Chief Artist and Foundation President

Monica Moore

I am the acting executive director/president of the Hearts Project Foundation. I am also the chief/founding artist of the Hearts Project: A COVID-19 Memorial.

As the founding artist of the Hearts Project, it is important to note that my motivation for cutting paper hearts to preserve and create memory was inspired by my visit to the Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima, Japan when in high school. This trip informed my understanding of the multidimensional ways art can be used to honor lives lost during tragic events. I believe that many COVID deaths could have been avoided had we resolved to do things differently. The Foundation’s mission of using the memorial art to help educate diverse groups about how to avoid similar catastrophe and massive loss in the future is one I wholeheartedly support.

I bring key insights to the Board as the chief/founding artist of the Hearts Project: A COVID-19 Memorial. Being intertwined with making and circulating the art helps me convey intentions, ongoing accomplishments, and hopes for the future to promote our good work. I enjoy working in groups and look forward to using my leadership skills to help the Board carry out its mission.

Tom Frentz is my spouse, and the Hearts Project and Hearts Project Foundation exist in large part because of his encouragement and belief in me. Mostly, I work on the Hearts Project, a necessary way to spend my time given the scope of the memorial and our ambitious goals. I love to garden and often take pictures of the blossoms as each year goes by. I also love frolicking around the house with our indoor boy-cat Shadow.

One word — Hope

Vice Chair

Stace Treat

Director of Interpretation,
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art


I joined the board at the request of our Chair and President, Monica Moore, to support and champion this meaningful project and help it grow. Outside of work, I enjoy reading, writing, and spending time with friends. I’m also a foodie who loves a great meal paired with good wine.

One phrase — Meaningful memorial project through art.

Secretary

Allison Byford

Assistant Superintendent, Prairie Grove School District

Joining the Hearts Project Board was an easy choice. I believe art has the power to bring our community together, preserve our history, and continue necessary dialogue about our community. I believe in Monica’s vision and her care for those same things.

I hope that I can leverage a lifelong career in education to connect us with learning opportunities across our state and continue to see arts in education make an impact in our schools. Having worked in Springdale Schools for over twenty years, I am currently LOVING the connections with our Marshallese community and am excited about their role in this project.

I am the mom to two young men. They are both currently pursuing their interests in higher education. Their dad and I have been married for over twenty-five years and we also have two dogs that keep us on our toes. I love tinkering with art projects in my own life, my current passion is creating stained glass projects. I love to read, relax, and occasionally assemble a Lego set. One fun fact about me that influenced me in so many ways – I worked at Disney World in the Magic Kingdom when I was in college – great experience!

One word – Connection

Treasurer

Jon Boldebuck

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® with
Teacher Insurance and Annuity Association 

I joined the board because I deeply believe in the mission to commemorate and honor those we lost and those who served during the pandemic through the universal language of art. My goal is to help build a strong foundation so the Hearts Project Foundation can expand its reach and impact for generations to come.

Outside of my professional life, I’m a husband and father of two who enjoys competitive fitness and traveling the U.S. in my fully converted cargo van.

One word — Reflection

Joel Doelger

I’m currently 3 years into my retirement. I worked for over 22 years at Credit Counseling of Arkansas until my retirement.

I strongly feel that the COVID pandemic had a profound impact on all of us. And while it’s tempting to want to put it all behind us, we need to continue to explore the lessons learned from the experience. Furthermore, we should remember those we lost to the pandemic as well as acknowledge those who bravely stepped into the breach to prevent the crisis from being worse.

Having designed and constructed the first three frames to hold the initial batch of hearts panels, I want to stay involved in the process of overseeing the construction of future frames. I also want to see how the project expands beyond the initial steps.

I’ve been involved in woodworking since about 1970. My wife, Jean, and I purchased our current home about 25 years ago. We parked our cars in the garage the first night we owned it, but since then, the “garage” has served as my woodshop.

One word — Respect.
Respect for those we lost in the pandemic. Respect for those who served above and beyond the call for duty during the pandemic. And respect for those who continue to suffer physical and emotional scars from our shared experience.

Board Advisor

Katrina Berberick

Group Director Account Service, Accenture Song

Katrina Berberick brings a wealth of marketing and promotional experience, having worked with high-profile accounts such as Kimberly-Clark, Kraft, Unilever, General Mills, Blue Buffalo, Coke, and Nestle. With 20 years in the NWA market, she has led agency teams to produce award-winning campaigns (Effie, Path to Purchase) through innovative approaches that meet KPIs, alongside achieving sales and relationship success. In her current role, she leads client and business development for the local Accenture Song Production Studio, working closely with Walmart to create compelling content across multiple categories and private brands.

Katrina chose to join the board for two main reasons. Monica and Tom have been part of her life since graduate school at the University of Arkansas. Tom Frentz was a key professor and master’s thesis advisor, while Monica was a fellow student who became a dear friend. Seeing Monica’s artistic endeavors and vision bloom over the years has been a privilege, making the decision to become an advisor to the board an easy one.

My hope is this role expands my marketing experience to new areas and benefits the foundation in doing so, while giving back me through art, memorial and community.

Outside of work, Katrina enjoys spending time with her family, often focusing on her kids’ activities. She loves exploring new trails and waterfalls in the area, attending live music events, and trying new restaurants around town. And when schedules align, grab dinner and drinks with Monica and Tom.

Board and Project Advisor

Tom Frentz

After 48 years of educating the youth of America, I stepped away from the classroom as a Professor of Communication at the University of Arkansas in 2018.

I chose to be an advisor to the Board because I strongly believe in its mission to remind and educate the people of Arkansas about the impact of the pandemic on their lives.

I hope to advance the Foundation’s fundraising efforts and keep the Foundation financially solvent. I also offer Monica creative suggestions from time to time, some of which she actually uses.

In retirement, I am an avid reader of all literature—good and bad. I love washing and waxing our cars. I exercise regularly, enjoy afternoon naps on the daily (it keeps you young), and always look forward to happy hour with Monica to toast another day of life. I also have a silver Egyptian cat named Shadow, a “feral” kitty who showed up during the first spring of the pandemic. Though I am very fond of Shadow, he brought some emotional baggage with him, which means I can only love him from afar. He does, however, allow me to clean his litter boxes, refresh his food bowls daily, and keep him in fresh, clear water.

One phrase — Remembrance and wisdom.