About the Presentation:

A first for Greater Akron’s Future: Beginning in 2019—for the first time in its history—our communities engaged in a cultural planning process with goals to strengthen our region, advance our cultural diversity, increase our opportunities to create culture, and provide vibrant experiences for all of us.

We know that diverse opportunities to experience arts, culture, and the environment are the keys to creating a vibrant and prosperous community. Join Akron Roundtable as ArtsNow shares an update on the work inspired by the cultural plan and its role in attracting and retaining talent, engaging our kids and helping them to succeed, driving economic investment, and ensuring residents of all ages and backgrounds are helping to co-create our future.

ArtsNow works to leverage the arts and culture in Summit County to support and strengthen the region’s economic and social vibrancy. Learn more at ArtsNow.org

About the Speaker:

Nicole serves as the Executive Director of ArtsNow, an organization that helps build and strengthen a thriving Summit County arts and culture scene to add economic vitality and social vibrancy to our region. In this role, she collaborates with local leaders and organizations to advocate for the arts and culture sector, connects local talent to resources, and leads a team that promotes the diverse catalog of arts and culture offerings across multiple platforms to Summit County residents.

In February of 2020, the board of trustees for The University of Akron confirmed President Gary Miller’s appointment of Nicole to a UA seat on the board of the Northeastern Educational Television of Ohio, Inc. (NETO). NETO is a consortium consisting of The University of Akron, Kent State University and Youngstown State University that owns and operates two public television stations in Northeast Ohio – WNEO and WEAO. Both stations are affiliates of the Public Broadcasting Service and are known collectively as Western Reserve Public Media.

In December of 2020, Nicole received the Glass Half Full award from the GAR Foundation and Nicole was elected to serve a second term with the Private Sector Network Council of Americans for the Arts representing Summit County and Ohio, ending in December of 2023. In August of 2019, she was selected by Crain’s Cleveland Business as a Notable Women in Nonprofit.

Nicole is a graduate of Leadership Akron Class 34, serves on the board of United Disability Services (UDS), and is a proud alumna of Torchbearers, where she served as member, committee chair, and board member from 2013 to 2017 and as president in 2016.