Board of Directors

Beth Hawkins
Beth is a national education reporter and provides educational consultation and social media support. She is on Cultural Jambalaya’s Executive Committee.

Rachel Hicks
Rachel is the director of communications and public relations at Intermediate District 287. She provides educational consultation and social media support.

Ann Merrill
Ann Merrill is the director of external relations at American Indian OIC. She is the chair of Cultural Jambalaya’s Board of Directors and is on the Executive Committee. She provides cultural diversity and communications guidance.

Colleen Needles Steward
Colleen is the CEO of Tremendous! Entertainment. She provides production support and produces Cultural Jambalaya’s Windows & Mirrors videos series.

Bondo Nyembwe
Bondo is the executive director of educational services for the Columbia Heights School District. He provides cultural diversity and educational consultation.

Gail Shore
Gail is the president of Shore to Shore Communications, Inc. and Cultural Jambalaya’s founder and executive director. Gail manages day-to-day operations.

Jennifer Verly
Jen is a principal at DS+B Accountants and is on Cultural Jambalaya’s Executive Committee. She provides financial consultation.
Pankuri Goraksha-Hicks, Ph.D.
Pankuri is the director of neuroscience project management, clinical research, at the University of Minnesota – PPD. She provides cultural diversity guidance.
Creative Partners
• Seen By Me videos are co-produced by Hi-Fly’n Productions’ Kevin May and ProjectExplorer’s Zoe D’Amato.
• Windows & Mirrors videos produced by Tremendous! Entertainment, Colleen Needles Steward, Executive Producer; and Hi-Fly’n Productions, Kevin May, Producer
• Windows & Mirrors video cover designs, artwork; and Cultural Jambalaya database management by Colle + McVoy
• Cultural Jambalaya website management by Josh Carlisle, Compass Programming, LLC
• Event planning by RSVPeterson Event Planning
• Cultural Jambalaya social media management by Julie Rodriguez and Susan Brott of CESO Communications, https://theceso.com/
Key Advisors
Grayce Belvedere Young
Susan Brott
Jenny Buccos
Josh Carlisle
Zoe D’Amato
Christine Fruechte
Amy Gohman
Kevin May
James Peterson
Chris Rasmussen
Julie Rodriguez
Jean Shore
Brad Smith