Executive Board
Pat Hilton, President
Patricia is a dedicated visual artist, often focusing on plein air painting. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from The Art Academy of Cincinnati and a Master of Fine Arts Degree from Indiana State University.
From 2008 to 2024, Patricia Hilton operated her own business, Patricia Hilton Applied Arts, providing consulting services to a range of clients across the for-profit, non-profit, and government sectors. Her work included graphic recording at conferences, strategic planning facilitation, and session design tailored to client needs. Notable clients included Mars, Inc., AARP, Deloitte Consulting, and Baylor Scott & White Health. She also supported smaller non-profits such as County United Way, Community Trust Foundation, Stage West, and several county arts councils in Maryland. Her work focused on engaging groups and helping them align their efforts with their core missions and values.
Patricia has also served as a Business Specialist with the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. From 2011 to 2022, Patricia played a key role in the Baldrige Executive Fellows Program. As co-developer, manager, and consultant, she collaborated with “Executives in Residence” and Baldrige award recipients to share organizational insights and best practices applicable across sectors.
Tama Scarpelli, Vice President
Tama grew up in Cumberland, and then moved back to the area in 1985, when she married her husband, Nick. She quickly noticed that Cumberland was developing into a thriving arts community. She got involved with the Allegany Arts Council, first as a member, then a Board member, then vice president, then President of the Board. She is very proud and pleased to be back on the Board, and strongly believes that the arts is an economic and cultural driver of the community.
Rachel Darkow, Secretary
Rachel Darkow is originally from the Philadelphia area, where she was born and raised in Media, PA. She received her Bachelor’s in English from McDaniel College in Westminster, MD, moving to Cumberland in 2015 after starting at IBM, where she continues to work in workforce management and staffing government projects. In her free time, she enjoys walking with her dog, Nucky, on the towpath, reading, and watching movies. One of her favorite parts about Cumberland is the strong and passionate arts community and she is excited to be a part of that.
Board of Directors
Michael Harris
Michael grew up in Cumberland and graduated from Fort Hill High School. He continued his education at Allegany Community College in 1974. Seeking new experiences, he moved across the United States, living in Los Angeles, San Diego, Boulder, Tucson, and Santa Fe before relocating to the East Coast, including Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Wilmington. In 2004, Michael returned to his hometown of Cumberland.
Upon his return, Michael attended Allegany College of Maryland, earning associate degrees in two areas of Business, as well as credentials in Paralegal Studies and Information Technology. In 2012, he founded a small-batch hot sauce business, which later expanded into Sabroso Taco’s. Michael has also been an active member of the community, serving on the board of Community Café and the Downtown Development Commission. In 2025, he joined the Allegany Art Council as a member.
Robert Hein
Robert Hein has been teaching photography since 1998, and is currently a
tenured faculty member of the Digital Media and Visual Arts Department at
Frostburg State University. His personal work varies by topic and is
sometimes driven by his students’ interests in media experiments. He has
spoken individually at galleries and museums regionally in gallery talks and
photographic panel discussions, has been awarded the Maryland State
Arts Council Individual Artist Award twice, participated in international
exhibitions including Fine Art Photography Awards (France), Athens
Photography Festival (Greece), and Belfast Photo Festival (Ireland), and
has had solo exhibitions regionally. Robert lives in Frostburg, Maryland with
his wife and two children (both now at college).
Larry Jackson
Since 2000, Mr. Jackson has been the managing partner of several firms specializing in commercial real estate development, including Town Center Development Group, L.L.C., Decatur Heights Development, L.L.C. and Alco Towers, L.L.C.
He has been very active in the redevelopment of the Downtown Cumberland area and has specialized in historic rehabilitation. Mr. Jackson is also co-owner of Allegany Retail, LLC, and Western Maryland Music Center, a retail store which supplies musical instruments and instruction to people of all ages. He also has been a management consultant for Chaney Architects, Inc. of Cumberland, Md. since 1997.
Mr. Jackson also has served in numerous local development roles, including the chair of the City Economic committee, the precursor to the current CEDC. He also currently serves as the chair of the City of Cumberland’s Historic Preservation Commission and vice-chair of the Downtown Development Commission. He serves on Cumberland Levitt AMP Cumberland Music series committee and the Downtown Cumberland arts and entertainment committee.
He has an MBA from Frostburg State University and a Bachelors of Music Education degree from West Virginia University. He has been on the Board of Directors and is a co-founder of the Cumberland Jazz Society, Inc., a non-profit arts promotion corporation, and is active in many other professional and cultural organizations.
He is a founding member and board member of the Loft 129, Inc, a performing arts venue. In 1997, Jackson was the recipient of the Maryland Music Educators Award for Excellence Outstanding Music Teacher of the year. In 2009, Mr. Jackson was one of five educators in the nation to receive the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation award for teaching excellence, which was presented in April at New York City’s Carnegie Hall.
In addition to his work as an arts educator, Larry is an accomplished musician himself.
Sandi Saville
Sandi grew up in Cumberland where she graduated from Fort Hill High School. She is a graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center and a member of the Maryland Bar Association. After graduation from law school, she spent thirty years in Alaska practicing trial law and raising her two sons. She returned to Cumberland in 2003 and has been living here ever since. She has been active in the community including being Treasurer of the Cumberland Cultural Foundation, member of the Boards of Frostburg State University and Western Maryland Hospital Foundation, President of the Allegany Arts Council, President of the Evergreen Heritage Foundation and is currently chair of the Arts & Entertainment District of Cumberland’s Advisory Board and secretary of the Downtown Development Commission, of which she recently served as chair for nine years.
Sandi has served as an adjunct professor at Frostburg State University teaching intellectual property and the arts. While on the Arts Council, Sandi has been especially active in promoting public art efforts.
Ila Steelman
Ila Steelman is an artist based in Cumberland, MD best known for her poetry. She is also recognized for her artistry in painting, costuming, and sewing. She is the creator of Cats Cradle Art Collective, A grassroots art collective whose purpose is showcasing art as well as hosting free and accessible poetry readings, art workshops and gallery showings in Northern Appalachia.
With Allegany county growing stronger in the arts every year, I think it’s important to remember that much of our success in the arts comes from gritty, grass roots, DIY scenes that must be protected in the future. My main goal is to protect the Cumberland art scene from becoming a good ole boys club. Keeping and promoting the diversity in artistry that we have been fortunate to have, in hopes that it grows.
Robin Summerfield
Robin Summerfield has deep roots in the people and traditions of the Allegheny Mountain region of Maryland and West Virginia. He completed undergraduate study at Frostburg State University and earned a Master of Social Work from West Virginia University. He is employed as Western Maryland Regional Director for U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen.
He serves on the Community Trust Foundation’s Advisory Council, as Secretary of the Cumberland Scottish Rite Foundation, Treasurer of the Cumberland Masonic Temple, Inc., and is a founding member of Savage Mountain Punk Arts, Inc. He can also be found at DelFest every Memorial Day Weekend leading a crew of volunteers in support of the event and The DelFest Foundation.
Robin has played guitar and keyboard since the age of twelve and has been involved in the Western Maryland music scene for four decades. He writes and records as Graysweater and with the garage punk outfit The Downstrokes, where he can be heard on several critically-acclaimed releases including the 2026 album “The Furious Hours.”
Robin lives in Rawlings, Maryland with his wife, Jayne (PJ), and their children Max, Moss, and Madeleine. He spends his leisure time cooking for family and friends and hiking, biking, and boating in the beautiful outdoors of Western Maryland.
Delaney Blubaugh Yacuboski
Bio Coming Soon!