Munson welcomes Jackie Walters, R. Benedikt Sander to board of trustees
Munson has welcomed Jackie Walters and Benedikt Sander to its Board of Trustees, effective in January.
Walters moved to Clinton with her family in 2014, and Munson was one of the first places they visited together. Eleven years later, she looks forward to helping Munson inspire others in the community, just as it inspired her.
“We were so happy to find an active, family-friendly arts organization right here in the Utica area,” Walters says. “Exploring the galleries and attending events with our kids made us feel instantly connected to the community.”
As a child, Walters’ family fled Laos and resettled in the Syracuse area. She later earned a degree in civil engineering from Clarkson University, and her career and family life have taken her to Boston, London, and New York City before returning to Central New York.
She previously served as Executive Director of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, where she led several high-impact community initiatives. Most recently, Walters was vice president of planning and operations at M3 Placement and Partnership. She is currently launching a consulting business focused on helping organizations drive growth through enhanced community visibility and engagement.
Walters is actively engaged across the Mohawk Valley and Central New York regions. She serves as vice president of the Clinton Kirkland Improvement Corporation and as a board member of the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce and the Upstate Minority Economic Alliance. She is also an ambassador for CenterState CEO and sits on the Clarkson Alumni Leadership Board. Her dedication to regional collaboration, inclusive economic growth, and community impact has earned her the New York State Robert J. Uplinger Distinguished Service Award and recognition as a 40 Over 40 honoree.
R. Benedikt Sander, a native of Germany, and his family have been involved with Munson since relocating to the Utica area and, in February 2025, Sander joined the Munson Board Finance Committee.
“Art has always been an important part of our lives,” Sander says. “Since moving here, our family has enjoyed so many aspects of Munson—from its exhibitions and concerts to the jewelry-making classes my wife Erika loves and the welcoming social events that make it such a vibrant part of Utica’s cultural life.”
In 2021, Sander became the President and CEO of Preferred Mutual Insurance Company after serving as the executive vice president of insurance operations. His career spans more than 20 years in the insurance industry and consulting, including senior leadership roles with national carriers, where he gained deep expertise in strategy, agency management, product development, and underwriting. He also holds professional designations as a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and an Accredited Adviser in Insurance (AAI).
“I brought my company’s board to Munson for a strategic planning offsite, and I remember how being surrounded by art encouraged creative and expansive thinking,” he adds. “Places like Munson can inspire not only individuals but entire communities to see the world in new ways. I’m excited to join the Board to help support Munson’s mission and to contribute to the community that has already made us feel so much at home.”
Pictured above: R. Benedikt Sander
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