We are a small, but highly focused, action oriented board.
We are working artists, with professional backgrounds in a variety of fields.
What connects us is a shared vision for our association, galleries, artists, culture and community.

Dennis Schmidling
Board Chair

Dennis began his professional career as a professor of literature, theater, and creative writing. That early start in the arts led to a variety of roles in professional theater, writing assignments and photography for major publishers, and time as a fine art landscape photographer with Ansel Adams and a host of other visual arts mentors. He eventually settled into a career in corporate graphic design, marketing communications and strategic planning. That period included leadership roles with a couple of Fortune 50 companies, time as an independent creative consultant, followed by development and creative director roles as a senior principal with a national design and marketing communications firm. Now, semi-retired, he has traveled full circle, and is concentrating on writing and fine art landscape photography. Dennis also co-manages Sisters Gallery and spends much of his time focused on the creation of custom fine art framing, photo and art restoration, archival imaging and printing, graphic design and creative business consulting. He continues to encourage artists and is an active advocate for the importance of the arts in a heathy culture.

Judd Smith
At Large - Internet Marketing and Social Media

Judd has been in internet and direct marketing for over 20 years specializing in Search Engine Marketing (SEO), eMail marketing, Return-on-Investment Website Design (ROI),  and Strategic Planning. Local clients served include Mt Bachelor, Visit Bend, Mt. Bachelor Village, Sisters Coffee, Stitchin’ Post and more. Regionally he has served clients like the Portland Trailblazers, KXL Radio, and Portland Television Broadcasters. He has also served a wide range of national clients from inside Rockefeller Center to Silicon Valley, specializing in marketing and communication for business to business, integrated industries, professional sports, high tech, and engineering. He has successfully served the promotional needs of clients in consumer, public and non-profit sectors. His marketing and communication expertise includes broadcast, print media, social media and the internet. Judd holds a Bachelor degree in Business with a minor in Engineering from Oregon State University.

Helen Schmidling
Publicity and Ad Hoc Support

Helen grew up in New York’s beautiful Adirondack Mountains and, with a degree in English and Theater, worked as a writer and editor at a daily newspaper in Plattsburgh, New York, before moving to Oregon in 1995. She has continued to write and edit, including freelancing and many years as Education Editor for Banfield Pet Hospital in Portland. She has volunteered as secretary and editor for the Friends of William Stafford, the Banfield Charitable Trust grant review committee, and the Ford Family Foundation Leadership Cohort III in Sisters, among others. She co-manages the Sisters Gallery and Frame Shop, and is active in local book and writing groups. With Dennis, she moved to Sisters in 2010, is a founder of SAA and has served as Secretary for its first six years.

Taylie Hannack Bennett
Treasurer

Taylie has been an advocate for the arts. Since early childhood. She has been actively involved in fine art photography, and has freelanced as a professional photographer for the past decade. She is passionate about the arts, and enjoys mentoring and encouraging people to find the artist within. Creativity in her view is essential to a meaningful quality of life. Her training in financial recording, reporting and planning began began in her teens, working for the family retail and food businesses and continued through her college education. She has also worked independently, offering financial planning and reporting to a wide variety of businesses, accountants, CPA’s and corporations. Her experience in the non-profit sector began with the Sisters Rodeo more than a decade ago. She still oversees their financial recording and reporting. In Taylie’s own words, “I am excited to serve on the board of the Sisters Arts Association and look forward to helping the creative arts and cultural community grow and prosper.

Brad Earl
Board Member

I've practiced architecture for 50 years, retiring last Dec. 7th, 2021. A Philadelphia-based architect for more than 40 years, serving as Managing Principal of the Healthcare Design studio for a national design firm. Penn State Alumni, registered architect in as many as 16 states, NCARB-certified and a member of the AIA. I have been Managing Principal of numerous design firms throughout my career, with a focus on large institutional environments (Academic Medical Centers, Specialty Hospitals, Wellness Centers et al). I last served as Managing Principal of the Philadelphia healthcare studio of Nelson Worldwide, with responsibilities for Client Development & Retention, Business Strategy, Financial Performance, Staff recruiting, mentoring & retention and fostering a fun work environment as well.

I’m also a self-taught artist, starting to paint in 1996, with a somewhat whimsical spin on streetscapes and scenes of everyday life. Decidedly “architectural” in nature, many of my streetscapes are an amalgam of pieces of different facades, often with restaurants and hotels that exist only on the “Main Street of my mind”.  I stray back to my youth with scenes of faded movie theaters and wooden roller coasters, empty roadside diners and ice cream stands. Now and then I’ll add to my series called “Big Stuff, Little People”, painting oversized, iconic old typewriters, toy cars or steam engines, populated with tiny people, almost unnoticed in the foreground. I’m also fascinated by the sculpture of Mercury, Minerva and Hercules atop Grand Central Station. I’ve painted it numerous times, including a recent one as tribute to all the healthcare heroes in NYC and across America. 

Dale McCullough
Board Member

First major career was in the Travel Industry working on sales and marketing for cruise lines and an international luxury hotel brand. As Regional Vice President of Cunard Lines, I was responsible for corporate ship charters, identifying strategic alliances, and developing unique marketing opportunities.

The past 20 years has been in marketing related to the development of student housing for colleges and universities. For the past 10 of those years, I was Marketing Director for The Michaels Organization where I helped launch a new division for Student Housing (Colleges and Universities). I was responsible for creating and executing an annual marketing plan and budget that entailed branding, creative, digital and print advertising, public relations, customer relationship management and crisis management.

While my daughter was in high school, I was President of the Parents Association of the Vocal Ensemble which primarily included fundraising and coordinating free performance opportunities in our community. Their vocal ensemble was a national award winner and was invited to sing in Beijing with Eric Whitaker. I was responsible for escorting 16 high school students and liaising with Chinese government representatives for their travel plans.

Education:
BA in Humanities, SUNY Purchase, NY
BFA (not completed), University of South Carolina

Michelle Adams
Board Member

Technical business and data analyst, with a strong background in driving business owner’s ideas and initiatives into market-ready products and solutions. Past two years focused 100% on leveraging and testing business, marketing, and product testing to build a landscape photography business. As of January 2023, relaunched virtual assistant business under Virtual Performance to provide social media, newsletter management and website updates for small businesses and solo professionals. 

Education:
MIS / Finance, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
MBA, Bentley University, Waltham, MA 
Certifications (Enrolled): Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate 

Michelle Deaderick
Advisory Board – Event and Ad Hoc Support

Michelle came to Sisters in 1978, enrolled in Central Oregon Community College, and start taking ceramic classes. She’s always loved the texture and curves on the pieces she creates. Her constant efforts to refine her work result in innovative designs in clay figures and pottery. She tests boundaries, looking for creative ways to combine clay with wood, stone and glass. She works to make Sisters a better place to live. She has organized art events for schools and charities, including Circle of Friends, a mentoring organization; and Ten Friends, which works with the education system in Nepal. Married in 1982 to another potter named Mitch, they own Pottery by Mitch. They work with the schools to bring pottery students to their studio to work and experience what it’s like to be a working potter. Both have received the Folk Art Award from My Two Hands. For the last three years, they have been partners in the Hood Avenue Art Gallery in Sisters. As a board member of the Sisters Arts Association, she coordinated the first Artist Studio Tour. Her work ethic and caring about our community continues to enhance the lives of others.

Sandra Stryker
Advisory Board – Event and Ad Hoc Support

Sandra is a physical therapist by training and a successful entrepreneur by interest, curiosity and passion. She has built three prosperous small businesses from the ground up since 2001. Sandra’s life interests are in working with people and community. She has a gift for short-term, grass-roots, strategic planning and task management for successful outcomes. She is looking forward to helping with event planning, coordination, business development, fundraising and general support with growth and succession challenges for the Sisters Arts Association.