Board Members and Teaching Staff
Alexis Alcala
Ticketing Manager, MN Opera
Alexis also co-teaches the 4H classes.
Michaele Haynes (Acting President)
Retired Curator, Witte Museum, San Antonio, TX.
Lauren Causey
Executive Director of the Office of Sponsored Research & Projects at California Lutheran University
Rebecca Baldini (VP)
Baldini spent 10 years in the bridal industry as the owner-operator of Lauren & Company Fine Bridals in Keene, NH. A career change led to a music degree and Montessori certification. She served as the integrated arts director at the Montessori Schoolhouse of Cheshire County (NH) before taking on a lead teacher position in a classroom of 3-6 year olds. She currently teaches at Hilltop Montessori School in Brattleboro, VT and runs a fledgling string program there. She is a founder and board member of the Keene Community Music Center and is a freelance harpist for local orchestras, events, and musical theater.
Executive Director and Instructor
Colleen Kahn
I learned to sew as a child through 4-H. I never won a big prize but I did learn how to make beautiful things through sheer repetition. Realizing I loved creating clothing, I earned degrees in Clothing Design from College of St. Catherine and London College of Fashion. Over the years I completed additional training/had extensive practice in bridal, men’s tailoring, millinery, costume making, alterations, dyeing, surface design, and more.
I realized that I loved teaching as much as sewing, so earned advanced degrees from the University of Minnesota. With those, I taught university-level coursework in Clothing Design for several years. After family demands made faculty work difficult, I worked for several additional years with community-based leadership programming.
I’ve tried just about everything you can do with a sewing machine, from upholstering sailboats to fine lingerie, sewing padded costumes and draperies, quilting and home decorating. My favorites are the pretty dresses but I love any chance to learn something new.
Mark Kahn (Treasurer)
Principal with Kahn Solutions Group, is an experienced project management, real estate, and financial consultant. Mark has over 20 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations and was the Director of Planning and Analysis at the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation. Mark enjoys working with diverse groups of people and developing integrated solutions in an organization’s best interest. Mark has a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, a Bachelor’s degree from the Bayes Business School in London, UK, and a Master’s degree in Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota.
Graciela Uribe
is a mother to one preteen daughter, and a retired US Army Veteran. She graduated from college with a focus on Psychology and American Indian Studies, currently putting her degree to work at the VA hospital. Grace is Mexican and an enrolled member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe, and is enthusiastically learning to sew.
Maria Vittone
has been working as a higher education professional for 20+ years. She is currently working in career and technical education and loving it. Right now, Maria is at Hennepin Technical College, where she developed gender equity programs for men in caring fields and women in STEM. Maria doesn’t yet sew, but wishes she could!
Kara Weeks (Secretary)
Tailor in costume industry, Atlanta, GA
Kara’s impressive credits include Hidden Figures and Stranger Things
Retired Board Members
Noted here with our thanks for their role in getting us started:
Ann Aas, enamel jewelry artist and owner of Ann Made in Minnesota
Cynthia Arnold, Retired Chief Technical Officer, Valspar
Suzanne Hendricks, Retired Professor, St. Catherine University