OUR BOARD

Bickley has a passion for children and art. Her most recent profession for 25 years and before starting ArtReach was Marriage and Family Therapy/Mental Health Counseling, working with addictions, leading group therapy and therapeutic camps for the children of addicts who were in treatment.  

After retiring, Bickley literally had a dream about creating a safe space for the children in an underserved area where children could come and do art. The only rules: do not paint on the walls, and do not paint on one another! This dream came to pass in 2012, when ArtReach Orlando was established as a 501(c)3. She has maintained her Marriage and Family Therapy license in order to be qualified to help the children when issues that need attention come up during the art. 

bwilson@artreachorlando.org

Rachel Allen is a life-long educator and practitioner who supports others to practice and educate for peace and justice in their work and personal lives. She earned her B.A. degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Northwestern University and her M.A. degree in Theater from the University of Oregon. At Valencia College in Orlando, Florida, Rachel is a tenured Professor of Humanities and founding member and director of the Peace and Justice Institute. She presented a credible pathway to peace at a High-Level Forum at the United Nations in 2018 and was noted as one of the people making a difference in Central Florida by the Orlando Sentinel. She is an avid fan of ArtReach Orlando and believes in the power of art to change the lives of children and nurture community. Rachel is a proud parent of two children; they live in Maitland, Florida. 

Clarissa Detzel has lived in Winter Park, Florida for over 25 years. She received her Masters in Urban and Regional Planning and B.A. in Creative Writing, both from Florida State University. She has worked for a variety of child advocacy and nonprofit organizations including: March of Dimes, Voices for Children of Tampa Bay, the Guardian ad Litem Program, Community Based Care of Central Florida. Clarissa has experience in child advocacy, community engagement, grant writing, event planning, and fundraising/development. She is passionate about the healing power of artistic expression and looks forward to seeing ArtReach continue to grow and serve the children in our community.  

Birte is an artist (not only) at heart, with a passion for philanthropy. The German native has a Master degree in advertising and communications (Institut for Marketing  and Communication, Berlin; Florida International University, Miami), and an ICF certified education as CTI co-active coach.  

As a Sports- and Event-Marketing Manager for a leading Advertising Agency, and  later as a Communications Associate for a global HR management consultancy, Birte successfully integrated her creativity into diverse professions. And while she worked  diligently in her professional life, she always found the time to explore her innate  passion for philanthropy. Specifically, Birte paved the way to successfully connect  philanthropic people like herself, to those who needed help, but might otherwise  not be able to help themselves without the aid and support of others. This  synergistic 'calling' that Birte discovered within herself, began when she joined the  youth organization of Lions Clubs Germany, and remained a valued member of Lions  Clubs Germany once she entered adulthood. Birte's dedication, creativity and  initiatives, led to her earning the Melvin-Jones-Fellowship Award in 1998.  

Since her arrival to Florida almost ten years ago, Birte continues to concurrently expand her professional and creative skills, as joint owner and Marketing Manager of  an information security firm with her husband, based in Winter Park, Florida. And much like her days in Germany, Birte also continues to create and inspire as a philanthropist, while also finding time to express herself to the world through her own artwork. She began almost immediately serving her new community, quickly earning a seat as a board member of Council of 101 for the Orlando Museum of Arts in the capacity of VP Corporate Development and Sponsorship. Having been  introduced to ArtReach Orlando and its wonderful mission by her dear friend Sarah  Zimmer, Birte said immediately “yes” when asked if she would be interested in the  possibility of joining the Board.

Ruth was born in New York and raised in Orlando, Florida. She studied Business Administration and Psychology at the University of Central Florida. Ruth holds a Masters in Business Administration and two professional Human Resource certifications. Ruth’s passion for the arts and supporting children in disenfranchised communities led her to work in the public sector at both her alma matters Valencia College and the University of Central Florida. Once she transitioned to the private sector she looked for more ways to give back, and found that ArtReach Orlando was a perfect opportunity to pursue her passion.

Greg is a partner at the law firm ShuffieldLowman and a Martindale-Hubbell AV-rated attorney practicing in non-profit law, estate planning, including high-net worth estate tax planning, corporate law, tax law, and probate, representing individuals and families with complex business and estate planning needs.

Born and raised in Central Florida, Greg particularly loves seeing the positive impact ArtReach has on young people within the local community and how art empowers them to develop their self-confidence and emotional resilience.

William Watson is currently the organizer of the Commodity Roundtable, (CR) an informal share-group of CEOs and Executive Directors who come together to solve issues facing their respective agriculture research and promotion boards. Examples of these grower organizations include The Cotton Board, National Pork Board, National Dairy Board, Cattlemen’s Beef Board and the United Soybean Board. Watson has been with the Commodity Roundtable since its inception, in 2003. He is also the Managing Director of the newly created Colombia Avocado Board. 

Prior to the Commodity Roundtable Watson served as the Executive Director of the National Mango Board, (NMB) from 2006-2014. In 2006, Watson became the initial executive director of the National Mango Board, which represents mango production from around the world and promotes higher awareness and consumption of mangos in the United States. As the NMB’s first Executive Director, he hired staff and built the program structure including marketing, research and industry relations plans which are increasing mango consumption while adding value to the crop in the US. 

Watson was also the original Executive Director of the National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB), 1990-2003. At the NWPB, he guided the NWPB from its inception into a highly successful national promotion program. By the time Watson departed the NWPB, Watermelon usage among US consumers was the highest it had been since the mid-1960s. 

The National Watermelon Promotion Board and the National Mango Board are currently members of the Commodity Roundtable. 

From 1988-1989, he served as Assistant to the Manager of the Texas Vegetable Association and Texas Citrus Mutual. Watson began his career growing and shipping sweet onions, watermelons and blueberries from Tyler, Texas, where he also owned and managed a retail/wholesale produce market and a herd of registered Black Angus cattle.

When he is not creating organizations to help growers, Watson pursues his passion of photography while hiking, biking or kayaking throughout Florida’s wilderness. He also documents his unique journeys in other countries through the lenses of his camera.