Meet your Arts Center staff!
Ellen Kimball, Interim Executive Director
Ellen Kimball, Executive Director Emerita, temporarily fills the role vacated by Lauren Brown, AACA Executive Director since 2013.
Kimball's original tenure as Executive Director began in 1987 and culminated with the hiring of Brown.
"A lot has changed in this very vibrant and growing organization since I occupied the position, so this should be an exciting and challenging experience for me!” Kimball said. “ I am extremely proud of the amazing and innovative programming as well as the renovation and expansion of The Arts Center accomplished by Lauren, the Board and staff, and a host of volunteers during the last thirteen years.”
Contact Ellen
Holly Doucette, Program Director
Art has always played a signature role in her life whether it be in the visual or performance arts. New to Athens, she started at the Arts Center volunteering in set production and teaching art camps. She realized rather immediately that she wanted to be part of the dedication to community engagement that the center thrives at. Holly is an artist specializing in pastel portraiture and has a degree in Art from UTC with a strong background in art history, theory, and appreciation. Apart from being a slave to her four cats alongside her husband, Holly continues to volunteer and teach at the Arts Center.
Tyler Peaden, Operations Manager
Tyler Peaden (Operations Manager) is a longtime AACA volunteer with service dating back to his high school years. He has performed in and directed Athens Community Theatre productions and has directed the most youth theatre shows of directors on our current leadership roster. Tyler has studied Theatre and Performing Arts at Tennessee Wesleyan University and was a cast member at Walt Disney World from 2021 to 2023.
Lindsey Kimball, Finance Manager
Lindsey has been involved with The Arts Center since she sat with her parents waiting on her sibling during play practice. She came back to The Arts Center when that same sibling asked for her help backstage. The joy she felt volunteering propelled her to keep looking for ways to help. Fast forward a decade and some change and she is now The Arts Center's finance manager, performs regularly with ACT and AACA House Band, September Song, and volunteers as AACA's Lighting Designer.
Jen Nunley, Media Manager
AACA has had a huge impact on Jen’s love of the arts because AACA has been around their entire life. Jen earned a Master of Music in voice from Lee University in 2013, and taught voice at Tennessee Wesleyan University while working for AACA as Programs Manager. Jen loved being a part of the important work of The Arts Center, but chose to focus on voice teaching in summer of 2018. Jen came back in 2021 to “keep a toe in” The Arts Center, creating the 2022-23 season brochure, updating AACA’s website, and is currently managing media for The Arts Center.
G. David Brown, Technical Director
G. David has been involved with Athens Community Theatre since the early 1980s. His involvement at The Arts Center is as thorough as it is varied. He has acted with ACT, as well as directed, produced, and designed and run lights and sound for ACT and other productions and events at The Arts Center since it’s opening in 2005. He is a volunteer technical director for The Arts Center and by day is a school psychologist, serving as the Deputy Director for Meigs County Schools.
Board of Directors - Executive Committee
President, Mike Dannel
Personnel Chair, Patti Greek
At-Large Executive Committee Member, Laurel Wood
Vice President, Rusty Patterson
Secretary/Treasurer, Karen Siklosi
Ex-Officio Past President, Jim Bagley
Board of Directors
Kathy Dougherty, Sandra Kinney, Julie Jones, Cynthia McCowan, Brad McKenzie, Frances Witt-McMahan, Terry Stansell, Grant Willhite