C.R.O.W. Board of Directors
​Board President/Secretary:
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Email: lgrimmett@crowkids.com
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Board Treasurer:
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Email: ktrujillo@crowkids.com
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Board:​​​
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Mike Smith
Email: msmith@crowkids.com
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Board & Staff Bios:
Lori Grimmett (Board President/ Board Secretary)
Lori’s creative spirit of the arts and entertainment industry began over 30 years ago building unique experiences for
software developer conferences worldwide. Taking the knowledge and experience, Lori refocused into distinctive guest
experiences for Casinos in North America building and directing numerous event platforms. Lori has driven multi-channel
event revenue streams as well as managed a substantial event staff for music festivals in the Pacific Northwest. Her true
passion is grassroots and community and is excited to be part of C.R.O.W. team!
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Melanie Heard (Artistic Director / Founder / Director of Flight Dance Team)
Melanie is a credentialed teacher with a Master's Degree in Education and was former "Teacher of the Year" for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LD3). She began her performance career at the young age of 2 ½ when she tap danced with a giant stuffed Raggedy Andy doll. Melanie has played many onstage roles, from "Sally Bowles" in Cabaret to “Lucy” in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, to the title role in Evita. Her professional arts training stems from the genre of classical ballet where she studied dance with the Joffrey Ballet, Kirov Ballet School in DC, and Ballet West in Utah. Ms. Heard has successfully directed and/or choreographed both children and adults in 65+ full-length shows. These productions include: Newsies, The SpongeBob Musical, Disney's Frozen Jr, The Wiz, Disney's Tarzan, The Addams Family Musical, Shrek Jr, Once Upon A Mattress, The Little Mermaid Jr, The Music Man Jr, Beauty & the Beast Jr, Honk Jr, Seussical Jr, Lend Me A Tenor, Steel Magnolias, Karaoke Kills Me, and You Dirty Rat! To add to this impressive array, Melanie also managed and produced Poison Pen Players, a professional murder mystery dinner theatre company, for many years with her family. Most importantly, Melanie firmly believes in the power of a high-caliber arts education. Following her passion for the arts, she founded, C.R.O.W. in 2011, because she believes that all youth need and deserve the arts to become responsible, contributing members of society. Melanie knows that "The Arts really DO matter," not only in a child's life, but to provide education, personal fulfillment, and happiness to each and every person impacted.
Robin Mendolia (Administrative & Programming Assistant / Summer Camp Director):
Robin Mendolia is a former high school and university instructor with two and a half decades of experience in theatre in addition to teaching English, literature, and writing. She earned a BA in English and an MA in Education. Robin fell in love with theatre at the age of fifteen and has been actively involved in different capacities since that initial spark. This includes running a theatre department, acting, directing, set painting, stage managing, hair & makeup, and more. She is thrilled to be joining C.R.O.W. after a hiatus from the classroom and is happy to be a part of the Florence theatre community.
Mike Smith (Board Member):
A triple-certified Human Resources professional with prior board and local government experience, Mike is also a purveyor of bad dad jokes, occasional tutu twirler, and a seasonal grumpy old elf with a golden heart. Mike has always loved theatre, musical theatre in particular, because music is something that brings him joy. Mike also loves watching dance, and is particularly in awe of ballet dancers. During his younger years, while also an athlete, Mike performed in small plays. The first role he remembers was playing a "Centurion" in a Christmas pageant. Mike says, “I got to play a Roman centurion who read the proclamation that all of Judea would be taxed, while all my friends were being sheep or angels or something. I had a sword and lines, so I thought that was pretty cool.” Having previously served eight years on the Board of Directors for Boys & Girls Club of Western Lane County, Mike joined the C.R.O.W. Board because he believes not only in supporting our local youth and their families, but in the power of arts education and how dramatically it can impact lives. “Some people are drawn to athletics. Some are drawn to technology. Some people are still trying to figure it all out. All of that is okay and part of the journey we all go through in life. What’s great about performing arts, in particular, is people will get involved searching for their place, and often what they find is themselves.”
Karen Trujillo (Board Treasurer / Scenic Artist / Creative Consultant):
Karen is originally from Marinette, Wisconsin where she became involved in the local theatre in college. Although she has never had any "formal" art training of any kind, she has worked on set and lighting design for about 7 shows. Karen lived in the Las Vegas area for about 25 years where she did a variety of jobs and was very active in the Elks Lodge. She moved to Florence in 2012, and "loves living here and being involved in the local theatre productions." Karen's talents are "in demand," and she helped with sets and costumes and also worked backstage for The Holly Jolly Follies and other productions. Karen is known for her amazing variety of creative talents, and says that she "looks forward to many more projects with C.R.O.W."
Instructor Bios:
Halle Anderson (Summer Camp Director):
Halle Anderson was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas and originally moved to Florence in 2012. She graduated from Siuslaw High School in 2020. Halle was a "C.R.O.W. kid," participating in many C.R.O.W. shows and activities such as camps and classes since 2016. Halle teaches gymnastics at a studio in Eugene. She played many characters in C.R.O.W. productions; including “Saloon Girl” in the Addams Family, “Kala” in Tarzan, “Featured Dancer & Glinda” in The Wiz. Halle was also in choir classes from first grade to her sophomore year of high school. Above all else, Halle loves inspiring kids to be creative and brave through the Arts.
Autumn Barrett (Theatre Instructor & Summer Camp Director):
Autumn Barrett began her theatre journey as a young child. With over ten years of theatrical experience under her belt that ranges from musicals, plays, recitals, and even "scare- acting," she brings both passion and a love for the arts. When she's not on the stage you can find her enjoying the trails with her dog, wheeling, or focusing on her responsibilities as a caregiver. She is excited to share her knowledge with her students, and looks forward to having a lot of fun!
Lisa Brandow (Musical Director):
Lisa Brandow is a proud Band-nerd, Choir-geek, musician, and singer who’s thrilled to be part of the C.R.O.W. community!
A former music teacher with a deep love for choir directing, she’s excited to help bring Seussical the Musical to life. When she’s not making music, Lisa works for the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce and stays actively involved at Cross Road Assembly Church.
Kelsi Ferkey (Dance Instructor):
Kelsi has been dancing since she was four years old. Dance has always been a huge part of her life, and now she is so excited to share that passion as a teacher! Kelsi has built many incredible props and costumes for past productions, is a member of the Flight Dance Team, and has participated in many of C.R.O.W.’s mainstage musicals, dance showcases, and Haunted Mazes. Kelsi says she is “looking forward to helping my students build confidence, have fun, and discover the joy of dance.”
Tina Ferkey (Dance Instructor / Props Designer):
Tina brings energy, creativity, and deep purpose to every class she teaches at C.R.O.W. Tina shares her passion for gymnastics, theatre, and expressive arts while blending dance technique and heart to always inspire her students. With a background in early childhood development, trauma-informed care, and years of experience homeschooling and fostering children, she creates a supportive, inclusive space where every student feels seen and celebrated. Outside the studio, Tina is a dedicated animal rescue specialist who has saved and rehabilitated over 520 animals (and counting). She’s also a proud U.S. Air Force veteran and a mom of four. Whether she’s dancing, teaching, or bottle-feeding baby kittens, Tina leads with compassion, resilience, and a deep love for her community.
Tawna LaNasa (Summer Camp Director):
Tawna is a Florence native who fell in love with the arts as a teenager. The arts allowed her to express herself in ways that traditional classes could not. She was known for singing harmonies in choir, picking up roles in drama class, hand-building ceramic pieces, and drawing to her heart’s content. After high school, Tawna went on to become a licensed art teacher so that she could help inspire the next generation of art students, as she had seen the impact it had made in her life firsthand. Fast forward to the more present time frame, where she attended her first C.R.O.W. event, the 2022 Holly Jolly Follies, as an audience participant. Her love of theatre was reinvigorated and she knew right then and there that she would be joining this fun theatrical bunch. The following year, Tawna made her debut with C.R.O.W. as one of the Flying Elvi’s. Having had such a great experience, 2024 was no different and she performed in a few different capacities as an actor, a soloist, and a hip hop dancer. Shortly after that she participated in Newsies as a singing nun and a suffragette. When not teaching, Tawna can still be found singing harmonies in her church band, crocheting unique beanies, adventuring outdoors, and spending time with family and friends. She’s super excited to be a part of the youth summer camp experience!
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Noah Reed (Dance Instructor):
Noah Reed is a passionate hip hop dance instructor who has been teaching since 2017. With years of experience guiding dancers of all skill levels, Noah is committed to helping students develop not only their technical abilities but also their confidence and personal style. In 2024, Noah made history by founding the first-ever high school dance team at Newport High School, opening doors for young dancers to grow their skills and showcase their talents. Known for high-energy classes and innovative choreography, Noah combines technique with creativity to inspire each student to express themselves fully through movement. Whether leading workshops, rehearsals, or performances, Noah brings enthusiasm, dedication, and a deep love for dance to every session.
Darcy Rust (Dance Instructor):
Darcy Rust is a recent graduate of the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. She has grown up surrounded by theatre and dance and is grateful to continue to be in that world as a profession. Throughout her life she has studied jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop, modern, and contemporary. She currently teaches Musical Theatre for Adults at Dynamic Dance in Springfield and choreographs around the Eugene area. Darcy loves working with the next generation of dancers to discover who they are as artists and people. She hopes to help shift the dance industry into a safer, more accepting place.
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Kritzia Scaparo (Dance Instructor):
Kritzia started dancing at a young age with Carlsbad Parks & Recreation in Southern California. Dancing helped her express herself and build confidence. She joined the Varsity Dance Team at Vista High School and excelled for all four years. Kritzia then earned two scholarships to study dance in college. In college, she joined a Touring Performance Dance Team, where she inspired high school students in North County San Diego to pursue dance. She represented MiraCosta College at The American College Dance Festival for two years in a row.
Kritzia trained with Ooh La La Dance Company in La Jolla, California. Under the guidance of world champion Susie Nguyen, she became a core member of the Latin ladies' styling team, Cosabellas, while also working as the head administrator at the academy. Kritzia toured internationally as a Napa Girl, representing the National Soccer Team of Mexico, and performed overseas in French Polynesia at the Intercontinental Bora Bora. Kritzia embraces every opportunity in dance with enthusiasm. Whether it's taking classes, teaching, creating and learning new choreography, or performing, she finds immense joy in every aspect of her dance journey!
Elyse Stewart (Director of Jr. Flight / Dance Instructor / Summer Camp Director):
Elyse was born in Billings, Montana and moved to Florence in 2010, where her family has well established roots. In 2014, Elyse began her journey with C.R.O.W. Elyse says, "Wow what a ride it has been!" She has performed in multiple mainstage musicals including portraying the roles of "Sandy" in The SpongeBob Musical and "Princess Anna" in Frozen Jr., plus multiple roles in The Holly Jolly Follies, Haunted Mazes, Dance Showcases, as well as many other events. Elyse attended the 2024 Summer Intensive Program with the Joffrey Ballet in New York and San Francisco. Elyse has soaked up every bit of training available to her, always giving her all. Elyse has training in many areas from silks, Lyra (aerial hoops), tap, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, and her favorite - ballet/pointe. She has worked with a multitude of instructors over the years, as well as being a part of the Flight Dance Team for 4 years. Elyse says, "I look forward to sharing my knowledge with my young dancers, and I absolutely love to help fulfill C.R.O.W’s mission to provide high-quality Arts education to our community."
Founders' Bios:
Ellen Jacobson (Founder):
Ellen studied theatre arts in college in Long Beach, CA. with David Emmes, Director Emeritus of the prestigious South Coast Repertory Theatre Company. She married Michael in 1967. She was fortunate to be able to pursue the other great love of her life as a quarter horse breeder and owner for more than 35 years in Southern CA. You might remember her performance a couple of seasons ago here in Florence as crazy Aunt "Abby Brewster" in Arsenic and Old Lace. She wrote, directed and produced for her family's murder mystery company, Poison Pen Players, and wrote the Holly Jolly Follies central theme each year for C.R.O.W. When she was not working in the arts, you could have found Ellen with her granddaughter, Sabrina. Although Ellen passed away in April, 2023, her sprit and heart will remain at the center of C.R.O.W. forever.
Mike Jacobson (Founder):
A founding member of murder mystery troupe, Poison Pen Players, Mike is also no stranger to children's theater, having portrayed both hero and villain in Aladdin & The Swinging Genies (for which he also wrote the score, directed, and played the title role), The Little Mermaid, and Hercules (in which he portrayed "Cyclops," a one-eyed villain in an enormous prosthetic papier mache headpiece, who chased after Hercules' girl friend, played by his daughter, Melanie Heard.) Having been part of productions involving such diverse talents as Henry Mancini and Jerry Lewis, Mike is excited to see the children of Florence continue to soar. Mike is proud of his daughter, Melanie, and is equally proud to have been part of the creation of this wonderful non-profit organization.