board of directors
Trina Searcy
board president (2022-2024)
Trina Searcy is a graduate of Leon High School and a Broker Associate with Keller Williams Town and Country Realty. She has sold residential real estate and protected private property rights for more than 20 years. Searcy is the Past President of the Tallahassee Board of Realtors and Past District 8 Vice President of Florida Realtors. She has served on and chaired numerous committees for Tallahassee Board of Realtors and Florida Realtors, including Florida Realtor Leadership Academy.
Much of her business and personal interest focuses on Florida land, water quality, public policy issues, and marketing all that Tallahassee has to offer and why it is the best place to live! Searcy has also served on In the Carpenters Footsteps, Junior League of Tallahassee, and Killearn Lakes Home Owners Association (President for eight years). She has lived in Tallahassee for 36 years. Searcy is married to Fain, and they have two adult sons, Taylor and Tanner. Kaili is her granddaughter, who very much enjoys The Tallahassee Ballet. She likes to travel, work out, and spend time with friends and family for fun!
Officers
Carla Ureña Hutchinson—immediate past president
Carla Hutchinson began dance training in her hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida. She attended prestigious summer programs including The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Boston Ballet, and The Vaganova Festival where she studied with Asaf Mikhailovich Messerer. She spent a year at the North Carolina School of the Arts and by the age of 15 began a pre-professional career as an apprentice of the Bay Ballet Theater in Tampa, and Orlando’s Southern Ballet Theater under the direction of Christopher Fleming.
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After high school, Hutchinson moved to Tallahassee to attend Florida State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, a Master of Science degree, and a Ph.D. in Instructional Systems Design. Her research focus was skill acquisition in professional ballet dancers. She was mentored by K. Anders Ericsson, and Natalie Sachs-Ericsson and they published a peer-reviewed article together. Hutchinson has worked in both managerial and technical positions in large and small organizations, with clients including the US Navy, the US Army, and the EPA. Hutchinson’s attributes her academic and professional success to early involvement in ballet and exposure to various art forms.
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As a wife and mother of two, she is delighted to combine her passion for learning and love of the arts to ignite creativity and fuel success for students in her capacity as Executive Director of Foundation4ARTS, a local 501(c)(3) organization that provides arts enriched after school and seasonal camp programs. Hutchinson is excited to serve on the Board of Directions for Family Network on Disabilities and now The Tallahassee Ballet. She enjoys spending time with co-workers, family vacations, and spending time on their 20-acre homestead with their four horses, and five dogs in Quincy.
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Andrea Lewis—treasurer
Andrea Lewis has lived in the Tallahassee, Florida, for 27 years. She received her degree in nursing from Jacksonville University and retired after being self-employed as a health-care consultant working with numerous insurance companies. She is an active member of St. Peter’s Cathedral. Lewis has always had a passion for ballet and dance starting lessons at age four. Her grandfather owned a dance studio in New Hampshire, and she contributes her interests in part to his appreciation of the dance art form. Growing up, Lewis was involved with choir, band, and dance corps. She plays golf and enjoys hiking, reading, and traveling. She is married to Paul Lewis Jr, has two grown children, Chris and Courtney, and has six grandchildren.Andrea Lewis has lived in the Tallahassee, Florida, for 27 years. She received her degree in nursing from Jacksonville University and retired after being self-employed as a health-care consultant working with numerous insurance companies. She is an active member of St. Peter’s Cathedral. Lewis has always had a passion for ballet and dance starting lessons at age four. Her grandfather owned a dance studio in New Hampshire, and she contributes her interests in part to his appreciation of the dance art form. Growing up, Lewis was involved with choir, band, and dance corps. She plays golf and enjoys hiking, reading, and traveling. She is married to Paul Lewis Jr, has two grown children, Chris and Courtney, and has six grandchildren.
Gayle Grimes Sklar—secretary
Gayle Grimes Sklar’s professional career began in curriculum/instruction and educational leadership. Working in an administration and leadership capacity to strategically plan, advise, design, and execute new initiatives allowed Gayle to establish programs to help increase student success and teacher performance. The majority of Gayle’s career was spent in educational publishing companies, where she focused on business development. She led teams and organizations to realize successful long-term plans for increasing student achievement in school districts and states throughout the country.
Throughout her tenure in business development, she translated her expertise in education to aid in new product launches for publishing companies and to fulfill state statutes for public education. She worked alongside and managed successful teams for formidable education publishing companies throughout the country, such as Pearson, McGraw-Hill, and Cengage Learning. Gayle’s vision and strategic approach in aligning organizations and their staff stimulated significant change in how the companies functioned in the public education sector. She created business development models that led to modifications in how agents and teams produce and bring products to market in the K-12 space. While strengthening existing practices within companies, Gayle guided change and reaffirmed the greatest capital organizations have: their internal human capital.
After stepping away from the industry, Gayle now enjoys her other passions in life, including spending time with her husband Bill and the rest of her family (including her two young grandchildren), traveling, and supporting the performing arts and non-profit organizations that aid children and youth.
Directors
Shelby Kennerly Augustyniak
Shelby Kennerly Augustyniak is a Tallahassee native, an alumna of The Tallahassee Ballet, and a Florida State University graduate. She greatly values the discipline and lifelong friendships made through her ballet experience. In addition to her full-time employment at the Department of Children and Families as Director of Strategic Initiatives in the Office of Child and Family Well-Being, Shelby is Past-President of The Tallahassee Ballet, Past-President of Big Bend Habitat for Humanity, and an active member of St. John’s Episcopal Church. She and her husband Dan have two daughters, Ella B. and Audrey. In her free time, Shelby enjoys running, baking, reading, and FSU football.
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Dustin Baker
Dustin Baker came to Tallahassee from his hometown of Live Oak, Florida, soon graduating from Florida State University with a degree in Political Science and Finance. While at FSU, he was a cheerleader for four years, serving as captain his senior year. He is now the proud owner of Cheer Nation Athletics, the most successful all-star cheer program in Tallahassee. Additionally, Dustin coaches for FSU, where he played a pivotal role in leading the Florida State University cheerleaders to their first National Championship in 25 years.
Kevin Clark
A Tallahassee local since the age of 16, Kevin Clark has woven his vibrant personality and diverse talents into the fabric of the city. His educational journey led him through Leon High School, Tallahassee Community College, and Florida State University, fostering strong connections within the community.
Kevin's dynamic career path began as a flight attendant with Delta Air Lines, honing his people skills and passion for service. Since 1998, he's been a skilled graphic designer, infusing creativity into every project. As a licensed Realtor since 2012, currently working at Coldwell Banker Hartung, he excels in merging his design finesse with real estate prowess. His excitement extends to his role on the Board of Directors at The Tallahassee Ballet, reflecting his dedication to arts and community. His journey is a testament to his multifaceted talents, unwavering dedication, and genuine love for Tallahassee.
Betsy Caire Couch
Betsy Caire Couch, APR, serves as Executive Director for KCCI, the Knight Creative Communities Institute. In addition to her enthusiasm for the Arts, she is an avid proponent for improving the lives of children and families and enhancing the Tallahassee community. She received 850 Magazine’s Pinnacle Award in 2014, and she was featured on the cover of Tallahassee Woman Magazine as a “Generation X Community Leader” in August 2013. Couch also serves on the boards of the Foundation for Leon County Schools, Children’s Home Society, and the Gilchrist Elementary PTO. She was also a member of the Cultural Plan Review Committee. Couch was the 2010-2011 President of the Junior League of Tallahassee, and she served as President of the Florida Public Relation’s Association-Capital Chapter. She is also a former President of the Advent Parish Day School PTO. An avid Florida Gator, she is married to her college sweetheart, dentist Cory Couch, and they are the proud parents of a young dancer, Caroline, and sweet little gentleman, Tucker.
Carla DeLoach
Carla DeLoach has lived in Tallahassee for more than three decades. Growing up in Virginia, she moved to Tallahassee upon earning her Bachelors of Science in Marketing from James Madison University. Having been a “Dancer Mom” while her two oldest daughters were in The Tallahassee Ballet Company, she’s been involved with TTB for many years. Carla’s son was even one of the little boys in the Nutcracker Party Scene! Carla has been deeply involved in her community serving on several boards including Tallahassee Music Week, Friends of Maclay Gardens, Leon High School Foundation, Junior League of Tallahassee, Children’s Home Society, The United Way, and Opening Nights. She has also been involved with other organizations such as the Leon County Master Gardener Program and the Tallahassee Garden Club, to name a few. Carla and her husband of 35 years, Greg, have raised four amazing children and, with their three dogs, they are proud to call Tallahassee home.
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Agatha Muse-Lamb
Agatha Muse-Lamb was born in Quincy, Florida, and grew up in Midway, Florida. She is a lifelong resident of Gadsden County. Agatha attended The University of Florida in Gainesville, where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science with a minor in Criminal Justice. Prior to retiring, Agatha was a public servant for more than 48 years. She has worked in several capacities, including as city manager, town manager, contract manager, independent contractor as a Housing Counseling Program administrator, program director and manager, senior management and budget manager, and DBE certification consultant. Always wanting to serve, she is currently the management agent for Miracle Village, Inc. Agatha is an involved member in many organizations, including Saint Luke Primitive Baptist Church; public service sorority Delta Sigma Theta (golden life member of the Gadsden County Florida Alumnae Chapter); The Tallahassee Ballet (board of directors); the Gadsden County Florida Service and Education Foundation, Inc. (chair); the Women’s Congress for the Annual Fifth Sunday Union (vice president); and the Florida State Primitive Baptist Convention (state auditor). Agatha is especially proud to be the first female to serve as the Old West Florida Primitive Baptist Association General Body’s financial secretary and building fund secretary. Agatha is also a member of the board of directors and is the treasurer of Healthy United Resources, Inc. Agatha is married to Bishop Willie D. Lamb, Sr., and is the proud mother of Valencia, the mother-in-law of Kenny, and the grandmother of Christie Cierra, Kenneth Carl, Kendahl Chante’ and Kensley Cai.
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Felicia Leborgne Nowels
Felicia Leborgne Nowels is board certified by the Florida Bar in International Law and is a Partner at Akerman, LLP, where she practices international trade law and federal regulatory administrative law. Nowels grew up in Miami and danced under the tutelage of Thomas Armour, Robert Pike, and Ruth Weisen. She also danced with the Miami Ballet. Nowels graduated from Davidson College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in French and a concentration in International Relations. She moved to Tallahassee in 2000, where she graduated from Florida State University Law School. She and her husband, Matthew Nowels, have three children, one of whom is a student at The Tallahassee Ballet. Having danced most of her life and interned as a student at the Louvre in Paris, Nowels is passionate about ballet, the arts, and her local community.
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Sarah Villella
Native to Tallahassee, Villella has always had a love for the arts. Dancing from the age of three, Villella found a passion for ballet and went on to dance with The Tallahassee Ballet from elementary through high school. After high school, she continued to fulfill her passion by teaching dance to children. She is thrilled to have been asked back to the Ballet as a Board Member so she can continue to give back with her talents in marketing, relationship development, and innovative ideas. With a entrepreneurship gene, Villella started a small online retail store in high school that would set the stage for her to learn, grow professionally and allow her the opportunity to develop relationships with many people from varying sized businesses and non-profits. During college she began working at Pink Narcissus before becoming the leader of Narcissus, a multi-million dollar local business, as Store Manager and Buyer. One of her favorite aspects of her job is connecting with customers and helping them feel their best for life events, casual or formal. Villella is a graduate of Flagler College and has a rescue dog named Zina.