Board of Directors

Linda T. Hubbard is the President and Co-Founder of the Sherman Artists Association, bringing decades of executive leadership, community advocacy, and artistic expertise to the organization. She earned a B.A. in Mathematics from Bates College and completed a 31-year career at IBM, serving in senior software development, marketing, and finance management roles, including Corporate Director of Programming. Following her corporate career, Linda co-owned RiverWinds Gallery in Beacon, NY for 16 years, served four years as President of the BeaconArts Association, and chaired Art Along the Hudson for a decade. Recognized with the Dutchess County Executive’s 2009 Special Citation and the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut’s 2026 Heart of the Arts Award, Linda continues her commitment to regional arts growth as Vice Chair of the Sherman Commission for the Arts and as Art Curator for the Sherman Library.

Charlene Rocanelli-Leichter serves as SAA Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, bringing a 35-year career in Information Technology, financial precision, and organizational management to the board. She holds a B.A. in Economics from Stony Brook University and an A.S. in Accounting from Nassau Community College. Throughout her professional career, Charlene specialized in complex IT infrastructure and database management, most recently serving as Oracle Database Administrator at Southern Connecticut State University. Following her retirement from higher education technology, she has redirected her expertise toward community development. At SAA, Charlene leverages her extensive background in data analytics, finance, and system operations to strengthen organizational infrastructure, streamline administrative workflows, and maintain robust financial governance.

Bethe Bogues, Secretary of the Sherman Artists Association, holds a BA in Business and is a corporate communications and human resources leader with over four decades of experience driving enterprise-level initiatives across major pharmaceutical corporations. In her most recent executive role, she served as Chief of Staff to the U.S. CIO at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, where she was a key member of the U.S. IT management team and directed multi-million-dollar technology implementation projects. Her career highlights include leading large-scale cross-functional projects across domestic and international operations. Bethe’s deep background in organizational leadership, strategic communication, and change management provides crucial guidance for SAA’s strategic planning and long-term community outreach goals.

Jeff Ginsburg serves as Founding Treasurer of the Sherman Artists Association. He holds a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University and an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Washington University, where he led the development of a pioneering, clinically viable diagnostic device. His career spans corporate IT management at Morgan Stanley and Research & Development leadership at Hewlett Packard, as well as tech entrepreneurship—leading a development team for early paperless office systems for a firm eventually acquired by IBM. A current real estate professional and long-time photographer, writer, and arts advocate, Jeff previously created and hosted the Manhattan Cable series Meet the Artists. He served as Treasurer for multiple local non-profits. His multi-disciplinary background in business operations, technology, and financial governance supports SAA’s fiscal growth and facility development goals.

Christy Bonaiuto serves as a Member at Large on the SAA Board, contributing a strong background in public relations, marketing, graphic design, and organizational administration. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations. Dedicated to expanding local cultural access, she currently serves as Chair of the Sherman Commission for the Arts and as Director of Communications for Gallery 25, where she drives brand identity, promotional campaigns, member communications, and community engagement. Christy leverages her business acumen and creative communication skills to help advance SAA’s vision for a dedicated community art space.

Eva DeFranco brings four decades of legal leadership, executive management, and non-profit governance experience to the SAA Board. She practiced law for 40 years at Collins, Hannafin, P.C., serving on the executive committee for over two decades. A recognized pioneer in alternative dispute resolution, Eva served as Past President of the Danbury Bar Association and Past President of the Connecticut Council for Non-Adversarial Divorce, receiving its Howard Krieger Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions. In addition to her legal accomplishments and extensive non-profit board service, Eva is an active ceramic artist. She currently teaches wheel throwing at the Brookfield Craft Center, actively contributing to regional arts education and organizational growth.

Tony Gomez is a photographer and woodworker who has lived in Sherman for the last 30 years. He brings five decades of executive leadership, engineering oversight, and business development experience to the SAA Board. Following an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army in 1972, Tony built a distinguished 51-year career in the dairy manufacturing sector. He rose from draftsman to General Manager at Baltic Conveyor Corporation before directing international sales across the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico for Connell Exports. He spent 33 years at Dairy Conveyor Corporation, ultimately becoming Vice President of Engineering and Sales and a corporate part-owner. During his tenure, he oversaw three manufacturing facilities, managed 140 employees, and tripled company revenues. Tony’s extensive expertise in facility management, commercial operations, and project growth supports SAA’s art center development initiatives.

Kenny Litwack offers a unique combination of artistic mastery and extensive public service to the SAA Board. An accomplished glass artist specializing in kiln-fused abstract landscapes and portraits, his work has been exhibited at the New Britain Museum of American Art, UrbanGlass, and the Kent Artist Association, earning multiple juried exhibition awards. Prior to focusing on fine art, Kenny had a distinguished career in law and government service. He served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Bronx, Counsel to the New York City Sheriff, Director of the Marshals Bureau, and Inspector General for a NYC agency before founding the law firm Litwack & Cherrick in 1987. His dual perspective as a practicing artist and legal professional enhances SAA’s advocacy and organizational planning.

John O’Donnell brings specialized expertise in non-profit strategy, institutional fundraising, and fine art publishing to the SAA Board. For a decade as a consultant with the Harvard Business School Club of New York Community Partners, he advised leading cultural and educational institutions—including the Montclair Art Museum, ArtTable, Music & Memory, Penumbra Foundation, and the NY Public Library for the Performing Arts—on capital budgeting, organizational structure, and fundraising strategy. John currently serves as Managing Director of Atelier VGI, a Manhattan-based publisher of fine art photography books, and sits on the board of Harvard Alumni for Free Speech. His deep background in non-profit consulting and cultural operations is invaluable as SAA advances its art center campaign.