CommunityImpact
Meet the Crucible’s Four New Board Members For 2021
By Cathy Niland | 01.19.2021Throughout 2020, The Crucible Board of Directors provided steadfast and compassionate leadership for our artist community. Not only did they offer valuable guidance as we navigated pandemic-related challenges and closures, they also rallied our community during our end of year fundraiser by providing substantial matching contributions in support of The Crucible’s mission to provide equitable industrial arts programming to everyone interested.
The Board is extremely pleased to welcome our four new Board members this year. While these are challenging times for all nonprofits, the Board remains focused on the implementation of its Strategic Framework that will ensure the fulfillment if its mission and growth of its impact. Our new Board members are uniquely well positioned to support that effort.
Alexander Zwissler
Board Member, The Crucible
Please Welcome Our Four Newest Crucible Board Members
CINDY JOHANSON
Cindy has led the design and expansion of digital services with a primary focus on education for 30+ years. In her current role, she oversees , a trusted source for inspiration and information about what works in education. Cindy formerly served as senior vice president of interactive and education for the , where she was responsible for the launch and growth of the award-winning and its suite of Internet sites. She holds a master’s degree from and a bachelor’s degree in communications from .I have directly experienced the power of The Crucible to inspire and empower people. My daughter took a welding class a few years ago and my company’s employees attended a team build last December. I love supporting organizations that have the potential to grow and deepen their impact.
CRAIG CROTEAU
Craig’s 20+ years in the tech industry have spanned a wide range of roles—desktop support, systems engineer, network architect, and more. He fondly remembers installing ’s last internet crawler and indexing server farm, but people and organizational culture are his passion. He helped grow into an email security market leader as their Operations Director. More recently, Postini was acquired by where Craig is currently responsible for production infrastructure supporting the mobile ecosystem.Working with The Crucible is a chance to make continuous contributions to an organization that perfectly captures the Oakland ethos. Working at Google, I’ve lead ad-hoc community projects such as installing computer labs, painting/repairing schools, rehabbing homeless shelters, and even improving the Oakland Zoo’s lemur exhibit! This has been rewarding, but is bespoke activity that doesn’t allow for building sustainable programs.
JOYCE PEDERSEN SHULMAN
Joyce is a business design strategist whose experience spans reimagining patient-centered healthcare, launching wearable tech, and leading rapid business model prototyping sessions with groups like , , , , and more. Joyce graduated with an MBA in Design Strategy from in May 2019. She has also completed a number of triathlons and has a passion for collaborative public art making.Where there is art, there is hope. Through its programs and scholarship opportunities, The Crucible has built a thriving community, that elevates equity, and inclusion in the arts. In the world right now, this work is more important than ever. As an artist and a member of a local arts organization that builds public art, I have seen firsthand how many of our community members got started at The Crucible, and continue to use their skills in the art pieces that we build. The Crucible embodies my values and the power of art and community, and I look forward to sharing my skills in helping The Crucible build for the future.
SHAWNEE KECK
Shawnee Keck is a Vice President with . She has worked with organizations internationally across the public, private and non-profit sectors with a focus on economic development, policy and systems change. With Citi, Shawnee has invested in Black-led real estate and property projects, user-led public service design and local arts and manufacturing business development. Shawnee was also a Project Manager and Economic Policy Advisor for the where she documented the rise of the creative industries and policies to support inclusive vibrant cities.I can’t wait to learn alongside all the incredible people at The Crucible! Oakland is so lucky to have an institution like the Crucible focused on protecting the industrial arts and creating an accessible community to keep them alive.
