
Speakers
Learn more and connect with our speakers

Heather Castillo
Heather Castillo is a performer, dance-maker, scholar, educator, mom and an associate professor of Dance Studies at CSU Channel Islands. Her dance career spans working with stars ranging from Andy Williams to Selena Gomez and from television to theatre. Her current research focuses on identifying the roots of lyrical jazz as a response to the AIDS crisis.
Workshops
Panelist – Success on Your Terms

Casey Comstock-Mills
Casey is the Program & Development Director at TOArts as well as a working musician, music director, singer-songwriter, freelance writer, and arts education consultant. A graduate of Indiana University, Casey’s music-directing, performance, and studio credits span the genres of pop, rock, and musical theatre. In addition, her fiction has been published in the Chicago Quarterly Review and been awarded the Myrtle Armstrong Prize for Fiction.
Workshops
Moderator – Success on Your Terms
Strategic Planning for the Working Artist

Peter Kappen
Peter Kappen is the owner of Visualize Ventura – Ventura County’s premier commercial production facility – as well as a Fine Art Automotive Photographer. Peter is the father of 3 children and a lifelong resident of Ventura County. He is committed to providing the resources required to expand local film production.
Workshops
Panelist – Success on Your Terms

Kimberly Lee
Kimberly Lee, JD, is a versatile writer, editor, creativity coach, and facilitator with a passion for nurturing the imaginative spirit and helping others reveal their own inner wisdom. A graduate of Stanford University and UC Davis School of Law, she holds certifications from The Center for Journal Therapy, The Center for Intentional Creativity, Guided Autobiography, SoulCollage®, and The Path Meditation, and serves on the board of Amherst Writers and Artists. An instructor with Hugo House, The Writing Salon, and The Loft Literary Center, Kimberly has led workshops at numerous retreats and conferences, including the Arts & Healing Initiative, the Omega Institute, the Expressive Therapies Summit, and Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center. Her stories and essays have appeared in numerous publications, and her debut novel Have You Seen Him will be published in May 2025. She lives in Southern California with her husband and three children. Visit my links below to learn more.
Workshops
Journaling and Expressive Writing Practices

Heidi Parker
Blending creativity with purpose, Heidi Parker builds bridges at the intersection of art, health, and community. As the Community Initiatives Manager at Arts & Healing Initiative, she brings together partnerships & projects that transform lives through the innate power of the arts. Heidi also serves as a Regional Liaison for the Southern California Art Therapy Association and is a certified California Climate Steward. Originally from Chicago, she developed a lifelong love of the arts due to the city’s vibrant cultural scene, including its museums, music, theatre, and dance. Heidi’s journey includes a BA in Studio Art from DePaul University, an MA in Art Therapy from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, and an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from Duke University.
Workshops
Art + Mental Health

Gale Fulton Ross
For over fifty years Gale Fulton Ross has made her mark on the art world with her expansive skills and expressive style. Her work reflects themes of the world she has grown up in: events, emotions, a broad and diverse mix of cultural experiences. She is a passionate voice of the Black experience in America. As she has evolved from apprentice to modern master, she has produced a prolific body of work spanning styles of figurative and abstract, sculpture and portraiture.
Workshops
Panelist – Success on Your Teams

Elisa Torres
Elisa Torres is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and community arts advocate based in Oxnard, California. Her practice spans murals, fine art, and public installations, highlighting themes of cultural heritage, social justice, and community empowerment.
She balances her studio work with community-driven initiatives, leveraging her skills to connect art with impactful storytelling. Currently, she is focused on expanding her public art projects, exploring artist residencies, and finding new ways to integrate storytelling into her creative process.
Workshops
Sustaining a Studio Practice

Graham Wetterhahn
Graham Wetterhahn is a multimedia producer, director, and consultant focused on creating new styles of theatrical performance. He is the founder and Producing Artistic Director of After Hours Theatre Company and the co-founder of digital theatre production company Pixel Playhouse. With a foundation in traditional theatre, he is at the forefront of developing non-conventional theatrical styles including immersive, live-streaming, and culinary events.
Workshops
Panelist – Success on Your Teams
