Our Leadership

James Granville

Chairman

Jim is the Principal Law Clerk to Supreme Court Justice Edward A. Pace. He lives in East Aurora with his wife Claire and their three children. All of whom have volunteered at West Falls Center for the Arts since its inception.

“Art is a necessity almost as old as humankind, and is an indispensable means of uniting the individual with society. The work we do at West Falls Center for the Arts is crucial to the enrichment of our community. It elevates our human experience and helps us find common ground.

“It is why people want to live here and visit from all over to experience and engage in live music, and visual arts. It is why we continue to expand and diversify our programming.

“To have a role in supporting the people and programs that make these things possible is humbling and extremely rewarding.”

Carolyn Scott Panzica

Carolyn Panzica is the lead artist behind the West Falls Center for the Arts. Carolyn is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, majoring in Photography. In addition, she received training at La Varenne Ecole de Cuisine in Paris, France. To her core, Carolyn believes that creativity fuels life, enriches a community, and is critical for future generations.

Carolyn bridged her formal educational training with cake design in sugar art, bringing creative and unusual cake design techniques to the WNY area. She was the Cake Artist at famed Butterwood Desserts, which she owned along with her husband, Bill. There she created highly desired cake designs with original themes for high-end events, locally and nationally. Butterwood Desserts provided these specialty desserts to The Kentucky Derby, NASCAR, US Open, US embassy in Nassau, NFL, NHL, and the N BA.

Carolyn developed and perfected the nearly forgotten technique of “stringwork” in sugar art. Her Stringwork art installations culminated in the show “An Overabundance of Detail” at the Burchfield-Penney Art Center as well as their biannual show.

Carolyn has received multiple artistic awards and recognition as a Finalist in sugar art competition in Toronto, Canada; Finalist in national sugar art competition in Napa Valley, California and Honored guest in sugar arts show in London, England. Her work has appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, Gourmet Magazine, American Cake Decorator, Pastry Arts and Design as well as several local publications.

As Carolyn’s children grew and became interested in classical piano, she and her husband began to transform their bakery building into a practice space for early morning piano lessons, hosting a dozen kids with 2 instructors from 6am-8am each weekday before school. Seeing the success of this program - the incredible musical progress as well as the kids success in school, Carolyn envisioned a center for artistic pursuits, particularly music, to benefit the whole community. The Center has since grown it’s music programs which now support young people, caregivers, Veterans, young autistic adults as well as welcoming local, national and international performing artists into a beautiful rural community.

Carolyn has grown her role from artist to art director. She is the heart and soul of the West Falls Center for the Arts.

Doug Yeomans

One of WNY’s most accomplished musicians, Doug has been a part of the West Falls Center for the Arts from the start. Doug has been the lifeblood of the organization’s music program, bringing talents musicians from throughout the US and beyond into our small community. Doug’s devotion to youth mentoring has been responsible for the growth of our Kids Jam and Community Jam Sessions.

Doug Yeomans was inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame in 2004. In 2001 he won the North American Rock Guitar Competition. The Buffalo NY music awards have named him Best Blues Guitarist, Best Country Guitarist and Best Bluegrass Guitarist.

Doug continues to perform regularly throughout WNY and is passionate about his role as music director for the West Falls Center for the Arts.

Chris Barusic

Chris Barusic loves music. She followed her passion for live music performance into the early days of the West Falls Center for the Arts and she has never left. Chris is dedicated to giving back to the community and excited about what she what the West Falls Center for the Arts can achieve.

Chris’ career in Real Estate spans more than 35 years. As a Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services she has a pulse on the changes and opportunities that exist in the area.

Chris Barusic was born and raised in the Southtowns. She is a married mother of 2 grown children she raised in West Falls. She has a sweet golden retriever named Kindle.

Teresa Schwarzott

Teresa is an Educator with the Williamsville Central School District. She has been a teacher of the deaf and hard-of-hearing for 20 years, with Williamsville and has 22 years in education. Teresa works with children of all ages and abilities. She Got involved with the West Falls Center for the Arts because she believes in their mission. She enjoys using her organizational skills to help bring music, art and wellness programs to the West Falls, East Aurora and Orchard Park communities. Teresa lives with her husband, John, and their 2 children in East Aurora.

Fred Saia

Rita Greis

For over a decade, Rita has acted as events coordinator and marketing associate for events such as The Buffalo Wing Festival, National Hamburger Festival, NASFT Fancy Food Show, Nascar Races at PIR and Yancey’s Fancy Inc., 

After realizing her passion for non profit work, Rita Greis went on to become the Development Manager for the March of Dimes of WNY, responsible for achieving the financial goals of March for Babies Buffalo and Signature Chefs Auction. 

Since 2017, Rita has served as assistant to the president/CEO and Events Coordinator for Buffalo Hearing and Speech Center.

Rita and her husband also own CRG Family Farm where they raise chickens and cows. 

Raised on a dairy farm in Delevan, NY, Rita now resides in Bennington, NY with her husband and 3 beautiful children.

Ed Hempling

Ed is a retired police Buffalo Police Officer and former Director of the Erie County Law Enforcement Academy.  He earned his Masters of Business at the University of Buffalo and went on become the Chief of Fiscal Services before retiring from the Police Department. 

Ed has also been very active in the community and was a softball coach and on the executive committee for Girls Softball in Orchard Park.  Since retirement he is involved with helping raise his five young grand children.

His passion for music has grown over time and he appreciates the range and quality of the music he has been able to enjoy as a regular attendee at the West Falls Center for the Arts.  One of the things he hopes the public will take more advantage of is the Musical Memories Cafe.

Patti Parks

Patti Parks is an inducted member of the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame. Ms Parks is active in a variety of community programs that support both health and wellness and

is the founder of the Nurs’n Blues Music therapy program designed to empower both adolescents and adults through recovery.

Ms Parks holds a Masters Degree in Nursing Education.