Who We Are: AHA! Leadership 2012/2013
The non-profit Arts and Humanities Alliance (AHA!) of Jefferson County is managed by a volunteer Board of Directors elected for three years and led by an executive committee drawn from the Board members. Using a committee structure, the Board develops programs, plans events, promotes art and culture in the county, and distributes grants. AHA! is currently seeking applicants for the 2013/2014 leadership. Interested parties can Click here for the board of directors application.
Executive Committee
President Debbie Piscitelli is a native of Jefferson County. She attended local schools and graduated from Shepherd University in the fields of Biology and English. After working for Harpers Ferry National Park in the interpretive program for eight years, she has served the Harpers Ferry Historical Association as Executive Director for 31 years. This is a non-profit organization that supports the interpretive and educational programs of Harpers Ferry Park.
Vice-President Lois Turco of Shepherdstown is a community activist inJefferson County. Her involvement in the County includes past member of the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Shepherdstown, and the Gateway New Economy Council. She is currently a trustee on the Board of the Washington Heritage Trail for Jefferson County, a WV representative to the Canal Towns Initiative for connecting towns to the C&O Canal, and a director on the Board of the Shepherdstown Visitors Center. She is one of the founders of the Freedoms Run Marathon, now in its third year in Jefferson County, and founder of the Two Rivers Heritage Partnership. Since joining the AHA! Board of Directors, Lois has been instrumental in attaining Jefferson County’s WV state designation as a Certified Arts Community. She chairs AHA!’s Finance Committee and co-chairs the Certified Arts Community Committee.
Secretary Regina “Ginny” Freidlander Fite of Harpers Ferry is an accomplished writer, editor, poet and journalist. She has 40 years of experience in communications working in government, media, higher education and the private sector, and previously served on the Board of the Washington County Arts Council. An award-winning writer, she wrote and published I Should Be Dead by Now, a humorous self-help book on aging. Her poetry has been published in Glassworks,Apalachee Quarterly, Unicorn, Grub St. Wit and other small journals. She is a member of AHA’s Communications and Outreach Committee and Certified Arts Community Committee.
Treasurer Dana Fogle of Falling Waters is a staff accountant with Cox Hollida Price LLC. She is actively involved with the Berkeley County Humane Society and volunteers for Friends in Action of the Eastern Panhandle, Relay for Life and the American Red Cross. Dana serves on AHA!’s Finance Committee and Board Development Committee.
Board of Directors
Cynthia Fraula-Hahn is an artist, teacher and art entrepreneur and has among other efforts, served as advisor and juror for the Shenandoah Arts Council in Winchester, VA and as Executive Director of The Kurtz Cultural Center, Winchester, VA, where she was responsible for all public relations, fundraising, grant writing, and developing programs and exhibitions. She founded and was executive director of the Rear Window Gallery in Winchester. Listed in "Women in the Arts 2006" Museum of the Americas catalog, she most recently has had work installed at the National Conservation Training Center, the American Conservation Film Festival and the Epsilon Sigma Alpha Exhibition among her long list of credits.
Susan Pellish is a graduate of Seton Hill College, was the Executive Director of the United Way of Berkeley and Morgan counties from 1991 - 1996. She introduced and organized the "Day of Caring" to the Eastern Panhandle. Ms. Pellish was the Executive Director of the United Way of Jefferson County from 1996 - 2006. During her tenure, the United Way of Jefferson County won numerous national awards from United Way International for "Alexis de Tocqueville" donors, of $10,000 and above.
Brenda Morrison is the Sales Director at the Bavarian Inn from 2007 to the present. She is interested in promoting the arts in Jefferson County and the surrounding areas. A Leadership Jefferson graduate, Brenda is also a member of the Jefferson County Women's Network. She bring marketing and community outreach skills to the board.
Nicole Saunders-Meske of Harpers Ferry is an attorney who specializes in commercial and corporate law. Prior to moving to Jefferson County, she resided in Florida, where she was Executive Director for the Miami Council for International Visitors. Nicole has served as adjunct faculty at Blue Ridge Community & Technical College. She is a member of AHA!’s Board Development Committee.
Bradley J. Wiles is the University Archivist for American Public University System. He holds advance degrees in History and Library and Information Studies. In addition to his work at APUS, he consults on heritage asset management projects with public and private organizations. He is deeply involved in APUS history, heritage, and culture projects and has a number of exciting ideas about integrating the arts, heritage, and place-making events that are integral to a high quality of life in the county.
