Staff and Board

STAFF

Monique Courcy, Executive Director (she/her)
monique@teentix.org
 

Monique first became involved with TeenTix when she served as a program assistant for the Contemporary Performance Cool Kids Club where she was inspired by the depth of access, space for inquisition, and close community that the program nurtured with its teen participants. In October 2016, Monique joined TeenTix as its second Executive Director and has since led the organization through years of youth-driven programmatic growth including the re-launch of the Press Corps, as well as successful expansion efforts of the Pass Program into Pierce County, Washington and Los Angeles, California.

Prior to joining TeenTix, Monique spent six years working at TeenTix Partner organization, On the Boards, where she managed Digital Media and OntheBoards.tv, a pioneering project that makes high-definition recordings of contemporary performances accessible to an international audience through streaming and downloads. In this role, Monique expanded the program’s national reach, producing films and developing a video-on-demand platform that now reaches thousands of students at over 100 universities across the globe.

Monique came to Seattle in 2005 from Central Washington, earning a BA in Dance from the University of Washington, followed by MFA in Arts Leadership at Seattle University. She currently serves on the Advisory Board of Seattle Arts & Culture for Anti-Racism, Seattle Music Commission's Youth + Community Committee, and is on the Board of Directors for the Uptown Arts & Culture Coalition. Monique grew up on Yakama lands.

 

Mariko Smithashima, Teen Programs Director (she/her)
mariko@teentix.org

Mariko joined the TeenTix team in February 2018 and is thrilled to be part of a program that provides such incredible arts opportunities for teens. Mariko’s role at TeenTix combines many of her passions into one bright sparkly amazing job: working with teens, promoting arts experiences, and critical arts journalism. Mariko is also a dancer, teacher, writer, and general enthusiast of all things dance related. She moved to Seattle in 2010, after earning a BFA in Ballet from the University of Utah, and immersed herself in the Seattle dance world. She has performed with numerous local companies including Coriolis Dance and AJnC Dance-Theater. She teaches ballet to children, teens, and adults at several Seattle studios. Mariko was the Editor of SeattleDances, a website focusing on critical dance coverage, from 2010 to 2016, and founded PAPR: Performing Arts PR, which helps local, independent artists promote their work. Mariko grew up on Spokane, Schitsu’umsh (Coeur d’Alene), and Kalispel lands.
 

Austin Sargent, Deputy Director (he/him)
austin@teentix.org

Austin is originally from Columbus, Georgia, and is an Arts Administrator, Arts Advocate, and Teaching Artist who has built a career working with and for young people in the Arts across the US. 

Austin is a proud Seattle University Alumni, having earned his Master’s of Fine Arts in Arts Leadership and Certificate in Fundraising Leadership. As an Arts Leader, Austin has worked with the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA), Three Dollar Bill Cinema, Crux Consulting, Third Way Creative, and most recently as the Program Manager of Speak With Purpose. Before moving to Washington, Austin worked primarily with the Springer Opera House and Springer Theater Academy, as well as being an independent producer and director for the Muddy Water Theatre Project. Austin is committed to the vibrancy and diversity of Seattle’s Arts Ecosystem and spends lots of his free time at Art Galleries, Concerts, Theater Performances, Dance Showcases, and the like, as well as serving on Coyote Central's Board of Directors. Austin grew up on the Mvskoke and Hitchiti lands. 

 

Gavin Bradler, Communications Specialist (they/them)
gavin@teentix.org

Gavin is overjoyed at the opportunity to serve other Teens and promote radical art by young people, for young people as the Communications Specialist! As a participant and board member for 14/48: H.S, they found out about TeenTix and immediately fell in love with the $5 pass program. Inspired by the access that TeenTix has given them, Gavin hopes that their work will extend this access for young people in all Seattle communities. Gavin is an artist, currently pursuing a BFA in Acting at DePaul University. Gavin is dedicated to using their knowledge and strengths as an artist and art-maker to contribute to the cause of justice and equity. Outside of work and school, Gavin loves to thrift, parent their plants, and play DnD. Gavin grew up on Duwamish lands.
 

Stephanie Tsukiko Nomura-Henley, Bookkeeper (she/her)
bookkeeper@teentix.org
 

Stephanie Tsukiko Nomura-Henley (she/her) is a Mixed Race activist, mother and bachan (grandmother). She is passionate about the arts and intergenerational community organizing, having served as a Board leader with the Japanese American Citizens League for the past 7 years. She works as a bookkeeper for nonprofits and small businesses and loves to help them thrive. Stephanie enjoys walking in the woods with her dogs, traveling to new and familiar places and tap dancing! She is delighted to be a part of TeenTix! Stephanie grew up on Tongva (Gabrieleno), Ɂívil̃uwenetem Meytémak (Cahuilla) and Duwamish Lands. She currently resides on Suquamish Lands.
 

Lindsay Hastings, Director of Individual Giving (she/her)
lindsay@teentix.org
 

Lindsay has been a super fan of TeenTix for years - she's been a member of the Advisory Board, fundraising committee, and a proud monthly donor in TeenTix’s Honors Society. She joined as Director of Individual Giving to continue supporting teens as leaders, artists, and arts fans. She loves creating pathways for the giving community to be included in building a vibrant arts scene for the next generation. Lindsay believes in the power of the arts to inspire, transform, and unite communities, and is committed to ensuring that TeenTix continues to be a driving force in making the arts accessible to all. Outside of TeenTix, Lindsay enjoys hanging at the beach with the seals, baking pies, and seeing concerts. Lindsay grew up on Cheraw lands.
 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

TeenTix is actively recruiting new leadership! Interested? Read more on our volunteer page here about joining a working committee to get to know our group, or reach out to monique@teentix.org about board service.
 

OFFICERS

Andre Gougisha, President
Paralegal, Folio Law Group PLLC
 

Cyrus Despres, Treasurer
Director of Planning & Business Intelligence at KEXP
 

Jeffery Osborn, Secretary
Co-founder, Gimkit

Ariel Glassman, Vice President, Past President
Founder, Common Great

MEMBERS AT LARGE
 

Holly Arsenault
Playwright

Karen Bystrom, Past President
Director of Marketing, Seattle University College of Arts and Sciences, Seattle University

Katy Dolan
COO, Impactive
 

T Van Doren
Builder, Fly.io
 

Katy Hannigan
Program Manager, Inclusive Leadership Strategy, Greatheart Consulting

Victoria North
Learning Specialist
 

Robert A. Pearlman, MD, MPH
Professor Emeritus, UW Department of Medicine

Laura Valiente De Vega
Product Designer, The Boeing Company

Aaron Weisman

On leave: Jon Staenberg
Venture Capitalist, Vintner Capitalist, El Jefe

On leave: Robin Sussman Forman
Partnership Marketing and Account Management Specialist

TEEN LEADERSHIP

Teen Editorial Staff

(Left to Right) Kyle Gerstel, Audrey Gray, Aamina Mughal, Daphne Bunker, Anna Melomed
 

Teen Arts Podcast

(Left to Right) Caden Nam, Blue Counts, Mickey Fontaine, Ashwari Shende