Our Board
OFFICERS
Mark Maddox
Alan Fowler
|
Mark Maddox (Chair)
Mark and his husband Stan moved to Rockingham from Seattle, Washington, in the summer of 2019. While not physically in the village of Saxtons River, he considers it home. Mark became involved with volunteering at MSA with maintenance on the building and currently serves as board chair. This has been a great opportunity to volunteer for the community and support MSA. Mark feels the most satisfaction when helping others. In his spare time, Mark cooks, gardens, cans, makes soap and syrup, explores Vermont, and is also the Secretary and newsletter editor of the Vermont Covered Bridge Society. Alan Fowler (Treasurer) A California native who has lived and studied in various states and countries over these many years, Alan has always been interested in community connected endeavors wherever I have settled. His lifelong connections with things technical since vacuum tube training in the Army have given him a knack of helping people relate to change in its various forms. Experience in business, both large and small, helps him relate to the challenges of organizations such as Main Street Arts. Alan and his wife Pat are retired after years of owing the Village Square Booksellers in Bellows Falls. |
AT LARGE
Susan Still
Sam Howard
Whitney Barrett
Rick Cowan
Maryann McArdle
 Emily Wagner
|
Susan Still (Currently on leave of absence)
Susan has 44 years of experience in supporting the development of nonprofits as a volunteer, staff member, board member, and consultant. As director of outreach programs for an arts center in Maryland, she created visual and performing arts programs in public housing, schools, and social service organizations, serving as many as 45,000 people a year. Seeing systemic issues among organizations, she earned an M.S. at Johns Hopkins and an M.A. at Fielding Graduate University, and human development was a Hopkins Fellow in Change Management. This lead to a career in facilitating strategic planning and conflict resolution with federal agencies and more than 1000 nonprofits. Now retired, she is interested in building community through the arts. Sam Howard (Secretary- currently on leave of absence) Sam Howard has partnered with MSA several times over the years in her role as Youth Services Librarian at the Rockingham Free Public Library. She has been active in the Southern New England theater community for decades as a director, writer, actor, graphic designer, and most recently as Artistic Director at World Under Wonder. Sam is looking forward to bringing her experience developing programs and services for the community, extensive successful grant writing and fund-raising background, technical expertise, and experience creating and nurturing partnerships to increase potential to Main Street Arts’ Board, as well as her belief that equitable access to the arts, and opportunities to create and share stories and expression, can transform communities. She lives in Bellows Falls along with two cranky senior cats and two exuberant beagles. Whitney Barrett Whitney Barrett is the Humanities chair and an English teacher at Vermont Academy. Before working at there, Whitney taught both English and Visual Arts, primarily 2D media—painting, drawing, printmaking, and collage, in Connecticut. She has a MAT in Arts Education from Columbia, and an MA in English from Middlebury. When not teaching, Whitney spends time making art, primarily working in collage and acrylic, and her work is shown locally at the Canal Street gallery in Bellows Falls. She also serves on the Friends of the Library Board for Rockingham Free Public Library. She is excited to join the board at MSA to help develop access to arts opportunities in the area. Rick Cowan Rick Cowan has enjoyed minor roles in various MSA theatrical productions over the years. Most of his career has been devoted to independent schools. He held teaching and administrative positions at Choate Rosemary Hall, Pingree, and St. Paul's Schools and served as executive director of The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) in Boston and Washington, D.C. Locally, he was head of The Grammar School (TGS), Director of Admission at The Putney School and Compass School before retiring in 2016. Rick lives in Cambridgeport and has two grown daughters. He serves on the Rockingham selectboard and the TGS board of directors. Maryann McArdle A charter member of Main Street Arts, Maryann has been involved with the organization since its inception, previously serving as a member of the board in the 1990s. She performed regularly in MSA’s annual Christmas Revels, portrayed The Other Woman in MSA’s production of Trial By Jury, and was co-musical director with founder Mary Hepburn for MSA’s first production of Kiss Me Kate. Maryann has worked at Vermont Academy for over 30 years, serving in their advancement and communications offices, and currently as Director of College Counseling. She lives with her husband, artist Mark Ragonese, in Bellows Falls. She is an avid gardener and plays jazz piano with Swing Low, and Triomisu. Emily Wagner
Emily is a visual artist and educator with experience as a nonprofit leader, administrator, community organizer, and education policy advocate. Currently a research and development consultant for a local author and a D.C.-based nonprofit, Emily also works as a substitute teacher in local public schools. When she's not caring for her two children, garden, or home, Emily can be found painting, drawing, collaging, or playing with photography. |
Miriam Wolf
|
Miriam Wolf
Miriam has appreciated MSA since she first moved to Saxtons River in 1988 to work as a chiropractor at Saxtons River Family Chiropractic with Dr. Linda Balamuth (neé Haltinner). She sang and played classical piano as a youth, then became a theater and modern dance double major in college. The early MSA offerings fit her creative needs beautifully. Her career focus has been helping others to heal themselves through holistic natural health, yet she has continued to dance, sing, and be artistic. She is pleased to be able to give back to MSA by joining the Board, supporting its values, and nurturing the gifts that MSA brings to the community. |
|