Wednesday, June 11, 2025 (Ann Arbor, MI) — The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra (A2SO) is proud to announce the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors. They were officially welcomed during the organization’s Annual Meeting held on Thursday, June 5, 2025.
Joining the Board are (from left to right):
- Josh Dysart, Senior Director of Corporate Communications at Epsilon
- Grant Gorman, Finance & Strategy Leader at Ford Motor Company
- Patrick Wells-O’Brien, Vice President of Communications and External Relations at Gift of Life Michigan
“We are thrilled to welcome Josh, Grant and Patrick to the Board of Directors,” said Sarah Calderini, A2SO Executive Director. “Each of them brings a wealth of insight and expertise that will help shape the future of our organization as we continue to build toward our centennial season.”
“Their passion for the arts and commitment to community align perfectly with our mission, and we’re excited to have them join us in this next chapter,” adds Jon Beebe, A2SO Board President. “I cannot think of three better people to join such an outstanding Board.”
Josh Dysart is the Senior Director of Corporate Communications at Epsilon. Outside of his corporate work, Josh previously served on the board of Camp Quality USA, a nonprofit dedicated to providing free, year-round programs and companionship to children with cancer—an experience that deepened his commitment to community service and purpose-driven leadership. A native of Overland Park, Kansas, Josh holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Kansas, a master’s in new media studies from DePaul University, and is currently pursuing his MBA from the University of Illinois. After several years in Chicago, he relocated to Ann Arbor with his wife, Sarah, and their daughter, Riley.
Grant Gorman has worked at Ford Motor Company for 20 years and currently serves as a Finance & Strategy Leader. He currently heads the Ford Blue Financial Planning & Analysis team. Beyond his corporate role, he is deeply engaged in the cultural life of his community. For nearly 18 years, he has volunteered as a docent at the Detroit Institute of Arts, and for the past 14 years, he has been a loyal subscriber to the A2SO, reflecting his enduring love of the arts. Gorman lives in Ann Arbor with his husband, Geoff Barnes, their daughter, Gillian, and dog Napoleon.
Patrick Wells-O’Brien is Vice President of Communications and External Relations at Gift of Life Michigan, the state’s federally designated organ procurement organization and fifth largest nonprofit. Wells-O’Brien is responsible for internal and external communications, community engagement, public education, governmental affairs, donor family support services and fundraising. He spearheaded legislative efforts to add organ donor registry to Michigan tax forms and initiated the state’s largest marketing campaign to grow the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. Previously, he was the founding President and CEO of FAITH Catholic, the nation’s largest publisher of Catholic periodicals and one of the nation’s largest Catholic marketing and communications services companies. Wells-O’Brien began his career in advertising serving clients such as Case, Caterpillar, Pfizer, Rhone Poulenc and Lincoln-Mercury. He holds a BFA from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. Wells-O’Brien and his husband, Demetrike, live in Ann Arbor. He currently serves on the board of SafeHouse, Ann Arbor.
The 2025-26 A2SO Executive Board Members are: President, Jon Beebe; First Vice President, Jane Arvidson Panikkar; Secretary, Sarah Bishara; Treasurer and Finance VP, Dan Merritt; Past President, Lesa Huget; Artistic Affairs VP, Jane Arvidson Panikkar; Development VP, Chris Conlin; and Policy VP, Diana Raimi.
The 2025-26 A2SO Board of Directors are: Sassa Akervall, Rajani Bhat, Daniel B. Clark, Martha Darling, Andre Dowell, Josh Dysart, Grant Gorman, Richard D. Hendricks, Roderick J. Little, David S. Malcolm, Elliott Ross, Peter VanBeck, Daniel Washington and Patrick Wells-O’Brien.
The retiring 2025-26 A2SO Board of Directors are: J. Robert Gates, Steven Gerber, Henry Johnson, Brigitte Maassen, William Maxbower, Carol Sewell, Elisabeth Vanderpool and Remedios Montalboyoung.
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Currently in their 97th concert season, the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra (A2SO) is one of the Midwest’s premier regional orchestras, creating live, orchestral music for 70,000 listeners each year. The A2SO engages with the community through innovative and imaginative concert programming, educational programs, radio broadcasts, recordings, and online streaming. To find out more about the orchestra’s events and initiatives, visit www.a2so.org.