Board of Trustees
Don Erdbrink
Chair
d.erdbrink@gsaanh.com
Chair
d.erdbrink@gsaanh.com
Don was born in Baltimore and studied three years of Classical Guitar, Voice and Theory before transferring to the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He holds a Bachelors degree in Music and Performance. Don has a life long interest in history and has studied many periods including Medieval History, World War II and has a strong overall understanding of Music History.
Don performed successfully in many bands over the years, mostly on the East Coast. Don has taught privately, performed for radio commercials, and worked as a studio musician. He has worked as warm up act for The Fixx, Jonathan Edwards and Chubby Checker just to name a few. His catalog of recordings includes 10 CDs, 6 in a Vocal Rock vein and 4 in a (totally different) New Age style. Don's music has been aired on radio stations through out New England and he has enjoyed steady CDs sales both domestically and internationally.
After 20 years of performance, Don accepted a job at Muzak, a Business Music company that provides music to many businesses. In his twelve years at Muzak Don worked as a Client Relations Field Representative, then as a Regional Manager and finally as National Client Relations Manager, managing a $2,500,000 monthly base of business over one fourth of the US. Under his leadership at Muzak the company developed standardized national "best practices", as well as the development of a data base interface to better service cross territorial and national clients. The model he developed is still in use at the company.
Currently Don works as a free-lance musician, and has started Daesongs Publishing, a local company assisting local musicians to get recorded and promote their music.
Don lives in Exeter with his wife, step-son Michael, and two daughters, Emily is a Freelance Audio & Video Professional in LA and Haley holds a degree in Journalism and Psychology.
Don performed successfully in many bands over the years, mostly on the East Coast. Don has taught privately, performed for radio commercials, and worked as a studio musician. He has worked as warm up act for The Fixx, Jonathan Edwards and Chubby Checker just to name a few. His catalog of recordings includes 10 CDs, 6 in a Vocal Rock vein and 4 in a (totally different) New Age style. Don's music has been aired on radio stations through out New England and he has enjoyed steady CDs sales both domestically and internationally.
After 20 years of performance, Don accepted a job at Muzak, a Business Music company that provides music to many businesses. In his twelve years at Muzak Don worked as a Client Relations Field Representative, then as a Regional Manager and finally as National Client Relations Manager, managing a $2,500,000 monthly base of business over one fourth of the US. Under his leadership at Muzak the company developed standardized national "best practices", as well as the development of a data base interface to better service cross territorial and national clients. The model he developed is still in use at the company.
Currently Don works as a free-lance musician, and has started Daesongs Publishing, a local company assisting local musicians to get recorded and promote their music.
Don lives in Exeter with his wife, step-son Michael, and two daughters, Emily is a Freelance Audio & Video Professional in LA and Haley holds a degree in Journalism and Psychology.
Jeffery Marquis
Vice Chair
j.marquis@gsaanh.com
Vice Chair
j.marquis@gsaanh.com
In his role as Branch Relationship Manager at Enterprise Bank, Jeff provides
leading-edge banking solutions to businesses, non-profit organizations and
individuals throughout the Salem NH area. With over 20 years banking
experience, he believes in finding the right solutions for his customers that
will enhance their lives and create a profitable future.
Jeff currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Salem Care Givers
and is also the Treasurer of the Granite State Arts Academy Board of
Trustees. His past community involvement includes many partnerships such
as Lazarus House, Neighbors in Need, Andover Business Association, North Andover Youth Center, Community Works, Lawrence YMCA and the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce. He has worked on many events such as Lawrence Tree Planting, Andover Days, Andover Holiday Happenings, and Taste of Southern NH.
Jeff also has a passion for music and travel. As a member of his local church for over 20 years, he sang in the choir and was a Sunday school teacher for grades 7 – 12. He also organized and chaperoned 2 mission trips to Curacao and Grand Cayman with their youth group. He has traveled extensively throughout the United States and to more than 13 countries including Africa, Italy, Austria, France, Mexico and the Czech Republic to name a few.
Jeff currently resides in North Andover enjoying local travel to the Cape, Maine, Vermont and NH with family and friends. Although he loves to travel the world, New England will always be home.
leading-edge banking solutions to businesses, non-profit organizations and
individuals throughout the Salem NH area. With over 20 years banking
experience, he believes in finding the right solutions for his customers that
will enhance their lives and create a profitable future.
Jeff currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Salem Care Givers
and is also the Treasurer of the Granite State Arts Academy Board of
Trustees. His past community involvement includes many partnerships such
as Lazarus House, Neighbors in Need, Andover Business Association, North Andover Youth Center, Community Works, Lawrence YMCA and the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce. He has worked on many events such as Lawrence Tree Planting, Andover Days, Andover Holiday Happenings, and Taste of Southern NH.
Jeff also has a passion for music and travel. As a member of his local church for over 20 years, he sang in the choir and was a Sunday school teacher for grades 7 – 12. He also organized and chaperoned 2 mission trips to Curacao and Grand Cayman with their youth group. He has traveled extensively throughout the United States and to more than 13 countries including Africa, Italy, Austria, France, Mexico and the Czech Republic to name a few.
Jeff currently resides in North Andover enjoying local travel to the Cape, Maine, Vermont and NH with family and friends. Although he loves to travel the world, New England will always be home.
Michelle Barrow
Treasurer
m.barrow@gsaanh.com
Treasurer
m.barrow@gsaanh.com
Michelle grew up in Hudson, NH where she attended grade school before moving to Merrimack, NH where she graduated High School. Michelle was a Girl Scout leader for 10 years, grade 1-10, and a youth group leader for middle school aged children for 2 years.
Michelle was in charge of Yearbook development for Smyth Rd School in Manchester, NH for 3 years where she was in charge of photography and layout design. Michelle has had a few different job experiences over the years, as a lunch and recess monitor, Hallmark associate, crossing guard and the front desk at GSAA from 10/2015 to 6/2018. Michelle also worked as a Title Clerk for Toyota for 6 years but overall spent 10 years in the automotive industry before becoming a stay at home mom in 1999.
Michelle married her husband Steve in 1993 and they will be celebrating 26 years in May. Michelle has 2 children, a son who is attending DePaul University in Chicago for Business and Marketing and her daughter who graduated from Granite State Arts Academy in 2018.Michelle has always been active in the classroom as a parent volunteer starting in 1999 when her son entered 1st grade.
Michelle currently lives in Nashua, NH as a part time nanny where she enjoys motorcycle riding with her husband and summer days at the beach!
Michelle was in charge of Yearbook development for Smyth Rd School in Manchester, NH for 3 years where she was in charge of photography and layout design. Michelle has had a few different job experiences over the years, as a lunch and recess monitor, Hallmark associate, crossing guard and the front desk at GSAA from 10/2015 to 6/2018. Michelle also worked as a Title Clerk for Toyota for 6 years but overall spent 10 years in the automotive industry before becoming a stay at home mom in 1999.
Michelle married her husband Steve in 1993 and they will be celebrating 26 years in May. Michelle has 2 children, a son who is attending DePaul University in Chicago for Business and Marketing and her daughter who graduated from Granite State Arts Academy in 2018.Michelle has always been active in the classroom as a parent volunteer starting in 1999 when her son entered 1st grade.
Michelle currently lives in Nashua, NH as a part time nanny where she enjoys motorcycle riding with her husband and summer days at the beach!
Alison Gangler
Board Member
a.gangler@gsaanh.com
Board Member
a.gangler@gsaanh.com
Alison Gangler is a Sr. Software Engineer in Release Engineering at Autodesk in Manchester, NH. She has lived and worked in New Hampshire for almost 20 years and currently works in the BIM (Building Information Management) area of Autodesk, working on product installs and licensing. Before working in Technology, she lived in Europe for sixteen years where she worked as a free-lance musician, playing oboe and historical double reed instruments with many well-known conductors and chamber orchestras, such as Reinhardt Goebel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, and Gustav Leonhardt. She has recorded on the Archiv, Teldec and Sony labels. She currently performs with Boston Baroque Orchestra, Grand Harmonie, and other small chamber music groups in the Boston area.
She believes in the importance of supporting the initiatives for growth of the Arts as well as Technology in education and is excited to have the opportunity to be part of the Board of Granite State Arts Academy. She lives with her family in Hampstead. Her daughter, Elena, is currently attending GSAA where she enjoys being able to focus on her studies while being able further develop her strong interests in the arts.
She believes in the importance of supporting the initiatives for growth of the Arts as well as Technology in education and is excited to have the opportunity to be part of the Board of Granite State Arts Academy. She lives with her family in Hampstead. Her daughter, Elena, is currently attending GSAA where she enjoys being able to focus on her studies while being able further develop her strong interests in the arts.
Jamie MacFarland
Board Member
j.macfarland@gsaanh.com
Board Member
j.macfarland@gsaanh.com
Jamie is Regional Sales Manager at Fortinet, Inc based in Sunnyvale, California who works with large organizations to help them with their Cybersecurity needs and reduce the risk of cyber- attacks. With over twenty years in sales and marketing of technology solutions, Jamie brings a wealth experience in working with organizations, large and small to help them improve efficiency and productivity through technology.
Jamie has volunteered with several boards and committees in his home town of Merrimack, NH including the Technology Advisory Committee and Economic Development Committee.
Jamie was raised in Billerica, Mass, and now resides in Merrimack, NH with his Wife Chris and Children Kayleigh and Connor. In his free time, Jamie enjoys travel, and attending many sporting events.
Jamie has volunteered with several boards and committees in his home town of Merrimack, NH including the Technology Advisory Committee and Economic Development Committee.
Jamie was raised in Billerica, Mass, and now resides in Merrimack, NH with his Wife Chris and Children Kayleigh and Connor. In his free time, Jamie enjoys travel, and attending many sporting events.
Paula Trout
Board Member
p.trout@gsaanh.com
Board Member
p.trout@gsaanh.com
.Paula was raised in Billerica, MA, where she met her husband, Jeff. After attending college at University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA, they married and settled in Tewksbury, MA.
Paula spent 8 years in the service industry at a small, successful local restaurant, Garrison’s Restaurant, where she was promoted to weeknight manager. After leaving Garrisons, Paula spent 4 years as a photographer with Lifetouch Portraits Studio, where she again rose to a studio manger before branching out into freelance photography.
Paula is currently an Sewing Instructor in Salem NH. She has been sewing for over 20 years and has been an avid photographer for 15 years. She enjoys teaching men and women of all ages how to use their new machine, and how to expand their sewing knowledge base.
Currently, Paula lives in Salem NH with her husband and three children, Sarah, Jay and Laura. Sarah is currently attending GSAA and Jay can’t wait until he is old enough to attend. In her free time, she enjoys sewing, embroidery, photography, and all manner of board and card games.
Paula spent 8 years in the service industry at a small, successful local restaurant, Garrison’s Restaurant, where she was promoted to weeknight manager. After leaving Garrisons, Paula spent 4 years as a photographer with Lifetouch Portraits Studio, where she again rose to a studio manger before branching out into freelance photography.
Paula is currently an Sewing Instructor in Salem NH. She has been sewing for over 20 years and has been an avid photographer for 15 years. She enjoys teaching men and women of all ages how to use their new machine, and how to expand their sewing knowledge base.
Currently, Paula lives in Salem NH with her husband and three children, Sarah, Jay and Laura. Sarah is currently attending GSAA and Jay can’t wait until he is old enough to attend. In her free time, she enjoys sewing, embroidery, photography, and all manner of board and card games.
“Mr. Polito just retired as the Head of School of GSAA, after having served for four years in that position.”
With degrees in Chemistry from Boston College and one in Educational Administration from UMass, Mr. Polito began his career as a Chemistry teacher. He taught for ten years at Marian High School in Framingham, MA. During the last five years there, he also served at the Head of the Science Department. During his time at UMass, he was named a Distinguished Scholar of the University. While at Boston College, he play baseball in his freshmen and sophomore years.
Mr. Polito then moved to Catholic Memorial High School in the West Roxbury section of Boston, MA. There he served as Assistant Principal for one year and as Principal for ten years. During that time he served as the New England Regional Associate of the National Catholic Education Association. After leaving Catholic Memorial, Mr. Polito began his public school career of over twenty years in MA. He served as the Principal of Bellingham High School for four years, as the Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Peabody, MA and in the Narragansett Regional School District in Templeton, MA for five years. Mr. Polito retired from the MA public schools after serving as the Superintendent of Schools of the Athol-Royalston Regional School District in Athol for almost twelve years.
Mr. Polito also taught for seventeen years as a Professor of Education at Emmanuel College in Boston, MA. He taught graduate courses to students interested in pursuing a career as a principal in both public and private schools. He recently retired from that position but occasionally directs workshops for those aspiring to the principalship.
With degrees in Chemistry from Boston College and one in Educational Administration from UMass, Mr. Polito began his career as a Chemistry teacher. He taught for ten years at Marian High School in Framingham, MA. During the last five years there, he also served at the Head of the Science Department. During his time at UMass, he was named a Distinguished Scholar of the University. While at Boston College, he play baseball in his freshmen and sophomore years.
Mr. Polito then moved to Catholic Memorial High School in the West Roxbury section of Boston, MA. There he served as Assistant Principal for one year and as Principal for ten years. During that time he served as the New England Regional Associate of the National Catholic Education Association. After leaving Catholic Memorial, Mr. Polito began his public school career of over twenty years in MA. He served as the Principal of Bellingham High School for four years, as the Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Peabody, MA and in the Narragansett Regional School District in Templeton, MA for five years. Mr. Polito retired from the MA public schools after serving as the Superintendent of Schools of the Athol-Royalston Regional School District in Athol for almost twelve years.
Mr. Polito also taught for seventeen years as a Professor of Education at Emmanuel College in Boston, MA. He taught graduate courses to students interested in pursuing a career as a principal in both public and private schools. He recently retired from that position but occasionally directs workshops for those aspiring to the principalship.