If you would like to help steer the direction of the Cultural Arts Coalition and make a difference in the local arts scene, please consider joining the board! Send an email to [email protected] for an information packet and application!
The current board of directors are as follows:
Kathleen Abels
Daniel Basiletti
Anita Conway, Vice President
Bonnie Denmark
Frank Funigiello
Maxine Reddy, Secretary
Peter Simon, Treasurer
Olenna Truskett, President
Robert Zubrycki, Past President
Kathleen Abels
Daniel Basiletti
Anita Conway, Vice President
Bonnie Denmark
Frank Funigiello
Maxine Reddy, Secretary
Peter Simon, Treasurer
Olenna Truskett, President
Robert Zubrycki, Past President
Biographies appear below:
Kathleen Abels
Kathleen Abels is the President of the Putnam County Economic Development Corporation (PCEDC). Her primary responsibilities include supporting local businesses and attracting new businesses to Putnam County. The PCEDC acts as a facilitator, bringing together companies, government agencies, and other stakeholders. Marketing, public relations, and developing strategic alliances are among Abels top skill sets. Abels was appointed to her current position on July 1, 2019, after serving on the Board of Directors of the PCEDC for several years. She brought her extensive experience in community outreach, customer service, construction, and project management, as well as strong core values. Abels previously completed a lengthy career at NYSEG, culminating as their Manager of Community Outreach and Development. A resident of Putnam County since childhood, Abels presently serves on the Board of Directors for Friends of Lasdon Park in Katonah, NY. She was the former Chair of the Town of Southeast Historic Sites Commission for many years. Abels received a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Mercy College and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Pace University.
Daniel Basiletti
Daniel Basiletti is a seasoned arts and retail leader with over 25 years of experience in executive management, brand strategy, and organizational leadership within cultural institutions and design-driven businesses. He has built and led high-performing teams, directed multimillion-dollar sales operations, and guided museums, galleries, and creative brands through growth, rebranding, and retail expansion, including senior leadership roles at AMEICO, the Museum of Sex, and Moss. In parallel with his professional career, Daniel is an accomplished director, performing artist and arts advocate, serving as First Trumpet and a board member of the Putnam Symphony Orchestra and contributing actively to theater and music organizations throughout the region.
Anita Conway
Anita Conway lives her life in service to the local arts and garden communities. She supports the Cultural Arts Coalition as a Volunteer Coordinator for arts programs and manages the Garden Around the Corner. As a master gardener in Putnam County for the last 12 years, she organizes garden-based programs with an emphasis on food-security education and environmental stewardship. The Garden Around the Corner is a partnership with the Cultural Arts Coalition, Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Putnam County, and the Putnam Community Action Partnership. It is an organic vegetable and pollinator garden with all produce donated to the food pantry at the Putnam Community Action Partnership. The garden is a place for people to connect with the community, nature, and the art of gardening. Anita has a BS in Design from UC Davis and completed the Master of Arts program at Pratt Institute where she taught graduate classes in Typography and Techniques and Procedures. She was an award-winning designer in her professional career in corporate package design management for medical and consumer products companies for over 20 years. She was also the owner and principal designer at Anita Patterson Design in New York City and San Francisco providing design programs for non-profits, the arts, hospitality, interior design, sports, and public affairs.
Bonnie Denmark
Bonnie Denmark was active in the arts in her native Southern California and would love to see a greater blossoming of the arts in the Town of Southeast, where she has lived since 2000 and raised two children who attended Brewster Schools from kindergarten through high school. Bonnie is on the faculty of the Creative & Professional Writing Department at Western Connecticut State University, where she is Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Business/Technical Writing Option. Prior to joining WCSU full-time, she was Senior Writer and Editor at award-winning health and science media companies, producing video, print, and web-based educational and marketing content. She obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Linguistics from San Diego State University with concentrations in Spanish and English as a Second Language. She started her career in the tech field as a computational linguist, overseeing linguistic and human factors aspects of speech and language software design. Since then, she has worked internationally as an educator, writer, editor, literacy specialist, and multimedia curriculum developer with special attention to accessibility issues. While on assignment with the U.S. State Department, she helped develop Business Writing programs at West Bank Universities. She has served on national advisory panels concerning education and technology for people with disabilities. Bonnie frequently presents at workshops and contributes journals, magazines, and websites in her field.
Frank Funigiello
Frank Funigiello has been a resident of the Town of Southeast in Brewster, NY, since 1991. Always a self-starter, Frank currently owns and operates Confident Home, Inc., a general contracting company also in Brewster. Having raised two children who have gone through the
Brewster Central School system, Frank has always been an active member of the community. Frank started his own business in Brewster in 1999 and has thrived here ever since. He is also active year-round as a volunteer for various theater groups, such as the Brewster Theater
Company, Brewster Performing Arts Boosters (BHS productions), and the Ridgefield Theater Barn production. He has taken on the role of the set master (construction, design, and development) for various shows with these theater groups. Being in the construction field, Frank was instrumental in renovating “The Studio Around the Corner” for the Town of Southeast Cultural Arts Coalition. Frank brings his knowledge of construction and his spirit of volunteerism to the coalition. Frank is hopeful that one day he will see the “Old Town Hall Theater” restored to its glory as the main stage theater in Brewster and will be proud to say that he was a part of the process. Frank attended Westchester Community College and earned an Associate’s Degree in Electrical Technology and, Mercy College for Computer Science. Frank also holds many construction certificates.
Maxine Reddy
Maxine Reddy joined the Town of Southeast Cultural Arts Board in January 2024. A lifelong supporter of the arts and with a passion for Southeast and Brewster, she brings with her the skills, expertise and business acumen of non-profit management from decades of leadership work in the human services field. Maxine currently directs The Sanctuary Institute at Andrus, an educational institute that supports organizations through change management. In this capacity, she has travelled throughout the US and Canada, as well as the UK, Singapore and Australia teaching and guiding organizations. She also spearheads the annual Network Days Conference bringing practitioners from around the world together for opportunities to learn and engage with each other. Maxine is a former Board member of the Putnam County Youth Bureau and Putnam Family Support & Advocacy, as well as having volunteered for the Putnam County 4-H program and at Green Chimneys in their equestrian programming. A New York State certified Mediator, Maxine has provided support to the courts in the Village of Brewster, Town of Carmel, and numerous family mediation services. Maxine is also a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York State. She holds a Ph.D in Organizational Leadership and a master degree in both community and school counseling. Prior to leaving Brewster to attend college, Maxine attended The Juilliard School where she studied Flute, chamber music and choral endeavors. Continuing to support and bring cultural opportunities to the citizens of Southeast and Brewster, as she learned from her parents, offers the chance to carry on this legacy of service to the cultural arts and the community.
Peter Simon
Peter Simon holds a Master’s degree in Finance from New York University and has held senior management roles with major private and publicly traded retail organizations. Transitioning to marketing research exposed him to many industries and insights into strategic marketing. Since retiring, Peter has become actively involved with non-profit organizations. Since 2015 he has served as the Treasurer of The Restorative Center headquartered in Newburgh, Peter is also the President of The Weininger Foundation endowing innovative organizations that combat hate and antisemitism. Peter and his wife joined the Brewster community in 2021 and are committed to expanding music and theatrical offerings in the area. He was elected Treasurer of CAC in 2024.
Olenna Truskett
Olenna Truskett is a founding member of the Town of Southeast Cultural Arts Coalition and has served the organization in numerous leadership, administrative, and creative roles since its inception in 2010, most recently as president of the board and acting executive director. A professional engineer and a dancer/choreographer/musician, she brings a combination of technical rigor and artistic vision to the coalition’s work. She has been instrumental in securing and managing approximately $550,000 in New York State grants and private donations to advance the preservation and restoration of the historic Southeast Old Town Hall, guiding architectural plans, engineering assessments, and window restoration. In 2023, her leadership also helped position the coalition to receive a $500,000 matching grant from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to continue rehabilitating the building and preserve its historic character as an arts center. With degrees in Chemistry from the College of William and Mary and Chemical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, she worked in the environmental sector on projects for the US Environmental Protection Agency, US Department of Energy, and Georgia Department of Natural Resources. As an artist, she teaches and dances with Dancers at Union Hall; she has performed with Lee Harper & Dancers, Fairfax Ballet, Northern Westchester Center for the Arts, and Busch Gardens Williamsburg among others. She has served on the boards of Putnam Arts Council and Prelude Ballet Ensemble.
Robert Zubrycki
Violinist, Robert Zubrycki, is on the Board of Directors for the Cultural Arts Coalition in Brewster, NY, where he is Director of Concerts Around the Corner series. Robert is Concertmaster for the New York City Chamber Orchestra, a member of the American Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Lumos (formerly the Stamford Symphony), and the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra. He has served as Concertmaster for the New York Choral Society at Carnegie Hall, Encores! at City Center, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, he performs for the American Ballet Theater and is Assistant Concertmaster for Orchestra Moderne. A veteran of dozens of Broadway shows, Robert's recent performances include: Kiss Me, Kate, Carousel, and She Loves Me. He can be heard on many cast recordings, including Brigadoon, An American in Paris, Paint Your Wagon (violin and mandolin), and solo violin for The Mad Ones. He frequently appears on the 92 nd St.'s Lyrics and Lyricists series. Robert won an Emmy Award for his musical contribution to the documentary, The Curse of the Bambino, and he can be heard in the documentary Oliver Sacks: His Own Life. His numerous television appearances include an appearance with Céline Dion on the Tonight Show, and he has recorded with Lady Gaga and Tony Bennet. As a chamber musician, Robert was the first violinist for the Queen's Chamber Band and the Queen's Chamber Trio. The Trio's critically acclaimed recordings of Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven are available on the Lyrichord label. He toured The United States with the Abaca String Band, including performances at the Chautauqua Institute and the White House. He also performs with the Bard Festival Chamber Players. Beyond musical ventures, he is currently the Putnam County Economic Development Corporation Chair, a US Masters Swimming Coach and Adult Learn-to-Swim Instructor, and a NASM Certified Personal Trainer.
Former Board Members:
Paul Toscano, Judy Marano - Past President, Margaret Carey, Jake McGuire, Joe Beahm, Elisa Logush, Susan Isley, George Kryzewsky, Debbie Levin, Mark Marano.
Kathleen Abels is the President of the Putnam County Economic Development Corporation (PCEDC). Her primary responsibilities include supporting local businesses and attracting new businesses to Putnam County. The PCEDC acts as a facilitator, bringing together companies, government agencies, and other stakeholders. Marketing, public relations, and developing strategic alliances are among Abels top skill sets. Abels was appointed to her current position on July 1, 2019, after serving on the Board of Directors of the PCEDC for several years. She brought her extensive experience in community outreach, customer service, construction, and project management, as well as strong core values. Abels previously completed a lengthy career at NYSEG, culminating as their Manager of Community Outreach and Development. A resident of Putnam County since childhood, Abels presently serves on the Board of Directors for Friends of Lasdon Park in Katonah, NY. She was the former Chair of the Town of Southeast Historic Sites Commission for many years. Abels received a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Mercy College and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Pace University.
Daniel Basiletti
Daniel Basiletti is a seasoned arts and retail leader with over 25 years of experience in executive management, brand strategy, and organizational leadership within cultural institutions and design-driven businesses. He has built and led high-performing teams, directed multimillion-dollar sales operations, and guided museums, galleries, and creative brands through growth, rebranding, and retail expansion, including senior leadership roles at AMEICO, the Museum of Sex, and Moss. In parallel with his professional career, Daniel is an accomplished director, performing artist and arts advocate, serving as First Trumpet and a board member of the Putnam Symphony Orchestra and contributing actively to theater and music organizations throughout the region.
Anita Conway
Anita Conway lives her life in service to the local arts and garden communities. She supports the Cultural Arts Coalition as a Volunteer Coordinator for arts programs and manages the Garden Around the Corner. As a master gardener in Putnam County for the last 12 years, she organizes garden-based programs with an emphasis on food-security education and environmental stewardship. The Garden Around the Corner is a partnership with the Cultural Arts Coalition, Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Putnam County, and the Putnam Community Action Partnership. It is an organic vegetable and pollinator garden with all produce donated to the food pantry at the Putnam Community Action Partnership. The garden is a place for people to connect with the community, nature, and the art of gardening. Anita has a BS in Design from UC Davis and completed the Master of Arts program at Pratt Institute where she taught graduate classes in Typography and Techniques and Procedures. She was an award-winning designer in her professional career in corporate package design management for medical and consumer products companies for over 20 years. She was also the owner and principal designer at Anita Patterson Design in New York City and San Francisco providing design programs for non-profits, the arts, hospitality, interior design, sports, and public affairs.
Bonnie Denmark
Bonnie Denmark was active in the arts in her native Southern California and would love to see a greater blossoming of the arts in the Town of Southeast, where she has lived since 2000 and raised two children who attended Brewster Schools from kindergarten through high school. Bonnie is on the faculty of the Creative & Professional Writing Department at Western Connecticut State University, where she is Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Business/Technical Writing Option. Prior to joining WCSU full-time, she was Senior Writer and Editor at award-winning health and science media companies, producing video, print, and web-based educational and marketing content. She obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Linguistics from San Diego State University with concentrations in Spanish and English as a Second Language. She started her career in the tech field as a computational linguist, overseeing linguistic and human factors aspects of speech and language software design. Since then, she has worked internationally as an educator, writer, editor, literacy specialist, and multimedia curriculum developer with special attention to accessibility issues. While on assignment with the U.S. State Department, she helped develop Business Writing programs at West Bank Universities. She has served on national advisory panels concerning education and technology for people with disabilities. Bonnie frequently presents at workshops and contributes journals, magazines, and websites in her field.
Frank Funigiello
Frank Funigiello has been a resident of the Town of Southeast in Brewster, NY, since 1991. Always a self-starter, Frank currently owns and operates Confident Home, Inc., a general contracting company also in Brewster. Having raised two children who have gone through the
Brewster Central School system, Frank has always been an active member of the community. Frank started his own business in Brewster in 1999 and has thrived here ever since. He is also active year-round as a volunteer for various theater groups, such as the Brewster Theater
Company, Brewster Performing Arts Boosters (BHS productions), and the Ridgefield Theater Barn production. He has taken on the role of the set master (construction, design, and development) for various shows with these theater groups. Being in the construction field, Frank was instrumental in renovating “The Studio Around the Corner” for the Town of Southeast Cultural Arts Coalition. Frank brings his knowledge of construction and his spirit of volunteerism to the coalition. Frank is hopeful that one day he will see the “Old Town Hall Theater” restored to its glory as the main stage theater in Brewster and will be proud to say that he was a part of the process. Frank attended Westchester Community College and earned an Associate’s Degree in Electrical Technology and, Mercy College for Computer Science. Frank also holds many construction certificates.
Maxine Reddy
Maxine Reddy joined the Town of Southeast Cultural Arts Board in January 2024. A lifelong supporter of the arts and with a passion for Southeast and Brewster, she brings with her the skills, expertise and business acumen of non-profit management from decades of leadership work in the human services field. Maxine currently directs The Sanctuary Institute at Andrus, an educational institute that supports organizations through change management. In this capacity, she has travelled throughout the US and Canada, as well as the UK, Singapore and Australia teaching and guiding organizations. She also spearheads the annual Network Days Conference bringing practitioners from around the world together for opportunities to learn and engage with each other. Maxine is a former Board member of the Putnam County Youth Bureau and Putnam Family Support & Advocacy, as well as having volunteered for the Putnam County 4-H program and at Green Chimneys in their equestrian programming. A New York State certified Mediator, Maxine has provided support to the courts in the Village of Brewster, Town of Carmel, and numerous family mediation services. Maxine is also a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York State. She holds a Ph.D in Organizational Leadership and a master degree in both community and school counseling. Prior to leaving Brewster to attend college, Maxine attended The Juilliard School where she studied Flute, chamber music and choral endeavors. Continuing to support and bring cultural opportunities to the citizens of Southeast and Brewster, as she learned from her parents, offers the chance to carry on this legacy of service to the cultural arts and the community.
Peter Simon
Peter Simon holds a Master’s degree in Finance from New York University and has held senior management roles with major private and publicly traded retail organizations. Transitioning to marketing research exposed him to many industries and insights into strategic marketing. Since retiring, Peter has become actively involved with non-profit organizations. Since 2015 he has served as the Treasurer of The Restorative Center headquartered in Newburgh, Peter is also the President of The Weininger Foundation endowing innovative organizations that combat hate and antisemitism. Peter and his wife joined the Brewster community in 2021 and are committed to expanding music and theatrical offerings in the area. He was elected Treasurer of CAC in 2024.
Olenna Truskett
Olenna Truskett is a founding member of the Town of Southeast Cultural Arts Coalition and has served the organization in numerous leadership, administrative, and creative roles since its inception in 2010, most recently as president of the board and acting executive director. A professional engineer and a dancer/choreographer/musician, she brings a combination of technical rigor and artistic vision to the coalition’s work. She has been instrumental in securing and managing approximately $550,000 in New York State grants and private donations to advance the preservation and restoration of the historic Southeast Old Town Hall, guiding architectural plans, engineering assessments, and window restoration. In 2023, her leadership also helped position the coalition to receive a $500,000 matching grant from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to continue rehabilitating the building and preserve its historic character as an arts center. With degrees in Chemistry from the College of William and Mary and Chemical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, she worked in the environmental sector on projects for the US Environmental Protection Agency, US Department of Energy, and Georgia Department of Natural Resources. As an artist, she teaches and dances with Dancers at Union Hall; she has performed with Lee Harper & Dancers, Fairfax Ballet, Northern Westchester Center for the Arts, and Busch Gardens Williamsburg among others. She has served on the boards of Putnam Arts Council and Prelude Ballet Ensemble.
Robert Zubrycki
Violinist, Robert Zubrycki, is on the Board of Directors for the Cultural Arts Coalition in Brewster, NY, where he is Director of Concerts Around the Corner series. Robert is Concertmaster for the New York City Chamber Orchestra, a member of the American Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Lumos (formerly the Stamford Symphony), and the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra. He has served as Concertmaster for the New York Choral Society at Carnegie Hall, Encores! at City Center, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, he performs for the American Ballet Theater and is Assistant Concertmaster for Orchestra Moderne. A veteran of dozens of Broadway shows, Robert's recent performances include: Kiss Me, Kate, Carousel, and She Loves Me. He can be heard on many cast recordings, including Brigadoon, An American in Paris, Paint Your Wagon (violin and mandolin), and solo violin for The Mad Ones. He frequently appears on the 92 nd St.'s Lyrics and Lyricists series. Robert won an Emmy Award for his musical contribution to the documentary, The Curse of the Bambino, and he can be heard in the documentary Oliver Sacks: His Own Life. His numerous television appearances include an appearance with Céline Dion on the Tonight Show, and he has recorded with Lady Gaga and Tony Bennet. As a chamber musician, Robert was the first violinist for the Queen's Chamber Band and the Queen's Chamber Trio. The Trio's critically acclaimed recordings of Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven are available on the Lyrichord label. He toured The United States with the Abaca String Band, including performances at the Chautauqua Institute and the White House. He also performs with the Bard Festival Chamber Players. Beyond musical ventures, he is currently the Putnam County Economic Development Corporation Chair, a US Masters Swimming Coach and Adult Learn-to-Swim Instructor, and a NASM Certified Personal Trainer.
Former Board Members:
Paul Toscano, Judy Marano - Past President, Margaret Carey, Jake McGuire, Joe Beahm, Elisa Logush, Susan Isley, George Kryzewsky, Debbie Levin, Mark Marano.
