Staff & Board of Directors
ARTfactory
Meet Our Staff
Talya Conroy
Chief Executive Officer
Talya Conroy
Chief Executive Officer
Talya Conroy has a degree in Musical Theatre & Dance and History from the University of Mary Washington. She was in the finance industry for 16 years and was Vice President of a regional bank before following her passion of arts administration when joining the ARTfactory in July 2022. Her history with the ARTfactory started in 1999 when at 11 years old she participated in Pied Piper Theatre in the shows Oliver, Cinderella, and Charlotte’s Web. In her spare time, she loves performing and directing, but her greatest love is spending time with her incredibly supportive husband, Jimmy and their two children Minnie and James.
- Phone:703.330.2787
Alex Diaz
Education Coordinator
Alex Diaz
Education Coordinator
Alex attended the Alabama School of Fine Arts as a voice major, continuing on to study Vocal Performance, Music Composition, and Japanese Language at Bennington College in Vermont.
His background is as a Piano and Voice instructor and performer (you may have heard him as the pianist for Cabaret), and has been a teacher, both one-on-one and in large groups for over ten years.
- Phone:703.330.2787
Jordan Exum
Gallery Director
Jordan Exum
Gallery Director
Jordan Exum is originally from eastern North Carolina and holds a BA in Art History & Appreciation from East Carolina University and an MA in Art History from George Mason University. With a background in art history and a foundation in exhibition planning and public engagement, she brings a thoughtful and informed approach to her work at the ARTfactory. Jordan also leads community-focused art initiatives, and organizes creative events that make art accessible to diverse audiences. She is dedicated to using art as a tool for connection, education, and community enrichment.
- Phone:703.330.2787
Kimberly Kemp
Producing Artistic Director
Mieke Trudeau
Director of Administration
Mieke Trudeau
Director of Administration
Mieke Trudeau studied art and theater in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, her country of origin. She came to the ARTfactory through her sons’ involvement with Pied Piper Theatre and started working as office administrator in August of 2017. She is currently the Director of Administration and an occasional stagehand or murder suspect in the ARTfactory’s Mystery Dinner Theatre productions.
- Phone:703.330.2787
Lissa Unrue
Marketing Manager
Lissa Unrue
Marketing Manager
Lissa has a degree in journalism from Ohio University (go Bobcats!) but is a graphic designer by trade. Several years ago she shifted gears from freelance design to marketing and development. She loves making connections between client and audience and is passionate about the details of her work. Lissa can also be seen on stage during ARTfactory's annual Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre, or occasionally backstage working on one of ARTfactory's fabulous theatrical productions.
- Phone:703.330.2787
Our Instructors
Nick Austin-Wakefield
Visual Arts
Nick Austin-Wakefield
Visual Arts
Nicholas (Nick) Austin-Wakefield is a traditional fine arts illustrator and experimental multimedia artist. Based in Virginia, he holds a BFA in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). His work centers Blackness, queerness, and emotional connection. Blending fine art influences with graphic clarity, he creates images that explore identity, vulnerability, and the complexities of human relationships. Deeply informed by his lived experience as a Black queer artist, Austin often portrays chosen families, intimate moments, and emotional tension. At its core, his work aims to make space—for softness, for conversation, and for new forms of connection.
Lydia Bratton
Visual Arts
Lydia Bratton
Visual Arts
Lydia’s practice is rooted in a lifelong curiosity for the natural world, a passion for discovery that began in childhood and continues to drive her work today. Even while completing her university studies, Lydia was active in the classroom, teaching summer school and leading art intersessions. Lydia earned her Bachelor of Arts from Marymount University, and holds an Associate of Science Degree from Northern VA Community College and completed specialized coursework in Art Education, including a selective consortium at George Washington University. Before joining the ARTfactory as an instructor over a decade ago, Lydia spent nearly ten years as an assistant instructor, becoming a "student of teaching" alongside hundreds of fellow educators. In both the studio and the classroom, her goal remains the same: to create an encouraging environment where students feel free to "adventure out," find their own creative spark, and walk away with a piece of work they are truly proud of.
Caesar
Visual Arts
Caesar
Visual Arts
Caesar is a Virginia based artist known for his passionate dedication to the craft of painting. With over 30 years of experience painting on walls, he has worked on murals all across thecountry. As a teenager he began to paint graffiti, and his signature style quickly garnered national attention. Following this love of letters, he began to focus on sign painting. Traveling throughout the South he painted billboards for companies like Mountain Dew and Pepsi. Landing a job as a billboard painter for the notorious Colossal Media in 2008, Caesar spent five years in New York City painting photorealistic billboards on some of the biggest walls the city had to offer. He eventually started his own mural painting business. While continuing to pursue his career as a muralist, Caesar has taught several classes and workshops and has been actively beautifying the ARTfactory building along with his dedicated students.
Julissa Cruz
Performing Arts
Julissa Cruz
Performing Arts
Julissa Cruz has been training, teaching, coaching and performing dance for over 20 years. Her genres include Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Modern, Salsa and other Latin Styles. Founding her Dance company, Latin Vintage Productions, in Richmond 2009, Julissa has taught and performed all over the U.S. and Europe bringing many new dancers into the community. She has done several artistic collaborations and professional competitions with other World renowned Artists such as Gordon Neil, Ana Tinajero, Melanie Castillo, Lyrik Cruz and Luis Santiago. She is passionate about the creation and development of dancers, as well as creating enthusiasts of the art and culture itself. Julissa Continues to be inspired by the integrity of movement and hopes to share this with others for years to come.
Jaclyn Del Vacchio
Visual Arts
Jaclyn Del Vacchio
Visual Arts
Jaclyn Del Vacchio is a professional printmaker, illustrator, and teaching artist whose studio practice intertwines craftsmanship and curiosity. As founder of J. Del Vacchio Prints, she works in hand-carved linocut relief printing and watercolor pen-and-ink illustrations for stationery, textiles, and home products. Her teaching blends professional technique with warmth, inviting students to discover their artistic voice. Featured in regional juried exhibits and in an outdoor art gallery banner in Winchester, her pieces illuminate small moments with meaning and artistry making creativity accessible through lessons and fine art pieces.
Mike Flynn
Visual Arts
Mike Flynn
Visual Arts
Mike began as a watercolor artist over 25 years ago in the Manassas community. He has continued to develop his talent with oil painting and mixed wet & dry media. Mike managed ArtBeat Gallery, a local art gallery in downtown Manassas, from 2003 to 2016 and is currently a member of the Loft Gallery, Occoquan, VA. After teaching workshops and classes around NOVA, he joined the staff at the ArtFactory nearly eight years ago and teaches various classes in watercolor, mixed media and watercolor with ink-pen.
Michele Frantz
Visual Arts
Michele Frantz
Visual Arts
Michele Frantz's fate was sealed at age 3, when her parents gave her a box of crayons and a book about the color wheel. Her fascination with color eventually led to her receiving a bachelor's in art from Appalachian State in the mountains of North Carolina, where she also developed a love for landscape painting. After moving to the Manassas area she began pursuing her art in earnest, accepting commissions, entering shows, and earning awards. Eventually, the owner of a local art supply store offered her an opportunity to try teaching, and Michele found her niche. In the late 1990s she was invited to teach a class at what was then known as the Center for the Arts, now the ARTfactory ... and she has been there ever since, expanding into a variety of styles and media, and using her own education and experience to inspire and encourage her students.
EJ Fultz
Performing Arts
EJ Fultz
Performing Arts
EJ Fultz holds a BFA in Theatre Directing from Belmont University, where she spent two years teaching with Nashville Children’s Theater. EJ is active around the DMV area: Teaching with Traveling Players, Educational Theatre Company, and Ad Fontes Academy; working as a stage manager and TA with Art Stream, and Directing with Next Stop Theatre’s Stars on Stage program. She loves developing young actor’s confidence and growing their individual talents. EJ loves to teach movement based and devised theatre, and her classroom welcomes any background, age, or life experience!
Kay Hanifen
Literary Arts
Kay Hanifen
Literary Arts
Katharine “Kay” Hanifen was born on a Friday the 13th and once lived for three months in a haunted castle. So, obviously, she had to become a horror writer. Her work has appeared in over 100 anthologies and magazines and she has written for all genres from sci-fi and fantasy to mystery and romance. Her first anthology as an editor, Till the Yule Log Burns Out, was published in 2024. Her first novel, The Last Ballard, debuted in 2025. In her day job, she works as an English tutor, and has developed a love for teaching and sharing the fun of writing.
Savannah Lagana
Performing Arts
Savannah Lagana
Performing Arts
Savannah Lagana is a performer and preschool teacher who loves sharing the joy of theatre with young children. She earned her B.F.A. in Theatre Performance from George Mason University, and some of her favorite roles include Snookie Updegraff in 110 in the Shade, Doris Walker in Miracle on 34th Street, Lydia Wickham in Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, and an ensemble member in Sister Act. When she’s not performing, Savannah brings her arts background into the classroom, whether that’s sparking creativity with her preschoolers or sprinkling a little magic as a party princess.
Shelby Mejia
Performing Arts
Shelby Mejia
Performing Arts
Shelby Mejia is an actor, director, and educator originally from Manassas, Virginia, and has been pursuing her artistic dreams for over a decade. She left the area to attend Muhlenberg College, where she received her BA in theatre with a minor in dance. Some of her favorite credits include Area Code (Director), I Missed You (Director), Labyrinth of Desire (Ensemble/Lover), down (Carol), and Antigone (Eurydice). She came back to Northern Virginia to pursue theatre education because of a desire to pass her knowledge to the next generation of performers and give back to the community that gave so much to her growing up. Over the last year at ARTfactory, she has directed two shows (How to Get Away with a Murder Mystery and Fast Food) and looks forward to music directing The Land of Forgotten Toys. In addition to directing, Shelby has taught eight acting courses and countless summer camps. She looks forward to all the wonderful opportunities that lie ahead and can't wait to create a lasting impact on the community with her work in the classroom and on the stage.
Chris Mendaros
Visual Arts
Chris Mendaros
Visual Arts
A deep passion for anime, video games, and drawing as a kid was cultivated into an undergraduate
degree in Art and Visual Technology from George Mason University in Winter 2020. Around the same
time, a close friend introduced me to needlefelting, but it wasn’t until July 2021 that I chose to dive
deep into the medium.
During that month, the release of a new region in Genshin Impact brought new creatures with one that
caught my eye: the onikabuto, an insect based on the Japanese rhinoceros beetle. A beetle sparked my
interest in entomology and arthropod keeping, and I found that insect anatomy was so alien that it had
an iron grip on my brain that made it feel like it was being piloted by a singular cockroach running
inside my head. With that, bugs have become my main inspiration for my current works, from stickers
to prints and felted sculptures. Now it’s my goal to make cute bug themed merchandise to emphasize
the charm points I see in them!
Christine Raymond
Visual Arts
Christine Raymond
Visual Arts
Christine Raymond teaches students ages 14 through adult, from beginner to advanced, with a strong emphasis on foundational principles that empower long-term artistic growth. An award-winning professional artist with 20 years of teaching experience, she believes in building skills step by step so artists gain true understanding—not dependency. After years of mentoring students into measurable success, she was invited to serve as one of three expert panelists for the international Matt Tommey Mentorship program’s Expert Hour, where she provides professional portfolio critiques to emerging and established artists, specializing in composition and the landscape. She was also selected to teach three sold-out workshops at the national Gathering of Artisans conference in Asheville, NC, and was hired by Acrylic University to develop and record her drawing program for their international online platform. She has judged numerous competitions and portfolio reviews, including PWC Colgan High School’s Fine Arts Program, and her students have gone on to earn top scholarships, gain acceptance into leading art schools, and become award-winning artists themselves.
Emily Thomson
Visual Arts
Emily Thomson
Visual Arts
Emily Thomson is one of our most established teachers, having started teaching at the ARTfactory in 2014. She has a BA degree in Art, with a concentration in Painting. Emily enjoys painting in oils, acrylics, and water media, and offers courses in a variety of mediums. She is inspired by nature, flowers and animals, and often uses those as her subject matter when painting.
Our Board of Directors
Gina Dabney
President
Gina Dabney
President
Gina Dabney has served on the ARTfactory Board since 2019. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in journalism from LSU Shreveport and a Master of Business from the University of Maryland. Gina began her career as a radio news reporter and later became producer of The Larry King Show on the Mutual Broadcasting Network. She went on to work as a legal assistant at the Washington, D.C. office of Kirkland & Ellis before joining LLE Education in 1997, where she served as Marketing Director for 25 years until her retirement. A proud former Pied Piper mom, Gina cherishes time with her five children and six grandchildren, and enjoys traveling and documenting her journeys through scrapbooking
Dr. James Carr
Immediate Past President
Dr. James Carr
Immediate Past President
After serving the citizens of Prince William County for over 35-years, Dr. Carr retired from the Prince William County Police Department at the rank of Captain. In his most recent assignment, Dr. Carr served as the Commander of the Personnel Bureau, with direct leadership and oversight of Recruiting and Selection, and the Co-Responder Unit. Dr. Carr is a transformational leader and believes that effective leaders are forged in honor, integrity, compassion, ethics, and commitment to public service. In addition, Dr. Carr is an Adjunct Professor at George Mason University and New England College. Moreover, he has the ability to inspire and empower people through his business management, team building, mentoring, and coaching skills. Dr. Carr was conferred with a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership with a Specialization in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University’s Abraham S. Fischler School of Education. Dr. Carr has a passion for art, literature, and music and plays guitar. His first volunteer experience when he joined the Board was to play guitar for Rooftop Productions’ Godspell (2012). Dr. Carr was elected to serve as President of the Board effective July 1, 2021, until June 11, 2023. Dr. Carr currently serves as Immediate Past President of the Board of Directors.
Meghan Phillips
Secretary
Meghan Phillips
Secretary
Meghan M. Phillips is an Associate Attorney with the VFN Immigrants First Practice Group at Vanderpool, Frostick & Nishanian, P.C. She is from an American military family, and graduated from the University of Notre Dame where she majored in Political Science and French and spent one year as an exchange student at Sciences-Po in Paris, France. She then attended William and Mary Law School, and also earned a Master of Laws degree from Queen Mary University of London. During her education, she interned in Cape Town, South Africa, Atlanta, Georgia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and London, U.K. Upon returning to the United States,Meghan began working as an immigration attorney. Her practice focuses on family and humanitarian immigration, Special Immigrant Juvenile custody, and removal defense cases and immigration appeals. When she is not working, Meghan enjoys traveling internationally, and attending concerts, plays, and musicals.
Andrea Oswald
Treasurer
Andrea Oswald
Treasurer
Andrea Oswald has been a costumer at the ArtFactory for Pied Piper Theatre and RoofTop Production for over 17 years. Having costumed over 30 theatre productions, trained rising costumers, and helped backstage, she is currently focusing on fundraising events to help with the broadening scope of the ARTfactory. She has volunteered in Manassas for many years including events with Historic Manassas, the Manassas Museum Youth Program, and as a docent leading tours at the historic Liberia house. She is a local accountant who enjoys making Historical attire for Victorian Era living history, volunteers with the CWDF Victorian Dance Ensemble, and is also on the Board of Directors for Volunteer Prince William.
Jan Alten
Director
Jan Alten
Director
Jan Alten retired in 2015 after 18 years of owning and running Opera House Gourmet, a wine and specialty food and gift shop located in Old Town Manassas. She is a native of Richmond, VA and attended George Mason University. Jan and her husband, Peter moved to Manassas in 1973. They have two children and five grandchildren. She was a member of the board of directors for the Old Town Business Association for 15 years. In retirement, Jan is an active member in the local chapter of the American Wine Society, chairman of the Architectural Review Board for Manassas, a member of Manassas Landmarks, volunteer with Virginia National Ballet and Ordway Conservatory of Classical Ballet, and a volunteer at the Hylton Performing Arts Center.
Christina Brooks
Director
Christina Brooks
Director
Kelsey DeWispelaere
Director
Kelsey DeWispelaere
Director
With a career spanning more than 30 years in nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, communications, and community engagement, Kelsey DeWispelaere serves as Executive Director of the Didlake Foundation, where she leads efforts to create opportunities and foster inclusive communities for people with disabilities.Kelsey has held leadership and development roles with organizations including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Smithsonian Institution, Time Warner Cable, Community Residences, Inc. (CRi), and the Didlake Foundation. Throughout her career, she has focused on building strategic partnerships, advancing organizational growth, and connecting people and resources to create meaningful community impact.She holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and Advanced Certified Nonprofit Professional (ACNP) credentials and is pursuing a Master of Science in Nonprofit Administration.A longtime Prince William County resident, Kelsey is passionate about the arts as a catalyst for inclusion, belonging, and community engagement. She is proud to support ARTfactory’s mission of enriching lives through creative expression and accessible arts experiences.
Rozlyn Giddens
Director
Rozlyn Giddens
Director
Debbie Jones
Director
Debbie Jones
Director
Debbie is a connector of people and a community leader, having recently retired after her long career as President & CEO of the Prince William Chamber. She currently serves on numerous Boards; the Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, the PWC Police Citizen Advisory, Benedictine Sisters of Virginia Advisory Board, Center for the Arts, Novant Health Board of Trustees and George Mason University Science & Technology Campus Advisory Board. She earned her Bachelor’s of Arts from George Mason University in 1978, LEAD VA in 2007, and Leadership Prince William in 2010. She received recognition for her contributions & leadership including Leadership Prince William 2018 Kathy Ellington Leadership Award, the Catholic Business Network of NOVA and the George Mason University Alumni Association 2019 College of Visual and Performing Arts, Thomas W. Iszard IV, Distinguished Alumni Award. In 2021, Debbie was recognized as one of the Most Influential Women in Prince William by Prince William Living and in 2022, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (VACCE). She and her husband Lynn live in Nokesville and they love to travel the world together.
Pamela Lea
Director
Pamela Lea
Director
Pamela received her BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in Communications Art & Design. After several years as a graphic designer for various design studios in Northern Virginia she moved her career to the corporate world. She worked for Northern Virginia Building Industry Association (NVBIA) as an Art Director followed by First American Bank as Design Manager. She has now been with Navy Federal Credit Union for 25 years. She has held positions from Design Manager, Art Director and Digital Asset Manager. She has been a resident of Manassas City since 2002 and raised her son and daughter here. Her children also participated in Pied Piper Theatre for a number of years. Her children now both reside nearby in Prince William County.
Charles Leopold
Director
Charles Leopold
Director
Charles Leopold is the C.E.O. of the Minnieland Academy chain, a series of private day schools for kids. Ranging from three weeks to twelve years old, the schools provide high-quality education to the local area. Chuck and his wife Jackie founded Minnieland in 1972 in Woodbridge, Virginia. Today, Minnieland has over 100 locations in the Northern Virginia area.
Gina Michak
Director
Gina Michak
Director
Gina Michak is a native of Pittsburgh, PA but has been a Manassas resident since 1994. Gina married her high school sweetheart in 1991 and together they share three amazing adult kids, a wonderful son-in-law and two dogs that live for their walks around town. Gina is a culinary instructor at the Manassas Park Community Center in the kids department and owner of “From Gina’s Kitchen” which she opened in 2017 out of her love of baking, cooking, and entertaining family and friends. It started as a custom baking business and has since transitioned into a cupcake class/cupcake party business. Gina’s love of family and travel also inspired her career as the travel agent specializing in Disney Destinations with “I Book Travel For U”. Gina enjoys volunteering, cooking, baking, travel, and exercising – especially RunDisney races.
Suhail Mir
Director
Suhail Mir
Director
Suhail Mir is an attorney at the Law Office of Suhail Mir, LLC. Suhail graduated from Georgetown University Law Center with a Master of Laws degree. Suhail is a member of the United States Supreme Court Bar, member of Virginia State Bar, and member of the American Bar Association. His practice primarily focuses on Immigration matters, Federal Tax Exemption matters, and on Non-Profit Corporate matters. Suhail is also an award winning photographer. He was voted the Best Artist of Prince William County 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, Best Photographer 2017, and Best Events Photographer 2017.
Kate O'Konski
Director
Kate O'Konski
Director
Ric Segovia
Director
Ric Segovia
Director
Mr. Segovia grew up as an Air Force “brat” before his family was transferred to the Washington DC area. He graduated from James Madison University then pursued a Civil Service career with the Department of the Navy as a Training Program Manager. Ric then moved into Mortgage Banking where he’s worked as a Loan Officer, Branch Manager and Senior Vice President. He has been with George Mason Mortgage since 1995 and has served in various positions including President, Virginia Mortgage Bankers Association; Virginia Housing (formerly V.H.D.A.) Advisory Board; Habitat for Humanity (Fauquier) Selection Committee; and Prince William Association of Realtors (various Committees). He now enjoys being a member of the ARTfactory Board of Directors.
Wina Setiawan
Director
Wina Setiawan
Director
Sandra Surabian
Director
Sandra Surabian
Director
Sandra Surabian, CPA, has dedicated her career to the accounting profession. In 2009 she transitioned from the corporate world to owning her small business. Now she helps other small businesses thrive by giving them the accounting tools they need to manage their money and taking the headache out of tax season for them. She holds two degrees along with her CPA license, including a Bachelors of the Arts in Economics and Communications from University of Michigan and a Masters of Public Accounting from Weber State University.
Sarah Weaver
Director
Sarah Weaver
Director
Mrs. Weaver graduated from Sweet Briar College with a BFA in Studio Art and an M.Ed from Regent University in Education. Mrs. Weaver began her career working as a graphic designer for Lockheed Martin Corporation. In 2007, she decided to pursue a teaching career and began her journey as an educator for Osbourn High School teaching art. Currently, she serves as the Coordinator of the Fine Arts, Library, and World Languages for Manassas City Public Schools. She works diligently to connect with the community and provides experiences beyond the classroom for MCPS Students. She coordinated projects with the ARTfactory, Manassas Museum, and City Hall; and helped forge Manassas Reads, a summer arts symposium, and National Young Readers week. Recently, Mrs. Weaver received the Arts Educator award at the 2023 Seefeldt Award Ceremony.
Become a Member
Did you know that ARTfactory members receive discounts on theatre performance tickets, classes, Pied Piper Theatre intensives, building rentals, and more?
