Board of Directors

Betty has been affiliated with Old Town Artisan Studios since 2010. First as a student, then board member, board Secretary, board Secretary/Treasurer and today as board President. She retired as owner of Integral Insurance and Financial Services, a business insurance agency and more recently as co/owner of Logic Packaging, Inc. Free Arts for Abused Children, AIDS Project LA and City of Hope are examples of her past philanthropic personal and business involvement.

1973 Developed all trade processing software for CBOE Options Exchange. 1983 Co-founded GMI Software in Chicago to develop the premier global system for financial instrument accounting. 1997 Co-founded Credentials Solutions providing web-based services for colleges and universities. 2021 Inducted into the Futures Industry Association Hall of Fame. Part-year La Quinta resident since 1998.

 Sean Webb is a dedicated education professional with a rich history of service in the academic and community realms. With over two decades of experience in the field, Sean’s journey began as a Teacher at various schools in the Coachella Valley, where he demonstrated a passion for both classroom instruction and extracurricular engagement.

Transitioning into administrative roles, Sean served as Assistant Principal at Palm Desert High School, La Quinta High School, and Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School, overseeing diverse educational programs and fostering community partnerships. Notably, his tenure as Director of Community Engagement and Educational Foundation at Desert Sands Unified School District showcased his adeptness in securing funding and organizing impactful events.

Currently serving as Director I, Literacy Outreach at Riverside County Office of Education, Sean continues to champion literacy initiatives through his role as Executive Director for Read With Me Volunteer Programs. His commitment extends beyond education, as evidenced by his active involvement in various volunteer organizations, including Leadership Coachella Valley and Old Town Artisan Studios.

Sean resides in the city of La Quinta with his wife Tara, daughter Brooklyn, and two dogs, Piper and Penny. His multifaceted expertise and unwavering dedication make him a driving force in enhancing educational opportunities and community engagement.

Fran joined the OTAS Board in late Spring of 2015. She and her husband, Bob, call Seattle their primary home and spend five months of the season here at their home in La Quinta.

Matt is the President of Johnson Commercial Real Estate, Inc. in Rancho Mirage. Mr. Johnson specializes in the sale, leasing and development of new and existing facilities for growing companies here in the Coachella Valley.

David is President of Coachella Valley Engineers (CVE), a local Civil Engineering and Land Surveying Company, specializing in commercial, residential, and land development projects.

Leslie Locken is the Sr. Real Estate Lease Manager for Lamar Outdoor Advertising and is responsible for negotiating new real estate leases for billboard structures as a revenue stream for landowners. In addition, Leslie is a Licensed Real Estate Agent practicing in the Coachella Valley and also serves as a Committee Member for the Bermuda Dunes Community Council.

Sarah Schmolke is a Sales and Marketing Professional with over ten years of experience in the luxury golf industry. Currently working as the Membership & Marketing Director at Tamarisk Country Club. Sarah has lived in the desert for the past 18 years and has cultivated a deep understanding of the unique market and lifestyle associated with the Coachella Valley.

Passions of Sarah’s are connecting with people and consistently finding ways to creatively engage, creating a sense of community.

Sarah is a graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design from The Art Institute of Portland and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.


An adventuress at heart, Sarah loves to travel and immerse herself in outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, mountain biking, and camping with the family. Her love for adventure and new experiences continually fuels her professional and personal growth.

Cynthia was an Art Educator for nearly 15 years, while pursuing several degrees in the Arts and Humanities at Penn State University. After working on her graduate degrees, she moved to Paris to be a photographer for 2 years exhibiting at two galleries in the 8th arrondissement. Upon returning to the US, Cynthia shifted to the corporate world, becoming a senior marketing executive in the HBA industry for over 30 years. After working as Director & Vice President of Global Marketing at such companies as Neutrogena/J&J, Jafra/Gillette and Dermalogica, Cynthia started her own consulting firm with clients that spanned Fortune 100’s to start-ups, in all channels of distribution both domestically and worldwide. Cynthia moved to La Quinta in December 2019, eventually retired and started volunteering for several not-for-profits including the Ophelia Project, FIND Food Bank and Old Town Artisan’s Studio. In addition to helping teach art weekly for OTAS at the YMCA and Boys & Girls Club, Cynthia has also taken numerous classes at OTAS. Thus, becoming a Board member has been both a natural transition as well as a true honor.