Ballet West Recognizes New Board Members
Ballet West introduces new additions to its board, contributing to the ongoing enrichment and inspiration of the arts community. Four board members were elected on September 28, 2023 – Matthew Cardon-Bystry with Vacasa; Ryan Kelly, Chief Communications Officer at Recursion; Athelia Woolley LeSueur with Frank John Properties; and Jacey Skinner, Counsel at Ballard Spahr.
“Each of these new Directors brings a unique set of skills to the Ballet West Board,” said Executive Director Michael Scolamiero. “Those skills, combined with their enthusiasm to further Ballet West’s mission and brand, make them great additions and I am excited to have the privilege of working with them.”
Matthew Cardon-Bystry graduated from Butler University in 2012 with a degree in Marketing and Public Relations. He has dedicated his career to becoming a sales expert in the short-term vacation rental space, working with many of the industry's largest contributors including RCI, One Fine Stay, and most recently, Vacasa. He has actively engaged with the community in Salt Lake City, particularly as the Events Director for Stonewall Sports, a non-profit LGBTQIA+ intramural sports league.
Ryan Kelly has worked in communications and marketing with a diverse range of brands from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies with roles at The New York Times, WPP, Digital Director at Media-Corps, and partner at GW New York and later at Catch24 Advertising. Kelly is now the Chief Communications Officer at Recursion, championing advancements in AI-enabled drug discovery. He also serves as a board member at Equality Utah and has supported the arts through his involvement with the Young Patrons Board at the New York City Ballet.
Athelia Woolley LeSueur graduated from Stanford University with a minor in dance, received a fellowship to study at The Ailey School in New York, and spent a year at the Laban Dance Centre in London. After dancing, she received a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University. After graduating, she began Shabby Apple, a fashion company specializing in women’s dresses. Her designs were featured in In Style, People Magazine, Lucky, Redbook, amongst others. She later cofounded and currently works for Frank John Properties specializing in distressed real estate.
Jacey Skinner received a Juris Doctor degree from Brigham Young University Law School and currently works for Ballard Spahr LLP. She has worked as General Counsel for Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, Director of the Utah Sentencing Commission, and as Deputy District Attorney for the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office. Skinner has received the Utah State Bar, Dorathy Merrill Brothers Award for advancement of women in the legal profession and the Utah Minority Bar Association, Jimi Mitsunaga Excellence in the Law Award for advancing the cause of justice and diversity in the law.