Team

Liz Powers is driven by ArtLifting’s incredible artists. Her dream is to share their work with the world while also making the economy more inclusive. The inspiration for ArtLifting came from Liz’s experiences as a volunteer social worker from 2007-2010 and founding art groups in shelters for unhoused people from 2010-2012. Liz founded ArtLifting in November of 2013 along with her brother Spencer Powers. Liz was selected for Forbes “30 Under 30” and Boston Globe’s “Game Changers.” During her free time Liz loves to make art out of old books, hike, practice yoga, run, and sail.

Christina Bailey is a strategic growth professional with leadership experience in early-stage startups, non-profit management and corporate partnerships. She believes in conscious capitalism and is motivated to advance disability inclusion. Through her work at ArtLifting, she delivers positive business outcomes for customers while creating economic opportunity for the ArtLifting community. Christina's experience with her disabled sister created perspective and taught her the importance of sharing the talents, values, and stories of marginalized communities. Christina finds joy and energy through her work and being active outside, exploring the world through travel, enjoying good food, and spending time with her friends and family. Her partner Scott, son Jude, and daughter Bree, inspiring her to be curious, intentional, and fun.

Mike Gary found his way into business operations in 2017 and has loved the challenge finding and creating process and business improvements. He was inspired to join the ArtLifting Team by his uncle who was an artist that experienced a traumatic brain injury at a young age. As his creative outlet, Mike enjoys creating pottery and loves the freedom of creating virtually anything out of clay. He is also a proud dog dad to Poppy and Lucy.

Elliott Taylor is a creative professional with over 18 years of experience in the field. He is endlessly fascinated by the creative journey that each artist experiences. Elliott has a wide breath and depth of creative understanding in theory and in practice. He began his career as a photographer, which has given him a quick and keen eye for visual understanding. Since 2015, Elliott has worked with and for artists living with disabilities. One of his core beliefs is that art and creativity engenders understanding, social and cultural bonding, and community for all involved.

Bree Lalor has been curating for ArtLifting for over five years, and now leads our team of curators, who work to create engaging artwork collections for each of our clients. Bree is passionate about the power of art to inspire social change, and the importance of diverse representation in the art world. In her free time, Bree enjoys singing with her a cappella group, biking around New York City, creating her own artwork, and spending time in Prospect Park with her dog, Pinto.

Sadie Shillieto's career has been driven by the desire to make art accessible. Before joining ArtLifting she was in the museum field, focusing on collections care and management. While working with a museum's corporate lending program it became clear to her that the best way to get people to engage with art was by bringing it right into their office spaces. Sadie is excited to now be working for a community of talented artists who are not adequately represented in the rest of the art world, doubling her impact!

Michael Korcek is a marketing professional with over 13 years of experience crafting customer experiences and forging innovative creative partnerships with brands like LinkedIn, MillerKnoll, and Dropbox. He is passionate about art world accessibility and supporting art centers for developmentally disabled artists. In his free time, Michael enjoys exploring Bay Area restaurants, hiking in Northern California, collecting local art, and hanging out with his twin tuxedo cats, Hex and Jinx.

Isabel Yeo is an art sales veteran with over 12 years of experience in the auction and art logistics world. She is passionate about maximizing social impact for corporations and giving back to the community, and previously created the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion squad at a fine art shipping company. With extensive experience in client management, strategic partnerships, and mentoring sales teams, Isabel is results-driven and humbled to be able to play a part in empowering ArtLifting’s artists. She resides in Los Angeles, where she spends her weekends working in dog rescue and rehabilitation.

Laura Prados Bacó supports ArtLifting's inbound and outbound business development and marketing efforts, event strategies, and licensing partnerships. Before joining ArtLifting, Laura honed her marketing skills while interning at Facebook and served as a Business Development Associate at a Boston-based tech startup. She also worked at Babson College's Sorenson Visual Arts Center, where she managed the permanent art collection and facilitated gallery events. Merging her passions for entrepreneurship, social impact, and art, Laura embraces ArtLifting's mission to amplify talented artists often overlooked in the art market. Laura is a dancer, an avid reader (and Isabel Allende super fan), and has recently found a new passion: crocheting!

Anne Bustamante is a Chicago-based contemporary art advisor with more than two decades of combined experience working in the arts and with corporate clients. She works primarily with ArtLifting’s financial partners to make their values visible while creating new opportunities for artists to share their stories and talents more broadly. Anne is an advocate for the arts, an avid reader, and a senior animal super fan.

As an Art Advisor, Erin Cousins specializes in guiding real estate companies to elevate spaces through artwork. Prior to ArtLifting, she worked closely with artists and educators to create immersive installations, community programs, and interactive exhibitions in the museum sector. In all her work, Erin is driven by a desire to celebrate the work of talented creatives in our communities and help people achieve their goals.

Sharon Heitzenroder is a contemporary art advisor with over fifteen years of experience working in the arts, from teaching at the college level to being a practicing artist. As an art advisor, she brings a wealth of experience in creating equitable access for underrepresented communities and ensuring diversity is top of mind for creative collections and projects. In her free time, she can be found hiking and surfing with her dog, or creating art in her studio alongside her cat and dog.

Janessa Post has more than 15 years of experience in fine art galleries, nonprofits, and studios, and has helped hundreds of clients find meaningful artwork for corporate, healthcare, and hospitality projects. She is passionate about creating engaging spaces and promoting inclusivity and understanding through art. In her free time, Janessa enjoys going on paddling adventures, gardening, and playing or watching soccer with her family.

Zara Makhdoom is an art advisor and consultant with a passion for creating meaningful artistic experiences. With a diverse background spanning from gallery management to research, she brings a wealth of expertise to her clients and partners. With a steadfast commitment to enhancing artistic experiences she continues to be an advocate for meaningful and inclusive art engagement. In her free time Zara likes to discover new restaurants, try new recipes, and travel. She loves spending time outside hiking and bird watching.

Aubree Mladenovic is an arts professional with experience across a broad range of sales and creative environments. From restaurant design to antique maps to contemporary art galleries, she has enjoyed helping clients bring their project visions to life. Aubree is passionate about creating opportunities for ArtLifting artists and sharing their stories. Outside of work, she is a devoted concertgoer, reader, and visual artist.

Haley Wodarczyk manages all ArtLifting artists, collaborates with Community Partner organizations, and searches for new artists who can grow and add to our community. She is a passionate advocate who aims to encourage, uplift, provide resources, and impact each individual. Haley’s experience as a Direct Care Counselor and Case Manager for individuals living with disabilities and experiencing houselessness has given her a breadth of knowledge and understanding which she applies to ArtLifting. She loves exploring nature, traveling abroad and creating art in various forms.

Farra Pierre is an artist from Massachusetts who has experience navigating the business of art. Her background in the arts stretches all the way back to childhood where she first started selling her own work. She served as an advisor for local Boston artists looking for ways to form creative businesses, and she helped connect artists to different creative opportunities in New England. Farra's experience in the business of art has led her to ArtLifting, where she uses her skills to help artists living with disability and/or houselessness achieve success.

As an Associate Curator, Olivia makes thoughtful artwork recommendations for clients and advises on the development of ArtLifting's artwork collection. Olivia possesses a background in the field of Interior Design, with experience garnered from her time at Design Within Reach and several small businesses within the industry. She truly believes that design has the power to influence the well-being of individuals and society at large. Living by example, Olivia served an AmeriCorps term as Construction Crew Leader at Austin Habitat for Humanity where she assisted in providing affordable, well-designed homes to Texas residents. Olivia is excited to channel her passion for impactful design into her work at ArtLifting.

Jess Machacek is an artist and designer with extensive experience working in studio management, production and higher education. She is thrilled to showcase the talent of ArtLifting’s artists through design and storytelling, while helping clients visualize impactful spaces that reflect the wider aims of their mission and core values. Jess’s interests outside of work center around art making, plants, and going on adventures to photograph inspiration. She also serves on the board of a nonprofit that is committed to accessibility, sustainability, and the advancement of music and arts education for local youth.

Before ArtLifting, Matt Beckshaw worked at two small art museums in southern Maine, helping to develop new fundraising strategies and improving inventory records. On a typical weekend, you’ll find him browsing through antique stores and flea markets across New England, searching for mid-century mod planters and ceramics to add to his vast collection. Matt is happy to have found a career outside of the museum and gallery world – it’s an honor for him to work so closely with a group of incredibly talented, underrepresented artists who inspire him every day.

As a member of the Operations Team, Alessandra Rosser contributes across account management, artwork operations, and project execution. With a blend of strategic thinking and practical implementation, she ensures effective account management, comprehending each client's needs and curating bespoke solutions that align with their goals and aspirations. With over 6 years immersed in the vibrant Los Angeles art scene, Alessandra has contributed to various art organizations, including a contemporary art fair, an art logistics company, and multiple contemporary galleries. As a practicing artist herself, Alessandra grasps the profound impact and importance of art. Alessandra is passionate about empowering talented artists who are not adequately represented and helping to build meaningful, socially-impactful collections for businesses, aiming to foster inclusivity and diverse representation in contemporary art.

Jocelyn Tuttle is a human resources leader with over 15 years of experience serving startups and mission-driven organizations. She is passionate about finding the sweet spot between business and people, and creating inclusive, supportive, transparent, and fun workplaces. Jocelyn’s free time is filled with baking and cooking for family, learning how to play tennis, snuggling with her dog, Shy, and enjoying the coastline of her home state of Rhode Island.

Jill Houghton is President & Chief Executive Officer of Disability:IN, the leading global nonprofit organization for advancing business disability inclusion and equality. Her more than 25 years of diverse leadership experience driving disability inclusion was ignited by challenges she experienced having a learning disability.

Ms. Houghton leads a team of talented and diverse individuals at Disability:IN, including people with disabilities, who are working to build an inclusive global economy that enables people with disabilities to participate fully and meaningfully. Their work has empowered nearly 500 leading brands to advance disability inclusion and equality through groundbreaking programs.

A well-known speaker and expert on corporate disability inclusion, Ms. Houghton has testified before the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives on issues related to businesses’ commitment to recruit, hire and retain employees with disabilities. Ms. Houghton has been featured in Bloomberg, Business Insider, CNBC TV, Fast Company, Forbes, Fortune, MSN, Protocol and other notable outlets. She is a member of the Communications Equity & Diversity Council of the Federal Communications Commission. Additionally, she serves on the Fifth Third Bank National Community Advisory Forum, M&M’S FUNd Advisory Council, and the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Patient and Family Advisory Council.

While director of the MIT Media Lab, Frank developed a passion for the power of creativity and technology to improve the lives of people living with disabilities. In ArtLifting, Frank has found a social enterprise that truly embodies this principle. He has had a 35-year career as a high-tech, biotech, and health-tech entrepreneur and enjoys pen-and-ink drawing in his spare time. Frank holds a BSE from Princeton and MS and Ph.D. from MIT.