Ballet West has appointed three accomplished professionals to its Board of Directors – Courtney Miller Hawks, Jennifer Huntsman, and Amanda Schmieder – bringing fresh expertise in nonprofit development to support the company’s continued growth and community impact.
In addition to welcoming new board members, Ballet West has also announced that Huntsman will serve as chair-elect.
“Following in the footsteps of Shar Quinney, our current Board Chair, will be no small feat, but I am confident in Jennifer Huntsman’s tremendous capabilities and leadership acumen, having worked with her on the Board and in other capacities for a number of years,” said Executive Director Michael Scolamiero.
“Courtney and Amanda each bring distinctive professional expertise that directly aligns with Ballet West’s strategic priorities,” Scolamiero added. “Courtney’s experience in nonprofit development and community advocacy, combined with Amanda’s extensive public relations background and passion for expanding our reach, positions our Board to accelerate Ballet West’s mission and deepen our community connections.”
Courtney Miller Hawks is a Utah native dedicated to community enrichment through nonprofit leadership. A University of Utah graduate, she currently serves with the Sherry Black Foundation, where she helped establish the organization’s core objectives and its inaugural fundraising campaign.
Hawks played a key role in the successful 2023 passage of Sherry’s Law, which preserved the use of Investigative Genetic Genealogy in Utah. She serves on the Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Growth and Development Committee and previously contributed to Utah Valley University’s Fulton Library Board. As a Ballet West parent with two daughters in the program, she brings both professional nonprofit experience and personal investment in the company’s educational mission.
Amanda Schmieder has championed Ballet West since her memorable on-stage engagement to her husband Jonathan in 2016. As a seasoned public relations professional, she has developed strategic communications for diverse clients ranging from Fortune 100 corporations to nonprofits and government agencies. Schmieder plans to leverage this expertise to expand Ballet West’s community reach and strengthen supporter engagement.
Her extensive volunteer leadership includes service on her alma mater’s National Alumni Board, the Draper Chamber of Commerce, the executive committee of a prominent public relations association, and the World Orphan Fund. She also dedicates time to animal welfare organizations, mentorship programs, and literacy promotion initiatives.
Jennifer Huntsman brings a deep commitment to the arts and extensive leadership experience in both legal and nonprofit sectors. A former partner at a private law firm, she currently serves as legal counsel to the Salt Lake City Community Reinvestment Agency. Huntsman previously served on the Ballet West Board for six years, concluding her prior term in 2022, and has contributed her expertise to numerous nonprofit and professional boards over the years.
Having lived in Salt Lake City for more than half her life, Huntsman is passionate about supporting the city’s vibrant cultural scene. Though a lifelong ballet dancer only in her dreams, she is an avid patron of the ballet, opera, and live theater. When not working or attending performances, Huntsman enjoys traveling, hiking, and lively dinners with the five young adult children she and her husband share between them.
ABOUT BALLET WEST
Ballet West, led by Artistic Director Adam Sklute since 2007, has been celebrated for innovation and excellence for over 60 years. Based in Salt Lake City, it presents classical masterpieces, historic works like America’s longest-running Nutcracker, and groundbreaking creations with unparalleled artistic standards. The Company continues to build future ballet artists and audiences by providing classical ballet training through the Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy and its four campuses with more than 1,000 students.
