New Additions For Raue Center For The Arts Board

Raue Center For The Arts is incredibly excited to welcome new additions to their Board of Directors for the 2011-2012 season. These new members stand to offer bountiful amounts of valuable information pulled from their own varying professional experiences.

In August of 2011 Jack Minsley Raue Center For The Arts’ board secretary. Jack received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Union College in Schenectady, New York. He retired at the end of 2001 as Director of Customer Technical Services, Beverage Cans Americas for Rexam PLC (successor corporation to American National Can Co.) an international manufacturer of packaging materials, where amongst other things, he established and managed multimillion dollar annual capital and expense budgets. In retirement he has worked part time as a seasonal employee for the Village of Lakewood at RedTail Golf Club. Jack is also very involved in the community. He was an Assistant Scout Master for 7 years in Crystal Lake with Troop 158. Previously Jack was the vice president and a religious school teacher with Congregation Tikkun Olam, and still currently holds a board member position. Over the last five years he has volunteered weekly at Centegra Memorial Hospital – Woodstock.

Also Joining the Board:

Robert L. Cormier, Jr. is Executive Vice President of Home State Bank. Bob’s focus is on Commercial Lending and Commercial Real Estate Lending. Bob graduated from Northeast Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance and Management, and earned a M.B.A. from Northern Illinois University. Additionally, Bob has attended the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin—Madison and the National Graduate Trust School. He lives in Crystal Lake with his wife Kathleen and four children.

Gus Ponce is currently the Director of Transmission and Sub Stations in Chicago for Commonwealth Edison electric utility company. Gus is a graduate of Illinois Benedictine University where he holds a degree in Industrial Management and has also completed his nuclear certification for power water reactors at the Westinghouse nuclear training facility in Zion, IL. He and his family have lived in Spring Grove, IL since 2002.

Raue Center welcomes back Jim Roth to the board. He and his wife, Barbara, have been residents of McHenry County since 1993. Jim is a Certified Financial Planner providing comprehensive wealth management guidance to high-net worth clients of the Harris Private Bank, a unit of BMO Harris Bank. This is Jim’s second stint on the Board, having previously served until January of 2009. In his previous capacity Jim served as Chairman of the HR Committee and also served on the Finance Committee for Raue Center.

Crystal Lake resident Todd Schroll is a social worker by trade. He serves our community through his work at McHenry County Mental Health Board. As Project Director, Todd is responsible for promoting principles of care, developing strategic vision, program development, creating collaborative partnerships and ultimately enhancing the health, safety and well-being of children with serious emotional disorders. He graduated from Marquette University and received a Masters in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Steve Szalaj and his family have lived in Crystal Lake since 1978. He and his wife, Monica, have two sons and four granddaughters. He is currently an adjunct instructor in music at McHenry County College where he directs the MCC Chorus, and teaches classes including Voice. Upon his recent retirement, Steve completed a 34-year career teaching vocal music in the public schools. He is also the founding Artistic Director of Voices in Harmony, which began in 1987 as the Crystal Lake Community Choir.

Raue Center looks forward to what these distinguished team members will contribute to the mission, the community and to the future of the theatre. 

About Raue Center For The Arts

Raue Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of all through the arts. For 11 years, they have provided quality programming – striving to make it pertinent, available and affordable to all. As a painstakingly restored, 1920s regional showcase theatre named for its benefactor—Lucile Raue—Raue Center has attracted the finest stars, Broadway shows, musicians and artists. Named on the League of Historic American Theatres, Raue Center is one of the finest examples of restored art and decor in the nation. The 750-seat theatre, located in historic, downtown Crystal Lake, is a gathering place for our region’s citizens and has become a true destination. For additional information, visit www.rauecenter.org,  www.facebook.com/RaueCenter and www.twitter.com/RaueCenter.