ABOUT US

Meet our team

whose work allows us to advance our mission.

STAFF & Interns

Lisa Scails
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
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
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

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

Lisa D'Amico

Curator

Fifteen years as a curator, Lisa helps us with online art exhibitions we present, throughout the year and much more!

Mahelet Steinmetz

Mahelet Steinmetz

Social Media Content

I’m Mahelet Steinmetz, a UConn-trained graphic designer who believes in the power of design to tell stories, spark change, and bring people together—and I’m excited to grow with a mission-driven creative community.

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

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

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

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

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.

Andrea Gartner

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.

Dennis Daugherty

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.

Vicki Taylor-Bloch

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

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

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.

Ryan Hawley

Ryan Hawley

Board of Director

Ryan Hawley is a project management professional and civic leader with a focus on community-centered design. He works in financial services by day and serves as the Impact Coordinator for Third Space Danbury, where he helps bring public art and placemaking projects to life across the city.

Scott Kemp

Scott Kemp

Board of Director

Scott Kemp is a retired C-level non-profit executive and former Fortune 50 leader with a 30-year career in consumer products, known for driving strategic growth, fostering diversity, and building impactful partnerships across sectors. As COO of CT Foodshare, he led a major food bank merger during the COVID crisis, championed inclusive programs like Farm to Neighbors, and continues to serve his community through volunteerism, advocacy, and leadership.