2026 Board of Directors Nominations 

Ballot Information

Salem Arts Association Board of Directors and Officers 

Officers of the Salem Arts Association Board of Directors

Term is for one year. President and Vice President may serve up to three consecutive terms.

No term limits for Treasurer and Secretary. 

President – Deborah Greel

Second one-year term as President, Board Member since 2024, member since January 2024.

Deborah Greel was the City of Salem’s first Public Art Planner and the former Executive Director of the Marblehead Arts Association. 

Now “retired”, she served on the Board of Directors of the North Shore Community Development Coalition and the Corporate Committee at the Peabody Essex Museum.  For the City of Salem, she serves on the Licensing Board and Community Preservation Committee. 

Deborah’s husband, John Wathne, is a structural engineer in historic preservation and a realist painter.   Both she and John are strong supporters of the arts and proud members of the Salem Arts Association.

Vice President – VACANT 

You may nominate yourself or someone you think would be a great VP. Nominees will be interviewed by the Board of Directors for consideration in 2026. Email nominees to the Executive Director at Patti.Baker@SalemArts.org

Treasurer – Thomas J Stilling 

First one-year term as Treasurer, appointed 2025, member since 2020.

With senior leadership roles at Forrester Research and 20th Century Fox, Thomas has driven digital transformation, led global teams, and shaped strategies for content distribution and media production. Thomas is a sought-after consultant and thought leader, and teaches at Rutgers University, where he designs courses on AI, Digital Media, and Digital Asset Management.

Previously an executive at 20th Century Fox, Thomas built a global organization overseeing digital and physical product planning and launches for film and tv projects. 

In addition to his work at 20th Century Fox, Thomas has partnered with Warner, Disney, National Geographic, and Sky Media delivering consumer experiences. He also has served as Head of Product for a NY based digital startup focused on distributing and monetizing digital content.

An active board member of the Historic Derby Street Neighborhood Association (HDSNA) in Salem, he has worked with and supported the Liberty Hill Foundation, The Trevor Project, and the Wellness Community,  among other amazing organizations, and is very excited to join the Salem Arts Association.

Secretary – Vanessa R Thompson  

Second one-year term as Secretary, Treasurer 2024, artist member since 2021.

Vanessa R Thompson is a film photographer and holds a career as a Human Resources/People Operations Professional dedicated to building and supporting a strong collaborative, inclusive company culture.

She received an MFA at the Art Institute of Boston in 2005. Since then, she has been involved in a number of collaborative gallery spaces in the Boston area and throughout New England.

 

New Board Members 

Term is for two years. Members may serve up to four consecutive terms.

 

Daniel Breslin 

First Two-Year Board Member term, Vice President 2021-22, artist member since 2018

Daniel Breslin is a Business Owner/Consultant in Education Technology. He holds a BFA from Tyler School of Art, Temple University, and works in commercial photography, graphic design, and web design. He served as SAA Exhibition Committee Member since 2019, Public Relations Chairperson 2020.

 

Francois Xavier DeCosterd 

First Two-Year Board Member term, member since 2024

François is an international award winning multi-disciplinary artist working in video, digital collage, and installation. His practice explores the quiet violence of state power and the biopolitical systems that govern bodies, health, and the environment with a focus on the impact of technological progress and capitalist excesses on our natural world.

Through a layered digital aesthetic, he investigates the presence of *forever chemicals* as both material and metaphor—symbols of how harm is embedded, sanctioned, and made invisible by structures of control.

He made the Lumen Prize Shortlist for the Moving Image Award. He has shown works at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, the Geneva International Film Festival, CyFest in St Petersburg, Beacons Festival in Skipton UK, The Boston Biennale, HUBweek Boston, the Museum of Science Boston, The MIT Museum, the Boston Convention Center, the Boston Sculptors Gallery, Installation Space gallery, Tufts University, Atlantic Works, and performed at First Night Boston, Boston CyberArts, Lynn Arts, and Pixilerations. Some of his video work was featured at the Swissnex dome for HUBweek Boston, Virtual Territories at the Geneva International Film Festival, Beacons Lumen Festival in the UK, and at Illuminus Boston. He is a member of the Soundscape Visions collective, where he has been awarded multiple grants from the Lynn Cultural Council.

François is an artist and educator with a Master’s degree in fine arts from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. He teaches photography, video, editing and post-production. When he isn’t in the studio or out exploring nature, he volunteers at Salem Arts Association as an artist member and exhibition Chair.

 

Julie Gordon 

First Two-Year Board Member term, appointed Summer 2025

Julie Gordon is a multidisciplinary artist with more than 30 years of experience in painting, ceramics, photography, and more. Inspired by daily therapeutic walks on the beach with her dog in her small coastal Massachusetts hometown, Julie began drawing inspiration from the sea; a shard of sea glass glimmering in the sunlight; the elegant lines of a single piece of seaweed sprawled on a canvas of wet sand; the brilliant reflection of the morning sunrise on flat, calm, blue water.

 

Incumbent Board Members 

Term is for two years. Members may serve up to four consecutive terms.

 

Timothy J Brown  

Fourth two-year Board Member term. Board Member since 2019, member since 2019.

Tim’s passion has always been assisting people to succeed. Currently, Tim is the Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer at Northeast Arc, where he is part of a dynamic team that helps positively change the lives of 15,000 people with disabilities.

Tim’s tenure at the Northeast Arc spans over 30 years. Projects have include the development of ArcWorks Community Art Center, Breaking Grounds Café, Peabody’s Black Box and revitalization of 28,000 square feet of mall space. Tim created parcels, a retail store supporting artists/entrepreneurs with disabilities and autism from around the globe. Tim developed and implements the annual Arc Tank, an international social innovation challenge that has awarded over $1million dollars.

Tim also serves on the Executive Committee for the Peabody Cultural Collaborative, Executive Committee for North Shore Children’s Museum and President of the Friends of the North Shore Children’s Museum. Tim also serves on Peabody Main Streets Promotions Committee, MA Innovative Task Force and the Massachusetts Partnership for Transition to Employment. Tim is on the Advisory Board for the Behind You, Salem and Center for Public Representation’s Supported Decision-Making Advisory Council. Tim is involved in local and regional chambers of commerce. 

Tim frequently presents in regional, state and national conferences on topics including system change, collaboration and partnerships. An innovator and change leader, Tim has judged social innovation challenges for MassChallenge, the Social Innovation Forum, Remarkable and EforAll. Tim co-leads hack-a-thons at Suffolk University. Tim was awarded the 2022 Program Innovation Award by the National Council of Executives. 

Tim accredits his success to a critical and analytical thought process, developing strong collaborations and partnerships and always willing to roll up his sleeve and be a part of the solution.

 

Mid-Term Board Members

No vote needed during current two-year term. Members may serve up to four consecutive terms.

 

Stacia Cooper 

First Two-Year Board Member term, member since 2024

Stacia has served as Assistant Director of Destination Salem since 2008 and offers Dynamic Operations and Administrative Leadership in tourism. Stacia specializes in optimizing operations, driving community-focused strategies, and cultivating impactful partnerships to support organizational goals.  

Evan Dooley 

Second Two-Year Board Member term, member since 2022

Evan Dooley is the consultant, paralegal, manager, and creative visionary who serves as Founder and Principal at Dooley Paralegal & Consulting. For almost 20 years he has served as a consultant for businesses, law firms, attorneys, creative individuals, and talent – bringing his broad experience for the strategic direction and execution of business, legal and creative projects. 

In addition to his legal expertise he has been at the forefront of political campaign management as well as at the inception of innovative products and services – most recently being a partner developing an IoT device. Prior to founding DPC he worked in marketing for Sony Music Entertainment and in public relations and local/national marketing for one of the world’s top promoters and live entertainment corporations. He later became that corporation’s National Venue Sales Coordinator, assisting in venue sponsorships and co-branding efforts for over 100 live entertainment venues nationwide. 

Today, he continues to consult with businesses and creative individuals on general business, talent management, strategy, marketing, and development and his personal business designing lifestyle clothing and home decor.

 

Erin Survilas  

First One-Year term, Student Board Member 2023-25, artist member since 2018.

Erin Survilas is an award-winning artist and graduate of Monserrat College of Art.  A beloved member of the community Ms. Survilas joined Salem Arts Association when still in high school.  She is familiar with both the organization and the needs of younger artists.  Although grounded in classical painting traditions her art work looks to the future and expresses her unique point of view.