Executive Director
(518) 563-1604 ext. 109
megan@strandcenter.org

Megan Charland is an interdisciplinary artist and arts administrator with 18+ years working in the community arts field. Throughout her career serving in curator, producer, photo editor, and program director roles, positively impacting people's lives through the arts has always been at the heart of her work. Charland earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Visual Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Arts Administration from Visual Studies Workshop in association with The College at Brockport in 2013 and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Professional Photographic Illustration from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2008.

Charland serves as the Chief Curator of the Strand Center Gallery.

Charland's personal art practice primarily includes zines, cyanotypes, risography, and letterpress. megancharland.com

Theatre Manager
(518) 563-1604 ext. 103
jamie@strandcenter.org
bookings@strandcenter.org

Jamie Durivage is a veteran sound engineer, musician, and multidisciplinary artist, with a long connection with the Strand Theatre. Helping set up for and performing at shows at the Strand instilled a passion for making things happen in the production world.

After being a recording artist and touring national stages for years, he shifted his focus back to art. He became a full-time tattoo artist and practiced the art for close to a decade before taking a hiatus from it to once again focus on production, where he found his way back to the Strand Center Theatre.

Re-energized with the opportunity of taking the role of Theatre Manager, Jamie hopes to expand programming diversity and inclusion at the Strand Center Theatre.

Community Engagement Manager
(518) 563-1604 ext. 111
sommerleigh@strandcenter.org

Sommerleigh D’Elia is a multidisciplinary artist who specializes in ceramics and watercolor illustration. She graduated from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh with a MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, a BA in Psychology and a minor in Art Therapy. For Sommerleigh, well-being and the arts are very much intertwined, and she firmly believes that creative expression is a necessary part of maintaining one's mental health. Her main sources of inspiration are the flora and fauna of the Adirondacks, which she calls home, as well as the marine life found along Downeast Maine. Through her work, she hopes to place these commonly found pieces of life and nature onto a pedestal and foster an appreciation for the remarkableness of the ordinary.

Gallery Manager & Associate Curator
(518) 563-1604 ext. 101
gallery@strandcenter.org

Elsa is a 2020 graduate of SUNY Plattsburgh with a BFA in Painting & Drawing and a minor in Art History with experience in museum collections and exhibiting and selling her work throughout the North Country. She predominately identifies as a landscape painter with a specialty in Adirondack landscapes, skyscapes, oceans, and natural disasters. Growing up in the Adirondacks heavily inspired her passion and love for the landscape. In her work, Elsa uses a combination of movement, color, space, and contrast to evoke an emotional response from the viewer. To Elsa, art is a critical form of self expression and she believes that creativity is uniquely individual that should be harnessed and celebrated. As the Gallery Manager & Associate Curator she is driven to expand her love of art and connection through art to the community and help bring people together through shared experiences. Whether it’s through a gallery exhibition, an artisan market, an art festival, a free art activity/event, or a student in her painting class, Elsa aims to give everyone the chance to have an amazing art experience!

Clay Studio Manager
(518) 563-1604 ext. 110
lauren@strandcenter.org

After five years of directing live newscasts Lauren Isaacs is returning to the visual arts sphere as the Clay Studio Manager at the Strand Center for the Arts. She holds a BA in Digital Film and Screen Arts from The University for the Creative Arts in Farnham, England; and is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans photography, ceramics, fiber arts, printmaking, videography, and design... to name a few. She understands the importance of fostering a supportive space for creatives, and the balance between creativity and structure that a successful studio requires; with a strong belief in the power of hands-on making to build community. As Clay Studio Manager, she is dedicated to cultivating an inclusive and welcoming environment while ensuring safe, efficient, and creative workspaces where artists of all levels can explore, experiment, and grow their skills.

Front of House Manager
frontofhouse@strandcenter.org

Kathy Kokes grew up working for and helping to run her family’s Dairy Farm/Ice Cream business in Saranac Lake. Kathy Graduated from Skidmore College with BS degrees in Psychology and Music Education, then earned her MS in Education from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. She is now a retired Music Educator of over 30 years, who has spent nearly four decades performing, teaching, coaching and acting as Musical Director for Musical Theatre productions.  She is the founding member of several vocal ensembles, and has been invited to be the Guest Conductor for Music Festivals in NY and VT.  Kathy has served as a New York State School Music Association Vocal Adjudicator and served on NYSSMA’s state-wide diversity Committee for several years. 

Sound Engineer
sound@strandcenter.org

Nick Agoney is a sound engineer and stagehand with more than ten years of experience in live events.  While pursuing his degree in Audio/Radio Production, Nick designed and engineered sound for numerous productions by the SUNY Plattsburgh Theatre Department, including The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Little Shop of Horrors, and Oklahoma!.  Nick appreciated the educational opportunity afforded to him as a member of the Technical Production Crew at SUNY Plattsburgh, and upon graduation went on to oversee the production teams at colleges like the University of Rochester and the University of Vermont.  As a musician and avid concert-goer, Nick values the role that the Strand Center holds in Plattsburgh's performing arts community, and he hopes that his ideas and experience will help to lead the theater into the future.

Lighting Designer
lighting@strandcenter.org

Amanda Rice moonlights as a lighting designer when she is not teaching in the Plattsburgh City School District. While pursuing her Masters at SUNY Plattsburgh, she worked in live events management  with a specialization in lighting design. She has also worked in a number of venues around the North Country such as The Flynn, The Depot Theatre, and Lake Placid Center for the Arts. Amanda appreciates the opportunities that the North Country has afforded her and hopes to inspire the next generation through her teaching and her participation in the local arts.

Membership Coordinator
(518) 563-1604 ext. 105
kasey@strandcenter.org

Kasey is a multidisciplinary artist, with her primary focus based in ceramics, painting and drawing. She received a BA in Studio Arts and a minor in Art History from the State University of New York at Potsdam. She went on to continue her education and earned her Masters degree through the University of North Dakota. 

Kasey's work is heavily influenced by emotions and the human experience, exploring themes of playfulness, nostalgia, and deep emotional healing. She believes art is not always about the finished product, but of the process of making. Being present with yourself, feeling the tools in your hands, or the notes in your ears, the act of creation is the most important part. 

In her role as Membership Coordinator, she is devoted to enriching our community through encouraging others to explore more of what the arts can bring into their lives. By shining light on creative spaces and experiencing the vastness of what we call the arts, be it music, theater, fine art, crafting and everything in between. 

Youth Program Coordinator & Arts Educator
(518) 563-1604
youth@strandcenter.org

Sara is a self-taught artist who is passionate about sharing her knowledge and experience with the youth in our community. She began exploring art at a young age and has continued to build her creative “toolbox” through years of hands-on learning, experimentation, and growth.

Working across a wide range of mediums, Sara is always eager to explore new techniques and challenge herself artistically. She wears many hats—you might find her teaching youth classes and camps at the Strand, painting faces at community events and birthday parties, or creating custom commissioned paintings and portraits. @artby_saraacors

Most recently, Sara has been enjoying freeform crochet in her spare time, when she’s not working on her novel, grounding her creativity in her faith, or embracing her most important role: being a mother.

Art Studio & MakerSpace Coordinator
(518) 563-1604 ext. 110
makerspace@strandcenter.org

Noah Bonesteel is an emerging artist, working in painting, drawing, and printmaking. Originally from Averill Park in Rensselaer County, Noah attended SUNY Plattsburgh where he received a BFA in Painting and Drawing (2025). He and his art practice have developed a strong connection to the North Country and Adirondacks where he is committed to strengthening the local art scene. He is especially excited to further establish the printmaking studio at the Strand and hopes to engage local artists and community members with the space’s potential. 

His work explores the human relationship to our environment focusing on the interconnectedness of all life and the entanglement of ecology and human activity. He has exhibited across the North Country and Capital Regions of New York. noah.bonesteel.com

Custodian & Welcome Center Team Member
(518) 563-1604 ext. 105
caroline@strandcenter.org

Caroline Collison is a Nursing and Humanities student at Clinton Community College, with a long-time love for the performing arts. Locally known as somewhat of a Rock n’ Roll folk legend, Caroline enjoys music, singing and acting, with a focus on improv comedy. She brings that same love for improv to her work at the Strand, where she is happy to take on any job when needed. She primarily works as the custodian for both the Arts Center and the Theatre, but you can also find her at the Welcome Center desk, the Box Office, or working Safety and Concessions during performances.

Originally a New Hampshire native, Caroline quickly became an avid supporter of Plattsburgh’s arts and music community. When she’s not catching a show in town, she can be seen at local LGBTQ+, disability and human rights events, volunteering with Clinton’s Advocacy Alliance and Adirondack Community Connections. She celebrates creative expression in all its forms and encourages others to live out loud.