Rick Poccia, immediate past president of the Kansas City Ballet Board, recently announced the appointment of a new president and two board members. “On behalf of the Kansas City Ballet, we are delighted to welcome these outstanding individuals to our board,” said Poccia. “We believe they will bring diverse perspective and exceptional dedication to the Ballet’s efforts and initiatives.” Kathleen Kelly, will serve as the President of the Board of Directors for the 2005-2007 term. Kelly has served on The Kansas City Ballet Board of Directors since 2001. “I am so proud to be taking over the role as president of the Board of Directors. I look forward to an exciting season,” Kelly says. “One of my goals is to enhance the community awareness of the Ballet’s exceptional talent which we hope to accomplish through increasing our audience and community outreach.” Kelly is among four founding partners who run Helix Architecture + Design, a Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Top Ten Small Business. At Helix, Kelly directs the interior design work for many of the firm’s most prestigious clients. She helped found Folkus Design where she was a partner until 2001 when she and three partners from Weidemen Architects formed Helix. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interior Design and quickly established herself as an award-winning interior designer. In addition to her years of service to The Kansas City Ballet, Kelly is a member of the ad hoc group Aesthetic Vigilantes, an informal group of urban core businesspeople who work to improve downtown neighborhoods. She has been a long-time supporter of DIFFA, the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS and in 2004 was honored to receive the Women Who Mean Business Award by the Kansas City Business Journal. Allan S. Gray, II, will serve as a member of the board of directors. Gray, a champion of the arts and culture in Kansas City for more than 20 years, is the founder of the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey and was instrumental in the establishment of the 18th & Vine Jazz District. A native of Kansas City who currently resides in Lee’s Summit, Gray is the recipient of the Missouri Arts Award, the highest award given by the state for outstanding achievements in the arts. He serves on the board of the Metropolitan Kansas City Arts Council and is a former member of the board of the Kansas City Symphony. “I believe the arts, and particularly dance, are an incredible means of shaping lives and community,” Gray says. “The arts represent a means of expressing the creativity in each of us and provide a commonality for building relationships across cultures.” In addition to his contributions to the arts and culture scene, Gray has served on the boards of several civic and service-focused organizations including the Missouri Council on Economic Education, Truman Heritage Habitat for Humanity, Kansas City Consensus, Ad Hoc Group Against Crime and the Kansas City Spirit Festival. Gray is employed by Truman Medical Center as director of community relations and cultural affairs. Patricia A. Jordan, president of the Gem Theater Cultural and Performing Arts Center, Inc., was also appointed to the Ballet’s board of directors. Jordan, who has served as the Gem’s president since 1991, is credited with bringing together the vision and necessary resources to transform the historic 18th & Vine District into a vibrant cultural arts and entertainment center and urban residential hub. She serves as chairman of the board of Friends of the Vine and in advisory capacities for Friends of Alvin Ailey, the Kansas City Arena Expansion Arts Committee and the Gregg Community Center. Named one of Kansas City’s 100 most influential citizens , Jordan has participated in numerous initiatives to promote multi-cultural arts, education and urban revitalization during the past 15 years. Under Jordan’s leadership, the Gem Theater Cultural and Performing Arts Center has expanded its outreach and programming by presenting visual arts exhibitions featuring local African-American artists and is currently developing plans for a multi-cultural arts museum. Prior to working at the Gem, Jordan was director of marketing and public relations at Truman Medical Center. "I am extremely excited that I have been asked to serve on the Board of Directors of the Kansas City Ballet," Jordan says. "Jeff Bentley and I have talked on several occasions about working together in some capacity and, I believe this is a splendid beginning. It is such an exciting time for downtown Kansas City and I am pleased that the Ballet is playing a major role in its redevelopment. I look forward to assisting the Ballet, not only in broadening and diversifying its audience reach, but continuing its tradition of ensuring the integrity of its artistic mission."
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