Staff & Board
Staff Members
Jeffrey Dorsey
(he/him/his)
Executive Director
jeffrey@unionproject.org x226
Jeffrey is a compassionate leader, collaborator, community builder, and activist. He loves being at Union Project because he gets the opportunity to practice all of these qualities everyday. He is grateful to work with people who are also actively working toward positive change in their lives and communities. When he isn’t at UP you will find him walking in nature, meditating, playing soccer, or making paintings as social commentary.

Michelle Clesse
(she/her)
Director of Engagement
michelle@unionproject.org x229
Michelle is an engagement escalator, data junkie, spreadsheet fanatic, and visual artist. She believes clay can and should be used to unite people and build empathy. She is dedicated to making sure everyone has the chance to explore clay. Outside of UP, Michelle really enjoys baking, lifting weights, and making spreadsheets to track all sorts of nonsense.

Milo Berezin
(he/him)
Arts Education Coordinator
milo@unionproject.org x242
Milo is a visual artist who loves printmaking, drawing, and working in clay (sometimes he even blends all three). He loves supporting fellow artists in building their careers and crafting experiences to explore ceramics for children and adults. When Milo isn’t at UP, he is home surrounded by his pet snakes, spiders and lots of other critters.

Rebecca McNeil
(she/her/hers)
Shared Chief Financial Officer, Arts Finance Cohort
rmcneil@artscohort.org
Rebecca is a number genius and uses budgets to tell stories. She’s basically the Tolkien of excel. Rebecca comes to Union Project through her shared role with The Arts Finance Cohort members including Contemporary Craft, New Hazlett Theater, Pittsburgh Glass Center, and Union Project. Rebecca is a classically trained clarinetist with a degree in performance and plays clarinet with a local community ensemble and loves vegan treats.

Sam Laffey
(she/her)
Marketing Coordinator
sam@porterloves.com
Sam is a writer, designer, artist, social media addict, and marketer dedicated to supporting artists and small arts organizations. She loves working with Union Project because we are always looking for ways to push ourselves to build a more empathetic and equitable community through the arts. We’re never “done.” Sam has two dogs that run her life, is obsessed with the color green, and watches way too much TV.

Board Members

Trevor Smith
(Chair)
Client Solution Specialist, PNC Bank

Susan Spangler
(Co-Chair)
Psychotherapist

Patricia Loughran
(Treasurer)
Principal, Corporate Operational Risk, BNY Mellon

Gregory Murray
(Secretary)
Trial Attorney, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Anna Kearney
Impact Investing Consultant

Adam Kenney
Creative Business Accelerator

Amanda Markovic
Associate Principal Architect, GBBN

Emiola Jay Oriola
Associate Director, INVESTING NOW

Felipe Palomo
Project Manager, City of Pittsburgh

Leah Rainey
Housing Program Specialist, Allegheny Department of Human Services

Sara Rosenblum
Student, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, MPA, Public and Nonprofit Management

Vernon Simmons
Physicist, University of Pittsburgh