Corey Fecteau - President
Corey Fecteau lives with her family in Allegany County and works at Alfred University as the Assistant Dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Her personal involvement with the arts includes studies in visual arts and art history, and she has performed with school and community choral groups since childhood. Corey is grateful for the opportunity to support the arts regionally through her service on the Tri-County Arts Council Board. “I wholeheartedly believe in our collective responsibility to foster the arts by sustaining and encouraging the artists, artisans, musicians, and makers whose creativity enriches and uplifts our communities.”
Jason Dilworth, Vice President
Jason Dilworth is a graphic designer, artist, and educator living and working in western New York. Originally hailing from the deserts of the American West, his creative work focuses on the relationship between rural communities and wildlands. This focus has led him to develop a career that is concerned with both the physicality of place and the society responsibly of defending natural ecosystems and bioregions. Trained as a graphic designer, he believes in the power of storytelling and in the importance of learning through listening. As a design educator, he challenges students to take a systems view of the discipline and teaches students how to learn and be critically engaged citizens. Working collaboratively, he co-founded Designers & Forests in part to help communities respond to the adverse effects of climate change. Through this experience, he has gained an in-depth knowledge of forests ecosystems and the importance of sustainably managing working forests and preserving wild tracts of land for both rural and urban communities. Designers and Forests have led workshops in Utah, Iceland, New York, and Sweden and invite others to collaborate on research and practical efforts. Jason’s holds a teaching post as an associate professor at the State University of New at Fredonia. He has been a fellow for the Marion International Fellowship for the Visual and Performing Arts where he undertook a creative journey crossing the interior of North America following the proposed route of the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to a terminal in Missouri. His work has been recognized by and included in exhibitions from Iceland’s Design March to Print Magazine, and American Alliance of Museums. Photography by David Moog/Courtesy Burchfield Penney
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.”
Crystal Abers, Director
Crystal Abers is proud to be a member of the Tri-County Arts Council Board, believing as she does that “Arts - any and all - are important in everyday life.” Crystal is interested in many art forms - painting, woodworking, knitting, crochet - as well as being a Master Gardener and creating Garden Art. A lifelong resident of Olean, New York, and a graduate of the State University of New York at Fredonia, she is the Director of the Cattaraugus County Department of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism. Crystal explains her interest in supporting the arts in our region as a way to “give the opportunity of art availability to people young and old, and bring out the art in everyone.”
Debra Eck, Director
Debra Eck is a teaching artist, originally from the UK, she has made her home in WNY for almost 30 years now. In that time she has taught art history and a variety of studio classes at Jamestown Community College and SUNY Fredonia, workshops in book and paper arts all over the world, and curated for many galleries and organizations. She juggles all those things with her own studio practice. I'm delighted to bring my perspective as a working creative to the board at Tri-County Arts Council where I hope to continue to advocate for the agency of the arts to transform lives from the inside out and the bottom up.
Scott Reed, Director
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.
Hayden Haynes, Director
Hayden Haynes is from the Onöndowa’ga:’ (Seneca) Nation. Hayden indicates that his primary focus is his family. He is currently employed as the museum manager at the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum in Salamanca. He has been there since the opening of the then new, Onöhsagwë: de’ Cultural Center in 2018. His past work experiences include restaurant manager and head of customer service. Special events are a specialty for Haynes. Hayden is also an award-winning antler carver and is deeply involved in the revitalization of the ancient art form of antler and bone carving. He aims to get this culturally and historically relevant medium out to larger audiences, which he hopes will inspire others to carry on the tradition. He often teaches the techniques related to working with this challenging medium, and enjoys presenting on the education and importance of the material and art as it relates to Hodinöhsö:ni’. Hayden is also a freelance curator. And recently, he has gotten into photography. Interwoven into his professional work and his artist work, is his passion to uplift and support other artists. Hayden states, “For me, sharing knowledge, advocating for others, and helping others get into new networks is equally important and just as rewarding as creating work…” “I look forward to assisting the TCAC in any way I can to help the regions artists and the artist markets. And I am excited to be a part of the continued growth and success of the TCAC.”
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.
Brad Stevens, Director
Brad joined the Tri-County Arts Council Board in 2022. He continues a familial presence on the board after his father John was previously a member. He is an attorney who currently runs his own practice throughout the Southern Tier along with being an Assistant Public Defender in Niagara County. He is a graduate of Elmira College (2008), St. Bonaventure (2009 MBA), and Albany Law School (2013). While residing in Erie County, he is frequently in Cattaraugus County visiting family or for work. In addition to his involvement with the business side of the Council, Brad enjoys creative projects with his daughter Jaelyn and taking inspiration from the numerous talented artists in the area.
Linda Manross, Director
A resident of Allegany, Linda Manross recently retired from Intandem, formerly called The Rehabilitation Center, where she was employed for more than 34 years. During her tenure, she worked in a variety of supervisory and leadership roles, most recently as the Vice-President for Residential Services. Linda is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and works part-time for Paragon Behavioral Health, LLC. In addition, Linda is ordained through Universal Life Ministries and recently officiated her 10th wedding. She was a member of the inaugural class of Leadership Cattaraugus. Linda currently serves as a board member for The Zonta Club of Olean and is also a member of the St. Bonaventure Parish and the Pulaski Club Ladies Auxiliary. Linda has volunteered with Olean Community Theatre for many years and previously served on its board of directors. In the past, Linda volunteered with St. John’s Parish, the Ride for Roswell, and Relay for Life. Now that she is semi-retired, Linda spends more time with her 4 grandchildren, has returned to embroidery, needlepoint and reading, and is attempting to finesse her golf game. “I believe that we all have an obligation to improve the quality of life in our region and look forward to supporting and promoting the arts across the Southern Tier.”
Thomasine Felicioni Graf, Director
Thomasine is a seasoned professional in the study, exploration and practice of communication. She is an artist, educator, and practitioner of branding, marketing and relationship management. Employed at Cattaraugus Allegany BOCES, Thomasine is the Outreach Coordinator for Career and Technical Education. As an artist, Thomasine is a painter, photographer, writer, actor, and director. As a playwright, Thomasine has had her play, “Inside Himself” produced at the Midtown International Theatre Festival in NYC. She has also had her photographs exhibited in one of the first Southern Tier Biennial Art Shows. “I feel most at home when I am in the company of artists. I look forward to lending my professional experience and dedication to the arts, to further advance TCAC’s mission.”
Julie Hamilton, Director
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.
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).