Chelsea Center for the Arts Undertakes Strategic Planning Process, Announces New Board Members

On the cusp of its 20th year anniversary, the Chelsea Center for the Arts has begun a strategic planning process to help determine its future direction in order to best serve the community for the next three to five years.

As part of the process, the CCA is hosting a series of "focus group" meetings to gather input from a variety of stakeholders, asking participants to provide their ideas about the organization and possibilities for the future. This input will be considered in addition to an analysis of internal strategic factors, strengths and weaknesses attributed to the organization, and external opportunities and challenges.

Those interested in providing input through participation in a focus group or by completing a survey may call the CCA office at 734-433-2787.

"This is the perfect time to consider where we are, and how we might better serve the community with art and music programs in the future," said CCA board president Anne Williams. "Gathering feedback from those with varying perspectives is invaluable to our process."

CCA Executive Director Lisa Baylis Gonzalez said the focus groups will help determine future programs and infrastructure upgrades.

"Although we have made significant strides in the past few years, to both stabilize and move the CCA forward with infrastructure upgrades and programming additions, we hope this planning process helps to take us to the next level in serving the community," she said.

The strategic planning process is being led Williams, who is the chief executive officer for ExcellenceQuest, Inc., a consulting firm leading performance excellence initiatives to increase effectiveness of organizations within the business, education and the nonprofit sectors.

Williams has extensive experience with nonprofit organizations, including as a member of the Board of Trustees of Washtenaw Community College, the Washtenaw County Workforce Development Board, Washtenaw County Planning Advisory Board, Chelsea School District School Improvement Team, Detroit Executive Services Corps, United Way Women's Leadership Council and Camp Fire USA, Wathena Council Board of Directors.

Other board members returning in 2013 are Rick Taylor (vice-president), Shannon Kuchera (secretary), Mary Keaton, and Nicole Pangas Henry. These individuals are joined in 2013 by new CCA Board members Leslie White (treasurer), Brenda Hartman, and Marcus Kaemming.

The mission of the Chelsea Center for the Arts is to enrich the quality of community life through programs that foster the creation, understanding, and enjoyment of the arts.