Lori Berisford – President and Chairman of the Board
After a twenty-year career in Human Resources for the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Group, Lori retired in 1996. Lori’s first venture into philanthropy began at Ridgefield Academy, where she served as President of the Parents Association and later as a member of the Board of Trustees.
Lori now spends time as a community activist and leader, helping local nonprofits such as A.C.T. of CT, Kids in Crisis, RVNAhealth, and the Ridgefield Playhouse build important capabilities and programs to serve those in need. Lori currently serves on the Boards of Founder’s Hall (President), Friends of Ridgefield, Ridgebury Farm, and the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra. Lori also served on the Board of The Center of Education and Empowerment for 12 years, where she led the Nominating Committee and served on the Speaking Up, Speaking Out Campaign Committee.
Lori has spent the bulk of her free time with SPHERE since she first became involved in 2009. She joined the SPHERE Board in the winter of 2011, and in 2014, Lori became SPHERE’s Board Chair and, soon thereafter, also assumed the role of President. In Lori’s role as President, she is responsible for SPHERE’s daily programming, the organization’s budget, and the management of employees and volunteers.
Lori received the Spirit of Dr. King Community Service Award in 2018, which is given annually to a Ridgefielder “who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the community service and selflessness in the finest traditions of Dr. Martin Luther King.”
In 2018, Lori was named one of Ridgefield’s Top 25 in their first ceremony – an honor given to those who stand out in the community for their work to keep Ridgefield a great place to work and live. Lori also shared Ridgefield’s Citizen of the Year award in 2021 with Elaine Cox and was honored by SPHERE with its Commitment to Service Award that same year. In 2024, Lori received the Good Scout Award from the CT Yankee Council, which celebrates the leadership of community leaders.
Lori and her husband, John, also served as Fairfield University Parent Leadership Co-Chairs, an organization that is dedicated to encouraging participation in the University’s various fundraising events and helping parents navigate their own journey with the school. John and Lori were honored with the Parent Leadership Award in 2022 at Fairfield’s Annual Awards Dinner. Lori and John were also recently honored by the Ridgefield Boys and Girls Club, which presented them with the 2025 Champion of Youth Award.
John and Lori have two children, Lane and Liza, both graduates of Fairfield University.
Jill Edelman Barberie
Jill is a licensed clinical social worker (Jill Edelman L.C.S.W.) in private psychotherapy practice for over five decades, first in NYC and then in Connecticut. She graduated with a BA from NYU and an MSW from Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work and received her psychoanalytic training from the Institute of Contemporary Psychotherapy (ICP) in New York City. Jill served on the board of the Mark Twain Library for eight years and was a founding member and chairman of the Allen and Helen Hermes Arts Series, which provides free cultural events at the Mark Twain Library in Redding, CT. Jill is the author of two blogs: www.thecouplestoolkit.com and www.parentingadultspecialneeds.com, as well as a print and e-book, This Crazy Quilt: Parenting Adult Special Needs One Day At A Time, with illustrations by her daughter, Juliette Barberie. Jill and her husband, Michael, live in Redding, and in addition to their daughter, Juliette, a SPHERE member who resides in Ridgefield, they have a son, Samuel, who lives and works in Manhattan.
Rebecca Ciota – Secretary
Rebecca L. Ciota is an attorney and lifelong advocate for adults with disabilities, bringing more than two decades of service, leadership, and professional expertise to SPHERE. She serves as a Director/Officer and Secretary of the organization, providing strategic governance and legal oversight that have been instrumental to SPHERE’s growth and long-term sustainability.
Rebecca first became involved with SPHERE in 2003 through family and community connections and was immediately drawn to its mission to empower adults with disabilities through education, recreation, and the arts. In 2009, she joined the Board of Directors, recognizing that her legal background could meaningfully support SPHERE’s expanding programs and organizational needs. Since that time, she has served as a trusted advisor, guiding the organization on governance, compliance, risk management, insurance, employment matters, and strategic initiatives — all on a pro bono basis.
Rebecca, an attorney with Ciota Legal Group, LLC, is admitted to practice law in Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts. Her professional practice and nonprofit service reflect a shared philosophy: that strong structures, thoughtful advocacy, and principled leadership create lasting opportunity and dignity for individuals and communities alike. Her legal insight has helped SPHERE navigate periods of significant growth while remaining mission-driven, fiscally sound, and operationally secure.
Rebecca’s commitment to nonprofit service has been widely recognized. In 2019, she received SPHERE’s Commitment to Service Award in recognition of her extraordinary dedication and impact. That same year, she was honored by the Connecticut Bar Association with The Honorable Anthony V. DeMayo Pro Bono Award for her exceptional commitment to serving the nonprofit community.
A Ridgefield resident since 2005, Rebecca remains deeply engaged in community leadership and continues to champion inclusive, sustainable organizations that enrich lives and strengthen the broader community.
Wendy Gannon Lionetti
Wendy is a native of Ridgefield, Connecticut, and works for the Town of Ridgefield. She created the SPHERE-It Creations program in 2011 to share her love of beading and creating jewelry with SPHERE members. The program has evolved to include working with clay, allowing SPHERE members to realize their creative potential in making unique, one-of-a-kind jewelry and clay art.
Wendy is active in volunteer work as a member of the Town of Ridgefield Emergency Preparedness PIO (Public Information Office) Team, CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), and the Ridgefield Military Pride Committee, and was formerly on the Ridgefield Emmaus Board of Directors. Wendy is also involved in her church community at St. Elizabeth Seton.
A graduate of the Katharine Gibbs School, Wendy’s career began at a boutique advertising and PR firm in Ridgefield. After taking a break to spend several years at home raising her children, she returned to work and, inspired by her love for the town, sought employment with the Town of Ridgefield. Wendy has received several awards, including the Town of Ridgefield Employee of the Year, the SPHERE Volunteer of the Year, and the Town of Ridgefield Recycling Awareness Award.
Caitlin Granucci
A secondary special education teacher with a decade of service to SPHERE, Caitlin first joined the organization as a Gala volunteer alongside her family. She now plays a vital role in event planning and the leadership of SPHERE Talks, an educational workshop series designed for member enrichment. Caitlin’s work is fueled by her close connection to the members and her appreciation for the joyful, creative environment they cultivate together.
Caitlin and her husband, Dan, have three children who keep them busy when they aren’t working or volunteering!
Patricia Ross
Patricia “Patti” Ross joined the SPHERE Board of Directors in 2025, following years of dedicated service and volunteerism within the organization. A resident of Ridgefield for over 20 years, Patti brings a sophisticated professional background and a deep-rooted passion for the local community to her leadership role.
Prior to her work in the nonprofit sector, Patti built a successful career in New York City as a portfolio analyst, leveraging her expertise in economics, finance, and accounting. This analytical precision now serves SPHERE’s mission, ensuring the organization’s continued growth and fiscal health.
Beyond her professional contributions, Patti is a cornerstone of the Ridgefield arts and philanthropic scene. She is a talented performer and Board member of The Ridgefield Chorale and remains an active supporter of several vital local organizations, including The Ridgefield Playhouse, Founders Hall, Kids in Crisis, and RVNAhealth. Her previous leadership experience includes serving on the Board of Ridgefield Academy, further demonstrating her commitment to education and community development.
Patti lives in Ridgefield with her husband, Steve. Together, they share a love for travel, frequently heading west to California to visit their son, Alexander.
Diana Santos – Treasurer
Kathleen Bowlby – Ex Officio
Kathleen is a Tax Manager for Reynolds & Rowella, LLP and works in their New Canaan office. She is a graduate of Monmouth University and has worked in the financial services field for more than 25 years. She began her career in AT&T’s finance department and then took a break to focus on her family. For the past 17 years, she has worked in public accounting, specifically in tax. Kathleen and her husband Dick are NJ natives and have lived in Ridgefield for 14 years. They have two daughters, Anne and Maggie, who both live in Massachusetts. Anne is an engineer, and Maggie is a special education teacher of a classroom of kindergarten and 1st graders with Autism. It is Maggie’s concern for the future of her students that led Kathleen to SPHERE.