Donna Marie Shea received her undergraduate degree in Art from Stockton University as she worked at Stockton’s Graphic Arts Department. Later, she continued to use her design and marketing skills as an owner and operator of Trimark Direct Mail Marketing Franchise. Eventually, her desire to give back to the community led her to pursue a Post-Baccalaureate Degree in Teaching and MS Degree in Special Ed. Currently, Donna Marie works for Atlantic City Schools as an LRC Special Education Teacher and holds several teaching certifications including art. She believes art is a valuable tool of expression, healing, and learning in both education and her community. As she volunteered for the Commission, Donna Marie has promoted many established and emerging artists with projects she has spearheaded that include the Traffic Box Design Project, murals, art shows at Garden Pier Art Gallery, and the Boardwalk Art Show.
Alma is a lifelong resident of Atlantic City where she volunteers helping sick and shut-ins. After 32 years of service and 22 years as Postmaster of Elwood, Alma retired from the USPS. After retirement, she served as Jury Aide for 15 years for Superior Court of NJ, President of Venice Park Civic Assn, and Camden Diocesan Gospel Choir. Currently, she is President of Seniors AC/BIC, serves on Camden Diocesan Housing Board Corp., a member SJ Golden Circle, Pages Two Book Club, and Lector and Extraordinary Minister at St. Monica Parish.
Dr. Williams is a Professor of Education at La Salle University. She teaches and conducts research on the effective middle level and secondary teaching. Her focus is on equity and social justice, ethical leadership, and interdisciplinary planning & teaching. Incorporation of the arts in teaching is essential for well-rounded student-centered learning & development. Professor Williams is the author of four books, a book chapter, and more than a dozen articles, and is an international keynote speaker. Her first book, “Educating Hearts and Minds,” became a Corwin Press ‘Best Seller.’ She is currently writing another book on ‘Constructivist Teaching Practices for Adolescents.’
Patricia retired from Verizon and has held positions at Spirit Airlines, Atlantic County Board of Elections, Revel Casino, and Contractor for Dept. of Defense. She volunteers for AARP during tax season and the First Ward Civic Assn. Patricia is a former board member of Grammercy Park Homeowners Assn.
Keturah graduated from Cheyney University (PA). At Fairleigh Dickinson University, and the State of New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Certified Public Manager Certificate (CPM) 2010; and retired from the City of Atlantic City as an Employee Assistance Counselor/Training Coordinator for 29 years. She owned and operated, Simply Elegant Catering, Inc. (1995-2001), and consulted for the Atlantic City Municipal Utilities Authority as an Employee Assistance Professional (1987-2012). She was a Charter Member of the Atlantic City Tomorrow Regional Leadership Program in 1991, and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) Tourism District Advisory Commission (2011-2013). Currently, she is a Board member of the Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation, Inc., a member of the Links, Inc. Atlantic City(NJ) Chapter.
Kevin is a life long resident of Absecon Island where for many years, he worked at his family’s bike rental business. He is a graduate of Rider University, and after graduation began working with the Marriott Corporation. He now manages the Jersey Devil Surf Shop at Resorts International Casino and Hotel, and Gardners Basin, Atlantic City.
Michelle Tomko received a BFA from Kent State University. Following that she was a member of the apprentice company at the Actor Theatre of Louisville. Unfortunately, the majority of many of Michelle’s post-graduate roles included the line “fries with that?” Michelle has performed in Atlantic City’s Showboat in Tony and Tina’s Wedding and Finnegan’s Wake, and at Resorts in Michelle Tomko “I Won Nothing.” She had a radio show on Cruisin 92.1 WVLT in Vineland. She continues to play in any club that has good chicken fingers. Tomko’s comedy is a fervent blend of tomboy sensibilities, courtesy of the older brothers she grew up with in the Midwest, and the barrage of perimenopausal chaos the East Coast world has heaped upon her. She pulls her humor from everyday observations and classic stories of family, travel, pets, and adversity. With razor-sharp crowd work and improvisational skills to the rock-solid timing of a veteran performer, Michelle’s act is not to be missed!
Raymond Tyler is a life long resident of Atlantic City but has worked as an artist in various expressions around the nation. His visual art has hung in local banks and businesses. For 2 years Mr. Tyler owned and operated The Little Wellness Arts Gallery. He’s covered art and music for The Source, Essence, XXL, and various other magazines. Mr. Tyler also works as a mix DJ for special arts events, radio stations, and festivals. He was the first Black Columnist for The Atlantic City Weekly and currently pens The Art and Soul of Atlantic County column for Atlantic County Magazine. Mr. Tyler also produces the radio show The Light which is heard weekly in Philadelphia on FM 106.5 WPPM and on FM 91.7 WLFR in Atlantic City. He also curates The Arts And Music Networking events and this summer will curate a new magazine called The Arts and Music Journal.
Tyrone is a self-taught artist who lives and works in Atlantic City where he paints scenes depicting everyday lives of urban America. He creates narrative illustrations of families, people at houses of worship, and children at play that are expressive, impressionistic, alive with color and symbolism. He illustrated the book cover “The Northside: African Americans and the Creation of Atlantic City,” a book about Atlantic City and its past by Honorable Judge Nelson Johnson, whose first book “Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City,” became an HBO series and New York Times bestseller. Tyrone has exhibited at galleries on the East Coast, Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware. His murals and facades adorn buildings in Atlantic City, Casinos, and Public buildings around NJ.