Cultural Catalysts with Alison McNeil

• Presenting the Arts through Thoughtful Risk and Unconventional Welcome with Colleen Jennings-Roggensack

  Colleen Jennings-Roggensack has shaped the arts landscape for decades as Vice President for Cultural Affairs at Arizona State University and Executive Director of ASU Gammage. A Tony Awards voter and recipient of a Tony Honor for Excellence in Theatre, she has built a career grounded in curiosity, mentorship, and community connection. In this episode, Colleen shares how she reimagined ASU Gammage with its Connecting Communities mission, created spaces where Broadway and boundary-pushing performance coexist, and nurtured generations of leaders by insisting that leadership is horizontal, not vertical. From producing her first neighborhood show in fourth grade, to commissioning groundbreaking works, to guiding the national arts field as Vice Chair of the Broadway League, Colleen demonstrates the power of vision rooted in service. Listeners will leave inspired to expand their own curiosity, honor the shoulders they stand on, and become shoulders for others.Sponsor Spotlight: Ingram Financial ManagementBig thanks to our sponsor, Ingram Financial Management — a trusted firm providing personal tax preparation, small business support, and financial education since 2011. With expertise in Military Tax Matters, Multi-State Returns, Small Businesses, and Residential Rentals, they help clients make confident, informed financial decisions year-round.Learn more at ingramfinancialmanagement.comFind out more: Arizona State University Cultural AffairsASU GammageEmail Colleen: [email protected] and [email protected] Want to know more about the Impact Roadmap: The Art of Describing Your Impact? Join the waitlist to get first access.🔗 Connect with Alison:LinkedInInstagram🌐 Find out more about McNeil Creative Enterprises.

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• The Art (and Science) of Marketing in Theater with PennyMaria Jackson

  On this episode of Cultural Catalysts, host Alison McNeil sits down with PennyMaria Jackson, Director of Marketing & Communications at Chicago’s iconic Steppenwolf Theatre Company. With nearly 20 years in arts management, PennyMaria has shaped campaigns for institutions like the Apollo Theater, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and the Tony Awards. From launching Pulitzer Prize–winning plays to creating community access programs, she shares how thoughtful marketing transforms audiences into movements. Listen as we explore the art, science, and heart behind cultural storytelling.Find out more: Steppenwolf Theatre CompanyArtzVentureWomen of Color in the Arts (WOCA)Baraka SeleColleen Jennings-RoggensackDonna Walker-KuhneStephanie Hughley  Want to know more about the Impact Roadmap: The Art of Describing Your Impact? Join the waitlist to get first access.🔗 Connect with Alison:LinkedInInstagram🌐 Find out more about McNeil Creative Enterprises.

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• Kimberly Douglas on Building DC’s Theater Community and Cultural Bridges​

  Kimberly Douglas, Managing Director of Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, joins Cultural Catalysts to talk about building, leading, and sustaining community-centered theater in Washington, DC. Kimberly shares her journey from her foundational years at Roots Activity Learning Center and Duke Ellington School of the Arts to her transformative leadership at The ARC Theater and now Woolly Mammoth. She explores why access to the arts is essential infrastructure, not a luxury, and how every role—from production manager to managing director—has fueled her mission to make space, nurture local talent, and ensure stories on stage help communities grow and heal.Find out more:Woolly Mammoth Theatre CompanyBuilding Bridges Across the RiverRoots Activity Learning CenterDuke Ellington School of the Arts Want to know more about the Impact Roadmap: The Art of Describing Your Impact? Join the waitlist to get first access.🔗 Connect with Alison:LinkedInInstagram🌐 Find out more about McNeil Creative Enterprises.

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• Bridging Art and Business: Arvind Manocha’s Journey from McKinsey to Wolf Trap​

  Visionary arts leader Arvind Manocha, President & CEO of the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts—home to Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts—joins Alison to explore what it really takes to run one of America’s most beloved venues. Arvind traces a winding path from McKinsey & Company to the LA Philharmonic (including the Hollywood Bowl and Walt Disney Concert Hall), and digs into metrics that honor both the ephemeral magic of a single performance and the perpetuity of long-term capital projects. We get real about philanthropy’s role, artist hospitality (why backstage matters), and why programming a national park must reflect the nation. Also in the mix: mentorship, wellness, and building a career in the arts without losing your joy. Plus shout-outs to colleagues at ASU Gammage and beyond.Find Out More Here:Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing ArtsWolf Trap Professional Development WorkshopsAssociation of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP) Want to know more about the Impact Roadmap: The Art of Describing Your Impact? Join the waitlist to get first access.🔗 Connect with Alison:LinkedInInstagram🌐 Find out more about McNeil Creative Enterprises.

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• Public Art With Purpose: Amina Cooper on Equity, Community, and the Atlanta Beltline

  On this episode of Cultural Catalysts, Alison McNeil sits down with Amina Cooper, the first-ever Director of Arts and Culture at Atlanta Beltline Art, one of the nation’s largest temporary public art exhibitions. An Atlanta native, Amina has more than a decade of experience leading multimillion-dollar public art projects and is nationally recognized for her leadership in equitable public art policy.From her early days growing up in Atlanta to her roles with Charlotte Douglas International Airport and her own consulting firm, Amina shares how community, mentorship, and advocacy shaped her journey. She discusses the importance of ensuring that public art reflects the communities it serves, her work uplifting Black monuments through documentation, and the expansive vision she’s bringing to the Beltline.Tune in to hear Amina talk about the role of public art in our daily lives, the value of mentorship and collaboration, and how she stays grounded while balancing large-scale projects with deep community care.Find out more:Atlanta BeltlineAmericans for The Arts@BlackMonuments on InstagramReno Public Art Want to know more about the Impact Roadmap: The Art of Describing Your Impact? Join the waitlist to get first access.🔗 Connect with Alison:LinkedInInstagram🌐 Find out more about McNeil Creative Enterprises.

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