Clara is a La Crosse native with a background in economic development and a passion for community investment. After earning degrees from CU Boulder and American University, she spent the early part of her career working on economic development projects across Africa and the Middle East.

She later launched her first business in Denver before returning to La Crosse in 2019 to manage her family’s business interests. Clara is now President of National Decorated Products, CEO of Etch Productions, and serves on the boards of Trust Point, TPI Holdings, the YMCA, and the La Crosse Community Foundation.

Along with her brothers, she owns and operates the Rivoli Theatre and the Rivoli Building and is very excited to be a part of the Rivoli Arts District board.

Jay has come and gone from La Crosse a number of times since first arriving in 1979. Three years ago, Carolyn and Jay made the decision that the Driftless is the perfect place to spend their retirement years. Jay’s passion during his career was to build open and affirming communities for all people. A significant part of his career was spent at UWL working in Student Affairs and later at the UWL Foundation. During his time at UWL he is most proud of initiating and chairing the Breaking the Silence Task Force which ultimately established the PRIDE Center. Jay and Carolyn also became active at the Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta leading many groups of students and adults through the major historical sites of the civil rights movement and ending the journey in Atlanta. After a number of years attending the King Center, Jay was invited to join the training staff by Mrs. Coretta Scott King which he did and served for seven years.

Other stops in Jay’s career journey brought him to Milwaukee where he managed a charitable foundation providing grants in the areas of education, transitional housing for people in recovery and programs that build community through an understanding of racial diversity. The last stop of his journey was at The Studios of Key West which is a multidisciplinary arts organization at the end of the road where the theme of the island is “One Human Family”. He became involved as a volunteer initiating the Old Town New Folk Concert series where La Crosse favorite Bill Miller was the first show and ultimately serving as the Executive Director of the organization. (www.tskw.org). During his time at The Studios he was an integral member of the team that brought the organization from a start up to now celebrating their 20 th anniversary in 2026.

Jay and Carolyn have four adult daughters and two magnificent grandchildren Rafael and Marilyn. When they are not in La Crosse you can find them roaming the country in their van which they have proudly named ‘Dick Van Dyke”. Jay and Carolyn are over the moon about being back in La Crosse and look forward to seeing the Rivoli Arts District emerge and build community through the arts.

Megan Binsfeld brings a background in corporate consulting with experience in training, communications, and human resources. After stepping away from the corporate sector to raise her four daughters, she has remained deeply engaged in the La Crosse community through volunteerism and leadership roles. She serves on the boards of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse and La Crosse Friends of International Students (LFIS). Currently a substitute teacher at Aquinas Catholic Schools, Megan also contributes to local organizations including Riverfest, the Coulee Region Stars girls hockey club, and the Aquinas PTO.

A lifelong arts enthusiast, she is excited to reconnect with her creative roots and support La Crosse’s vibrant arts scene.

 Mara is excited to be a founding member of the La Crosse Film Academy. Mara holds a degree in Political Science from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and carries a diverse background in from work in small business, corporate, and non-profit startup. Most recently, Mara joined the City of La Crosse Planning Department as the Community Development Manager. Mara also serves on the YWCA and La Crosse Promise Board of Directors. In her free time, Mara enjoys curling with the La Crosse Curling Club and being outdoors in the warmer weather.

Chuck brings over three decades of experience in marketing, advertising, and creative leadership to the board. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art with a minor in Graphic Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. His career began as Art Director at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, where he combined his artistic background with strategic visual storytelling. Since then, he has led award-winning agency and in-house creative teams across Milwaukee, Green Bay, and La Crosse, including an eight-year tenure leading the creative team at Organic Valley. Currently, he serves as Executive Creative Director at Vendi Advertising, where he continues to guide brand strategy and creative direction for a diverse portfolio of clients. In addition to his agency work, he is a tenant at RAD and the owner of Boxmaker Pictures, a photography and creative studio. His leadership extends beyond the workplace, having served on the Board of Directors for the La Crosse Curling Club. With a deep passion for both the arts and effective communication, he is excited to bring his broad experience and creative insight to the board.

Bio coming soon!