December 5, 2024
Join us in welcoming the newest additions to the Center for Irish Music Board of Directors!
Karen Smith brings a wealth of skills to CIM from her professional experience in corporate public relations, non-profit communications and PR, and in promoting women’s intercollegiate sports. Recently retired, Karen is now working as a PR/communications consultant and as a volunteer on CIM’s board. Karen is especially skilled at identifying story ideas and working with diverse teams to develop those ideas. She looks forward to helping to tell the CIM story!
Karen was drawn to the Center for Irish Music to learn to play the tenor banjo. As a child she studied classical violin and piano, but as a teenager she took up banjo lessons with Lizzie Fullilove, a renowned teacher in Waterloo, Iowa. Lizzie eventually sold her Gibson banjo to Karen’s family. While Karen’s earlier banjo experience was with Dixieland music, she’s enjoying learning Irish music with Brian Miller, and is playing with CIM’s Open Sky ensemble.
Karen is an avid sports fan of the Hawkeyes, WNBA Lynx and women’s college basketball.
Samantha Jekot-Graham brings a diverse set of skills and professional experience to the CIM board team as Library Services Manager for Hennepin County, overseeing seven libraries. She was drawn to serve the CIM through harp lessons with Hannah Flowers, and says “I want to be a part of an organization that supports culture, history and learning and it [CIM] felt like a good fit.”
In her current role with Hennepin County Library, she has experience in strategic planning, supervision, continuous improvement and supporting diversity and inclusion goals. She also loves to be a part of planning and organizing events.
Jeff Larsen’s connection to CIM started with their son, Owen, an accomplished fiddler who graduated from the Advanced Youth Ensemble in 2024 after 13 years of Irish fiddle studies. After years of attending Midwest USA and All-Ireland Fleadhs with Owen, Jeff has become a big fan of ceili band music!
Jeff has been with Quicksilver Express Courier for 34 years and currently serves as the company’s Chief Technology Officer. He brings his information technology expertise and networking, wifi, and software skills to the CIM board. Jeff feels that his board membership allows him to stay involved with CIM and give back to the community that played an impactful role in his son’s musical and social life.