Board of Directors

Our directors are devoted and experienced leaders, providing us with a superb management for today and guidance for our future.

Lynda-Lee Sheridan, President
MaryLou Maloney, Vice President
Robert C. Hanes, Vice President
Dave Cook, Treasurer
Lucille DiGravio, Secretary
Marietta Phinney, Founding Director
Ben Brenner
Eric Diamond
Karin Froom
Mary McCarthy
Phil Paquet
Daniel Ian Smith
Mike Tallon

Consultants: Bill Allan, Melissa Williams

Lynda-Lee Sheridan -- BS in Education from Lesley College 1980 MEd in Education from Lesley (College) University 1987 Teacher (special education) in Boston Public Schools 1985-present. Member in good standing of Delta Kapa Gama Coorperator of Lesely University 1990-present Moderator of East Congregational Church in MIlton 2002-present Director of Christian Education of East Congregational Church Milton 1987-2001Town Meeting Member of Town on Milton 1990- present Member of School Site Council of Milton Public Schools 1999- present Board member of RTW 1996- present Current co-pres of RTW board 2005-2006

Robert C. Hanes -- Bob Hanes has been a construction Estimator and Project Manager for more than twenty years. He has served as an officer in the American Society of Professional Estimators and has served as President and Chairman of the Board of Directors for the U.S.S. Constitution Model Shipwright Guild of New England alternately for fifteen years. Bob has been a member of the RTW Board of Directors for over five years and has worked on a number of Riverside productions as set designer as well as provided help with rigging and other stage crafts. Bob attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and Wentworth Institute. Daughter Vicki was a student at RTW for 9 years. Both Bob and his wife, Bonnie, come from families with a longstanding involvement in the performing arts.

Ben Brenner -- Ben a has been active with Riverside for over 20 years, as a performer, supporter and board member. He is a member of the West End House and oversees scholarships for the organization. Ben is chairman of the youth committee and youth groups at Temple Beth in Canton for 4 years. Elected to the New England Region of United Synagogue for 4 years. A registered representative and active for over 50 years. 

Dave Cook -- Mr. Cook was educated at MIT (1959) and Harvard Business School (AMP 1974.) For twenty years he held senior technical and management positions in industry and government related to the collection of intelligence by overhead means. He has also managed businesses engaged in laboratory medical instrumentation and in graphic arts automation using electronic imaging and digital image processing. For the past eighteen years he has maintained an independent consulting practice serving as financial consultant and business advisor to architectural and specialized engineering and construction firms. He has been active as a volunteer and as a Board member with several area organizations, including the following: Board of Directors, Harvard Business School Boston Alumni Association - Community Action Partners (CAP). CAP's mission is to identify and define management consulting projects with not-for-profit organizations in the Boston area, and to staff these projects with volunteers who are HBS alumni. CAP Board members are actively involved as leaders of the consulting teams. The organizations served are from a broad spectrum, including social service, arts, conservation, and health care organizations. Some of the clients are large, well-known institutions; others are small community-based organizations. In a typical year CAP supports about 15 projects with over 100 volunteer consultants. Board of Directors, member of Executive Committee, and Treasurer, Boston Early Music Festival, Inc. (BEMF), Boston, MA. BEMF produces a biennial week-long Festival which includes a major opera production, concerts by world-renowned musicians, and a large exhibition. Additionally, BEMF presents a major concert series in Boston each year, as well as recording projects and presentation of the festival operas in other U.S. and European venues. Annual budget is about $2.5 M. (4 years service) Board of Directors and Treasurer, Riverside Theatre Works, Inc. (RTW), a community theatre and performing arts school in Hyde Park. Board of Directors, Blue Hill Observatory (BHO), Milton, MA. In addition to being the oldest continuously-operating weather observatory in the United States, BHO has in recent years developed extensive programs for enhancement of science curricula for middle school students, along with programs to encourage the interest of young women in the natural sciences.  

Mary Lou Maloney -- Ms. Maloney was a founding member of the DPC in 1996 and has provided staff services and legislative advocacy services to the DPC since then. Ms. Maloney has 20 years of experience on Beacon Hill with The Arc of Massachusetts and is a former Executive Director of The Arc. She also contracts through ARS, Inc. on a Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council grant for legislative advocacy training. 

Eric Diamond -- Eric is married with two children, 12 and 17 and lives in Newton. He grew up in New Jersey and attended college at the University of Rochester. He then went to medical school at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School and then did his residency in internal medicine at Strong Memorial Hospital of the University of Rochester Medical Center. He is currently Chief of Medicine at the Post Office Square practice of Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates and chair the Pharmacy and Theraputics Commitee for Atrius Health.  

Melissa Williams --  Melissa has been working at Riverside Theatre Works since 1996 and in August 2008 left her position as the Executive Director of Riverside Theatre Works to move to Boulder, CO with her family.  While at Riverside Melissa wore many hats while conducting the daily business of RTW.  She taught private voice, creative drama, directed ensembles, stage productions and even performed in many concerts and productions at RTW.   Melissa was instrumental in Riverside‘s growth and success over the last 4 years.  Increasing the enrollment 100% and along with Artistic Director Tara Brooke Watkins, establishing a successful performing arts venue that was voted Best Theatre in Boston in 2006.  Currently still on staff as a consultant, Melissa continues to assist RTW with grant writing and organizational leadership.