BRAC Board Members

Kimberly Hale
BRAC Vice-President

Kim has been working as a physical therapist at Mercy Branson Therapy Services for over 14 years and currently is the Clinical Coordinator for Mercy Branson Therapy Services. She is an orthopedic physical therapist with specialty in Dance and Performing Arts Medicine providing rehabilitation to dancers and performing artists working professionally in Branson. She has a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Biology. She also serves on the board of Tri-Lakes Community Theatre (TLC ) as Vice-President.

She has co-produced “Hello Dolly” and the Gala Celebration for TLC. She organized and collaborated with Forsyth High School administrators for the induction of the Forsyth International Thespian Society chapter and currently serves as Booster Club President. In addition, she has served as production manager for the productions of “The Sound of Music”, “Bye Bye Birdie” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie” for the Forsyth High School. She is passionate about continuing to bring awareness to the importance of arts education to the youth in the Tri-Lakes area.

Denise Jones
BRAC Chief Financial Officer (former)

Denise’s background is in accounting and computers. Past positions have included Production Coordinator for SII McEvoy, Houston Texas, manufacturer of oil field equipment, Accounting Manager for PharmaTech Industries, Div. of Life Medical Systems, a private label packaging company, St. Louis location, Bookkeeper, EDCO Information Systems, Springfield, MO, computer sales and service. Several years ago, she accepted a bookkeeping position at National Art Shop, Springfield, MO, and it opened up a new world. It has been a wonderful opportunity to experience visual arts in all forms and from all perspectives: from children and students to teachers and professional artists. This position has evolved over the years into Administrative Assistant. In that capacity, she has picked up various other duties such as website development and social media which has led to also becoming BAC’s new social media coordinator. Although this is her first foray into non-profits, she brings a variety of skills to this position. Locally, she attended classes at OTC and Drury University. She has been a Den Mother, Brownie Leader, Little League Baseball and Softball Coach. She and her husband, Don, recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. They have been blessed with many children and grandchildren. Denise has always encouraged her children to explore their creativity in all forms of art and now enjoys these activities with her “very talented” grandchildren.

Darlene Graham
BRAC Secretary

Darlene is a retired teacher. During her 25 years of teaching she taught English, Drama, Speech, Journalism and Broadcasting.

Most recently, she directed the 2014 production of “Once Upon a Mattress” for Tri-Lakes Community Theatre in Branson.

She learned a lot about improvisation when she worked as a street entertainer at Silver Dollar City. She also performed in plays (“Private Lives”; “Sweet Charity”; “Folio Follies” and various children’s theatre traveling productions) and reader’s theatre workshops at Missouri State University as well as working backstage (stage director, props, costumes, sound, lighting) on almost every production in which she was not acting. She brings many skills to BAC but we are particularly excited about her years of experience “of operating on a shoe string budget” as a teacher and in the theater. She is a member of the Nixa City Council and works for Nixa Chamber of Commerce.

In Memory of Robert Cohn 1932-2017
BRAC Board Member

Robert Cohn sadly passed away on September 15, 2017, he is truly missed as an active member of the board.  Robert came to Missouri from Newton, Iowa where he served as President of the Rotary Club, Retail Merchants Bureau, Jaycees and Community Theatre Association.

He and wife Barbara moved to the Branson area in 1997.  He was an active board member of the Branson Arts Council for 19 years, having served as Chief Financial Officer for twelve years and two years as the Board President.

His efforts to develop a juried fine arts event for the Branson Convention Center eventually led to the development of the Convention Center Gallery Show which just completed it’s first year of operation.  Robert’s fiscally conservative approach to this and other arts council projects have helped to develop praise and trust from our Branson City Administrators and Aldermen.

Robert and Barbara were presented with the Branson Arts Council ‘Arts Citizens of the Year’ award in 2013. We commend them for their many years of service to growing the arts in the Ozarks.

Clint Cross
BRAC Board Member

Born and raised in the Kansas City and Lake of the Ozark area, Clint is proud to call Missouri his home. He attended University of Missouri/Columbia and University of Missouri/Kansas City, graduating with a BA in Business Administration. After a successful twenty-four year career with Montgomery Ward in the retail industry, Clint made a career changed to join the hospitality industry.  Opportunities with international hospitality corporations have taken him throughout the mid-southwest regions of the US. Currently, as Assistant General Manager for Hiltons of Branson, Clint enjoys serving on the Blue Energy Committee. This national program requires his participation at the local level with monthly service within the community.  Local youth and charitable organizations plus two area schools benefit from his committee’s drives and collections.

Clint is proud to have been involved in the Artist in Residence program at Inn & Spa at Loretto, Santa Fe, NM,  where he served as the property liaison for the program to increase the exposure of regional artists and provide live demonstrations for hotel guests.  In Kansas City, Clint served as co-chair for the American Cancer Society- Heartland Division’s “Academy Award Gala”, utilizing skills of retail presentation, event planning and fund raising for this annual event. Clint is active in the Branson Chamber of Commerce and serves as a deacon in his church, the Branson Christian Church Disciples of Christ. During his spare time, Clint enjoys movies, travel, hiking, and boating as well as spending time with extended family and friends in the Branson area and throughout the world.

Hayden Head
BRAC Board Member

Hayden Head has been a professor of English at College of the Ozarks for eighteen years. He and his wife, Sue, came to Branson from Irving, TX, after Hayden completed his doctoral studies in the Institute for Philosophic Studies at the University of Dallas.

Hayden is an educator with a theatrical background, having written theatre scripts and lyrics throughout his life. He wrote a script and lyrics for The Hunchback of Notre Dame in his twenties, long before Disney created their version. He loved the Ozarks story of The Shepherd of the Hills so much, he created and produced a new musical version in collaboration with renown musician, vocalist, arranger and composer Stan Beard, who developed the emotionally moving score.

Hayden and Sue have two children, Heno and Lanie. Hayden intends to pursue some longtime creative aspirations upon his retirement.

Bonnie Herrmann
BRAC Ex Officio Board Member

Bonnie has faithfully served as the Executive Director of the Branson Arts Council from 2006 – 2017. She continues to serve the organization as a valued member of the Board of Directors.

Before moving to the Branson Tri-Lakes area, she was the Director of the University of Wisconsin Extension Office in Racine, Wisconsin as well as a full professor teaching in the Non-Profit Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

She was also Director of the 4-H Program for Milwaukee County for 20 years and held national 4-H offices for eight of those years.

Her administrative and grant writing skills have served the Branson Regional Arts Council well for many years.