Nonprofit names local executives to board

Wendy Guzmán | Memphis Business Journal

A local nonprofit has named new board members from prominent Memphis companies.

ARTSmemphis, the Mid-South’s biggest arts funder, added two new members to its board of directors: Nicole Lauchaire, CMO and head of retail/D2C at Varsity Spirit, and Rebecca Givens Rice, VP of human resources and customer satisfaction at AutoZone.

“Our organizational direction and strategy continues to be shaped by the expertise of our incredible lay leadership,” ARTSmemphis president and CEO Elizabeth Rouse said in a statement. “Their sound counsel and engagement are critical to our growth, impact, and sustainability as an organization."

Lauchaire has spent 25 years leading marketing and communications at Varsity Spirit. In her current role she leads brand and product marketing, communications, marketing technology, social media, content, creative, and retail business.

Givens Rice joined AutoZone in 2015, holding roles in HR management, in-house counsel, IT, HR project management, and more.

ARTSmemphis is also continuing its ARTSassist grant program for individual artists in Shelby County. Applications are open until Oct. 4 for dance, film, and visual artists.

And ARTSmemphis has expanded its Artist Advisory Committee (AAC), which advises the organization in reviewing and facilitating programs to support individual artists.

Last year, ARTSmemphis hit $100 million in grant dollars distributed to local artists and arts organizations since its founding in 1963.