We are so excited to present the 2019/2020 slate of nominees for the Rutherford Arts Alliance. They offer a variety of talent and connections for our organization and are all enthusiastic about moving Rutherford County forward to be known as an arts and heritage community by connecting us all and promoting public art of all types. Please find the bios for each nominee more information at the end of this email. There is also a spot to write in other candidate choices in “The Nominees,” section. Please submit any alternate choices prior to our election at the June 11th meeting to gtogrye@bellsouth.net.
The Nomination Process
The Executive Board will appoint a nominations committee annually to plan the Executive Board for the succeeding year. The nominations committee will be comprised of the immediate Past-Chair, Vice Chair and three at-large Alliance members. The past-Chair will act as the committee chair. The committee will present the nominations to the board for approval at a meeting in the spring, so elections can take place before the beginning of the fiscal year on July 1 when those elected will begin their board work. The ballot will be sent to Alliance members prior to the date set for a vote late in the spring. Newly elected board members will take office according to the fiscal year and outgoing board members’ service will conclude at that time.
The Nomination Committee
Past Chair Ginny Togrye
Vice Chair Ginna Foster Cannon
At Large Member Andrea Loughry
At Large Member Terry Womack
At Large Member Lucy Langworthy
The Nominees
(Please find nominee bios at the end of this email)
Write in space provided any other nominee choices.
Past Chair Ginny Togrye will serve as an advisor to the Chair and Executive Board.
Chair Nominee Ginna Foster Cannon
Vice Chair Nominee Elizabeth Bray
Secretary Nominee Diane Stockard
Treasurer Nominee Susan Gulley
Ambassador At Large Nominee Andrea Loughry
Ambassador At Large Nominee Lucy Langworthy
Ambassador At Large Nominee Leslie Yost
Election of Executive Board
The election process will begin at the June 11th Rutherford Arts Alliance meeting through June 25th. New Board members will be announced at the July 9th Alliance meeting.
Rutherford Arts Alliance does not and will not discriminate based on race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. The Alliance is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.
Bios of Nominees
GINNY TOGRYE Past Chair serves as an advisor to the Chair and Executive Board
Ginny Togrye is a sculptural painter and sculptor with Creative Visions Artists and founding chair of the Rutherford Arts Alliance. She is a Middle Tennessee State University graduate, worked as an Illustrator at the University of Tennessee and later as a freelance artist. She has collaborated with other artists on murals and other public artworks. Togrye was awarded Painter Laureate with Cultural Arts Murfreesboro in 2017, and this is where her advocacy of the arts and artists began. It has been her mission to connect the cultural community, rallying artists to join an Artist Directory and a Creative Connecting group.
GINNA FOSTER CANNON Nominee for Chair
Ginna Foster Cannon, Ph.D., is the Director of Cultural and Heritage Tourism for the Rutherford County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the tourism arm of the Chamber of Commerce. Currently, she is the Vice Chair and an Executive Committee member for the Rutherford Arts Alliance. She has also served on the Boards of Women’s National Book Association (Nashville Chapter), League of Women Voters (Nashville Chapter), and Tennessee Craft.
ELIZABETH BRAY Nominee for Vice Chair
Elizabeth is a Murfreesboro native who practices Internal Medicine at Murfreesboro Medical Clinic, where she has been since 1994. She attended St. Andrews University in Scotland and graduated with a degree in Biology from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. Elizabeth completed medical school and residency at Quillen college of Medicine in Johnson City, Tennessee. She is married and has 2 children and 3 grandchildren. Dr. Bray began metalsmithing in 2003 and has learned new techniques by attending workshops all over the country each year. She is a longtime participant in the Stones River Craft Association’s Art Studio Tour held in Murfreesboro and surrounding counties each year and is the daughter of the late Joy Elizabeth Powell Smith, a sculptor and paper maker who taught art to the children of Murfreesboro for many years.
DIANE STOCKARD Nominee for Secretary
Diane is a self-taught Artist, Art Business Owner, Photographer, Writer and Realtor. She has a son and daughter. Her daughter graduated from UT and her son graduated from MTSU. She is married to Sam Stockard, an Editor at the State Capitol. She holds 2 Degrees, A.S in Science and Art, B.S in Political Science, International Relations and Fine Arts. She has won several Art Awards and Community Leadership Awards in our state. She has been on several boards of many Art Commission Groups and Clubs. Currently Diane is writing 3 books and getting national recognition for her new "Acrylic Pouring Records.” Diane is an advocate for spreading art and music to low income families and others. Diane is a community leader and well respected as a trailblazer in our state.
SUSAN GULLEY Nominee for Treasurer
COO of Carpe Artista and Visual Arts Instructor, Susan has a degree in Fine Arts with a minor in Photography from Middle Tennessee State University. She is a freelance visual artist specializing in stage design and construction, mural painting and graphic arts for local and global initiatives. She has over 25 years of performance and instruction experience in visual arts, graphic design, music and drama. Her passion for working in international settings and negotiation of business strategy and customer service expertise is used daily in the running of Carpe Artista.
ANDREA LOUGHRY Nominee for Ambassador at Large
A founding member of the Rutherford ARTS Alliance, Andrea has been on the Tennessee Arts Commission for the last 5 years. She has served in leadership roles as Vice-Chair, and Audit and Allocations Chair. After a career in business, she now serves as President Emeritus of Miller-Loughry-Beach Insurance Services, Inc. She was the first female chair of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce and has been named a Business Legend by that group. Her community involvements include MTSU Foundation and Jones Foundation. She is former Vice-Chair of the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees and former Chair of the UT Foundation.
LUCY LANGWORTHY Nominee for Ambassador at Large
Lucy Langworthy, Ph.D., has 25 years of experience in education, which include teaching English at the high school and college levels as well as advising in the Liberal Arts at MTSU. In her current position at MTSU, she coordinates University and community partnerships that promote the Liberal Arts. Her primary focus is the creation of a Liberal Arts Academy at Siegel High School. Her various roles have all reinforced the message that the arts are essential to creating a caring, vibrant, and progressive community.
LESLIE YOST Nominee for Ambassador at Large
Leslie loved painting, drawing, and all things creative while growing up in East Tennessee.
Now, firmly planted in Middle Tennessee, she strives to promote the arts and creatives to the community. Leslie is a founding member of the Boro Art Crawl and is involved in the Boro Fondo Festival and BoroPride. She is also interested in animal rescue, gardening, and historic preservation.
