Board of Directors

Harry Price, Board President

Harry Price has been in real estate development since 1965, in capacities as a mortgage banker, real estate broker, and developer, involving projects located in several states. Harry formerly served as Attorney and General Counsel to public companies listed on the New York and American Stock Exchange. In Napa County, Harry originally developed Green Island Industrial Park starting in 1984. In 1990, Harry with three partners, formed and currently operates CDI, a commercial development investment company. CDI has developed approximately thirty buildings in American Canyon, Napa County and Solano County. CDI and U. S. Advisors are currently constructing Napa Square, a mixed use project in downtown Napa. Harry has been involved in planning and developing Napa Riverfront properties since 1987 and is Managing Member of the Napa Mill Project and Napa River Inn. Harry has previously served on several non-profit boards involved in downtown Napa redevelopment including the Opera House, NVEDC, and Friends of the River. He currently serves as a member of the Board of the Community Foundation of Napa Valley and the Arts Council.

Olivia Everett

In her early twenties, Olivia Everett has already made a mark for bright changes to come in Napa and her contagious enthusiasm can be felt across the Valley in her dedication to multiple non-profit arts organizations. Olivia is a Stage Techincian for the Napa Valley Opera House, Administrative Assistant for Arts Council Napa Valley, and a founding member of Wandering Rose (WR)---an organization she co-developed to encourage independent, experimental and pop art in Napa Valley of all disciplines.

Setting aside Olivia's leadership skills, she also calls herself an artist and film and graphic design are her principle interests. She started her life in the arts as a Stage Manager in high school and then, once off to college, by creating graphics for Trojan Vision---University of Southern California's TV station. Throughout school she held several film industry internships including Fire Breathing Mountain Studios at Oakland Creativity Center and New Regency Films on the Fox lot in Los Angeles. When travel opportunities arose, she spent a year as Vice President of the Edinburgh University Film Society in Scotland. For her final year in college, Olivia rounded off her skill set as a new media Lab Tech at USC's Institute for Multimedia Literacy where she was a student teacher for Photoshop, web design, pod casting, sound editing, and Final Cut Pro. Her college chapter was closed with a senior thesis website entitled, "Like Totally Eww"... a humorous name for the scholarly study of the cultural impact and industry history of 1980's B teen sci-fi/fantasy movies.

Landing back in Napa in mid-2008, Olivia connected with high school friend and fellow performing arts enthusiast, Alex Lydon, to start work on a Napa theater company which then transformed into an umbrella arts organization that is Wandering Rose today. Within a few months, the organization officially formed and became sponsored by Arts Council Napa Valley. WR has since been an integral part of fulfilling the ACNV Cultural Plan element "To Ensure Inclusion"---supporting emerging art forms and diverse cultural traditions. Olivia is not slowing down. Her goal in Napa is to help create a community arts space and lay the groundwork for an culturally rich downtown.

Azalea Aguilar

Born in Mexico City, Azalea grew up in the state of Sinaloa where she obtained a degree in education and a MA in History. She moved to Los Angeles in 1983 and graduated with a double major in Spanish and Art, a minor in Chicano Studies, and an MA in Spanish Literature.

Azalea then moved from Los Angeles to Napa Valley in 1998, and started her career as an Educator teaching Spanish to Spanish-speaking students at Vintage High School for over twelve years, and Spanish as a foreign language at Napa Valley College for over nine years.

Azalea's involvement in the arts comes not only from her educational background, but from being the wife of Napa Valley artist, Oscar Aguilar Olea. As an educator, the arts are part of her curriculum; a way to enhance and help the lives of individuals, crossing the barriers of race, culture, language and beliefs.

Bob Almeida

Bob Almeida is an advocate for the arts and currently serves as President and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Napa Valley Opera House. Bob retired from a career in banking and finance in 2007, most recently as Executive Vice President, and a member of the Management Committee, of the Charles Schwab Corporation. Prior to that Bob was Managing Director of Bankers Trust New York Corporation and a Partner at KPMG, serving in New York and Sydney, Australia.

Richard Williams

Richard Williams has been hailed by critics in Europe, the Americas and the Orient as an "exceptionally gifted conductor," one with "style, suavity and finesse." He has been compared to such legendary conductors as George Szell for his interpretations of the classic repertoire and Sir John Barbirolli for his lustrous orchestral sound. Williams has guest conducted many of the world's great orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic and the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center. In addition to his work with symphony orchestras he is also an experienced opera, ballet and choral conductor. He has made award-winning recordings with the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Leipzig Radio Symphony and the Frankfurt Opera Orchestra.

Williams has been an international guest conductor and recording artist since leaving the Virginia Symphony where he served as Music Director and Conductor until 1986. He has also served as Music Director and Conductor of the Cedar Rapids Symphony and the Amici della Musica Chamber Orchestra. He has appeared with many world renowned artists including opera stars Ruth Ann Swenson, Jose Carreras, Beverly Sills, Roberta Peters and Robert Merrill, and instrumentalists such as Van Cliburn, Pincas Zuckerman, Leonard Rose, and Emanuel Ax. In addition to his guest conducting and recording work, Williams is Director of Cultural Affairs at Meadowood Napa Valley, where he produces opera, concerts and lectures for members and guests of the resort hotel and club. Williams began piano studies at the age of five and subsequently studied cello, clarinet and percussion. He earned university degrees in conducting, music theory and percussion. His other interests include cooking, tennis and architectural design.

Alvin Lee Block

Alvin Lee Block earned his MD from the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA. He served in the US Army Medical Corps and completed his residency in hospitals in San Francisco, CA and Miami, FL. He is a member of numerous associations, including the Napa County Medical Society, the American Medical Association, and the American Bar Association, as well a Fellow in the American College of Physicians and the American College of Legal Medicine. Currently, Mr. Block is a Board Member of the Napa Valley Opera House and the Newport North Homeowners Association, an Advisory Board Member of the Junior League of Napa-Sonoma, and a Member of the Senior Lawyer Committee of the State Bar of California. He is a lecturer and consultant to the Napa State Hospital, and his medical writings are widely published. He was the first President of the Napa Valley Wine Train and the founder of The Jewish Community of Napa Valley, a cultural philanthropic organization. His son Kevin is a Napa City Councilmember and his wife Moira is a writer. An active and engaged community member, Block brings to the Board of Arts Council Napa Valley his passion for the arts and his deep belief that arts and culture are a vital component of a healthy community. Alvin is also on the Commission for Arts & Culture (learn more).

James Krider

James Krider has been an active member of the Napa Valley business and community service scene for over 30 years. After moving to Napa in 1975 to raise his children, he began participating in various service activities such as Napa Jaycees, Chamber of commerce, Napa Valley BMX, 4H, and various other community services. In 1994 he was appointed to the City of Napa Planning Commission where he served as commission member and Chair until his election to City Council in 2005. He is currently the Vice Mayor. He has always strived to insure that the City of Napa, and the Napa Valley continue to evolve into the Arts, Wine, Food, and Culture center of California. His vision is to combine the obvious best wines in the world, and natural beauty, with an arts and culture experience to match.