February 11th Speaker is Russ Collins From Michigan Theater.
At RCAAN's Luncheon on February 11th our speaker will be Russ Collins, Executive Director and CAO of Michigan Theater in downtown Ann Arbor.
Biography:
Russ Collins is Executive Director and CEO of the historic Michigan Theater in downtown Ann Arbor, a position he's held since 1982. He started the Cinetopia regional film festival, and headed up the Art House Convergence, a national conference for art house cinemas.
Russ Collins wearing a pressman's hat at The Ann Arbor Chronicle's 2013 Bezonki Awards party. (Photo courtesy of The Ann Arbor Chronicle.)
Collins has served on the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority board since July 2005. He was most recently reappointed by the city council for a term from August 1, 2013 to July 31, 2017. Collins also serves on the Michigan Humanities Council board of directors, appointed by the governor. He's a member of the State Street Area Association board.
Collins hosts the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber's monthly Morning Edition program, and provides commentary on films for several local radio shows. He also teaches film studies at Eastern Michigan University.
In 2013, Collins was named to Indiewire’s inaugural list of “influencers” in the independent film industry.
Collins grew up in Ann Arbor – his father, Russell Collins, ran the Collins Dental Laboratory in the Ann Arbor Professional Building from 1962 until the structure was demolished in 2008. The Varsity apartment building is now located on that East Washington property, just east of Division.
Collins is a graduate of the University of Michigan, with a bachelors degree and a masters in arts administration. He is married to Debra Polich, President and CEO of Artrain USA and of the Ann Arbor-based Arts Alliance.