Kate Barlow brings nine years experience working in the non-profit sector, both in administrative and fund-raising capacities to The Celtic Arts Center.

Ms. Barlow has been a member of the Celtic Arts Center since 2004 and has been an active volunteer assisting in grant writing in the Spring of 2006. Kate took on the role of Education Dept. Director in the Summer of 2006. She was appointed to Board member by a unanimous vote in 2006 of the sitting Board . In the Fall of 2006 she was elected to the Board by the ACS/CAC membership and served as Treasurer in 2006-7. Kate was elected as President for 2007-8.

Todd Covert has been a board or staff member with various nonprofit organizations since the 1980s, including:  Madison (WI) Repertory Theatre (staff); Madison Theatre Guild (board); Cultural Council of Hilton Head Isl., SC (board); Hilton Head Playhouse (staff); Lowcountry Players, SC (founder/CEO); Ár nDraoícht Féin (Chief Financial Officer, 4 yrs.); C.G. Jung Institute of L.A. (Executive Director, 4 yrs.); Electric Lodge performing arts center, Venice (Managing Director - current).

Mr. Covert has been an active member of the Celtic Arts Center since 1996. He served as the Center's chief executive during and following Sean Walsh's final illness and was deeply involved in the reorganization of the Center's governance, and served as President of the Board of Directors in 1999-2000. Todd served as President in 2006-7. Todd was elected Vice-President for 2007-8.

Todd holds an M.F.A. in theatre from Western Illinois University and is a member of the Directors Guild of America.

Ruth Strickland is an Executive Assistant for the non-profit organization, LA Jewish Home, which is a long term care facility. For the past four years, one of her primary responsibilities has been recording secretary of the Board of Directors, Board of Governors and several Committees.

Ruth has been a member of the Celtic Arts Center since April 2006, and this is her first appointment on the Board of Directors. At the Center, she is an active participant in the Céilí dance classes, dabbles in the Irish-Gaelic language course, and has volunteered at several events. Ruth was appointed to the Board by a unanimous vote of the sitting Board members in the beginning of October 2007. She was elected Treasurer for 2007-8.

Ruth received her Master's Degree in Opera and Musical Theater from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and has acted and sung in various companies, as well as helped produce a show here in LA (Windmills), of which the proceeds benefited the national Thyroid Cancer Organization. She is hopeful all of her experiences will help contribute to the success of the Celtic Arts Center.

Douglas R. Dean is an Interactive Multimedia Designer who currently holds the position of Senior Graphic Designer at XAP Corporation, the leading provider of online college admissions processing and student information management systems in the United States. He's one of the founding developers of XAP Corporation.

Doug has been a member of the Celtic Arts Center since 1999, a Board member since 2000, Vice President through 2002-3 (ascended to President after the resignation of the sitting President in Spring 2003), and elected President of the Board for 2004-5 and 2005-6. He served as Secretary of the Board for 2006-7 and, upon re-election to the Board by the membership in 2007, continues as Secretary of the Board for 2007-8.

Mr. Dean holds a B. A. in Fine Arts with an Industrial Design emphasis from California State University, Northridge. He also has a minor degree in Native American Studies from their Cultural Anthropology department.

(Biography coming soon)

Adrien has been a member of the Celtic Arts Center since 1986 and has served on the Board of Directors many times over the years. She has been an active member participating on the Marketing Committee, planning special events, cd production, fundraisers, and concerts.

(Biography coming soon)

Bird has been a member of the Celtic Arts Center since 1986 and has served on the Board of Directors many times over the years. He was coordinator of Dance Department until 2001 and then served as the Educational Programming Coordinator from 2001 to 2003. He's currently the Irish céilí dance instructor.

Donal was born and raised in Cork. He emigrated to the United States in 1980s, settling first in San Francisco and then in Los Angeles in 1997. He has many professional acting credits and his primary focus is the traditional singing, storytelling, and poetry group The Living Voice. He currently operates his own limousine service company, Focus Limousine.

Donal has been a member of the Celtic Arts Center since 2005, and was recently elected to the Board of Directors by the membership in 2007.

Alaina Smith is a preschool director with an extensive background in Early Childhood Education.

She is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and has served (in the past) on their local chapter board as Vice-president of Programs and is currently a committee member of the programs committee of that board. (SCV AEYC - Southern California Valley Association for the Education of Young Children).

Ms. Smith has been a member of the Celtic Arts Center since 2002 and Board member since 2004.

She received a Bachelor's degree in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College and is currently working on a thesis for a Masters degree in Human Development with a specialty in Early Childhood Education.