Mitch Menchaca

Mitch Menchaca is the chief operating officer for Chorus America. He came to Chorus America from Americans for the Arts as the director of local arts advancement, where he lead the department that cultivated local arts development in communities across the country by developing and implementing programs and services that strengthen and validate local arts agencies and the many other individuals and organizations at the local level including professional and leadership development, convenings, on-line resources, and peer networking opportunities. Prior to Americans for Arts, he was the Senior Director of Programs at the Arizona Commission on the Arts, where he provided oversight for the agency's grantmaking and program development. He managed a portfolio of grantees from all artistic disciplines with budgets ranging from $1,000 to more than $10 million. Mitch studied theater at Central Arizona College, earned a B.L.S. with concentrations in arts and public administration at Arizona State University, and he completed a festival and event management certificate at the University of Minnesota Tourism Center. He is a 2009 fellow and current faculty coach for the Center for Progressive Leadership, a national political training institute that develops diverse leaders who can effectively advance progressive political and policy change.