Officers

Samuel A. Flax (Sam)
Chair

Chevy Chase, MD/Nantucket. Sam and his wife Meg began coming to Nantucket in the early 1990’s, when their children were very young, and became summer residents in 2010. Sam is a Professor from Practice at the Georgetown University Law Center where he teaches courses on corporate, securities and property law and finance. He joined Georgetown’s full-time faculty following a 35-year legal career. He was the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of American Capital, Ltd., a publicly-traded asset management and private equity firm based in Bethesda, Maryland. Previously, he was a senior partner in Arnold & Porter, a Washington, DC-based international law firm. Sam is a graduate of Georgia Tech, where he majored in Industrial Engineering, and from the Washington & Lee University School of Law. He was a fellow at Harvard University’s Advanced Leadership Initiative. Sam has been a member of GTAB, the Georgia Tech President’s advisory board, and the Washington & Lee Law Council, and is a past President of Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, MD, and of the organization that is now Washington’s Capital Jewish Museum. Sam and Meg have three children, all of whom are delighted to call Nantucket their second home.

Janet L. Steinmayer
Vice Chair

Essex, CT / Nantucket. Janet is the retired President of Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and prior to that was the President of Mitchell College in New London, CT. She started her career as a corporate lawyer in New York, served as General Counsel for Trans World Airlines and later served as CEO of Centerplate, a large hospitality company serving major league sports and convention center clients throughout North America. Janet is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College, where she served on the Board of Trustees for 21 years, and the University of Chicago Law School. She is a Trustee Emerita of the Southport School and has enjoyed serving on community and educational boards wherever she lives. Her children have been coming to Nantucket to endure numerous old house renovations on the island since 1996 and are now happy to come – with her grandchildren – to the one she assures them is her last project on the island.

Mark G. Lopez
Treasurer

Nantucket / Scottsdale, AZ. Mark and his family had been summer residents of Nantucket for almost 22 years prior to finally buying their first island home five years ago. He is married and has two college-aged daughters. Mark served as Wealth Management Partner for Lyford Consulting in California (retired) and formerly was a Managing Director at Global Portfolio Advisors (GPA), a privately held international investment firm. He spent 16 years as a Managing Director at LPL Financial Services in various capacities, most recently as Director of Strategy and Corporate Development. He is serving currently on the Board of Trustees at the Eagle Hill School in Hardwick MA and is a member of the Finance Committee. He previously served as the Board Vice-Chair of the Audit Committee, Chair of the Development Committee and Chair of the Finance Committee at Mount Tamalpais School in Mill Valley, CA. Additionally, Mark served as Co-Chair of the Development Committee and was a member of both the Long-Range Planning and Finance Committee at the San Francisco Ballet. Prior to that he was on the Board of Trustees for the Maine Adoption Placement Services (MAPS) and a member of the Finance Committee. While originally from Louisiana, Mark chose to attend the University of Georgia, receiving a B.A. and an M.B.A.

Anne Buckman Calder
Secretary

Houston, TX/Nantucket. Anne has been a summer resident of Nantucket since she was a child. She frequented the Atheneum when she was a kid and enjoys sharing time there now with her three children. Anne is a graduate of Boston College’s School of Arts & Sciences and Fordham University School of Law. After practicing corporate law in New York City for several years, Anne now resides in Houston, Texas, where she focuses on raising her children and is involved in several local charities, Anne was recently elected to Advisory Board of the Hermann Park Conservancy.

Trustees

Judith G. Belash

Nantucket. Retired with her husband John to Nantucket in 2002. She is a graduate of Newton High School, Wellesley College and Boston University School of Law. Beginning in 1965 she worked as a lawyer for the SEC, the NYSE and for the remaining 32 years in New York served as Associate General Counsel for Litigation and Regulatory Affairs at Goldman, Sachs & Co. During that time, she was a member of several regulatory and self-regulatory committees of the SEC, NYSE, CBOE and the NASD where she served on the NASD Board of Governors. In 2001 she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Securities Industry Association for her contributions in the areas of compliance and litigation. From 1979 to 1989 she was a member of the Board of the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York. Since 2002 she had been a participant in numerous aspects of the Nantucket community serving eight years on the Board of Maria Mitchell, nine years on the Board of A Safe Place, two years on the Board of the Nantucket Community Music Center and twelve years on the Board of the Nantucket Cottage Hospital where she was elected Clerk and Chair of the Board Compliance Committee. She and her husband were history Interpreters for the Nantucket Historical Association for many years, were participants in the Elementary School “Grandparents” program from 2004 through 2015 and VIP volunteers for the Nantucket Police Department from 2014 through 2019. She volunteered at The Hospital Thrift Shop from 2014 through 2019. She sang in the Community Chorus and the Women’s Chorus and read for and acted in Armchair Theater. She gardens, writes poetry, and her newest creative endeavor is attempting pottery. She and her husband consider their move to Nantucket to have been blest.

Christopher M. Berger (Chris)

New York City. Chris is a Vice President at BlackRock and a member of the firm’s Corporate Affairs team. In this capacity, Chris is responsible for the firm’s reputation management and communications strategy with respect to its business in China. Formerly, Chris was a member of BlackRock’s Financial Markets Advisory (FMA) Group. The FMA team provides a wide range of advisory, valuation, and innovative portfolio management solutions for its clients, which include banks, insurance companies, official institutions, and other financial intermediaries. Prior to joining BlackRock in 2015, Chris was a senior analyst within the Markets group of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (FRBNY), where he led the coverage of corporate credit markets, providing senior policy makers with macroeconomic analysis on developments in high yield and leveraged finance markets. Prior to working at the FRBNY, Chris was an associate at Orion Consultants, a fixed income consulting firm. Chris earned a BA degree, cum laude, in history from Princeton University in 2006 and a Masters degree in international affairs from the Fletcher School at Tufts University in 2011. Chris is also a member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer of Books for Kids, a non-profit organization that promotes literacy among preschool-aged children in under-resourced communities.

Jack Carter

Aspen / Siasconset, MA.  Jack has spent the past 35 years coming to Nantucket with his four siblings to devour summer reading, perform odd jobs, and most recently, relax. In what he views as a natural progression, Jack has graduated from bussing tables at the mercurial ACK restaurant to healthcare corporate strategy and investing. He believes firmly in the ability of literacy and coordinated community engagement to transform lives. Jack is a graduate of the University of Virginia and is fascinated by art, architecture, and anything his aunt Paula recommends to read.

Lisa Clarey-Lawler

Kirkwood, CA / Nantucket. Lisa has over 30 years of consulting and leadership experience in marketing, communications, and branding. Her clients have included Adobe, Amazon, Apple, Cisco, Google, Motorola, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, VMware, and other companies across a broad spectrum of industries and technologies. Her consulting assignment with VMware evolved to a full-time role as Vice President of Employment Brand, where she led the company’s global strategy for increasing employee engagement and elevating employer reputation to attract, develop, and retain top talent. Lisa’s professional passion extends to her volunteer work with non-profit organizations. Most recently, she served as the Development Chair on the Board of Trustees for the Nantucket Cottage Hospital. She has also held Executive Board roles with the Nantucket Dreamland and the Silicon Valley Association of International Business Communicators. Additionally, she led rebranding efforts for the Maria Mitchell Association while serving as a Board member and Gala Co-Chair. Lisa graduated from Boston College with Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and Human Development (Psychology) and a minor in Communications. When she’s not advising clients, she enjoys gardening, entertaining, interior design, outdoor sports, and adventure travel with her husband, Bruce. Lisa and Bruce have had a home on Nantucket since 2003 and became permanent residents in 2006. They enjoy the majority of the year on the island and spend their winters at a ski resort in Kirkwood, CA.

Nathan (Nate) Cressman

Greensboro, NC / Nantucket, MA. Approaching 25 years with Magnussen Home, Nathan Cressman began his career in 1997 as Product Development Manager. Since then, he has served in various leadership positions at the company, including Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing & Product Development in 2009 before becoming President in 2012 and then President & CEO in 2017. Nathan and his wife Lisa now own Banner House. Banner House is one of the largest suppliers of case goods in North America. Its brands include Magnussen Home, Pulaski, Samuel Laurence, American Drew and Kincaid. Nathan is the past chair of the AHFA Board and is the City of Hope 2021 Nominee for the furniture industry. Born and raised in Canada, Cressman attended Bowling Green State University, where he played hockey. He and his wife Lisa have two children, Georgia and Ty. Both attend Auburn University, where Ty was a member of the men’s basketball team. During his free time, Cressman enjoys golfing, traveling, attending Carolina Hurricanes hockey games, and caring for Louis and Honey, the long-haired dachshunds he and his wife share at their Greensboro, North Carolina home.

Tom Forman

Laguna Beach, CA/Nantucket. Tom has created and produced more than 100 television series, receiving the Peabody and Murrow Awards for his documentary work, multiple Emmy and People’s Choice Awards for his entertainment programing, along with NATPE’s Innovator Award for his groundbreaking formats. His previous venture, Critical Content, was one of the world’s largest producers of unscripted content. While running that company, Forman created and produced series like Get Organized and Instant Dream Home on Netflix, Catfish on MTV, The Great Food Truck Race on Food, Cheap Old Houses on HGTV, and Celebrity Game Face with Kevin Hart on E!. Prior to Critical, Forman worked with international television producer Endemol, where he created and ran the hit ABC show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Earlier in his career, Forman oversaw series for CBS News, including a five-year stint on the long-running news magazine 48 Hours. In 2001 Forman wrote and produced the documentary 9/11, also for CBS News, for which he won Emmy, Peabody, Edward R. Murrow, and WGA Awards.

J. Christopher Gagnier (Chris)

Bryn Mawr, PA / Nantucket, MA. After retiring from a long career in finance, Chris set his sights on giving back to the Nantucket community that has meant so much to him and his family. He and his wife Karen have been coming to Nantucket for over 30 years, and their love for the island has grown alongside their family, which now includes four children and six grandchildren. Chris most recently served as Head of North American Fixed Income at Aberdeen Asset Management and is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (BS) and the University of Chicago (MBA). He has been actively engaged in community service, including as a Board Member and Chair of Fairwinds – Nantucket’s Behavioral Health Center, and as Board Chair of the Gemma Foundation in Plymouth Meeting, PA. In his spare time, Chris can be found enjoying Nantucket’s beaches, biking, fishing, and golfing, and he especially values experiencing the island through the eyes of his grandchildren and sharing with them all that makes Nantucket special.

Christopher S. Helle (Chris)

Ardmore, PA / Siasconset, MA. Chris discovered the alluring charms of Nantucket as a kid. After a decades-long hiatus, he and his wife Heather decided to replicate the magic for their kids – and themselves – in Sconset. From Fortune 30 companies to disruptive startups, Chris is known as a data-driven, insight-led brand strategist, high-energy product marketer, and obsessive customer experience champion. He is passionate about identifying differentiating strategies that solve consumer pain points to drive profitable market share growth and has done so across healthcare, technology, entertainment, and packaged goods verticals. Chris currently serves on the Advisory Board of Pontis Biologics, a biotech startup. He was most recently the Global Chief Marketing Officer at Premier Dental & Medical Products, a 112-year-old legacy global brand active in 76 countries that sold to PE firm Randial Equity Partners in 2025. At Premier; he built and led a team of 30, establishing a consumer-driven, AI-enabled set of best practices to drive marketing and sales efficacy and efficiency, fueling industry-leading growth. Prior to Premier Chris was the Executive Director of brand strategy & product marketing at Comcast for the $70B Xfinity brand across the internet, TV, voice, and home security product lines. Chris also has extensive consumer packaged goods experience, having held marketing leadership roles propelling growth for flagship brands such as Wheaties, Cheerios, Yoplait, Chex, Cambell’s, Trident gum, Halls cough drops while working at iconic multinationals General Mills, Cadbury-Mondelez, and The Campbell’s Company. At General Mills, Chris enjoyed a four-year stint living in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he led the adult / all family portfolio of cereals for Cereal Partners Worldwide, a JV with Nestle, across 75 countries. Chris holds an MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business and a BA in Economics from Middlebury College, inclusive of a junior year at University College London, UK. Chris is active on his local civic association board, where he’s held the President, Past-President, and Vice President roles, and helped advocate for a more sustainable, economically-prosperous, and pedestrian-friendly community. In his spare time, Chris can often be found walking with Heather and their two labradoodles along the Sconset Bluff Walk, with much gratitude, soaking in the wonder that is Nantucket.

Caroline Hempstead

Concord, MA / Nantucket. Caroline has been a summer resident of Nantucket since 2016. She has an undergraduate degree from Southern Methodist University and an MSc in Development for Latin America from the University of London. She was born and grew up in Guatemala and now lives in Concord with her husband Jeff and three children. She is passionate about the arts, education and community outreach programs. In addition to the Atheneum board, she also serves on the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum advisory board.

Sanford Kendall (Sandy)

Nantucket, MA. After several visits to Nantucket in the late ‘60s, and after college, some travels, and an abbreviated hitch in the Air Force, Sandy and his then wife Susan moved to Nantucket where they raised their two sons. During his 20s, he learned traditional Nantucket carpentry skills and restoration and preservation best practices for the pre-Civil War houses in town. In 1977 after building his home on the edge of town, he started his carpentry business which, as it grew, became Sanford Kendall Old House Restoration and Design. He served on the board of the Nantucket Preservation Trust during its early years and on the Historic District Commission. Always happiest when outdoors, Sandy can be found hiking and biking our beautiful island and sailing local waters.

Melissa Brooks MacVicar

Nantucket, MA. Melissa was born and raised on Nantucket. She graduated from Franklin and Marshall College with a BA in English and Boston University School of Social Work with an MSW. Melissa taught in the Nantucket Public Schools for 20 years before retiring in 2023. She is the author of three young adult novels set on Nantucket, and she now publishes a Nantucket history blog on Substack. In addition to the Atheneum Board, she also serves as the Vice President of the Board of the Hospital Thrift Shop.

Kate McFarlin Barney

New York City / Nantucket, MA. Kate is the Chief People Officer at Smartly.io, where she leads global people strategy across talent, culture, and organizational design. She has spent her career living in Shanghai, London, and New York, leading high-growth technology companies to scale and building innovative, high-performing teams. Kate lives in New York City with her husband, Nate, and their three children, Willy, Rosie, and Eliza. Their family has a deep history on Nantucket and spends time on the island every summer and over the holidays. During the pandemic, when much of the world felt closed off, the children developed a lasting love of books through the Weezie Library at the Nantucket Atheneum. Librarians created personalized reading bags tailored to their interests, making each visit feel special and sparking early curiosity and joy in reading. For Kate and her family, the Atheneum is the heart of Nantucket – a central gathering place where families discover books, enjoy art and music programs, and connect with friends. The library is always our first stop when we arrive on the ferry! Kate is honored to serve on the Board of Trustees and support the Atheneum’s mission, its dedicated staff, and its role as a vibrant center for learning, creativity, and community.

Charity Grace Mofsen

Nantucket. Originally from North Carolina, Charity Grace first visited Nantucket in the summer of 2015 and became lovestruck — not just from the serene natural beauty — but more importantly, from the people who reside here. This kinship brought her to become a full-time resident within just a few months. With a love for deep listening and advocating for the island’s community, Charity Grace now serves as the Legislative Liaison to State Representative Dylan Fernandes. Inspired by the beauty of Nantucket and the island’s unique history, Charity Grace shares her gifts as a Photographer with brilliant fine art prints and creative storytelling through portrait sessions. Having a degree in Sustainable Residential Design and Development from Maharishi International University, Charity Grace is fascinated by the architecture, history, and buildings of Nantucket and holds her real estate license at Centre Street Realty. An advocate for the empowerment of youth, Charity Grace serves on the board at Nantucket Lighthouse School. Her experience in a consciousness-based learning environment allows her to bring a holistic approach to education that enlivens one’s creativity and encourages the development of full human potential. Charity Grace keeps her feet on the ground with a love for gardening and her head in the stars with a fascination for Astrophotography. Her dog Hershel brings her joy every day.

Alan Charles Raul

Washington DC / Nantucket. Alan is a Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School, where he teaches “Digital Governance: Privacy, Artificial Intelligence and Information Technology.” He has also taught “Cybersecurity Risks, Rules and Responsibilities” at Harvard and Georgetown where he served as an Adjunct Professor of Law. Alan was the founder and for 25 years the leader of Sidley Austin LLP’s global Privacy and Cybersecurity practice. Alan is Chair and President of the Board of Directors of the Future of Privacy Forum and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Alan is also Board Chair and President of the Society for the Rule of Law, which he helped found in 2018 as “Checks and Balances.” In 1990, Alan co-founded the “Lawyers Have Heart” 10K run and walk, to benefit the American Heart Association. Alan previously served in government as Vice Chairman of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, General Counsel of the Office of Management and Budget, General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Associate Counsel to the President. Alan is a graduate of Yale Law School, Harvard Kennedy School, and Harvard College. On Nantucket, he lives in town with his wife Mary Tinsley Raul, golden retriever Harry, and children visiting from New York and London.

Margaret Ruttenberg

New York, NY / Princeton, NJ/Nantucket. Margaret holds board certification in anesthesiology and palliative medicine. She practiced the former for 15-20 years and in 2024 retired as faculty of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in palliative medicine. There her primary clinical role was to collaborate with emergency room staff in establishing the best course of action for their most critically ill patients. Margaret’s husband, John Ruttenberg, is a computer scientist at Qualcomm, Inc. They have been summer residents of Union Street since 1997. Margaret has served previously on other not-for-profit boards, including Planned Parenthood, Boston Ballet, and Historic New England. She is presently on the board of American Repertory Ballet and the Nantucket Community Foundation. Margaret grew up in a number of places in the United States. She is a graduate of Lewisburg Area High School in Lewisburg, PA; Princeton University (1976); Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (1983); and Harvard School of Public Health (1996). She did her internship and residency at Yale University (1983-86, although that’s really a blur). Margaret and John have three adult children dispersed from Cambridge, MA to Truckee, CA to Seattle, WA. Now she spends most of her time visiting children and grandchildren, trying to finish off some shelved writing projects, and checking off exotic destinations from her bucket list.

Roberto J. Santamaria

Nantucket. Roberto serves as the Executive Director for Fairwinds, Nantucket’s Counseling Center. Previously, he was the Director of Health & Human Services for Nantucket where he led the town’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He has 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 and Director of Public Health for the City of Everett, Massachusetts where he also served as emergency preparedness coordinator. 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 a Doctor in Public Health (DrPH) from The Johns Hopkins University. He also has several certifications, including Six Sigma Green Belt from the Aveta Business Institute, and is a registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian from the National Environmental Health Association. In his spare time, he is an avid Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner, miniature painting enthusiast, and spends time with his wife and children.

Blaise L. Sheppard

Nantucket. Blaise is VP of Finance for OneChronos Global. OneChronos is a Smart Market, a technology company which uses mathematical optimization to match buyers and sellers in industries across the world. After 15 years living in New York City, he is grateful to, once again, call Nantucket home. In his spare time, Blaise and his wife Kat are active water people and members of Nantucket Yacht Club. Blaise is on the Executive Committee of the Dreamland Foundation, Nantucket’s historic non-profit film and cultural center. He is also an avid blues guitar player and amateur guitar collector. Blaise received his B.S. from Providence College and has earned the right to use the CFA designation.

Allison Sievers (Ally)

San Francisco, CA / Siasconset. Ally is a marketing professional and non-profit arts and education board member. A NYC native and graduate of Brandeis University, Ally started her career at global advertising agencies in both the US and Japan, managing packaged goods and corporate service accounts. An avid interest in the creative side of the industry led her to study graphic design and eventually to launch both a stationery design business and a consulting resource for small businesses seeking comprehensive marketing services. Ally has focused her philanthropic energies on arts and education organizations, where she has led development, strategic, branding, and diversity & belonging programs, and served as a museum docent. She is currently a member of the San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary, the Artists Association of Nantucket, the Sconset Civic Association Board of Directors, and serves as a Deputy Marriage Commissioner for the City of San Francisco. Ally and her husband have two grown sons, are profoundly grateful for their Codfish Park cottage, and treasure every moment that they are able to spend on Nantucket.

Mary Taaffe

Nantucket, MA. A seasoned professional and long-time island resident, Mary brings over three decades of Nantucket real estate expertise to the board. Since 1992, she has built a career rooted in a deep appreciation for the island’s unique history, character, and evolving community needs. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Mary is a passionate advocate for the library’s role as a vital cultural and educational hub. Mary’s connection to the Atheneum is personal: she and her husband, James, raised their two children, Abigail and James, on the island. Both children spent many afternoons visiting Weezie Library inside and out, a tradition that fostered a lifelong love of learning as they moved on to graduate studies. Mary values the library’s commitment to community connection and historical preservation and is eager to contribute her perspective to its continued success. Spare time passions are boating, sailing, or exploring Nantucket’s beaches and moors with her family and their two yellow labs, Margot and Ginger.

Ann Taylor

Keswick, VA / Nantucket. Ann and her husband Peter began spending time together on Nantucket in 1979, and their extended family made 98 Main Street their summer home in 1993. Ann is Chief Relationship Officer for the Focused Ultrasound Foundation, where she furthers relationships that accelerate the research and development of therapeutic focused ultrasound technology. Previously, Ann spent three decades as Executive Vice President of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation (Monticello), and as Executive Director of the Darden School Foundation at the University of Virginia. Along the way, she co-founded an award-winning marketing company dedicated to helping the 50+ population meet their vision, hearing, and mobility needs. Ann served on the boards of the Darden Graduate Business School and the Alumni Association at UVA, her alma mater. She earned her MBA from Darden and was named a Shermet Scholar. Ann sits on the board of Expedition Trust Company, a trust company chartered in South Dakota. The Taylors have two grown sons and a daughters-in-law, and two grandchildren, who are delighted to spend time on Nantucket as often as possible.

Katie Tochilin

New York City / Siasconset, MA. A native New Yorker, Katie has been spending summers in Sconset since the age of 2. Forty years on, she is delighted to share the hallmarks of her own island childhood – Sconset Market muffins, lighthouse bike rides, rainy days spent with a stack of new finds from the Atheneum – with her three young children. A graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Business School, Katie began her career in the advertising industry, working at WPP as a copywriter and strategist. After earning her MBA in 2013 she moved into consulting for media organizations, and she is now at work on her first novel. In New York she is a member of the Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering Associates Committee as well as the Central Park Conservancy Playground Partners, and she serves on the Children’s Committee of the New York Society Library. In Sconset she and her family are active members of the Casino and ardent supporters of the Sconset Trust.

Chrissy Braden Worth

San Francisco, CA / Nantucket. Chrissy has longstanding family ties to Nantucket and has spent many happy seasons on the island, where the Atheneum is a regular stop for her family. She has spent her career in technology and healthcare, building partnerships and products. She earned her BA from Texas Christian University and her MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and is an active volunteer in her community. She believes strongly in the impact of libraries and community institutions.