Board of Trustees

Lucinda Ballard was born and raised in Maryland, and has spent most of her adult life in New York City. She received her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley and later earned an MS ed. in Museum Leadership from Bank Street Graduate School.  After a brief career in the theatre, Lucinda worked as a producer-director-writer of documentary and “special purpose” films at several companies, including Ogilvy and Mather Advertising where she was Vice President and Senior Producer. Lucinda has spent many years as an impassioned gallery instructor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she served as Chairman of the Volunteer Organization and continues to serve on its Executive Committee. She is a board member of East Side House Settlement, a social services agency in New York’s South Bronx and co-chair of The Winter Show, its main fundraiser.  Lucinda has been coming to Nantucket her entire life and is currently Vice Commodore of the Nantucket Yacht Club.  She is also a member of the NHA’s Collections & Exhibitions Committee.  Lucinda loves gardening, sailing, the theatre, and losing herself in museums.

Ashley Gosnell Mody is from New York City, where she works at the Synergos Institute on the annual David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award. Prior to moving to NYC, she spent time in Connecticut as the Director of Development for a high-school student exchange program, ASSIST, and overseas in Beijing, China as the Director of Secondary Placement for Due West Education. She is a Class Agent for St. Andrew’s School in Delaware, the Recruitment Committee Chair for the Nantucket Conservation Foundation Young Associates, and a member of the New York Junior League. Ashley also is a member of the NHA’s Education & Interpretation Committee.  She holds a Master’s in Education from Stanford University and a B.A. from Vanderbilt University. 

Michael Sweeney has worked and lived on Nantucket for just over 20 years. He is married to Athalyn and they have two wonderful children – Áille and Lochlán. He received his B.Tech and B.Ed degrees from the University of Limerick in Ireland in Materials and Wood Construction Technology.  In 2011, he started M. Sweeney Construction Inc. which specializes in high end residential construction and, the company has completed a number of historical restorations in Nantucket and ‘Sconset. He currently serves on the board of the Nantucket Preservation Trust and has helped out with volunteer work at the Garden Club, Fairwinds Counseling Service, Nantucket Triathlon and Half Marathon and various other running and cycling endeavors of which he is also a keen participant.

In addition to nearly 20 years of experience in President & CEO roles, Craig has over 25 years of design engineering, program management, sales, marketing and general management experience with leading companies including GE, United Technologies, ABB and Ford Motor Company across a wide range of global customers and industries, including consumer, industrial, utility, automotive, aerospace and defense. Craig holds a Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Cincinnati.  Craig recently received his formal certification in Executive & Organizational Coaching from Columbia University in NYC. Craig is the Founder & CEO of CXO Insights LLC an executive coaching, advisory and investment firm.  Craig was appointed to the Board of Nantucket Cottage Hospital where he serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees.  He is also a member of the Columbia University Learning Association.  Craig and his wife Ann have been married over 50 years and relocated to Nantucket full time in 2019 to enjoy their golden years.  They have two children, Kristin and Andrew, and five grandchildren and enjoy family, friends, supporting the Nantucket community and traveling together.

Sara Schwartz is the President of Schwartz Hannum PC, a law firm she founded in 1995. Sara graduated from Concord Academy, and is a cum laude graduate of both Yale College and Harvard Law School. She began her legal career at Ropes & Gray in Boston, after completing a federal court clerkship with The Honorable William Young in Boston. Schwartz Hannum PC represents hundreds of employers and educators across the U.S., including several dozen clients on Nantucket. In her non-profit law practice, Sara serves as a trusted advisor to independent schools, colleges, hospitals, museums, private clubs, and social services agencies.  Sara began spending summers on Nantucket in the 1980’s, when she worked at Straight Wharf, Provisions, and elsewhere, and she has been visiting Nantucket annually ever since. Sara and her husband, Will Hannum, a native, were married on Nantucket, and have had a house in ‘Sconset since 2010 (which has been their primary home for the past several years). Their five children (now ages 21-31) have all enjoyed summers on Nantucket throughout their childhoods, and continue to return for visits as often as their busy lives allow.  The NHA has a special place in Sara’s heart, As an American History major at Yale, with a lifelong fascination for American history, Sara has always enjoyed her work with the NHA, visits to the Whaling Museum (especially Festival of the Trees), and visits to other NHA sites. Sara’s primary hobby is photographing the historic parts of the Island.

Stacey Bewkes and her husband have become full time residence of Nantucket in August of 2020 after being summer residents for four decades.  As someone involved in the world of design, she has always been inspired by the island’s dedication to preserving its history of culture, architecture and craftsmanship and in particular the NHA. Since the inception of Nantucket by Design in 2015, she has helped the NHA in various capacities, from securing luminaries to speak, chairing the luncheon, moderating the opening keynote, creating original video segments on relevant topics for the NHA to share, helping to secure auction items, writing about the event for the local paper, and in general helping to spread the word through her website and social media. She is proud to co-chair the event with Olivia Charney in 2022. She received her B.A. in Art History from Brown University. She was the Art Director of Simon & Schuster from 1976 to 1993; founded Quintessence; wrote multiple books; and co-founded Annelli Collection. Stacey has four children and has served on the Parents Committee at Deerfield Academy and the Freshman Parents Committee at Duke University

Anne Broadus was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. She has been spending summers on Nantucket since 1999 and she and her husband Toby moved to Nantucket year-round in 2023. She received her B.S. from Northwestern University and later earned a Masters in Arts of Teaching, Elementary Education from Goucher College. Anne spent 28 years as an elementary school educator and administrator at The Bryn Mawr School, holding numerous positions there including homeroom teacher in grades 1 through 5, Lower School Math Coordinator, and, most recently, Lower School Assistant Director. Anne is currently Head of Lower School at Nantucket New School. She has served on the boards of the Maryland SPCA and the Nantucket Yacht Club, and is currently a member of the Bryn Mawr School Board of Trustees and the Town of Nantucket Scholarship Committee.  Anne has been involved with the 1800 House for many years and is currently a member of the NHA Education Committee.

Connie and her husband, Tom, have been summer residents of Nantucket for 27 years. They
live in Nashville, TN and are the parents of 2 children and 5 grandchildren Connie holds a BA
in French, a Masters in Historic Preservation and is a certified Montessori teacher.

She has owned an antiques business and cofounded the volunteer driven Antiques and Garden
Show of Nashville 35 years ago benefitting Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Fine Arts
Museum and the ECON Club of Nashville.

Connie has been involved with the NHA as Chairman of the 2007 Antiques Show, serving two
board terms, as Chair of the Education Committee, Chair of the Library Subcommittee, and
currently as Vice President of the Friends of the NHA.

For the past 3 years, Connie and Tom have spearheaded the ongoing effort to digitize the NHA
Collection.

Gene Clapp lives in Boston, and, with his late wife Meredith, has four grown children and eight grandchildren. A life-long Nantucketer, Gene recalls his grandmother engaged with the NHA as a docent at the 1800 House. He is a co-founder and Director of Penobscot Investment Management Company, Inc., investment advisors to individuals, family groups and non-profit organizations. Gene has served on Boards in the communities where he lives and works, including Conservation Law Foundation of New England, Partners Continuing Care’s Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Beacon Hill Civic Association, National Rowing Foundation, and Nantucket Yacht Club. He is a graduate of Brooks School, University of Pennsylvania (BA), and University of Chicago (MBA). In 1972, Gene was a member of the US Rowing team that won a silver medal at the Munich Olympics, and he still enjoys being on the water.

Raised in New York City, at age 12, Amanda started spending the summer on Nantucket. After graduating from Harvard College, she moved to Nantucket full time. She was an early member of Nantucket Planning Commission, Nantucket Arts Council Board, and Opera House Cup Committee.  In 1990, she began spending the winters with her husband and daughter in Sanibel, Florida. Amanda’s business career was devoted to developing computer software.  Amanda co-founded SanCap Cares – raising $15 million for the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. She previously served on the boards of the Southwest Florida Women’s Foundation and the Lee Health Foundation.  Four years ago, Amanda moved back to Nantucket full-time. Amanda has a long time interest in the NHA and the rich history of Nantucket – particularly in women and minority rights. 

Michael R. Ericksen was born in Minnesota and raised in both Minnesota and Ohio. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1979 with a degree in Economics and earned his MBA as a Baker Scholar from Harvard Business School in 1983. His career spans international finance and investment, including roles at Chase Manhattan Bank, the Boston Consulting Group, and a long tenure with the Capital Group Companies in Los Angeles and London, where he served as Portfolio Manager, President, Chairman, and Director. Michael has been actively involved in nonprofit leadership, serving on the boards of the American School in London, Nantucket Partnership for Children, Nantucket Preservation Trust, and the Egan Maritime Institute. A full-time resident of Nantucket since 2013, he shares a deep appreciation for the island’s heritage with his wife Ana, a former NHA Board Trustee. They have three adult children and six grandchildren. Michael has been a supporter of the NHA since his first visit to the Whaling Museum in 1999.

Meg Flax, a long-time seasonal Nantucket resident, is a retired lawyer and active community leader. Her deep appreciation for history, education, and community has guided her extensive board service over the years. Meg brings to the NHA broad experience in nonprofit governance, having chaired the Board of Trustees of Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., where she also served as a longtime board member. She currently sits on the boards of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Washington and the Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center. On Nantucket, Meg recently completed her term as President of Congregation Shirat Hayam, the island’s synagogue. Meg is a graduate of Wesleyan University and Harvard Law School. She and her husband, Sam, live in the Washington DC area. They cherish their time on Nantucket with their family and friends, and they are devoted to their work supporting the island’s cultural and historic institutions.

A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Annabelle was introduced to Nantucket by her husband, Gregory Fowlkes and they purchased their home in 2007. After a post-graduate year at School Year Abroad in Rennes, France, Annabelle studied International Relations and Economics at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore (BA, 1994).  Annabelle then attended the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania (MBA, 1999).  Annabelle lives with her family in New York City, but they return to Nantucket as often as possible.  She is involved in the management of her family’s business in Midland, Texas and returns home often.  She is a Trustee of School Year Abroad and a Member of the Dean’s Advisory Board of the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences.

Lexi is a Partner and Portfolio Manager at Howland Capital, bringing 24 years of experience to the firm. Her extensive tenure has been marked by a commitment to investment strategy, asset allocation, and risk management.   As a private wealth adviser, Lexi specializes in tailoring comprehensive wealth preservation and growth strategies for families, entrepreneurs, non-profits, and business owners. Her depth of expertise extends beyond conventional investments, encompassing multigenerational wealth transfer, succession planning, and philanthropic initiatives.  Since joining Howland Capital in 1999, Lexi has played a pivotal role in shaping the firm’s investment philosophy. Her strategic insights and meticulous approach have been instrumental in guiding clients through an array of financial landscapes and evolving market conditions. Prior to investment management, Lexi worked for Huntington T. Block Insurance Agency, specializing in fine arts insurance for museums, galleries, and private collectors.  Lexi graduated with a B.S. in International Business and Art History, and a minor in French, from Lake Forest College and an MBA from the Stern School of Business, New York University. She also obtained her CFP™ and CDFA® certifications.  Lexi lives in Boston with her husband and twin daughters.  She has served as Chair of the Investment Committee and Vice Chair of the Board of Dana Hall School, Treasurer of The Vincent Club, and on the Board of Hill House. Lexi is also a member of the NHA Finance & Investment Committee.

Robert Greenspon first came to Nantucket over 50 years ago when, as a college student, he taught swimming at the Cliffside Beach Club.  He is a graduate of Columbia Law School and retired in New York as senior partner and head of the aircraft and equipment finance practice of Latham & Watkins LLP, an international law firm.  Previously, Bob was the chief legal officer of the leasing division of Guinness Peat Aviation (GPA Group plc), one of the world’s largest aircraft finance and leasing firms based in Ireland.  Bob lives in Darien, Connecticut and has also lived in Ireland and London.  On Nantucket, he chaired the Atheneum board of directors for a number of years, and was also a board member of the Lightship Basket Museum and the Westmoor Club.  Bob is a director, and on the executive committee, of the Humane Society of the United States.  Bob and his wife Claire have been married for 50 years and have two grown children, five rambunctious grandsons and Miles, their wonderful dog.  He is an avid reader and passionately bad golfer.  

Connie Anne is a retired business leader who now advocates and passionately fundraises for causes in health, women’s issues, and historical preservation. Her career in the media business spanned 30 years, and she is widely recognized for her extensive brand and team building achievements. Her corporate experience includes leadership roles at some of the most important brands in media. In 2013, she joined Glamour as Chief Revenue Officer, and then in 2014, was named Conde Nast’s first Chief Revenue Officer of the Year. Prior to Glamour she served for four years as Publisher of Time Inc.’s InStyle, where she was credited with the revitalization of the brand. She joined InStyle after a 14 year career at Vogue where she was named Managing Director following the success of the September 2001 issue, which carried the most ad pages in Vogue’s history and was the subject of the documentary, “The September Issue”. Connie Anne serves on the Advisory Board of the Hospital for Special Surgery. She serves on the board
of the Greenwich Emergency Medical Services, where her role is co-chair of development. She serves on the Board of the Greenwich Historical Society where she is a co-chair for the History in the Making Event and the Christmas Market. Connie Anne serves on the Board of the American Red Cross and is co- chairing the Red and White Ball for the second year in 2024. She resides in Greenwich, Nantucket and Vail with her husband Jeremiah and beloved lab Trixie.

Ayesha is a graduate of Boston University with a BA in Applied Mathematics and Statistics. During her college summers, she visited her friend and Nantucket native, Nate Barber, who she eventually married. For a decade, she worked at Vitamin Water in New York City before moving to Nantucket in 2012 to get married. Ayesha, her husband Nate, and their two boys live on the island year-round. Nate works as a firefighter and contractor, while Ayesha works in the office for a local surgeon, Dr. Lepore, and their sons attend Nantucket Public School. A passionate advocate for environmental health, Ayesha co-founded the Nantucket PFAS Action Group, educating the community about the hazards of PFAS chemicals. Ayesha has diligently gathered and disseminated crucial information about PFAS, fostering awareness and change. She engages with scientists and regulatory bodies, significantly contributing to public debates and safety standards. Ayesha embraces Abraham Lincoln’s idea that, “we cannot escape history.” Her interest in joining the Nantucket Historical Association is driven by a desire to ensure that her sons and the Nantucket community can learn valuable lessons from the island’s history and highlight the relevance of historical perspective in solving today’s challenges.

Bill Liddle is a year-round resident who moved to Nantucket with his family from Central New York in the late 1970s at an elementary school age. After graduating from Boston College with an undergraduate degree in history, he moved back to the island and entered the real estate profession. He took a two-year sabbatical and worked in a private family office in New York City, running real estate operations. In 2002, he co-founded Great Point Properties. He and his wife, Amanda, raised their two children on the island. And he has been engaged in several local organizations, including previously serving as a trustee at the Nantucket New School and Strong Wings Adventure Camp, and the Nantucket Dreamland Foundation, and he currently serves on the boards of Nantucket Community Sailing and Sherburne Commons.

Valerie Paley is a seasonal Nantucket resident who has lived in Sconset for the past three decades. The senior vice president and Sue Ann Weinberg Director of the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library at the New-York Historical Society in New York City, she was the founding director of its Center for Women’s History, the first such center in the United States within the walls of a major museum. A graduate of Vassar College, Paley holds an MA in American Studies and a PhD in History from Columbia University, where she serves on the adjunct faculty at the Columbia Center for American Studies. Her work at New York Historical encompasses a range of curatorial, scholarly, and administrative responsibilities, including the development of a joint MA Program in Museum Studies with the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Professional Studies, launched in 2019. Valerie is the 2020 recipient of the American Historical Association’s Herbert Feis Award, recognizing distinguished contributions to the field of public history. She also is a member of the NHA Nantucket Women’s Initiative Committee. Her first experience working with archival materials was transcribing whaling logs at the NHA.

Mary was raised in Orinda and attended St. Mary’s College, earning a BA in art history. She began her career in retail and fashion, working for Ralph Lauren and later worked at Gap Inc. (Banana Republic) as a production manager for women’s clothing. Mary has been actively involved at UHS (Campaign Committee), Katherine Delmar Burke School (Leadership Giving Committee for the Campaign for Girls; co-chair of Burke’s Family Festival), and Town School (trustee, co-chair of Town’s annual fundraiser). She also serves as a director for MCM Foundation, a family foundation focused on initiatives to support children and education. Mary and her husband, MacGregor, have two children: Brady and Charlotte. She and her family enjoy travel, time with extended family, being outdoors, and spending the summer and shoulder season on Nantucket.

Bill is a partner at Gary McBournie, Inc., a residential interior design firm with projects across the US and in Europe, where he oversees operations and assists with design projects.  Prior to serving as Senior Vice President and Technology Practice Leader at Eastern Insurance Group in Boston, he was the Senior Vice President at William Gallagher Associates.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Salem State College. Bill has served on the boards of Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre in Cambridge, MA and LaFontana Cooperative Apartments in West Palm Beach, FL. He currently serves on the Design Committee of Trianon Condominium.  Bill is the co-chair of NHA’s 2024 Nantucket by Design.

Roberto serves as the Executive Director of Fairwinds, Nantucket’s Counseling Center. He previously served as the Director of Health and Human Services for the Town of Nantucket, Massachusetts for nearly nine years, where he led the town’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  He also served as an adjunct professor at Southern New Hampshire University and, before coming to the Town of Nantucket, he served as the Interim Director of Public Health and Deputy Director of Public Health for the town (Now city) of Framingham, Massachusetts; Director of Public Health for the City of Everett, Massachusetts where he also served as emergency preparedness coordinator; and a research assistant and hazardous waste assistant in the chemistry department at the University of Central Florida.  He holds a B.S. in Molecular Biology and Microbiology from the University of Central Florida; a master’s in public health (MPH) from Boston University; a Master of Business Administration from Salve Regina University, and he is about to graduate with a Doctor in Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He also has several certifications, including one in biochemistry from Harvard University, and a Six Sigma Green Belt from the Aveta Business Institute.

Denise and Andrew Saul are private collectors of Modern, Contemporary, and 18th Century American and Asian art. Denise has been a Trustee of The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation for the past 35 years serving as Vice President. She is also Chairman of the Art and Museum Committee, Chairman of the Nominating Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee and the Collectors Council.  Denise has a long association with the New York City Ballet as a Trustee, founder of The New Combinations Fund (which focuses on new choreography), and the Choreographic Institute, which promotes the development of choreographers and dancers. Denise serves as a Trustee of the Asia Society in New York, where she is also Chairman of the Development Committee and serves on the Board of Trustees Executive Committee.  At the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Denise is a member of the European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Committee, the European Painting Committee, The Visiting Committee of Asian Art, as well as The Visiting Committee of Nineteenth Century Modern and Contemporary Art. In Washington, DC, Denise served as Chairman of the Collectors Committee of the National Gallery of Art. In 2019, Denise became a member of the International Club #1 and the Sulgrave Club.  In 2020, she became a Trustee of The Kennedy Center.  Denise is a Member of the Board of Trustees, Mount Sinai Health System and is on the Mount Sinai Research Committee.  She is also a member of the Mount Sinai Lung Cancer Advisory Board.  Mrs. Saul has a BA in Elementary Education from Mills College of Education. Over a 22-year career, Denise was responsible for building and implementing curriculum in 3 different Manhattan schools–Madison Avenue Presbyterian Day School, the Dalton School, and the Dwight School.

Janet Sherlund joined the NHA Board in 2006 after chairing the Antiques Show in 2005 (having originally joined the committee in 2000).  She has recently become a full-time resident of Nantucket, after living in New Vernon, NJ for many years. She is a Trustee Emeritus of the NHA, and a member of both the Nantucket and New Vernon (NJ) Garden Clubs. She is a past Board member of the Nantucket Cottage Hospital and the Cottage Hospital Foundation, an advisor to the Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum.  Janet is a past Board member of Colgate University, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in NJ, The Paper Mill Playhouse, The Winston School, and the Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation.  Janet holds a B.A. in English and Fine Arts from Colgate University.  Her interests include writing, photography, gardening and collecting.  Janet and her husband, Rick, have two grown sons, Will and Ben.  

Melinda Sullivan was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She has been coming to Nantucket since she was 12 years old, and has owned different houses on the island since 1987. Her interest in serving on the NHA Board stems from a belief that all people benefit from knowing the unique stories of the citizens of the place they choose to call home. It helps foster pride, tolerance, excitement, caring, and support for the past, present, and future citizens of Nantucket. Melinda received her BA from Northwestern University and attended Columbia Business School. Melinda has published 4 group cookbooks, and created a 501C3 organization to study and publish a 3 volume scholarly publication of the 2nd European factory after Meissen to make hard paste porcelain- Du Paquier of Vienna, Austria.  She has had leadership roles in many non-profit organizations focused on the decorative arts.  These include the Mark Twain House in Hartford, CT, and the Renbrook School in West Hartford, CT. Additionally, Melinda was a trustee at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum, and the Hartford University Art School. Melinda is currently active with The Frick Collection and the New Britain Museum of American Art as a trustee, and is part of the European Decorative Arts Committee at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Jason Tilroe is a founder and partner of a boutique specialty investment group, based in London, with operations in Europe, North America and South America.  He formerly held senior positions as head of global finance businesses including derivatives, foreign exchange and capital markets at Lehman Brothers and Goldman Sachs.

Jim Waterbury divides his time between Greenwich, CT and Nantucket. He is a graduate of St. Paul’s School (1975), and Georgetown University (1979), and spent a year at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Paris (1978). After 4 years at Morgan Guaranty Trust Company, Jim returned to Georgetown for his JD (1986). After law school, Jim practiced corporate law at Davis Polk & Wardwell (in New York and Paris). Most of his professional career was spent as an international corporate lawyer at General Electric Company, first as a Mergers & Acquisitions lawyer at the Company’s headquarters, and then as General Counsel of the European Power business of GE (based in London), GE’s Oil & Gas business (based in Florence, Italy), and GE Capital (in Connecticut). Jim retired in 2019 as GE’s Vice President and Senior Counsel for M&A, with responsibility for GE’s M&A legal activity globally. Since retiring from GE, Jim has been focused almost full time on pursuing his passion for nature and fine art photography, traveling to all 7 continents in search of inspiring images. Jim and his family started coming to Nantucket in 1987, and they have been spending summers at their house on Brant Point since 1995. Jim and his wife Linda have two adult children, Lindsay (married to Mike Schnitt) and Emily. Nantucket has been the one constant throughout the last 38 years, balancing the frequent corporate moves around Europe. Jim served on the board of St. Paul’s School for 10 years (the last two as Board President). He is currently the Secretary of the Nantucket Yacht Club, and on the board of the Artists Association of Nantucket.