Arts & Entertainment

ArtsWestchester Names New President of Board of Trustees

In addition to a new board president, ArtsWestchester also recently announced four new board members.

Froma Benerofe of Purchase has been named the new president of the ArtWestchester Board of Trustees, replacing former president Jacqueline Walker who is relinquishing her role after two years.

Walker will continue with ArtsWestchester as a board member, according to the group.

Benerofe has a private clinical social work practice and has served on the board for six years. She has also served on the boards of the Steffi Nossen Dance in Education Fund and the Parsons School of Dance. 

In addition to Benerofe, the group also announced the naming of four new board members, Maria Ferreira, Thomas Manisero, Paola Morsiani and Catherine Parker.

Below is the announcement from ArtsWestchester:

After two years of service, Jacqueline Walker has relinquished her role as President of the ArtsWestchester Board of Trustees. Walker, an active supporter of the arts throughout her life, has shared with the arts community of Westchester, her artistic knowledge and appreciation, as well as her generosity – and ArtsWestchester has benefitted greatly from that dedication. Though no longer president, she will continue her involvement with the organization as a board member and as Immediate Past President. Replacing her and assuming her responsibilities in the coming year will be former Executive Vice President Froma Benerofe, also an avid supporter of the arts.

Benerofe, whose private practice in clinical social work has helped countless individuals throughout the county, currently resides in Purchase. No stranger to the arts, she has served on the boards of the Steffi Nossen Dance in Education Fund and the Parsons School of Dance. Additionally, she has served on the Board of ArtsWestchester for six years, two of them as Executive Vice President, and as chair of the grants committee for five years . Benerofe received a Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College in 1963, a Master’s in Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work, and certification in interpersonal trauma from Fordham University in 1998.

ArtsWestchester’s Board of Trustees consists of members from a variety of backgrounds and skill sets. Four of this year’s additional appointments are listed below.

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Maria Ferreira - Maria Ferreira is the Suburban New York and Connecticut Community Banking area president for Wells Fargo, the fourth largest U.S. bank. In this role she provides executive leadership for retail and business banking operations, which includes 41 retail banking stores and 394 employees. She is also a senior vice president for the company. A Yonkers native, Maria served as Private Banking Leader, Retail Bank Director and, most recently, Area President for Central New Jersey where she managed 43 retail stores and oversaw $6 billion in deposits and loans. She is an active member in the White Plains community, and ArtsWestchester welcomes her to its board.

Thomas Manisero - A commercial litigator by training, Tom Manisero has handled a wide variety of contractual and business disputes during his 30-year career. He is a partner at Wilson Elser and is a member of its Executive Committee. Manisero provides general counsel services to numerous accounting firms and is spearheading a collaborative approach to client service that will enhance the firm’s ability to meet clients’ needs in all areas. He takes a personal interest in his clients, spending time with them to learn about their businesses and understand their legal issues, drawing on his knowledge to provide practical solutions to achieve the best possible outcomes. Additionally, Manisero serves as outside general counsel for one of the world’s top 10 accounting networks. He will be a most welcome addition to the ArtsWestchester board.

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Paola Morsiani - During the course of her career, Ms. Morsiani has interested audiences in contemporary art by engaging them in exciting ways with the emerging artists of our time. Recently named director of the Neuberger Museum of Art of Purchase College, Morsiani now oversees an institution that has achieved international stature for its outstanding collection of modern, contemporary and African art. A native of Venice, Italy, her experience includes fundraising, grant writing, and educational outreach and marketing for local, national, and international art audiences. Her expertise will be invaluable to the ArtsWestchester board.

Catherine Parker - After serving as Rye City Council Member since 2007, Catherine Parker was elected to the Westchester County Legislature in November 2013, to represent the constituents of the 7th Legislative District (Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Rye, Part of Harrison and Part of New Rochelle). Whether as a volunteer, elected official or business owner, Catherine has worked hard to make her community a better place for all residents. Catherine is a fourth-generation Westchester resident and considers herself extraordinarily blessed to live in Westchester with her husband David Walker and her two children, Julia and Aidan. We welcome Ms. Parker to the ArtsWestchester board. 


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