Our Board

Original co-owner of Vino Manzanita, and current co-owner of Finnesterre, Desaro said, “I think having an art center in the community is a valuable asset; it speaks to the quality of life we desire as residents of this community.” She added, “I believe the arts play an important part in one’s personal growth, it can stimulate conversation and help understand social change, it can connect people in interesting ways.” Desaro first became involved in the Hoffman Center in 2009. “I was asked to help with a capital campaign at that time and learned a lot about how the community felt about the center,” she said. “In the end, I convinced several of our friends and acquaintances to contribute to the idea that we needed to focus on making the facility more comfortable and inviting.” Desaro and her husband Craig Nern are credited with initiating the Center’s Manzanita Film Series. They sponsored the first film night on Halloween 2009, showing the 1922 silent horror classic “Nosferatu.” “I’d like to play a part in envisioning what the Hoffman Center can be and this is an exciting time to be involved,” she said. “I want to give back to my community and look forward to being involved in this little art center in our beautiful town.” “Terri’s years of experience in our community in running several very successful businesses gives her unique insights and experience,” said board president Mary Roberts. “She has also been a very long-term supporter who has already helped to make the Hoffman what it is today. We are very much looking forward to serving with Terri.”

During his 21-1/2-year career as a Navy officer, David specialized in minesweeping, gunnery, and public affairs. In the latter field, writing was essential and he applied that talent to serve as the editor of our local newspaper—The North Coast Citizen.

After retiring from the Navy, he worked as an account executive for a public relations firm, and a marketing manager for an educational software company.

He has dabbled with the arts since his earliest years—particularly music, photography and writing. He played in school concert and marching bands from third grade through college. A still and motion picture aficionado, he got his first camera at age nine.

David is a great fan of classical music—particularly Italian opera. He recognizes the value of exposure to and involvement with the arts to people of all ages, especially the young.

He serves as the Hoffman Center’s building manager and audiovisual specialist. He also leads the Film Program. David is an original Center board member and was a personal friend of the Hoffman Center’s namesakes—Lloyd and Myrtle Hoffman. He is married to a multi-talented artist.

Education
BS Speech/Broadcasting, University of Utah
MS Business, Boston University

Fun Fact
For two years during his military career, David served as the Navy’s Hollywood Liaison Officer, and has many stories to tell about that experience.

Sharon worked 15 years as a healthcare executive, including three as Senior VP for hospital operations, and 12 years with a Fortune 100 company as healthcare operations and technology consultant. Gibson also worked multiple years as a board member and officer on related healthcare boards and councils. In the nonprofit world, she served five years on the board of a children’s healthcare charity, including two years as PR Director and two more as Board President. Gibson has volunteered for three years in the Hoffman Center Clay Studio. She has also served two years on the board of the Tillamook County Cultural Coalition including a year as its Chair. Education BS, Education and Music, Wesleyan College MS, Business and Organizational Development, The Johns Hopkins University Fun Fact Sharon and husband Steven, as members of the Maritime Archeology Society, collect artifacts relating to the local Beeswax Wreck.

Toni’s passion for the visual arts accelerated when she retired after 35 years in financial and general management.  Although she is a part-time Manzanita resident, the Hoffman Center for the Arts has fueled that passion.  Toni and her colleagues on the Visual Arts Committee are dedicated to raising the Hoffman Center’s visual arts profile on the Oregon Coast by increasing the quantity, quality, and diversity of visual arts programs and workshops. Toni’s management career spanned a range of for-profit and nonprofit organizations, including CEO of Portland’s Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital, chief administrative officer of law firms in Oregon and California, and president of the International Association of Legal Management. Her civic engagement included board memberships on the City Club of Portland, Reed College Women’s Committee, and as a founding board member of the Columbia Riverkeeper. Education BA/ MA, American Studies, University of Hawaii MBA, Central Michigan University Fun Fact In addition to art, Toni is passionate about traveling, gardening (she’s a Master Gardener) and walking her dogs on the beach.

For nearly 40 years Marc lived and worked in Boise, Idaho as a broadcast journalist, press secretary and chief of staff to Idaho’s governor, and as owner of a regional public affairs and communications firm.

A long-time advocate for the humanities and civic education, Marc served as chair of the Idaho Humanities Council and the Federation of State Humanities Councils and has served as a National Endowment for the Humanities site visitor. He chaired the board of the Boise Public Library and currently serves as vice president of the North Tillamook Library Friends. He also serves on the board of the Nehalem Bay Health District.

His writing has appeared in numerous regional and national publications, and he has taught courses on politics and history at the university level. He is the author of a political biography of Montana New Deal-era Senator Burton K. Wheeler.

Education
BS, Journalism, South Dakota State University

Fun Fact
As a broadcast journalist, Marc has interviewed politicians, writers and artists, including the environmental writer Edward Abbey and Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter.

“Art is an integral part of a healthy, thriving, happy community and the Center offers wonderful opportunities for creativity,” she said. “I’m thrilled to serve at such an exciting time. The board is focused on serving our community even better while keeping the Center accessible.” Roberts joined the Hoffman board in Nov. 2017, after becoming an active volunteer and participant in the Clay Studio and overseeing improvements in the Center’s Gallery. Roberts earned a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in management from Portland State University. From 1995 to 2005, she served as CEO of Rejuvenation Inc. in Portland. Prior to that, she was Chief Operating Officer for Hanna Andersson, also in Portland. In the non-profit world, Roberts has served on the boards of the Women’s Foundation of Oregon, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, the Natural Step Network, Transition Projects, Artist’s Repertory Theater, the New Rose Theater, and Northwest Business for Culture and the Arts. Education BS, Business Administration, Portland State University Fun Fact Mary is an avid gardener and can be found many warm afternoons with her husband Mark chasing pesky pop-weeds (Cardamine hirsuta).

Mark’s 35-year career with the Bonneville Power Administration included stints in energy demand forecasting, planning and budget, financial analysis and revenue requirement, and strategic planning.

In the nonprofit world, Roberts served on the Neahkahnie Water District board (president) and Portland’s Hoyt Arboretum Friends (president). He is currently on the Board of the North Coast Food Bank and is appointed to the Tillamook County Planning Commission.

As the Hoffman Center treasurer, Mark provides financial analysis and has a side-gig of working on various facilities projects. He is also one of several “staff” photographers.

Education
BA, Economics, University of Denver

Fun Fact
While living in Colorado (after a childhood in Los Angeles), Mark formed a life-long love for the outdoors. His annual week long backpack trip into the Grand Canyon provides year round incentive to keep on walking!

A veteran of 40 years of teaching, Marcia moved to Portland in 1992 to work with Kim Stafford’s Northwest Writing Institute at Lewis and Clark College. Her first visit to Manzanita was for a NWI faculty retreat. She bought a cabin in 1997, eventually making it her home in 2013. She has worked all her adult life as a teacher of writing at colleges and universities. For her the most satisfying aspect of that work has been supporting students and faculty with individual writing projects they then carried into the world. She has also served as secretary for the North Tillamook County Library Board and as consultant in writing for businesses, nonprofits, and individuals. Education Ph.D., English Language and Literature, New York University Fun Fact Marcia and her husband renovated a 19th century Brooklyn brownstone in New York City and raised two daughters in it. Marcia congratulates herself on landing in the “little apple” from the Big Apple.

After a 25 year career in bank marketing, most recently in executive management, Wildauer moved to Manzanita full time in 2006.  In 2008 she co-founded the Manzanita Writers’ Series, bringing regional authors to the coast for readings and workshops and encouraging local writers to share their work during Open Mic. In 2009, she joined the board for four years.  She worked to expand the Hoffman Center’s marketing efforts and managed the Hoffman’s blog site.  She also generated press releases and flyers for literary and other events. In early 2012, she co-founded the North Coast Squid , a journal of local writing and art, to further develop the writing community in North Tillamook County. Her board experience includes eight years as board member of a mental health non-profit in Everett, WA; where she served as board president for four years and chair of the public relations committee.

Education BA, German, Portland State University MA, German, University of Washington

Fun Fact She lives with her husband in what had been her family’s beach house since 1975.