Executive Director & Board

The Olive Branch Arts Council consist of 11 Board Members and an Executive Director. The Long Range Plan of the organization continues to be consistent with the mission and goals. The goals are to be a center for information and resources for artists, art groups, and the public

Dena Richardson

Executive Director

My family moved to Olive Branch in 1969 when I was in the 10th grade. After graduating from Olive Branch High School in 1972, I attended Northwest Community College for two years. I received a bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Interior Design in 1975 from MSU. I worked as an interior designer for eight years at an English Antique shop. I have been working for a custom upholstery shop since 1983 designing furniture until May 2010, when I started my own upholstery business "Dena's Personal Touch" Your Custom Upholstery Shop.

Rita Schelly

President

rita_schelly Rita Schelly has been a resident of Olive Branch for 21 years. She is Vice President of BancorpSouth Bank in Olive Branch. She is married to John Schelly, employed by City of Olive Branch, and has a son, Nicholas Lancaster, by a previous marriage.

Sue Edwards

Vice President

sue edwards Sue is the Director of Retail Operations for Landau Uniform Stores, managing the three Landau retail stores in the Memphis area since August of 2011. She became a member of the Olive Branch Arts Council in 2011, serving on the board as Vice President in 2012 and 2013. She also leads the board for Corporate Sponsorship. Sue joined the Olive Branch Chamber of Commerce in 2011 through Landau Uniforms.

Debby Salvatore

Secretary

debby salvatore

Debby and her husband Mark moved to Olive Branch from Upstate New York in 2003. Debby has over 20 years experience in distribution, warehouse and supply chain management. She looks forward to continuing to promote the arts in our community.

Bettie Puckett

Treasurer

bettie-puckett

Bettie Puckett has a PhD in Leadership Development and Management, a Master of Arts in Higher Education Leadership and a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare from the University of Mississippid. She was Executive Director of two departments, an associate professor and taught several graduate-level classes in the School of Education. Administration.. She is also a certified legal assistant. Puckett retired from the University of Mississippi as an administrator and faculty member.

Joyce Haslip

Board Member

I have lived in Olive Branch since 1963. I am a widow and have 4 children and 6 grandchildren. I am active in the Masters Gardner and Masters Forrester. I am Chair Person of the Olive Branch City Beautification Commission. I am a board member of the Northwest Community Foundation VOl. and the Northwest Community Foundation Health Advisory Board. I am a board member of the Olive Branch Arts Council and a member of First Baptist Church of Olive Branch.

Peggy Henderson

Board Member

peggy_henderson Peggy Henderson grew up in Wilm, Delaware and attended the University of Delaware. She flew as a flight attendant for an international charter airline, then moved to Washington, D.C. where she worked as a travel agent and met her husband, David. They lived and worked in Lynchburg, Va. and Tulsa, Oklahoma before moving back to the D.C. area with their daughter, Marcail.

Peggy was a Girl Scout leader for six years and worked actively in her church, schools, and the community while her husband worked as a public affairs consultant.

Peggy and her husband retired after living in Northern Va. for 33 years and moved to Olive Branch in the fall of 2007 along with their daughter, son-in-law, and grandson.

Peggy is active with the Republican Women DeSoto Area (RWDA) and the Olive Branch Arts Council.

Jesus Avila

Board Member

jesus_avila Owner of El Amigo's Restaurant in Olive Branch, Ms.

Doris Thompson

Board Member

Doris Thompson is Marketing Coordinator for DeSoto County Tourism. She began working for IRS October 1963 and transferred to Memphis, TN 1972, where she was a Section Chief, Department Manager and Lead Instructor. Doris retired from IRS in October 2006. Doris has been a resident of Olive Branch since 1999. Doris is a past President of ‘American Women’s Association’. In 1980, she was the Memphis Belles Chapter “Woman of the Year”. She also is a Competent Toastmaster and a Past President. In 2005, Doris was a recipient of the Department of Treasury's Training ‘APEX’ award (Achievement of Professionalism and Excellence). She began working for DeSoto County Tourism in 2007. Doris is married to Bill and has two wonderful stepdaughters. She is actively involved with First Baptist Church of Olive Branch.