Scott Reed, President
Scott joined the Tri-County Arts Council Board in February 2021 and plays an active role on the Council’s Finance Committee. He was a shareholder with the CPA firm Buffamante Whipple Buttafaro PC in Olean, New York where he worked for 40 years up until his retirement at the end of 2020. He is a 1980 graduate of St. Bonaventure University and resides in Allegany with his wife Mary Jo. In addition to his involvement with the business side of the Council, Scott enjoys an appreciation for the talents and work of the region’s artists and local arts programming.
Julie Hamilton, Vice President
Julie Hamilton felt honored when asked to join the Tri-County Arts Council board as she is an enthusiastic lifelong supporter of all forms and expressions of art. Recently retired, Julie is eager to share her time, finance, and marketing business experience to promote the mission of TCAC. After graduating from Ohio Wesleyan University, with a degree in Economics and Marketing, Julie split her time between raising a family and carving out a career in financial services and manufacturing industries. Prior to retirement, she held credit analyst and market specialist positions with a large multinational aluminum producer, for the past 15 years. Julie lives in Ellicottville with her husband, Blair, where they are passionate about skiing, mountain biking and just being outdoors. This is what drew them to the area full-time from Ohio several years ago. Julie and Blair have three grown children, seven grandchildren and a rescue dog and cat. In retirement Julie plans to renew her interests in knitting, sewing, cooking, and puzzling. Additionally, she is eager to be part of the dynamic dedicated TCAC board actively promoting arts appreciation across the Southern Tier.
Jason Dilworth, Director
Jason Dilworth is an Associate Professor of Graphic Design at the State University of New York at Fredonia. Dilworth has a BFA in Visual Communication from Weber State University, Ogden, Utah, and a MFA in Graphic Design from Virginia Commonwealth, Richmond, Virginia. His research and practice orbit around ecoliteracy, cartography, and storytelling. He is a co-founder of Designers & Forests, a project focusing on helping designers and communities respond to the adverse effects of climate change.
Betsy Matz, Treasurer
An Olean resident, Betsy Matz recently retired from her position as an Professor Emeritus of Accounting at the University of Pittsburgh, Bradford, where she taught accounting for 26 years. She grew up in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado, graduated from Lawrence University in Wisconsin, and lived in Minneapolis nine years before coming to Allegany in 1981. Now that she is retired, Betsy has more time to enjoy her pastimes of basketry and needlework. She started knitting and embroidering as a little girl. In college she expanded to weaving and wove her first basket in 1983. Betsy does all types of needlework: canvas, hardanger embroidery, cutwork, and pulled thread. Betsy has always supported the arts where she lived and worked. She was one of the founding members of Bradford Little Theatre in Bradford, and for over 30 years has served with other organizations that have brought or supported art of one genre or another in the region. At the Arts Council Betsy says, “I wanted to do what I can to support the arts community in the region. When I was asked to join, I thought it was a great opportunity to give some of my time - which I have a lot more of since my retirement - to do that.”
Jan Comstock, Director
Jan Comstock has been a steadfast advocate for both community and the arts throughout her life. In 1993, her family founded Comstock Hospice, which has since evolved into HomeCare & Hospice, providing essential support to community members. Jan is enthusiastic about joining the board and is committed to advancing the growth of the arts in the region.
Eric Van Druff, Director
Eric is a lifelong resident of the Southern Tier - born and raised in Cuba NY, living for many years in Olean NY, and recently returning to his hometown. Eric has been involved for many years in the performing arts community as an actor, director, conductor, vocal director, musician, and technician, as well as performing with a number of local professional musical groups. He has worked with many of the community theatrical groups in the area, including Olean Community Theatre, Olean Theatre Workshop, Bradford (PA) Little Theatre, and the Palmer Opera House in Cuba Eric has also performed with the Seneca Junction Barbershop Chorus (Salamanca/Ellicottville) and the Southern Tier Symphony, and has shared his technical and musical expertise to Allegany-Limestone Central School District and Dance Arts (Olean NY). For his “day job”, Eric is employed as a Solutions Consultant for Therapy Brands, Inc., based in Birmingham AL. Eric hopes that his broad experience in the arts will assist the Arts Council in providing guidance and support to this particular segment of the arts community, as well as all artists that create and provide joy and comfort to our local communities.
Betsy G. Gingerich, Director
Betsy is relatively new to the Olean, NY community moving here in June of 2022 with her husband who is serving as the President of St. Bonaventure University. She has 29 years of higher education experience, mostly in admissions, financial aid, enrollment management,
academic affairs, and president’s office management. Betsy earned her MBA in Non-Profit Management from Alvernia University and her BA in Speech Communication from Shippensburg University (PA).
Clayton Silvernail, Director
Clayton Silvernail is an attorney with his own practice in Ellicottville focusing on real estate law and wills, trusts and estate planning matters. Clayton also holds a master’s degree in urban planning from the University at Buffalo and worked as a planner in both public and private sectors in Houston, Texas before attending law school and returning to WNY. Clayton feels fortunate to live and work in Cattaraugus County and to have both of his children graduate from
Ellicottville Central School (ECS). Clayton has always believed in giving back to the community and his volunteer activities have included being a Boy Scout leader, a coach in the “Odessey of the Mind” academic competition at ECS, a strategic planning committee member (also with ECS), and as a ski Safety Patrol member with Holiday Valley resort. Clayton is honored to be selected as a TCAC board member and will keep paying it forward by contributing
to the local arts community.