Board of Directors

President
Debbie Kovalik

Elected: Feb. 2024

Ms. Kovalik's Professional Career began in 1977 upon graduation from The University of Northern Colorado as a Television Journalist, with KKTV Channel 11 News, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Her career track included time working for advertising agencies, with a focus on sales and marketing and a The Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau as the Marketing Director.

Kovalik accepted the position of Executive Director of the Grand Junction Visitor & Convention Bureau in 1990 and worked for the City of Grand Junction for 28 years in that position, which included overseeing the Avalon Theatre and Convention Center for 10 years.

Vice President
Stan Orr

Elected: Feb. 2024
Board of directors: 2023-2024

Stan Orr is a professional association CEO, having managed state, national, and international nonprofit organizations for over 35 years. Upon retirement in 2019 he was owner and Chief Strategy Officer of NonProfit Resources Inc., an association management and consulting firm. He is a Certified Association Executive (CAE), and an inductee into prestigious Fellows of the American Society of Association Executives.

Treasurer
John Moniz

Elected: 2022

John is an engineering consultant and is active in the Grand Junction theater and music communities. He has served on non-profit boards in Washington, DC, Virginia, and Grand Junction. He is enthusiastic about continuing the improvement of the Avalon to support the performing arts in Grand Junction.

Secretary
Nikki Hanks

Elected: 2021

Nikki is a Colorado Mesa University Alumnus with degrees in Mass Communications/Public Relations and English literature. She is passionate about community service, having volunteered over the years with the Grand Junction Junior Service League, HopeWest, various District 51 betterment events, as well as currently sitting on the board of The Avalon Theatre Foundation. Nikki’s husband Chris is the head baseball coach at Colorado Mesa University, which is convenient since she is an avid baseball fan. Other activities that Nikki, her husband and three children enjoy are playing tennis, cooking, spoiling their dogs, reading, traveling and enjoying all that the lifestyle in western Colorado has to offer.

Member
David Goe

Elected: 2021

Dave is the Community Engagement Manager for Downtown Grand Junction – DDA, BID, and creative district. Dave's work downtown is focused on developing projects, events, and community space that benefit and grow community interaction. Arts and culture have always played a key role in downtown's success. Uplifting our local creative economy by creating opportunities throughout downtown, including the Avalon Theatre, is a particular focus of Dave's work.

In his spare time Dave is an artist and musician, and enjoys cooking for his friends and family.

Member
Bennett Boeschenstein

Bennett was the first City Council member to endorse the reconstruction of the Avalon and to approve the expenditure of $2million in City funds towards the reconstruction, which became the seed money for further contributions totaling over $12 million dollars.

Member
Sheryl Thompson

Sheryl's interest is the Avalon started 20 years ago. She worked all the events and was very involved in the remodel and new addition. At the time her my retirement, she was surprised with a paver on the rooftop with her name on it for all the behind the scene work I did. Sheryl is very honored be be a member of the Avalon Theatre Foundation.

Member
Evan Curtis

Elected: 2021

Evan Curtis is an award-winning independent stop motion animator and filmmaker. His work has screened at SXSW, on PBS and in more than 50 festivals worldwide. His films can be viewed at OreMagiFilms.com.

He received a BFA in film from the Conservatory of Theatre Arts and Film at Purchase College and an MFA in animation from the Savannah College of Art and Design, where he interned at Blue Sky Studios and Adult Swim. He currently teaches film and animation at Colorado Mesa University, while continuing to make films for festivals as well as clients.

Member
Charles Latshaw

Elected: 2020

Charles Latshaw is Music Director and Conductor of the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra and the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra in Arizona.

Kara McCarty

Elected: 2023

Kara McCarty spent two decades living and working in the Washington D.C. area before returning to the Grand Valley in 2021. Professionally, her early career was in Government Relations for various trade associations before moving into IT project management. She is an alumnus of Grand Junction High School and CMU.

Kara is a photographer, aspiring watercolorist, opera lover, and foodie. Her deeply rooted love for the arts started with her grand dad, a middle school band teacher, and fond memories of standing in line with her family for the Star Wars and Indiana Jones films at the old Cooper theatre (now Avalon Theatre).

Director of Development
Matt Thornton

Elected: 2023

Matt is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and cinematographer whose work has been seen on Rocky Mountain PBS, the Wall Street Journal, CNBC and more. Hailing from Colorado Mesa University with a BA in Mass Communications, he currently is working as a commercial freelance producer and D51 Film Mentor.

Matt is an avid snowboarder, novice fly fisherman, and Star Wars junkie.