About Us
Meet the executive team...
Jim Hermanson
Executive Director
Jim is a resident of Bainbridge Island, WA. He earned a BA in economics from the University of Washington. He is a retired state employee, with 37 years of experience in customer service, experience in program planning and implementation, and concert organization.
Kate MacLeod
Executive Producer
Kate MacLeod is an award-winning Americana musician. She's a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer who specializes in American traditional music, and the musical traditions of Ireland and Scotland. Her original songs have been recorded by many others in roots music genres including artists such as Grammy-winning Bluegrass musician Laurie Lewis. When not performing, she often joins with others to facilitate and promote concerts, workshops, and festivals. Kate resides in both Salt Lake City, UT and Harpers Ferry, WV, splitting her time between two mountain ranges. You can read about Kate's work at her website: www.KateMacLeod.com
Spook Handy
Creative Director
Nationally touring American folk musician Spook Handy brings over 30 years of stage experience to the team. He performed more than 50 times alongside folk-icon Pete Seeger in the 2000s and 2010s learning firsthand many of Pete’s songs, stories and ways to involve audiences in the concert experience. His songs have been used in theater and film and have charted as high as No. 2 on the International Folk Radio Charts. Named “Best Folk Artist” by six separate publications, Spook brings notoriety, expertise, creativity, unbridled optimism, and a whole lot of fun to the project. Follow Spook at www.spookhandy.substack.com and www.spookhandy.com
Neil Fleitell
Technical Director
Neil Fleitell has been involved in the entertainment industry in one fashion or another for the past 40+ years. Born in Washington, DC he began his professional career as an electrician, gaffer, soundman, and lighting director. He soon found himself on the road with nationally recognized acts travelling across the country as well as working at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He was instrumental in the formation of The Kennedy Center Production Department and became the organization's first Production Manager and Technical Director. He would go on to help produce hundreds of shows including The Soundheim Festival, The Tennesse Williams Festival and many other large events produced in-house by The Kennedy Center.
Neil formed a company in Washington, DC, City Lights, which for twenty years provided "Complete Production Services" to the entertainment industry including technical resources, production management, and technical direction. He is a proud member of: United Scenic Artists local #829; International Photographers local #600; IATSE Studio Mechanics local #487; IATSE Stagehands local #22.
Neil continues to work as an all around technical theatrical guru to the entertainment community world-wide from his home in Hawaii.