MEET THE TEAM
SONNY KAY - Executive Director
A transplant from the west coast, Sonny Kay is a working artist/graphic designer and founder of the cult record label, Gold Standard Laboratories. First passing through Hot Springs on tour with his own band in 2006, Kay returned to helm Low Key Arts in 2017. Its mission resonated with his lifelong interest in do-it-yourself culture and grassroots organizing, so he seized the opportunity to help steer this quickly-developing organization through its next series of milestones. Contact: kay@lowkeyarts.org
JEN GERBER - Film Programs Director
A native of Arkansas, Jen Gerber built her film career in Chicago before completing an MFA from Columbia University. In 2018 she released her debut feature film The Revival and received a jury special mention at NewFest for “outstanding performances” and The Hollywood Reporter called the film “riveting." Jen freelanced for over a decade as a first assistant director where she worked with James Franco on The Sound and the Fury and Black Dog Red Dog starring Whoopi Goldberg, Olivia Wilde and Chloe Sevigny. Jen is the former Executive Director of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. Contact: jengerber@lowkeyarts.org
ANNALEE DRAIN - Film Programs Manager
A recent graduate of University of Central Arkansas’ Film Program, Annalee Drain has a budding film career. In recent years she has freelanced on numerous music videos, TV shows, commercials, short films and feature length films in the state of Arkansas where she specializes in the Camera and Production departments. Annalee has done work with the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, Arkansas Shorts, and LKA’s Inception to Projection program. While she doesn’t live in Hot Springs, the community’s love and support of the arts has made it feel like a second home for her. Contact: annalee@lowkeyarts.org
ZAC SMITH - KUHS-LP 102.5 FM Director
Contact: zac@kuhsradio.org
BOBBY MISSILE - Artistic Director
Bobby Missile grew up in the South and has been organizing live events since the year 2000. He's toured the world in his many bands including his most recent musical project Ghost Bones. In January of 2006, Bobby moved to Hot Springs to open a DIY music venue called The Exchange. In September of 2013 he was hired by the Mercury Prize winning band Alt-J as their touring stage manager/guitar tech. He became the Artistic Director of Low Key Arts in 2016. If you have a question about the history of Hot Springs, Bobby's the guy to ask. Contact: missile@lowkeyarts.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
CHERYL ROORDA - President
Cheryl Roorda has been a fan of Low Key Arts since before its conception. If she wasn’t at a Low Key event, she was probably watching all the kids. She is known locally as an accordion player for the “Itinerant Locals”, and in 2017 opened SQZBX pizza joint and brewery with her husband Zac. Zac is the station manager for KUHS, and Cheryl does her best to make sure the details are attended to. She also hosts a radio show on KUHS, “Your Permanent Record”, every Thursday afternoon from 3-5. She is not a native of Hot Springs, but she got here as soon as she could.
ROB COX - Vice President
Rob Cox is a recent addition to Hot Springs. In a past life, he was a videographer/production manager in the corporate and broadcasting world for over 25 years. After purchasing and remodeling The Happy Hollow, Rob left the television world and moved his family to Hot Springs in July of 2017. He is a lifelong music fan/collector and hopes to help forward the vision of Low Key Arts.
ANNIE GERBER - Treasurer
Annie Gerber is a native Arkansan who has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in music from Ouachita Baptist University but later switched her main focus to film and photography. Annie spent several years working as a Teaching Assistant at the prestigious photography program at the School of Cinematic and Performing Arts in both New York and Los Angeles. For the past 4 years she has maintained her position as the Director of Operations for the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival.
ASHLEY MISSILE - Director
Ashley was born and raised in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas. She’s the Marketing and Communications Specialist for Visit Hot Springs. Ashley grew up going to Low Key Arts events and has been a proud supporter and Low Key Arts volunteer for over a decade. During her free time she enjoys creating music as the front woman of Ghost Bones and spending time outdoors with her dog Pecan.
BRENT CARROLL
Hailing from Poteau, Oklahoma, Brent moved to Hot Springs eight years ago to become a librarian at the Garland County Library. Since 2016, he and Erin Baber can be heard on Thursday mornings on ‘Checked Out’ - a library radio show hosted by KUHS that covers the goings on of the library, Low Key Arts, the town, and more. You can usually find him at events around town (whether library or LKA) or reading on his front porch.
MARYAN CALDWELL - Director
KARINA PRICE - Director
Karina Jo Price is an artist, poet, playwright, actress, songwriter, and more who loves seeing the creativity in Hot Springs thrive. Since graduating from UCA in 2017, she has traveled with her art across the country, owned a brick and mortar gallery, acted in a film that screened at Mann's Chinese Theater, and her artwork currently spans five continents. Community-wise, she loves being in the KUHS radio booth for her "Toxic Latte" show on Mondays from 8-10 AM. Karina enjoys finding a way to participate in Low Key Arts events in any way possible and loves the music, film, and creativity we bring to and from the community. She looks forward to serving on the board of Low Key Arts and the experiences yet to unfold.
BRAD BURLESON - Secretary
Brad is the Producer and Director of Awesome at Content Titan, where he produces TV commercials, digital content, Arkansas Hall of Fame videos, and documentary films. With over 25 years of volunteer experience, Brad has contributed to nonprofits through fundraising, events, mentoring youth, and serving on various boards throughout Central Arkansas. Brad is also on the board of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute and is involved in logistics for several film festivals. In 2023, Brad embarked on a mid-life career change, inspired by our Inception to Projection program. These courses ignited his passion for storytelling through film, leading him to an exciting career in film and television production.
TERRENCE KOONCE - Director
Terrence lives in Hot Springs and is on the screening committee for the Persistence of Vision Film Festival (POV Fest), formerly Arkansas Shorts. He served as a board member for the Quapaw Prospect Historic District and provided IT support and web development for the Hot Springs Music Festival, Hot Springs Broadcast Network, and technical support for Atlas Obscura's Ecliptic Festival. Terrence offers advisory and technology consulting services and chairs an Information Technology Council for a regional financial institution. In his free time, he enjoys local events, spending time at the lake, traveling, exploring all kinds of technology, listening to live music, indulging in sci-fi, and attending the annual Rolex 24-hour races at Daytona.