Data Analyst/IT Professional, Musician

Having personal life experience straddling both artistic pursuits and earning a living outside of the arts, Wendy brings a deep understanding of the challenges of working in the arts and culture sector coupled with a broad range of business skills.

A classical pianist who also excelled in data science, earned a reputation for mobilizing teams to solve gnarly problems related to the development of large-scale database systems. The projects ranged in magnitude; the smallest approximately $3 MM budget; the largest reached well into 8-digit numbers. These types of projects required assembling cross-functional teams across internal departments and external technology vendors, and consultants, fielding numerous RFPs for separate but integrated technical components, and making sure everyone knew what to do when. The largest project entailed managing 60 people across 8 working groups.

As head of the Consumer Intelligence and Database Marketing departments for Consumer Reports, Wendy was responsible for providing data services across the company for a wide range of applications: Marketing, Fundraising, Market Research, Business Modeling, and Performance Monitoring.

Wendy also holds volunteer positions working closely with the Town, Planning, and Zoning Boards in the Town of Cortlandt Manor. She is currently Chair of the Conservation Advisory Council, assists the Historical Advisory Council, and leads a residents’ committee representing the northern section of the Town.

Wendy holds a BM in piano performance from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City and a MM in piano performance from Rice University, Shepherd School of Music in Houston, Texas.

Architect, Project Manager, Creative Placemaking Consultant, Active Volunteer

Kersten Harries is a registered licensed architect with a range of professional experience including but not limited to design and construction administration of architectural renovations, project management of collaboratively created community art installations and exhibits, and active participation on local planning board and comprehensive plan committee.

She relocated to Sleepy Hollow in 2015 and has worked closely with the Village’s Building Department, both as an architect submitting for ZBA variances and building permits for successfully completed major residential renovation projects, as well as serving on the Village Planning Board since 2017 and for the past year serving as chairperson.

After completing a Creative Placemaking Certificate and serving on the Village’s Comprehensive Plan Committee in 2018-2019, Kersten became involved in promoting and expanding public arts and cultural programming in the community. She has helped organize the annual Sleepy Hollow Cultural Arts Festival and Community Art Exhibit since 2019. In 2020, Kersten proposed and managed the creation of The Wishing Wall, an award winning 520’ long collaboratively designed and painted community mural.

Kersten is passionate about both authentic community engagement and seeing spaces transformed. In 2021, she led design charrettes for revisioning vacant lots in downtown Sleepy Hollow. Earlier this year Kersten attended an inclusive and equitable community engagement training and she is excited to utilize new tools and methods learnt in future public art and community revisioning workshops.

For the Strand, Kersten is able to offer guidance both related to architectural renovations and engaging the community. She’s excited to help see to fruition the dream of transforming the Strand into a space that will serve and benefit the entire community as a hub for arts and cultural programming.

Founder and Executive Director, Rivertown Dance Academy

Jessica holds a BA in Dance & Sociology from the University of Maryland. She has worked in administration for notable dance organizations such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Dance New Amsterdam, Peridance and the Y Dance Academy as Co-Director. She founded Rivertown Dance Academy in 2016, a nonprofit organization dedicated to accessibility and excellence in dance education for all.

Rivertown Dance Academy currently serves 250+ dancers, ages 18 months - adult. Dancers come from all over Westchester to train with RDA faculty, including the Rivertowns, Northern & Southern Westchester. Financial Aid is given to all students who qualify with no limit to the amount of aid given or the number of families served. Since its inception, RDA has given over $215,000 to those in need.

As Executive Director, Jessica fulfills RDA's mission while encouraging the next generation of artists and humans. She firmly believes that the arts should be accessible to all, no matter the barriers to participation.