Cody,WY

A fifth generation Wyoming native, Thea was hired in 1997 as executive director of the Western Design Conference in Cody, Wyoming. From that point on, she embarked on transforming the show into an internationally-recognized source of fine western design. As a result, she found within her a passion for design of all things western, devoting all her energy to working with the craftspeople and artists and growing an organization that would proudly promote their work. For six years as director of the WDC, she helped new and budding artists develop into experienced and acknowledged creators of fine western design while endeavoring to promote the masterful works of the era’s finest established craftsmen. She learned from the masters of the genre, grew with the newcomers and loyally fought for western’s recognition in the design realm. The Western Design Conference now attracts buyers from several continents and fosters western design around the World.Thea has continued elevating the awareness of the genre by establishing venues for western design in Los Angeles, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Indianapolis as well as consulting on various design projects around the country.

Thea’s broad background includes management, marketing, public relations, social work and finance. Her days of growing up on a cow/calf operation in central Wyoming and extensive travel abroad, has done much to fashion her personal approach to life by giving her solid values with a flair for the cosmopolitan.