Eric Pickar, President
Partner, Bangs McCullen Law Firm
Eric Pickar received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from South Dakota State University, graduating with high honors in 2000. In 2003, he graduated from the University of South Dakota School of Law. While attending law school, Eric was a published editor of the South Dakota Law Review, a member of the USD School of Law Trial Team, and also a teacher for the USD English Department. Additionally, he served as an editor for Moot Court, as President of the Delta Theta Phi Law fraternity, and as a member of the School of Law Disciplinary Board. Eric joined Bangs McCullen immediately after graduating from the USD School of Law. Eric is a member of the Pennington County Bar Association, the South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association, the American Association of Justice, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the American Bar Association. His practice primarily focuses on criminal defense, family law, antitrust and civil litigation.
Jana Smoot White, Vice President
Jana Smoot White is currently the Associate General Counsel for Black Hills Energy. Previously she has been a partner at Gunderson, Palmer, Nelson and Ashmore, as well as spending ten years practicing law in Lexington, Kentucky. She serves as president of the Children’s Hemiplegia and Stroke Association and president of the HOPE Center. Jana has recently become involved in the arts through the activities of her daughters, Evie and Delaney. She feels PACRC is central to the amazing arts opportunities in our community and eager to help it grow and continue.
Stephanie Helms, Secretary
Stephanie Helms has worked in non-profit management and fundraising for nearly 20 years. She moved to the Black Hills in 2018 to work as the Director of Philanthropy for the Mount Rushmore Society. Her professional experience has ranged from supporting higher education and hospital systems to arts organizations and parks. As the first Director of the National Opera Center in New York City, she is personally familiar with and passionate about the need for a community to have an excellent space for performing arts organizations to rehearse and perform. She is a firm believer in the importance of a thriving arts scene to a community and holds fast to this quote from one of her mentors, “The arts cannot quantify in numbers the years of our lives, but they can transform and illuminate the life in those years.”
Pete Cappa, Treasurer
(Photo coming soon…) Peter Cappa holds degrees from Black Hills State and the Colorado State University, and enjoyed a 37 year career with Wells Fargo. He has served on boards for the United Way, Black Hills Works, and is a member of Black Hills Community Theatre’s finance & budget committee. Peter believes that arts are essential to a community’s quality of life and that the Performing Arts Center of Rapid City “provides a wonderful space” for arts programming.
Michael D. Birkeland
Bio & photo coming soon
Jade Clement
Bio & photo coming soon
Sequoia Crosswhite
CMO rep for Black Hills Symphony Orchestra
Sequoia was born and raised in Rapid City and despite ventures to Arizona and New York, has always considered Rapid his home. For the last fourteen years, Sequoia has served as the Cultural Relations Advisor for Black Hills Children’s Home. He is also a professional musician and has been presenting cultural events in the US and Europe since the age of eighteen. Recently married, Sequoia is a father of three and hopes to be a voice for BHSO and the surrounding community during his time with the Performing Arts Center.
Bill Evans
(Bio coming soon…) Rapid City Alderman, Ward 2
Ellery Grey
(Bio & photo coming soon)
Dr. Kay Kelts
Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Dr. Kelts moved to her husband’s hometown of Rapid City in 2020. Kay attended St. Olaf College in Minnesota and was a part of the inaugural class of Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She currently practices family medicine at Rapid City Medical Center, as well as lecturing medical students from Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine. She previously was the Associate Program Director of the family medicine residency program at Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira New York. She has also made multiple medical missions to Guatemala, Honduras, and Peru. Kay has one son and one daughter, who performs on the PACRC stage as a member of Barefoot Dance.
Justin Klapperich
Justin has lived in Rapid City and worked for Black Hills Energy since 2008. After graduating from The University of South Dakota in 2006, he worked with Deloitte & Touche Accounting Firm in Minneapolis. Justin and his wife Laura have three boys, who have attended theatre camps at the PACRC. The entire family enjoys and supports music, theatre, and the arts and Justin believes in the importance of maintaining PACRC facilities for the betterment of the entire community.
Gerritt Scheeprs
Dr. Gerrit Scheepers serves as Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choirs at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology; one of the top engineering universities in the United States. Scheepers completed a Bachelor of Music degree at UP. He earned a Master of Music degree from Missouri State University, where he studied choral conducting with Cameron LaBarr, and completed a doctorate from the University of Washington in choral conducting, where he studied under Geoffrey Boers and Giselle Wyers. Prior to his appointment at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology he served as Director of Choral Studies at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the University of Cape Town South Africa. While at IUP he served as assistant professor on the music faculty where he conducted the flagship ensemble the IUP Chorale. He has also taught undergraduate and graduate conducting, choral literature, and class voice. Gerrit has worked as guest conductor and clinician for various high schools and festivals across the United States, Europe, and South Africa. Upcoming engagements include guest conducting honor choirs in the states of Missouri and South Dakota, as well as conference presentations in the states of Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
Kate Woten
Bio & photo coming soon
Minutes of the Board of Performing Arts Center of Rapid City, Inc.
2020/2021
July 2020 Annual Meeting Minutes; PACRC Minutes 07.16.20; PACRC Minutes 08.20.20; PACRC Minutes 09.17.20; PACRC Minutes 10.01.20; PACRC Minutes 10.08.20; PACRC 10.15.21; PACRC Special Meeting Minutes 10.22.21; PACRC Minutes 12.17.20; PACRC Minutes 1.21.21; PACRC Minutes 02.18.21;
2019/2020
PACRC Minutes 07.19.19; PACRC Minutes 08.15.19; PACRC Minutes 09.19.19; PACRC Minutes 10.31.19; PACRC Minutes 11.21.19; PACRC Minutes 12.19.19 minutes; PACRC Minutes 01.16.20; PACRC Minutes 02.20.20; PACRC Minutes 04.03.20; PACRC Minutes 04.09.20; PACRC Minutes 04.23.20; PACRC Minutes 05.21.20; PACRC Minutes 06.18.20;
2018/2019
PACRC Annual Meeting Minutes 7-19-18; PACRC Board Meeting Minutes 7-19-18; PACRC Board Meeting Minutes 8-16-18; PACRC Board Meeting Minutes 9-20-18; PACRC Board Meeting Minutes 10-18-18; PACRC Board Meeting Minutes 11-15-18; PACRC Board Meeting Minutes 12-20-18; PACRC Board Meeting Minutes 01-17-19; PACRC Board Meeting Minutes 02-21-2019; PACRC Board Meeting Minutes 03-28-2019; PACRC Board Meeting Minutes 04-18-2019; PACRC Board Meeting Minutes 05-16-2019; PACRC Board Meeting Minutes 06-20-2019;
2017/2018
PACRC Annual Mtg Minutes 07-19-17; PACRC Minutes 7-19-17 ; PACRC Minutes 8-23-17; PACRC Minutes 09-20-17; PACRC Minutes 10-18-17; PACRC Minutes 11-15-17; PACRC Minutes 12-20-17; PACRC Minutes 01-18-18; PACRC Minutes 02-15-18; PACRC Minutes 03-22-18; PACRC Minutes 04-19-18; PACRC Minutes 05-17-18; PACRC Minutes 06-21-18
The Board meets every third Thursday at 8am. Meetings are open to the public.
Currently all meetings are occurring over Zoom – if you’d like a copy of the Zoom link please contact info@performingartsrc.org.