NACC Staff Directory

Kathie Kudela
Executive Director
Kathie@thenacc.org
716-282-7530 ext 3

Kathleen L. Kudela, American art gallery director, educator, real estate agent. Achievements include organized movement that saved the NACC’s landmark building and turned it into an Arts & Cultural Center. Recipient Good Neighbor award, Ivey Wallens Show, Niagara Falls, New York, 2003, Beautiful Person award, Niagara Beautification Commission, 2005.

Kathie worked as an art teacher Niagara Falls Board Education, New York, 1968—1970. Substitute teacher, Lewiston Board Education, 1975—1981. Real estate agent Salisbury Real Estate, Lewiston, 1981—1990. She was also a Customs broker John V. Carr & Son, 1981—1990, Deringer, Inc., Lewiston, 1990—1997. Real estate agent Hunt Real Estate, since 1996. She has served as the Executive Director of the Niagara Arts & Cultural Center, Niagara Falls, New York, since 1997.

Kathie is also passionate about community gardens, she is an active member of the Pine Avenue Redevelopment Project and serves on the board of the Niagara Falls Historic Preservation Society.

Louis Townsend
Finance Director
Lou@thenacc.org
716-282-7530 ext 4

Doug Krell Sr.
Director of Operations
Doug@thenacc.org
716-282-7530

Douglas Krell Sr. is responsible for all building maintenance and short term & long term rentals. Doug has previous experience in NACC Rentals. And has 40 years experience in all facets of building construction & maintenance. He is joining the NACC management team with 45 years experience of Engineering, which we be helpful in completing any task assigned to him.

Kelly Buckley
Marketing & Development Director
Kelly@thenacc.org
716-282-7530 ext 5

Kris Lowden
Director of Tourism, Programs and Galleries
Kris@thenacc.org
716-282-7530

Meet Kris Lowden, our new Director of Tourism, Programs and Galleries!

Kris is very excited to be joining the NACC team, as showcasing and working with local artists has always been a passion of hers. She looks forward to sharing her love of visual and performance art to inspire not only the community, but tourists as well.

Kris graduated Buffalo State College with a degree in Fine Art, and was a certified Art Teacher for grades K-12. She later went back to school to become a certified Pastry Chef, and enjoys bringing an artistic touch to baking. After graduating, she worked mainly in management, tourism and the event planning industries. She appreciates the opportunity she had to work for wineries on the Niagara Wine Trail as well as Grand Central Terminal while living in NYC.

Kris’s hobbies include photography, painting, reading, yoga, vegetable gardening and baking pies. She loves to travel and even though France was her favorite place she visited, she says the most exciting thing she’s done was shark cage diving off the coast of Africa. She and a group of friends are in a book club that meets monthly, and they just celebrated their 10 year anniversary! She is very involved in animal rights, and has volunteered with rescues as well as blogged, to bring attention to puppy mills and the importance of adoption. She and her husband have 2 dogs and a cat who currently rule their house.

Fun fact: She was an extra in a Lifetime movie called A Mothers Revenge.

Serge Arutunjan
Financial Manager
serge@thenacc.org
716-282-7530 ext 8

Serge Arutunjan has joined the NACC team as their new Finance Manager. He comes to the NACC with over 38 years of diverse business and accounting experience. Serge lives in Niagara Falls with his wife of 37 years Lori. They have one daughter, Jennifer, who also lives in Niagara Falls. Serge is a graduate of Niagara University.  He enjoys all aspects of fitness, specifically running and hiking, and enters numerous local 5k and 10k races to support various charities and organizations. He also is an avid golfer and is very interested in national politics. He enjoys listening to “southern fried rock & roll”, and watching hockey and football.  He has just recently begun writing a book about his innermost thoughts, philosophies, experiences and ideas, and is hopeful to have it finished soon. There is perhaps no bigger fan of “James Bond” movies, and there is no question that Sean Connery is the best “Bond” of them all.

Ray Robertson
Special Projects
ray@thenacc.org
716-282-7530

Rachel Macklin Olszewski
Media and Project Manager
rachel@thenacc.org

Rachel Macklin Olszewski began her work at the NACC in 2012 with a mission in mind, to promote a cultural and artistic resurgence in Niagara Falls that will enhance the quality of life for it’s residents, foster interest in the city, and encourage investment in it’s future. As the former Rentals and Program Director, she managed rentals, art exhibitions, performances, programs, lectures, workshops and events. Rachel now acts as the NACC Media and Project Manager, or “Swing”, filling in as needed in administrative duties, grant writing, events, marketing, technology and website maintenance. She serves full-time as Staff Assistant and Graduate Program manager at the University at Buffalo Department of Theatre and Dance. In recognizing the power of arts and culture as a mechanism for social and economic impact, Rachel continues to strive to make visual and performing arts experiences accessible to denizens and visitors in the Greater Buffalo Niagara region.

Rachel graduated in 2012 from Niagara University with a BFA in Theater Performance. In 2015 Rachel attained an MA in Arts Management from the University at Buffalo. Rachel is also pursuing an MPA in Nonprofits from Buffalo State. Rachel still acts and sings on stage when she can find the time, most recently she starred as “The Raven” in Patchwork Theatre’s production of Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allen Poe.

Currently, Rachel serves on several boards in Buffalo/Niagara, including nonprofits Big Easy in Buffalo, which brings New Orleans musicians to WNY, and Post-Industrial Productions of Buffalo, a new theatre company that just completed the innagural season.

Pictured right to left: Rachel M. Olszewski (Programs/Rentals/Exhibits), Kelly Buckley (Development/Marketing), Laurie Martelli

Amie Shelter
Office Manager
Amie@theNACC.org 

Amie joined the NACC team in 2019. She is responsible for keeping our office running smoothly and overseeing administrative support. Her keen organization skills and welcoming smile are a great asset to the art center! She can help you pay your rent, find your next class, or provide you with information on whats happening day to day. This mother of 5 can do it all!