Suwanee Performing Arts
Founders and Board of Directors
Berneta Bock Davis, Founder
A child prodigy at the age of four, Berneta was sent to study under the
direction of Tensia Fonseca with the Maryland Youth Ballet. She performed
with the Atlanta and Bristol Ballets throughout her youth. She received her
Bachelor of Arts Degree with a double major in Education of Ballet and
Performance of Ballet from Virginia Intermont College. Berneta is currently
the COO of Suwanee Academy of the Arts, bringing 25 years of teaching
experience with her. “Miss Bernie” as she is known, is the Artistic Director
of the Suwanee Youth Ballet. She has served as Artistic Director for Suwanee
Performing Arts performances of 'High School Musical', 'Beauty and Beast', and
'Footloose', to name a few.
Patricia Etherton, Founder
Serving as CEO since the company’s inception, it is through Patty’s vision
and leadership that SPA has successfully grown to serve over 550 students of
the arts annually. Patty volunteers countless hours serving as Executive
Director as well as providing her valuable artistic talents as set and
costume designer, composer, playwright, actress, producer and director.
Patty received her undergraduate degree in Music Education from Millikin
University in Decatur, Illinois. After graduation she toured the country
singing professionally with Lake City Band before settling in Nashville,
Tennessee in 1985 with her husband Eric. Patty worked as a realtor for ERA
Realty for fourteen years; managing a sales team as well as her own
successful real estate business. Through it all Patty has always found time
for children and the arts and is currently director of the children’s choir
at Epiphany Lutheran Church.
Brian Garland, President
Brian is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, currently residing in Duluth with his
wife and two children. Brian has been a business owner and entrepreneur in
the Suwanee area for the past 18 years. His involvement with SPA began when
his daughter, now 8,enrolled at age 2 in Miss Bernie’s Creative Movement
class. Brian enjoys serving the community through church and charitable
organizations, and desires to see the performing arts and arts education
more fully developed within our community.
Marianne Weyen, Vice President
Marianne is the proud mother of two boys who share her love of the arts.
Marianne has served the community through her involvement in various local
charities and advisory boards. Her work experience includes ten years of
marketing and business development, primarily in the telecommunications
industry, followed by marketing consulting to not-for-profit medical
organizations. Marianne holds an M.B.A. from
DePaul University, Chicago, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Business
Administration Marketing from the University of Illinois.
Amy Kimball-Niepmann
Living in the Suwanee area since 1998,Amy volunteers her creative and
business skills whenever she can. She received her Bachelor of Science in
Management from Georgia Tech in 1990 and has held positions as a supervisor,
marketing manager, contract negotiator and office manager for major
corporations before becoming a co-founder of Hope Springs Christian School
in 2005.There she served not only as an officer, but as the business
manager, bookkeeper, recruiter and parent volunteer until July 2009. Amy and
her husband Mark have a daughter Scarlett, a voice and drama student at
Suwanee Academy of the Arts.
Betsy Bradley
Betsy is a Clinical Neuromuscular Therapist and brings to the board business
administration experience in various fields ranging from medical to legal.
Throughout her career, Betsy has worked in finance, management and
operations, including owning and operating an administrative support
business. After a childhood of exposure to the arts, Betsy has found Suwanee
Performing Arts the perfect place to utilize her talents end enrich the
lives of her three children. She has been nominated as Most Valuable
Volunteer for her direct involvement with SPA and is happy to be further
serving the community through her efforts here.
Dick Goodman
Dick moved to Suwanee from Miami in 2006 and has served as the first chair
of the Suwanee Public Arts Commission and was elected to City Council in
2009. Goodman is a freelance marketing/communications writer and journalist
with a passion for photography. A graduate of Clarkson College in Potsdam,
New York, he is a former columnist with the Atlanta Journal Constitution and
Miami Today. Goodman and his
wife, Louise, have six children between them and 11 grandchildren, three of
whom live in Suwanee.
Isabelle Franklin
Isabelle, a native of France, has been living in Suwanee for the past 13
years. She received a Marketing degree from Georgia State University and
worked in operations for Nortel Networks prior to having children. She is
now a part-time office manager for Thrivent Financial Services. Isabelle’s
interest in the arts began as a child when her parents encouraged her to
study ballet as well as take voice and piano lessons. She is the parent of a
Suwanee Youth Ballet dancer.
Kimberly Kota
Kimberly, a photographer and member of the North Gwinnett Arts Association,
is a native of Atlanta and has lived in Suwanee for the past five years. She
has several years of professional sales and management experience with
Fortune 500 companies. Additionally, she has several years of customer
service operations management experience with small businesses. Kim is the
married mother of an 8-year-old who attends SAA as a drama student.
Heather Parker
Heather, a resident of Suwanee, graduated from the Women’s College of Brenau
University with a degree in Mass Communication with an Advertising and
Public Relations emphasis. She is currently a senior account executive with
the Gwinnett Daily Post and is the company’s Relay for Life co-chairperson,
volunteers with the PAGE Georgia Academic Decathlon and co-coordinates
annual company fundraisers
for Gwinnett County DFCS and Gwinnett Children’s Shelter.