Dennis Dean

Executive Director

Dennis is a seasoned art director, curator, award-winning photographer with over three decades of dedication to the art industry. He is known for his quiet leadership style, artistic ingenuity and as a visionary strategist in developing and inspiring accomplishable goals. He feels strongly about driving organizational growth and fostering artistic excellence while encouraging, facilitating and cultivating opportunities for underrepresented artists to exhibit, perform, sustain, be seen and thrive. He has been an ArtsUnited member since 1999 and served as board vice president from 2016-2024. With over 30 published books of his works, he has curated countless exhibitions from across the U.S. to the U.K. His photography is a staple of the Florida gay press and has been spotlighted in international magazines. Dennis has a B.A. degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and brings 10+ years experience from the performing arts world as performer, stage manager and theatre producer. As executive director, he is committed to promoting cultural enrichment, expanding community engagement through innovative initiatives and forging impactful partnerships. He is passionate about empowering artists and shaping transformative experiences that resonate globally.

Darius Antalan

Board President

Darius is a visionary in all things he does.  He believes human connection is the purpose of his time here which can be observed in his considerable curiosity & thoughtfulness for others.  His ideas are often loudly creative, however execution is hardly a concern as he is happy to grind in the dirt to turn a dream into reality.  

Growing up Darius moved around a lot having military parents.  Eager to adapt, transitioning from Virginia to Washington state before graduating from The University of Alabama with a Master’s degree in Counseling Education, he accepted the challenge of walking the less known path & making a name for himself through hard work.  

He spent the early part of his career working in the education system for BCPS as the Dean of Students before accepting his role with Junior Achievement of South Florida in 2023.

Darius has made a name for himself in the community with his presence by volunteering his time with countless organizations.  Darius is highly passionate about cleaning up our beaches & supporting local businesses.  Purchased 2021, his dramatic artistic creative property called Thee Quad, is his mixed use 4 unit apartment complex located at the border of Oakland Park x Wilton Manors.  At 10 years old, with the help of his mom, he painted a dream of owning a piece of Real Estate that pledged affordability, carbon neutrality & artistic self expression.  Today, his dream is now known around the world as a highly rated guest favorite destination.  He is eager to get to work serving as the president of AU.  

Richard Viola

Board Vice President

From Brooklyn, New York, where homophobia was prevalent in the 60’s, Richard, although he was aware of his attraction to guys at a young age, didn’t come out until his mid 20’s. He enjoyed photography as a pre-teen and took a part-time job while in college photographing children and families. After shooting for several NY studios, he opened his own portrait studio, which he had for 20 years.

In 2009 he became an ArtsUnited member, a few years after he moved to Fort Lauderdale. With declining membership, in 2017, Richard joined the board and was instrumental in rebuilding ArtsUnited to become the largest LGBTQ+ art organization in Florida. He brings to the board his experience of over 50 years as a professional, award winning photographer and his knowledge of running a successful business. He currently serves as Vice-President.

Aaron Jiles

Board Secretary

Aaron Jiles is a strategic professional with extensive experience in operations, event management, and business consulting. He has supported nonprofits like Global Dreams USA and the American Cancer Society to drive meaningful change. while helping clients achieve revenue growth and improve customer retention as Managing Director of The Tailored Strategist LLC. His commitment to causes like mental health and wellness advocacy reflects his dedication to making a positive change in the community.  To him, art serves as a medium for self-reflection and expression, storytelling, and connecting people from different backgrounds. Art helps to heal and connect the community to make change in the world.

Ken Manford

Board Treasurer

Ken is a passionate art lover who is thrilled to be a supporter of the LGBTQ artistic community in Fort Lauderdale. Originally from Louisville, KY, he has been an art enthusiast in cities in which he has lived, including Chicago, New York, Dallas, and Atlanta. He has experience in board service and fundraising as a Director of the Family Equality Council and is currently on the Emeritus Board.  Ken is a strategic executive, certified in project management and change management and has a passionate and enthusiastic ability to build, challenge, and motivate teams. He and his husband Jeffrey have been together for over 30 years and have a son in college that they adopted in Guatemala when he was a baby.

Natalie Tyler

Board Director

Natalie has 30 years of experience working in the non-profit sector. Her non-profit career started in New Jersey, where she was born and raised. There she spent 12 years serving as an Executive Director in various non-profits, 10 of which leading the East Orange YMCA. She earned a Master’s degree in Public Administration with a Non-Profit Management concentration from Seton Hall University. Since moving to Florida, she has served twice as Executive Director, a Grants Specialist for a large multi-unit non-profit, and most recently as the Development Manager for a non-profit organization that serves veterans and their families.  Natalie discovered early in her career that she was a natural at fundraising. Natalie’s motto is “keep the FUN-in Fundraising,” which fits her upbeat, happy, funny, and positive personality. Natalie believes in living a conscious life while putting positive vibes and good energy out into the Universe. Natalie has a passion for helping others, sharing her zest for life with them, and believes you create the life you desire; “Change your thinking, change your life” is her mantra.

Kseniia Yeromenko

Board Director

Kseniia is a Ukrainian-born artist now based in Florida. Combining her background in fine art and graphic design, she creates captivating watercolor paintings collected by art enthusiasts worldwide.  Her passion for the arts, coupled with her role as secretary, will lead to impactful initiatives that truly support the artistic community.

Will Morris

Board Director

Will was born in the deep South, Georgia, raised in Boston, and attended Syracuse University Crouse College of Art. The university sent him to London to study fine art and fashion at St Martin’s College of Art. After graduating he returned to Boston for a few years and then moved to London designing and creating, and traveled the world for 15 years. For family reasons he moved from London to Indiana for a few short years from which he is still recovering. He moved from there to Florida where he now shows how he sees the world through abstract acrylic art.

Franco Sotillo

Board Director

Originally from Lima, Peru, Franco graduated from Toulouse Lautrec in Graphic Design and continued his artistic journey by studying at Edith Sachs Contemporary Art School in Lima, taking master classes with plastic artist Jaime Higa, and attending the Art School Museum of Boca Raton.  As an artist he creates artwork that reflects the richness of Latin American folklore, religion, and the theme of freedom, exploring how humans are said to be created by the Sun God. Franco continues his passion by supporting the art community.

Anicia Snell

Board Director

Anicia is a creative graphic designer with a knack for digital marketing. From social media graphics to full campaign designs, she has worked with all kinds of formats to help brands look their best online. With experience taking projects from brainstorm to launch, Anicia loves making marketing strategies shine with eye-catching visuals. Whether it’s a quick logo refresh or a full campaign, she is always excited to dive in and bring creative ideas to life.

Oscar Vilela

Board Director

Oscar is a talented photographer and digital editor known for creating unique, eye-catching visuals. With a strong background in social media tactics, he knows how to craft images that grab attention and drive engagement. From shooting to editing, Oscar brings creativity and technical skill to every project, making content stand out in a crowded digital space. Alongside photography, he has valuable experience in networking and marketing, helping brands connect with their audience in meaningful ways through striking visuals and smart strategies.