President of the Board

Anna Coxwell is a seasoned leader in supply chain management with a strong track record of success in both manufacturing and industry. She currently serves as the Manager of Georgia Supply Chain for Liberty Utilities, where she oversees warehouse, purchasing, fleet, and facilities management for two locations. Anna’s career spans roles in logistics, procurement, and project management. Prior to her current position, she served as Supply Chain Manager at several companies in Auburn-Opelika in aerospace and automotive fields. Anna graduated from Belmont University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Music Business.  During her time at Belmont, Anna wrote a thesis on Non-Profit Music Venue Management which highlighted her lifelong desire to lead in non-profit arts production.  Anna also has a Graduate Certificate in Manufacturing from Auburn University's Industrial Engineering program. She is the recipient of several awards, including the 2024 Opelika Young Professional of the Year and a Graduate of the Opelika AL Chamber’s 20 Under 40 program. With her expertise in supply chain operations and a commitment to community service, Anna brings valuable insights to our board.     

Michelle Etris is a native of Eufaula, AL. She has been in Lee County off and on since 1993, but has been an Opelika resident for about 20 years. Michelle earned a degree in Corporate Journalism from Auburn University. Three years working as a reporter at The Huntsville Times, The Alex City Outlook, and The Gadsden Times took her out of the Lee County area. She returned to the area in 1999 and worked at The Opelika-Auburn News in advertising from 2001 to 2018. For many of those years she handled The Arts Association account. Most recently, Michelle spent 5 years as an administrative assistant in the technical division at Southern Union. Some of her duties there included social media management and promotion. 

Michelle is currently taking some time away from full-time work to focus on family. She is married to Kelley Etris, and they have two children, Caleb & Savana. Caleb is an OHS grad who still calls Opelika home. He travels all over the country working for an Atlanta-based production company. When he’s in town, he is active in the local music scene. He is a singer/songwriter, guitarist, bassist and sound engineer. Savana is a senior at OHS. She a member of the Elevations show choir and the Opelika High Theatre Society. She’s also taking guitar class and has been part of the school rock band, The Vibe. The Arts Association has been part of the Etris’ lives for a long time . Both children have benefited from performances they’ve attended as well as the workshops provided by visiting artists and tours. Michelle is excited to be part of the board of the Arts Association of East Alabama. 

Dennis Hamlet recently retired as the Chief Financial Officer of Bailey-Harris Construction, a local, long-standing regional general contracting firm. He is now a fractional CFO for several local small businesses in retirement.  Previous to Bailey-Harris, Mr Hamlet maintained a career as a Certified Public Accountant whose firm served local individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations throughout Alabama and Georgia with their audit, tax, and accounting needs. 

Mr Hamlet is a lifelong resident of Opelika and is a graduate of Opelika High School and Auburn University. Mr Hamlet has been a long-time supporter and patron of the local arts. Furthering his interest, His children were fortunate to attend Opelika School systems and participate and thrive in the multiple vocal and acting school arts programs that were offered. Professionally and otherwise, Mr Hamlet has volunteered as treasurer for various East Alabama boards and organizations over the years, including First Baptist Church Opelika, Lee County Chapter of American Red Cross, Opelika Junior Chamber of Commerce, and Opelika Dixie Youth Baseball. Other non-financial volunteer services and interests include the Opelika Chamber of Commerce as an ambassador, Greater Lee County Auburn Club as a founding member and Vice Chairman, Opelika Kiwanis Club, Auburn- Opelika Camellia Club, multiple choirs, and has been the finance committee chairman of Trinity Church, Opelika. 

Mr Hamlet is married, has 5 children, and 3 grandchildren, and outside of professional activities enjoys travelling, gardening, working with stained glass, and family time.

Nancy Carlton Bendinger is a creative & community-minded wife, mom, realtor, foodie, as well as an advocate, a creator & a supporter of the arts, of her community & state, and the residents of both. Nancy became involved in the arts as a child taking art lessons early in her youth from artists such as Joyce Nix, Lila Graves & Cheeko Douglas, as well as continuing ballet en pointe through high school. She switched between her loves of art & politics in college, ultimately going back to a major in political science and a minor in art history after a stint as a fine arts (painting) major and taking many of her core art classes. She graduated in 2001 from Auburn University and remained in Auburn until the fall of 2022, when she and her family moved to Opelika. Her daughter took a shine to the performing arts at a young ag,e starting theatre classes at age five. She is now fourteen and currently performing in A Christmas Carol at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. 

Nancy has volunteered and supported the arts in Lee County in many capacities over the years. She served on the board and volunteered with the Auburn Arts Association, advocated for the support of the arts during her time on the executive board for the Junior League of Lee County, volunteered with the auction committee for Art in Bloom at JCSM, has painted sets, helped with costumes & stage make-up, coordinated volunteers for numerous community theatre productions and more. 

Much of her additional community volunteering and leadership training while not specific to the arts is also beneficial to a variety of needs within a non-profit organization including volunteer coordination, strategic planning, board trainings, and organizational structure to name a few. Professionally she has worked for a non-profit, been a small retail business owner and currently she is a residential realtor.

Brian Perdomo’s passion for the arts traces back to his childhood in Miami, where he actively participated in choir and theater. This journey "famously" reached its peak with a middle-school performance as Daddy Warbucks in Annie. While his days on stage are behind him, Brian remains a dedicated patron of the arts, seeking out local and regional cultural experiences whenever he travels.

Professionally, Brian is the Credit Model Development Manager at Pinnacle Financial Partners, where he leads a team in developing statistical models. With nearly 20 years of experience in quantitative analysis—including past research roles at Fort Benning and Maxwell AFB—he brings a data-driven perspective to the board. Brian holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Florida and a Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Auburn University.

A resident of Opelika for two decades, Brian is deeply invested in the community where he raised his two children. He currently serves on the board of the Opelika Young Professionals and has volunteered with Opelika Main Street, the Opelika Songwriter’s Festival, and the Victorian Front Porch Festival. Brian is eager to leverage his expertise to help the AAEA thrive and expand its impact on the local community.

Wanda Lewis is a dedicated advocate for education and community empowerment. She currently serves as the Parent & Community Engagement Liaison at Auburn City Schools. Before that she was the President/CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Lee County, with a remarkable tenure spanning over two decades. A passionate champion for youth and community development, Wanda successfully led this prominent youth organization, overseeing comprehensive programs that positively impacted the lives of over 1,200 young individuals annually. As the President, she guided a dedicated Board of Directors in strategic planning and resource management. Wanda remains committed to fostering a brighter future for our youth through innovative initiatives and collaborative partnerships. 

Wanda studied Accounting and Business Management at Auburn University. She later studied at Troy State University with a major in Human Resource Management and a minor in Family & Child Development. In 2020, Wanda graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences earning a major in Interdisciplinary Studies/Leadership. 

Wanda has served on the boards of many local and state organizations, including the Alabama Association of Boys & Girls Club Professionals, Opelika City Schools Safe & Drug-Free Schools Advisory Committee Member, and Auburn University Outreach Advancement Board of Directors. Her community involvement includes the Rotary Club of Auburn, AL, The Arts Association of East Alabama as a Member of the Board, the Dream Day Foundation as the Treasurer and President, St. Luke Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, P.A.C.E. – People of Action for Community Enrichment, The Food Bank of East Alabama as a Member of the Board of Directors, United Way of Lee County Speakers Bureau, Women’s Club of Auburn, Junior League of Lee County – Empower: A Leadership Institute, and many more.

Cindy L. Singley began her professional career as Director of Programming for the City of Opelika’s Parks and Recreation Department in 1979. In 1983 Cindy co-founded Fellowship Travel and Tours, Inc. in Opelika. Growing the business through individual, corporate and group travel over the next 15 years, the agency was acquired by a regional firm in Birmingham, where she continued her career. Serving as manager of the corporate department and then as Vice President of Corporate Operations, she continued to expand her knowledge and expertise in the profession. An opportunity to serve Auburn University, her alma mater, Cindy moved to Auburn and took on the role as a Director of Development and then Director of University Recruitment until her retirement in 2019. Fulfilling her dream of ‘taking groups all over the world ‘ in her retirement, she has hosted groups to various destinations including Alaska, Canada, New England and Europe.

Rob Slocumb is a highly skilled guitarist and a member of the husband-and-wife duo Martha's Trouble. They have been touring the folk circuit in the US and Canada for over 20 years and have produced 12 albums, earning them several accolades. Besides his musical career, Rob has contributed significantly to the music industry and his community in Opelika - Auburn, Alabama. He and his wife Jen founded the Opelika Songwriters Festival and The Sound Wall Music Initiative, a non-profit organization that supports music education, artist development and performance. Rob also serves on the board of The Arts Association of East Alabama. In 2017, he and his wife Jen opened The Sound Wall, a versatile recording studio and event space in Downtown Opelika, AL. Rob and his family currently reside in Auburn.

Sally Melson Phillips is a lifelong resident of Opelika. After graduating from Auburn University in Speech Pathology, she served as a speech-language pathologist with Lee County Schools for twenty-six years. She has participated in many organizations including Girl Scouts of America as a Scout Leader, a board member and Chairperson for Keep Opelika Beautiful, and a member and volunteer of Trinity Methodist Church. As a board member and volunteer with Christian Care Ministries, Sally has served in soup kitchens and clothing distributions. During her time on the board of Envision Opelika Foundation, Sally chaired the committee to plan and build the Sportsplex of Opelika. Sally has been a longtime member of The Arts Association of East Alabama, supporting as a subscriber, and as a board member.

John Hawkins is a native to Alabama, where he grew up in the small town of Atmore. After graduating high school from Escambia County he attended Auburn University and received a BS in Secondary General Science Education. He taught high school in the Huntsville area for six years before returning to Auburn University where he received a second undergraduate and master’s degrees in Geology. During this time he was also a member of the Alabama National Guard where he served as principal French Horn player for 15 years. In 2019 he retired early from Auburn University as a Senior Lecturer in Geosciences, and took an interest in oil painting. He spent the next two years working to become a certified Bob Ross instructor. He teaches painting classes
at the Jan Dempsey center in Auburn. After oil painting he moved to ceramics where he spends most of his artistic energy. John assisted in starting a visual arts group, OA Visual Voice, and served on the board from 2022 to 2025. He is also a current member of the Auburn Arts Association and volunteers his time at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts center.