• Artistic & Creative Director

Following her passion for all things creative led Nikki from a career in elementary education to a path in the arts, both professionally and personally. She left the classroom behind in favor of promoting the arts at the Box Factory for the Arts in St. Joseph, Arbor3 Arts in Three Oaks, and with us here at The Acorn.

It’s not hard to see how landing in the arts was all but inevitable for Nikki since she is an artist and musician herself. She came to music early in life taking piano lessons at her grandma’s side. Nikki was already no stranger to The Acorn stage when she joined our Team – she performs in local venues on her own and with her band Dirty Sally. In addition to making music most of her life, Nikki also discovered painting only a few years ago when her dad gave her painting supplies as a Christmas gift.

As Artistic & Creative Director of The Acorn, Nikki develops and implements our artistic vision and focus. She fosters our diverse programming, including regional talent, Open Mic Night and our Singer-Songwriter Competition, and partners with our Talent Buyer and outside producers to manage The Acorn’s exciting calendar of events. She is also responsible for overseeing our marketing initiatives, community partnerships and event operations.

Nikki grew up in Cheboygan, MI and has made her home in Southwest Michigan since 2004. She and her partner live in St. Joseph. Nikki has a son in college and a teenage daughter still at home. When she’s not at The Acorn, Nikki may be traveling to a concert or you can often find her wandering through shops and galleries in Harbor Country or the Arts District in Benton Harbor.