Board of Directors

President
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.

Vice President
Jodi Niernberg

Elected: 2025

Jodi Niernberg, a Grand Junction native, moved away to pursue her education and career but ultimately chose to return to the valley and put down roots. Now a small business owner of two successful restaurants she runs with her husband, a boutique real estate firm, and the mother of two rambunctious boys, she’s proud to call Grand Junction home and raise her family here.

The arts have always played an important role in Jodi’s life—from her early days in musical theater to becoming a passionate supporter of the Avalon Theatre renovation in 2012, during her eight-year tenure on the Downtown Development Authority (DDA). The DDA was a major donor to that project and remains one of the many initiatives Jodi is most proud to have supported.

Jodi believes arts and hospitality are the heart and soul of any thriving city, and she remains deeply committed to championing and growing both.

Secretary
Sheryl Thompson

Elected: 2021

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 her retirement, she was surprised with a paver on the rooftop with her name on it for all the behind the scene work she did. Sheryl is very honored be be a member of the Avalon Theatre Foundation.

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.

Director
Scott Beilfuss

Elected: 2025

Scott is a 40-year transplant from Wisconsin. After a career in sales Scott got involved with numerous local nonprofits and activist groups working on environmental, social, and economic equity issues. Two years ago, Scott was elected to the Grand Junction City Council and has served consecutive terms on the city Arts and Culture board. He believes arts are the glue that holds the Grand Valley people together.

Director
Hank Braxton

Elected: Oct. 2024

Hank is a Grand Junction native who spent time away from the valley while serving in the U.S. Army and then working in Hollywood. During his time in the film industry, Hank directed and produced several television shows and movies. Since returning to the grand valley in 2018, he has filmed four new feature films, two of which premiered at the Avalon raising money for the foundation. He has won several Emmy awards (and lost even more!) as well as a Clio. His most recent film "Glowzies" premiered at the Sitges film festival in Spain.

Director
Bennett Boeschenstein

Elected: 2020

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.

Director
Charles Latshaw

Elected: 2020

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

Director
Jeff Gustafason

Elected: Oct: 2024

Jeff has been a regular patron of the Avalon theater since he moved to Grand Junction in 2015. He believes that the history and beauty of the theater is a cornerstone of the Grand Junction community and is proud to support it. In addition to serving on the Avalon board of directors, Jeff is an instructor of film at Colorado Mesa University and the director of the Junktown Film Festival. He has worked in the film industry all of his adult life, often on camera crews of all kinds from coast to coast in the United States and beyond, and now works to support and grow the film and arts community in the Grand Valley.

Director
Ben Hatch

Elected: Aug. 2024

Ben is the Assistant General Manager at Oak View Group, the venue’s operating contractor, and has been with the Avalon since 2020. In his role, he has successfully overseen numerous capital improvement projects to include rounding out the board’s Cornerstone Project, contributing to the venue’s continued growth and operational excellence. He recognizes the Avalon as a vital community asset, helping to foster connections and enrich local culture. Ben began his career as a Percussionist with the Marine Corps Band in New Orleans and holds a degree in Music Business with an emphasis in Music Entertainment Industry Studies from the University of Colorado-Denver.

Director
Abigail Mangum

Elected: Dec. 2025

Abigail is a community-driven nonprofit professional, digital creative, and arts advocate with deep roots in the Grand Junction arts scene. She currently serves as Project Director at the Life & Breath Foundation, where she has helped the organization grow from a small volunteer-led nonprofit into a mid-sized foundation with multiple paid staff. In this role, Abigail leads program coordination, community outreach, project development, and donor communication.

Since 2020 she has provided website design and digital support for nonprofits, helping organizations strengthen their online presence, accessibility, and community engagement. In 2025 she founded Grand Junction Casting, a local casting network with over 300 Valley-based actors, supporting the production of numerous commercials, independent films, and creative projects that uplift local talent.

Prior to her nonprofit and arts work, Abigail built a foundation in community health and wellness as a fitness professional and instructor. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and maintains active certification in CPR/AED.

Abigail is passionate about community, creativity, and preserving the Avalon Theatre as a vibrant cultural anchor in Grand Junction. She looks forward to contributing her skills and energy to support the Avalon’s mission and strengthen connections between arts, history, and community life.

Director of Development
Matt Thornton

Hired: 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.