Staff

Lori Cozzi​

Executive Director

Lori’s roles in schools have included teaching visual art, middle and elementary grades, and most recently she was the Executive Director of ArtSpace Charter School in Swannanoa, NC for thirteen years. Lori has been a Teaching Fellow with the NC A+ Schools Program since 1999, and in this role has traveled throughout the country presenting and instructing other educators on best practices in arts integrated learning. 

Lori has been involved with the Black Mountain Center for the Arts since it’s beginning; as a local teacher collaborating with the Center, as a community member whose daughter takes dance here, and as a Board member.  In 2019 Lori became the Executive Director of BMCA, a position she views as her “dream job”!  In addition to spending time with her family, Lori enjoys travel, gardening, dance, art history, and making pottery.

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Marylee Rorick​

Marketing & Program Coordinator

Pronouns: she/her/hers

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Marylee has been providing marketing and graphic design services for local businesses and organizations in WNC since 2014. She is very passionate about giving small businesses a platform and a voice. Marylee is originally from New Jersey, where she worked in the Children's Department of a library for seven years, assisting with puppet performances, craft programs, and school outreach.

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Marylee lives in Old Fort with her husband and three dogs, where she enjoys cooking, hiking, and crafting.

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Jessica Klarp

Events Coordinator​

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With a background in theater as a performer, teacher and producer, and in the magazine business as a writer and editor, Jessica is a perfect fit for the diversity of the Arts Center. She served as program coordinator from 2013 to 2018 before moving to event coordination. Jessica has lived in Black Mountain with her wife, sculptor Julia Burr, since 1999. She enjoys hiking local trails with her dogs and friends and growing her prize-winning dahlias.

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Charles Freeland​

Clay Studio Manager

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