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BOARD OF DIRECTORS BIO’S

 Meet Terri Orth ~ Chair                                                                                                                                                                                   

Terri Orth is a Columbia Heights Minnesota native who retired to Lake City in 2019 with her husband, Art.  Her mom, Jean Kahla, was raised here, and Terri frequented Lake City as a child, visiting her grandparents.  Terri has an accounting degree from the U of M - Minneapolis and tempers her business side by regularly exercising her creative side through photography and poetry and trying new things.  Coming from an industrious and artistic family, Terri enjoys all forms of art and sees the art community thriving in Lake City and the surrounding communities.  Terri most enjoys time with family and friends. Additionally, she enjoys baking, boating, gardening, and spending time in nature.  Terri also enjoys being a member of the Shops of Lake City, the Woman's Club of Lake City, and the Lake City Photography Club. 

Favorite Food: - Pecan Crusted Sea Bass ~ Favorite Dance Song: Devil with a Blue Dress On -Mitch Ryder

Meet Mike Zmuda ~ Treasurer

Mike Zmuda is a Blaine Minnesota native who moved to Lake City in 2020. He is a Civil Engineer by trade (he earned his Bachelor of Science in 1990 from North Dakota State University) and is currently working remotely for a boutique engineering firm in Lowertown St. Paul. As a former art gallery owner in Kansas City (near the Hallmark Crown Center) he understands rich experiences can happen when a greater arts community thrives. Mike was also a high school recipient of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award and has a great appreciation for the musical arts as well. Mike is married with (3) children and (3) grandchildren; in his free time, he enjoys a great cigar with a dark beer. He also enjoys traveling with his wife Lisa to visit family across the country.

Favorite Food: Mom's Italian Spaghetti & Meatballs ~ Favorite Dance Song: Let’s Go Crazy! -Prince

Meet Bonnie Bakkum ~ Vice Chair, Interim Secretary

Bonnie grew up as the youngest of 11 children, on a dairy cattle and tobacco farm in “Packer Country” Wisconsin. She was the first woman to graduate with a degree in Construction Management from U of W in Platteville; she also had architectural training from UW-Milwaukee and the U of M. During her career, Bonnie worked in the construction industry, and on her way to retire became a Master Certified coach. Bonnie founded and facilitated a group called KAT (Keeping Active in Transition) which served the unemployed and underemployed. For years, she passed through Lake City and fell in love with its natural beauty, and in 2019 she made it her permanent home. Bonnie spends time as Mom to 2 beautiful cats, Luna and Kismet, and her partner’s dog, Sky. Bonnie enjoys walking and hiking with friends, she is also an experienced speaker, a fledgling artist and enthusiastic writer.

Favorite Food: A perfectly done Cheese Curd ~ Favorite Dance Song: Precious and Few -Climax

Meet Arthur H. Orth

Born to Norwegian immigrants from Hell (Minnesota), Art grew up in and graduated from high school in Hastings MN. In his words, “It took me 48 years to float the 40 miles downriver to lovely Lake City.” Art married Terri and began living their real-life rendition of the Brady Bunch with 6 kids (3 boys and 3 girls), their own versions of Greg, Marsha, Peter, Jan, Bobby, and Cindy. He retired from teaching Computer Architecture at Metro State University to move to a wonderful neighborhood in Lake City with some amazing neighbors in 2019 . The power of creativity driven by the inspiration of the imagination is why Art dabbles in Silversmithing, Stained Glass, Poetry, Woodworking, and why he volunteers his time to help the Lake City Area Arts carry on into its 2nd decade.

Favorite Food: Lasagna Favorite ~ Dance Song: Shout! -Isley Brothers

Meet Jim Rahm

Jim Rahm is a retired octogenarian, and with his wife Sue, moved back to Lake City in 2012 to be close to their children and grandchildren. His working life included 8 years in Research and Development, and 33 years in Sales and Marketing. Jim also spent many years as a member and volunteer with the Frontenac State Park Association, of which, several years he served as president. During his tenure he earned Volunteer Master Naturalist status through U of M Extension and was honored to be the Master of Ceremonies for the 50th anniversary celebration of the parks founding. He is a writer and storyteller with great appreciation for most artists and artforms. Some of Jim’s strengths are being able to look at the big picture, and engaging people in meaningful dialogue, he considers himself a lifelong student.

Favorite food: Ahi tuna, lightly seared ~ Favorite dance song: -Blue Skirt Waltz

Meet Kathy Romero

Kathy Romero grew up on a dairy farm near Sparta Wisconsin and has a BS in Public Administration from Upper Iowa University. Kathy is married to Rick and they have 2 kids and 6 grandkids. Kathy worked most of her career for the Army and Department of Agriculture in IT, Project Management and Strategic Planning. She also has extensive experience in event planning and communications. She retired from the federal government in 2015 and wrote a book called ‘Planning for the Rest of Us: A Step-by-step Guide to Implementing your Ideas in the Workplace’. They moved to Lake City in Dec 2023 to be closer to grandchildren. Kathy loves all art forms but her favorite is theatre and dance. 

Favorite Food: Ribeye steak ~ Favorite Dance song: -Cake by the Ocean by DNCE. 

Meet Don Schwartz

Don Schwartz was born and raised in Lake City. He earned a BA in history at the University of Minnesota and worked for Blue Cross/Blue Shield for many years.  He married Alice in 1979, and they have a son, Brian. They’re both interested in historic preservation, so, after moving back in 2004, they helped restore a Lake City home which is on the National Historic Registry.  Don served as a member of the Lake City Heritage Preservation Commission for 3 terms, and he’s a current member of the Lake City Historical Society. Don loves music and he plays the classical guitar; and in his free time, he also likes to hike, bike, play tennis and go out dancing with his wife, Alice.

Favorite Food: Apple Crisp ~ Favorite Dance Song: Some Enchanted Evening -Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II

Meet Karen Smith

Karen grew up in North Dakota on a family grain farm. She attended Concordia College, Moorhead MN earning a degree in Home Economics Education and a Master of Arts from the U of M, Twin Cities. Karen taught Family and Consumer Science for 36 years and during her career, led a student group that established a large outdoor school garden. Karen and her husband were drawn to Lake Cities’ natural beauty and moved here in 2022. She is an animal lover who enjoys hiking, spending time with friends, trying new recipes, entertaining, and traveling. Karen is a John Denver fan and has attended several of his concerts. She appreciates all forms of art, especially textile art, pottery, and the culinary arts. Karen is excited about the future of LCAA and is looking forward to collaborating with the community to continue to bring a diverse mixture of art experiences here.

Favorite Food: Browned Butter Gnocchi with Scallops ~ Favorite Dance Song: That’s What Friends Are  -Dionne Warwick

Meet Lisa Zmuda                                                                                                                                                

Lisa Zmuda is a Blaine Minnesota native who moved to Lake City in 2020. She fell in love with Lake City when visiting the shore of Lake Pepin on Mother’s Day, 1992. She is a Realtor, Business Coach and Artist that brings to the board more than 25 years of sales and marketing experience with a niche in strategic focus planning. She enjoys digital design, blogging, podcasting, networking and website development. Lisa is passionate about the arts and earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1992, at the boutique College of Visual Arts [CVA] located in St. Paul where she majored in Graphic/Advertising Design and minored in Illustration. Lisa is married to her best friend and is Mom to (3) children and Nana to (3) grandchildren; in her free time, Lisa enjoys writing, painting, gardening, thrifting, exploring and spending time with friends and family from MN to Michigan and Pennsylvania! 

Favorite Food: GG's Polish Galumpki's ~ Favorite Dance Song: It's All for You -Janet Jackson

The LCAA Board meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month.