Meet Your 2018 Board Nominees
This article appeared in Exaggerated Features issue 2018.4. The election has passed, but this entry remains for archival purposes.
 Page 8 of EF 2018.4 | |
| Author | Various |
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| Illustrator | Various |
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| Pages | 12-15 |
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Article Transcript
Meet Your Nominees
Now is the time to VOTE!! This year we have nine nominees. Their nomination speeches are shown in alphabetical order and cover three pages, so make sure to review them all before making your decision.
Manny Avetisyan
Hey, ISCA community! Manny Avetisyan here. I’ve been eating, drinking, and sleeping with caricatures for the past 6 years since I dedicated myself to this beautiful artform. My beautiful wife, Natalia, and I started our own operation and have been traveling the states, leaving a trail of caricatures, happy customers and memorable experiences since. My first ISCA convention in 2013 changed my life. I know firsthand how special this organization is. It not only gives caricature artists a platform and an opportunity to draw, compete, and meet our heroes and be forever inspired, but also provides validation for us as caricature artists. In my five years of convention attendance I have been honored with many awards, including a Silver Nosey in 2015, and the coveted Golden Nosey in 2017.
I love caricatures. It’s my passion. If I were elected to the board, I vow to promote, defend, and bleed for the organization which has done so much for me and its members. I will use my background in marketing, graphic design, video editing, and art to benefit the organization to whatever extent I can. Based on my organizational background, I have ideas on how to improve the ISCA organization and the conventions, including ways to have more attendees get drawings by fellow artists, improve the artwork presentation system, and streamline the reference photo system at check-in. Either way, I am going to continue pushing caricature art as far and as long as I breathe. Go ISCA!
Ben Bloss
Profile: Ben Bloss is an artist based out of Denver, Colorado. Ben is an illustrator with a focus on caricature and has been practicing the art of funny faces for 15 years. Ben enjoys board games, frequenting karaoke bars, and is an old-school video game enthusiast.
For consideration: Thank you all for considering me for a seat on the board. I’ve been a member of this wonderful organization for 11 years. Coming up as a young artist, I have seen many changes and sincere efforts for growth in our little society and with it. I hope this organization has seen some of that growth in me as well. It has already been a pleasure seeing all of your work, shaking your hands, sharing a drink, a laugh, and even shedding a tear with you guys. I am truly humbled by your nomination. Thank you all.
Tom Faraci
Hello ISCA friends and family. It’s been an honor to serve this organization as a member of the Board for the last three years. The work is challenging, sometimes frustrating, but always rewarding. As your Secretary/Treasurer, I’ve worked not only to make sure the gears keep turning smoothly, but to improve the organization as a whole as well as the experience of attending the convention. Over the years, I’ve been responsible for designing graphics such as convention logos and web banners, securing sponsors that provide us with cool freebies at the con, working closely with Debbo on the production of this very magazine (and launching the Exaggerated Features Facebook page!), as well as streamlining the functionality of our website. I also was responsible for authoring the ISCA harassment policy, which I hope to see expand in the coming years - my number one mission is to make sure the convention, and ISCA as an organization, is as welcoming and inclusive as possible to anyone who would consider joining. As much as I would like to again one day bring my A-game as competitor, I still need to focus my A-game on the needs of the organization. There’s always work to be done, and I hope I have your faith and support to see it through. Onward!
Ryan Foerster
Ryan began drawing on the walls at the age of three, and his condition progressed from there. He was “discovered” in high school while caricaturing his history teacher, which led to a job drawing caricatures professionally at the age of 15. Ryan worked his way through college by sketching each summer at local theme parks, and several of his caricatures in those years were perfectly fine. Today, Ryan spends weekends providing live art entertainment for events throughout South Texas at his company “Party Pros,” and his weekdays are spent binge-watching “Ozark“ on Netflix. Ryan’s hobby is writing tidy little bios for himself to appear on event company websites and reading them aloud for the enjoyment of his cat, Hobbes, who just vomited on Ryan’s foot.
It would be an honor to serve on the board of ISCA to give back to an organization that has served to push the art and business of caricatures forward. As a social organization, ISCA serves to bring a normalcy to our peculiar work, and make the world a smaller place by bringing us together. It’s hard work to be an inviting, easy place for people from across the globe to gather, and it’s worthwhile. We are at our best when we are drawing together. With big noses.
Jon Guerzon
Dear ISCA Members,
I greatly appreciate the nomination for the position of board member with our organization. I would like to use the skills gained during my time in education and the nonprofit sector to help our artist community and its projects reach its objectives.
Prior to my foray into caricature, I was a public school educator for over 15 years, working primarily with underserved and at-risk populations. I served on many site committees, while performing advisory tasks at the district level assisting state-mandated programs. I am the founder of the JLI Academy, a tax-exempt nonprofit that developed an art studio and all-ages educational programs at various locations in Stockton, California . Having served as the executive director and supporting the board in many capacities, JLI accomplished a primary part of its mission by establishing a public art studio where young artists can learn and practice art skills under the leadership of professional artists. During my tenure, I received training in both public and private organizational leadership. I have experience in chairing meetings and strategic solutions. My administrative experience and proven leadership skills will prove useful to ISCA.
Enhancing staff performance and resourcefulness are some of my key strengths. I get along well with others and thrive on finding resolutions to problems. I am confident that these qualities together with my commitment to work will be an asset to the organization. Some of my personal achievements in my professional capacity I can bring to ISCA are as follows: Goal-setting and strategic planning skills, proven value as a strategic adviser, proven ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary group, industry expertise, financial acumen, demonstrated problem-solving abilities, fundraising abilities,public/community relations and experience as a spokesperson.
It is my interest to learn more about the dynamics of the caricature industry and assist in any capacity to grow this organization’s valuable assets for the artists and the community it serves. I know that I can bring much benefit with my experience, educational qualifications and skills, and I look forward to putting these toward a good cause.
I look forward to our conversations.
AJ Jensen
Greetings, ISCA Members. Wow! This year has been such an exciting experience. Not only that, but just an absolute pleasure and honor of the opportunity to be a part of the ISCA board.
Watching the great minds of Chris, Cory, Tom and Cece formulate new ideas for ISCA has been astonishing. They're awesome and they all have my utmost respect for all their contributions to this wonderful society. It's been such an adventure and I would still love to continue the journey! I know there are so many more opportunities and ideas to be brought to the table. Some of my ideas are to help connect our members more often, even before the convention. The inspiration that the convention allows has the possibility to stretch out longer than just one time a year. Another idea is to create more video content on YouTube to reach out to more possible members. ISCA is already growing, but it has the potential to go to the moon with members....well not the actual moon, more of a metaphorical point...but you get what I'm saying! I’m super excited about what the future holds for ISCA, and I would still be as determined now, if not more, to contribute to this great society.
Cory Lally
I’ve experienced multiple levels of involvement with the board over the past few years, as my life continues to try and distract me from caricatures. Having experienced the highs and lows of commitment, the added stresses of the position, and the joys of the con, I’m happy to say I’m ready for another year and eager to make positive changes that will truly affect the organization for years to come. Mostly, streamlining a number of features, from voting to registering, that continue to frustrate members year after year. I am happy to continue serving our community as best able, and thank you all for the opportunity.
Chris Moore
It’s been my honor to serve isca over the last 4 years, first as secretary, then vice president, and now as president of our organization. We’ve brought some new ideas along the way, such as developing the Facebook contest, redesigning the website and the EF Podcast (which has been on hiatus but has some BIG news in the works). We’ve been working on developing the ISCA YouTube Channel, as well as republishing old EF articles on the blog to make them easier to search. We’ve also added a monthly payment option for membership this year and will be announcing some new things at the con this year that should be some fun new ways to engage our members.
I would love to continue serving on the board as we head into 2019 and continue to build upon the foundation that we’ve built!
Erik Roadfeldt
I learned the basics of caricature in 2000 from my grandmother, who learned from the Fasens in the ´80s at a small theme park just south of Minneapolis. I only did a few gigs a year for the next fifteen years. It was just a fun way to earn extra cash. Then I realized there were more agents out there, got a few more gigs, met other artists who were members of ISCA, and three years ago, Robin Schwartzman convinced me to go to the convention in Sandusky. I found my HOME. I’d been mostly on my own for 17 years, and suddenly I found my people. I’m STILL playing catch-up, learning all the history and culture of caricature and ISCA, so I’d love the chance to serve on the board and learn more! I’m a great problem solver, I have a deep passion for caricature and a strong commitment to this organization and its members.
Text Box
Please see attached ballot in the middle of this issue. Be sure to choose four (4) members who you would like to be on the Board of Directors by placing an “X” in the box before their name. Be sure to sign and print your name at the bottom of the ballot. Affix the correct amount of postage and mail to CeCe Holt, ISCA Manager, 710 NE 100 Terrace, Kansas City, MO 64155. Good luck to all of the nominees!
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