The Stissing Center for Arts & Culture in Pine Plains announced major leadership changes on Thursday, Dec. 19. Patrick Trettenero, who stepped down as board president earlier this month after a three-year tenure and was succeeded by Gwen Greene, will now take over as executive director, replacing Brett Bernardini.
“I have a really passionate commitment to the town of Pine Plains,” Trettenero told the Herald. “A lot of what has motivated me to do this work is my love of this community, and I think that the Stissing Center has tremendous opportunity for growth as a community resource.”
Trettenero, who resides in Pine Plains with his husband Patrick MacMurray, brings a wealth of experience to his new role as executive director of the nonprofit arts hub. During his two decades at NBCUniversal, he led “Brandworks,” the in-house creative agency for the Cable Entertainment group, producing award-winning branded content for USA Network, SYFY and CNBC, while supporting NBC, Bravo and Universal Pictures. Beyond television, Trettenero has invested in several Broadway productions, including Next to Normal, which won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama; Hedwig and the Angry Inch; and Kimberly Akimbo, the 2023 Tony-winning Best Musical. Locally, he co-chaired Pine Plains’ Bicentennial Committee and has overseen the restoration of the historic Church of the Regeneration.
Gwen Greene, who lives in Pine Plains with her partner Dennis and poodle Charlie, retired last year after a four-decade career on Wall Street, including serving as vice president of JP Morgan Securities. A trustee of her alma mater, the University of Rochester, Greene has mentored students aspiring to enter the financial industry for over 20 years, particularly those without access to support networks. In recognition of her contributions, the university named its career center the Gwen M. Greene Center for Career Education and Connections. “I don’t have children of my own, but I like to think there are hundreds of kids out there who call themselves Gwen’s kids,” Greene told the Herald.
As board president of the Stissing Center, Greene is focused on the transformative power of the arts and education. “Everyone on the board, without exception, is so committed to what we’re doing, which is to bring the arts into a rural community and to make the community better through the arts,” she said. “There’s nothing more exciting to me than going to a children’s program and asking, ‘For how many of you is this the first time you’ve ever been to a performance?’ Seeing so many hands go up, I think: one day, they’ll talk about their first play, their first magic show, their first science show — and we’ll be part of that narrative.”
The change in leadership comes as the Stissing Center works to complete an ambitious renovation plan. Under Bernardini, the nonprofit launched a $10.4 million capital campaign in January 2023. Since then, that goal has been significantly reduced.
Currently, the center seeks to raise $5.5 million by 2030 to fund its comprehensive nine-phase plan. This includes essential upgrades like accessibility improvements, a new rear addition with an elevator and staircase, and the creation of versatile event spaces. In October, the center secured $750,000 in state funding for accessibility projects.
“Our goal is to make this entire building a resource for the community, but I don’t think what the community needs is necessarily something that feels luxurious,” Trettenero said. “We need this building to be of service. This is an opportunity for us to create something that will for generations serve Pine Plains. The temptation was maybe to over design the building and we’re pulling back on some of those choices.”
“Every transition in an organization comes with a set of challenges,” Trettenero said. “For me, the most important thing is to focus on the future and the potential that the Stissing Center has to serve this community.”
The center employs four full-time and one part-time staff member. Bernardini joined the center as executive director in December 2022. In addition to launching the capital campaign, he oversaw two years of summer children’s theater, promoted the chamber music series and increased public awareness of the organization.
“Brett’s greatest strength was his ability to build a roster of entertainment events that continued to grow in the two years he was with us. He built up our reputation as a regional arts center that is going places,” Trettenero said. “I’m grateful to him for that.”
“I met some of the most beautiful people that I was blessed to know — the donors, the staff, volunteers and artists,” Bernardini told the Herald. “The residents that make up Pine Plains are some of the most beautiful people that make up my life, and I will miss them more than words can say. I was invested for the long haul to make a positive impact for this amazing community. Things didn’t work out as I had hoped.”
In a press release, Greene said, “We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Brett Bernardini for his contributions to the organization. During Brett’s tenure, the Stissing Center made strides in programming, especially, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
