Barbara Kratchman, President, has a long history of involvement in Michigan’s arts and cultural community. She served as executive director of the Michigan Council for the Arts from 1985-91, following several years in the Michigan Department of Commerce. Kratchman was vice president of nonprofit services at the advertising agency of Stone, August, Baker prior to joining ArtServe as president in 1997. A University of Michigan graduate, Kratchman began her career as an aide to U.S. Senator Jacob Javitz of New York and has remained politically active. She has served on the boards of several organizations including Arts Midwest, Non-Profit Forum and Concerned Citizens for the Arts in Michigan. Her board affiliations also include Michigan Women’s Foundation, Jewish Community Center and Alma College.

Lisa M. Sowa, Director of Development, joined ArtServe with nearly two decades of experience working in non-profit management, fundraising and special events coordination. Her educational background includes holding one undergraduate and two graduate degrees in the areas of social sciences.  Sowa spent eight years living and working in Chicago, and has held positions with the Cook County Department of Public Health and Midwestern University Medical School.  After several years with a local marketing research firm, Sowa’s main motivation for redirecting her career back to the non-profit sector, concentrated on her love of the arts and a desire to contribute to the support efforts for arts and culture in the State of Michigan.

Drew Buchholz, Director, Advocacy, prior to joining ArtServe Michigan, Drew worked for the Civics Institute as the Project Director for the Michigan House Civics Commission initiative.  As the Project Director, Drew created and managed a bipartisan ad hoc committee of 22 state representatives to establish a communication pipeline between students and state lawmakers.  Drew was instrumental in the building and strengthening of the MHCC from a few teachers and schools to a flourishing premier civic education initiative.  Before working for MHCC, Drew was a Legislative Assistant for State Representative Bill McConico.  During Drew's tenure in Lansing he gained vast experience working with the legislative process and has maintainted relationships with many Representatives and their staff.  Drew holds a B.A. in Political Science and Interdisciplinary Studies-Law and Society from Michigan State University.

Donna Edwards, Director, Education Initiatives, came to ArtServe from the Ferndale Public Schools, where she has worked as a substitute art teacher since 1998. Much of her prior career was spent as an officer in marketing and public affairs for the U.S. Air Force and the Defense Department. Among other accomplishments, Edwards revitalized an Air Force program that places artists and art on military bases and in the surrounding communities, including schools. A Detroit resident, Edwards holds a BFA in Graphic Design from Wayne State University with some graduate studies at Virginia Tech. She has also studied weaving at the college level.

Kim Dabbs, Director, Service Programs: Before joining ArtServe Michigan, Kim Dabbs worked as the corporation and foundation relations coordinator for the Detroit Zoological Society as part of the development department. Prior to the Detroit Zoological Society, she worked for the Grand Rapids-based Community Media Center, which houses GRTV television, WYCE radio station, Grand Net an internet service provider and the Grand Rapids Institute Information Democracy (GRIID).

Kim has a BS in Art History from Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids and is working on an MPA in Non-Profit Management at the University of Michigan, Dearborn.