About Us
MISSION:
The mission of the Grand Strand Charter Arts School is to develop students into artistic leaders through rigorous arts and academic curriculum.
GOALS:
Students will become proficient in contemporary and classical mediums in visual and performing arts through quality arts experiences requiring learners to persevere through experimentation, repetition, and mastery of their artistic discipline.
Students will have a strong foundation in academic principles to become artistic leaders in society.
Students will develop a strong sense of community involvement through artistic culture and leadership.
meet our Founding Board
OFFICERS
Ashlea Sovetts
Ashlea Sovetts is a creative entrepreneur who is able to flow between a variety of different roles. Ashlea’s passion for her work derives from curating experiences from all of her favorite interests: art, wine and wellness. Ashlea has spent the past decade working as a professional dance artist performing nationally and internationally, an academic professor and an international program administrator developing various academic, artistic and wellness programming in the US and in Italy. Throughout her career, she has successfully performed, taught and choreographed at different universities, festivals and residencies including: Texas Woman’s University, (TX) University of North Texas, (TX) Winthrop University, (SC) Columbia College, (SC) University of South Carolina (SC) Emory University, (GA) Henderson State University, (AK) OBOC CounterTechnique (NYC), Philly Fringe, (PA) BOOM CLT Festival, (NC), Dance Masters of America, Staibdance Summer Intensive, Sorrento, Italy, the Rensing Center, Liguria, Italy, and more. Ashlea not only creates and performs, but develops. She has built relationships with international partners in the art sector and wine industry throughout Italy; organized academic and artistic programming nationally and abroad, consulted with education organizations and has collaborated to successfully write, publish and build the first Visual and Performing Arts school--Grand Strand Charter Arts--in her home community of Myrtle Beach, SC set to open in fall 2026. Ashlea’s compassionate nature is the focal point for all her community-building initiatives. Her vision is to facilitate inclusive environments at home or abroad for students and clients to feel seen, heard and acknowledged.
Erica Vasquez
Erica Vasquez hails from the NYC borough known as the birthplace of Hip-Hop and Rap and home to the New York Yankees. She has spent the past 12 years living on the Grand Strand. Erica earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, concentrating in Management, from Briarcliffe College. Currently, she is a staff member at CCU in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts. With extensive experience in both Human Resources and Law Enforcement, Erica brings valuable insights to her role. Married for 18 years, Erica and her husband have two children who are deeply involved in the performing arts. Her son plays the trumpet and piano and is a student at the Eastman School of Music, while her daughter participates in various youth theater programs across the Grand Strand, plays piano, and attends Ocean Bay Middle School. Erica enjoys dedicating her time to several youth theater organizations within the Grand Strand community. When she’s not volunteering, you can find her at a nearby theater, enjoying a Broadway show. Erica considers herself an Arts Ally, believing that the arts are a vital element of a thriving community!
Vacant
Kat Hunt
Katherine Hunt joins the board of Grand Strand Charter Arts School as its Secretary with nearly a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership. In addition to a certificate in nonprofit management from Winthrop University, she served as the Director of the Ingram Planetarium. With a rich background in interdisciplinary education and science communication, she also serves as President of the Southeastern Planetarium Association. Katherine is passionate about fostering innovative programs that blend science and the arts to create holistic and accessible learning experiences for all students. Her involvement in planetarium education has been instrumental in building strong, collaborative communities across the Southeast that inspire curiosity and lifelong learning.
MEMBERS
Michael King
Michael King, voted one of our areas most influential people, is the founder and CEO of KingOne Properties International, an International real estate and development firm that specializes in the sale and development of residential and commercial real estate. Growing up in Myrtle Beach, SC King and his family have always been very involved in the North Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach communities. He has played a major role in transforming Myrtle Beach from a sleepy little beach town back in the early 80’s to an International real estate and vacation hot spot. He has been responsible for selling more than $3 Billion worth of real estate putting developers and communities in the national & international spotlight. Mr. King is the Chairman of the Advisory Board for The Grant Center for Real Estate and Economics at Coastal Carolina University. There he won the Ammons Free Enterprise Award given to individuals that excel in entrepreneurial excellence and responsible citizenship. King is also a board member of the newly formed Grand Strand Charter Art’s School that will be opening in 2026. He was awarded the Justita Est Virtus Award, only the 8th citizen given this award by the Horry County Solicitor Jimmy Richardson. He is Sr. Vice President of the Italian American Heritage Charitable Counsel that raise money for local underprivileged children and a safe house for mothers and children experiencing domestic violence that is currently under construction. King is also on the board of the McLeod Seacoast Health Foundation and was also named one of the state of South Carolinas’ most influential people. KingOne Properties has won Best Real Estate Company in the Myrtle Beach area for past nine years, Best Residential Developer, as well as Best Commercial Developer. Mr. King was also the winner of the Business Innovation Award and the Entrepreneur of The Year by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. The Coastal Carolina Association of Realtors awarded him The Realtor’s Image Award where he reminds his fellow realtors that this award is one to strive for. He won the Realtor’s Good Neighbor Award which recognizes 1 realtor, out of almost 30,000 in South Carolina for helping their community through charitable organizations and was strongly considered for the National Award. He was also featured and on the cover of the national magazine, The Top 100 People in Real Estate, and was nominated by Inc. Magazine as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Realtors in America. Continuing his "Out of the Box" business mentality, Mr. King and KingOne Properties has its corporate office in Myrtle Beach SC but also have offices that cover the southern coast of North Carolina, the entire coast of South Carolina and from Palm Beach Florida south to Miami. King also lists and sells property in Mexico & the Caribbean Islands and continues to seek out other well-known destinations to open offices
Joshua Colbert
Joshua D. Colbert has played the violoncello since 1999 and piano from 1996, and currently succeeds as a performer, educator, and administrator. With a wide range of experience performing along the East Coast and parts of Italy, he enjoys playing in ensembles, orchestras, and as a soloist specializing in both contemporary and classical music. He currently teaches students in his private studio in Myrtle Beach; is the instrumental staff Piano Accompanist at Coastal Carolina University; and the Music Director at St. Michael’s Catholic Church. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Violoncello Performance from Furman University and a Master of Science degree in Arts Administration from Shenandoah University. In his spare time Joshua enjoys arranging music, playing board and video games, and cooking.
Michael Quinn
Introducing Principal Steve Wilson
Steve Wilson
Mr. Steve Wilson has spent more than 25 years as an Art teacher and Principal throughout South Carolina in various public schools where he supported the academic growth and artistic development of young people from kindergarten through 12th grade. He is honored and delighted to have been tapped for the position of Principal for Grand Strand Charter Arts School. He writes, “It is a dream come true to be part of a community so rich with talented students of the Arts, and to create an organization that will build a legacy of excellence in the Arts here in the Grand Strand region. I am honored to support this vision, and to represent this arts and culture hub where young artists can come to train and develop.” Mr. Wilson was born in New Jersey and is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, with a degree in Art (Design). He holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Cambridge College in Cambridge, Massachusetts.