CATA announces the hiring of Marybeth Johnson as Development Director and Daniella Santamarina as Development Associate, who join the organization as part of a newly expanded fundraising team. Kelly Rybczyk, CATA’s former Development Director, also takes on a new role as Gift Officer.
These new positions will help expand financial support for CATA’s work and further the organization’s mission to enhance the lives of people with disabilities through the arts. CATA has dramatically expanded programs serving people with disabilities in recent years, with an innovative, community-based model rooted in strong partnerships with disability agencies, day-habilitation programs, residences, and schools. CATA currently provides more than 2,800 arts workshops annually for 1,250 children, teens, and adults with disabilities in painting, dance, acting, songwriting, drumming, creative writing, juggling, yoga, and more.
“As we embark on this exciting next stage of growth for CATA, we’re thrilled to welcome Marybeth Johnson and Daniella Santamarina,” says Margaret Keller, CATA Executive Director. “Now more than ever, CATA relies on donations from our community to support our life-changing work: Each year, CATA must fundraise 80% of its annual budget to deliver robust, inclusive arts programs to a low-income, historically marginalized population. These key full-time roles will expand CATA’s capacity to create opportunities for people with disabilities to explore their talents and express themselves creatively.”
Marybeth Johnson (she/her) has over 20 years of executive experience in nonprofit development, with a focus on building relationships, inspiring generosity, and championing the arts. Most recently, she served as Director of Institutional Advancement at The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH, where she led a team that raised over $10 million in capital and endowment support, expanded its annual contributed revenue by 28%, and grew its membership base to over 4,000 members annually. Her career also includes leadership roles in fundraising and marketing with orchestras in Cincinnati, Baltimore, and Winston-Salem, as well as major gift fundraising for performing arts programs at both The University of Maryland and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Outside of her work at CATA, Johnson enjoys yoga, hiking, snowboarding, kayaking, and playing the cello.
Daniella Santamarina (she/her) graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in December 2024 with degrees in Visual Art History and Psychology. Prior to joining CATA, she worked with the Collections Management Unit at the Bureau of Historic Sites in Cohoes, NY, and has also served as a longtime café server and event support staff at The Mount, Edith Wharton’s Home. She brings a strong passion for cultural humility and curiosity to her work. In her free time, Daniella enjoys figure skating, crafting, traveling, & spending time with the people she loves.
