Meet the Team
Jennifer Conley Darling
Executive Director
Jennifer Conley Darling is native Marshallite. She lived in New York City for 23 years, working in event management and non-profit arts management. She is the President of Darling & Company, through which she serves as the Producing Director at The Franke Center for the Arts and the Executive Director of Eastend Studio & Gallery. She is also the Managing Director for the Marshall’s Youngish Professionals Committee. All of these projects and clients speak to Jennifer’s passion for mentoring youth, for sharing our stories with each other, and for creating new opportunities to express ourselves through all forms of art.
Cathy Bovitz
Project Manager
Cathy Bovitz has a B.A. from the University of Michigan - Dearborn. She has work experience in several areas, including as a manager in corporate marketing, substitute teacher, and as a legal assistant. Utilizing this diverse background, she now enjoys working as a contracted event and project manager, primarily with arts organizations. As part of the Darling & Company team, her clients include Eastend, the Franke Center, and the Marshall Youngish Professional Committee. She is also the Internship Coordinator at the Battle Creek Area Math & Science Center.
Kat Whaley
Program Director
​Kat has a degree in Visual Communication from Ashland University. She grew up in Ohio, but has lived in Michigan since 2004. She taught art in public schools for nearly 30 years and has been with Eastend since 2015. Kat also has experience as a program coordinator and an event planner. An artist herself, Kat creates art in many different mediums including felt, colored pencil, watercolor, and sculpture. Kat is outgoing and a great organizer. This along with her enthusiasm and love of art are an asset to Eastend.
Erica Isham
Gallery Manager
Erica has a degree in Visual Art and English education from MSU and spent 30 years as an art teacher before transitioning to gallery management. A longtime resident of Marshall, she has a deep appreciation for the local art community. Erica enjoys working with pencil, watercolor, mixed media, and papercraft and is always exploring new creative endeavors. Her knowledgeable, friendly, and easygoing nature makes her a welcoming presence in the gallery, where she enjoys connecting with artists and visitors alike.
Cindy Souders
Marketing Manager
Cindy retired in 2023 and has been making art full-time until joining Eastend Studio and Gallery. Her grandchildren are here in Marshall and keep her fairly occupied when she is not making art or designing social media posts for Eastend. She is excited to move to Marshall (from Vermontville) and will then be regularly participating in all of the creative events that Eastend hosts.
Betty Perkins
Ceramics Instructor
Betty Perkins has lived in the Marshall/Olivet area most of her life. She has spent the last twenty years teaching pottery in a variety of settings to people of all ages, including The Battle Creek Art Center and at an art therapy program for veterans. She recently retired from the Special Education department at Olivet Community Schools. She has been with Eastend Studio & Gallery since 2021 and teaches all our ceramics classes. She is looking forward to teaching adult classes in some other media such as mosaics. She enjoys teaching as well as learning a variety of new techniques. Her cheerful, creative, and easy-going personality makes her classes fun and relaxing. She invites you to come “play in the mud” and discover new ways to be creative.
Meagan Wildt
Educator
Meagan has a degree in Graphic Design from Kellogg Community college. Born and raised in Homer, she transplanted to Marshall nearly ten years ago and is proud to call this town her home. A love for art and community brought her to Eastend as an assistant teacher five years ago. Currently she serves as the Educator for Heritage Commons Senior Enrichment Center and the Student Resilience and Empowerment Center in addition to other classes held at Eastend.
Aimee Coury
Gallery Associate
Aimee grew up in Marshall, studied in California, traveled the world, married her man, then came back to raise her three children and spend time with family. In her mind, however, she is still in Ireland. She is a multitalented woman whose passions encompass photography, herbalism, holiday home design and a deep love of Mother Nature’s creations – and when the art of laughter is formally recognized, Aimee will undoubtedly be teaching a master class. At Eastend, she thrives as a collaborative team member, contributing her diverse talents to enrich our gallery, our team and our community.
Not Pictured:
Alissa Denning, Gallery Associate
Darlene Henderson, Gallery Associate
Board of Directors
Chairman of the Board
Derek Allen
Vice Chair
Kathleen Lambrix
Treasurer
John Walton
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Secretary
Blake Bambach
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Directors
Katy Devine
Michael Dixon
Jay Larson
Scott Wolfersberger