Deborah McAuliffe Senner is President and CEO of Allied Arts of Oklahoma.  She has worked to strengthen the arts and cultural sector for 20 years.  Allied Arts provides critical funding and increased awareness for over 40 arts organizations who deliver arts programming to all 77 counties in Oklahoma.   In 2019 she was honored with the distinguished Governors Arts Award for leadership in the arts.  She is most passionate about arts education and as such seeks to ensure that all Oklahomans have access to the arts.  She serves on numerous boards, task forces and committees, most recently appointed to the Statewide Nonprofit Council and the Governor’s task force for COVID 19.  

Website: www.AlliedArtsOKC.com

James McKissic is the President of ArtsBuild, and has led the organization since January 2020. For six years prior, he served as Senior Adviser to the Mayor and the Director of the City of Chattanooga Office of Multicultural Affairs. His role for the City included linking diverse businesses to city government contracting opportunities, improving the City’s supplier diversity efforts, and working to promote justice, inclusion, and equity among the employees and citizenry of Chattanooga, often using the arts as a tool for inquiry, discussion and bridge-building.

Website: www.artsbuild.com