OFFICERS

William P. Russell, Jr., President
Bill is a Principal at Sterling Investment Partners in Westport. He joined Pequot’s Board in 2006 and now serves as President after serving two years as Executive Vice President. Bill also serves on many Library committees, including the Capital Campaign Committee and the Finance Committee, and is a founding member of the Pequot Contemporaries. After graduating from Hamilton College, Bill spent a year as a Fulbright Scholar in Singapore. He began his career at Deloitte Consulting, earned an MBA at Harvard and spent five years at Lehman Brothers. Bill and his wife, Erin, live in Fairfield with their children, Maggie, Claire, Edward and Henry.

Mario Fontana, Executive Vice President
Mario joined Pequot Library’s Board in 2007 and now serves as Executive Vice President. In addition to his duties on the Executive Committee, Mario is also co-chair of the Development Committee and a member of the Building Committee, Finance Committee, the Special Events Committee, and the Pequot Contemporaries. A graduate of the University of Toronto, he earned a BA in Canadian Studies. Currently, Mario is president of Hudson Design, a hospitality design and consulting company. Mario and his wife, Pina Ferlisi, live with their children in Southport.

Paul A. Schreiner, Vice President of Investments
Before joining the Pequot Library Board of Trustees in 2010, Paul had been active as a member of the Pequot Contemporaries. He earned a BA in Engineering Sciences at Dartmouth College and a BS in Electrical Engineering at the Dartmouth College Thayer School of Engineering. Paul also earned an MBA from Columbia University, and is now a managing director of UBS AG. Paul is a member of the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, the Dartmouth Club of New York, the Fairfield County Hunt Club, and the Near & Far Aid Association.  He lives with his wife, Ariane Mermod, in Greens Farms.

Peter H. Ventriglia, Treasurer
Since joining Pequot Library’s Board of Trustees in 2006, Peter served as Assistant Treasurer from 2007 to 2008 and is currently serving as Treasurer and a member of the Finance Committee and Capital Campaign Committee.  Peter holds a BA in History from Drew University and an MBA from American University and is now the managing member of Landmark Financial in Southport. He is on the board of the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce and Southport Conservancy, a member and former board member of the Fairfield Rotary Club, and a member of the Brooklawn Country Club. Peter, his wife, Margot, and their daughter live in Southport.

Graham E. Michener, Assistant Treasurer
Graham joined Pequot’s Board in 2009, and is now serving as Assistant Treasurer. Prior to joining the Board, Graham helped launch the successful Kentucky Derby Party, held at the Library in May each year. He is a member of the Pequot Contemporaries and the Capital Campaign Committee. Graham graduated from Lafayette College and later from the Stern School of Business at New York University. After working for ten years on Wall Street, he is now with RSR Partners, a leading executive and board recruiting firm. Graham is an active member of the endowment team at the William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, which he also attended, and is on the board of the Trinity Parish Nursery School. He and his wife, Jane, have three young children and live in Southport.

Trevor Mahony Crow, Secretary
Trevor Mahony Crow joined the Pequot Board in 2009, and currently serves as Secretary. She is co-chair of the Development Committee and is a member of the Capital Campaign Committee and the Pequot Contemporaries. A graduate of the Northwood School in Lake Placid, NY, Trevor earned her BA from Wellesley College and her BS from the Parsons School of Design. She went on to earn her MBA from Harvard University and ultimately received an MA from Fairfield University in Marriage and Family Therapy. For six years, Trevor has been a therapist and is now in private practice in Southport, specializing in counseling families and couples. Her volunteer work has included serving on the board of the Domestic Violence Crisis Center, based in Norwalk, CT, and chairing their annual luncheon last year. Trevor has also served as a regional representative for Wellesley College, interviewing prospective students. Trevor was a competitive figure skater as youngster, and a member of the Skating Club of Boston. Presently, Trevor lives with her two children in Southport.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Michelle Adams
A member of the Children’s Committee and active member of the Library community, Michelle joined Pequot’s Board of Trustees in 2011. She earned a degree in History from the University of Pennsylvania and her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. She subsequently clerked for a federal judge, worked as a white collar and corporate litigator and was a Massachusetts Assistant Commonwealth Attorney in the Major Crimes, Appellate Division. Michelle left her career as a lawyer to become a high school history teacher, teaching at Hamden High School and Greenwich Academy. She is now enjoying her third career as a full time mom to her three sons. Michelle serves on the St. Thomas Aquinas School Board and is a member of the Fairfield County Hunt Club and the Gaelic-American Club. She lives in Fairfield with her husband, Andrew, and their family.

Alison Barry
A member of Pequot Library’s Board of Trustees since 2003, Alison has served as Executive Vice President, chair of the Leadership Council and on many other Library committees, such as the Children’s Room Committee and the Golf Outing Committee. Alison attended Hamilton College and the School of Visual Arts, graduating with a BFA. She is an active member, of not only the Library, but also of the Southport community, serving on the Trinity Church Vestry and on the board of the Trinity Parish Nursery School. In addition, Alison is a member of the Fairfield Hunt Club and the Pequot Yacht Club. She lives in Southport with her husband, Michael, and their children, who are some of the Library’s most eager patrons.

R. Kelsey Biggers
Kelsey Biggers joined Pequot Library’s Board in 2002, serving as Executive Vice President from 2005 to 2006, and until 2010, he led the Library as its President. As co-chair of the Capital Campaign Committee and a member of the Building Committee and Golf Outing Committee, Kelsey has helped the Library to shape its vision of the future. He earned a BA from St. Lawrence University and later his MBA from Columbia University. Currently, Kelsey is a managing director at K2 Advisors in Stamford, and with his wife, Sissy, owns Southport Galleries in Southport Village. He serves on the board of the Martha's Vineyard Preservation Trust, and is a member of the Near & Far Aid Association, the Pequot Yacht Club and the Country Club of Fairfield. Kelsey and Sissy live with their two daughters in Fairfield.

Don Burton
Don joined the Pequot Library Board of Trustees in 2010, but had been an active member of the Pequot Community prior to that as a member of the Derby Day Committee and Pequot Contemporaries, among other roles. He is also a member of the Development Committee. Don earned his BA from Duke University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He completed additional coursework in child development and education at Harvard Graduate School of Education, Bank Street College, and Teachers College, Columbia University. The founder and CEO of eebee’s Adventures, Don currently serves on the Harvard Graduate School of Education Board of Advisors and the Harvard University COUR Committee. Don, his wife, Tish, and their three children live in Southport.

Cindy Citrone
Cindy joined the Board of Trustees at Pequot Library in 2009. A graduate of Ohio State University, she’s been active in the Pequot community as a member of the Pequot Contemporaries, and the Children’s Room and Capital Campaign Committees. Cindy is also a trustee of Cancer Care, Near & Far Aid Association, the Westport Young Woman’s League, and the Hampden-Sydney College. Cindy is a pediatric occupational therapist who lives with her husband, Rob, and their four children in Southport.

Cynthia G. Crawford
Cynthia joined Pequot Library’s Board of Trustees in 2010, and is a member of the Pequot Contemporaries and the Development Committee, and is a volunteer for the Art Show. Cynthia attended the University of Virginia, where she earned a BA in Art History. She went on to work in cultural affairs at Philip Morris in New York, and after a move to Boston, worked for the Institute of Contemporary Art in Public Information and Outreach. As an active volunteer in her community, Cynthia has served in the Parent Association of Fairfield Country Day School, as a member of the Historic District Commission of Wilton, and on the PTA School Board. She is a member of Old East Hampton, the East Hampton Library, and the Sasquanaug Association.  Cynthia lives with her husband, Michael, and their two children in Southport.

Ruth P. Frantz
Ruth Frantz joined Pequot’s board in 2007 and immediately became involved with Children’s Programming and the Book Sale Committee. Along with Bill Russell and Ted Lahey, she is a founding member of the Pequot Contemporaries.  She graduated from Wellesley College as a Wellesley Scholar and later received her MBA at the Wharton School.  Ruth is currently an executive at Pernod Ricard and specializes in global consumer marketing. She is a former president of the Fairfield Villages Wellesley Club and a former board member of the Domestic Violence Center. Ruth lives in Southport with her daughter.

Joan M. Frost
After joining the Board in 2007, Joan has served the Library on its Leadership Council as well as on the Art Show Committee. She earned her BA from Columbia University, and attended the Parsons School of Design plus the Sotheby's American Art Program where she completed an MA. Joan is an interior designer and a talented photographer. She is a trustee of the Fairfield Museum and History Center, the Fairfield Orchestra and the Pomfret School, and formerly served on the board of the Eaglebrook School. She volunteers at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and for Project Hope. Joan is a member of the Colony Club, Pequot Yacht Club, Farmington Country Club, Tarratine Club, Easton Racquet Club, and the Fairfield Garden Club.  Joan raised three children, and she and Jeremy Frost live in Easton.

Kelly D. Laferriere
Kelly joined the Board of Trustees of Pequot Library in 2011. An active volunteer and Library user, Kelly is a member of the Pequot Contemporaries, the Children’s Committee, and now the Development Committee. Kelly earned a BA at Georgetown University, and went on to become a business executive. She has 15 years of experience providing programming and operations leadership at both Six Flags and ESPN, and is currently consulting. Kelly serves on the board of the Southport Sailing Foundation, and was a member of the Women’s Sports Foundation Advisory Board. She is a member of the Pequot Yacht Club and the Gaelic-American Club. Kelly and her husband, Rick, live in Southport with their three children.

Edward V. Lahey III
A member of the Board of Trustees since 2007, Ted has served as chair of the Golf Outing Committee and helped start the Pequot Contemporaries with Ruth Frantz and Bill Russell. He graduated with a BA from Rollins College and now owns Essex Boat Works in Essex, CT. Ted is also a member of the New York Yacht Club and the Country Club of Fairfield. Ted, his wife, Colleen, and their three boys live in Fairfield.

Douglas L. Newhouse
One of Pequot’s longest serving trustees, Doug joined the Board in 2004, and served as Vice President of Investments from 2010-12. He graduated with a BS from Cornell University, and then earned his MBA from the University of Chicago School of Business. Doug co-founded Sterling Investment Partners in 1991, where he is now a managing partner. He serves on numerous corporate boards; in the community, Doug chairs the Investment Committee of the Endowment at Greens Farm Academy and serves on the board of the Undergraduate Business Advisory Council at Cornell University. Doug and his wife, Holly Bannister, MD, live with their family in Weston and Newport, Rhode Island.

Elizabeth B. Perkin
Always an enthusiastic supporter of Pequot Library, Betsy joined the Board in 2008. Before marrying John Perkin and moving to Connecticut, Betsy worked for Citibank in New York, where she was in the training program in the Real Estate and Construction Industry Lending Department. Her three sons attended Fairfield Country Day School, where she was president of the Mother's Club and served on the nominating committee of the Parent's Association. She is a former member of the Board of Associates of Bridgeport Hospital. A former treasurer and board member of the Fairfield Garden Club, Betsy is also a member of the Country Club of Fairfield. There, Betsy is a member of the House/Food Committee, a former chairman of the House Committee and a former member of the Women's Golf Committee. In addition, she is a member of the U.S. Seniors Women's Golf Association and the Westchester/Fairfield Golf Association. Betsy currently resides in Southport.

John S. Santa
John joined Pequot’s Board in 2007. He is vice chairman of Santa Holding Company, after serving for sixteen years as CEO. John earned a BS in Engineering from the University of Connecticut, an MBA in Finance from the University of Bridgeport, and also completed the Owners and Presidents Management Course at Harvard Business School. John has served on many non-profit boards, including the Sasquanaug Association, the Bridgeport YMCA, the Inner-City Foundation, Lauralton Hall, Mercy Community Health Care, and the Malta Prison Volunteers of Connecticut. In addition, he is a member of the Gaelic American Club, the Contemporary Club, the National Association of Corporate Directors; and the Pequot, New York, Black Rock and Fayerweather Yacht Clubs. John and his wife, Irene, live in Southport.  

Linda H. Snelham-Moore
A member of the Pequot Library Board of Trustees since 2011, Linda has been an active force in the Fairfield community since she moved here in 1993 and in the Pequot community as a long-time volunteer for both the Book Sale and the Art Show. She served as a member of Fairfield’s Representative Town Council from 2001 to 2003 and was named Vice-Chairman of the Legislative and Administrative Committee. Linda is a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals and of the Vestry at St. Paul’s Church in Fairfield, where she was co-chair o f the St. Nicholas Fair in 2009 and 2010. She was a member of the Board of the Mill River Wetland Committee and served as secretary of the Charter Revision Commission of the town of Fairfield. Past positions she has held include the Chair of the DTC forum discussing Zoning and Conservation issues, past President of the Pine Creek Area Association and a past member of the Land Acquisition Commission and the Water Pollution Control Commission. Linda graduated with a BS in Psychology and Social Work from Elmira College, and worked for 35 years in TV and Radio advertising sales and management in Detroit, Chicago, and New York City, where she was Sales Manager for WCBS- AM. Linda has a daughter, Eliza Moore, who graduated from Ludlow High School in 2007 and now lives in London.

Jeffrey P. von Arx, S. J.
Fr. von Arx joined the Board at Pequot Library in 2007. He graduated from Princeton University with a BA, and then entered the Society of Jesus. He later earned an MA and MPhil in History at Yale University, and later completed his PhD there. Fr. von Arx received an MDiv from the Weston School of Theology and was ordained a priest. Fr. Von Arx taught history for sixteen years at Georgetown University. He has published in the area of British religious history, and in 1999, was elected a fellow of the Royal Historical Society in England. Having spent six years as the dean of Fordham College, Fr. von Arx was selected in 2004 as the eighth Jesuit to serve as President of Fairfield University. He serves and has served on the boards of many institutions, including Xavier University, Canisius College, Boston College, Loyola Marymount University, Regis High School, Fordham Prep, St. Barnabas Hospital, Le Moyne College, and the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. He is a member of the Patterson Club, the University Club, and the Lotus Club.

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