Kendra joined Hudson Valley Shakespeare in 2022, after 14 years at the Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC) in Pleasantville, NY. As JBFC’s General Manager, Kendra managed the organization’s finances, capital projects, human resources, cinema operations, technology, and systems. During her tenure, the JBFC welcomed over 200,000 visitors annually and expanded its theater facility from three to five screens. She also improved the organization’s financial sustainability, took a leadership role in strategic and master planning, and helped form and manage their Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) committee. A community-focused arts leader, Ekelund’s nonprofit management work embodies a deep commitment to empowering and uplifting artists. She is a lower Hudson Valley native, raised in Ossining, NY, and lives with her husband and son in Cold Spring.