As executive director of the Texas Commission on the Arts, Gary Gibbs is responsible for the development and administration of the policies, programs and procedures of the state agency. Gibbs earned an B.M.E. in voice from Baylor University, an M.M. in voice from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in musicology from the University of Texas at Austin. His vocal studies prepared him to serve as soloist and choral clinician for a German church organization that presented him in concert and workshops throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Canada and South America. As a musicologist, he has presented numerous papers and has written several published articles dealing with American music topics. Gibbs has taught at all levels from kindergarten through college, and from 1991 to 2007 he served as director of education and outreach at Houston Grand Opera. He was the education manager for the Houston Arts in Education Collaboration, a project funded by the Arts Plus Initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts. He has served on the Houston/Harris County Arts Task Force, the Harris County Department of Education Fine Arts Leadership Group and the Texas Commission on the Arts – Arts in Education Task Force. Gibbs has served on numerous local and national panels and committees, including the Multidiscipline, Music and Large Organization panels for the Houston Arts Alliance and the Arts in Education and Arts Learning Panels for the National Endowment for the Arts.
Tony Manfredi joined the Nevada Arts Council as executive director in 2017. Manfredi provides the strategic direction and leadership for the organization, assessing and overseeing current programming, optimizing business development opportunities for artists, arts organizations and the public, representing the agency and state in regional and national forums, and managing the staff and budget housed within state government. His professional background combines 30 years of strategic planning, management, marketing, creative and fundraising services for both local and international businesses and organizations. Manfredi is a graduate of the University of San Diego with degrees in communication studies and art with a dual emphasis in graphic communication and painting.
George Tzougros is the executive director of the Wisconsin Arts Board, the state agency that nurtures creativity, cultivates expression, promotes the arts, supports the arts in education, stimulates community and economic development, and serves as a resource for people of every culture and heritage. Tzougros works with the creative industries, Wisconsin Arts Board members and staff, the governor, and state legislature to create funding programs and services to meet the needs of the people of Wisconsin. He is a member of the Governor’s Council on Tourism and the Cultural Coalition of Wisconsin. He is also the chair of the National Creativity Network, a cofounder of the Wisconsin Science Festival, a board member of Arts Midwest and the Robert E. Gard Wisconsin Idea Foundation, and past president of both Wisconsin/Chiba Incorporated and Film Wisconsin. He was the 2019 recipient of the Michael Newton Award from Americans for the Arts. Tzougros has served as executive director of the Arts Board since 1996. Prior to that, he served four years as the Arts Board’s assistant director, and was responsible for arts education, community arts development, and presenting and touring.
Kelly Barsdate leads NASAA’s executive education, leadership development and technical assistance services for state arts agency directors. She also provides support for state level advocacy and serves as a senior advisor to state arts agencies, cultural advocates, NASAA’s executive team and the NASAA board.
Kelly began her career at NASAA in 1991 and draws on deep current knowledge of the field to support state arts agencies today. She provides guidance to state arts agency staff and council members on policy issues, strategic messaging, planning, agency structure and responsive grant making. Her portfolio includes onboarding and orientation services for new state arts agency executive directors. She leads NASAA’s Boot Camps for new agency appointees and conducts training on advocacy, best practices and the public purpose of state arts agencies.
Kelly has authored numerous monographs on arts policy, including NASAA’s Practical Advocate series and Why Should Government Support the Arts? She has led collaborations with the National Governors Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures, ArtPlace America, Grantmakers in the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts and other policy partners. She is a contributing editor of the peer-reviewed Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society. She holds an executive certificate of facilitation from Georgetown University, a Change Leader certification from the state of Utah, and a degree in English from Oberlin College. Her arts background includes studies in clarinet performance, arts education and orchestral conducting at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music as well as community based training in dance and ceramics. Born and raised in Alaska, Kelly is a keen birdwatcher and avid amateur naturalist.
Todd Duesing joined Hennepin Arts in Minneapolis as president and CEO in July 2023, bringing over two decades of arts leadership experience and a track record of driving economic impact through the performing arts. Since arriving, he has energized Hennepin Arts’ mission to expand access to the arts, elevate the Hennepin Theatre District as a cultural destination, and strengthen partnerships with city and community leaders.
Under his leadership, Hennepin Arts completed a transformative rebrand from Hennepin Theatre Trust, unifying its theatre, education and community programs under a bold new identity. This strategic shift, developed through extensive stakeholder collaboration, reinforced Hennepin Arts’s role in the cultural and economic revitalization of downtown Minneapolis.
Duesing also played a pivotal role in shaping consumer protection legislation in Minnesota. He collaborated with state legislators on House File 1989, which became law in May 2024, requiring ticket sellers to disclose total costs upfront and prohibiting deceptive practices like bot-driven ticket resales.
Prior to Hennepin Arts, Duesing served as vice president and chief operating officer at Cincinnati Arts Association, where he led operations for major venues and secured Cincinnati as the host city for the 2012 World Choir Games. He began his career in 2000, managing iconic venues and festivals for Music & Events Management, Inc., a subsidiary of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
Kendall Gilvar is the strategic communications and project manager at the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), the national trade association representing thousands of independent live entertainment venues, festivals, promoters and more. In this role, Gilvar manages communication strategies and engages with local, state and federal lobbyists to enact proconsumer ticketing policies and reforms.
Gilvar staffs the Fix the Tix Coalition, a national alliance of arts and live entertainment organizations advocating for a fairer ticketing ecosystem. Beyond coalition work, Gilvar manages NIVA’s special projects, including the economic research study, State of Live. She plays a key role in advancing ticketing reforms by collaborating with lawmakers, industry leaders and advocacy groups to shape policy, provide testimony and drive public awareness.
Before joining NIVA, Gilvar held communications roles at Sugerman Communications, IPG Health and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), where she developed expertise in strategic messaging, advocacy campaigns and public affairs. She graduated from George Washington University with a degree in political communication.