New Executive Committee for the Commission
From Anne B. Pope, Executive Director –
It is always an honor to work with the Commission Board members who govern this agency. Each member is appointed by the Governor to serve a five year term. At the quarterly Commission meeting on June 10, the Board cast an unanimous vote on those who will fill the leadership positions for fiscal year 2015-2016. They are: Chair, Stephanie B. Conner; Vice-Chair, Lisa Bobango; and Secretary, Connie S. Weathers.
Chair Stephanie B. Conner of Nashville was appointed by Governor Haslam in 2012 to represent Congressional District 5. She has been a part of the Allocations Committee and chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. Stephanie previously served on the Board from 2002-2007 and was elected chair twice. Stephanie’s roots in the arts run deep–her mother, Eleanor Yoakum, is extensively involved in the arts and civic life in Claiborne County and also served on the Commission, including a year as chair; and her father, Robert Barger, is a talented craft artist. Stephanie has effectively advocated for arts on every level: local, region, state and national. She has had numerous government and nonprofit leadership positions, including Assistant to the Governor for Policy, Board President for Tennesseans for the Arts and on the Executive Committee for South Arts. Stephanie is currently on the board for Watkins College of Art, Design & Film in Nashville and was elected to the 2015 Board of Directors for the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies.
Vice-Chair Lisa Bobango is a Memphis resident who was appointed to serve a five-year term by Governor Bill Haslam in 2013. Representing Congressional District 8, she served FY14-15 on the Commission’s Allocations Committee and the Committee for the Governor’s Arts Awards. An avid community advocate, Lisa has been active in numerous nonprofit organizations, including the board of the Memphis Literacy Council, the Junior League of Memphis and the Germantown Women’s Club. With a background in law, she also served as past president of the Memphis Bar Auxiliary and is the former Sustainer Director for the Junior League of Memphis. Lisa has also given many hours to arts-related organizations in her home city. Along with her husband, John, Lisa is one of the founding members of ‘Young at Art’ at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens in Memphis, and has supported both the Orpheum Theater and ArtsMemphis.
Secretary Connie S. Weathers of Chattanooga came to the Commission in 2011 to represent Congressional District 3, under the appointment of Governor Bill Haslam. For FY 14-15, Connie served on the Committee for the Governors Arts Awards and the Allocations Committee for the Commission. She has been active in her community through both arts and nonprofit organizations. Influenced by performing arts at a young age, Connie has long since been a supporter of the arts and has participated in several theatrical fundraisers. She has also spent many years serving her community through local branches of the American Cancer Society and the Republican Party. She has been named a “Distinguished Citizen” by the Hamilton County Commission and received the Patient Quality of Life Award for her decade of dedication to the Cancer Isn’t the End counseling program.
We are very excited to see what will be accomplished during this upcoming year of new leadership.
On behalf of the staff, I would like to extend a warm and heartfelt thank you to the FY15 executive board: Chair Patsy Camp, Vice-Chair Stephanie Conner and Secretary Ann Smith. With their leadership, the Commission accomplished many projects and goals.
