Mike Gleason, Chief Executive Officer
Emily Catey Weiss, Chief Operating Officer
Emily has years of experience coordinating public art programs and exhibits. She earned a B.F.A. from Ohio State University in 2000, which paved the way for Emily Catey Photography, LLC, which she ran successfully in Hale’iwa on Oahu’s North Shore before moving to the Big Island in 2009. From 2004 to 2009 she was involved in various civic, business and state organizations in the revitalization of Honolulu’s Arts District. She also served as President of the Hale’iwa Arts Festival. She joined VAC as Program Director in 2009. Since then, she has held various positions within the organization. Her philosophy is grounded in the belief that cultivating, sustaining, and celebrating the arts is essential to a vibrant community.
Jenette Goss, Program Director
Jenette grew up in Honolulu spending a great deal of her time building her small business. In the late 1980s, her business brought her to Hilo. Owning her own business provided her with the opportunity to meet many people, travel, and experience a variety of world cultures throughout the USA, Asia, and Europe. She joined the VAC staff in 2015 and her ability to adapt has afforded her the opportunity to become proficient in several VAC positions. As of February 2021, she is the VAC’s Program Manager, responsible for the coordination, and marketing of the community educational programs, classes, and workshops. She also updates the VAC’s website, advertises VAC services in a variety of media outlets to include but not limited to local news and tourist informational sources. Jenette enjoys working and meeting people. She manages the membership, sales, and inventory of the Rainforest gallery, and assists with VAC’s special programs and functions.
Claudia Schonbrod, Gallery Manager
Born and raised in Lima/Peru, Claudia earned her B.F.A. in Photography in 2015 and later pursued an Artistic Master’s degree in Contemporary Photography and Personal Projects in Madrid/Spain. She further expanded her creative practice by earning a degree in Graphic Design in 2021 and gained extensive experience working in Fine Art printing labs in Lima, developing expertise in fine art papers, framing and digital editing.
After moving to Hawaiʻi, Claudia joined the Volcano Art Center in 2022 as a volunteer. She then got hired as a Web Specialist, and quickly grew into other key roles: Inventory Entry Specialist and Assistant Gallery Manager. Now serving as Gallery Manager, she brings a multidisciplinary perspective shaped by her background as a photographer, designer and arts professional, with passion for fostering inclusive spaces that support artists and celebrate community through art.
Claire Nolan, Inventory Procurement Specialist & Sales Associate
Claire was born and raised on the East Coast but has been a Hawai’i resident since the 1980s. She has always possessed a great appreciation for art and artists. On her travels in Southern France and Italy, she recognized how the natural landscapes inspired the masters. She joined VAC’s gallery sales team in 2001, shortly after moving to Volcano from Maui. She especially enjoys sharing the inspiration behind the artwork with residents and visitors.
Chris Albus, Packing & Shipping Handler
Born and raised on Oʻahu to a painter and a marine biologist, I grew up exploring the ocean and mountains, developing a deep connection to nature and creativity. I studied sculpture and glass at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and later earned a teaching degree from San Diego State University. Passionate about community public arts, I worked with the UH Gallery and the State Foundation on Public Arts before moving on to teaching–first as a math teacher and then returning to develop curriculum and teach a K-6 art program for a local school on the Big Island.
I am inspired daily by my three creative children, and our home is always alive with art projects, experiments in permaculture, and animals. Currently, I work at the Volcano Art Center, where the natural surroundings and community of artists fuel my creative pursuits. Alongside my adventures in growing food in our mini food forest here in Mountain View, I am rekindling my love for sculpture and printmaking.
Mignon Phitides, Sales Associate
Born and raised in the beautiful country of South Africa, where from an early age I was taught to have a deep appreciation and love for nature, animals and art. This grew into an intimate connection with the incredible biodiversity of the fauna and flora of Southern Africa, as the art thereof expressed feelings, thoughts, and observations. I studied at the “American Academy of Dramatic Arts” in NYC, whereafter I continued my studies in Filmmaking at “Maine Media Workshops” in Rockport. During my travels to Scotland, Spain, France, and Cyprus, I gained an exceptional appreciation for the arts and architecture of Europe, which has spilled over into my love of Hawaiian cultural arts and artists. I moved from Maui to the Big island with my husband in 2007 which I was drawn to by my love for the Io (Hawaiian Hawk) as it is the only Island where the “Messenger of the Heavens” still exists.
Silvia Kulbokas, Sales Associate & Web Assistant
Born and raised near Chicago, I grew up immersed in a diverse culture while deeply cherishing my seven generations of Lithuanian roots. My heritage stems from the historic “Land of Rain,” celebrated for its deep agrarian traditions and vibrant folk arts. Grateful for this multicultural upbringing, I am bilingual in English and Lithuanian and an ongoing learner of Spanish and Hawaiian. I’ve always loved the arts—especially film, photography, fiber work, digital design, and interior design.
I transplanted to the Puna District of Hawaiʻi in 2017, drawn to the vibrant agricultural and homesteading communities on the east side of Hawaiʻi Island. After meeting my husband and his ʻohana in 2019, which are originally from Oʻahu, I settled in Volcano, where we cultivate a slower paced ʻāina-centered lifestyle. I am deeply inspired by Kīlauea’s mana and thriving artistic community, which grows and enriches my daily work and creativity. Big mahalo to our local community, artists, and Akua for their constant support and engagement!
Robin Pūlama Belcher, Sales Associate & Art Programs Assistant
Robin Pūlama Belcher is a kamaʻāina whose family stems from pre-annexation Honolulu and from Hilo. She has a masters from the University of British Columbia in Library and Information Studies and has experience working with collections at nonprofit creative arts institutions and museums. Recently moved home from Canada, where she was the head librarian/archivist at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, she is enjoying continuing to serve in supporting roles for the arts.
Michael Bitterman, Sales Associate
Michael was born and raised in Kailua, Oahu. He attended UH Manoa in the BSW program and later attended Boston University for his MSW degree. He worked as a clinical social worker in San Francisco and New York during the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the inpatient and outpatient settings for over 15 years. Needing a creative outlet, he went back to school to study interior design in NYC. Upon graduating, he worked in several design showrooms and had his own design practice. It was there that he honed in on his love for art, space, color and creating beautiful spaces for people. In semi-retirement, he relocated back to Hawaii Island. His favorite part of working at the VAC is meeting and helping all the patrons—visitors and locals alike—that come to the gallery.
Camren Cambra, Sales Associate
Camren hails from Washington state, where they were raised with a deep appreciation for nature, the arts, and volcanoes. Their love for Hawaiʻi began to develop when they met their husband, whose Kanaka Maoli roots were integral to his every day life. In 2018 Camren joined the Halau Hula O Napualani in order connect more deeply into Hawaiian culture, and relocated with their family to Hawaiʻi in 2020. After leaving T-Mobile’s Social Media Care department in 2023, they joined the GoFarm Hawaiʻi agricultural training program and devoted their efforts to sustainable farming. At the same time, they began to study painting in earnest under local portrait artist Adare. A successful debut at Hawaii Nei in 2025 enouraged them to transition fully into the world of art, which led them to their current role as Sales Associate at the Volcano Art Center Gallery. When not working at the gallery, Camren is generally in the studio studying, painting, and assisting with art show preparation.
Cristina Pineda, Cultural Events & Digital Content Specialist, Sales Associate
Cristina moved to the Big Island in 2019 from Maui to live off grid and teach elementary school after earning her B.S. in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University. Originally from Santa Fe, New Mexico Cristina was raised around art, artists, and galleries. When she started to work at the Volcano Art Center as a sales associate she felt at home and she quickly realized that she could bring her skills in content creation to the gallery. Now she covers openings, events, and artist studio visits on the Volcano Art Center YouTube channel. She loves sharing unique Hawaiian cultural practices and experiences offered by our non-profit orginization.