Our Team

Maria
Fortuna Dean

Executive Director

 

 

 

Maria comes to the Lewiston Council on the Arts with decades of experience as a performer, director, producer and educator.

Most recently, she was on the voice faculty of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) as well as the Los Angeles Opera’s Russell Thomas Youth Artist Training Academy. Previously, she was the Director of Opera and Vocal Studies at Pasadena City College, and was a member of the voice faculties of the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), Carnegie Mellon University, SUNY Fredonia and The Chautauqua Institution.

Maria has performed leading roles with San Francisco Opera, Welsh National Opera, Opéra National de Bordeaux, Seattle Opera, Dallas Opera, Washington National Opera,Teatro Massimo Bellini, New York City Opera, Hawaii Opera Theater, Austin Lyric Opera; Spoleto-USA, Opera da Camera Linz-Austria, Long Beach Opera, Dallas Opera, Florida Grand Opera.

She has appeared as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Oakland Symphony, the Sacramento Symphony, the Chautauqua Symphony, Sinfonia San Francisco, the Maui Symphony, and made her Carnegie Hall debut in Bruckner’s Te Deum with Riccardo Muti. She was featured alongside Marilyn Horne on the Live From Lincoln Center telecast of The Rossini Bicentennial Gala with Roger Norrington conducting the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, which was recorded and released on CD by Virgin Classics.

Maria was born in Niagara Falls, NY. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music and her Master of Music degree from the Curtis Institute of Music; she is an alumna of the Merola Opera Program of the San Francisco Opera, where she was also an Adler Fellow. She is honored to serve the wonderful people of our community.

Michelle Kratts

Outreach Coordinator

 

Susanne Hake

Administrative Assistant

 

 

 

 

 

Michelle Kratts is the Adult Services Librarian and local history research specialist at the Lewiston Public Library. She graduated from Niagara University with a BA in English and History and has a Masters in Library Science from the University of NY at Buffalo. She also has completed a professional learning certificate in Genealogical Studies and American Records from the University of Toronto, as well as a TEFL certificate from the University of Toronto. Michelle has worked on various research projects in the area for over twenty years--including the history of Italian Americans in Niagara Falls, local cemetery research, the Underground Railroad, women's history and veterans history. She also enjoys researching and writing about local ghost stories! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Susanne Hake grew up in Niagara Falls. She attended Medaille College and managed the 

Lewiston Hospital for twenty years. She owned and operated Ready.Sit.Pets for over fourteen years. She currently works for WNY Independent Living caring for disabled young people. Susanne currently lived in Niagara Falls with her son, Jason. She enjoys studying health and nutrition and spending time with her dogs and cats. Through the years, she has also rescued a number of senior animals. 

Chelsea Sears

President  Photographer and owner of Chelsea Modern Images

 

 

 

Chelsea is delighted to bring 20+ years of fine art photography and art entrepreneurship experience to the Lewiston Council on the Arts.   An active member of the Lewiston small business community since opening her studio in the Red Brick School 7 years ago, she prides herself on engaging with most village business owners on a first-name basis.

Chelsea is a Syracuse native.   She received a BFA with a concentration in Photography in 2000 from Buffalo State College, and has since called WNY her home.   Her work has been featured in various Buffalo arts exhibitions as well as a group BSC Photography program collection in the Albright Knox Art Gallery.  She has been published in Fine Homebuilding and Fender Bender magazines, and has been featured in the local podcast sensation "This Girl Puts Out".  In addition to her professional accomplishments, she is a community member always willing to lend a hand, and has held positions on fundraising committees for Mount St. Mary's Hospital Foundation and Stella Niagara Education Park, and proudly participates in the One District, One Book initiative each year for Lewiston Porter schools.  Chelsea's studio, Chelsea Modern Images, has been a major sponsor of the Lewiston Artisan Market since its inception in 2018, and you will find her there most weekends, camera in hand.

She is a music fan, a "Phish Chick", and supporter of the local live-music scene.  She is also a mother of 3 children, which means she, herself, is a little bit of a rock star.    The Arts have illuminated her life, and she is dedicated to spreading the joy of creativity to the community.

Irene Rykaszewski, PhD

Secretary      Professor of Psychology      Niagara University, ret. 

 

 

 

 

Irene is a retired professor of psychology at Niagara University and also one of the founding members of Lewiston Council on the Arts (LCA). She served as the Executive Director of the organization for almost 30 years. She received her doctorate in Behavioral Neuroscience from Purdue University and has always been interested in the intersection of science and art. Under her leadership and that of former Artistic Director Eva Nicklas, the LCA evolved from presenting
one event (Lewiston Art Festival) to becoming a vibrant organization with a year-round schedule of cultural programs of music, dance, poetry, speaker series, celebrations of Native American culture, CanAm Human Chess Game, Taste of Lewiston, Marble Orchard Historic Walking Tours and Ghost Walks, as well as programs for children like Bug Fest and the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. In addition, the LCA organized and ran the Opera Hall Gallery a cooperative of local artists as well as the Tuscarora & Friends Art Gallery in the Lewiston Opera Hall. Many pieces of public art were sited throughout the Town and Village of Lewiston, often accompanied by the development of pocket parks (The Peace Garden, Seneca “Bug” Park, and The Spirit of Victory at Joseph Davis Park). She has enjoyed retirement with her two grown children Jackie Reilly and James Butera and her 4 grandchildren (Anna, Mae and twins Joseph and Mia) who have moved back to raise their families in the vibrant community that the LCA
has helped to create. She has been married for 40 years to Dr. Peter Butera, Dean of Arts and Sciences at Niagara University and joins the Board of Directors to support our ED Maria Fortuna Dean, and assist with positioning the organization for continued success in to the future.

Dan Montante

Treasurer.          Finance Director    LED Linear 

 

 

 

 

Daniel Montante, CPA, MBA is a dedicated financial professional with extensive expertise in financial reporting, budgeting, and forecasting, bringing a strong understanding of regulatory compliance, GAAP standards, and tax law to the nonprofit sector. As a New York State Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Dan applies their deep financial knowledge to promote fiscal responsibility and long-term sustainability within mission-driven organizations.

Holding both a Master of Business Administration in Professional Accountancy and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Niagara University, Dan combines technical expertise with strategic leadership. Their experience overseeing finance, accounting, and HR functions allows them to align financial strategies with organizational objectives, optimize
resources, and mitigate financial risk.

A collaborative and relationship-driven leader, Dan works closely with executive teams, fellow board members, and external stakeholders to strengthen governance and support the nonprofit’s mission. Their commitment to financial stewardship and operational excellence ensures that the organization remains well-positioned for growth and impact.

A resident of Youngstown, NY, Dan lives with his wife and two sons. He is actively involved in the community and is passionate about contributing to initiatives that create a lasting, positive impact.

Paul Casseri

Superintendant Lewiston-Porter Central Schools 

 

 

Paul J. Casseri – Mr. Casseri has been an educator for 36 years. He began his career in 1987 as a social studies teacher in the Buffalo Public Schools. In 1998, he moved into the area of educational administration and, since that time, has served as a building and central office administrator. Since 2015, he has served as the Superintendent of the Lewiston-Porter Central Schools, Youngstown, NY. 

Education for global understanding and international studies has been a focus throughout his career. He co-directed a Costa Rican exchange program at South Park High School as a teacher. At Lewiston-Porter High School, where he served as Principal, he initiated an extensive international studies program. Since 2005 exchange partnerships have been established with schools in China, Japan, Argentina, France, Germany, and Turkey. The collaboration with Tianjin No 2 High School in Tianjin, China, is the longest-standing international collaboration at Lewiston-Porter. That relationship has enabled the development of a Confucius Classroom affiliated with the Confucius Institute at SUNY Buffalo in 2013. Chinese Language and culture are now being taught in grades K-12 at
Lewiston-Porter. Mr. Casseri has initiated an international student learning opportunity that actively seeks F-1 Visa students to study at Lewiston – Porter. Since the development of that program, Lewiston-Porter has commenced a joint venture with Tianjin No 2 High School and the Tianjin Association for International Education and Exchange to prepare students for their year of study through the Tianjin No. 2 International Department. Most recently, Mr. Casseri was the keynote speaker at the Conference of Developing and Administrating Chinese Language Education for New York State K-12 Schools sponsored by the Alfred University Confucius Institute.

In 2008, Mr. Casseri presented at the Tianjin Education Bureau International Forum: Innovation of Secondary Education and the Development of Schools in Tianjin, China. In 2009, he initiated, with significant collegial collaboration, the Academy of International Business and Finance at Lewiston-Porter High School, a program affiliated with the National Academy Foundation (NAF). In 2009, the Niagara University School of Education honored him as Administrator of the Year. He has also been honored by the American Association of Teachers of French Western New York Chapter for promoting the French Language and Culture. In 2017, SUNY at Buffalo- Confucius Institute honored him as the Confucius Educator of the Year. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Master of Education in Social Studies from the State University of New York College at Buffalo. He is a
doctoral candidate at Millersville University, Millersville, Pennsylvania.

 

Matthew Feldman

Partner 

Feldman Keiffer 

 

 

 

 

A partner in the law firm of Feldman Kieffer, Matthew S. Feldman principally serves health care entities and professionals. A Buffalo native, Matthew graduated from the University of Rochester with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature before attending Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, where he obtained a Master of International Affairs and a certificate from Columbia’s Middle East Institute. Matthew returned to WNY and settled in Lewiston, entering the practice of law after attending the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law.

Matthew represents private business and not-for-profit entities throughout New York State and serves as General Counsel to the New York State Podiatric Medical Association, a Board-member for the Lewiston Public Library, and trustee to Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center.  Matthew is a passionate supporter our community, arts and culture, the proud husband of a violinist, and father of 2 violinists.

Chad Fifer

President and CEO Acquarium of Niagara

 

 

Chad Fifer is a dedicated nonprofit leader and community advocate who brings a deep commitment to cultural enrichment and organizational growth to Lewiston Council on the Arts. He currently serves as President and CEO at Aquarium of Niagara, where he is guiding the organization through a period of transformational growth, including major capital expansions, strengthened community partnerships, and enhanced guest experiences. Under his leadership, the Aquarium seeks to become a leading regional destination and an engine for tourism, education, and conservation., 

 

 

Anna Fontana

Teacher at District Board School of Niagara

 

Marian Granfield

Director of Art History with Museum Studies at Niagara University

 

 

Inspired by her love of design and architecture, Anna Fontana is a realtor at Great Lakes Real Estate, on Center Street, here in Lewiston, NY. She is always amazed by the homes and buildings set in the nature-rich environment of our beautiful region. With her desire to support her community, Anna has also been teaching children for over twenty-five years. Having spent most of those years as an arts specialist teaching visual arts, drama and music, she sees how the arts play an important role in a community.

For enjoyment, Anna also studies and teaches yoga and meditation as a creative exploration of body, mind and spirit. Loving to learn and create, you can find her wherever art is happening around town as she appreciates being part of the thriving community of Lewiston. She loves participating in a variety of arts events herself, most notably known as Lady Bugg at the Children's Bug Fest. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marian Granfield has over thirty years of professional experience in the field of Visual Arts. Shejoined the Niagara University faculty of the Theatre and Fine Arts Department as a faculty fellow in 2013 and is the Director of Art History with Museum Studies. She was formerly the Curator of Education at the Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University for nine years where she also served as a lecturer for the Meet Me at the CAM series and curator of the Education Galley.  

Past experiences include, Director of the Art Department, Curator of the Singer Gallery, and Administrative Director of the Schwayder Theatre at the Robert E. Loup Jewish Community Center of Denver, CO, (now the Mizel Arts and Culture Center); Research Assistant, Interpretive Project, Denver Art Museum, Program Director at Downtown Aurora Visual Arts in Aurora, CO, and Assistant Director of Gallery NAGA (Newbury Associated Guild of Artists) in Boston, MA. She received her M.A. in Art History with Museum Studies from the University of Denver, and received a B.A. in Fine Arts from Emmanuel College in Boston, MA. Professor Granfield has taught courses in Art History at Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO, Metropolitan State University, Denver, CO, and currently teaches 14th - 19th Century Art, 19th Century Art, 20th Century Art, Women in Art, Introduction to Museum Studies, and Religion and Art at Niagara University.  She is the editor of Frammenti della Vita, the Art and Writings of Jefferson D. Rubin, and most recently a contributing writer to the publication, The Armand & Eleanor Castellani Collection: Art for the Public Eye, for which she also curated the accompanying museum-wide exhibition, Highlights: The Castellani Collection in 2015.

Gene Kulbago

Consultant, NF City School District; online class advisor, State of Pennsylvania

 

 

 

Gene Kulbago has been an educator for most of his life. He taught in the Niagara Falls City School District for 34 years, taught writing at Niagara County Community College for 8 years and also mentored Education Majors and taught writing classes at SUNY Buffalo State University for 6 years. Gene is currently a Tech Mentor, assisting teachers with technology in Niagara Falls, and reviews online courses for the Pennsylvania Department of Education. 

 

Patricia MacDonald

School teacher, retired

 

 

Patricia MacDonald grew up in Western New York and Oklahoma. After graduating high school in Westfield, NY, she attended Bowling Green State University and graduated with degrees in math and English. She met her husband at school and they had two children while living in Middleport. Pat attended the State University at Buffalo and became certified to teach both math and English, and also did bookkeeping for her husband’s business. She was widowed in 1989.