PAC Staff and Faculty

Lois Brace, Founding Executive/Artistic Director

Mrs. Brace has lived in Mexico for 30+ years and together with her husband Craig raised 4 children Collin, Evan, Lillian and Kylie. She has a Master of Arts from Texas State University in Theatre Directing, and a Bachelors of Arts in Speech Communication and English from Southwest Baptist University.   She served as faculty at Howard College, MACC, and worked on-stage productions with community theatres, churches, and universities. She has been involved with Presser Performing Arts Center since 1992 as production director, and now as the Founding Executive Artistic Director of the Presser Arts Center.  She currently sits on the board for Missouri Arts Council, and has served on the Board of Directors for Missouri Association of Community Theaters. She has received the Mexico Area Chamber of Commerce award for community achievement.  Lois received Outstanding Contribution to Mexico Area Community Theatre Award. She served on the Board of Directors for Missouri Association for Community Arts Agencies, the Arts Education Collaborative for the State of Missouri, as a Missouri Arts Council Panelist, and is a member of Americans for the Arts, American Association of Community Theatre, Missouri Citizens for the Arts, the D.A.R. and P.E.O. It is through Mrs. Brace’s planning and vision that PAC has grown and developed into a thriving arts center. Her enthusiasm has only been matched by her energy to impact vibrancy in the arts for Mexico and the REGION. Her passion is directing and seeing lives change through creativity.

Tiger Rotenburger Operations Director

Tiger has been with Presser since 2017 and has learned the value of greeting the public. He is the friendly face that will welcome you first. He will get you registered, sell you a ticket, post your photo, promote our events all with a smile and genuine concern. There is an ART to cleaning and Tiger is an ARTIST! He is a quiet hero, ALWAYS pleasant, smiling, greeting and touching the messes no-one else wants to touch. (sometimes these are the hearts of people) He is the provision of safety for all who enter because he has laid down a nice frontline of germicide on everything that can be touched. He maintains the first impression and enjoys shooting photos.
He is a semi-Professional Photographer/Cinematographer as well.

Katie Azdell, Administrator

A frequent face around Presser since 2015, Katie has managed the office operations, programing and running the summer camp program, helping Mrs. Brace whenever she can. Originally from Oregon, Katie has been a Missourian since 2014, when her and her husband moved to the area. Since then, she has made Mexico her home. She is currently raising her two daughters on the family farm that her husband now operates. Her days are spent feeding numerous snacks to her vivacious 6 year old, chasing after her 2 year old and picking up after both of them constantly. Katie has been in specialized industries since 2006 when she started her career at a chic beauty shop in Park City, Utah. She uses the same personalized touch at PAC working with the public.

Please reach out with any questions or inquires!

Emily Terry, Director of Arts for All Abilities

Emily grew up in a close-knit town where the simplicity of life, symbolized by its stop signs rather than traffic lights, shaped her perspective on the world. Her passion for learning led her to pursue two associate degrees from North Central Missouri College, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Northwest Missouri State University.

After earning her degree, Emily worked as a Case Manager at Audrain Developmental Disability Services before stepping into the role of Director of Arts for All Abilities Program. She believes in the power of positive thinking in the workplace and the importance of cultivating strong, trusting relationships—both professionally and personally—as the foundation for success and well-being.

Today, Emily lives in Perry with her husband, Michael, their son, Cooper, and their two dogs, Laynie and Axel. Outside of work, Emily is an active member of her community, often found at the baseball field, cheering on her family at basketball games, or supporting her husband's waterfowl adventures. She enjoys walking Laynie and Axel, cross-stitching, and, like many, indulging in her love for The Golden Girls.

Emily is passionate about fostering connections, embracing challenges, and living life with a positive attitude, making a difference in both her professional and personal life.

Yukiyo Lake, Piano Instructor

Ms. Lake has been with Presser for 8 years and grown the music program into a very competitive Suzuki program that is recognized in the state.Yukiyo was born and raised in Japan. She came to the United States in 1990, earned her bachelor’s degree from University of Colorado in Denver, and her Master’s degree from Wichita State University. She was inspired by Siri Geenen and the Suzuki method when her son, Adam, started taking violin lessons. She became a registered Suzuki piano teacher in 2007, and joined the Presser Performing Arts Center in 2008.  She studied with Joan Krzywicki, Dr. Karen Bartman, Cathy Hargrave, and Bruce Anderson. She believes Dr. Suzuki’s philosophy that good teachers always continue to study to become better teachers. She frequently attends teacher trainings, workshops, and conferences. She is a member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas, the St. Louis Suzuki Piano Teachers’ Association, the Music Teachers National Association, and the Federation of Music Clubs. Yukiyo enjoys teaching students ages 3 and up. Her students have opportunities to perform not only in solo but also with others in Mexico, Columbia, St. Louis and other places. She lives in Columbia with her husband, David; their 2 children, Adam and Nadia; and a dog named Jack.

Margaret Frazier, Piano Instructor

Margaret Frazier has been playing piano since she was 6.  She is a long time resident of Mexico having raised her family of 8 here with her husband Jeff, and has a Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education from Missouri State University.  She has been with Presser for the past 20 years in and out of productions and wants to give back now as the newly certified Suzuki Piano Instructor.  She love to paint and spend time with her family.

Cara Miller, Presser Pipes Community Choir Conductor

Growing up in the Mexico area and graduating from Mexico High School, Cara married her high school sweetheart and lifelong Mexico resident Robby Miller. Their family includes 2 grown children, 1 son-in-law, and 1 grandchild. Cara graduated from William Woods University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. Cara has always loved music! She has played the piano for over 40 years and has been actively involved in band, choirs, ensembles, and musical productions her entire life. Cara is the director of the Presser Pipes, our community choir. “Music is therapy for me and brings such joy to my life!”

Barb Green, Music instructor/Director

Hi!  I'm Barb Green, married to Buck. We grew up in Hannibal, came to Mexico for our first teaching job and stayed. I retired from the Mexico School District after teaching elementary music  for 32 years--the best job in town. I have worked with church music since I was in high school as an accompanist, choir director, organist, bell choir director, and worship planner. Since retirement, I am busy with grandchildren, volunteering at preschools, sewing for Dress a Girl Around the World, quilting, and traveling. I have loved being involved with Presser on the Board, Music Director for productions and teaching an adult piano class.  My latest passion has been exploring music for preschoolers and their caregivers and how it can enhance learning, especially vocabulary, language, and pre reading skills. 

Sara Bright, Ballet Instructor

Sara is a wife and mom of two kids. She is a youth director at a local church here in Mexico, Mo where she gets to work with many youth, children and families throughout the community.

Sara has loved dance since the age of 4 when she started taking tap and ballet in Iowa. She participated in various competitions in different types of dance including tap, jazz, and lyrical with ballet always being her favorite. Sara continued dancing though college where she danced on the Culver-Stockton College dance team. Over the years she has taught many different age groups ballet and lyrical and has enjoyed every minute of it.

Sara is excited to be working with Presser Arts Center in their Dance program teaching students ballet technique and giving them a chance to be creative with dance.

Sam Scholting, Youn Wha Ryu & Tai Chi Instructor

Sam Scholting is a certified instructor in Youn Wha Ryu Martial Arts. He began his wellness journey after suffering a back injury in his teens. Martial arts have been key to improving and repairing his body. He began learning Martial arts when he was 12 yrs old and started teaching at 15 yrs old. Growing up Sam could never pass up an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger or some cheesy Kung Fu movie. Any sort of crouching dragon or hidden tiger made his day. Unfortunately, he never found a hidden technique or legendary artifact that made him a Martial Arts Master. What he did discover, through years of training, was a simple truth. To be good at something means you have to be bad first. Nothing that is easy is worthwhile and things that are worthwhile are not easy. Learning Martial Arts or anything else takes time, perseverance, and an open mind. Sam uses techniques from multiple systems to offer a holistic training experience. He improves himself the same way he does his students. He challenges each student by tailoring the workout to their needs. Sam graduated with a BA from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2017. He has also taught several summer camps at Presser Performing Arts Center. If you can’t find Sam building backstage for an upcoming play he might be enjoying a quiet walk in the woods with his big pup.

Classes for Youg Wha Ryu & Tai Chi can be found here

Jina Deimeke, Ceramics Instructor

Jina grew up on a farm outside of Martinsburg. She always had an interest in art, but it wasn’t until college when she discovered her passion for pottery.  Columbia College Ceramic professor Bo Bedilion, convinced Jina to take a Ceramics course to learn wheel throwing. Jina instantly fell in love with manipulating the clay to create functional forms. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics in 2013.  After graduation, she attended Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts in Maine for an Assistantship Residency she was awarded from her college professors. Jina specializes in wheel throwing but also has experience with hand building.  Recently, Jina and her husband Scott moved to Benton City where she has an in-home studio. Along with creating pots, Jina also stays home to care for their son Owen.

Ted Brauker, Voice Instructor

Ted Brauker is Music Teacher and Director of Sacred Music at St. Brendan Parish in Mexico. Mr. Brauker Holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Central Michigan University. He is finishing a Ph.D. in Church Music with a minor in Musicology from Baylor University. Mr. Brauker has taught and conducted in every possible musical setting, from public schools, Catholic schools, public and private universities, and private lessons. In addition, he co-founded the Isabella Youth Chorale of Mount Pleasant, Michigan. He was a recent contributing author to the book Engage All Generations: A Strategic Toolkit for Creating Intergenerational Faith Communities.

In addition to his work at St. Brendan, he serves as Organist and Schola Director for the Latin Mass Community of the Diocese of Jefferson City (St. Joseph Church, Westphalia).

As a musician, Mr. Brauker is equally as comfortable with music from musical theater and opera as he is with the Renaissance's polyphony. He has a special place in his heart for those singing in churches and church choirs and loves to aid those communities in musical endeavors whenever possible.

Mr. Brauker's research interests include the intersection of Catholic and Protestant music, especially in the historical context of Elizabethan England and modern-day America. In his free time, he enjoys playing the recorder, composing, reading, and fishing.

Lisa Snow, Yoga Instructor

Lisa is a woman with many hats!  You may know her from her two businesses in Mexico as a photographer (Snowfall Designs Photography) and therapist (Mexico Counseling Services) but she’s also a mom, wife, social worker, and a yogi.  Practicing for just under 10 years and working through teacher training for nearly 5 years, she has a passion for all aspects of yoga.  Whether it is the physical practice (asana) that everyone associates with the word yoga, the breathing techniques (pranayama), or the science behind the mind-body connection, once she gets to talking about yoga, you may have a hard time getting her to stop.

Lisa grew up outside of the Martinsburg area and has lived in Mexico with her husband Jesse and three daughters for 16 years.  She is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia with both a bachelors and master’s in social work and is licensed as a clinical social worker.  She’s been involved with Presser both on stage, behind the scenes, and as a board member for many years and loves every inch of the place.

As a therapist, Lisa comes to yoga from a trauma-informed perspective, aiming to always provide options for poses that feel the most comfortable for an individual as well as creating a safe and loving environment.  Speaking of options, Lisa is also trained for many specific populations including children, the elderly, and differently-abled.  This means there are always alternative poses offered because every BODY is different and every BODY can do yoga.  You don’t need to touch your toes, you just need to be able to breathe!

Most of all, we come from a place of non-judgment and non-competition of oneself and others, always aiming for peace and connection.      

Linda Ahmann, Marketing Outreach

Linda has been a permanent fixture in the community of Mexico serving the Red Cross, Garden Club, Book Clubs, and the lists are too long to list.  If you have available time and you are looking for a connection she can help you.