Meet the Greenwood Fine Arts Academy Team
Gwen Martin
President & Executive Director
Gwen Martin is a parent and an advocate for primary and secondary education. She is a graduate of Baylor University and works for Accenture, PLC. She and her husband, Chad, moved their family to Greenwood from the Austin, Texas, area in 2022. Together they have 2 daughters who currently attend Greenwood Public Schools. Gwen has been a fan of the theatre her entire life and is blessed to have one of her daughters share her interest. Through that interest, and the need to bring additional fine arts opportunities to the Greenwood area, she established the Greenwood Fine Arts Academy, a nonprofit organization, in 2022.
Arron McAllister
Vice President
Arron McAllister is a lifelong musician and arts advocate dedicated to sharing his passion through education, performance, and ministry. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education from UAFS in 2022 as well as a certification from the Piano Technicians Academy, and now serves as a worship pastor at Grace Community Church. He also teaches private lessons alongside his wife, Rebekah. A 2018 graduate of Greenwood High School, and an alumni of the Young Actors Guild of Fort Smith, he performed leading roles in productions such as Beauty and the Beast (“The Beast”) and The Little Mermaid (“Sebastian”). While in college, he earned multiple first- and second-place awards at state and regional NATS competitions and was selected to compete in the international American Traditions Vocal Competition in Savannah, Georgia.
Outside of work, Arron and Rebekah run their in-home floral business, Nola Faye Florals, and enjoy raising their daughter, Magnolia. He looks forward to being a part of GFAA and the amazing ways it is blessing the children and community it serves!
Staff
Bob Hughart
Senior Producer
Bob recieved his theatrical training at the University Of Arkansas in Fayetteville. While a student, he won the Theatre Department Award for Best Actor. He has both performed in or directed numerous productions. He has appeared in four productions with the Fort Smith Symphony including the roles of Tevye in Fiddler On The Roof and Fagin in Oliver! He is a past member of the Board Of Directors of the Fort Smith Little Theatre and the Broadway Theatre League.
Bob has won both acting and directing awards for Arkansas Theatre Festival and Regional Theatre Festival. He has adapted a number of works for Reader’s Theatre including Truman Capote’s Handcarved Coffins. He has remained active in theatre though the years and his last onstage performance was in August: Osage County for the University Of Arkansas Fort Smith. Bob is delighted to be working with Greenwood students who are “dedicated and remarkably talented, they are an absolute joy! My hope is that they come to love the theatre as I have.” Bob is a graduate of Greenwood High School.
Rebekah Nickell
Musical Director
Rebekah Nickell is married to Stephen Nickell and mother of 4 girls. She has lived in Greenwood since 2013. Rebekah has experience with local Improv group Naturally Improvable and has been a part of the Fort Smith community theater since 2022 where she has been cast in several productions including “Cinderella”, “A Christmas Carol” and “Hello, Dolly!”. She is excited to work with the talented children of Greenwood through GFAA and feels blessed to participate in keeping the art of theater alive and well.
Shawn English
Theatrical Director
Shawn English’s interest in theatre began at 10 years old when his loving Granny enrolled him in a summer camp. From there, he continued acting throughout high school and earned his B.A. in Theatre Arts from Texas Tech University. In 2013, he earned a master’s degree in Education from Arkansas Tech University. As an adult he has performed in various productions through the Arts Center of the Ozarks in Springdale (The Unexpected Guest), the Fort Smith Little Theater (Rehearsal for Murder and War of the Worlds), and Lavaca Community Theater (Switching Principals). Now, he teaches literacy at East Hills Middle School, and enjoys spending time with his wife Charleigh, who teaches science at GHS, and three boys: Austin, Jackson, and Weston.
Officers
Kacee Brown
Secretary
Kacee Brown is an homeschool teacher, wife and mother of four kids. Her husband and she own Brownstone Development Group and build gorgeous custom homes. Kacee is excited to serve as secretary for the Greenwood Fine Arts Association. Her daughter, LilyAnn, is currently active in GFAA. Kacee loves being part of the growth and improvement of our small town of Greenwood.
Leah Williams
Treasurer
Leah Williams is proud to serve as Treasurer for the Greenwood Fine Arts Academy where she combines her professional experience in finance and business intelligence with her passion for the arts. She is committed to maintaining financial stability and transparency so the academy can continue to inspire creativity and confidence in students of all ages.
She has three children, two of whom have a love for theater. Seeing the impact the arts has had in her children motivates her to ensure these opportunities remain accessible to the community. The arts have the power to transform lives and she’s happy to be a small part of it!
Board of Directors
Robin Cohea
Board Member
Robin Cohea has been an active member in the Greenwood community since 1989. She and her husband, Mike, have three boys who all attended Greenwood public schools. For 27 consecutive years, they had a student at one of the Greenwood schools. Robin is thankful for the high standard of education they received and is glad to have her grandchildren continue at Greenwood public schools now. She is interested in seeing the fine arts opportunities in Greenwood grow for her elementary-age granddaughters.
Jennifer Golden
Board Member
Jennifer Golden grew up in Rockwall, Texas, and is a 1996 graduate of Rockwall High School. She played volleyball for Henderson State University and graduated with a BSE in May of 2001. Jennifer has been teaching special education and coaching volleyball at Greenwood High School since August 2001. She is married to Tim Golden, who teaches 8th grade at Greenwood Junior High. Together, they have three children who all attend Greenwood Public Schools. Riley is in 12th grade at GHS, Hudson is in 6th grade at East Hills, and Harper is in 4th grade at East Pointe.
Megan Park Grimm
Board Member
Megan Park Grimm is the owner and artistic director of Chance 2 Dance Studio in Alma, Greenwood, and Van Buren. Megan has a dance career that spans over 30 years. In high school, Megan danced for the Van Buren Pointer Prancer dance team and was captain her senior year. In college, Megan was a dancer for the University of Arkansas Pom Squad for four years (RBI Girl for one year), where she graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering. Megan’s mission is to give everyone the chance to dance and to provide a safe environment for kids in our community to express themselves. She serves on the Center for Arts and Education Board of Directors, Young Actors Guild Board of Directors, Van Buren Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and now the Greenwood Fine Arts Academy Board of Directors. Megan loves spending time with her husband Kyle and her stepsons Drake and Landon, traveling and enjoying the outdoors.
Phil Votaw
Board Member
Phil Votaw has been a Greenwood resident since 2004. His daughters, Alexa Votaw and Paige Votaw were both graduates of Greenwood High School. Phil grew up as the son of a high school band director, and was an active band member from 7th grade on through graduation. He has enjoyed Broadway Productions in NYC and other venues around the country his entire adult life. Phil is the owner of the Law Firm of Phil Votaw & Associates in Fort Smith.