PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS 2024

Support for Deborah Deal-Blackwell’s bid for President Elect, Women’s Caucus for Art

It is with pleasure that I submit this letter of endorsement for Deborah Deal-Blackwell who is seeking the position as President-Elect for the Women’s Caucus for Art.

I have known Deborah for the past eight years, and I am very familiar with many of her activities, abilities and skills. I have served on the steering committee for Colorado Women’s Day (an annual celebration of women, girls and teens from throughout our state) since Deborah established this event nearly nine years ago, and Deborah currently serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors for my nonprofit organization, the Jefferson County Library Foundation.

Prior to serving on my Board, Deborah was also appointed as a Trustee for Jefferson County Public Library by the Board of County Commissioners. Her volunteer and work history also includes key leadership positions at various other nonprofit entities.

I am also familiar with Deborah’s career background, and I know that she and her brother currently operate an international business where Deborah is often called upon as a knowledgeable speaker in the realm of wastewater purification and reclamation.

Above all, Deborah is a talented multi-media artist, and her original works – whether in the areas of hand-made textiles, ceramics, paintings, pottery or original fabric creations – have won acclaim in highly competitive juried exhibitions.

I believe Deborah would be an exceptional choice as President-elect for the Women’s Caucus for the Art, and I am delighted to recommend her for this leading role.

Jo Schantz, MNM, CFRE, GPC
Executive Director
Jefferson County Library Foundation

Biography & Statement of Intent for WCA

Deborah Deal, (aka Deal-Blackwell) is a mixed media artist living in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. She has served as Secretary of the Colorado Chapter of WCA for 2.5 years, and as chair of the chapter’s Book Club for 2023. She currently serves as webmaster and co-chair of the chapter’s marketing committee and provides public relations support for the chapter’s exhibitions. She has been active in the nonprofit, diversity, grants, and bylaws committees. She secured IRS 501C (3) status for the Colorado Chapter in 2022 and started the “Wonderful Woman in the Arts” award for the chapter.
Deb is also currently the CEO of the IX Power Foundation which manages the annual Colorado Women’s Day event now in its ninth year. Deb is the founder of the event and utilizes it to create further awareness of her WCA chapter.
Before moving to Colorado 10 years ago, she worked as a lobbyist in Washington D. C. for a nuclear power company she helped co-found. She has also served as CEO of the five-state regional nonprofit Angel Flight Southeast, and before that worked as a marketing executive for resort and real estate accounts. She also owned and operated a marketing/public relations company serving the land development, construction, and real estate industries. Deb’s career began working for WESH-TV, the NBC-TV affiliate in Orlando, Florida. She has been recognized by the Denver Business Journal and Orlando Business Journal in their annual awards program.
She is the oldest of four children and the daughter of a U. S. Air Force pilot and teacher. She has traveled extensively and moved about 40 times. She hopes to stay in Colorado.

WHY
I want to work for the Women’s Caucus for Art as President-Elect because I see so much opportunity for growth in both the organization itself and our individual members. This is a great organization and from what I have heard in many conversations with members, they join for the fellowship with other women artists, and for the opportunity to show their own work. I think we can expand our success on both fronts.

GOALS
My goals are to work with the chapters to create cohesiveness with the national office, help them develop programs to retain – not just obtain – members, and to dramatically increase awareness of WCA by the public and the art industry thereby bringing more value for their participation to each member.

OBJECTIVES
I would like to assist President Sandra Davis in the formation of a five-year plan for the organization that has measurable outcomes in the increase of membership, membership retention, collaboration with key arts organizations and institutions, and awareness of WCA by the public and art industry. I would like to work towards doubling the membership and increasing the number of chapters by one-third, and by bringing back national in-person conferences.

Deborah Deal-Blackwell’s Resume
Deborah Deal-Blackwell’s Bio
Letter of Recommendation

NOMINATIONS CHAIR

Laura Morrison, Past President

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Cathy Salser
CM Judge
Andi Steele
Rona Lesser
Janice Nesser-Chu