Public Art League Directors

Beth Johnson-Satterthwaite

President

Beth received her BFA in Art Education from the University of Illinois and her MA in Community Art from Eastern Illinois University, she has been an art teacher in Central Illinois for over 15 years. Before teaching she spent several years working in the field of graphic design in print layouts and web design. In addition to the Public Art League, Beth serves as a board member for Sola Gratia Farm, and is a youth group leader at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Urbana. She is also heavily involved in committees within her school and the Urbana School District. Her personal art includes painting, ceramics/sculpture, drawing, glass, and graphic/web design.

 

Eric Robeson

Treasurer
Charter Board Member

Eric works in property management for Robeson's Inc. and Robeson Properties, LLC. In addition to work with the Public Art League, he is one of the organizers of the annual C-U Oktoberfest for the Developmental Services Center. Eric is an active volunteer with the Champaign West Rotary club and served as the club's president. He also volunteers for the Champaign County Humane Society and the Boneyard Creek Community Day. Previously, he has had leadership roles with the Champaign County Forest Preserve Foundation, the Land Conservation Foundation and the Relay For Life of Champaign County (American Cancer Society).

 

Robin Allen

Board Member

Robin Allen is an active participant in the community and has served on the Montessori School Board, Junior League of Champaign-Urbana (JLCU), President of the Champaign-Urbana Figure Skating Club, Brownie and Girl Scout leader, school volunteer, Vestry Member Emmanuel Memorial Episcopal Church and active member of Friends of Roundhouse (FOR). She has recently retired from her position as an Administrative Dietitian for the University of Illinois Dining Services. A Registered Dietitian since 1980, she received her undergraduate degree in Food Science and Institutional Management from the University of Alabama in 1980, and Masters of Science in Public Health from the University of Illinois in 1998. A retired Navy Captain, she served 23 years active and reserve duty as a Registered Dietitian and Hospital Administrator. In this capacity, she coordinated clinical and administrative food service operations in a variety of teaching hospitals and attached to the Marines she set up and ran the foodservice operations for Field Hospitals.

 

James Barham

Charter Board Member

James is the owner of Barham Benefit Group, est. 1997, and created indi co artist co op in 2009. James was born in Champaign but has lived in California and Hawaii. Upon his return from Hawaii 1992, he decided to become more involved in his community and has been on the board of the IETC, Crisis Nursery, The Reading Group,Ambucs, Girls Scouts Green Meadow Council and the Champaign Public Library Foundation. He is currently serving on The Tony Noel Memorial Golf committee, the Public Art League and the Swann Special Care Development Board. He also was an elected member of the Champaign Park Board and during his 6 year term he served on the board of the CU Special Recreation, the Illinois Park & Recreation Association and the National Recreation & Park Association legislative committees.

 

Elizabeth Cox

Board Member

Elizabeth's passion for art came from being raised by an art professor. As early as she can remember, her mother and her painted, threw pottery, and experimented with photography and darkroom techniques. During her freshman year at UofI she traveled Europe for the summer and fell in love with the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam and the Louvre in Paris. She came back that fall semester and switched majors to Art History and started taking glass blowing. Mentored by William Carlson, an amazing local glass sculptor artist (he has pieces in Timpone's restaurant and Willard Airport), you would find Elizabeth in the glass studio most days and nights during her undergrad years.
     After graduation Elizabeth moved first to Indianapolis where she worked in finance, next to Chicago for 17 years, then to the west coast living in both Portland and San Francisco. After having traveled to 34 countries and living in 4 states, she is back in her hometown and happy to hang out with grandmother and mother who are both local. She now owns a marketing and sales consulting company named Sponsoring Growth, LLC and travels between her home in Champaign and condo in Naples, Florida.

 

Masha Trenhaile

Board Member

Masha Trenhaile came to Champaign to receive her Masters of Science in Advertising from the University of Illinois. After graduation Masha worked for over nine years at Fox Development Corporation as the Vice President of Operations and the Managing Broker for FDC, LLC. Trenhaile is very active in the community and in addition to PAL serves on the board of Sinfonia da Camera and the Executive Club of Champaign County (ECCC). Masha resides in Champaign with her husband and her son.

 

Past Directors:

• 2018–2022 Craig Rost, Past President
• 2010–2020 David B. Wilcoxen, Charter Board Member, Past President
• 2013–2018 Whitney E.W. Hartman
• 2011–2018 Roopali Malhotra, Vice President
• 2011–2016 Alan Mette
• 2010–2015 Lawrence Hamlin, Charter Board Member
• 2011–2013 Robin Hall
• 2010–2013 David Raila, Charter Board Member
• 2010–2012 Brian Knox, Charter Board Member, Past President
• 2010–2011 Casey Loving