Tamar Hendel, MA, ATR-BC, LPC is a teacher, artist, art therapist and founder/Executive Director for CREATE Arts Center, a private non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. She founded CREATE Arts Center in 1986 to offer a full spectrum of arts activities to the residents of the greater DC area, including arts education, recreation and therapy. With over 25 years of experience, and as a Holocaust survivor herself, Tamar provides vivid and expressive techniques to teach children and adults art skills that enhance cognitive, behavioral, and emotional expression. Tamar lives in Washington DC and has 4 grown children.

Heena Genti is a teacher, art therapist and managing director for CREATE Arts Center. As managing director, Heena oversees the day-to-day activities at CREATE. She started at CREATE as a volunteer in 2004 after earning her MA in Art Therapy from GWU. Her favorite class to teach is Family Art for 2 and 3 year-olds and their caregivers . She gets excited when she can help students understand and implement a new technique or skill. She has also found her work with autistic children and teenagers to be very rewarding. She has always expressed herself with art and feels CREATE is the perfect fit for her varied talents.

Julie Lloyd is a recent staff member of CREATE Arts Center, joining in January 2008. She is new to the area and is a recent art therapy graduate from Wayne State University. She is looking forward to getting involved in the arts field and is excited to bring her experience in the arts to CREATE. Julie lives in Bowie and also works as an Activities Director at Charter House here in Silver Spring.

Sally Brucker is an veteran artist, art therapist and expressive arts therapist with over 30 years experience teaching and leading art groups. Her experience is national and international. She is a licensed psychotherapist and consultant.

Mary Switalski earned her BA in English and Creative Writing from the University of Michigan, and her MFA from American University. She taught youth and adult art classes for four years at the Ann Arbor Art Center in Ann Arbor, MI, and for two years at VisArts (formerly Rockville Arts Place) in Rockville, MD. This is her third summer teaching at Create. She likes teaching international folks arts projects best because they provide potentially new ways to relate to both art and people from all over the world. She finds inspiration in the diverse ways people make sense of their experience through color and design, creativity and technique.

Tamar Hendel, MA, ATR-BC, LPC is a teacher, artist, art therapist and founder/Executive Director for CREATE Arts Center, a private non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. She founded CREATE Arts Center in 1986 to offer a full spectrum of arts activities to the residents of the greater DC area, including arts education, recreation and therapy. With over 25 years of experience, and as a Holocaust survivor herself, Tamar provides vivid and expressive techniques to teach children and adults art skills that enhance cognitive, behavioral, and emotional expression. Tamar lives in Washington DC and has 4 grown children.

Beth Allaben, JD lives in nearby Shepherd Park, DC and is an attorney and mother of two preteen children. Beth became a CREATE volunteer in 2004 and now serves as a Board Treasurer. After 19 years working on the food stamp and school lunch programs, Beth shifted from lawyer to community activist. In addition to serving on CREATE's board, Beth manages a community email group and edits a newsletter for the 1500 families in her neighborhood. Her past experience has helped her work as CREATE's treasurer and before that, as treasurer of a local cooperative preschool.

Tara B. Brummell, MBA joined CREATE's Board of Directors in 2005. Tara is committed to strengthening CREATE's marketing and business development efforts in the greater Silver Spring community. In this regard, Tara draws upon her experience of almost 9 years in the banking industry, currently as Vice President and Relationship Manager of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation's wealth management group in Bethesda, MD. In this role, she applies her specialized experience in customizing liability management capabilities for high net worth individuals and families in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Tara lives in Howard County, MD with her husband and young toddler.

Kay Marten started volunteering with CREATE in 2001 and soon after joined the Board. Having been a homeowner in Takoma, DC for 17 years, she is committed to living in a multi-cultural community and helping community efforts supporting the arts. Kay is trained as an applied anthropologist and she began her work in education in an elementary school art room. She recently returned from 12 years in Kenya where she was the director of the program for an American university. She also managed a program for a non-profit American volunteer service group. Kay has focused her efforts at CREATE on writing grants and now manages an after school arts program for at-risk youth. Kay is an artist and mother of two children.

Laura McGrew joined CREATE's Board in December 2007, bringing expertise and experience in nonprofit marketing and fundraising organization. A strong believer in the arts and arts education, Laura dabbles in mosaic art or fused glass art whenever possible. She wants to help CREATE expand its market research and grant writing capabilities with the goal of being able to eventually improve the array of classes offered and CREATE's physical classroom space. The Vice President of a local nonprofit Board of Directors, Laura is married and lives in Bethesda with her husband and son, a high school freshman. Laura's daughter is currently a freshman at Carleton College in Minnesota.

Linda Nemec, MBA, a resident of Silver Spring, has recruited a number of students to help fill classes at CREATE. Her daughter, now in high school, has taken art classes at the center since 1997. Linda is committed to helping young people explore their artistic talents and use their creativity inside and outside of school. She is Vice President for Marketing and Business Development for TATC Consulting in Bethesda, MD. She has held several marketing and business development positions in companies and non-profit organizations engaged in international business and consulting. She has prior board experience with the Montgomery County Childcare Association and experience in writing proposals.

Jackie Pliskin, MED joined CREATE's Board of Directors in 2006. As a resident of Silver Spring, she is committed to enhancing the arts and arts education in her community, and strengthening CREATE's ability to provide these important services. Jackie was the Executive Director of DC LEARNs, a coalition of children's and adult literacy organizations in Metropolitan DC (serving low-income and immigrant populations); she also spent many years directing volunteer reading and storytelling programs in DC and Montgomery County public schools; has developed arts education programs in collaboration with museums and arts education organizations; and taught English in middle and high schools. Jackie is a clay artist and the mother of three young children.

Rebecca Ravenal is a recent member of CREATE’s Board, joining in 2008. She is a studio potter and teaches ceramics and mosaics to middle school students. Rebecca has been active in the DC arts community for many years, first as an art student, then director of a gallery featuring fine American handcrafts, and now a studio artist and teacher. She is excited to bring her experience in the arts and her previous board experience in arts and education organizations to CREATE. Rebecca lives in Bethesda and has two young children.

Erica Weiss, MPH, MSUP joined CREATE's Board in July 2006, bringing expertise in social marketing, partnerships, and fundraising. Erica is an avid supporter of the arts and arts education for children, and is personally involved with ceramic art. She hopes to help CREATE develop a strong financial base, expand outreach, and provide a higher standard for arts education in Silver Spring and surrounding areas. She draws upon past experience as the Director of Education for a National non-profit cancer support organization and through her work in public relations for private and government agencies. She lives in Silver Spring and has two young children.