NCA Staff

Christi Coffey earned a bachelor’s degree in Biodynamics. After completing an internship in Cardiac Rehabilitation she realized that field was missing something, one aspect of the heart that she was looking for. She began working in a program for people with unique abilities in a small town outside of Chico and later in another program in Massachusetts.

Her first round of working at NCA, between 2000-2007, was as an instructor, later added as an administrative assistant. She retuned to NCA in 2012 as Program Manager and has been enjoying this special place for the heart (and art) ever since.

Christi is also a fellow artist, repping the Nevada County found art sculpture circuit. Check out her sweet hand made robot companions. 

Sonya McElroy is our curator, matt cutter, picture framer and all ’round wonder woman who is responsible for hanging NCA art at outside venues. She also creates our show posters, flyers and whatever else needs creating in Photoshop. In addition to all this, Sonya orders our art supplies and sees to their proper distribution among the various studios.

She also teaches Digital Arts.

When Sonya is not at NCA you’ll find her working out at the gym, hiking steep river canyons or fly fishing. 

Marilyn Blom has been involved with NCA since 1998, serving first as a board member and as a volunteer in Ceramics. After retiring as an Occupational Therapist with California Children’s Services in 2002, she served briefly as Executive Director at NCA. She then came on staff as a sub, eventually teaching ceramics and working as a 1 on 1 instructor.

Marilyn has been involved with ceramics since college, both personally and as a teaching tool in O.T. programs. Since moving to Nevada County in 1980 she has participated in several ceramic classes. She has also participated in the firings at the John Woolman School Naboragama climbing kiln for the past 25 years.

At NCA, Marilyn works with the ceramic artists in the clay studio, helping them develop basic techniques while encouraging individual creativity.

Laura Rice has been working at NCA since 2006. She studied the arts and Early Childhood Education in Santa Barbara and Sacramento.

Laura is an avid horsewoman. During her early twenties she taught therapeutic horseback riding to intellectually disabled adults and children. Her love of horses and animals has driven her to pursue an understanding of animal psychology. Laura spent three years rescuing, protecting and rehabilitating owls and hawks with the Wildlife Rehab & Release Raptor team of Penn Valley. Laura strongly believes that all living things deserve to be treated with kindness and dignity.

At NCA Laura teaches Cooking, Visual Arts and Community Integration.

Jeremiah Skalla began working at NCA in 2009, after having been introduced to the program by one of the clients. Being exposed to people with different disabilities has helped him learn how to minister art and accept challenges along the way. Since he began working here Jeremiah has become the father of three children. His children are the subject of many conversations in his classes along with his zealous humor and puns.

Jeremiah teaches Digital Arts as well as a Drawing & Painting class. He maintains a sense of positivity and love in his classes and is rewarded by seeing it reflected right back via the cheerful smiles and laughter of the artists. His goal is to be remembered for affecting the lives of others around him.