Development Team
Elizabeth Namen - Development Director
Elizabeth, the Artistic Director of Epoch Arts, heads up all artistic aspects of Epoch Arts as well as the theater department. She is the founder of the Ague Spring Players and Epoch Arts. She currently teaches 1-2 classes per semester and is the administrator of all Epoch Arts Days, Senior and Junior student plays, and the theater performances. She also devotes much of her time volunteering for community events and fund raising for the organization. Elizabeth attended Trinity College majoring in Theater Arts. Her previous employment includes youth instruction at Oddfellows Playhouse in Middletown, CT and teaching artists at The Hartford Stage in Hartford CT.
Teri Pretash - Marketing
Teri joined our Epoch Team three years ago with a desire to assist in aspects of marketing and expanding Epoch’s rehabilitation of our building. Teri creates promotional materials for our fundraising campaigns as well as our brochures and outreach materials. Teri is the owner and creative director at Generate Studios, a design studio based in East Hampton Connecticut. She is an expert at visual communications, creating conceptual work with straightforward, effective messages. Prior to opening Generate, Teri worked for nearly three decades as a freelance graphic designer.
Deb Robinson - Administrative Coordinator
Deb is dedicated to a core belief in the potential of all children. She believes the many artistic outlets available at Epoch allow them to realize their often untapped creative skills and artistic potential. Her roles at Epoch have been varied; from teacher's assistant to stage hand to "working the door" at events. Deb provides organizational support and participates in many aspects of the daily work at Epoch. She offers a caring, devoted heart in her work here. Deb is also a proud mother of two and brings strong community connection through her years of involvement in our community.
Carolyn Russell - Volunteer Manager
Carolyn first got involved with Epoch Arts shortly after moving to East Hampton in 2013. She is passionate about Epoch's mission and believes that everyone should have a place that fosters their creativity. She has a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management, and has been working in the non-profit world for more than 20 years. She is currently the Senior Director of Food Sourcing and Distribution at the Connecticut Food Bank, where her team is responsible for sourcing more than 25 million pounds of food through local and national donations, and government funded programs. Prior to her current position at the Connecticut Food Bank, Carolyn worked at the Maryland Food Bank in Salisbury, MD, and Food Lifeline in Seattle, WA. In her spare time Carolyn enjoys baking and is always happy to create themed cakes and treats for events at Epoch.
Volunteer Needed! - Grant Researcher
The Grant Researcher is responsible for researching grants from foundations, corporations, and government sources requiring proposals for both unrestricted operating revenue and restricted projects. Essential Functions: To provide accurate and reliable information and work closely with the grant writer to help assist in generating proposals and grants for the organization.
Volunteer Needed! - Donor Relations Manager
The DRM is responsible for developing and building relations with current and prospective donors. They help develop fundraising strategies to enhance and grow revenue within the organization. They are able to tell the story of how your team and work are connected to your organization’s mission and will engage with donors and sponsors in order to increase proceeds and lower costs.