Board of Łowiczanie
Piotr Kodzis, President
Piotr holds an Executive MBA degree from St. Mary’s College of California and brings to the Łowiczanie over 14 years of professional and volunteer experience in the "non-profit world". In his professional life, Piotr works as Director of Finance and Administration for The Pacific Forest Trust, Inc. - a nonprofit company devoted to the protection of private forestlands, mitigation of the climate change through policy work and various carbon offset projects. In addition to serving on the Łowiczanie’s Board of Directors, Piotr’s charity work encompasses six years of service as a President of The Polish-American Educational Committee of San Francisco, Inc. (2002-2007), work as an instructor (2002-2007) and treasurer (2008-present) for The Polish Scouting Organization in California, and recent engagement in the sister city San Francisco-Krakow project as a Folk Arts Committee member. His son Adam is an active member with the Łowiczanie dance group.
Piotr holds an Executive MBA degree from St. Mary’s College of California and brings to the Łowiczanie over 14 years of professional and volunteer experience in the "non-profit world". In his professional life, Piotr works as Director of Finance and Administration for The Pacific Forest Trust, Inc. - a nonprofit company devoted to the protection of private forestlands, mitigation of the climate change through policy work and various carbon offset projects. In addition to serving on the Łowiczanie’s Board of Directors, Piotr’s charity work encompasses six years of service as a President of The Polish-American Educational Committee of San Francisco, Inc. (2002-2007), work as an instructor (2002-2007) and treasurer (2008-present) for The Polish Scouting Organization in California, and recent engagement in the sister city San Francisco-Krakow project as a Folk Arts Committee member. His son Adam is an active member with the Łowiczanie dance group.
Krystyna Chciuk,Vice-President and Founding Director
Krystyna Chciuk is the Founding Director of Łowiczanie Polish Folk Dance Ensemble. Pani Krysia, a native of Poland, moved to California in the late '60s and together with a few young dancers founded Łowiczanie in 1975. Pani Krysia serves as President of the Polish National Alliance, Lodge 7 (Polish Society of California), is a member of the Board of Directors of the Polish Club of San Francisco, a member of the Home Army Association, and Vice-Commander of the Polish-American Veterans Association of World War II, Post 49. She is also the representative for Polish Scouting for the Western United States.
Krystyna Chciuk is the Founding Director of Łowiczanie Polish Folk Dance Ensemble. Pani Krysia, a native of Poland, moved to California in the late '60s and together with a few young dancers founded Łowiczanie in 1975. Pani Krysia serves as President of the Polish National Alliance, Lodge 7 (Polish Society of California), is a member of the Board of Directors of the Polish Club of San Francisco, a member of the Home Army Association, and Vice-Commander of the Polish-American Veterans Association of World War II, Post 49. She is also the representative for Polish Scouting for the Western United States.
Phil Kosiara, Treasurer
Phil, a 31-year-old resident of Pleasant Hill, California, hailed originally from Michigan. He is a Chemical Engineer who is employed by Tesoro Refining & Marketing in Martinez, CA. Phil joined Łowiczanie in March of 2009 thanks to friend and co-dancer Jen Bzura, and insists he has been "really been enjoying dancing ever since." Phil has been on the Board of Directors since September of 2009, and has served as Treasurer since fall, 2010.
Phil, a 31-year-old resident of Pleasant Hill, California, hailed originally from Michigan. He is a Chemical Engineer who is employed by Tesoro Refining & Marketing in Martinez, CA. Phil joined Łowiczanie in March of 2009 thanks to friend and co-dancer Jen Bzura, and insists he has been "really been enjoying dancing ever since." Phil has been on the Board of Directors since September of 2009, and has served as Treasurer since fall, 2010.
Basia Dyszynska,Secretary
Basia was one of the original Łowiczanie dancers when it was founded in 1975. She served on the Board in the mid 1990's and is the mother of three current dancers, Stefan, Krysia and Joasia Smolen. She is a long time dancer and Łowiczanie supporter. Basia has been a registered nurse for 30 years and currently works for CPMC in San Francisco as well as Mills-Peninsula Medical Center in the ICU. She was a Girl Scout leader for her daughters' troops for 12 years and started a parent volunteer Art program at Roy Cloud Elementary school in Redwood City.
Basia was one of the original Łowiczanie dancers when it was founded in 1975. She served on the Board in the mid 1990's and is the mother of three current dancers, Stefan, Krysia and Joasia Smolen. She is a long time dancer and Łowiczanie supporter. Basia has been a registered nurse for 30 years and currently works for CPMC in San Francisco as well as Mills-Peninsula Medical Center in the ICU. She was a Girl Scout leader for her daughters' troops for 12 years and started a parent volunteer Art program at Roy Cloud Elementary school in Redwood City.
Mary Kay Stuvland, Board Member
Mary Kay has been an elected member of the Board of Directors for over 25 years, including 19 years as Board President. She has served also on numerous Bay Area community non-profit cultural boards and advisory committees including for Westwind International Folk Ensemble, the Polish Club of San Francisco, the Jewish Music Festival, the Splendor of Poland Steering Committee, the Polish Cultural Center of the Pacific, and the SF Ethnic Dance Festival Advisory Committee. Mary Kay is a founding Board member of the SF-Krakow Sister City Organization and current Chairperson of its Folklore Committee. As a professional events manager, she has coordinated special programs for City Celebration, Inc., the SF Press Club, the Institute of Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies at UC Berkeley, and UC Berkeley's Young Musicians program, and was Business and Tour Manager for Westwind International Folk Ensemble. For service to the Polish community, Mary Kay aws awarded the prestigious "Amicus Poloniae" and the "Pro Memoria," both bestowed by the Republic of Poland.
Mary Kay has been an elected member of the Board of Directors for over 25 years, including 19 years as Board President. She has served also on numerous Bay Area community non-profit cultural boards and advisory committees including for Westwind International Folk Ensemble, the Polish Club of San Francisco, the Jewish Music Festival, the Splendor of Poland Steering Committee, the Polish Cultural Center of the Pacific, and the SF Ethnic Dance Festival Advisory Committee. Mary Kay is a founding Board member of the SF-Krakow Sister City Organization and current Chairperson of its Folklore Committee. As a professional events manager, she has coordinated special programs for City Celebration, Inc., the SF Press Club, the Institute of Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies at UC Berkeley, and UC Berkeley's Young Musicians program, and was Business and Tour Manager for Westwind International Folk Ensemble. For service to the Polish community, Mary Kay aws awarded the prestigious "Amicus Poloniae" and the "Pro Memoria," both bestowed by the Republic of Poland.
Krysia Smolen, Board Member
Krysia Smolen began dancing with Łowiczanie at the age of 14, following in the footsteps of her brother, father, and mother (who helped found the group). Krysia is currently a student at UC Berkeley, earning a degree in Integrative Biology and enjoying all the folk dancing opportunities available at the university. Currently she has experience in ballroom, Bhangra (from the Punjab region of India), Russian, Calpulli (Mexican), and Tahitian dancing.
Krysia Smolen began dancing with Łowiczanie at the age of 14, following in the footsteps of her brother, father, and mother (who helped found the group). Krysia is currently a student at UC Berkeley, earning a degree in Integrative Biology and enjoying all the folk dancing opportunities available at the university. Currently she has experience in ballroom, Bhangra (from the Punjab region of India), Russian, Calpulli (Mexican), and Tahitian dancing.