne ’91 (Treasurer & Finance Chair)

Christina Bilz ’12 (Marketing and Communications Chair)
Dana Bradley ’82 (Governance Co-Chair)
Kenneth Gibson ’87 (Alumni Engagement Co-Chair)
Lynn Frederick Hawley ’89 (Development Chair & Governance Co-Chair)
Stephanie Jeter ’83 (Scholarship Chair)
Rannie McCants ’12 (Alumni Engagement Co-Chair)

Douglas Ball ’82
Patrice Barnes ’05
William T. Chaney Jr. ’79
Ari DeWolf ’09