Wendy Shafer, Board CHAIR

Wendy Shafer is a results-driven professional with a diverse background in institutional business development, marketing, and client service within the financial services industry. Her career spans significant roles at firms where she has consistently delivered strategic initiatives and operational excellence.  She began her professional career at the University of the Arts, where her love and support for the arts was initially formed working with art students.  She then moved to Los Angeles and spent 25 years where she began volunteering in arts and  arts education.  Wendy relocated to Pittsburgh in 2021 and in 2023 joined the MICHIYAYA board providing support in building their Pittsburgh presence.  

Wendy holds a Master of Education in Psychoeducational Processes and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Women’s Studies, both from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.

Rie Schmidt, Treasurer

Rie Schmidt has had over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector–as the president of the New York Flute Club from 1995-98, as the treasurer for Arts in Action Visual Arts Program, as previous treasurer for Flute Force, and as previous treasurer for the New York Flute Club. Rie is a graduate of SUNY Purchase. In 1983, she gave her Carnegie Recital Hall debut as a winner of the Artists International Competition. Ms. Schmidt is a member of the Westchester Philharmonic and the American Symphony and has performed with the New York City Ballet Orchestra, the American Composers Orchestra, and many Broadway shows. She was a featured flutist and dancer in Leonard Bernstein's Mass which was performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. She and her husband, guitarist Benjamin Verdery, concertize as a duo throughout the US and Europe and have recorded two CDs of music for flute and guitar Reverie (Sony) and Enchanted Dawn (GRI). She is a founding member of Flute Force, a flute quartet, which has four CDs Flute Force (CRI), Pastorale (VAI), Eyewitness (innova), and Silver Halo. She teaches at The Bloomingdale School of Music, The Allen-Stevenson School, and The 92nd Street Y in New York City. Her publications include Ravel's Daphnis and Chloé (McGinnis and Marx) arranged for flute quintet, and Barber's Adagio (Schirmer Music).

Michelle Mantia, Secretary

Michelle Mantia is the current Operations Manager of Intrommune Therapeutics. She earned her B.A. in Actuarial Science from Baruch College and has over 6 years of experience working with both corporate and arts non-profit organizations. Having studied saxophone for many years, and coming from a music background, Michelle enjoys sharing her time spent working with both growing arts organizations and innovative biotechnologies. For over three years Michelle served as the Project Manager for the New York Piano Society. She currently serves on MICHIYAYA Dance’s Board of Directors and as the Business Manager for non-profit Every Voice Choirs.

Joanne ziello, Board Member

Joanne Ziello graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and initially worked as a surface designer. Later, she earned a Master of Science (MS) in Education and dedicated 20 years to teaching art at a public middle school.

As a champion of the arts, Joanne finds joy in making connections and staying informed about innovative developments in the field. She's had a bird's-eye view of the evolution of creative endeavors, spotting emerging trends and studying the impact of social media. Joanne is passionate about multidisciplinary arts, where the free exchange of ideas and cross-pollination thrive.

One of her proudest achievements was creating and advising an after-school music club, where she fostered a community where students felt seen and connected through music. The underground initiative evolved into a valued, inclusive, and established program. In 2006, she established a music blog and wrote about under-the-radar music and organizations that have since contributed to a broader cultural landscape. For many artists, it was their first online exposure.

Joanne was pivotal in supporting her husband's fine art framing business, founded in their basement in 1983. Today, Ziello Inc. is an international and growing company run by their children, and she takes pride in being its matriarch.

Now retired, Joanne resides in Catskill, New York, where she actively participates in writing, performing, and songwriting workshops and attends various art-related events. The Hudson Valley is becoming a vibrant hub for the arts, offering new performance opportunities for companies like Michiyaya.