Dee Dee Perrone Colabella – President

Dee Dee Perrone Colabella is a working artist located in Ridgefield, CT.  In addition to continuing her own body of work, Dee Dee owns RPAC Gallery and RPAC Art Center and Academy. She is passionate not only about art but also the creative process and development of the artist. Dee Dee earned her Master of Fine Arts in 2019 from Western Connecticut State University and has experience as a graphic artist, web designer, event planner, and author.

Kenneth Scaglia – Member

Kenneth Scaglia grew up in Indiana and graduated from Purdue University with an Associate degree in Industrial Illustration and a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communications. After working as a draftsman, a production designer and freelance illustrator, Ken worked for Karlsberger Companies, a leading healthcare architecture and planning firm. In 1988, attended Yale University’s School of Art graduate program in graphic design. After graduating in 1990, Ken free-lanced in book and publication design, working for publishers of art collections ranging from Yale University Art Gallery, Storm King Art Center, Colonial Williamsburg, and Rizzoli. He has also worked as a decorative painter creating murals, wall finishes, and floor cloths for private residences. Since 1991 Ken has also been an educator; he began teaching at Norwalk Community College and currently teaches foundation courses at Western Connecticut State University. He also maintains an active exhibiting schedule of his photorealist automotive paintings in local galleries and galleries in Virginia, New Mexico, Florida, and California. Ken and his family live in Weston, CT.

Caren Strauss – Member

Born and raised in New York City, Caren Strauss has lived in Ridgefield for the past 18 years. Years ago, during a break from her career in finance, Caren came to Ridgefield to open a children’s store. While the store has long-since closed, Caren has remained an active member of the Ridgefield community while raising her now thirteen-year-old twins. Caren was most recently the Vice President of Titan Advisors’ Custom Solutions platform where she applied over 20 years of market experience to help manage bespoke mandates for over $2.5B in clients. Caren began her career with The CIT Group and has also held positions with Smith Barney, Warburg Pincus Asset Management, Credit Suisse First Boston, and ArcherOak Capital Management. She holds an M.B.A. in Finance and International Business from Columbia Business School and a B.S. in Finance, cum laude, Beta Gamma Sigma from the Lehigh University School of Business and Economics. She is fluent in French, conversant in Spanish and is an avid traveler.

Melissa Kraus – Member