Board of Directors
President: Jessica Pappas
Pappas Consulting Group, LLC.​
Jessica Pappas currently serves as Board Chair for Matrix Theatre Company. She has a real passion for helping to provide a safe space and programming for youth and young adults in the community. Jessica was drawn to Matrix after learning about all the programs and services that were available to the community. Ms. Pappas has served on the Matrix Board for 8 years. In that time she has seen firsthand how the programs have impacted people of all ages in the Southwest neighborhood and surrounding communities.
Jessica Pappas is president of Pappas Consulting Group, a Michigan-based consulting firm that specializes in assisting non-profit and mission based organizations with developing safe spaces for their programs and services. Ms. Pappas works with organization to assess readiness and help with the growth of housing developments, office spaces, along with developments that hold programs and services offered by organizations. In addition, Jessica provides marketing and public relations consulting to both non-profit and for-profit organizations. Ms. Pappas received a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University in 2014, along with attending Central Michigan University for her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 2008.
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Vice President: Shane O'Connor
Shane came to Matrix Theatre by way of a collegiate internship in 2012 in hopes to gain hands on experience with new works by diverse voices. With a passion for unique, creative, and interactive art, it came as no surprise that he fell in love with the mission of Matrix Theatre Co. After graduating with his Bachelors in Theatre from Northern Michigan University, Shane stayed on to help whenever and wherever he could. Through connections within Matrix, he was able to build his career as both a professional performer and stage technician, leading him to a Technical Assistant position at the Detroit Opera House. When the pandemic caused struggles and downsizes, he continued to engage and create safe opportunities in the arts until funding shortages lead him to take up work with Detroit Bus Co, where he and friends began a successful program to offer Detroit students the opportunity to experience real motorsports.
A rolling stone gathers no moss though and Shane eventually made his way back to theatre and is currently the Service & Repair Manager for Fantasee Integration, a local theatrical lighting integrator. His team’s work servicing the one-off system is a part of the permanent infrastructure of Michigan Central Station capturing the original lighting architecture while offering full control during large events. The topic of serving on the board came up during a service call to check in on Matrix’s light board (which was new back when he was an intern) and it reinforced his belief that while the city around us commercializes, the local creators and community members still need to have a space of their own which speaks to them. The mission to amplify those unique and diverse voices is a pillar of the Detroit artistic community. That, he believes, will always be found at Matrix.
Shane’s previous performance work varied over the years but most notably includes Hockey, The Musical! by Mitch Albom, a stint as a Comedy Club Host with Carnival Cruise Lines, and a litany of plays created during his time with Untheatre Co. When not at his day job, he can be found whispering to neighborhood cats that wander into his repair shop where he runs a side business servicing motorcycles and small motor equipment. He is an advocate for those who seek art, support their fellow humans, and to anyone who has a picture of a cat somewhere on their phone.
Treasurer: Derek Edwards
Derek Edwards is a Senior Vice President with Invest Detroit, a nonprofit organization and certified Community Development Financial Institution that uses strategic lending and investment to catalyze economic growth in the city of Detroit. With nearly 30 years of commercial lending and underwriting experience, Mr. Edwards focuses on providing financial and technical support to neighborhood businesses and entrepreneurs and works with partners in the public and philanthropic sectors to implement strategies to create density, jobs and a better quality of life for those living, working, or visiting Detroit.
Detroit’s revitalization opportunities have expanded rapidly with the implementation of collaborative strategies such as the launch of M-1 Rail transit and Neighborhood Small Business Strategies. Mr. Edwards’ depth of experience in banking, underwriting, and business development has greatly assisted Invest Detroit’s efforts to provide lending support for place-based development. Mr. Edwards plays a key role in identifying financing opportunities for optimal investment, including convening other collaborative CDFI and traditional bank funding partners and small business technical assistance providers to support borrowers. Through the Small Business programs Mr. Edwards oversees, Invest Detroit has been able to significantly impact the growth of business enterprises owned by entrepreneurs of color, women entrepreneurs, and Detroit resident entrepreneurs.
Prior to joining Invest Detroit, he served as Senior Business Banker for a number of regional financial institutions managing various lending portfolios typically in excess of $25 million. His responsibilities included business development and full portfolio management. In addition to assisting with traditional financing and relationship management, Mr. Edwards developed extensive experience in financing structures utilizing alternative financing tools such as U.S. Small Business Administration lending programs. Mr. Edwards is also engaged with several economic initiatives originated by the public, private, and philanthropic organizations throughout the City of Detroit that are focused on the growth of Detroit based small businesses.
Secretary: Nicole Calhoun-Huddleston
Nicole Huddleston currently holds the position of Managing Director at the Detroit Justice Center's Legal Services and Advocacy practice. In this role, she oversees a team of dynamic legal professionals dedicated to addressing the impacts of mass incarceration. Attorney Huddleston and her team work towards this objective by providing direct representation to formerly incarcerated and court-involved individuals in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties, as well as through targeted initiatives aimed at reforming the criminal legal system. Their efforts span from legal actions and legislative advocacy to the creation of white papers and informational resources to empower the community.
Nicole earned her J.D. from The University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 2014 and her B.A. from Oakland University. During law school, she served on the Moot Court Board of Advocates, held the position of Vice-President of the Business Law Association, and interned for judges including the Honorable Victoria Roberts, the Honorable Marianne Battani in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, and the Honorable Helene White in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. A dedicated member of the State Bar of Michigan, Nicole has consistently worked towards creating a more just society for Southeastern Michigan residents. Before joining the Detroit Justice Center, she served as an Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor in its domestic violence division and as a staff attorney at the Legal Aid and Defenders Association and Lakeshore Legal Aid.
Nicole's commitment to justice is further evidenced by her appointment to the Justice for All Commission and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission by the Michigan Supreme Court. These roles involve ensuring universal access to the civil justice system and crafting policies to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion within the judiciary.
Outside her legal roles, she actively contributes to the Center for Employment Opportunities as a member of its Advisory Board, supporting re-entry employment opportunities and comprehensive support for returning citizens. As part of her commitment to positive social change, Nicole serves on the Matrix Theatre Company's board to help foster positive transformations at the individual and societal levels, all while delivering exceptional theatrical experiences.
Kate Brennan
The Brennan Group
Prior to establishing her own company, the Brennan Group, LLC in 2004, Kate Brennan worked for P.S.
Abrams, a Troy-based marketing communications firm for 10 years as executive vice-president and later
as president, heading up the creative team and handling all communications programs for the firm.
Her work has been cited for excellence by the International Association of Business Communicators and
the National Association of Women in Communications. She has an Emmy and was the recipient of the
Headliner Award from the Association of Women in Communications for outstanding leadership in the
field of communications and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Life Directions, Inc. for her
leadership in working with youth and peer mentoring.
Brennan assumed the role of Executive Director at Matrix Theatre Company in 2017 and held that
position until October of 2023 when she turned the role over to the current Director, Amy Johnson and
assumed a position on the organization’s board of directors. She currently co-chairs the Theatre’s
development committee.
Her client list has included Global Detroit, Clark Park Coalition, Matrix Theatre Company, the Kresge
Foundation, Preferred Dental Group, Cinetic Automation Corporation, Western Waterproofing
Company, Ford Racing, and the Baldwin Public Library.
Ms. Brennan holds a BS, Education and an MA, Business Management.
Bianca Cuevas
Bianca Cuevas is a dynamic advocate for her and her Mexican community, arts and culture, and small women-led businesses. Raised in Southwest Detroit, her strong ties to her neighborhood and the city of Detroit reflect her lifelong commitment to fostering creative spaces that inspire and uplift youth. Bianca encourages young generations to embrace and explore their cultural identity and promotes parental involvement as the cornerstone of building vibrant, thriving communities.
As a proud Mexican-American with a heritage from Los Altos in Jalisco, Mexico, Bianca values the importance of cultural identity. Fluent in Spanish, she uses her language skills to bridge cultural divides and facilitate meaningful connections within diverse communities.
Bianca was a member of the first graduating class of the Arts Academy in the Woods, where she majored in theater and minored in show choir. Her love for the arts extended into higher education at Madonna University, where she focused on child psychology, blending her passion for creativity with a desire to nurture young minds.
She was instrumental in developing a bilingual program at a K-12 charter school, empowering students to confidently navigate and celebrate their dual-language and cultural identities.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Bianca is a talented photographer, cook, and dedicated dance choreographer. She teaches quinceañera routines that celebrate tradition and cultural pride. Through her deep community connections, diverse skill set, and unwavering dedication to cultural and artistic engagement, Bianca Cuevas continues to empower the next generation, fostering unity and resilience through the transformative power of the arts.
Natalie Stringer
Natalie Stringer (she/her) is a theatre maker, actor, and arts administrator, who first worked with Matrix Theatre Company in 2020 as a co-producer of “theR.A.C.E.: Reestablishing Art as Civic Experience." She is the Founding Artistic Director of C&G Collective, an interdisciplinary arts practice that partners with educational and cultural institutions, local businesses, and civic centers to produce and evaluate social impact programs. Stringer also serves as the Director for Artistic and Intellectual Planning at All Seasons, providing high-quality arts and educational programming for senior living communities across Michigan, Florida, and Arizona, including arts interventions in dementia care.
Previously, she acted as the Program and Development Manager for Global Arts Corps, an international community of artists based in NYC, and produced the U.S. premiere of “See You Yesterday” with the Cambodian Youth Circus. She’s facilitated leadership workshops at Hostos Community College in the Bronx; devising workshops with the Center for Performance and Civic Practice; presentations at the national Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed Conference; and training with the Teaching Artist Training Institute, using arts education to connect with students on the autism spectrum in Staten Island. She is also the playwright, director, and producer of the original play "Gunpowder," which sold out the FailSafe Festival in NYC. Internationally, she led teachers-in-training at the College of Education in Kigali, Rwanda in using drama to stimulate active learning, collaboration, and dialogue around domestic workers' rights. Stringer produced convenings with Theatre Communications Group, trained and produced theatre with Third Rail Repertory Company, Artists Repertory Theatre, the NHS Institute at Northwestern University, received the Fine Arts Award from Interlochen Arts, and is an Equity Membership Candidate. She has also sung professionally with the TriTones in the Pacific Northwest and the Danny California Blues All-Stars in Bangkok.
Natalie is currently enrolled in the Executive Program in Social Impact Strategy at the University of Pennsylvania. She received her M.A. in Applied Theatre at City University of New York, School of Professional Studies. She received a B.A. in International Studies and a B.A. in Drama with Honors from Seattle University. A native Oregonian, she finds peace in the wilderness of forests, mountains, and rivers.
Cassandra Svacha
Bio Coming Soon
Brandi Watts
Southwest Detroit Business Association
Brandi Watts is Vice President of SDBA Programs and Compliance, where she is responsible for overall strategic and operational efficiency, and compliance for program areas within the organization. She supports and plays a pivotal role in driving the overarching strategy for SDBA. Brandi previously served as the Program and Operations Manager at SDBA, where she worked to ensure the seamless execution of programs and the implementation of robust internal operations and controls. Brandi brings a diverse background, having held key positions in major financial institutions such as JPMorgan Chase and Citizens Bank, where she excelled in branch management, overseeing performance, growth, and compliance. Before her banking career, Brandi honed her skills and passion for minority supplier development programs as a Consultant at ASG Renaissance. Leading teams and directing initiatives, she focused on strategic planning for minority supplier growth and addressing operational gaps. Her expertise extends to project management in quality systems, strategic planning, human capital, organizational development, change management, training, and program support. Her journey includes a stint as a Quality Manager at ASG, where she spearheaded quality system management, documentation development, audits, and certification standards. Prior to ASG, Brandi served as a Merchandising Coordinator for Borman Inc., showcasing her coordination skills in sales plan activities. Brandi earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Michigan, with a concentration in Management Information Systems.
Rosemarie Wilson
Rosemarie Wilson a.k.a. One Single Rose® is an award-winning poet and playwright, spoken word artist, singer/songwriter, actress, filmmaker, author of three self-published poetry collections, nice and naughty chapbooks. Rosemarie is the first poet to be filmed in Motown’s infamous Studio A and the first Motown Mic Performance Artist of the Year. Debuting in Detroit as an actor, she has performed nationally and internationally in a few amazing productions. Her notable performances include singing the National Anthem at Detroit Pistons, Motor City Cruise and Michigan Avengerz games, TMZ Live commentary cast member, SoFar Detroit, the Floacist’s Flovertex and Sidewalk Festivals of the Performing Arts in Detroit, MI, Kistrech Poetry Festival in Kisii and Nairobi, Kenya, Piton International Film Festival in St. Lucia, International Videopoetry Festival in Athens, Greece as well as a one-year tour in Europe. She is Piton’s poet laureate and a featured artist and songwriter dubbed Queen Rose with Defected Records, the United Kingdom’s #1 house music record label. Find her streaming on all platforms as One Single Rose® or Queen Rose. She is also the first recipient of the Detroit Black Music Spoken Word Award and the first poet published under the Broadside-Lotus Press merger, two of the oldest African-American presses in the United States. As a poetry host, she has hosted various open mics and events as well as performed for local and international dignitaries. For more information on, visit www.onesinglerose.com to peek into her rose garden.