Staff Board of Directors

Staff

Leslie Neal
Founder, Artistic Director, Artist Facilitator Inside Out

Leslie Neal has been an active member of the Miami dance community since 1981. She received a B.S.Ed. in Dance from the University of Georgia and a M.F.A. in Dance from Florida State University. Ms. Neal's choreography has been commissioned throughout Florida and the Southeast, and was presented at a special tribute to creative southern women at the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia in 1996.

In 1994, Ms. Neal initiated a multi-disciplined creative arts program at Broward Correctional Institution, and since that time has implemented arts programs at five other correctional facilities for women and female juveniles in Florida and taught at facilities for women in California and Michigan. In 1997, Ms. Neal was chosen to serve as an artist-in-residence for the National Endowment of the Arts at the Federal Correctional Institution for Women in Tallahassee, Florida.

Ms. Neal is published in The Citizen Artist by Linda Burnham and Steve Durland, Twelve Secrets of Highly Creative Women – A Portable Memoir by Gail McKeegin, The Performer’s Guide to the Creative Process by Sheila Kerrigan, and Teaching the Arts Behind Bars, by Rachel Williams.

Nicole K. Bible
Executive Director, Artist Facilitator Inside Out

Nicole Bible (formerly, Thomas) is a Florida-licensed CPA and a Miami native. Nicole has worked with Leslie Neal since 1989 and was one of the original company members of ArtSpring when it was founded in 1992 as Leslie Neal Dance. Ms. Bible currently holds ArtSpring’s Executive Director position, formerly serving as treasurer and member of the organization’s board of directors. Nicole began to assist in the Inside Out program in January of 1995 at Broward Correctional Institution and since then has facilitated classes at Broward and Homestead Correctional Institutions and the Broward Outreach Center.

Ms. Bible graduated cum laude from Florida International University (FIU) with Bachelor degrees in Accounting and Dance as well as a Master of Science in Taxation. Ms. Bible also holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from FANO/Barry University. She began her professional career with a sole practitioner CPA, working part-time for nine years while completing her studies. She then spent over seven years with a multinational Big 4 accounting firm, where she specialized primarily in tax services for nonprofit exempt organizations. Nicole left corporate America in 2005 when she was appointed by ArtSpring’s board as the organization's first fulltime executive director.

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Board of Directors

Janice Billie – President

Janice Billie is a member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, one of two federally recognized Native American tribes in Florida. She was incarcerated for twelve years at Broward Correctional and three years at Jefferson Correctional and is a former participant of the Inside Out workshop at both institutions. Since her release from prison, Janice has committed to keeping her life on a positive journey. Janice worked as the editor for the Seminole Tribune until she ventured into her own business. She is currently a manager at Big Cypress Landing and continues to serve as a representative and ambassador for the women ArtSpring serves.

Amanda Georges – Treasurer

Amanda Georges lives in Tortola, British Virgin Islands where she is an audit senior at BDO Limited. She moved from Miami, Florida in May of 2010 after living there for three years. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago; Amanda has also lived in many places in the United States. She graduated in 2001 earning degrees in Accounting and Dance from the University of South Florida in Tampa. She worked with several wonderful instructors and choreographers in dance and after graduation completed a month long internship with the Shapiro and Smith Dance Company. She was then inspired to move to New York to pursue dance professionally. A year later, Amanda began gaining experience in the public accounting field and worked for a year with a firm in Miami, Florida, followed by three years with a firm in Fresno, California. She returned to Miami in May, 2007, where she worked as a full-time senior accountant at Kaufman Rossin & Co. located in Coconut Grove until moving back to Tortola. She continues to take different types of dance classes when she can.

Arthur Christian Hilmer, III – Secretary

Arthur Christian Hilmer, III is an entrepreneur engaged primarily in the introduction of new medical technologies: Fournier Healthcare, CEO – a company developing a feminine Self Testing device and program that provides Pap testing for medically underserved women; AutoSafe Medical, VP Marketing & Sales – novel safety needles to protect healthcare workers from needlestick injuries; CVAC, South Florida Evangelist – an altitude conditioning chamber currently being studied as a means to improve insulin resistance, fitness / stamina, and as an alternative to hormone replacement therapies.

Sophie Michael – Board Member

Sophie Michael is a florist by trade and a retired executive secretary. Now a fulltime community volunteer, she has served on the board of ArtSpring for many years and is the current president of the Ladies Philoptochos Society at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Sophie is a member of the St. Sophia Choir and the Hellenic Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research / University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. She was a founding member and currently serves as membership chairman of the Biscayne Bay Sailing Club, which was established in 1986.

Marianella B. Solis – Board Member

Marianella Solis is seasoned banker who has been in the banking industry for the past 25 years. She currently holds the position of Miami-Dade Regional Manager for BankAtlantic and oversees the sales and operations of 18 branches. She is Peruvian-born and moved to United States in 1984. She has a Bachelor degree in Management from Barry University. In addition, she has been involved in the community since the beginning of her banking career and has held several positions in different organizations; currently she is on the Board of the Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade, the Hialeah Chamber of Commerce, and ArtSpring, and she is an active member of the Rotary Club of Miami.

Milda J. Vaivada – Board Member

Milda Vaivada, a native of the District of Columbia, is the owner of Soiree, an event planning company advancing the art of celebration for over 2 decades. Ms. Vaivada works on behalf of many non-profits organizing fundraising galas and events as well as private social clients through out the country. Ms. Vaivada is also the owner of the retail store Bagua, located in Miami. FL. She has served on the Board of The Shelter for Abused Women and Children and Keep Collier Beautiful, both in Naples, Florida and currently also serves as an officer on the Board of Friends of the Everglades.

 

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Ruth, Homestead Correctional Institution,
Inside Out Participant 2002

“During the four years that I was actively involved in this program as an inmate participant, I was afforded the opportunity and means by which to delve into my innermost being, thereby being able to begin to “patch up” the broken woman that I was and blossomed into the vital, courageous woman I am today.”

Isabelle 6/8/01, former Inside Out Participant, now released

“Inside Out has given me a healthy sense of body awareness and creativity through self-expression, which has resulted in an improved self image and higher self-esteem”

Joyce, Broward Correctional Institution, Inside Out participant 1996

Marilyn, Homestead Correctional Institution, Inside Out participant 2001

“ Since I have been incarcerated for a number of years, I noticed myself withdrawing and closing down with regard to interacting with others. The program with its creative cultural abilities has allowed me to learn how to work through unhealthy issue and become an active part of social group. The class has also taught me different ways to deal and cope with my emotions whether it is through writing or movement. It also gives me the opportunity to explore the inner me and constructively work through my emotions in a healthy manner.”

Patricia, Homestead Correctional Institution, Inside Out participant 2001