Kate Anderson, Vice President
Kate is an art consultant, educator and advisor to artists. Since 2004, Kate has been thoughtfully curating artwork programs for her clients in business, healthcare, institutional, and private settings throughout the US and beyond. Kate's career has given her in-depth awareness of the art business world and what it takes for artists to stand out and succeed. Throughout her years as an art consultant, she has participated on panels for arts organizations and conferences, attended countless portfolio reviews and open studios; she has found that her expertise and professional experience provide valuable insights to artists. With a deep passion for supporting artists and helping them flourish and share their work with the world, she offers advisory service to artists one-on-one and in group settings.

Kate has consulted and curated artwork programs for countless businesses and institutions such as The Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Law School, General Catalyst Partners, KPMG, Grant Thornton, Encore Casino, Atrius Healthcare, Reliant Medical Centers, as well as many of Boston's Luxury real estate developers and interior designers. She is a graduate of Colby-Sawyer College in 2003 with a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art.  Kate coaches girls' youth soccer and teaches youth art programs at North River Arts Society. In her free time, she continues to paint at her home in Marshfield, Massachusetts, where she lives with her husband, two young daughters, and dog George Bailey.

Phyllis Wenzel, Clerk
Phyllis and her husband, Bill, own and operate Image Resolutions in Norwell, MA, a full-service printing company which has been servicing local businesses and artists since 1991. Phyllis oversees the financial and day-to-day operations of the business. She previously held marketing and administrative positions for both Haemonetics Corporation and The Flatley Company, both located in Braintree. She has served as a member of the Board and past-Treasurer for the Norwell Chamber of Commerce, and as a Board Member for the Massachusetts Educational Foundation, which offered scholarships for women in transition. Phyllis enjoys gardening, painting and taking classes and workshops at NRAS. She holds a B.S. Degree in Business from The State University of New York.

Allison (Aly) Arnone 
Aly has spent most of her career as an educator and higher education administrator.  She has designed liberal arts, business, and vocational curriculum as well as taught classes for traditional students, vocational trades, and corporate education.  Aly has worked with many community organizations advocating for educational opportunities for non-traditional students and has been an advocate for continuing education for adults to better manage careers and overcome socioeconomic challenges.  Her career has included being an owner of two small businesses and she is currently a Senior Compliance Analyst with a west coast based financial services firm.  Aly’s appreciation for the creative arts began when she was a child and spent many memorable moments at her mom’s art studio. She is very excited to be joining North River Arts and engaging with the artist community. Marshfield has been her home since 2014.

Mike DiRado 
Mike was born in a small, hill town in Abruzzo Italy.  Mike remembers creating art throughout his childhood, but believes it became a passion during high school. Mike received his BFA from Massachusetts College of Art & Design. While at Mass Art he studied painting with George Nick, Paul Celli, Rob Moore and Richard Yarde. They, along with other professors and the many artists he has met along the way, contributed to his development as an artist. Mike moved to New York City in 1983 where he lived and worked for 10 years. While in NYC, Mike worked as a studio assistant for the artist Al Held. He also completed graduate work in Art Education at Pratt Institute. Eventually Mike, his wife and growing family returned to Massachusetts and settled in Scituate, MA. Upon his return to Massachusetts, Mike began a 29-year long teaching career. First as a teacher in Boston and then in Abington, Mike taught art K-12, but most of his career focused on middle school grades. He eventually became the Director of Art (K-12) for the Abington Public Schools until his retirement in 2020. During both Mike's career as a teacher and as a director, he has been a passionate advocate for quality, innovative art education programs in K-12 schools.  Retirement provided Mike with the gift of time, and he will use this additional time to finally explore artistic ideas that were paused as he gave attention to his family and teaching career. Mike is also looking forward to exploring new directions in his own work and remaining active in art educational advocacy groups.

Nina Steele Wellford 
Nina is enthusiastically joining the Board of North River Arts after years as a member, student, and big fan of Festival. She first experienced the joyful spirit of NRAS when she was Managing Director of Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, the regional professional orchestra formerly known as Hingham Symphony; ASO and NRAS developed three unusual collaborations pairing music with art that introduced audiences from across the South Shore to both creative organizations. In her 14 years at ASO, Nina was responsible for marketing, development, educational programming, publicity, event production, and office management, working with the Board and many volunteers to grow the orchestra into the thriving organization it is today. These days, she serves as President of Friends of Old Ship Meeting House in Hingham, where she has written tour narratives and grants for historic preservation of the 1681 Puritan Meeting House. She is an active pastel artist and member of Cohasset Open Studios, inspired by our region’s glorious natural beauty and by travels around the world.

Julia Driscoll, Executive Director
Julia grew up in Norwell, MA, and earned her B.F.A. in Design from Lesley University College of Art and Design. Following graduation, she gained valuable experience as a Graphic Designer across various industries, including advertising and commercial real estate. In 2019, Julia founded the “Wicked Women Makers Market,” a vibrant local artisan fair and marketplace. In 2020, she joined NRAS as an Office Administrator, where she has remained passionately involved ever since. Julia is a strong advocate for the local arts community and believes the South Shore Arts Community is truly unique. She enjoys spending her free time sewing, painting, and collecting vintage clothing. Julia resides in Kingston, MA with her husband, Zac, and their dogs, Millie and Clyde.