BOARD & STAFF
Girls Rock MKE board members are dedicated volunteers who contribute to the development of the organization and the advancement of its mission to empower marginalized identities through music education and performance. The board of directors is comprised of voices from diverse backgrounds and talents who are comfortable promoting spaces that center around music and the experiences of marginalized folks in the music industry.
The organization was run entirely by committed volunteers from 2012 to 2019, when we were able to hire three part-time seasonal staff members as a result of the community’s support. In 2022, we formalized these staff roles and hired three part-time year-round directors. Staff oversees all organizational operations and puts invaluable time into the development of our programming.
Tammy Schleicher
Board President
Fundraising
Simone Gaspar
Board Vice President
Fundraising
Amy Hall
Board Treasurer
Finance, Fundraising
Hannah Pardee
Board Secretary
Governance, Marketing, Programming
April Heding
Board Member
Fundraising
Betty Allen
Board Member
Governance, Programming
Cassidy Skorija
Board Member
Fundraising
D Kirschling
Board Member
Governance, Programming
Gaby Banuelos
Board Member
Marketing
LaTasha Hortman
Board Member
Governance
Sara Terrell
Board Member
Marketing, Programming
Mary Joy Hickey
Executive Director
INTERESTED IN GETTING MORE INVOLVED?
The 2017-18 board at Palomino Bar for the Sept. 2018 meeting.
Board members are asked to directly contribute to the growth of Girls Rock MKE annually by way of monetary or in-kind donations as well as volunteer hours, including through assistance with fundraising efforts, programming, community outreach, legal and financial oversight, and in many additional ways.
If any of these areas are of interest to you, you are encouraged to join a working committee before making a two-year commitment to joining the board of directors! Current committees include: Finance, Fundraising, Governance, Marketing, and Programming. Contact us to learn more about joining a committee or becoming a board member. You can also check out our employment opportunities.
VALERI LUCKS, co-founder
Valeri (Val) has loved music since she was a little girl, secretly spinning country records on her dad’s record player. When she discovered garage bands and punk rock in her formative years, she fell for music even harder.
Val took formal piano lessons throughout childhood and is about to start learning to play the fiddle in the hopes that someday she can be in a honky tonk band. Growing up in Chicago, her parents always told her she could be anything she wanted to be. Val was raised to believe women were strong, smart, and could change the world!
Nowadays, Val runs the Pie, Inc. restaurant group, makes really good pie, rides her horse JJ, and goes on long road trips with her dog Jess. Val decided to start Girls Rock MKE because she believes music is one of the best ways for a girl to find out who she is and to share it with the world.
gIRLS ROCK MKE CO-FOUNDERS
“Music is one of the best ways for a girl to find out who she is and to share it with the world.”
ASHLEY SMITH, co-founder
Ashley grew up in a musical family. Her mother was always writing and singing original songs on the piano. With a little persuasion, her father will croon like the best of 'em. Ashley’s brother was always playing the drums, and now makes original beats while dreaming of being a producer. It's in the blood. When Ashley found the underground music scene in high school, everything changed. Music became her whole life. She has been seen as the singing frontwoman of some local bands and enjoys supporting Milwaukee's local music scene.
Nowadays, Ashley runs the cutest vintage shop in Bay View, Alive & Fine. She is actively involved in producing local artisan markets: Hover Craft and One Trick Pony. Ashley enjoys buying and selling vintage clothing, watching horror movies with her husband, and eating pizza. Ashley wanted to help organize Girls Rock MKE because there is nothing more powerful than music and nothing more inspiring than girls playing it!
Questions? Contact us!