OUR STAFF
BLAKE SMITH
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
From his roots in rural Iowa, Blake has been fortunate to live in several regions of the country throughout his career, working for a variety of arts and entertainment organizations and is now pleased to call Richland home.
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His love for stagecraft was kindled while in high school in Arizona, working as a student stage manager for the school's auditorium. This led him to Arizona State University where he began working on a degree in technical theatre, only to discover that the challenge of working directly with the touring performers that came through the venue was more to his liking. This became the launching point for a life-long career in support of the arts.
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After a brief stint as a touring sound engineer Blake landed in Salt Lake City, at the newly built Delta Center Arena, home to the NBA's Utah Jazz as well as many major touring concerts, motorsports competitions, family shows and other large events. His time there helped hone his experience in event and crowd management for large venues. One notable highlight came with the selection of Salt Lake City as the site for 2002 Winter Olympics. Blake was assigned to work directly with the Olympic organizers on planning and modifications so the arena could meet the needs of figure skating and speed skating events.
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Following this exciting time, Blake decided it was time to reconnect with his passion for performing arts. He moved his family (Wife Natalie, daughters Katarina, Erika, and Anna) to Houston, taking a position with the Hobby Center for the Arts, providing his skills to the operations team responsible for hosting multi-week runs of Broadway touring shows.
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After a vacation trip with Natalie to East Tennessee, Blake learned of a position at the Clayton Center, a recently built community arts center on the campus of Maryville College. This center was the first of its kind in the community, built to support local and college arts organizations while also presenting high-caliber touring shows never before available to this growing community.
Working with the Arts Center Task Force to build and operate the new Mid-Columbia Arts Center is a challenge Blake is ready to take on, driven by his passion for working in conjunction with others in support of the arts.
When not pursuing his passion for the arts, Blake and Natalie love to take long road trips to get away and spend time in the outdoors in pursuit of hiking, camping, and flyfishing adventures.
You can contact him at blake@artscentertaskforce.com
AMBER MAIDEN
Operations Director
A Tri-Citian born and raised, Amber Maiden grew up in Kennewick, WA. Her first taste of communications came from a Radio Broadcasting class in high school where she and another student ran a radio show. After high school she attended Eastern Washington University for her BA in Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations and is now a Marketing and Public Relations professional with over seven years in the field.
Starting her career in Recreation, Amber has worked in Tourism, Agriculture, Economic Development and now in the Performing Arts sector. She brings with her years of professional experience in program management, marketing, communications, event planning and relationship management. Including spending six years in the Non-profit world.
Her career experience with organizations such as Visit Tri-Cities, Tri-Cities Water Follies, Trios Health, and Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership has given her the opportunity to work on planning and organizing some of the largest gatherings here in the Tri-Cities. With over 100 events under her belt, she’s been a part of events such as 2023’s Tri-Cities Water Follies, TBEX, Kennewick Farmers Market, and Hometown Holiday Parade just to name a few.
Outside of the office you can find Amber hiking along the miles of trails or jogging the walking paths near the river with her dog Duke. Her passions reside in photography, travel and enjoying the abundant variety of ethnic foods available in the Tri-Cities.
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You can contact her at amber@artscentertaskforce.com
RILEY OSBORN
Development & Outreach Coordinator
Originating from Spokane, WA, Riley Osborn is a dedicated marketing professional with a passion for community advocacy. She earned her BA in Journalism with an emphasis in public relations from Eastern Washington University, setting the stage for an impactful career in nonprofit work.
Following her graduation, Riley delved into the world of community engagement and outreach, serving as a Community Outreach Specialist for a local credit union, partnering with numerous nonprofit organizations throughout Spokane, Coeur D'Alene, and Post Falls.
Riley's professional background spans marketing, public relations, and community engagement. Her experiences include orchestrating successful nonprofit special events and nurturing donor relationships. Notably, she contributed her time and expertise to Joya Child and Family Development's annual Spring Gala and silent auction, raising essential funds for infants and toddlers with developmental delays. Additionally, her impactful role on the YWCA of Spokane Women of Achievement event committee aided in generating crucial support for domestic violence victims and their children.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Riley's love for all things music and artistic expression fuels her adventures to music festivals across the nation, revealing her vibrant spirit. When she's not immersed in festival experiences, Riley takes pleasure in outdoor explorations alongside her two canine companions, Auggie and Jocko.
Since relocating to the Tri-Cities in 2022, Riley's focus has shifted towards enhancing her community through active participation. With a keen desire to leverage her communication and public relations skills, she is excited to champion the soon to be Mid-Columbia Performing Arts Center, effectively amplifying its message and mission to the Tri-Cities community.
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You can contact her at riley@artscentertaskforce.com
