New Arts Leadership in Westchester
ArtsWestchester Appoints New Board Members
ArtsWestchester recently announced the appointment of four new board members – Dawn French, Mark Ettenger, Troy De Vries and Bernard Thombs – each of whom will serve a three-year term.
As Senior Vice President of Marketing and Community Outreach for White Plains Hospital (WPH), Dawn French, guides the hospital on its strategic goals. She is a seasoned healthcare executive who maintains strong relationships with community and government leaders and oversees a team that provides philanthropic support for the hospital. According to French: “As a hospital professional, I believe that creative expression enhances healing and promotes overall wellness. My new role on ArtsWestchester’s board will enable me to bring the benefits of arts to our neighbors across Westchester.” One of French’s most innovative community partnerships is the ArtsMobile, launched with ArtsWestchester in 2018.
Mark Ettenger of Mamaroneck is President of The Emelin Theatre, Chair of the Village of Mamaroneck Ethics Board, President of the Edgewater Point Property Owners Association, Inc. and President of the Vail Mountain Lodge and Spa. A former attorney, Ettenger had a 20-year career at Goldman Sachs & Co., where he was a Managing Director. With his vast experience in business, finance and the arts, Ettenger has actively contributed to ArtsWestchester through his previous role as an Affiliate Representative, and will continue to do so during his new term.
Bernard (Bernie) Thombs is President of Bernard Raymond Incorporated, a security, surveillance and information management company, which specializes in all aspects of public safety for federal, state and municipal government agencies. During his more than 30 years of technical experience, Thombs has worked extensively with federal and state housing authorities and has lectured both nationally and locally on the ever-changing issues of public safety in the workplace and urban communities. He currently serves as a Westchester County Planning Board member, where he highlights the need for security and public safety policy. In addition to the Planning Board, Thombs serves his community as a member of the Hudson Valley Housing Authority, the African American Men of Westchester, the White Plains Juneteenth Heritage Committee and Westchester County Black Scholars Program.
Troy De Vries, General Manager, Electric Operations, Bronx/Westchester for Consolidated Edison Co. of New York, has also joined ArtsWestchester’s board. De Vries will continue the strong relationship that ArtsWestchester and Con Edison have honed for more than 20 years. At Con Edison, De Vries is responsible for the electric distribution system through aerial infrastructure using bucket trucks. During more than 25 years at Con Edison, De Vries’ responsibilities have included risk management strategies, command and control systems, equipment analysis and asset management strategies, and quality assurance programs. During Hurricane Maria, he led a response team of 500 in Puerto Rico.
Caramoor Announces Appointment of Interim CEO Nina Curley
Caramoor has recently announced the appointment of Nina Curley as Interim CEO, effective in September. Curley is not new the Caramoor’s team – she joined the organization as VP and Chief Development Officer in 2012. According to Chairman James Attwood: “[Curley] has been a key architect of [Caramoor’s] recent success.” Since her start at the organization, Curley has overseen the organization’s individual giving, major gifts, special events and Capital Campaign fundraising initiatives. She has also worked with Caramoor’s CEO and Board of Trustees on board growth and governance, and has helped to guide the organization’s overall strategic direction.
Youth Theatre Interactions Announces Artistic Director Yvonne McFall
Youth Theatre Interactions (YTI) has announced a former alumna of the organization, Yvonne (Ev) McFall, as its Artistic Director. McFall progressed at YTI from being a student to a teacher. Since then, she has toured with mainstream artists, created and hosted events for United Cerebral Palsy of New York City, and served as a counselor for New York’s Administration for Children’s Services. As Artistic Director, McFall will conceive of, develop and implement the organization’s artistic vision. In addition, she helps to create and expand YTI’s performing arts curriculum, supervises summer camp activities and explores new fundraising opportunities.
Abigail Lewis Named Managing Director at Bethany Arts Community
Bethany Arts Community recently named Abigail Lewis as its Managing Director. Lewis, a seasoned strategy and operations executive, led innovative programs at IBM, including IBM’s Global Technology Outlook. She is Co-Founder of Ossining Innovates!, a local project that focuses on inclusive entrepreneurship, and is a founding board member of the Sing Sing Prison Museum. According to Lewis, she looks forward to “the opportunity to help develop BAC and nurture its culture of open access by creating an environment in which everyone, especially children, are invited to create and experience art without fear.
A version of this article first appeared in the September issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy is also available at artsw.org/artsnews.
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About ArtsWestchester
For more than 50 years, ArtsWestchester has been the community’s connection to the arts. Founded in 1965, it is the largest private not-for-profit arts council in New York State. Its mission is to create an equitable, inclusive, vibrant and sustainable Westchester County in which the arts are integral to and integrated into every facet of life. ArtsWestchester provides programs and services that enrich the lives of everyone in Westchester County. ArtsWestchester helps fund concerts, exhibitions and plays through grants; brings artists into schools and community centers; advocates for the arts; and builds audiences through diverse marketing initiatives. In 1998, ArtsWestchester purchased the nine-story neo-classical bank building at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue which has since been transformed into a multi-use resource for artists, cultural organizations and the community. A two-story gallery is located on the first floor of ArtsWestchester’s historic building on Mamaroneck Avenue. artsw.org