Bliss Coleman
Interim Vice President
Bliss Coleman, a dynamic and influential figure in the Colorado arts community, serves as a key member of the Aurora Cultural Arts District (ACAD) leadership team. Her extensive experience and deep commitment to fostering artistic expression and community engagement are integral to the team’s vision and success.
Bliss’s tenure at ACAD is marked by her dedication to supporting artists in developing viable art careers. Her efforts have propelled local artists to prestigious heights, with several showcasing their work at notable institutions like the Boulder Art Museum and the Denver Art Museum. This achievement underscores her ability to nurture talent and provide artists with opportunities for greater exposure and success.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the Colorado cultural scene, Bliss was honored with the Creative Leadership Award from Colorado Creative Industries. Additionally, her roles on the marketing board for the Colorado Women’s Art Caucus and the Adams County Arts and Cultural Commission Board exemplify her commitment to advancing the arts on multiple fronts.
Iris Hentze, MPA
Secretary
Public Policy Specialist
Iris Hentze is the current Board Secretary of the Aurora Cultural Arts District (ACAD) and has been volunteering with the organization since 2021. Iris is a resident of Northwest Aurora and East Colfax and deeply believes in ACAD’s mission to encourage artistic and cultural creativity through advocacy, support our multicultural urban community and provide opportunities for diverse expression. Iris brings nearly a decade of diverse public policy experience to ACAD including government, nonprofit and campaign experience. Iris currently works as a Senior Government Affairs Associate at Aponte & Busam Public Affairs Consultants. In her role, she helps the firm provide high caliber government relations services and legislative and regulatory results for a variety of clients in the health care, education, nonprofit and business sectors. Prior to her current role, Iris worked as the Senior Legislative Analyst for the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), the agency that administers Medicaid in Colorado. Prior to her work with HCPF, Iris worked as a nonpartisan policy analyst at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) focusing on employment and labor policy. Iris has a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from Colorado State University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado, Denver. Iris is originally from the rural, western Colorado town of Delta where she attended Delta High School.
Kena Peterson
Board Member and Webmaster
Owner Bright Ideas Web Design
Kena Peterson is the proud owner of Bright Ideas Website Design, LLC. Kena has been involved in the graphic design, website development and public relations arenas for various employers and colleagues for over 20 years. As a part of her experience, she has worked with various clients and organizations and enjoys learning more and more with each project. She enjoys working with WordPress and its various plugins, programs, themes, builders, and more.
Kena has enjoyed working with various nonprofit organizations and is proud to have served on the board of the Parker Area Chamber of Commerce and, most currently, the Aurora Cultural Arts District. She is a wife and proud mom to three children. She lives in Parker, Colorado, and enjoys volunteering, exploring the outdoors, sampling craft beers, and participating in her children’s extracurricular activities.
- Jeannine Rustad – Interim Board President
- Michael Hancock – Interim Board Treasurer
- Bliss Coleman – Interim Vice President
- Iris Hentze – Board Secretary
- Rich Cowden – Board Member
- Stephanie Hancock – Board Member
- Kena Peterson – Board Member
- Morgan Schreiber – Board Member
- Anne Sutherlin – Board Member