RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - A new art exhibit – Rancho Cordova: A Grassroots City – is in place at The Village Green in Rancho Cordova.  The exhibit opened with a reception on July 11.  The project was conceived and sponsored by SK pharmteco, and its subsidiary, Ampac Fine Chemicals.  Ampac president Jeff Butler with others in the company wanted to recognize and feature what their employees are doing outside of their work, as well as highlighting the many creators and innovators of Rancho Cordova.  All of this fit in with the 20^th anniversary of the Cityhood of Rancho Cordova.

Kathleen Juviler is manager of SK U.S. Communication Global Development Group.  “Some, such as Rancho Cordova Food Locker and Volunteers of America, we have relationships with through volunteer outreach that we’ve done,” Juviler said.  “We spoke to business owners and volunteer coordinators and said, ‘Who’s special here, who’s a change-maker, who’s a doer, who brings life to this community?’  That’s how we met all the incredible people we’ve highlighted.”

The planners called in an art curation team, Photoville, creative storytellers who worked with the participants to produce photographic storyboards that are present now through August 11 at The Village Green park, 3141 Bridgeway Dr., Rancho Cordova.  They contacted Cheryl Gleason and Shelly Blanchard whom they featured because “they are such staples of the community,” Juviler said.  “They worked with us to help identify participants.”

Gleason said Photoville contacted her, looking for people within the community.  “’What kind of people do you want?’” Cheryl asked them.  “‘How about a 100-year-old?’ I gave them Kiyo’s number.  They said, ‘Do you know Conrade Mayer?’ I said, ‘Yeah, here’s his number’.”  Gleason suggested Courtney Conklin, owner of Rise Up Theater, which is about to move into a dedicated location later this year or early next year. 

Three employees of Ampac are included in the exhibit. “Ron (Parrish) is one of our maintenance painters here, he’s featured in the exhibit today,” Butler said.  “He does a number of things with clergy, with disabled veterans.” Two other Ampac employees included in the exhibit are Cheryl Agutos, an Ampac operator who has a background working with veterans, and Wendy Lin, an Ampac senior financial analyst. 

Lin is also principal and co-founder of Sierra Chinese School. “At the beginning of founding Sierra Chinese School, it was for my son when he was five years old,” Lin said. “Now my son has already graduated from college this year.”  Lin keeps the school going for the younger generation to learn their language and cultural heritage.  The school is also for the people of the community who are interested in learning Chinese language, culture, and arts.

There were many Rancho Cordovans worthy of inclusion in the exhibit.  Andy Berchielli is president of the Live Steam Train Club, the Sacramento Valley Live Steamers, which is celebrating its 50^th year.  He’s been involved with the club for 16 years. 

Joseph Makunga is Site Director for Sierra Service Project.  He works with SSP Executive Director Megan Taylor.  SSP has been partnering with the City of Rancho Cordova since 2015 to complete home repairs.  Makunga said on his Photoville exhibit display, “I think about my first time volunteering when I graduated high school. I didn’t know how easy it was to do an act of service for somebody.”

The Swing Collective provided music for the opening night of the exhibit.  “We’re a 19-piece, classic swing jazz band,” said co-manager Glenn Lewis.  “We play different places around town.  We rehearse at the Mills Station Art and Culture Center, that’s kind of our  home base.”

SK pharmteco is a global contract development and manufacturing organization specializing in the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients, advanced intermediates, and cell and gene therapy for the pharmaceutical industry.  “SK pharmteco is a U.S. based, U.S. Company,” Butler said.  “Its headquarters are right here in Rancho Cordova.  Ampac Fine Chemicals, we’ve been here in this area for over 80 years doing what we’re doing . . .  Actually, we’re right there at Hazel Avenue, right there where Aerojet has been forever.”  Butler stated that subsidiary Ampac Fine Chemicals, the U.S. subsidiary, has about 730 employees, SK pharmteco globally has about 1,600 employees, of which about a third are here in the Sacramento area.