Board of Directors

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Kevin Bishop, President

Kevin joined the Art Impact Project Board of Directors in March 2020 and became Board President in January 2022. He has led the Board development of the organization’s strategic plan, as well as the recruitment of our current staff.

Prior to AIP, Kevin was a board member of Beacon Place Not For Profit, a neighborhood community center in Waukegan, IL, with programming for children and families focusing on academic growth and improved health. Kevin acted as board President from January 2018 through January 2020 during which he oversaw the development and refinement of the strategic plan and the recruitment of their next Executive Director.

Professionally, Kevin is Vice President in the software solutions business unit of Clario, a company that provides clinical trial software, systems and expertise to the biopharmaceutical industry. Although a native of the UK, Kevin and his family have lived in the US for over 20 years and currently reside in Lake Forest, IL.

Gary Potter, Treasurer

Gary joined Art Impact Project’s Board of Directors in March 2022 and serves as Treasurer. He graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in accounting in 1983. He then worked as a CPA for a Waukegan accounting firm for 25 years and then as CFO for a local social service agency for 13 years. In addition to serving on our board, he has been the Director of Finance at Heart of the City in Waukegan, where he combines his passions of non-profits with sports and education.

His free time has been filled for the past 15 years by coaching a girls’ travelling fastpitch softball team. If that doesn’t keep Gary busy enough, he is married to Carol, his wife of 32 years, and has three adult daughters, Amanda, Gabby, and Molly,

David Motley

David Motley is the Director of Public Relations for the City of Waukegan and has worked for Waukegan in various capacities since 1988. David is active in the community and is involved in many civic initiatives and social efforts. He is a multifaceted artist most known for his support of public art projects and special event programming. David is a dedicated and long-standing Art Impact Project Board member, having served two terms as Secretary. He is also a volunteer Art Advocate.

In addition, David is an actor, ensemble member and board member at Waukegan’s Three Brothers Theatre. David is Board Chair of the Lake County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, the official tourism bureau for Lake County, Illinois. Complimentary to his artistic endeavors, David is a volunteer soccer coach and certified referee for the Heart of the City, where he also serves as Board Chair.

Michele Gorski

Michele is passionate about art, community, and wellness. Michele has served on the Art Impact Project Board of Directors since 2016 and enjoys volunteering as an AIP Art Advocate. She also enjoys participating in Art Impact Project’s talented Creative Minds group, where we develop projects for future programming.

She is a Tufts University and The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston alum. Michele has enjoyed her career in corporate advertising, communications, and consulting. She is an active artist, a life-long learner and serves as an Art Consultant focused on helping clients make meaningful connections to artwork and the artists behind this work.

Michele lived in several great communities including New York, Los Angeles, and Boston before settling in Chicago. She has made connections with artists in each of these communities and draws inspiration from their creativity, passion, and commitment to support each other.

Vickie Marasco, Founder

Vickie founded Art Impact Project in 2014 with the concept of combining the positive power of art and compassion to help people who struggle to have a voice. Vickie served as Executive Director and continues her role as a Board Member, as well as a passionate Art Advocate.

Vickie graduated University of Wisconsin with a degree in textile design. While living oversees for ten years Vickie was able to create clothing and textiles. After returning to the States, Vickie raised her family while still incorporating art in her life by designing paper and curating two art galleries on the North Shore.

Vickie lives in Lake County and in her spare time, enjoys playing tennis, traveling, and spending time with friends, family and her three amazing adult children.

Beth McKenna

Beth McKenna is an AIP Art Advocate volunteer and the previous AIP Manager of Programming prior to joining Art Impact Project’s Board of Directors. She supports the arts and enjoys working on public and private projects that build art appreciation. Over the years, she has helped organize and participated in multiple art-related programs, installations and events for community organizations and schools.

Beth has a BA in Art History from the University of Virginia, and an MBA from the University of Illinois. She is an artist, working in a range of mediums, and is affiliated with several regional artist groups. She has curated exhibitions at the Adler Arts Center in Libertyville, Illinois, and has worked in the Printmaking departments at the Evanston Art Center and The Art Center in Highland Park.

Heidi Torres Smith

Heidi Torres Smith is a Registered Art Therapist and graduated with a master’s degree in art therapy from Eastern Virginia Medical School. She has worked in clinical settings, a domestic violence and homeless shelter, elementary schools, medical hospitals, a residential treatment facility, and an eating disorder clinic.

Heidi is married to a Navy veteran and is a mother of three children, her greatest pride. Through her years of young motherhood, she kept active and stayed creative by doing family photography, taking dance classes, and assisting her sister as a traffic manager and onboarding trainer for her marketing business.

Heidi is excited to be part of the board for the Art Impact Project and use her skills to promote wellness through art.