“My first significant experience with the Arts Center was in 1995 when I won Best of Show, with a $1500 cash award. The juror for the show was then Curator of Exhibitions at the Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland, Christoph Gerozissis, and my connection with him later resulted in a one person in 1999 at the Polk Museum, and being included into their permanent collection. “A couple of years later, in 1997, the Arts Center hired Evelyn Craft as their Executive Director. Evelyn immediately offered me her support and her friendship, and she became a significant collector of mine and paved the way for my next TWO one person shows with the Morean, one in 2000 and a second one in 2004. In 2012, the Curator of Exhibitions, Amanda Cooper, and I co-curated a significant show of 9 national encaustic artists. “I’m grateful for all that the Morean has done for me, and I’m pleased to now be in position to give back to the Morean financially and through my service on the Board of Trustees.”