WHO WE ARE
Our Board of Directors
PAULA ESTEY
Founder and Executive Director
Paula Estey is an artist, poet and art advocate who has been creating art, producing shows, and amplifying artists since she was young. She was a founding member of Unity on the River Spiritual Center and for 10 years was the Artist in Residence there, teaching classes, creating paintings and performing her poetry. She taught Painting as a Spiritual Practice for 15 years, helping to train creatives in finding their artistic voice. Many of her students have created successful livelihoods in the Arts. She opened Paula Estey Gallery in 2014. In 2019, Estey pivoted to include social justice, human rights and the environment in her gallery focus and applied for nonprofit status, which was granted in 2021. Estey is now the Creative and Executive Director for The PEG Center for Art and Activism as well as the founder of The Women in Action Huddle of Greater Newburyport, an activist group with the same focus, with over 500 members and friends. She loves community and feels blessed to live and work in Newburyport, MA.
JOE HULL
Joe is a former chief of the Emergency Department, president of the medical staff, and chief medical officer at Anna Jaques Hospital, Newburyport, MA.
He is an athlete who excels in golf, basketball and other sports. A family man with many grandchildren that are his greatest joy in life.
BECCA FUNDIS
Rebecca Fundis studied cultural anthropology and film at Bard College and pursued graduate studies at Brown University before leaving academia for a career in independent cinema. In her early years, she worked with Shadow Distribution, Railroad Square Cinema, and The Maine International Film Festival in Waterville, Maine, and she later moved on to become Associate Director of Upstate Films and Director of Development at Hudson Hall in New York’s Hudson Valley. In partnership with her husband, Ben, she currently runs The Screening Room, an arthouse cinema in Newburyport, Massachusetts, and is mom to their ten-year-old son, Oscar.
MARK ROSEN
COO, Business Management and Marketing Communications
Mark started his career in high tech managing sales for 20 stores at The Computer Store, a pioneer in PC retailing and the First APPLE distributor in New England. He was employee #10 at Lotus Development Corp., inventors of the first spreadsheet for the PC, Lotus 1-2-3. Following top sales positions at various firms, he turned his sales expertise to realty, representing buyers and sellers in the greater Newburyport area. As Paula’s husband and partner, he serves as the backbone for the PEG Center - from solving tech issues and building maintenance to grant writing and webmaster.
GINA DiGIOVANNI
…the owner of Green House, a zero-waste refillery in Newburyport. Gina has owned 3 small businesses in Newburyport and also has a background in non-profit fundraising and grant writing.
Gina lives in West Newbury with husband, poet Alfred Nicol. When not working, Gina paints watercolors and bakes granola.
TARAH LUCIANO
Tarah Luciano is a passionate youth worker and the Program Coordinator for Newburyport Rec & Youth Services, where she focuses on supporting high-risk youth, especially LGBTQ+ individuals and those in public housing. With a bachelor's degree in human services from Southern New Hampshire University, graduating summa cum laude, and certification as a Parks and Recreation Professional, Tarah brings a lot of experience and heart to her work.
Outside of her professional role, Tarah is a founding member and the current president of Newburyport Pride, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that collaborates with the city to bring Pride Weekend celebrations to life. She’s deeply committed to social justice, and much of her work revolves around advocating for marginalized communities.
When she’s not working, Tarah is a proud "metalhead," spending her free time enjoying live shows, and she’s also an avid reader who loves discovering new books and ideas.