OUR Board
BOARD OFFICERS
Chris Petre-Baumer
Board President
Arts marketing leader, creative director, and musician
Chris Petre-Baumer is an arts marketer, creative director, and flutist based in Alpharetta. He is the Director of Marketing and Creative for Boston’s Handel and Haydn Society, the Founder and Creative Director of the arts branding and design studio Peach Bomb Creative, and was recently elected as the President of the Alpharetta Symphony’s Board of Directors.
He has also worked as a graphic designer, marketer, educator, and fundraiser for Boston arts institutions like the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Juventas New Music Ensemble, Boston University, and the Community Music Center of Boston.
In addition to his work in arts management, Chris is an actively performing musician. He currently plays flute and piccolo in the Alpharetta Symphony, but has performed as a flutist and countertenor in Boston, Atlanta, and Montgomery, AL. Over the years, Chris has studied with flutists Carol Franks, Katherine Evans, Angela Jones-Reus, and Dr. Andrée Martin; piccoloists Nicola Mazzanti and Jean-Louis Beaumadier; and vocalists Dr. Meg Jackson and Aaron Sheehan.
Chris holds a Certificate in Orchestra Management from The Juilliard School, a Master’s degree in Arts Administration from Boston University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Troy University.
Avishay Ben Zvi
Board Vice President
Principal Bassoon
Avishay Ben Zvi, is a dedicated professional in the high-tech industry for over 20 years, currently serving as an IT Applications Senior Director in Verint. Married with twin daughters who are 13, Avishay has a rich background in music, having played in various orchestras and chamber music groups in Israel. After moving to the US in 2012, he continued his musical journey by joining the Alpharetta Symphony Orchestra in 2017. His commitment to the arts is evident through his roles as a board member, personnel manager, and board Vice President since 2021.
Christi Lenz
Board Secretary
Music Educator
Christi Lenz is in her 30th year as a public school music educator and has served in grades kindergarten through high school. Outside of school hours, Mrs. Lenz can be found practicing the french horn, teaching private lessons or performing with local orchestras. She has been a member of the Alpharetta Symphony since 2022.
Mrs. Lenz earned a Bachelor of Music Education from Eastern Illinois University, a Masters in Conducting from Austin Peay State University, and a Specialist in Media and Instructional Technology from University of West Georgia. As the educational outreach liaison, Mrs. Lenz recognizes the importance of music engagement not only in our schools but in the community as well. Mrs. Lenz’s teaching philosophy is exemplified by the quote "The fact that children can make beautiful music is less significant than the fact that music can make beautiful children" (Cheryl Lavender). Strong community music programs can equally make beautiful communities.
Susan Hanna
Interim Board Treasurer
Former Board President and Alpharetta Volunteer
Susan has lived in the heart of Alpharetta for 25 years with her husband and three dynamic daughters. A lifelong violinist, Susan joined the Alpharetta Symphony in 2016 and became Board President in 2021. As President, she has witnessed the exciting growth of the Symphony’s musicianship and watched our community orchestra become an integral part of the Alpharetta arts scene.
Susan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Baylor University, a graduate degree in Public Accounting from the University of Texas at Arlington, and is a licensed CPA. Susan has worked in cost accounting, accounts payable management, and financial reporting. Currently, she works with a local family-owned business providing customer service and product management.
BOARD MEMBERS
JOHN HIPES
Alpharetta City Council member and passionate arts advocate
ANDREA G. MARKUM
Founder and CEO, The Markum Center for Emotional Wellness
Andrea G. Markum, MBA/MHSA, LPC., is the Founder/CEO of The Markum Center for Emotional Wellness.
A Mental Wellness Boutique: A Unique Psychotherapy and Coaching Practice for Women.Andrea is passionate about community engagement and believes in the power of the arts to enrich lives. As a board member of The Alpharetta Symphony Orchestra, she aims to leverage her operational expertise and commitment to community service to help expand the orchestra’s reach and impact. She envisions the orchestra as a vibrant cultural hub that fosters connections, provides educational opportunities, and celebrates the beauty of classical music.
Andrea is proud to be an active resident and small business owner in Alpharetta. In her free time, she enjoys attending performances and is dedicated to supporting initiatives that promote the arts in her community.
Lisa Musich
BOB ROTHMAN
Alpharetta community leader
ERIK S. ROWEN
President, McKibbon Places and President of Development and Renovation Services, McKibbon Hospitality
Leona Repleye
Advisory Council
Chuck Nelson