Meet Our Team

BOARD CHAIR

Kathryn Ervin is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Theatre Arts at California State University, San Bernardino. A director and educator, she has led productions including The Wiz, Novio Boy, and Hamlet: The Artist Formerly Known as Prince of Denmark, and is currently developing INVISIBLE, a play inspired by The Invisible Man. A graduate of Wayne State and Illinois State University, she has also taught at Michigan State and guest-directed at UC Riverside and Illinois State. Her original work Keep Hedz Ringin’ was featured at the American College Theatre Festival and the NYC Hip Hop Theatre Festival. A recipient of the Kennedy Center Outstanding Educator Award and an NAACP Pioneer Award, Kathryn remains an active leader in advancing Black theatre and arts education statewide.

BOARD TREASURER

Dr. Anne L. Viricel is the Executive Director of the San Bernardino Symphony and Treasurer of Arts Connection – The Arts Council of San Bernardino County. She also serves as Vice President of the San Bernardino Community College Board of Trustees and teaches quantitative operations and strategy at the University of Redlands School of Business. An accomplished author and community leader, Dr. Viricel has published extensively and co-authored the autobiography of educator and activist Dr. Margaret Hill. She serves on multiple local boards, including the San Bernardino County Museum Association, The Unforgettables Foundation, and the Highland Woman’s Club. Her work has earned numerous honors, including the Black Culture Foundation’s Black Rose Award, League of Women Voters Citizen of Achievement, and the University of Redlands Excellence in Teaching Awards.

BOARD SECRETARY

Sandra Espadas is the Community Development Manager at National Community Renaissance, with extensive experience in community organizing, policy analysis, and building police-community relationships. She has collaborated with diverse stakeholders across San Bernardino County to enhance quality of life through place-based strategies. Currently, she is leading efforts to revitalize Central San Bernardino through the redevelopment of Arrowhead Grove, formerly Waterman Gardens, implementing a holistic approach to create a vibrant, sustainable neighborhood. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Spanish Literature from the University of California, San Diego.

BOARD MEMBER

Kerry Neal is a seasoned philanthropy professional with over 20 years of fundraising experience in both private and public higher education institutions. Specializing in major and principal giving, he has contributed to several landmark campaigns, including USC’s $6 billion and UC Irvine’s $1 billion initiatives, as well as efforts with UC Riverside, Claremont Lincoln University, St. Joseph Health Foundation, and The Chicago School Education System/Pacific Oaks College. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from Cal State Fullerton, an M.S. in Leadership and Management from the University of La Verne, and professional certificates from UCLA Extension and the University of Michigan, and is completing his doctorate at Cal State San Bernardino. A graduate of the African American Board Leadership Institute, Kerry serves on its Development & Alumni Committee and is a board member of the San Bernardino Valley College Foundation and Arts Connection.

BOARD MEMBER

Victor Suárez is the creative force behind “Your Silent Outburst,” a design venture he began at 17 that has grown into a thriving small business. A graduate of California State University, San Bernardino with a B.A. in Art and a concentration in Graphic Design, Victor has spent nearly two decades shaping visual storytelling across the Inland Empire. Recognized as a 30 Under 30 Leader by the California State Assembly and recipient of the League of Women Voters’ Citizen of Achievement Award, he is celebrated for his community leadership and creative advocacy. Now a CTE Graphic Design high school teacher, Victor is passionate about inspiring youth to explore the power of art and design in shaping culture and community. He lives in San Bernardino with his wife and two daughters.

BOARD MEMBER

Dyami Ruiz-Martínez is a community-centered business professional dedicated to the cultural and economic development of San Bernardino County. A native Californian, he brings extensive experience in finance, government relations, and real estate, with a career focused on sustainable business and public administration. He has served on the San Bernardino Community College District Board of Trustees, contributed to the California Career Education Master Plan, and holds leadership roles on several regional committees, including the SBCCD Citizens Bond Oversight Committee. As Broker of Top Street Inc., Dyami has partnered with USDA, HUD, and VA to expand access to government and private lending programs. Recognized by the California State Assembly for his leadership, he believes deeply in the role of the arts in driving economic growth and community vitality, stating, “The arts nurture our creativity. In our creativity, we find innovation.”

BOARD MEMBER

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

alejandro@artsconnectionnetwork.org

Alejandro Gutierrez Chavez is a first-generation Chicano, social entrepreneur, and community leader dedicated to advancing the cultural and creative economy of California’s Inland Empire. As the Executive Director of Arts Connection – The Arts Council of San Bernardino County, Alejandro brings experience from a range of roles, including 6th-grade educator, Research and Evaluation Analyst at First 5 San Bernardino, Program Director at El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center, and co-founder and former Executive Director of Lifting Our Stories in his hometown of San Bernardino. Recognized as one of the 30 Most Influential Leaders Under 30 in California’s 50th Assembly District, Alejandro champions the arts as a means to bridge cultural and social divides, amplifying underrepresented voices to inspire systemic change and inclusive economic development while ensuring a thriving arts and culture ecosystem across the region.

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

ulises@artsconnectionnetwork.org

Ulises Rodriguez is a dedicated artist, cultural organizer, and advocate for the arts, committed to fostering creative spaces and uplifting communities across the Inland Empire. Originally from Mexico, he immigrated to the U.S. in 2000 and has spent over a decade advancing arts education, nonprofit management, and cultural programming. As Associate Director of Arts Connection – The Arts Council of San Bernardino County, Ulises supports artists, leads community-driven initiatives, and expands access to creative opportunities. A musician and organizer, he is Co-Founder of Mucho Gusto Fest, Co-Founder and Lead Singer of El Santo Golpe, Chair VP of the San Bernardino Arts Association, and Partner at Division 9 Gallery. Through his leadership, Ulises continues to advocate for vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable arts communities throughout the region.

PROGRAMS MANAGER + RESIDENCY CURATOR

crystal@artsconnectionnetwork.org

Crystal Sepúlveda is an arts administrator, cultural producer, and community-centered programmer dedicated to fostering equitable and transformative arts initiatives. As Program Coordinator and Content Creator at Arts Connection – The Arts Council of San Bernardino County, she develops programs that support artists, expand arts access, and deepen community engagement. With over a decade of experience in higher education, she has taught in dance departments at UC Riverside and La Universidad de Sagrado Corazón, focusing on dance as a tool for activism and collective liberation. Also an interdisciplinary artist, her site-responsive, performance-based work explores counter-narratives of place and land, with presentations at the Whitney Museum of American Art, Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Highways Performance Space, dança em foco Festival Internacional, and Centre Dürrenmatt, among others.

ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM COORDINATOR

dre@artsconnectionnetwork.org

Andrea “Dre” Bonales (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist from Rialto, California, working across animation, film, and 35mm photography. As the Arts Education Program Coordinator at Arts Connection – The Arts Council of San Bernardino County, she is dedicated to expanding arts education access and creating career pathways for professional artists. Dre is pursuing a B.F.A. in Entertainment Art & Animation at California State University, Fullerton, where her creative mission centers on storytelling through digital media and fictional world-building. Through her work with Arts Connection’s Inland Film Festival, she continues to uplift and celebrate the community that inspires and empowers her.

ADMINISTRATIVE + COMMUNITY OUTREACH SPECIALIST

hannah@artsconnectionnetwork.org

Born and raised in the Inland Empire, Hannah Velasco is a multidisciplinary artist whose creative journey began as a middle school hobby and grew into a lifelong passion. After earning awards for her paintings in high school, she pursued film and found her way to The Garcia Center for the Arts, where she rediscovered her love for studio art. In 2021, she launched her own business, Art by Hannah, and soon after began teaching painting through Arts Connection’s Arts Avenue program in San Bernardino County schools. Inspired by her students’ enthusiasm, Hannah set out to connect communities through art, finding that mission reflected in the vibrant network of local art markets and creators she now calls home.

COMMUNICATIONS + DESIGN

bianca@artsconnectionnetwork.org

Bianca Gomez is a multimedia artist and creative organizer dedicated to uplifting communities through the arts. Passionate about fostering connection and creativity, Bianca believes in the power of art to bring people together, inspire change, and create safe spaces for expression. Through their work, they support creatives and cultivate opportunities for communities to thrive through shared artistic experiences.