Meet our Board Members
Ashley O’Toole
Board Chair
A local musician, property manager and real estate agent with many years of experience in construction, community service, and small business ownership, his primary responsibilities are to manage finances, liaising with contractors, and managing and reporting to the Board of Directors. Ashley has been on the Foundation board since spring of 2019.
Jeff Clark
V
ice Chair
La Grande-based real estate agent with 15 years of experience in his field. Jeff has successfully negotiated large contracts with clients and other contractors, as well as managed several large projects. Jeff is also a musician with a passion for the arts and enhancing local culture in La Grande. He joined the Foundation board in January of 2020.
Ted Kramer
Secretary
After 34 years in the newspaper industry - including 15 years as Editor-in-Chief and three as publisher of the La Grande Observer, Ted began a new career in 2011 as a real estate agent in La Grande. Ted has been on the Foundation board since its inception in 2012, and has served as secretary for the duration.
Kelly Ducote
Board Member
Originally from Texas, Kelly moved to La Grande in 2013 to begin work at the La Grande Observer newspaper where she later became a news editor. From 2016 to 2017 Kelly was the Executive Director of the Liberty Theatre Foundation. In 2017 Kelly became a clerk at the Union County Circuit Court, but continues to serve the Foundation as a board member.
Heather Tomlinson
Board Member
Heather is a Professor in Theatre Arts at Eastern Oregon University. Her area of expertise and focus being in costume design, set construction and stage makeup. She has taught and designed costumes at EOU for close to 15 years. Other interests include creating fiber arts, sea kayaking, outdoor activities such as camping and hiking, live music and hanging with her family. Heather joined the Liberty Theatre Foundation Board in the Summer of 2021.
Stacey Candlish
Board Member
Stacey was born and raised in La Grande, Oregon - class of 2000. She went on to graduate from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Science in economics and a minor in business. Stacey is the Market Lead for the La Grande, Pendleton and Milton-Freewater branches of US Bank. Previously, she had been a branch manager for US Bank for over ten years and worked in the banking and lending environment for nearly 20. Joining the Liberty Theatre Foundation Board in August of 2021, Stacey is committed to the vision of restoring the Liberty Theater and the value it will bring to her hometown.
Tisha Comer
Board Member
Born in La Grande, but transplanted to Montana at a young age, Tisha returned to her hometown in 2021 to work as a clerk at the Union County Circuit Court. Being a strong advocate of the arts, she is honored to be a part of reviving the Liberty Theatre.