Meet Our Team

HCFAC CHAIR & PROJECTS AND PARTNERSHIPS CHAIR

Allisa has lived in Brooksville since she was 8 years old (20 years). Allisa is the founder of Roots Creative Co. where she finds joy in creating meaningful content and one-of-a-kind experiences for local businesses and she is a mixed media artist and photographer. She has a passion for art, nature, and people. Because of her shared love for art and community, her favorite HCFAC program is the partnership with Brooksville Main Street, the Mobile Mural Program, which she developed with her friend Jessica Knutila. Allisa joined the Arts Council in 2019 to help modernize the council and engage the community with new programs and events that are designed to be accessible to all.

HCFAC VICE CHAIR & PUBLIC ART CHAIR

Pedram moved to Brooksville 6 years ago. His passions include art, plants, painting, and permaculture. His main reason for joining the council in 2021 was to make more art. Serving as the Gallery Curator at Gallery 201 for three years, Pedram facilitated a huge increase in artist participation and public interest in fine art - so it is safe to say that he is making and bringing more art to the Hernando County community alongside countless artists each and every day! These days, Pedram serves on the Council as Vice Chair, Public Art Chair, and Student Art Show Coordinator for Art in the Park, which is his favorite HCFAC program!

TREASURER, COMMUNITY ARTS GRANT CHAIR & AITP EXHIBITOR COORDINATOR

Cheryl has been a Brooksville resident for 45 years. Although she is retired, Cheryl remains busy with the numerous Arts Council programs she plays a key role in. In her spare time, she loves traveling, gardening, and entertaining.

The Community Arts Grant is her favorite HCFAC program which she has taken the lead on since 2020. Cheryl joined the Arts Council in 2019. She describes herself as an appreciator of art and says that when she saw that her county was growing and changing in a positive direction, she wanted to be a part of making the arts a part of that growth!

OUTREACH + ADVOCACY CHAIR & SECRETARY

Diane has lived in Hernando Beach for 10 years. Diane has many hobbies and passions – photography, event planning, websites, and social media marketing. Her favorite HCFAC programs are the Hernando Beach Front Porch Art Walk and Art Everywhere.

Wishing to put her skills to work to help market the arts and help create a thriving arts community in Hernando Beach, Diane joined the council in 2021. She single-handedly started the Hernando Beach Front Porch Art Walk in January 2023, and has grown the event from 20 artists to more than 50 artists each month. The Arts Council is proud to sponsor the Art Walk and to support the initiative alongside her!

COUNCIL MEMBER

Dakota is passionate about finding a sense of community and supporting local artists. She works part-time for The Creative Artnest as a Lead Artist and Creative Assistant, and is also pursuing a bachelor’s degree at USF in Fine Arts with a concentration in Animation. Dakota is new to Hernando County, but she has already been a tremendous support for the Arts Council! She served as our very first intern in Spring 2024, giving us a huge amount of support at Art in the Park before officially joining as a council member in June 2024.

AITP ENTERTAINMENT COORDINATOR

Isaiah grew up in Spring Hill and has lived here his whole life. He joined the Hernando County Fine Arts Council in 2022 with a desire to bring his perspective as a musician to the team, hoping to expand performance art and live music in the county.

Isaiah is a musician and artist who performs around Hernando County and surrounding areas with his band, He Kindly. He currently works as a grantwriter, helping other organizations find much-needed funding. In his spare time, he enjoys playing D&D with friends, serving his community, and telling corny jokes. Art Everywhere is his favorite Arts Council program and he always enjoys performing at Gallery 201!

OFFICE MANAGER

Jessica grew up spending summers in Hernando County and has lived in Spring Hill for 7 years. She is a talented glass artist with senOiH Glass, and is dedicated to promoting public art in Hernando County. She coordinated the Brooksville Mobile Mural Project from its inception in 2020 until 2024, and joined the Hernando County Fine Arts Council in January 2021. She currently serves as our office manager.

Jessica is passionate about learning and is a self-described tourist of where she lives, often found foraging for local fruits or fossil hunting. She’s dedicated to making the arts accessible & fostering a culture that empowers artists to thrive. In her work with the Arts Council, she is most excited about our grant programs!

COUNCIL MEMBER

Joan LoBianco is the newest member of the Arts Council! She is an award-winning photographer who loves cruising around the world and photographing the people and places she encounters. You can browse her work at joanlobiancophotography.com

Joan has lived in the same house in Spring Hill for 33 years. She is a retired reading specialist and special education teacher from Hernando County Schools who now volunteers to help 3rd graders improve their reading skills. Find her at the Hernando Beach Front Porch Art Walk, where she was recently featured in their monthly Artist Spotlight!

“When we notice the beauty and art everywhere around us, it can help to make our vision of the world a more positive and purposeful experience.”

COUNCIL MEMBER

Meet Lisa Hannon! Lisa has been a resident of Hernando County for 17 years, and currently lives in Spring Hill. She is the CEO of Mrs. Grout LLC, and has been a major sponsor of Art in the Park for a few years! In fact, Art in the Park is Lisa’s favorite Arts Council event. She joined the Arts Council in 2023 to give back, as she is passionate about bringing art into the community and growing the arts scene here in Hernando County. Lisa enjoys all forms of art and also loves camping, boating, and her amazing family!

AITP CHILDREN’S EXPERIENCE AREA COORDINATOR

Nidia has called Hernando County home for 19 years. She lives and works in Spring Hill as a music teacher with Suzuki String Nature Coast and a public notary. She loves crocheting and event planning and is passionate about all things music! This can be seen in her wonderful work with Suzuki String Nature Coast. Art in the Park is her favorite HCFAC event. Nidia joined the council in 2023 with a desire to spread the arts around our community and bring music into more events and programming of the council.

ART EVERYWHERE CHAIR & STRATEGIC PLANNING COORDINATOR

Nina has lived in Brooksville since 2018. In her spare time, she enjoys many crafts, including woodworking, letterpress printing, traditional wooden boat building, Seminole war re-enacting, and home improvement projects. Nina developed the Arts Council's first ongoing public art program, Art Everywhere! Nina says she has always loved art and when she moved to Brooksville, she found herself wanting to get deeply involved in her community, which led her to join the council in 2019.

COUNCIL MEMBER

Ron is a local glassblower who is excited to help set policy that protects our local artists. He has been a Hernando County resident for 3 years and lives in Spring Hill. His favorite Arts Council event is Art in the Park!

When asked why he joined the Arts Council, Ron said, “I recall my mother sending me to a Saturday art school when I was 8 years old; a seed was planted then, and it blossomed into an artist in my 30’s. I believe the Arts Council is the best way to get the art message out to the public.”

COUNCIL MEMBER

Roxanne has lived in Hernando County for 28 years and joined the Arts Council to be an active member in the growing arts scene here. However, she already has a reputation in the area for being a lot of people’s favorite art teacher! Roxanne is also a freelance artist who dabbles in all forms of art - from photography and mixed-media, to children’s books, illustration and writing. She is a regular exhibitor at the Hernando Beach Front Porch Art Walk and has also painted a mermaid on The Mermaid Tale Trail. You can visit Mermaid “Ila” at the Wellcome Om Center in Spring Hill!

Interested in joining? Learn more at www.hernandoarts.org/membership-info