Our Board

Board of Directors

Access Arts relies on an active board to achieve our mission of 'creative learning experiences for everyone'. Our board uses their diverse skill sets to work on projects ranging from fund-raising to landscaping to firing up the wood kiln. They keep Access Arts moving forward!

Ready to join us? Contact us!

Board Officers

Jet Ainsworth

PRESIDENT

You may recognize Jet Ainsworth as long-time radio talk show host “Jet Roberts,” but in the last few years Jet has continued his broadcasting career as a LIVE broadcast producer and on-air contributor for more than 100 college sports networks across America. Most notably, a member of the football gameday broadcast teams for the Indiana Hoosiers, Texas A&M Aggies, Colorado Buffaloes, Iowa State Cyclones and Oklahoma Sooners. He works as writer and producer for the longtime Columbia-based Marketing Firm Visionworks Marketing Group, owned by former Access Arts Board Member Lili Vianello. He is also an award-winning filmmaker, singer/songwriter and music producer.

Mike Marcum

VICE PRESIDENT

Mike is a sculptor that primarily works in metal. He likes to use recycled material in his works, but has been using a mix of new and recycled materials lately. This leads to the material dictating the flow of the piece in his creative process. The juxtaposition of the new and old creates these sort of metal collages in some of his works. He loves being creative and learning new ways of doing things, "there is always some new challenge to overcome." He has contributed to the True/False Film Fest for the last 13 years, growing a forest in the Forrest Theatre at the Tiger Hotel. On top of that he has created the awards for Gimme Truth the last six years.

Jordan Barnes

SECRETARY

Jordan was born and raised in Columbia, and is a local realtor. She joined the board this year, and has loved to learn more about the positive effect Access Arts has on our community. She was drawn to the board after taking a clay class, loving it, and attending several CelebrARTy events. Her favorite piece of art is The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh, probably because it ties in to her love of all things stars and outer space. Jordan’s favorite thing to do is to spend time with her family, regardless of what’s on the agenda.

Mike Lising

TREASURER

Having called Columbia home since he was three years old, Mikey Lising has been creating artwork and supporting the arts in this community for years. Mikey uses his artistic skills every day in his professional career as Graphic Design Coordinator for the Missouri State Teacher's Association and Adjunct Professor of Graphic Design at the University of Missouri. When not at his day job(s), Mikey keeps himself busy making things that move & fly, creating delicious meals, traveling the world, taking dance classes at DanceArts, riding mopeds & motorcycles, fixing things, lending a hand to those in need, and spending time with the people he loves. Mikey has been supporting the Access Arts mission since 2016, when he joined the Board of Directors. As a board member, he loves working with so many great people. In all of his endeavors, Mikey draws inspiration from one of his favorite artists, Buckminster Fuller, who once said, "How often I found where I should be going only by setting out for somewhere else."

Chris Baines

Chris is faculty at MU where he teaches in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Originally from Great Britain, he has lived in Columbia for over 12 years with his German wife and All-American daughter. Chris first discovered Access Arts several years ago when his daughter signed up for a weaving class, something she continues to do to this day. He was absolutely delighted and honored when asked to become part of the Board of Directors and is very much looking forward to helping Access Arts with its mission.