Staff
Janiece Lipsey, Executive Director
creativeartscouncil@gmail.com
A veteran of Creative Arts, Janiece was promoted to the Executive Director position in 2019. Janiece began with our organization in 2008 teaching ballet classes. She began working in our office shortly thereafter. In 2014, as Assistant Director of Operations and Outreach, she was instrumental in beginning an outreach program with Wells Community Boys & Girls Club. In addition to her responsibilities as Executive Director, Janiece also teaches dance classes at Creative Arts and choreographs and directs the Creative Arts Youth Dance Company’s annual production of Excerpts from The Nutcracker.
Janiece holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Educational Ministries from Huntington University and a Masters of Business Administration degree from Southeastern University.
Tammy Ray, Director of Creative Services
cacray49@gmail.com
Tammy was introduced to Creative Arts when her daughter was an Oompa Loompa in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in 2013. The next summer she was the piano accompanist for South Pacific and then served as rehearsal accompanist for several more summer theater productions. In 2019, she joined the Creative Arts team as an Executive Assistant to provide administrative support. In May of 2022, Tammy’s shifted positions to the Director of Creative Services.
Tammy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and a minor in Piano Performance from Huntington University and a Masters of Business Administration degree from Indiana Wesleyan University.
Elizabeth Seder, Executive Assistant creativeartsassistant06@gmail.com
Elizabeth was first involved with Creative Arts in 2019 when she performed in CAC’s first Summer Theater Intensive, “Mary Poppins, Jr.”
In 2024, Elizabeth returned to the CAC stage in DreamWorks’ “Shrek, the Musical, JR”, and has also been involved with other theater organizations including Fire and Light Productions and The Academy of Arts. In 2023, Elizabeth joined the CAC team as the Executive Assistant, where she serves to provide support in any way needed by the Executive Director and Director of Creative Services.
Elizabeth will graduate high school in the class of 2025. She then plans to major in Criminal Justice with minors in Urban Studies and Theater Arts at Huntington University.
Ainsley Werich, Summer Theater Manager creativeartsdesign74@gmail.com
Ainsley was introduced to Creative Arts when she was a student here in our Ballet School and eventually was an Oompa Loompa in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in 2013. She also made appearances in South Pacific and Music Man Jr.
She interned here during the summer of 2022 and came back to help with Wizard of Oz and directed Winnie the Pooh: Kids Edition. She also led the Early Stages Workshop this year.
Ainsley currently is a Senior at Purdue University majoring in Theater along with Film and Video studies with a minor in Organizational Leadership.
Board of Directors
Ted Smith, President
Mike Downey, Vice President
John Emshwiller, Treasurer
Meagan VandeLaar, Secretary
Eric Blessing
Ted Chemey
Natasha Gilgen
Julie Harvey
Jeanette Lundeen
Nancy Wagner