about MAX

Mission Statement

Heartland Performing Arts is a nonprofit organization which brings together arts professionals to encourage innovation, create educational opportunities, strengthen artist touring relationships, and support arts advocacy throughout the central United States. The organization was founded by agents, artists, and state consortia leaders from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Plains Presenters, Southwest Presenters, and Wisconsin.

Heartland Performing Arts Board of Directors

Tommy Hensel, President

Elgin Community College & IL Presenters Network Chair

Eric Olmscheid, Vice President

Wharton Center for Performing Arts at Michigan State University

Tianna Conway, Secretary

Moraine Valley Community College & WI Presenters Network Chair

Jeff Laramie, Treasurer

SRO Artists Inc

Sara Barasch

IMG Artists

Gail Boyd

Gail Boyd Artist Management

Laurel Canan

Siegel Artist Management

Jared Duymovic

Marcus Performing Arts Center

Kevin Horton 

William Morris Endeavor

Timothy Mar

Arts Management Group

Derrick McBride

Dance Theatre of Harlem

Lisa Rock

Close to You / Lisa Rock Entertainment

Ichun Yeh

Sozo Media

Midwest Arts Xpo Committee

Lindsay Bauer (Fairfield Arts & Convention Center, Sondheim Center)

Loni Boyd (Wisconsin Lutheran College)

Mary Jennings (Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts at Michigan Technological University)

Luisa Kormann (The Roots Agency)

Gary Minyard (Dayton Live)

Jennifer Morris (Siegel Artist Management)

Nicole Mulder (Theatre L’Homme Dieu)

Peter Palermo (Sheldon Arts Foundation)

Maureen Patton (The Grand 1894 Opera House)

Kevin Peters (G.L. Berg Entertainment)

Thomas Robbins (University of Dubuque, Heritage Center)

Lisa Rock (Lisa Rock Entertainment)

Leslie Rodriguez (Dominican University Performing Arts Center)

Crandall Rogers (Four Mortals Production)

Conference Goals

  • Design a Midwest-based industry gathering that is more casual in nature and less expensive to produce.
  • Create a model that is financially self-sustaining.
  • Equally center presenter and agent/manager/artist voices in the planning.
  • Create a “single track” conference – few competing events.
  • Commit to access & equity – remove as many barriers as possible.​