Staff Members
Arianna Ross, Chief Executive Officer
Arianna is the Founder of Story Tapestries. A sought-after writer, performer, and educator, she is considered a leader in arts integration and storytelling. As CEO since 2010, Arianna, with the support of the Board, has developed ST into a successful non-profit that obtained status as an America’s Promise Alliance partner in 2012 and earned and has maintained “Superstar” status on GlobalGiving.org since 2014. For over 20 years Arianna has taught and performed at colleges, libraries, schools, and community centers. As part of her job, she continues to work with artists and teachers developing innovative programs and concepts. She has presented at Kennedy Center’s VSA Intersections (2019, 18, 17, 16), American Alliance For Theatre And Education (2021, 18), Turnaround Arts (2018), PG County Arts Integration Conference (2017), Anne Arundel County Arts Integration Conference (Instructor 2016, Keynote 2015), Teacher Leader Institute for NWP@WVU (2016), CETA Professional Learning Series for the Kennedy Center (2014), East TN State University (2014, 2012), National Storytelling Conference (2013), and National Association of the Educators of Young Children Conference (2012, 2010). Arianna is a recent graduate of Leadership Montgomery’s CORE class of 2021 and is an active member of the Metro Bethesda Rotary Club and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. She participated in the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County’s Racial Equity Learning Cohort and completed Nonprofit Montgomery’s REAL Inclusion and MORE training programs.
Lorienne Beals, Chief Development Officer
Lorienne has been working with ST since October 2010 and helped the organization transition to a nonprofit. She brings more than 10 years of experience in nonprofit administration prior to commencing work with Story Tapestries, and 8 years in the corporate world in finance and project management roles. In her last position at a Shared Services financial center, she supervised a team of 10 as the Cash Applications Manager. She began with ST as the Booking Manager, became Program Manager, then helped develop the current Strategic Plan and as ST grew, Lorienne shifted into her current role. Ms. Beals holds three professional designations recognized in the finance industry. She brings to the role of administrator insight as an accomplished performer and educator in the US, England, Italy, Tunisia, and France, having trained at the Purchase Conservatory of Dance and the New York Institute of Dance and Education (NYIDE) and having served for many years as VP of Operations for NYIDE and Associate Director of Kaleidoscope Dance Theatre.
Kellie Butsack, Operations Director
Kellie Butsack has been working in the non-profit sector for over 25 years. Most recently, she served an 18-year tenure with the Alzheimer’s Association as Associate Director, of Programs, providing oversight and support for program delivery, volunteer cultivation, and training throughout the tri-state region of southeastern PA, southern NJ, and the state of DE, as well as managing data analysis and reporting, strategic partnerships and grant deliverables. Prior to joining the Association, Kellie served eight years in development and programming roles with the March of Dimes Foundation, after managing corporate communications and community relations in the for-profit sector. She began her career as an advertising copywriter and freelance editorial/feature writer. She holds a B.A. in Speech Communications/Journalism with minors in Public Relations and Marketing. In her personal life, Kellie is married to her husband of 32 years, David, and they have two grown children – Noah, a University of Pittsburgh graduate living and working in Annapolis, MD, and Gracey, a Public Health graduate of Rutgers University currently completing her BSN at Drexel University.
Valerie Baugh-Schlossberg, School-Based Program Director and Teaching Artist
Valerie joins Story Tapestries from Chicago where she was an active theatre and social justice educator. She brings over 24 years of experience working with diverse populations of youth as a teaching artist-in-residence, performer, stage director, and educator. She has created and implemented various theatre courses for companies and organizations around the US; including Boise State University, Idaho Shakespeare Festival’s Drama School, Pima for Kids (Tucson), and Camp Whispering Pines (AZ). She has directed people of all ages from preschool to adult. She has a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Florida and has completed various post-baccalaureate courses in theatre pedagogy, education, and theatre for youth. She is a member of the Alpha Cohort of Anti-Racist Educators of the Arts Learning Lab (A-REALL).
Jamie Cowan, Early Childhood Program Director and Teaching Artist
Jamie Cowan brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her role as the Early Childhood Development Director at Story Tapestries. With over 20 years of experience in education, her innovative approach to education emphasizes personalized, multidimensional learning experiences that instill a love for learning and foster holistic growth and development. Jamie encourages a culture of resilience and perseverance among children, empowering them to embrace challenges and cultivate self-confidence. She champions the transformative power of literature and advocates for equitable access to quality learning experiences. Jamie has a Master of Science in Education, with a focus on Teacher Leadership from Walden University. She continues to fuel a culture of curiosity, creativity, and lifelong learning at Story Tapestries, inspiring young learners to reach their full potential. Once inspired by the work of Ken Robinson on creativity in education, Jamie now focuses on creating and supporting environments for curiosity and creativity as a means to encourage others to grow through their own learning journey.
Mavet Rosas, Community Partnerships Director
Mavet is a proud Latina, visual artist, art museum educator, programs and group coordinator, having worked in the art museum field for the past 6 years. Previously at The American Visionary Art Museum, she is excited to bring her experience in public programming and outsider art perspective to Story Tapestries. She has worked with schools, organizations, educators, and artists across Maryland striving to bridge the gap between museums and their local community with the goal to make the art world more accessible. In her free time she loves hanging out with plants and long hikes with her pup!
Muka Chisaka, Marketing & Communications Manager and Teaching Artist
Muka Chisaka is the Marketing and Communications Manager here at Story Tapestries, bringing a dynamic blend of creativity and strategic marketing expertise to her role. She advocates for the integration of art into various facets of education and community development, leveraging its transformative power to foster learning, ignite creativity, and nurture a robust sense of self. As a sexual trauma survivor and mental health advocate, Muka’s work also has a special heart focus on creating safe spaces for African Women and Children. Muka has a background in visual arts, professional modeling, and multicultural digital marketing strategy for fashion, luxury, and hospitality brands. She studied Biology at Penn State, complemented by a specialization in Marketing at the Art Institute of Washington, D.C. In addition to her professional endeavors, Muka is an avid advocate for cultural exchange and cross-cultural understanding. She enjoys exploring new artistic techniques and discovering diverse cultural experiences.
Jessica Wallach, Digital Media Documentarian, Accessibility Specialist and Teaching Artist
Jessica Wallach has created visual stories for schools, artists, non-profits, businesses, theaters, and families for over 20 years and creating social media content for good causes for 20 years. Jessica is an artisan and educator in her own right. She has been an arts educator for 15 years and a teaching Artist for Story Tapestries since the summer of 2022. She has worked with people of all ages from 2 to 88 in schools, community centers, camps, and homeless shelters. Her artwork centers around art and disability. Her goal is to reimagine space as a love letter to the body. As a photographer, content creator, and educator with cerebral palsy, her work is deeply rooted in the body, accessibility, and disability. Her current art practice includes working with bubbles, stencils, and cameras.
Board Members
TJ Wilkinson – Chair
Residential: Bethesda, MD
Work: Potomac, MD
Work Experience: Partner at Shulman, Rogers, Gandal, Pordy & Ecker, P.A., a full-service law firm with its primary office in Potomac. TJ has over a decade of experience guiding businesses, from startups to mature companies, through the legal and business issues arising in a wide variety of transactions. He has also worked with numerous organizations to obtain and maintain their 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. He has been a long-time supporter of organizations focusing on childhood education and bringing educational, athletic, and cultural opportunities to underserved families and students. In a prior life, TJ was a software engineer at a number of startup companies.
Affiliations: American Bar Association member; speaker on panels and author of articles relating to federal income tax issues; Harvard Real Estate Alumni Association
Areas of expertise: legal compliance and transaction management; 501(c)(3) compliance; technology tool evaluation and adoption
Suzanne Richard – Secretary
Residential/Work: Rockville, MD
Work Experience: Co-founder and Artistic Director of Open Circle Theatre; 4 Helen Hayes Nominations received for direction of Jesus Christ Superstar, received Montgomery County Excellence in the Arts and Humanities Community Award, 4 years as the National Endowment as the Arts’ Accessibility Specialist 30 years as a professional actor in the DC-MD-VA area; Author of chapters in Sally Bailey’s Barrier-free Theatre and the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation’s “Growing up with OI”
Affiliations: Served on the Governor’s Advisory Committees for Careers in the Arts for People with Disabilities and for Congenital and Heritable Disorders
Areas of expertise: Non-profit Arts Administrator; network in the arts community; spokesperson and advocate; accessibility specialist
Adriana Zellers – Board Member at Large
Residence: Bowie, MD
Workplace: Greenbelt, MD
Current Profession: M & T Bank Relationship Manager Business Banking
Adriana has been in the financial services industry for over 40 years starting her career in 1980 as a Bank Teller. She semi-retired from BB & T Bank in 2017 after 24 years as a Commercial Banker. After retiring, she started working with Individuals as a Financial Advisor and assisting them with Financial Planning, Investments and Insurance. She started working as a Business Banker for M & T in April of 2023 where she resumed working with Business Clients & Non-Profit Organizations. She is a member of The Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and several M&T Resource Groups: Women In Network(WIN), Immigration & Refugee, Veterans, HOLA group. She enjoys volunteering with different organizations that are serving the various local communities such as Catholic Charities Food Bank, Capital Food Bank, Women Giving Back & Leadership Montgomery. She is married and has 3 grown children and 5 grandchildren that live in the area so she sees them frequently. The interest and passion in seeing how the Arts help a child or a Senior blossom and change when they get the freedom to express themselves is what drew her to join the Story Tapestries Board.
Danielle Massey – Board Member at Large
Residence: Herndon, VA
Workplace: Tysons, VA
Experience: 15+ years of banking and finance experience, 10+ years of Healthcare and Healthcare finance experience. Skills include Executive Leadership, Partnerships, Operations, Healthcare Strategic Finance, Business Development and Community Engagement through Coaching youth sports programs
Current Profession: SVP, Global Healthcare Banking at Bank of America
Danielle is a seasoned financial leader with over a decade of experience in the healthcare industry and over fifteen years in the financial services industry. Danielle currently serves as the SVP, Senior Relationship Manager at Bank of America, where she consults with For-Profit Healthcare clients to navigate market trends and enable businesses to scale with comprehensive financial strategies. Danielle leverages her expertise in financial strategy and business development to guide executive teams through complex business transactions including partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions. She has also worked with executive teams to develop compelling investor messaging and secure funding for critical business initiatives. Danielle is an engaged leader in the healthcare community, serving in leadership capacities for several healthcare organizations and co-hosting Bank of America’s annual Healthcare IT and Digital Health Symposium. She has served as co-chair of the Executive Women in Bio group of the Capital Region chapter of Women in Bio. She is also a member of the Nashville Healthcare Council, Leadership Healthcare and participates in many mentorship programs including the Virginia Tech Alumni Mentorship Program, Merrill’s Women’s Exchange, and Bank of America’s Summer Analyst Internship Mentorship Program. Danielle is most proud of her community involvement volunteer efforts, having served as the Head Coach for both of her son’s Flag Football and Basketball teams for the past 4 years. Danielle received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech).
Kristen Callisto – Board Member at Large
Residence: Silver Spring
Workplace: Rockville
Education: Doctorate in Education Leadership; K-12 education policy from district level to federal level, particularly special education; Accessibility and inclusion advocate; Systems thinking, strategic leadership, and transformational change management with professional experience from Massachusetts to Hawai’i.
Current Work: Executive Director, MCPS Educational Foundation, Inc.
Work Experience: Kristen Wong Callisto is the Executive Director of the MCPS Educational Foundation (MCPSEF). She moved to Maryland in 2022 to work for Montgomery County Public Schools, before finding MCPSEF. Kristen is a career educator, starting as a middle school special education in Hawai’i. She has taught preschool through graduate level, working in classrooms to the state level policy in multiple states across the country. Kristen has also worked at a national nonprofit, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Kristen is deeply committed to equity and inclusion, particularly for individuals with disabilities as well as children and young adults in general. She also is passionate about history, the arts, and animals and making the corner of the world she occupies a little bit better through service and kindness. Kristen is a graduate of Dartmouth College (Bachelor of Arts; 2006); University of Hawaii-Manoa (Master’s in Special Education and Certificate in Diversity and Disabilities Studies; 2008); Harvard Graduate School of Education (Doctorate in Education Leadership; 2016); and Washington State University (Superintendent’s Program; 2020). She’s currently enrolled in Georgetown’s Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate Program.
Affiliations: Leadership Montgomery CORE (2024), League of Educators for the Asian American Progress, Women Leading Ed, National Association of Education Foundations, PEAK Grantmaking, Dartmouth and Harvard alumni groups, Special Olympics, IORG majority member and Grand Cross of Color
Areas of expertise: Accessibility and disability inclusion, K-12 education, adaptive leadership, conflict resolution, strategic development, change management
Tony Spearman-Leach – Board Member at Large
Residential: Gaithersburg, MD, Work: Bethesda, MD
Work Experience: Tony Spearman-Leach is a nationally recognized nonprofit leader and consultant featured in the January 2021 edition of the Association for Fundraising Professionals’s (AFP) “Advancing Philanthropy” magazine and in the December 2020 edition of African American Development Officers (AADO) newsletter. He also is a 2018 Leadership Montgomery CORE (Connecting Our Regions Execs) alumnus.
Tony’s service history includes the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic, the Director of Communications and Development at Montgomery Community Television, and the Chief Communications, Development, and Retail Operations Officer at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. His works have attained numerous commendations, including 2013 AFP International Conference Diversity Scholar, 2015 AFP Bridge Conference Scholar, 2017 AFP Bridge Conference presenter/lecturer, and 2015 Grant Professionals Association-GrantStation “Winning Grant Proposal Competition” honoree.
He is a highly skilled salesperson whose talents were developed at Detroit’s CBS Television Station’s Group and USA Networks. His communication and multimedia skills have also won several awards, including numerous Telly Awards and an Emmy Award-winning series of public service announcements. As the former US Senate Regional Director for Michigan’s former US Senator and former US Energy Secretary E. Spencer Abraham, Tony is skilled in advocacy and public policy.
His current community leadership service includes his service as the Supervisory Committee Chairman of Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union, US Selective Service System Local Board Member, and Josiah Henson Park & Museum Advisory Board Chairman. He currently serves as a grant reviewer for the DC Government Office of Out of School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes and the United Way National Capital Area. He is an awards judge for the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He is frequently sought out as a lecturer and workshop presenter for organizations and educational institutions such as the Universities at Shady Grove, John Carroll University, the Alliance for Community Media, and Leadership Montgomery.
Areas of expertise: Development, Transformative Leadership, Philanthropy, Marketing, Communications
Mimi Hassanein – Board Member at Large
Residential: Brinklow, MD
Work Experience: Currently serves as Senior Fellow and Liaison to the Middle Eastern Community for the Montgomery County Office of Community Partnerships; Retired Executive Director and Founder of Learning Centers Management, operator of three child care centers in Maryland; former Arabic Translator for Montgomery County Public Schools; Elected Member of the Montgomery County Democratic Committee Central Committee
Affiliations: 2011 Graduate of Leadership Montgomery; Emerge Maryland alumni and board member; Sandy Spring Museum board member; Empowered Women board member; Former Chair of the Bilingual Advisory Committee for the ESOL Division; Former Montgomery County Child Care Commission appointee; service on numerous boards and volunteer for countless civic clubs and other community organizations over the past 40 years.
Areas of expertise: collaboration and community partnerships; advocate for social justice and advisor for civic engagement
Dr. Susan Snyder – Board Member at Large (Past President)
Residential/Work: Pembroke Pines, FL
40 years in arts education (music, visual art, dance, drama) at all levels Pre K to higher education, and as an international consultant
Consultant to research projects such as the US Department of Education Ready-to-Learn and Media grants, Carnegie Hall Education, the Grammy Foundation’s Leonard Bernstein Artful Learning program
Arts integration consultant to media and industry, including Children’s Television Workshop, Disney, the Michael Cohen Group (research), Crayola Education
President of Arts Education IDEAS, LLC. Author and publisher of arts integration guides, curricula, and materials; Creator of Total Learning Digital, a multidimensional professional development platform for arts integration
Senior Author, McGraw-Hill Education: Music and You, Share the Music, Spotlight on Music, Music Studio
Areas of expertise: Advisor for arts education, arts integration, digital platform design and content, educational policy, philosophy, professional development, and curriculum design
Adam Basciano – Board Member at Large
Residential/Work: Washington, DC
Adam Basciano is a Director at Laurel Strategies, a CEO and global business advisory firm. In this role, he advises C-suite leaders on strategy across industries and also helps lead business development and community impact for the firm. Previously, he co-founded and served as Director of IPF Atid, an international network of millennial peacebuilders and thought leaders through the Israel Policy Forum. He currently also consults for nonprofits and social sector start-ups, including through the Compass DC pro bono strategic consultancy. Adam received his Master’s in Global Business Administration from the Fletcher School at Tufts University and his B.A. in International Relations from Colgate University.
Work Experience: Cross-sector partnerships; process improvement initiatives; executor and innovator with experience across public, private, and social sectors
Amanda Richardson – Board Member at Large
Residential: Falls Church, VA; Work: Fort Belvoir, VA
Work Experience: Change Agent and Strategic Change Management; Communication Strategies; Resource Allocation and Alignment
Current work: Research and Development Directorate, Defense Threat Reduction Agency and Chief of Research and Development Operations, GS-15
Lawrence Kotchek – Board Member at Large
Residential: Rockville, MD; Work: Bethesda, MD
Lawrence Kotchek has been in the printing industry in business development roles since 1986 and has been with Print 1 in Bethesda, Maryland since 2001. He has expertise in offset & digital printing, mailing, and large-format sign work. He has focused on the not-for-profit community as a way can make a more personal impact. Lawrence is a 2013 Leadership Montgomery CORE (Connecting Our Region’s Execs) alumnus. His service history includes serving on the boards of Cornerstone Montgomery (2009-12), Bethesda Chevy Chase Chapter of the Izaak Walton League (2003-5) and the BCC IWLA Legacy Trust Board (2007-10) serving as President (2009-10), Corporate Volunteer Council of Montgomery County (2014-18), Leadership Montgomery (2019-21), Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce (2005-7, 2010-13, 2021-current), Rotary International Bethesda Chevy Chase Club (2007-9, 2012-15, 2020-current).
Lawrence’s current community leadership service includes his service on the Board of Directors of the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce and co-chairing the Economic Development Committee there. He’s also Vice President and President-Elect for the Bethesda Chevy Chase Rotary Club, an active member of Rockville and Silver Spring Chambers of Commerce, Leadership Montgomery, and The Catholic Business Network of Montgomery County.
Areas of expertise: Making substantive community connections, marketing, communications
Emmyrich “Richie” Vicente – Board Member at Large
Residential/Work: Gaithersburg, MDStory Tapestries recruits experts to support the Board of Directors. These people are NOT voting members of the Board but make a commitment to provide assistance as described below.
Advisory Board
(non-voting supporters; commit to a 1-year agreement to attend at least 2 meetings/yr and Strategic Planning as well as give specific assistance as needed):
Ana Gonzalez – Past Board Member at Large
Work: Rockville, MD
Work Experience: An is currently a Senior Relationship Manager at M&T Bank with over 20 years of experience in the banking and professional services industry. Ms. Gonzalez managed a portfolio of approximately 45 million in lending and 50 million in deposits. With more than eight thousand small businesses under her portfolio, Ms. Gonzalez has a wide range of experience in lending for small business loans.
Affiliations: Ms. Gonzalez serves in the Maryland Hispanic Chamber Of Commerce, and the Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council as a board of directors. She is also an active supporter of the Salvadorian and the Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce. She is a 2021 Leadership Montgomery CORE graduate. Ms. Gonzalez is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Business Management.
Areas of expertise: banking and professional services; financial management
Faith Klareich – Past President
Residential/Work: New Market, MD
Work Experience: Founder/CEO of Sheeler Klareich Associates, LLC –a management services and solutions company. Faith has over 30 years of consulting experience in sustainability, clean energy, and environmental technologies. She has expertise in program implementation and outreach, including survey design and evaluation. Both for clients and internal corporate management, she has developed tools, techniques, and processes for enhanced performance and increased operational efficiency. She has served as COO and Chair of a joint venture board of directors overseeing the management of a $200+ million Federal contract.
Affiliations: Volunteer experience includes serving as the Chair of the City of Rockville’s Commission on the Environment for nearly ten years, earning with the Commission the Presidential Volunteer Service Award sponsored by the U.S. EPA; appointment to the Montgomery County Parent Advisory Council; and worked with Gwendolyn Coffield as a volunteer in her community school teaching English as a Second Language.
Performance experience includes Alto Member of Philomela, an Acapella Women’s Chamber Consort; Carnegie-Mellon Choir; University of Denver Graduate Chamber Choir; Georgetown Chorale; and Masterworks Choir where she had the opportunity to perform under the direction of Susan Ames, Lorin Maazel, and Elaine Rendler.
Areas of expertise: evaluation expertise; consult on financial oversight
Katrina Zimmerman – Arts in Education (Past President)
Residential: Delmar, MD; Work: Salisbury, MD
Work Experience: Nationally Board Certified Teacher in Art: 20 years experience; Art teacher at Chipman and Pemberton Elementary schools in Wicomico County, MD; Former art (PK-5th) and elementary teacher (1st-3rd) in Anne Arundel County; Arts Mentor in Creating Communities summer program the Arts Mentorship Academy from 2008-2015; active and exhibiting artist
Affiliations: Presenter Arts and Education in Maryland Schools Alliance CAFÉ; Presented MSEA Fall Conference (2016); Summer STEM PD Instructor in Anne Arundel County (2016); Assisted Arianna Ross (Keynote Speaker) at the Arts Integration Conference: Connecting the Standards with the Arts (2015), Jessup Elementary Dance Company and Art Club Coordinator (2008-2015); Participant in a Fulbright-Hays supported project abroad in Mexico (2006) and the Northern Kentucky Universities African Arts Institute (2011)
Areas of expertise: Arts integration specialist; Common Core expert; Liaison to schools
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