Board of Directors
Annie Chiu, She/Her
Co-Chair
Annie is a nonprofit leader with 15+ years of experience in diverse sectors, including education, arts and culture and philanthropy. Skilled in program development, community organizing, curriculum design, and teacher trainings. Shewas previously the Project Lead at Little Giant Creative’s non-profit initiative, Creative Cities Lab. In this capacity, she led the development of various social impact programs targeting housing discrimination, wealth building, workforce development, and urban planning. Before her tenure at Creative Cities Lab, Annie contributed significantly to Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Arts and Culture discipline. There, she was instrumental in overseeing and expanding youth workforce development programs, aimed at cultivating a diverse leadership pipeline in the arts sector. Annie brings over 12 years of experience from her work in New York City public schools and community-based organizations. Throughout her career, she has managed programs focused on supporting recent immigrants, providing comprehensive aid to impoverished families, and educating children with special needs.
Caralyn Spector, She/Her
Co-Chair
A champion of creative communities for more than three decades, Caralyn Spector works at the dynamic intersection of creativity, wellbeing, social justice, and innovation. She partners with leaders nationwide to build workplaces that are vibrant, inclusive, and alive with possibility—places where people can do their best thinking and collaborate with purpose and joy.
Caralyn is the founder of the Philly Leadership Lab, a practice dedicated to strengthening leadership across the arts and culture ecosystem. Previously, she served as a Program Officer for the William Penn Foundation’s Creative Communities team, stewarding a citywide portfolio of arts organizations. She also led DataArts as Interim President and CEO, helping bring the insights of big data to the cultural sector. Her public service includes senior leadership roles at the National Endowment for the Arts during the Obama Administration, where she served as Deputy and Chief of Staff to the Senior Deputy Chair and as Senior Policy Advisor to the Chairman.
Ms. Spector received her B.A. from Barnard College and her Master of Arts in Creative Leadership from Minneapolis College of Art and Design, under the mentorship of the late Diane Ragsdale. She grew up in Cheltenham and lives in Lower Merion with her creative partner and husband, Al Kal, and her two spicy daughters, Eva and Sadie.
Mark Comerota, He/Him
Treasurer
Mark is the owner of MCA Accounting and Consulting, which he founded in 2009. He is an experienced financial professional with broad experience in all aspects of tax accounting, auditing and financial management, real estate investment and financial consulting. His specialties include federal tax, state tax, local tax, bookkeeping, auditing, property management, investment and financial analysis. Prior to founding MCA, Mark was a staff accountant with Resnick Amsterdam Leshner. He graduated from Abington Friends School and earned a BS in Accounting from Drexel University.
Theresa Jackson, She/Her
SECRETARY
Theresa is a philanthropic professional working in the Greater Philadelphia region. Theresa currently serves as the manager for the Seybert Foundation, a private foundation supporting youth-serving nonprofits in Philadelphia, PA.
Rachel E. Branson, ESQ, She/Her
Rachel E. Branson, Esq. is an entrepreneur, lawyer, and operator with over 20 years of experience across technology, banking, government, and small business sectors. As the CEO and Founder of Avia Global, she advises companies, founders, and creatives on strategy, operations, and execution. She is also the Owner of The Ship Shop PHL LLC, a multi-carrier retail shipping and business services center providing practical “back office” infrastructure to North Philadelphia’s residents and entrepreneurs. Previously, Rachel served as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for a high-growth fintech company, and led corporate procurement and legal teams negotiating complex technology agreements and operations. Her public sector work focused on expanding economic opportunity and resource access for business owners in Philadelphia. An avid art collector and patron, Rachel is dedicated to helping founders, creatives, and organizations build sustainable operational infrastructure.
Cynthia Dahl, She/Her
Cynthia Dahl is Practice Professor of Law and Director of the Detkin Intellectual Property and Technology Legal Clinic at Penn Carey Law School. Through the Clinic, Dahl teaches students to counsel creative clients as they set and implement intellectual property protection and commercialization strategies. Before joining Penn Carey Law, Dahl practiced for fifteen years as an IP specialist, first as an IP litigator at firms in NY and Denver, and then as Senior IP Counsel for an international wireless telecommunications company. Dahl also worked with artists at Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts in NY, and held several positions in policy and the press, including working for Senator Bill Bradley (D-NJ) and Nina Totenberg of National Public Radio. Her scholarly work involves topics of interest related to ethically counseling early stage ventures, and the best methods to teach law students. Dahl serves on the editorial board of the AIPLA Quarterly Journal, chairs a committee for the Copyright Society of the USA, and is a member of the PA and NY Bar. Cynthia received her JD from Stanford Law School and BA from Yale University.
Dawn Frisby Byers, She/Her
Dawn Frisby Byers is Senior Director of Content and Engagement at PA Humanities, where she oversees programs and communications statewide. She is a marketing and programming executive with extensive experience in brand development and management, strategic partnerships, and all aspects of traditional and digital marketing. Much of her career was spent in New York City with positions in entertainment and cultural organizations including Bravo TV, PBS, Sesame Workshop, and Harlem’s famed Apollo Theater. Dawn returned to her native Philadelphia in 2008 and has worked for the Grammys, the Kimmel Center, and the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. She is a graduate of Duke University and completed graduate work in Arts Administration at Drexel University. Dawn currently serves as the Chair of the Philadelphia Cultural Fund. Personally, she loves attending performing arts events, reading a good book, and walking around her Mt. Airy neighborhood.
DEONE POWELL, he/Him
Deone Powell (he/him) is an attorney and strategic advisor with more than 20 years of experience helping mission-driven organizations navigate complex legal, governance, and regulatory challenges. Throughout his career, he has served as General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer to leading nonprofit and philanthropic organizations, advising boards and executive teams on governance, risk management, compliance, and organizational strategy. Deone is passionate about strengthening the nonprofit sector and advancing organizations that expand opportunity, creativity, and community impact. His experience spans philanthropy, healthcare, financial services, and education, where he has helped organizations build strong governance frameworks while remaining focused on mission and innovation. As a member of the CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia Board of Directors, Deone is committed to supporting the arts as a catalyst for vibrant communities and equitable access to cultural experiences. He brings a collaborative leadership style, strategic perspective, and deep appreciation for the role artists and cultural organizations play in enriching civic life throughout the Greater Philadelphia region.
JIM SCHOFIELD, he/Him
Jim Schofield (He/Him) is a native of Philadelphia and South Jersey. He is a Co-Executive Director of Central Division Victim Services, a community-based non-profit organization serving victims of crime in Center City and Lower North Philadelphia.