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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tina Powers
President
Tina is a North Carolina native living in Southport since 2001. She knows more intimate details about the area and its people than most – she manages a booming real estate practice by day and provides bartending service nights at the area’s most popular watering hole. It’s an unbeatable combination if your passion, like hers, is understanding the ties that bind a community together, in order to contribute to it in a meaningful way.
Tina’s work as a Lay Eucharistic Minister and her long-time connection to St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church have faithfully served that desire. Up Your Arts, too, is the happy beneficiary of Tina’s head/heart/home approach and the strength of her commitment to it.
Tina is a North Carolina native living in Southport since 2001. She knows more intimate details about the area and its people than most – she manages a booming real estate practice by day and provides bartending service nights at the area’s most popular watering hole. It’s an unbeatable combination if your passion, like hers, is understanding the ties that bind a community together, in order to contribute to it in a meaningful way.
Tina’s work as a Lay Eucharistic Minister and her long-time connection to St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church have faithfully served that desire. Up Your Arts, too, is the happy beneficiary of Tina’s head/heart/home approach and the strength of her commitment to it.
Julie Mercer
Executive Director
At the age of 4, Julie began playing the Cello and developed a vocal talent that has awarded her opportunities such as performing in operas and musical theater productions, and the pleasure of studying voice through college. Currently, Julie performs in local productions around Southport and sings on the worship team at her church. Music has been woven into her soul and is now an area that she is both knowledgeable in and passionate about. You can often find Julie at local events cheering on her musical peers as they share their talents across the generations in our great community.
In addition to her musical talent, Julie brings 16+ years of working in the corporate world. Her wealth of experience from customer relations to executive sales, brings next-level skill sets needed to help the UYA board pursue our big-picture goals for the local arts community. Up Your Arts is fortunate to have someone with such a passionate heart for the arts on our side and is thrilled to add her talents to the team!.
At the age of 4, Julie began playing the Cello and developed a vocal talent that has awarded her opportunities such as performing in operas and musical theater productions, and the pleasure of studying voice through college. Currently, Julie performs in local productions around Southport and sings on the worship team at her church. Music has been woven into her soul and is now an area that she is both knowledgeable in and passionate about. You can often find Julie at local events cheering on her musical peers as they share their talents across the generations in our great community.
In addition to her musical talent, Julie brings 16+ years of working in the corporate world. Her wealth of experience from customer relations to executive sales, brings next-level skill sets needed to help the UYA board pursue our big-picture goals for the local arts community. Up Your Arts is fortunate to have someone with such a passionate heart for the arts on our side and is thrilled to add her talents to the team!.
Eric Schonher
Chair
With Erik, Up Your Arts has been joined by a genuine non-profit governance leader, nationally recognized for his expertise in strategic planning, membership, and association marketing throughout a 30-year professional career. His comprehensive approach to sustainable growth will keep us grounded in our mission while the expansion of our services continues. We are also proud to claim his musical abilities in honor of our roots – Erik is the fourth bass player to serve on Up Your Arts’ board of directors and, even more indispensable, the only one to have begun his melodious roots as a certified musical therapist.
With Erik, Up Your Arts has been joined by a genuine non-profit governance leader, nationally recognized for his expertise in strategic planning, membership, and association marketing throughout a 30-year professional career. His comprehensive approach to sustainable growth will keep us grounded in our mission while the expansion of our services continues. We are also proud to claim his musical abilities in honor of our roots – Erik is the fourth bass player to serve on Up Your Arts’ board of directors and, even more indispensable, the only one to have begun his melodious roots as a certified musical therapist.
Martin Dorward
Treasurer
Marty is quite the Renaissance man. After a 40-year career as an environmental engineer specializing in water utility improvements, Marty has taken on all kinds of roles in the community since moving to Southport in 2019. He is a certified volunteer with the North Carolina State Extension Master Gardener Program and oversees his neighborhood’s HOA architectural review committee and maintenance contracts, in addition to being chair of Up Your Arts’ annual Southport Plein Air Festival Committee. We know first-hand the tactical skill Marty brings to the latter project, but we also applaud his leadership style, which creates the room for many voices to collaborate. Up Your Arts is lucky to have caught Marty’s attention to detail.
Marty is quite the Renaissance man. After a 40-year career as an environmental engineer specializing in water utility improvements, Marty has taken on all kinds of roles in the community since moving to Southport in 2019. He is a certified volunteer with the North Carolina State Extension Master Gardener Program and oversees his neighborhood’s HOA architectural review committee and maintenance contracts, in addition to being chair of Up Your Arts’ annual Southport Plein Air Festival Committee. We know first-hand the tactical skill Marty brings to the latter project, but we also applaud his leadership style, which creates the room for many voices to collaborate. Up Your Arts is lucky to have caught Marty’s attention to detail.
Rick Kranz
Secretary
Rick adds a hefty dose of digital sophistication and business management experience to the Up Your Arts board of directors. A noted expert in developing AI systems for businesses, Rick founded the award-winning marketing agency OverGo Studio in 2011 after relocating from Long Island.
Now, he pioneers AI systems at The AI Marketing Automation Lab.
For fun, he moonlights, playing drums for LunaSea, a nine-member band. Up Your Arts is equally fortunate to have caught Rick’s avid interest, time, and talent, too.
Rick adds a hefty dose of digital sophistication and business management experience to the Up Your Arts board of directors. A noted expert in developing AI systems for businesses, Rick founded the award-winning marketing agency OverGo Studio in 2011 after relocating from Long Island.
Now, he pioneers AI systems at The AI Marketing Automation Lab.
For fun, he moonlights, playing drums for LunaSea, a nine-member band. Up Your Arts is equally fortunate to have caught Rick’s avid interest, time, and talent, too.
Peter Riekstins
Member at Large
Peter is a remarkable surprise. After settling in Southport in 2019, he quickly became known for his camera work with local musicians. Now acknowledged as one of the best photographers in the area (and the one responsible for the UYA board of directors’ pictures featured here), it turns out he is the personal epicenter of an amazingly divergent set of other interests and experience. Not only did he own and operate Pete’s Saloon and Restaurant, still booming after 45 years, sit on the board of the New York State Restaurant Association, sell ice cream at Woodstock, and play bass professionally, he was an avid scuba diver, underwater photographer, and hospitality director for an international trade show hosting 15,000 attendees. Fortunately for Up Your Arts, Peter now makes us look as good as we feel and we are surely glad to claim him.
Peter is a remarkable surprise. After settling in Southport in 2019, he quickly became known for his camera work with local musicians. Now acknowledged as one of the best photographers in the area (and the one responsible for the UYA board of directors’ pictures featured here), it turns out he is the personal epicenter of an amazingly divergent set of other interests and experience. Not only did he own and operate Pete’s Saloon and Restaurant, still booming after 45 years, sit on the board of the New York State Restaurant Association, sell ice cream at Woodstock, and play bass professionally, he was an avid scuba diver, underwater photographer, and hospitality director for an international trade show hosting 15,000 attendees. Fortunately for Up Your Arts, Peter now makes us look as good as we feel and we are surely glad to claim him.
Jeny Brill
Member at Large
Jeny Brill grew up surrounded by the beauty of Cape Cod. At a very early age she began making art which continued through her childhood with the guidance of various local artists. She studied art in college but eventually got her graduate degree in Montessori education. Working with lower elementary children she drew from her artistic knowledge to support children’s learning through all areas of the curriculum. In addition Jeny also taught a variety of art classes throughout Raleigh and Cary to both children and adults.
Jeny has lived in North Carolina half her life. She raised her family in Raleigh and moved to Southport which she loving calls her, “Cape Cod South”. Her initial work with Up Your Arts was with the “Save the Hall Y’all” project. Then four years ago she began working on the Pole Banner Project and now chairs that committee. Jeny is a working artist and strong advocate for the arts in Southport. She brings a visual arts passion as well as her years working with the public to the board.
Jeny Brill grew up surrounded by the beauty of Cape Cod. At a very early age she began making art which continued through her childhood with the guidance of various local artists. She studied art in college but eventually got her graduate degree in Montessori education. Working with lower elementary children she drew from her artistic knowledge to support children’s learning through all areas of the curriculum. In addition Jeny also taught a variety of art classes throughout Raleigh and Cary to both children and adults.
Jeny has lived in North Carolina half her life. She raised her family in Raleigh and moved to Southport which she loving calls her, “Cape Cod South”. Her initial work with Up Your Arts was with the “Save the Hall Y’all” project. Then four years ago she began working on the Pole Banner Project and now chairs that committee. Jeny is a working artist and strong advocate for the arts in Southport. She brings a visual arts passion as well as her years working with the public to the board.
Allison Crowley
Member at Large
Originally from High Point, NC Allison brings a unique blend of business acumen and deep-rooted passion for the arts to her community work. Allison is complemented by more than fifteen years of dedicated service with the High Point Arts Council. During her time with the Council, she served in a variety of leadership roles, including seven years as Secretary of the Board of Directors and active participation on the Executive, Marketing, and Fundraising Committees. Her efforts helped drive community engagement and enhance support for local arts initiatives.
Her professional background in marketing, sales and currently in nonprofit leadership as the Resource Development Manager for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern North Carolina. With a strong focus on corporate relationship-building, community engagement, and strategic development, Allison is committed to creating accessible, vibrant cultural opportunities for all and continues to champion the role of the arts in building strong, connected communities.
Originally from High Point, NC Allison brings a unique blend of business acumen and deep-rooted passion for the arts to her community work. Allison is complemented by more than fifteen years of dedicated service with the High Point Arts Council. During her time with the Council, she served in a variety of leadership roles, including seven years as Secretary of the Board of Directors and active participation on the Executive, Marketing, and Fundraising Committees. Her efforts helped drive community engagement and enhance support for local arts initiatives.
Her professional background in marketing, sales and currently in nonprofit leadership as the Resource Development Manager for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern North Carolina. With a strong focus on corporate relationship-building, community engagement, and strategic development, Allison is committed to creating accessible, vibrant cultural opportunities for all and continues to champion the role of the arts in building strong, connected communities.
Jacob Shnider
Member at Large
Jacob is a photographer, videographer, live production engineer, and community leader with a passion for helping others tell meaningful stories through visual media. His love for production began as a child, taking photographs alongside his grandfather—a simple experience that grew into a lifelong pursuit of creativity.
Over the years, Jacob has built experience in photography, video production, and live audio, working with churches, real estate professionals, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community organizations. Whether behind a camera or at a sound console, he enjoys combining technical excellence with creative storytelling to create engaging, high-quality experiences.
Jacob is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Religion at Liberty University. In addition to his production work, he serves on the Board of Directors for Up Your Arts, where he is committed to supporting the arts, fostering creativity, and helping strengthen opportunities for artists and the community. His faith and commitment to service continue to shape both his professional work and volunteer involvement.
Jacob is a photographer, videographer, live production engineer, and community leader with a passion for helping others tell meaningful stories through visual media. His love for production began as a child, taking photographs alongside his grandfather—a simple experience that grew into a lifelong pursuit of creativity.
Over the years, Jacob has built experience in photography, video production, and live audio, working with churches, real estate professionals, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community organizations. Whether behind a camera or at a sound console, he enjoys combining technical excellence with creative storytelling to create engaging, high-quality experiences.
Jacob is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Religion at Liberty University. In addition to his production work, he serves on the Board of Directors for Up Your Arts, where he is committed to supporting the arts, fostering creativity, and helping strengthen opportunities for artists and the community. His faith and commitment to service continue to shape both his professional work and volunteer involvement.
Carolyn Tabarini
Member at Large
Carolyn joined Up Your Arts after volunteering with the Southport Plein Air committee, a partnership between Up Your Arts and the City of Southport. A longtime resident of Northern Virginia before retiring to Southport, she brings extensive experience in Knowledge Management from her work with associations, county and federal agencies, non‑profits, and private organizations.
A lifelong sewer, crafter, and artist, Carolyn was immediately captivated by Southport’s historic architecture. Rather than focusing solely on quilting, she expanded into fiber arts, creating intricate thread paintings inspired by the town’s beloved historic buildings. Her passion for fiber arts fuels her work as an artist, workshop leader, and teacher of free‑motion quilting and thread‑painting techniques.
Carolyn is a dedicated advocate for fiber arts and all creative disciplines. In recent years, she has coordinated artisan demonstrations at the Southport Plein Air Festival, helping visitors discover the depth of artistic talent within the community.
Carolyn joined Up Your Arts after volunteering with the Southport Plein Air committee, a partnership between Up Your Arts and the City of Southport. A longtime resident of Northern Virginia before retiring to Southport, she brings extensive experience in Knowledge Management from her work with associations, county and federal agencies, non‑profits, and private organizations.
A lifelong sewer, crafter, and artist, Carolyn was immediately captivated by Southport’s historic architecture. Rather than focusing solely on quilting, she expanded into fiber arts, creating intricate thread paintings inspired by the town’s beloved historic buildings. Her passion for fiber arts fuels her work as an artist, workshop leader, and teacher of free‑motion quilting and thread‑painting techniques.
Carolyn is a dedicated advocate for fiber arts and all creative disciplines. In recent years, she has coordinated artisan demonstrations at the Southport Plein Air Festival, helping visitors discover the depth of artistic talent within the community.
MISSION STATEMENT
Up Your Arts is a non-profit organization founded in 2017 to support and enhance the creative and performing arts throughout the greater Southport area.
Our mission is to foster, promote and advance a fun, cool artistic environment in Southport.
Mission and Vision
VISION STATEMENT
Our vision is to expand the perception of Southport from its historic identification as a 'quaint fishing village' to that of a community where people experience exceptional arts, culture and live music.
Up Your Arts wants everyone else to see what we see - that Southport is the coolest coastal art community IN THE WORLD!
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HISTORY
History information coming soon.
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