Alyona Ushe joined Arts Bonita in 2023, where she gets to bring together some of her favorite things: awesome art & culture, bold ideas, visionary people, and working together to enhance our tight-knit community.

She assembled an exceptional team that has led Arts Bonita through a period of extraordinary growth, doubling the organization’s operating budget while expanding programming, audiences, education, performances, scholarships, and community impact.

A lifelong arts advocate and unapologetic believer in creative risk-taking, Alyona is passionate about taking arts organizations to new creative heights. She has led the St. Lucie Cultural Alliance, Pompano Beach Arts, BlackRock Center for the Arts, and the New Orleans Opera Association, and founded Arts Garage in Delray Beach and Classika Theatre in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

Her world spans theatre, music, opera, visual arts, festivals, education, fundraising, and cultural development—and she is happiest where those worlds intersect, inspire one another, and flourish.

Alyona is deeply engaged in Southwest Florida, serving on the Bonita Springs Art in Public Places Board, the Bonita Springs Downtown Alliance Board, and the Horizon Council Arts and Culture Committee of Lee County. She is active with the Rotary Club of Bonita Springs and a graduate of Leadership Estero.

Favorite Quote: “It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.” — Steve Jobs

Fun Title: Cultural World Domination Ringleader

Originally from Michigan, David made Southwest Florida home 27 years ago and has never looked back. With an undergraduate degree in Finance and an MBA, David brings extensive experience in financial management and leadership.

His career has included working as a licensed stockbroker, serving as a Vice President in retail and commercial banking, and holding CFO positions with an international dental laboratory and affiliated practices, as well as a successful law firm.

David is delighted to bring his experience to Arts Bonita and finds great joy in supporting and furthering its mission. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his two rescue dogs, friends, and neighbors.

Fun Title: Numbers Dude

Kathy has been part of Arts Bonita since 2005, joining the organization shortly after graduating from Northwestern University with a degree in Industrial Engineering. A Bonita Springs/Naples native, she serves as Administration & IT Director, managing many of the behind-the-scenes systems and operations that keep the organization running smoothly.

Kathy enjoys the variety and problem-solving that come with her role and is proud to be part of an organization that brings the arts to her hometown community. While not an artist by trade, she enjoys exploring her own creativity through a variety of art forms.

Favorite Quote: “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.” — Albert Einstein

Fun Title: Director of Logic & Creative Chaos

Wojciech Jankowski is the Marketing Director at Arts Bonita, where he combines his passion for the arts with a love for creative storytelling, technology, and connecting with people.

He enjoys finding new ways to introduce audiences to Arts Bonita’s performances, exhibitions, and educational programs, while helping strengthen the organization’s connection with the Southwest Florida community.

Favorite Quote: “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent van Gogh

Fun Title: Director of Buzz

Gillian Cardec has been a local to the southwest Florida area her entire life. She graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) in 2023 with her degree in Communication/Public Relations and a minor in Creative Writing. Gillian has a strong passion for all forms of writing and story-telling. Post-graduation, she joined a year-long program called Americorp VISTA so she could assist her Alma Matter’s small business operation, the Regional Economic Research Institute (RERI), gain grant funding to operate on a larger scale. She also enjoys writing creatively and has a wide range of knowledge in creating a strong, fleshed out story and developing well-rounded characters. In her last semester at FGCU, she was awarded by the College of Arts and Sciences Writing Awards for her short story, titled “English isn’t Easy”, which kickstarted her journey to write a book. She hopes to one day help other people find their passion for storytelling as well.

Working for Arts Bonita as the Marketing Associate allows Gillian to use her passion for writing, education, and the importance of local arts nonprofits to assist in its operations as a center for the arts.

Favorite Quote: “Be yourself. No one can say you’re doing it wrong.” – Charles M. Schulz

Fun Title: Resident Fangirl

I’m a Graphic Designer with over 25 years of experience doing what I love most: helping brands find their visual voice and tell stories that stick. Over the past quarter-century, my creative journey has taken me from the hands-on world of traditional print to the fast-paced digital landscape, giving me a deep appreciation for both timeless fundamentals and cutting-edge design. Whether I’m building a brand identity from scratch or mapping out complex design systems, my goal is always to create visuals that are as functional as they are beautiful. For me, design isn’t just about making things look good—it’s about connecting with people, solving real-world problems, and turning complex ideas into clean, meaningful experiences that people genuinely enjoy.

Favorite Quote: “Have no fear of perfection, you’ll never reach it.” ― Salvador Dali

Fun Title: Visual Magician

Joseph Brauer is a 10-year resident of Southwest Florida, having escaped the frigid winters of Northern Manitoba, Canada, and Fargo, North Dakota. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Arts with a focus in Musical Theatre Performance and a minor in classical music from the Challey School of Music. Joseph discovered his passion for theatre in college after growing up as a competitive classical musician and spending most of high school as a “band geek.” He didn’t waste any time catching up, immediately taking work-study jobs in the costume shop and as a stage technician at the 1,000-seat concert venue on campus. While developing his skills as a musical theatre “triple threat,” he spent summers at the International Music Camp at the International Peace Garden, working with elite young musicians from around the world and arts faculty from top university programs in the U.S. and Canada.

Joseph went on to discover a passion for bringing theatre opportunities to communities across the Midwest while working as a touring actor and director with a Minnesota-based children’s theatre company. He continued working as a children’s theatre director and music director in Fargo before relocating to Southwest Florida in 2016, with a brief detour to New York City to attend Broadway’s Open Jar Institute. Since moving to the area, he has worked with local theatre companies including Florida Rep, Gulfshore Playhouse, and The Naples Players. In addition to his work as a producing artistic director, Joseph has performed as a musician and actor across Florida, including small appearances in television and film, such as The Right Stuff, produced by Leonardo DiCaprio for Disney+/National Geographic, as well as appearances in commercials.

Joseph loves to test the limits of theatre, not only as a performing art, but as a highly visual art form through scenic design and construction, lighting and projection design, foam, wire and paper sculpture, and metalwork. He loves calling Arts Bonita “home” because its creative energy and talent are so contagious, constantly challenging him to push beyond his perceived limitations and embrace non-traditional possibilities for creating magic onstage.

Favorite Quote: “There is a crack, a crack in everything…that’s how the light gets in”-Leonard Cohen

Fun Title: MacGyver of the Stage

Kody C. Jones serves as Stage Director in Residence at Arts Bonita Actors Theatre and as an Associate Member of SDC. He holds a Masters in Fine Arts degree in Theatre Performance from Western Illinois University, as well as undergraduate degrees in Theatre and Education from University of Michigan. He has previously crafted a groundbreaking, found space adaptation of Lord of the Flies with Elevate Acting Studio; as well as directing, conceiving and collaborating with Tony Award-winning playwright Eric Coble on Bulletproof Backpack. He also served as director and collaborator for Eric’s adaptation of REFUGEE by Alan Gratz, which toured to schools across Florida and recently wrote and directed The Boy from Block 66 at Arts Bonita. Jones also serves as the chair of Acting for (SETC) South Eastern Theatre Conference and is an active member and ajudicator for the American College Theatre Fedtival. He works nationally as a freelance director and fight choreographer, and playwright and owns and operates ELEVATE ACTING STUDIO in Fort Myers. He is currently finishing a book on acting techniques for young professionals as well as new play adaptation that will be released in Spring 2027. Kody would like to thank Joseph
Brauer for creating such an amazing theatre program and positive environment for young actors to produce professional and cutting edge works of art.

Kevin Goode brings more than 40 years of experience in the entertainment industry, specializing in audio and just about everything else it takes to make a show happen. He’s spent 30 years touring around the world with various performances. He’s seen it all, done most of it, and probably has a few stories he’s not willing to share.

Kevin joined Arts Bonita in 2024 as Technical Director, bringing decades of experience and a no-nonsense approach to keeping things running behind the scenes. When he’s not making sure the show goes on, he’d generally rather be spending time with animals than dealing with people.

Favorite Quote: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” ― Steve Jobs

Fun Title: The Old Man

Elena is passionate about the diverse and enriching arts that Arts Bonita offers. With a deep love for theater, she is dedicated to delivering exceptional customer service and promoting artistic excellence. Elena strives to help patrons connect with their innate desire to experience the beauty and wonder of the arts.

Residing in Fort Myers with her husband and three artistic children, Elena cherishes her family time. Her perfect days would be spent exploring museums and immersing herself in the rich history and architecture of old cities.

Hi! I’m Jurni. I’m currently studying marketing and expect to graduate next year. I enjoy working with new people, being creative and always staying busy. I’m super friendly, outgoing and love meeting new people. I hope to always make your experience a little better!

Favorite Quote: “Strangers are just friends you haven’t met yet”

Fun Title: Mini 3D Art Master

I enjoy helping create an inclusive and welcoming experience for everyone that stops by the Art Center. I have a background in Digital Media Design, I have a strong appreciation for the arts and recognize the importance of bringing creativity into people’s lives. I love to explore all forms of art; painting, drawing, music, movies, shows, books, etc. I also enjoy traveling, trying new food, hanging out with friends, and bed rotting with my dogs!

Favorite Quote: “Beauty in things exists merely in the mind which contemplates them.” — David Hume

A local from the area, she has been participating in Arts Bonita events from a young age, and now has been working with the organization for almost two years. She is a member of Patron Services, and is often the first person that people see when visiting the Visual Arts Center. She attended FGCU and majored in history and loves all things history and art related.

Favorite Quote: “The artist has the Universe in their mind and hands.” ― Leonardo da Vinci

Fun Title: Curator of Good Vibes

Every wondered how a show is put on? Most people just go to see a performance, but there’s a lot happening behind the scenes to make it all come together. As Patron Services/ Front House at Arts Bonita, I help create a welcoming experience for our patrons, support our volunteers and make sure performances and events run as smoothly as possible.
Growing up as a military kid taught me how to adapt, connect with people, and jump into new challenges headfirst. Ive always loved the arts, but what interests me the most is helping bring creative experiences to life. Theres nothing more rewarding that being part of the team that helps turn months of planning and preparation into a memorable night for everyone.

Favorite Quote: “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together” – Vincent van Gough

Fun Title: Guardian of the lobby & Volunteer Ringmaster

A proud “NOLA Girl” and graduate of St. Mary’s Dominican High School & The University of Alabama, Jillian has a diverse background she affectionately describes as being a “Swiss Army Knife” of education & experience. Random sharpening of skills & wit has shaped her adaptability, curiosity, & creative perspective. Jillian also spends a lot of time in her own head; therefore, her illustrations & abstract paintings explore emotional solitude, colorful whimsy, & mindful connection inviting viewers to slow down, step a bit closer, & discover something unexpected.

Before moving to Naples in 2025, she spent 8 years working with New Orleans Film & Television (IATSE 478). Outside of working for Arts Bonita, she teaches & practices yoga, Pilates, & Lagree. When not in the studio, she can often be found taking “bougie stroller walks” with her 3 little dogs & sharing the yoga mat with her 3-legged cat, “Dennis Hopper” the “best $15 she ever spent at the Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter”.

Favorite Quote: “Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards” – Søren Kierkegaard

Fun Title: “A Little Lagniappe, A Lot of Heart”f

With more than five decades of experience in hospitality, entertainment, and the arts, Mario has worked in nearly every aspect of the restaurant and nightlife industries, including management and ownership.

A SAG-AFTRA member since 1995, he has appeared and worked behind the scenes in more than 90 television, commercial, film, print, and voice-over productions. He is also a graduate of the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and continues to create and exhibit visual art.

Mario’s career has also included managing and promoting rock bands in the San Francisco area, owning restaurants in Southern California, and managing restaurants throughout Southwest Florida. He also maintains a home and working farm in Buriram, Thailand.

Favorite Quote: “May you live as long as you want to, and may you want to as long as you live.”

Fun Title: Fun Master

Kevin joined Arts Bonita in 2026 as an Events & Facilities Associate.

Favorite Quote: “I think, therefore I am”

Fun Title: Cooler Kevin

Casey Banks is a hands on problem solver, dedicated father, and Facilities Manager who takes pride in making things work better than he found them. Whether he’s tackling electrical projects, improving buildings, leading a team, or finding creative ways to save money. Casey isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. He values hard work, resourcefulness, and being someone others can depend on. He also has a natural sense of humor and believes life is better when you don’t take yourself too seriously.

Outside of work, Casey’s greatest priority is his family and making meaningful memories with people. He’s adventurous, curious, and always looking for something new to experience. Whether that means hitting the beach, spending time on the disc golf course, catching reptiles, or simply enjoying a good laugh. At his core, Casey tries to leave the people and places around him a little better than he found them.

Favorite Quote: Life is art.  Make it weird!

Fun Title: Fixologist

Janko Bujila moved to the US from Serbia five years ago and joined the Arts Bonita Facilities staff four years ago.  He is married and the father of three children that have lived in Florida for many years.

Kel Campbell is a ceramic artist and educator but loves to be creative with many art mediums. She is an FGCU graduate and has won multiple awards and recognition for her work. Along with selling her work at Art Festivals on the East Coast she has recently been chosen to be the full time resident artist of cottage number 4 in Downtown Bonita Springs. She is also an active member in the global clay community and participates in National Ceramic Conferences and workshops. Outside of her passion for community involvement and teaching, Kel enjoys cooking, travel, exploring our beautiful beaches and spending time with family and friends.

Rudina Hyshmeri is a multidisciplinary artist and educator with nearly two decades of experience teaching drawing and painting across Europe. With an MFA in Easel Painting, an MSc in Cultural Heritage, and doctoral studies in Curriculum and Instruction, she brings a rare combination of artistic mastery, cultural depth, and educational design to her work.

Rudina aims to create a structured, progressive pathway for the Atelier Program at ArtsBonita, guiding students from foundational observation to advanced artistic expression. Rooted in classical atelier training and shaped by contemporary pedagogy, her program is designed for both beginners and dedicated artists—offering clear direction, strong technical grounding, and meaningful creative growth.

Marissa Jankowski is a versatile performing artist, educator, and administrator originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, California. Driven by a deep passion for all of the arts, her journey began with dance at the age of 2, later expanding to encompass acting and vocal performance to build a complete foundation across all performing arts disciplines. Over 16 years of early study, she developed extensive technique in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical, Hip Hop, and Pointe, winning numerous regional and national titles and scholarships. She furthered her intensive Ballet and Contemporary training at Alonzo King LINES in San Francisco before attending The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in Los Angeles, where she graduated with honors, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Theater.

Marissa’s professional credits span screen, stage, and creative media. She danced in two music videos for the San Francisco-based digital creative studio Seedwell, accumulating hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube and earning a featured spot on Good Morning America. She served as an assistant to Broadway and TV performer Alexis Carra for the Dance Masters of America convention, as well as renowned choreographer Liz Imperio. Notably, Marissa was honored to serve as Assistant Choreographer and dancer for Francis Ford Coppola’s The Cotton Club Encore, tapping as Gregory Hines for the film’s Foley sound remastering.

With over 15 years of experience teaching and choreographing dance across all ages, styles, and skill levels, Marissa is dedicated to sharing her knowledge and inspiring the next generation of performing artists. Alongside her creative work, she brings a strong background in arts administration to her role in Arts Bonita’s Performing Arts Center programming, where she thoroughly enjoys managing programs and actively supporting the students, parents, instructors and staff!

Favorite Quote: “The stage is not merely the meeting place of all the arts, but is also the return of art to life.” – Oscar Wilde

Fun Title: The Chair Behind the Curtain

Susan Berry has been a glass artist for over forty years and has taught at Arts Bonita for the past six years. Her love of glass began with a year-long study in stained glass and later warm glass technique, to include glass fusing and bead making. In the summer months, Susan teaches stained glass and mosaic classes at the Thousand Islands Art Center (TIAC) in Clayton NY and was the first-place recipient of the Catherine C. Johnson award for her submission to Along the River’s Edge exhibit.

Recently, Susan was the Spotlight Artist for the TIAC and her interview can be found on YouTube.

Tammy DeCaro is a self-taught artist from Naples, Florida. She was formally trained in clay arts including wheel throwing, hand building and sculpture. Over the years, her art experience has expanded to include fused glass, jewelry, resin, mixed media, fluid art, and resin. She holds a MSM and BSM in business and in 2022, resigned from 25 years of healthcare leadership to focus on art and healthcare consulting for long term care providers.

As a full time artist, Tammy exhibits in 12-15 art festivals in the Florida area each year. She is sought after for fluid art painted lazy susan’s and has become known as “The Lazy Susan Lady” locally. Her best sellers are large canvases painted with fluid art techniques and large beach resin pieces. She completed a large commercial contract last fall for 15 8’ beach resin pieces and 15 matching mirrors in resin for a condo building on the beach.

Tammy teaches at Arts Bonita using mixed media techniques to create abstract art on canvas, wood panels, and resin art. Her inspiration comes from nature, emotions, or an emotion she wants the viewer to feel when looking at the art.

She provides art instruction in several locations for private groups, corporate team building events, and art centers in SW Florida. She won the Juror’s Choice award at the Rookery Bay Natural Selections Painting exhibit in November 2021 for a tactile beach piece created with resin.

Tammy’s art can be found at art festivals in SWFL during the winter months and at multiple juried exhibitions throughout the SWFL market. She exhibits monthly at Coco Gallery Estero and Coco Gallery Naples.

As a public high school teacher for 33 years, Terrie served as Director of Student Activities as well as Art Department head and coordinator of the Advanced Placement Program in Art. Her expertise was in curriculum development and pilot programs in the arts that served as models for art programs statewide. Terrie studied stone carving with the master stone sculptor at the Sharon Gainsberg Studios. An accomplished artist, Terrie has exhibited work in watercolor, clay and stone, and is currently pursuing her passion for stone carving and teaching at Arts Bonita.

Elis Hyshmeri is an accomplished mixed-media sculptor, independent artist, and educator with more than 20 years of professional experience in the arts. He has built a distinguished career that bridges traditional craftsmanship with contemporary artistic innovation, establishing a unique voice in modern sculpture and metal arts. His creativity is a tapestry of diverse materials and genres, ranging from academic realistic sculptures to modern interpretations, a testament to his boundless imagination and artistic versatility. Known as the sculptor of powerful dynamics and strong counterpoints, holder of Multiple International prizes, and welcomed in the US as an individual of extraordinary ability in the arts field, brings to Arts Bonita the excellence of European sculpture.

As Chair of the Metal Department at Arts Bonita, his artistic mission is to build a meaningful and impactful metal atelier, helping students create works that resonate with diverse audiences while expressing their own artistic voice. Through both his teaching and creative practice, Hyshmeri aims to inspire emerging artists and hobbyists while continuing to push the boundaries of contemporary metal and mixed-media art.

Dani Kerker studied Game Development at Academy of Art University.  Besides being the digital arts department chair she is also an assistant instructor in the Stone department.