Fiona Bond
Chief Executive Officer
Fiona is the founding CEO of Creative Waco. She came to Waco from the UK, where she directed arts and cultural initiatives in higher education, faith, and economic development. She has a BA in Theology from Durham University (UK) and an MBA from Baylor University. She is the author of 'The Arts in Your Church' (Piquant, 2001), serves as a panelist for Texas Commission on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts, was 2020 "Wacoan of the Year", and serves as President of Texans For The Arts.
Fiona is passionate about creating and supporting well-rounded, vibrant communities in which everyone can create and thrive - and that's what she strives to do at Creative Waco. She juggles her role as CEO of Creative Waco with family life, travel, and playing bagpipes with her younger son for relaxation.
Julie Cervantes
Director of Strategic Development
Julie is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and community leader with a deep passion for fostering creativity in Waco. She has worked with Creative Waco as Project Manager for Chalk Waco, Artist Mentor for ArtPrenticeship, and Parade Director for the Waco Día de los Muertos Parade & Festival. Her current role as Director of Strategic Development entails grant writing, fundraising, public art, and logistics.
Katie Selman
Strategic Engagement Advisor
Katie is passionate about connecting people through the arts. As the Strategic Engagement Advisor at Creative Waco, she supports strategic and experimental arts initiatives that resonate with audiences, donors, sponsors, and organizations to strengthen Waco’s cultural landscape. With a background in nonprofit leadership, event planning, and fundraising, she has played a key role in expanding access to the arts and fostering community collaboration. She thrives on creating opportunities that bring people together to celebrate creativity.
Fun fact: In 2020, Katie was a producer on Invisible Icon, a podcast docuseries highlighting Tom Wilson, the late Waco-born producer who worked with Bob Dylan, The Velvet Underground, and more.
Ashley Brooks
Operations Manager
Ashley Brooks is a multi-creative and storyteller who serves as Creative Waco’s Operations Manager. With a background in styling, visual storytelling, music, and technology, she blends artistry with systems thinking to bring creative ideas to life. Storytelling is the thread that ties her work together—not just a way of expressing creativity, but a means of building connection, sparking imagination, and giving voice to community.
For Ashley, technology and operations are extensions of her creativity, tools for building systems that empower artists and strengthen the community. She is passionate about growing Waco’s creative community and strengthening Creative Waco’s mission to connect, celebrate, and champion the arts.
Josh Rizzo
Director of Marketing & Communications
Josh Rizzo is a designer, marketer, and storyteller with a BFA in Graphic Design from Baylor University and more than a decade of experience building websites, managing SEO, and creating content strategies for small businesses and nonprofits. He joined Creative Waco because of his passion for projects that connect creativity with community impact. What excites him most is using design and strategy to solve real problems, making ideas more accessible and inspiring action. Outside of work, Josh is an entrepreneur who runs a 360 photo booth company and a web studio, and he loves traveling and "exploring culture" (eating food).
Eric Linares
Special Events Manager
Eric Linares is a dedicated community builder passionate about arts, culture, and entrepreneurship. As Special Events Manager at Creative Waco, he leads initiatives like the Levitt AMP Waco Music Series and Día de los Muertos Waco, ensuring cultural representation and community engagement. He is the co-founder of Eastside Market, a hub for local artists and entrepreneurs, and serves as Vice Chair of the Hispanic Chamber. With a background in entrepreneurship from Baylor University, Eric focuses on creating sustainable opportunities for artists and small businesses while strengthening Waco’s creative economy.
Tneyah Thomas
Community Engagement Activator
Tneyah Thomas has always been passionate about both community work and the arts, and her journey has led her to a role where she can merge the two. A graduate of the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, she pursued theatre and graphic design in college before founding BLACCENT, a nonprofit dedicated to spreading awareness through creative expression.
Now, as part of Creative Waco, Tneyah is committed to uplifting underrepresented voices and fostering connections through the Levitt AMP Waco Music Series. Outside of her work, Tneyah is a musician specializing in arranging a cappella vocals and a textile artist who designs unique handcrafted wall rugs.
Stephen Uhey
ARTPrenticeship Program Director
"Stephen Uhey, a San Jose native, began his artistic journey in 2013 as an intern with Thrive Collective in New York City. Over the next decade, he took on roles including art assistant, project manager, teaching artist, and Mural Program Director.
In 2024, he moved to Waco, collaborating on murals with Cade and DVLVD Murals while producing his own work. That summer, he mentored with ARTPrenticeship on the Cameron Park Zoo mural, leading to his role as Program Director in 2025.
Passionate about public art, Stephen believes murals foster community, amplify voices, and provide young artists with opportunities he lacked growing up."
WHO WE ARE