Board of Directors

PRESIDENT

Art has always been an important part of Riki’s life. She acquired a communications degree studying graphics, photography, and printing. After graduation, she lived in Alaska, cutting her teeth on print shop graphics and the printing industry. While living in LA, she had a career in radio advertising. Advertising sales and management provided her with invaluable business experience. She has dealt with customers and co-workers and learned the importance of developing relationships. Riki and her husband spent many years as snowbirds, traveling to and from Washington state to San Luis Obispo. Their long-term plan was successful, and they permanently moved to SLO in 2019.

Today, Riki is an oil painter passionate about creating serene, contemporary landscapes. She is glad to support the local arts by bringing more awareness, fun, and entertainment to the community through the arts.

VICE PRESIDENT

Jonathan York, Professor Emeritus of Entrepreneurship at Cal Poly, has enjoyed the vibrant landscape of San Luis Obispo for 15 years, immersing himself in the startup and tech communities. At Cal Poly, Jon co-founded both the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship and the SLO Hothouse and leveraged his expertise to develop a robust entrepreneurial scene on campus as well.

Before his time at Cal Poly, Jon led a varied career, ranging from CEO of large mental health and substance abuse systems in Detroit and Ohio, to internet company founder and venture investor. He has lent his energy to numerous boards spanning the arts, healthcare, and human services. As CEO of the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Jon witnessed firsthand the powerful relationship between a thriving arts community and sustainable economic development, fueling his desire to support arts in our region. Jon earned his undergraduate degree from Yale University and holds a PhD in Psychology from Michigan State.

DIRECTOR

Sharon Rich is the author of "Your Hidden Game: 10 Invisible Agreements That Can Make or Break Your Business," bringing 20 years as a leadership and business consultant to the board. After a 20+ year career as an agency owner and executive/creative director in the Los Angeles advertising industry, she now specializes in helping creative and progressive leaders achieve dramatic business growth by transforming their working relationships.

When not unraveling the invisible threads that bind organizations, Sharon finds joy in creative pursuits—crafting vegan cuisine that converts skeptical omnivores, exploring acrylics and watercolors, and developing her own tarot deck (a perpetual work-in-progress). She brings her unique ability to see patterns others miss to both the business world and arts community, and is committed to supporting SLO County's creative ecosystem with the same passion she brings to her consultancy work.

DIRECTOR

Rick Castello (he/him/his) has been a resident of SLO County for over 20 years - with a 10-year break in the middle, where he explored the Boston and Santa Cruz areas before he realized that SLO County is where he really wants to be.

He is inspired most by (and strives to create) meaningful and immersive artistic experiences where participants enjoy a sense of wonder and awe and feel a connection with each other and their surroundings. His preferred art medium is live performance, which he personally explores through SLO Tease, the burlesque troupe that he has produced and emceed for over a decade, as well as "Our Moveable Feast", a new "costumed flash mob performance art dinner" experience that he has created.

Rick's goal on the board of the Arts Council is to help create a thriving arts scene in our county, and to provide more opportunities for local artists to be seen, heard, appreciated, and paid for their art.

DIRECTOR

Despite a degree in social and behavioral sciences, Russell Kwong is a chef by trade and professional musician. As a classically trained musician Russell performs experimental and contemporary music solo and in various ensembles. His works incorporate environmental structure, electronic synthesis and ethereal soundscapes. Russell performs with the San Luis Obispo G’tar Ensemble and also serves on the San Luis Obispo Downtown environment committee. He currently operates Mee Heng Low Noodle House, a historical and cultural hub in the community. Russell has been a proponent in the community for utilizing spaces for eclectic musicians and artists.

ADVISOR

Currently working as a full-time artist and muralist, Missy (she/her/hers) can often be found in her coveralls at The Bunker SLO, behind piles of panels with paint on her face mixing the perfect green to get that mountain just right. When working with a team, Missy is known as an idea generator, often coming up with big plans to help guide a campaign, event, or program to its greatest heights.

Missy has, and always does, put her creative converse clad foot forward to find solutions to committee or artistic challenges. As the ( iii ) DESIGN founder and creative juggernaut, Missy inspires the team to think big and do bigger.