CPF DIRECTORS
Herbert Ascherman, Jr.
The Cleveland Photographic Workshop
Director
Herbert Ascherman, founder and director of the Cleveland Photographic Workshop, has been an active leader of the Cleveland, national and international photography community since 1975. Herb is known internationally as a photographer, lecturer, teacher and historian. Herb founded the CPW in 1978 as Cleveland’s first not-for-profit exclusively photographic institution.
Laura D'Alessandro
Cleveland Photo Fest
Director
Laura D'Alessandro is a Cleveland-born fine art photographer, writer, and educator. For seven years, Laura volunteered for the New Orleans Photo Alliance and festival of photography (PhotoNOLA).
Laura’s Avant Garde photography is included in numerous private and museum/institutional collections in Cleveland and throughout the country.
Jim Szudy
Cleveland Photo Fest
Director & Marketing Manager
Jim Szudy, a graduate of Baldwin Wallace University, has been deeply rooted in the Cleveland art and culture community for over 25 years. Jim is a freelance photographer and founder of Gemini Developers, which assists local photographers, musicians, and painters, in marketing, social media, writing publications, and web design.
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Staff, Volunteer, & Associates
Anastasia Pantsios is known throughout Cleveland for her music photography; shooting both big-name artists and local bands. Her photos have been published published in international media such as Rolling Stone, Creem, Spin, The New York Times and The Washington Post. She has also done news photography and food photography for The Free Times and Scene. She is currently editor of CoolCleveland.com where she produces photostreams of local events. Anastasia's personal projects explore the urban landscape.
With forty year’s experience, Tim Lachina is the Cleveland Photo Fest’s design consultant. As a photographer, Tim works in large scale landscape images, encaustic, gum bichromate and other alternative processes. He also spends a considerable amount of time in his favorite southwestern locations.
Margaret Konecky is a Special Projects Coordinator with the Cleveland Photo Fest.
Living and working in Cleveland, Randy Norfus is a professional photographer and educator. Randy’s specialty is the photography of Jazz musicians, which he has actively pursued for over 30 years. He is committed to the Cleveland Photo Fest as the Community Liaison and Corporate Development director.
Tou Cha is a visual artist who grew up in Minneapolis where he studied graphic design and illustration. Tou has collaborated with Laura D’Alessandro on her photo constructions, which motivated his interest in volunteering with the Cleveland Photo Fest.
David Perelman-Hall has been a photographer in NE Ohio for 20 plus years. He shoots mainly portraits, landscapes, and botanicals. He considers himself an evolving abstract impressionist. View his work at ExceptionalLight.com.
Sue Starrett is an experienced development director with a demonstrated history in fundraising and development communications. Although recently retired, she continues to raise money for organizations in whose missions she believes. In addition, she has been a writer and a proofreader for publications of The Cleveland Orchestra and the City of Shaker Heights. She earned Master and Bachelor of Arts degrees in English from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Michael Starinsky has worked in art education and design since 1985. A graduate of both Cleveland Institute of Art, ‘90 and Case Western Reserve University, ’91, Michael’s career has alternated between the Cleveland Museum of Art and University School where he continues to work to creating contextual moments highlighting heroes of art history and their processes across many medium. At the CMA, 2001-2011, he was the co-creator and founding director for the internationally acclaimed Gallery One installation. At University School, (1991-2000 then again from 2001 – present) he serves as the art department Chair, while also teaching sculpture in metals and ceramic as well as wet process and digital photography.
Joan Neubecker holds a BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art from 1985 and has worked in the Conservation Department at the Cleveland Museum of Art as a Conservation Photographer and Technician for 32 years. Most recently Joan has showed at the Heights Arts Gallery, Bostwick gallery and the Madison Public Library. She has been in several Cleveland Museum of Art May Shows and various gallery group venues and was awarded an Individual Ohio Arts Council Grant 1986/87 and have received numerous awards over the years.
web site https://joantracey.myportfolio.com
@marlon_and_remoh_cat_friends @joan_t_neubecker
Media artist Cynthia Penter teaches filmmaking, photography, and contemporary media at Hiram College. Cynthia is tireless in promoting the work of her students, former students, and her many artist friends.She has received several artist fellowships, including two from the Ohio Arts Council, an Ohio Arts and Humanities Fellowship, and an American Film Institute Regional Media Arts Fellowship. Her interests range from portraiture to dance and movement to documentary and social activism.
Maria Perme is influenced by Ansel Adams, Annie Lebovitz, Steve McCurry, and Robert Mapplethorpe; photographers known for fashion, landscape, portraiture or black & white. Life, and the attributes of curiosity and observation, have also been important teachers throughout her creative process.
As a photographer, she observes and intuit ways to highlight her subject matter bringing out natural playfulness, joy, and expression. Maria works with you to co-create photos that are beautiful, natural, and unique.
Want to Volunteer with CPF?
Volunteers are the minds, hearts and hands of our organization.
The list of opportunities is almost endless: from arranging and hanging exhibitions, staffing openings and educational events, gallery docents, gallery staffers, office organization workers, media contacts, consultants and caterers.
** ALL volunteers are invited to participate in our 5th annual VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION SHOW as part of this years CPF!!! **
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the CPF at
The 2025 CPF runs from Sept 6th through Sept 29th at:
Bostwick Design Art Initiative
2731 Prospect Rd
Cleveland, OH 44115