[email protected]

Stephanie Scherpf
Co-Director / CEO
Stephanie is motivated by a mission-driven passion for the arts and social impact. Stephanie co-founded the Haitian dance organization Jean Appolon Expressions in 2011 and served as Executive Director for the organization’s first five years. She has held senior leadership positions as Managing Director of El Sistema USA at New England Conservatory and Project Director for Quincy Jones Musiq Consortium. In Maputo, Mozambique,  she was the Founder & Project Manager of a grassroots project called “Dance for Life,” done in partnership with a Mozambican dance company and funded by foreign embassies and corporations. She served as the Director of Outreach & Education at Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB) in Seattle, WA. Having received a B.A. in English Literature at the University of Virginia and an M.A. in English Literature at the University of Washington, Stephanie has written about arts and culture for a wide variety of U.S. and foreign publications, and speaks French, Portuguese and Spanish. She has worked internationally in Haiti, Mozambique and Venezuela.

[email protected]

Jess White
Co-Director / COO
Jess White brings over twenty-five years of experience in Arts Management ranging from Venue Management to Concert Production and Touring.  Most recently, Jess has been the Department Chair for the Entertainment Management program at Bay State College where she built a student run events space, a college radio station and created an industry-acclaimed educational curriculum preparing hundreds of students for careers in entertainment management.  Jess has been involved in non-profit capital improvement projects with Central Park SummerStage and the City of New York, has toured with international touring artists, and has been active in producing benefit concerts and raising awareness to many social justice causes.  Additionally, Jess has produced four albums and enjoys playing drums.

Hathalee Higgs, President
Hathalee has lived in Somerville for 15 years and is a passionate arts advocate. She’s a founding partner of consulting and education services group Hunter Higgs, LLC, and has 20 years experience working with nonprofit cultural organizations in Massachusetts and Vermont.  She served as Development Director of MAASH (MA Advocates for the Arts, Sciences & Humanities) and Producing Director of Kingdom County Productions, an independent film production company and nonprofit media arts organization in Northern Vermont. Hathalee earned a Masters in Arts Administration from Boston University and a B.A. in History from the University of Virginia.

Neil Berman, Treasurer
Neil graduated from U. Mass-Amherst in 1977.  During college Neil and his father opened and ran a used bookstore called The Book Collector, located in Wellesley and Newton.  Neil went to Western New England Law School graduating in 1994. After passing the bar, Neil opened Common Sense Legal Counseling in Somerville.  Neil has worked to provide the personal service of a small-town law office. Neil was on the Board of Directors of the National Lawyers Guild – Massachusetts chapter from 2001 – 2012 and was the Chair of the Board from 2008 – 2012.  Neil is currently a member of the NLG Military Law Task Force. Neil intends to retire to the Azores. He enjoys reading, watching movies, visiting museums, skiing, bicycling, hiking and camping.

Ruth Faris, Clerk
Ruth is a clinical social worker with a background in human resources. She has been a longtime Somerville resident and enjoys being a close neighbor to the Armory. She also volunteers time with the Somerville Library Foundation and the Center for Arabic Culture.

Ivan Abarca
Ivan has been a proud resident of Somerville since 2012. He has a PhD in Sociology, Anthropology, and Linguistics and is currently the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) for Somerville Youth Soccer (SYS). Ivan also works with other local non-profits and community organizations and is a coordinator of Padres Latinos of Somerville Public Schools (SPS). He studied, taught, and did research in Mexico, France, Egypt, Israel, and the United States for over two decades and has worked in diplomacy as well. Ivan also has extensive experience in the world of art and museums doing research, interpretation, and as a volunteer at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Amanda Klein
Amanda has spent the last 15 years in nonprofit administration and consulting. Her work has spanned many fields, from academia to museums and theatre companies. She currently serves as the administrator of the Philanthropy Connection, a Massachusetts-based collective giving organization focused on women in philanthropy. Amanda is a graduate of Boston University’s Arts Administration program and has an undergraduate degree in theatre. A tireless philanthropist and a dedicated patron of the arts, she lives in Somerville with her husband and children.