ABOUT US
Meet our team
whose work allows us to advance our mission.
STAFF & Interns
Lisa Scails
Executive Director
Lisa joined the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut in 2007 with a background in civil rights, social service, and as a small business entrepreneur. Scails serves as a member of the Private Sector Council for Americans for the Arts; a member of the Western Connecticut Economic Develop District Advisory group; and an active partner with the CT Office of the Arts.
Atalaya León Murphy
Communications Intern
I am particularly interested in using my background in art and design in collaboration with my interpersonal skills to increase public engagement with community art spaces. I am eager to gain practical experience through this internship with the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut. When I am not working, I enjoy cooking, exploring the city of Chicago, and spending time with my cat Beso!
Lucas Lazarre
Marketing Intern
I am an artist. Informed by nearly a decade of design experience within the fields of fashion, education, entertainment, technology, and agriculture, I decided to collaborate with the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut because I know the value of artisans and craftsmanship.
VOLUNTEERS
Barbara Cirella
Web Content
Barbara is our news content guru. She keeps up with all the news to share on our website. We’re very lucky to have her!
Lisa D'Amico
Curator
Fifteen years as a curator, Lisa helps us with online art exhibitions we present, throughout the year and much more!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our Board of Directors are our behind-the-scene Gurus. Expertise, committee work, ambassadors, and fundraising, all while working tirelessly to adopt sound, ethical governance.
Lew Wallace
Chairman
Lew is the founder of the Cultural Alliance and continues to lead us today. He is a Director with CommonFund, an investment management firm in Wilton.
Dawn Kaam
Vice Chairman
Dawn is a real estate agent but dance and horticulture, especially orchids 😉 are her creative passions. Dawn is a Realtor for William Pitt Sotheby’s.
Paul Steinmetz
Secretary
Paul is the Special Assistant to the President at Western Connecticut State University. He helps us with grants, events, and PR for the Alliance.
Paula Woodhouse
Treasurer
Paula’s financial expertise expands our resources to help creative entreprenurs and nonprofits. Paula is a Commercial Portfolio Manager with Bankwell Bank of New Canaan.
Dennis Daugherty
Board of Director
Dennis is a retired business executive and the former Chairman of the Western CT Chapter of SCORE. He serves in many capacities for CA.
Andrea Gartner
Board of Director
Andrea is the Executive Director for Norwalk River Valley Trail. She is passionate about revitalizing Danbury’s urban core to create a cultural, artistic, and prosperous place.
Vicki Taylor-Bloch
Board of Director
Vicki is not only an interior design genius, but she also brings over 17 years as a supporter and community activist of local non-profit organizations. Vicki is a strategist and knows how to get things done!
Susan (Suze) Shaner
Board of Director
Suze serves as a Global Leadership, Organization Development and Learning Expert who supports people and equips organizations to be healthy, robust and resilient in uncertain times.
Makayla Hill
Board of Director
Mikayla Hill is a reading instructor at Jericho Partnership in Danbury, CT, and is a bookseller at Barnes and Noble. She has previous educational experience tutoring students from elementary to college, teaching them how to write and express their creativity.