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.