Meet our Board Officers

Dr. Carl Frankel | President

A Canadian native of Montreal, Quebec, Dr. Carl Frankel received a BSc in Genetics from McGill University in 1969 and a PhD in genetics from Michigan State University in 1974. He moved to Hazleton and began his career as assistant professor of Biology at Penn State Hazleton Campus in 1974. He retired in 2018, partly to devote more time to the Art League and other organizations. Frankel has been a member of the Hazleton Art League since 1976 and has served in many leadership roles since then, most recently as president since 2021. An active member of Temple Beth Israel, Hazleton, Frankel has served on their board of directors since 2015 as co-president. Frankel also serves on several local boards including Hazleton Area Concert Series, Greater Hazleton Rails-to-Trails Association, Friends of the Nescopeck Watershed Association, City of Hazleton Shade Tree Commission, Luzerne County Arts Advisory Board, and the Carbon County Environmental Education Center Advisory Board. Passionate about the natural world, Frankel enjoys gardening and time spent in the woods, particularly guiding anyone interested – especially children – on nature walks.

Carole Shearer | Secretary

Carole Shearer is a native Marylander who moved to PA in 2003. She and husband Tim live in Drums; they have two adult children and two grandchildren. She studied art at Madison College and Shepherd College before creating a solo career in the decorative arts. Her specialties were trompe l’oiel painting and stenciling, custom furniture decor, and murals. Carole was also employed for 30 years in administrative support, first at Johns Hopkins University (Hagerstown research center), and later Penn State (Hazleton campus). Retiring in 2021, Carole now enjoys creating art “for fun”, volunteering with local progressive community groups, and being “Nona” to her grandboys.

Gayle Lukas | Treasurer

Gayle Lukas attended Albright College: BA Political Science, Marywood University: Master Public Administration. Enjoyed 36 years employment at White Haven Center, Assistant Director. Worked in State Representative Tarah Toohil's Hazleton office for many years. Member of Foster Township Zoning Board. Former member of Big Brother Big Sisters. Former Copresident of HAL. Loves all forms of art--but not naturally talented in any area.

Meet the Hazleton Art League Team

Hazleton Art League is able to thrive thanks to the essential support of our volunteer program and our amazing team! Despite having a small staff, we are able to provide numerous arts opportunities and programming to the Hazleton area community thanks to the hard work of our Executive Director and Executive Assistant.

Executive Director

Executive Assistant

Meet our Board Members

Jane Butkovsky

Hazleton based artist, Jane Klesh Butkovsky’s work has been accepted to numerous national and regional exhibitions in New York City and around the country. Among them the National Academy of Design, Allied Artists of America, The American Artists Professional League, Audubon Artists, The Salmagundi Club and The American Impressionist Society.
Klesh Butkovsky is the recipient of several awards such as the Silver Medal of Honor in Oil, Audubon Artists 71st Annual Exhibition NY, and many others. She is an elected member of Audubon Artists and Allied Artists of America. Listed in Who’s Who in American Art, Kelsh Butkovsky he has a rich history of tutorage under some of Americas most renowned artists including Robert Brackman of the Art Students League and Henry Hensche of the Cape School. The influence of these American impressionist artists has led her to focus on the light effect that encompasses the image. “We are all under the same sun and moon, day or night. It is always changing, interesting, and universal. It unites us over time and place. It is the beauty and visual interest of my time and place that I seek to reveal.” Klesh Butkovsky is a member of the Hazleton Art League Board of Directors, and in addition to her class, she has an open studio for members who enjoy painting and drawing in a relaxed atmosphere.
Robert Collado
Jamie Lee DeNoia
Lisa Marie Ferry

Lisa Marie Ferry has been teaching secondary and higher education for over 20 years in the subjects of Art, Anthropology, Psychology, Photography, and Archaeology. Lisa currently has been teaching at MMI Preparatory School for over the past 15 years. She has three grown children, one in the 10th grade, a loving and supportive husband, and an awesome dog named Picasso. She has been involved with the local health center doing classes for their Wellbeing Initiative. Lisa makes her own jewelry and self-care products on her online store.
Alicia Hayden Gomba

Wife of Joseph Gomba and mother of three sons: Raymond (20), George (18), and Joseph (8). Together with her husband, they founded Dream Big!!, a health and wellness coaching practice. Active as a volunteer for St. Jude Church and St. Jude School, Mountain Top, Gomba enjoys helping others and spending time with family and friends. Hanging out in Hazleton, golfing, and being with her husband and boys are some of her favorite things. Gomba’s dream is to revitalize Hazleton with the Arts, and her motto is: “Life is short. Spend it with the people you love and make you laugh.” Gomba has a degree in Marketing and a master’s in Health Care Administration from King’s College. Board member since 2022.
David Long
Christine Michel
Ted Miller (Tedd Hazard)
Alba Gisselle (Gigi) Perez

C.O & Art Instructor of ArtLife Studio
Alba Gisselle Perez, also known locally and artistically as “Gigi”, is an international contemporary, visual, body and mural artist. In 2015, Perez became the first Latina to own and operate an art gallery/studio called ArtLife Studio in West Hazleton, Pennsylvania, where she hosted many art exhibitions, sip-and-paints, after-school and summer art programs for children, open mics and poetry nights. As of 2023, Perez re-opened the doors of ArtLife Studio in a new location on Broad Street in Hazleton after being closed since 2019 due to Covid-19.
In 2022, Perez traveled to Tulum, Mexico to take part in an Artist residency at a Hotel and Retreat named Kabaa Luum while preparing for its grand opening. Artists from all over the world came together to create murals, sculptures and other forms of art that would be viewed and enjoyed by future guests. The entire event was recorded as a documentary that will soon be viewed on Netflix.
Perez has been drawing and painting since the age of six. At 14, she attended her first oil painting class at the Hazleton Art League (HAL). Perez has since become an instructor—now board member of HAL, and a guest in three documentaries including PBS’s American Portrait. The love for Arts and community has become an integral part of her mission which is to continue to build and connect the community through the Arts, nurturing local talents and sharing her knowledge of the Arts with those around her. Now with the new location for her gallery, she can offer a space for local talents to express and enjoy their creativity.
Paula Radick

Paula L. Radick is a graduate of MMI Preparatory School, King’s College, and the Dickinson School of Law. She is a practicing attorney and currently serves as the Luzerne County Interim Division Head of Judicial Services & Records. She also serves on the Hazleton Public Library Board of Trustees. Paula enjoys traveling around the world and has been to over forty countries and five continents with the goal of travelling to as many countries as possible. She enjoys traveling with friends, reading, art museums, live music and shows. The Hazleton Art League was beloved by her mother, Mary Lou. Paula is very proud to be a member of the Hazleton Art League Board of Directors.
Michelle Skokowski

Michelle Skokowski, a native of the Hazleton area, is a Board of Directors member of the Hazleton Art League. Michelle has served on the Board since 2012 and also served as the Board’s Secretary from 2017 to 2023, where she attended meetings and took the meeting’s minutes. Michelle is a 2004 graduate from Hazleton Area High School and a 2016 graduate of McCann’s School of Business and Technology with an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration. Michelle also volunteers at many of the Hazleton Art League events and enjoys doing her diamond paintings, artwork, and creating handmade jewelry.