Maryanne Belser Artist Dale Chihuly, best known for his glass creations, is in his Washington State studio planning on installing his super- sized sculpture in the entry atrium of the Columbia Museum of Art on Main Street. The target date is 2010, which is concurrent with the CMA's 60th anniversary and its year- long Celebration of American Art exhibition. Co- chair in the sculpture commission and funding, about $400,000, is Pence Scurry. The other half of the team is Maryanne Belser.

Belser was born in Nashville, Tenn., where her father is a practicing physician, and her mother is a retired nurse. Belser's younger sister Amy is a development officer for Vanderbilt University, also in Nashville.

After eight years in Nashville's Harding Academy, Belser spent her high school years in all- female Harpeth Hall. She was active in student government, but her real devotion lay in academics and ballet dancing.

After high school graduation, Belser entered formerly all- male Davidson College in Davidson, N.C. Her freshman class of about 500 students in 1999 was the school's first to have an even 50- 50 count between men and women.

Her college major was political science, and her unofficial minor was art history. In the fall of her junior year, Belser was an intern with NBC's Tim Russert in Washington, D.C., while she took night courses at American University. She was in the studio newsroom the morning 9/11 hit.

Belser met her future husband, Columbia attorney Freeman Belser, while they were both undergraduates at Davidson.

Upon graduation from Davidson, Belser went to work with Jenny Sanford, S.C.'s First Lady, in an office in the Governor's Mansion compound. Belser's duties included raising funds to restore the Lace House across the street from the Governor's Mansion, including the gardens between the Lace House and the Caldwell- Boylston House.

After three years in the Governor's Mansion compound, Belser went with Chernoff Newman Silver & Gregory, or CNS&G, where she worked in public relations. Her clients, for the most part, were in high- tech fields, such as when she helped Columbia's Engenuity get started.

Belser left CNS&G to start her own firm, Kudos Communications. One of her first clients was businessman Don Tomlin, who in turn recommended her as campaign manager for real estate developer Brian Boyer's run for Columbia City Council against the eventual victor, Dr. Belinda Gergel.

Another two Kudos clients of note are Peg Averyt, owner of Finleaf on Devine Street, and businessman Kirkman Finlay III, member of Columbia city council.

Belser and her husband Freeman are putatively pretty good tennis players. They have been since grammar school, and they play together regularly. But they have a hard time keeping up with Belser's father- in- law, Columbia tennis champion Clinch Belser.

Belser's other exercise routine is in her daily walks through Forest Hills, her new neighborhood.

Belser's volunteer efforts on behalf of the Columbia Museum of Art for the past two years have already collected about $200,000 for the Chihuly glass, leaving another $200,000 to come in before the huge sculpture can be installed. The second $200,000 is just about on schedule, but contributions are still invited, of course. To contribute, call Maryanne Belser at Kudos Communications, 730.3757.