FIONA COFFEY (MA), CO-PRESIDENT

Fiona Coffey is an arts leader, curator, creative producer and community builder with a strong track record of compassionate leadership, thriving artist relationships, strategic visioning, fundraising and a deep understanding of the national performing arts landscape. She currently serves as Director of the Office for the Arts at Harvard. Previous to this, she was the Associate Director for Programming and Performing Arts at the Center for the Arts and Visiting Assistant Professor of Theater at Wesleyan University. At Wesleyan, Coffey curated and produced a visiting guest artist series, presented touring shows, and designed and produced development residencies to support new work by visiting artists. She has worked extensively as a creative producer for a wide range of interdisciplinary artists including Toshi Reagon, Sunny Jain, Forklift Danceworks and Laurie Anderson. Coffey also served as the Director of Creative Programs for the Era Footwork Collective in Chicago, overseeing the vision and strategy of creative and educational programs in music, dance, fashion and film. As Managing Producer for inDANCE, a Toronto and Connecticut based-dance company, she supported marketing, development and touring of new creative work. She is co-President of New England Arts Presenters, a regional membership organization for northeast arts presenters. She previously worked at the William Morris and Harry Walker Agencies in New York City, representing artists, politicians and celebrities, and is a member of the Creative and Independent Producer Alliance. Coffey works with artists, students, faculty and staff across disciplines to help shape and develop new creative work and integrate the arts across campus in innovative ways. She works closely with artists to improve equity practices, including living wages, disability justice, decolonizing contracts and greater access for BIPOC artists. Coffey strongly believes in creative research and artistic practice as essential ways of learning and knowing about the world. Her first book Political Acts: Women in Northern Irish Theatre, 1921-2012 was published by Syracuse University Press (2016). She holds a doctoral degree from Tufts University, a master’s of philosophy from Trinity College, Dublin, and a bachelor’s from Stanford University.

*ELECTED VOTING MEMBER OF THE BOARD

KEITH MARKS (VT), CO-PRESIDENT

Keith Marks graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with an MS in Nonprofit Leadership and BA in Journalism/Communications from the University of North Florida. After graduating, Marks lived in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East for a total of about a decade. In all locations, Marks sought out philosophy, history, and cultural offerings. From the independence and resourcefulness from traveling, Marks released a number of albums on his record label, hosted a weekly radio show on Jacksonville NPR station WJCT, published stories in various publications over the past 20 years, and launched numerous non-profit projects focused on community building and collaboration. Currently, Marks is the Executive Director of Next Stage Arts, serves on the Southeastern Vermont Development Strategy board and as a trustee of the Governor's Institute of Vermont.

*ELECTED VOTING MEMBER OF THE BOARD

MARISSA HUTTON (RI), VICE PRESIDENT

Marissa is the Senior Director of Operations for FirstWorks in Providence, RI. Prior to that, she served as Executive Director of the Dorset Theatre Festival, in Dorset, VT. She has an extensive career in live event production, having worked with organizations such as the Park Avenue Armory, Irish Repertory Theatre, Monica Bill Barnes Dance Co., Valencia Production Partners, and Bike New York. She has worked on live network television events for Condé Nast Entertainment, Hulu, Netflix, and CW. Marissa spent four years at the International Festival of Arts & Ideas in New Haven, CT as Special Programs Curator. As an avid dance practitioner, Marissa has taught and performed nationally and internationally.

*ELECTED VOTING MEMBER OF THE BOARD

VICKY PITTMAN (NH), TREASURER

Vicky Pittman is in her 15th year as the Director of Education & Community Engagement for The Colonial Performing Arts Center in Keene NH. Before working at The Colonial she was Program Director of Administration for Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music and teacher of drama and music for the Berkshire Maestros in Berkshire, UK. She holds degrees in Music and Theatre from Indiana University, Salem University with post grad work from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Vicky curates international and educational performances for The Colonial Theatre as well as community engagement events in partnership with local colleges, artists and educators.The Metropolitan Opera in Schools program provides annual training and curriculum for Vicky to bring outreach into schools. After traveling to over 26 countries, her vision at The Colonial includes bringing integrated arts education into the Monadnock Region in partnership with local educators and artists who have a shared vision.

*ELECTED VOTING MEMBER OF THE BOARD

FRANCESCA GABOUREL (NH), SECRETARY

Francesca Gabourel is the Associate Producer at the Hopkins Center for the Arts at Dartmouth College. She possesses nearly two decades of experience working for arts and cultural organizations with a strong focus on community engagement.

Most recently, Francesca served as the Managing Director at Aurora Theatre Company in Berkeley, CA, and the Events Audience Manager at KQED, the San Francisco Bay Area’s public media station. She has played central roles in building new audiences, designing operational procedures, implementing marketing strategies, and creating inclusive environments for all members of our community. Francesca also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History and Arts Administration from Simmons University.

*ELECTED VOTING MEMBER OF THE BOARD

KATIE LANG (CT), MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Katie Lang is a lifelong devotee to the performing arts. She has danced, played the oboe, and participated in plays and choir throughout her life. Her passion is dance, and she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance focusing on Education and Arts Administration. 

Katie is currently the Manager of Engagement Initiatives at the Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield University. She oversees artist logistics, Arts for All education programs, community initiatives, calendar management, and camps. Additionally, she is a commissioner on the Fairfield Arts Commission whose goal is to stimulate, foster, facilitate and encourage the development and appreciation of artistic and cultural activities within the Town of Fairfield. Her biggest goal is ensuring as many people can participate and experience the performing arts regardless of income level, that she is striving to achieve at the Quick Center for the Arts, her time on the Fairfield Arts Commission, and beyond.

*ELECTED VOTING MEMBER OF THE BOARD

SHANNON MAYERS (NH), MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Shannon Mayers brings over 25 years of experience in the arts with extensive management experience in both professional and academic settings. Her passion is to entertain and engage audiences, to inspire and enlighten the next generation of arts enthusiasts, and to champion the arts as vital to the soul of every community

Shannon has served in leadership positions at the Redfern Arts Center at Keene State College, Arts Brookfield in NYC, the Gerald W Lynch Theater at John Jay College, and most recently the Grunin Center for the Arts in Toms River, NJ. During her tenure at the Redfern Arts Center Shannon was on the board at APNNE, and Monadnock’s Alive Board from 2013 to 2019.

Shannon holds an MFA from the University of Texas at Austin and a BS from Northwestern University. She has guest lectured at Theatre for a New Audience, Actors Theater of Louisville, Connecticut College, Queens College, College of Staten Island, and Georgia Southern University. She has also served on grant panels for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Maine Arts Commission.

*ELECTED VOTING MEMBER OF THE BOARD

DIANE BARGIEL (VT), ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR

Diane Bargiel received her Bachelor of Music degree in clarinet from the Dana School of Music, a Master of Music in clarinet from Michigan State University, Certification in Music Education from Carnegie Mellon University, and a certificate in Arts Administration from New York University.

In 2021, she retired from SUNY Adirondack as the last Humanities division chair and Associate Professor of Music. In 2015, Prof. Bargiel received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities and in 1995 while at Susquehanna University, was presented the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Several professional highlights included having been president of the New York Association of College Music Programs, president of Pennsylvania Presenters, a board member of Arts Presenters of Northern New England, the Pennsylvania state chair of the College Band Director’s National Association, a member of the first Creative Communities Council of Windham County (VT), a planning committee member for the first Performing Arts Exchange that covered the entire East Coast, and was also a conductor and panelist at the 2000 CBDNA Eastern Regional Conference at Yale University, among numerous other roles and volunteer involvement.

A resident of Poultney, Vermont, Diane had served on the first Poultney 2020 planning committee, the board of the Killington section of the Green Mountain Club, and as a board member and executive director of Stone Valley Arts in Poultney.  She is currently the manager and principal clarinetist of the Sage City Symphony in Bennington, VT.

*APPOINTED VOTING MEMBER OF THE BOARD

DARCIE CHAMPAGNE (NH), BRANDING AND MARKETING

A long-time practitioner and proponent of the arts, Darcie has a deep passion for community engagement. She is the Marketing & Development Manager at Prescott Park Arts Festival in Portsmouth, NH, which is dedicated to intentional inclusivity and making the magical experience of the Arts Festival’s programming accessible to all for an optional recommended donation . Darcie has a BFA in Music Theatre from Emerson College in Boston, and an MFA in Acting from The Actors Studio at The New School in NYC. She is a proud member of the Actors Equity Association and has performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regionally. She has always loved producing, presenting, and helping to make the arts happen in any capacity. Darcie was the President of the Board for Arts Presenters of Northern New England and is proud to have helped to make the historic merger with New England Arts Presenters possible. Her greatest purpose in this life is her little fam; her partner, Jonathan; their children, Mathilda, Winnie, and Hugo; and their sweet pup, Zuzu.

*APPOINTED VOTING MEMBER OF THE BOARD

HOLLY JONES (MA), PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE CHAIR

Holly Jones is a field based arts advocate, practitioner, and producer who is passionate about radical accessibility, equitable curatorial practices, and trust-based philanthropy. She is the Producing Director at Jacob's Pillow and serves on the boards of Bridge Live Arts, The Clive & Valerie Barnes Foundation, New England Arts Presenters and The Croft Residency. Jones holds a masters degree in nonprofit leadership from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy & Practice and a B.F.A. in Dance from Marymount Manhattan College. She enjoys performing annually in The Bang Group's Nut/Cracked production and teaching community classes at Berkshire Pulse.

*APPOINTED VOTING MEMBER OF THE BOARD