STAFF
Erin Kimmel, Executive Director
Erin Kimmel has more than 15 years of wide-ranging experience in curation, non-profit administration and fundraising. She holds a BA in Art History from McGill University and is a PhD Candidate in Art History at Stony Brook University. Her dissertation addresses the cultural production of small maritime communities on Long Island. She has worked locally on projects for the The Water Mill Center and Stony Brook University, as well as for globally recognized arts organizations such as ArtForum and Ballroom Marfa and on exhibitions for MoMA, The Met Bruer and SFMoMA. She lives in Greenport.
Jacob Raynor, Operations Associate
Jacob has worked in cultural spaces for 6 years, with experience in gallery administration, exhibitions, membership programming, and cataloging both public and private collections. Among other roles, he held the position of Assistant Curator at Gallery North managing exhibition production and installation, and was Curatorial Assistant at the Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery. He holds both his B.A. and M.A. in Art History and Criticism, with a focus on the history of photography and computational photographic imaging. He is an 11th generation Eastern Long Islander, and lives in Baiting Hollow.
BOARD
Joan Ripley, Chair
Joan has served as an Assistant Superintendent of the Farmingdale and Plainedge School Districts for 19 years prior to retirement. She brings many years of experience as a teacher and administrator in elementary and secondary education. In addition Joan serves as President of Friends of Floyd Memorial Library. She holds a Doctorate in Education from St. John’s University which will be put to good use as the Chair of the Museum’s Education Committee. Joan also leads the Land & Sea Gala Committee. She resides in Greenport with her husband, Chris.
Sarah Mills Sands, Vice Chair
A native Greenporter, Sarah brings 35 years of non-profit management experience to the position of chair including 14 years as an Executive Director. Sarah was one of three original Founders of East End Seaport Foundation in 1989 and was instrumental in raising the funds for the building of Bug Light in 1990. Coming full circle to lead the organization in 2025 is something she has imagined for many years. Sarah’s local roots include ancestors in the whaling, oyster and sailmaking businesses. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts from Boston University and completed Graduate Studies in Public Policy at George Washington University. She resides in Orient with her husband, David.
Tim Leitch, Treasurer
Tim is a seasoned financial professional with a wealth of experience from prestigious institutions, including JPMorgan Chase and M&T Bank, where he currently serves as a Senior Relationship Banker. Outside of his business career, Tim is deeply involved in the local wine community, contributing to wine education at Suhru and Lieb Vineyards. Having recently joined the board of Museum, he is excited to bring his passion for community engagement to support the museum’s growth and initiatives.
Karen Sauvigné, Secretary
Karen has 50 years of nonprofit management experience. She has held faculty and management positions at Mount Sinai, Cornell, CUNY Law School, John Jay College, and Baruch College, and chaired the Board of Callen-Lorde Health Center. She served on the Boards of the Asian American Legal Defense Fund, the Public Interest Law Foundation, and the Institute for Women and Work, as well as NYC’s LGBT swim team. She volunteers at SPAT (Cornell’s oyster project) and serves on the Grants Committee of North Fork Women. Her bio is included in Feminists Who Changed America (University of Illinois Press, 2006) for her pioneering work on sexual harassment in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Since 1988 Karen has had a home on the North Fork where she spent summers as a child.
Donna Fakiris, Board Member
Donna Fakiris is a seasoned realtor, developer, and construction professional with more than 40 years of experience in residential, commercial, and multifamily projects across Long Island. As Owner and President of Bravo Contracting Corp and Pomme Group Real Estate, she has led major developments, revitalization efforts, and community planning projects throughout the East End. Donna has long been active in regional real estate and construction organizations and contributed her expertise to the 2025 East End Seaport Museum Gala Committee. She brings a deep understanding of property development, community engagement, and local planning—experience that strengthens the museum’s efforts to grow sustainably and support the working waterfront.
Susan Forbes, Board Member
Susan Forbes is an accomplished designer, educator, and arts advocate whose career in interior architectural design spans more than fifty years. Raised in Southern California, Susan graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1960 and later earned a graduate degree in Environmental Design from Parsons School of Design in New York City. Locally, Susan founded the Anne MacKay Scholarship for North Fork Women, supports community art programming, and remains active in local arts and education initiatives. A longtime homeowner in Orient, she now resides at Peconic Landing and continues to bring creativity, leadership, and lifelong commitment to design to the East End Seaport Museum.
Dave Abatelli, Board Member
Dave has served the North Fork for over 35 years in a myriad of roles. He is most well-known for his work with the Village of Greenport with twelve years in the Community Development Office and 17 years as the Village Administrator. He also worked for CAST, the North Fork Housing Alliance and served on the Greenport BID Board for many years. A retired Naval Reservist and graduate of Long Island University, Southampton, Dave and his wife Lydia operate Lydia’s Antiques and Stained Glass in Greenport.
Pat Nelson, Board Member
Born in Manhattan and raised in Greenport, Pat Nelson is a lifelong mariner, shipbuilder, and advocate for the East End waterfront. After early voyages to the West Indies aboard the Sorcery and fishing aboard the Susan Rose and Margaret Rose, Pat went on to serve on historic vessels including the Pride of Baltimore and Spirit of Massachusetts. He developed a lasting passion for Viking ships after sailing aboard the Roskilde of Denmark in 1990 — work he continues to this day. From 1995 to 2003, Pat worked with Anders Langendal Shipbuilders in Greenport, where he helped restore and construct traditional wooden vessels and refined his skills in authentic shipbuilding techniques. A dedicated craftsman and community member, Pat brings invaluable maritime knowledge to the museum and looks forward to helping expand its educational and community programs.
Libby Koch, Board Member
Libby Meredith Koch is a North Fork native with a lifelong connection to the water and a strong commitment to community service. As lead coordinator of the 2025 Classic Wooden Boat Exhibit, she deepened her appreciation for the museum’s mission and the importance of preserving Greenport’s maritime heritage. Libby serves as crew aboard the 72’ schooner Bonnie Lynn, works as a fitness instructor at Peconic Landing, and contributes to the local maritime community through hospitality work at Little Creek Oyster and seasonal leadership as Lifeguard Manager for the Southold Park District. She holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-Ton Captain’s License and a B.A. in Health Fitness Management. Libby brings energy, insight, and a genuine coastal spirit to the museum’s board
Eugene Pinover, Board Member
Eugene Pinover is a retired real estate attorney who served as a partner and practice leader at Kaye Scholer and Willkie Farr, and as a board member of the major REIT Vereit. He has held leadership roles on numerous nonprofit boards, including presidencies at Trinity School, Disability Rights Advocates, and Ballet Hispánico. Eugene and his wife, environmental artist Cindy Pease Roe, live in Greenport and have supported the museum through her exhibition and educational programming.
Arthur Rast, Board Member
Arthur Rast has worked in the field of architecture for over 12 years for Sendlewski Architects PC, a firm specializing in municipal fire district projects and other commercial work. He brings expertise in managing projects, developing construction documents from design to completion, and understanding the needs of a project. In 2020 Arthur founded Draft ‘N’ Snap Inc., an architecture-based design and consulting firm to service small scale residential and commercial clients. He has lived on the east end of Long Island for over 30 years, and is looking forward to applying his expertise in support of the museum.
Dean Dimotsis, Board Member
Dean is a retired officer with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).He previously served as Deputy Director for Border Security at CBP’s New York Field Office and held senior roles at CBP Headquarters. Dean holds a BS in Biology from Adelphi University and an MS in Leadership and Management from the University of Maryland. A Southold resident since 2017, Dean is an active community member and volunteer with CAST, SPAT, and the East End Seaport Museum.
Nikos Kaplanov, Board Member
Nikos is an attorney for Siemens USA, a Germany-based technology company that focuses on healthcare, infrastructure, manufacturing, and transportation. In addition to his day job, Nikos serves as a volunteer attorney for the Pro Bono Partnerships of New York,fo cusing on Long Island non-profits. He also serves as a board member for the North Fork Polar Bears, which raises money for CAST and Back to the Bays through the Annual Polar Plunge. Nikos holds a BA in Political Science and International Studies from The Ohio State University and a JD from Temple University. A part-time Greenport resident since 2020 (and transitioning to full-time resident in Spring 2025), Nikos resides with his wife and their two sons.
Christopher Scott, Board Member
Christopher, founder of Nomadic Friend Productions, is a media specialist with over a decade of experience in content creation, social media strategy, and digital storytelling for global clients, including the U.S. Embassy and Viacom. A North Fork native, he is passionate about preserving local history and has worked closely with the East End Seaport Museum to enhance community engagement. Christopher brings expertise in modern media platforms to expand visibility, connect with younger audiences, and support funding efforts.
James Shuford, Board Member
James is a project manager for Sun River Health, New York’s largest network of community health centers since 2018. He has served as a board member of the Greenport BID, as well as serving as an advisory board member on the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health. James holds an MA in Anthropology from University at Albany, SUNY and since moving to Greenport in 2020 with his partner, Corinne, has discovered a passion for sailing and a love for the natural beauty and unique history of the North Fork.
Angela Spatorcio, Board Member
Angela is a seasoned executive assistant with 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. Currently, she serves as the Executive Assistant to the Global Head of Fundraising and Investor relations at Warburg Pincus, where she specializes in private equity transactions and stakeholder communication. Previously, Angela supported the CEO and Board Members at MUFG Securities Americas, co-chaired the Women’s Initiative Network, and played a key role in promoting diversity and inclusion within the organization. Her career began at Merrill Lynch, where she assisted high-level executives in fixed income and commodities.
Paul Kreiling, Volunteer Curator
Paul Kreiling, artist, sailor, teacher, local. Immersed in the beauty and culture of the North Fork, he has made a creative life here. Fascinated with the workings of the natural world, his work captures the ebb and flow of nature. As a visual artist he has always contributed to furthering the joy of people participating in what is unique to our area. To that end Paul has created many graphics for a variety of local activities and events. He is owner and operator of Easterly Sailing, a sailing charter business specializing in teaching the joy of sailing. Currently curator of the museum, Paul has been using his graphic skills to create evocative displays highlighting the rich history of the east end.