Maura O’Malley is the CEO Emeritus of Lifetime Arts, Inc., a national arts service organization, she co-founded in 2008 to advance creative aging - an approach to programming that supports positive aging with the arts at the core. Recognized as a thought leader in the arts and aging ecosystem, she has been named an AARP Purpose Prize Fellow, an NYU Alumni Changemaker, and an Influencer in Aging by PBS Next Avenue. Since 2010 Maura has shared a family home and garden in Sheffield with her extended family. (Photo Credit AARP)
Brian Healey is a senior corporate attorney at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP in New York City. He has considerable experience working with nonprofits, in both legal and volunteer capacities, in Washington, DC (American Trial Lawyers Association) and New York City (NYS Trial Lawyers Association, Friends in Deed, Visual AIDS). Brian resides in Ashley Falls with his partner Lee and their two beagles, Henry and Billy. He is the President of the Ashley Falls Village Improvement Society and is a dedicated gardener, jam maker and visual artist. His photographs and artwork have been exhibited in galleries and shows in New York City and Hudson, NY. Brian is honored to be a member of the Board and looks forward to strengthening his ties to the community though Dewey Hall.
Evelyn Battaglia is a journalist with over two decades of experience in lifestyle publishing, notably as an editor at Martha Stewart Omnimedia, where she contributed to various magazines and helped produce many bestselling books. Since leaving the company in 2015 to move to the Berkshires full-time, she has curated four additional books for Martha and published by Harper Collins—including The Martha Manual: How to do (Almost) Everything, Martha Stewart's Organizing, and Martha Stewart's Gardening Handbook (due out March 2025). Among other freelance roles, Evelyn is a Special Projects Editor for The Berkshire Edge's Business Monday section and Out & About Magazine. Previous experience includes practicing copyright law in NYC and serving as a congressional communications/fundraising coordinator in Washington, D.C. An avid home gardener and cook (and co-author of Home Sausage Making by Storey Publishing), she also relishes taking daily hikes with her energetic German Shorthaired Pointer.
Guian Heintzen retired to the Berkshires full time in 2024 after a 36-year banking career with Citigroup’s corporate bank, where he was a Managing Director. He spent most of his career in risk management, covering a number of areas including climate risk, structured financial products, and private equity & venture capital investments. Prior to Citigroup, he worked for the International Rescue Committee and Save the Children Federation. His wife, Donna, is a native of Housatonic so he has been enjoying the Berkshires weekends and summers for 40 years. Guian lives in Canaan, NY with Donna, two dogs, and about 60,000 honey bees.
Jared Carroll is a social worker, consultant, and educator with nearly twenty years of experience across the nonprofit, education, and mental health fields. As a Senior Consultant at Community Resource Exchange (CRE), he partners with organizations to strengthen leadership, strategy, and systems—helping practitioners, leaders, and communities envision the supports they need to thrive. Jared also leads CRE’s exploration of generative AI and its potential to advance equity and impact in the nonprofit sector. Before joining CRE, Jared worked in youth development and therapeutic recreation at the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and the international humanitarian organization Right To Play, before founding Play At The Core, a consulting practice that helps organizations harness play as a catalyst for healing and change. A New York City transplant now happily rooted in Ashley Falls, Jared lives with his wife, Maggie, and their four daughters. When not working, you can find him gardening, playing in the backyard with his girls, or giving his English bulldogs their weekly bath (a ritual Maggie insists keeps everyone happier).
Connie Griffin, known locally for her design & vintage shop 'Griffin' formerly in Great Barrington, arrived in The Berkshires 15 years ago. Born and bred in NYC and NJ, Connie began her career as a film editor in NYC with Broadcast Arts, a traditional animation studio noted for its early work with MTV and "Pee Wee’s Playhouse" television series. Following a stint with Children’s Television workshop, Connie moved into post production which culminated in her term as Managing Director of RIOT Manhattan, specializing in commercial, music video and long-format television finishing projects such as Sex and The City. Upon moving to Great Barrington, she joined The Chamberlain Group as Special Projects Director, promoting development of their custom surgical training models in both domestic and international markets. Joining Dewey Hall is one of the first highlights of her new adventures. Connie lives with her husband Paul Giroux in South Egremont. She has a BA in English from St Michael’s College, Vermont.
Eva Grizzard is a multidisciplinary cultural heritage professional with extensive experience in public and private institutions, where she has produced exhibits, digital and print publications, workshops, and other projects. Eva has a demonstrated history of creating new archive initiatives in both nonprofit and corporate settings, primarily in New York and New England. Working with federal, military, academic, and arts communities underscores Eva’s passion in finding innovative ways to experience history and culture. Eva particularly likes working with emerging professionals and small nonprofit organizations and believes in creating equitable access for learners of all ages and abilities.
Julie Michaels moved to Southfield MA from New York City in 1976 to became a reporter for The Berkshire Eagle. After four years, she moved on, becoming an editor at Aspen magazine, a founding editor of New England Monthly magazine, and —for 15 years— a magazine and Opinion editor at The Boston Globe. In 1993, she married Tyringham resident Padraic Spence, and — happily, enthusiastically — returned to the Berkshires. For the last 30 years, Julie has lived in Williamsville, a tiny hamlet of West Stockbridge, where she and her husband (who died in 2003) raised their daughter, Lily. During that time, she started her own editorial consulting business, Spence & Sanders. An avid gardener, she has written three best-selling books on floral design with local designer, Ariella Chezar. Julie was a board member and Chair of Berkshire Grown, and a founder/chair of the W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project, where she helped raise $500,000 for the statue now gracing the renovated plaza of the Great Barrington Public Library.
Maria Nation is a screenwriter with over 40 movies to her credit. A native of Malibu, she has lived on the East coast since 1984 and moved to her 1811 farmhouse in Ashley Falls in 1996. When not at her computer writing, she is outdoors gardening (her gardens have been published in many books and magazines), hanging with her dogs, horses, mini-donkeys, hiking with her partner John Halbreich, or in her kitchen baking sourdough breads and cooking for friends. She is an Advisory Board Member of the Berkshire International Film Festival and, in the past, she was a Trustee of the Berkshire Botanical Garden, on the Sheffield Planning Board, and a publicist/consultant to Berkshire Grown, Monterey Masonry, Irish Water Spaniel Club of America, etc. A committed homebody, she did ride a Berber stallion across the Sahara desert in Morocco three years ago and, with that bragging right, she never has to leave Sheffield again.
Jill Straus is the Co-Founder of Straus/Baker, a leading political strategy and fundraising firm launched in 2001. With decades of experience at the intersection of public affairs and philanthropy, Jill advises philanthropists, elected officials, and national advocacy organizations on how to maximize their influence, solve problems and drive change. Named one of Politico’s Top 50 Politicos to Watch, she is known for helping leaders translate bold vision into winning strategy—whether in the halls of Congress or across the nonprofit landscape. Beyond her professional work, Jill can be found digging into her dahlia and vegetable gardens, rolling out her yoga mat, playing mahjong, cooking up something new, or planning her next adventure with her husband, Stephen Feldman, and their beloved dog, Zeke.
Wenonah Webster is the principal and creative director of her family’s business, Webster Landscape. Before joining Webster, Wenonah had her own landscape design business in Columbia county for 15 years. Prior to focusing on landscape design she spent 20 years working closely with first Pamela Read Hardcastle and then Ariella Chezar producing large weddings and events locally and abroad. She appeared on Martha Stewart in 2005 demonstrating how to build terrariums after Martha saw her terrariums in an installation in Hudson, NY. Wenonah returned to the area full time in 2011, making the Berkshires her permanent home to raise a family. Since moving back to Sheffield and taking over the family business she has been inspired, as a business owner, to be an active member of the community.
Brian Healey is a senior corporate attorney at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP in New York City. He has considerable experience working with nonprofits, in both legal and volunteer capacities, in Washington, DC (American Trial Lawyers Association) and New York City (NYS Trial Lawyers Association, Friends in Deed, Visual AIDS). Brian resides in Ashley Falls with his partner Lee and their two beagles, Henry and Billy. He is the President of the Ashley Falls Village Improvement Society and is a dedicated gardener, jam maker and visual artist. His photographs and artwork have been exhibited in galleries and shows in New York City and Hudson, NY. Brian is honored to be a member of the Board and looks forward to strengthening his ties to the community though Dewey Hall.
Connie Griffin, known locally for her design & vintage shop 'Griffin' formerly in Great Barrington, arrived in The Berkshires 15 years ago. Born and bred in NYC and NJ, Connie began her career as a film editor in NYC with Broadcast Arts, a traditional animation studio noted for its early work with MTV and "Pee Wee’s Playhouse" television series. Following a stint with Children’s Television workshop, Connie moved into post production which culminated in her term as Managing Director of RIOT Manhattan, specializing in commercial, music video and long-format television finishing projects such as Sex and The City. Upon moving to Great Barrington, she joined The Chamberlain Group as Special Projects Director, promoting development of their custom surgical training models in both domestic and international markets. Joining Dewey Hall is one of the first highlights of her new adventures. Connie lives with her husband Paul Giroux in South Egremont. She has a BA in English from St Michael’s College, Vermont.
Eva Grizzard is a multidisciplinary cultural heritage professional with extensive experience in public and private institutions, where she has produced exhibits, digital and print publications, workshops, and other projects. Eva has a demonstrated history of creating new archive initiatives in both nonprofit and corporate settings, primarily in New York and New England. Working with federal, military, academic, and arts communities underscores Eva’s passion in finding innovative ways to experience history and culture. Eva particularly likes working with emerging professionals and small nonprofit organizations and believes in creating equitable access for learners of all ages and abilities.
Evelyn Battaglia is a journalist with over two decades of experience in lifestyle publishing, notably as an editor at Martha Stewart Omnimedia, where she contributed to various magazines and helped produce many bestselling books. Since leaving the company in 2015 to move to the Berkshires full-time, she has curated four additional books for Martha and published by Harper Collins—including The Martha Manual: How to do (Almost) Everything, Martha Stewart's Organizing, and Martha Stewart's Gardening Handbook (due out March 2025). Among other freelance roles, Evelyn is a Special Projects Editor for The Berkshire Edge's Business Monday section and Out & About Magazine. Previous experience includes practicing copyright law in NYC and serving as a congressional communications/fundraising coordinator in Washington, D.C. An avid home gardener and cook (and co-author of Home Sausage Making by Storey Publishing), she also relishes taking daily hikes with her energetic German Shorthaired Pointer.
Guian Heintzen retired to the Berkshires full time in 2024 after a 36-year banking career with Citigroup’s corporate bank, where he was a Managing Director. He spent most of his career in risk management, covering a number of areas including climate risk, structured financial products, and private equity & venture capital investments. Prior to Citigroup, he worked for the International Rescue Committee and Save the Children Federation. His wife, Donna, is a native of Housatonic so he has been enjoying the Berkshires weekends and summers for 40 years. Guian lives in Canaan, NY with Donna, two dogs, and about 60,000 honey bees.
Jared Carroll is a social worker, consultant, and educator with nearly twenty years of experience across the nonprofit, education, and mental health fields. As a Senior Consultant at Community Resource Exchange (CRE), he partners with organizations to strengthen leadership, strategy, and systems—helping practitioners, leaders, and communities envision the supports they need to thrive. Jared also leads CRE’s exploration of generative AI and its potential to advance equity and impact in the nonprofit sector. Before joining CRE, Jared worked in youth development and therapeutic recreation at the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and the international humanitarian organization Right To Play, before founding Play At The Core, a consulting practice that helps organizations harness play as a catalyst for healing and change. A New York City transplant now happily rooted in Ashley Falls, Jared lives with his wife, Maggie, and their four daughters. When not working, you can find him gardening, playing in the backyard with his girls, or giving his English bulldogs their weekly bath (a ritual Maggie insists keeps everyone happier).
Jill Straus is the Co-Founder of Straus/Baker, a leading political strategy and fundraising firm launched in 2001. With decades of experience at the intersection of public affairs and philanthropy, Jill advises philanthropists, elected officials, and national advocacy organizations on how to maximize their influence, solve problems and drive change. Named one of Politico’s Top 50 Politicos to Watch, she is known for helping leaders translate bold vision into winning strategy—whether in the halls of Congress or across the nonprofit landscape. Beyond her professional work, Jill can be found digging into her dahlia and vegetable gardens, rolling out her yoga mat, playing mahjong, cooking up something new, or planning her next adventure with her husband, Stephen Feldman, and their beloved dog, Zeke.
Julie Michaels moved to Southfield MA from New York City in 1976 to became a reporter for The Berkshire Eagle. After four years, she moved on, becoming an editor at Aspen magazine, a founding editor of New England Monthly magazine, and —for 15 years— a magazine and Opinion editor at The Boston Globe. In 1993, she married Tyringham resident Padraic Spence, and — happily, enthusiastically — returned to the Berkshires. For the last 30 years, Julie has lived in Williamsville, a tiny hamlet of West Stockbridge, where she and her husband (who died in 2003) raised their daughter, Lily. During that time, she started her own editorial consulting business, Spence & Sanders. An avid gardener, she has written three best-selling books on floral design with local designer, Ariella Chezar. Julie was a board member and Chair of Berkshire Grown, and a founder/chair of the W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project, where she helped raise $500,000 for the statue now gracing the renovated plaza of the Great Barrington Public Library.
Maria Nation is a screenwriter with over 40 movies to her credit. A native of Malibu, she has lived on the East coast since 1984 and moved to her 1811 farmhouse in Ashley Falls in 1996. When not at her computer writing, she is outdoors gardening (her gardens have been published in many books and magazines), hanging with her dogs, horses, mini-donkeys, hiking with her partner John Halbreich, or in her kitchen baking sourdough breads and cooking for friends. She is an Advisory Board Member of the Berkshire International Film Festival and, in the past, she was a Trustee of the Berkshire Botanical Garden, on the Sheffield Planning Board, and a publicist/consultant to Berkshire Grown, Monterey Masonry, Irish Water Spaniel Club of America, etc. A committed homebody, she did ride a Berber stallion across the Sahara desert in Morocco three years ago and, with that bragging right, she never has to leave Sheffield again.
Maura O’Malley is the CEO Emeritus of Lifetime Arts, Inc., a national arts service organization, she co-founded in 2008 to advance creative aging - an approach to programming that supports positive aging with the arts at the core. Recognized as a thought leader in the arts and aging ecosystem, she has been named an AARP Purpose Prize Fellow, an NYU Alumni Changemaker, and an Influencer in Aging by PBS Next Avenue. Since 2010 Maura has shared a family home and garden in Sheffield with her extended family. (Photo Credit AARP)
Wenonah Webster is the principal and creative director of her family’s business, Webster Landscape. Before joining Webster, Wenonah had her own landscape design business in Columbia county for 15 years. Prior to focusing on landscape design she spent 20 years working closely with first Pamela Read Hardcastle and then Ariella Chezar producing large weddings and events locally and abroad. She appeared on Martha Stewart in 2005 demonstrating how to build terrariums after Martha saw her terrariums in an installation in Hudson, NY. Wenonah returned to the area full time in 2011, making the Berkshires her permanent home to raise a family. Since moving back to Sheffield and taking over the family business she has been inspired, as a business owner, to be an active member of the community.
