Meet The Team

Autumn Mehl

Autumn Mehl is a RE/MAX Realtor by day and a creative community-builder at heart. With a background in performance management and theatre acting in Chicago, she brings a love of storytelling, collaboration, and a little bit of stage magic to her role as Executive Director of the Dancing Turtle Arts Festival. When she’s not helping clients find their perfect home, she’s dreaming up vibrant, joy-filled experiences for the Stillwater community. Autumn also serves as Vice Chair of the Stillwater Community Center Foundation, where she continues her passion for connecting people, supporting the arts, and making good things happen.

Hadlea Cronister

Hadlea is a natural leader with a big personality and an even bigger love for bringing people together. She's the type of person who's always ready to lend an ear, share a laugh, or jump in whenever help is needed! When she's not busy barbering or bartending, she's usually chasing good music with good people! 

Jarrod Beckstrom

Jarrod Beckstrom is a music lover, arts enthusiast, and proud founding member of the Dancing Turtle Arts Festival—Stillwater’s funky, friendly celebration of creativity. He’s the kind of guy who’s just as excited about discovering a new local band as he is about helping build a space where artists of all kinds can show off their work, connect with each other, and bring the community together.

At the heart of Jarrod’s passion is the belief that art should be accessible, a little weird, and a lot of fun. Through Dancing Turtle, he’s helped create a come-as-you-are festival filled with music, film, dance, visual art, and plenty of room for kids, families, and curious wanderers to explore.

When he’s not thinking about lineups, shade tents, or how to make a festival feel more like a neighborhood hangout, Jarrod works in energy development—proof that you can spend your weekdays on infrastructure and your weekends chasing great music and creative vibes.

Mark Perry

Mark Perry serves as the Director of the Music Industry program at Oklahoma State University. Mark is part of the music team of Dancing Turtle and leads the Rock Academy for the festival.

Cylene walker-willis

Cylene Walker-Willis is an educator, choreographer, and artist. She has her B.S. in Biology with a Chemistry minor from East Central University and received her M.F.A. in Modern Dance and Community Engagement from Texas Woman’s University. During her time at TWU she was the assistant director for the multi-arts production titled “Arts Walk.” This event encompassed music, visual arts, theater, and dance to produce a cohesive art experience. She also was the logistical coordinator for “Kids Dance” which was a lecture-demonstration put on by the Dance Department where she managed 1300 second and third graders, teachers, volunteers, and college students for the two-day event. She has traveled all over the North American continent with the World Dance Alliance giving presentations, moderating discussions, performing, and presenting choreography. Walker-Willis is currently a Co-Director for Wildly Brave Dance Company and Dance Concert Coordinator for Dancing Turtle. She deeply loves Stillwater wants to help grow the arts scene here and she has a passion for facilitating all types of community projects. She lives in Stillwater with her supportive husband and their three cats. 

Jeana Duncan

Jeana first moved to Stillwater in 1986 to finish her last two years of college at OSU, then returned with her husband to raise their daughter here.  Stillwater has been her hometown ever since! She has worked almost 36 years at OSU. She loves hanging out with family and friends and enjoys supporting the Stillwater community by attending live music at Block 34 and other local venues, performing arts productions, art and music festivals, athletic events, and cultural enrichment activities. She thrives on helping others and giving back to our community. This is her third year with Dancing Turtle and her second in charge of Design In Motion.

Cynthia Gedra

Cynthia and her family have been part of the Stillwater community since 1992. She is a retired teacher from the Junior High. Cynthia has ridden a bike since she was a kid, and never stopped. It definitely has been a significant part of her life! She will be putting together the Kids’ Bike Parade and the Slow Bike Race again this year. Cynthia enjoys cooking, gardening, listening to music, reading, and time with friends. 

Blake Stevison

Blake Stevison is a financial advisor with Edward Jones and a part owner of restaurants and coffee shops. He also serves on the board of the Stillwater Community Center Foundation, supporting community and cultural initiatives in Stillwater including Block 34 Live programming. 

Jim Beckstrom

Jim Beckstrom was Executive Director of Dancing Turtle 2023, 2024 and 2025, and was finally relieved of his duties by someone qualified and more capable.  He is Chair of the Stillwater Community Center Foundation, host of Dancing Turtle, until he can find someone else to do that too.  For 2026, he is thrilled to be the Ops Director (or whatever) for Dancing Turtle with qualifications including being a project manager, commercial manager, team leader, and engineer with 45+ years of domestic and international experience, Scoutmaster, Den leader, a relatively competent handyman and mechanic, father, grandfather and able to stay married for 46 years and counting. Yes, he married up to someone with immense patience.  Thank you, Nancy. (yes, Jim wrote this)

Lilly Flewellen

Lilly moved to Oklahoma three years ago for her husband's job at OSU and has enjoyed becoming a part of the Stillwater community through a variety of jobs and volunteer positions. She serves as the Parish Administrator of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church and as the Program Director of the Stillwater Community Center Foundation. When not working, she volunteers with the Payne County Master Gardeners and at the Stillwater History Museum. This is her third year with Dancing Turtle, and her second in charge of the KidZone.

Paula Fitch

Paula was born in Stillwater and raised her daughter in the community she has long called home. Paula has been a member of the Stillwater Community Singers since 1994 and currently serves as their Principal Director. She has been involved with the Stillwater Community Center Foundation since 2018, serving in a variety of board roles, and last year accepted the position of Director of Operations. Her work with the Dancing Turtle Arts Festival has included event guide design, headquarters operations, and volunteer management, reflecting her deep commitment to supporting the arts and strengthening community connections in Stillwater.

Brooke Stuart

Brooke is a Broker Associate with RE/MAX Signature, moonlights as a mixed media artist, and has lived and loved in Stillwater for over 20 years.

Megan Thompson

Add a short bio for each team member. Make it brief and informative to keep visitors engaged.

Lisha Rhoads

Lisha Black Rhoads is a proud graduate of C.E. Donart's class of '78 and attended Oklahoma State University.  Along with her husband, she owns Northside Cleaners.  Her personal interests include family activities, spending time with her dogs Buffett and Birdie, travel, and playing pickleball.  She is honored to be a part of this exceptional community and the Stillwater Community Center Foundation.