Diane Ruggiero

Deputy Director for the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities

Diane serves as a Deputy Director for the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities and leads the division of the Office of the Arts. She has extensive experience in municipal and nonprofit arts organizations. Prior to her work in Alexandria, she served as Superintendent of Cultural Arts for the City of Asheville, N.C.; Executive Director of Creative Art Exchange in Cornelius, NC; and Gallery Manager and Program Coordinator of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, N.C. She has an outstanding record of developing innovative programs such as the Mobile Art Lab and the Site See public art series. Diane holds a Master’s in Arts Administration and Bachelor’s of Art History/Museum Studies from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Corey Beidleman

Special Events Permit Manager

Currently serving as a Special Events Permit Manager for the City of Alexandria, Corey oversees the entire special event application process, ensuring compliance with city regulations and fostering collaboration among stakeholders. His ability to streamline operations and implement efficient permitting systems has enhanced the city’s event planning process. 

Corey Beidleman is an experienced finance and project management professional with a strong background in special event permitting, financial planning and analysis, and business operations. Corey is skilled in customer service, financial planning, project management, and risk assessment. His ability to analyze data, negotiate effectively, and lead teams makes him a valuable asset. With a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Pittsburgh, Corey has developed expertise in financial modeling, market assessment, and strategic planning. 

Deri Collingwood

Senior Private Event Rental Manager for the Torpedo Factory Art Center

Deri manages Event Rentals at Torpedo Factory Art Center. As a seasoned event planner and a gregarious extrovert who enjoys partnering with clients and vendors, Deri creates the guest’s ideal experience. She provides venue tours, written agreements with clients, management of the events and event staff.  Given Deri’s skill at building memorable events, she also supports high profile public events at the Art Center. 

Under Deri’s leadership, the Private Event Rental program at the Art Center has been recognized as a top venue by Washingtonian Magazine, Northern Virginia Magazine, Weddinggrule.com, The Knot, and Wedding Wire. Deri holds an MS in Hospitality Industry Studies from New York University, an Advanced Professional Degree in Customer Relationship Management from New York University, and a BA in Speech Communications from George Mason University. 

Cheryl Anne Colton

Director of Cultural Resources

With over three decades of service to the City of Alexandria, Cheryl Anne Colton is a dynamic leader in the Office of the Arts. She directs a diverse range of initiatives, from the esteemed Poet Laureate program to art grants that support local talent. Cheryl Anne’s passion extends to professional development, where she collaborates with other Local Arts Agencies to strengthen the arts community. In addition, she conducts vital arts research and actively seeks grant opportunities, all in service of enriching the cultural landscape of Alexandria. 

Cheryl Anne’s career is rooted in a rich tapestry of arts leadership. She has spearheaded a community theater and dance company, worked as a grants manager and community development specialist for a State Arts Agency, and made her mark at a local arts agency in the Midwest. Her experience extends to teaching arts management, shaping the next generation of leaders. Cheryl Anne’s commitment to excellence is reflected in her role as a former Examiner for the U.S. Senate Productivity & Quality Award (SPQA) and her ongoing contributions to the National Recreation and Parks Association as a Member of both the CPRP Examination Committee and Conference Planning Committee. She earned a Master’s Degree in Arts Management from Michigan State University and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from the University of Wisconsin. 

Meika Daus

Public Art Senior Manager

Meika Daus works with a variety of stakeholders to develop and implement placemaking strategies in the City of Alexandria. As the lead public art manager, she supports the integration of public art throughout the City and within capital improvement projects. She works closely with the City of Alexandria’s Commission for the Arts and manages high profile project management.  

She has a background in visual arts, landscape architecture, and urban planning. She has over 15 years of local government experience working to advocate community design improvements, develop land use policies that reflect community vision, and implement projects. Meika holds a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts from Davidson College and a Master of Landscape Architecture from Clemson University. She is a member of the American Planning Association and is a certified planner.  

Sandy Depew

Recreation/Public Art Coordinator 

Sandy has worked for the City of Alexandria in the Office of the Arts for the past 17 years.  She is currently involved with the ongoing Public Art Projects around the city as well as providing essential support to the Torpedo Factory Arts Center and Office of the Arts programs and initiatives. 

Prior to joining the city, Sandy worked as a Marketing Coordinator for General Growth Properties overseeing Landmark Mall.  She is a Certified Program Planner and has built valuable and trusted relationships with both her coworkers, vendors, and clients. She has successfully implemented many projects, programs and events as a part of the city of Alexandria’s goal of increasing community engagement. She is always willing to adapt and learn new skills to provide enhanced service to the citizens of Alexandria. 

Daniel Guzman

Director of Events & Public Space Activations

Daniel Guzman serves as Director of Events & Public Space Activations with the City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts, overseeing public programs and projects focused on cultural growth, community engagement, and art opportunities in Alexandria and the greater D.C. metropolitan area. Prior to his current role, he served as Curator of Public Programs at Torpedo Factory Art Center, an arts incubator space on the Potomac Waterfront.  
 
Daniel has developed culture crawls, pop-up events, workshops, and roundtables for various organizations both in the D.C. and New York area. He serves as a board member for the Arts Administrators of Color Network and the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County, as well as a regional panelist for the Virginia Commission for the Arts. He is a Certified Program Planner and a Fellow of the NALAC Leadership Institute. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master of Science in Project Management from George Washington University. 

Richard Johnson

Facility Manager for the Torpedo Factory Art Center

Richard supports the daily operations of the Torpedo Factory Arts Center acting as the primary manager on duty. Richard also supports and works with the department of General Services to ensure maintenance and upkeep of the facility.  

Richard Johnson joined Torpedo Factory Art Center staff as gift shop manager with the City of Alexandria’s Department of General Service in 1999.  He believed in the promise of the Art Center and was a fixture from its earliest days, spending hours volunteering and worked part-time starting in the 1980s.  He started his working career helping in a family grocery store and ice cream shop and went on to manage other shops and restaurants.  By the late 1960s, he managed several bookstore chains in Washington, D.C.  area, before landing at the Art Center.  In his free time, Richard is an artist and certified yoga instructor. 

Jessica Sturgis

Event Coordinator

Jessica currently serves as an Event Coordinator for the Special Events team at the Office of the Arts, where she manages and develops events for the Mobile Art Lab and supports the planning of medium to large-scale events. She also reviews special event requests and curates new experiences that bring art to diverse communities across Alexandria. 

Jessica Sturgis is an accomplished Event Producer and Creative Strategist with over 15 years of experience in event planning, media production, and brand activations. Based in Washington, DC, she has successfully produced more than 1,500 events, from intimate micro-weddings to large-scale festivals, blending storytelling with immersive experiences. A proud Howard University alumna, Jessica credits her ambition and work ethic to her time at her alma mater.