Meet Our Team

Arianna Conley

Development Manager

  • Arianna is passionate about building relationships and fostering collaborations that drive meaningful impact. With a career rooted in business development, strategic partnerships, and community engagement, she has successfully managed corporate partnerships, led account management initiatives, and executed engagement strategies that fuel growth. With experience across multiple industries, she excels at cultivating lasting connections, negotiating contracts, and identifying opportunities that benefit both organizations and their communities.

    Beyond business development, Arianna is a creative at heart. She has organized community-focused events, spearheaded networking opportunities, and developed innovative strategies to strengthen brand presence. Whether through visual art, event planning, or strategic storytelling, she thrives at the intersection of creativity and connection, ensuring that outreach efforts align with mission-driven goals.

    Now, as Development Manager at Handmade Arcade, Arianna is eager to support its mission of fostering inclusivity and opportunity in the arts. She looks forward to embedding herself in Pittsburgh’s creative community, championing local makers, and expanding HA’s reach through thoughtful partnerships.

  • I love to experiment with a variety of painting mediums.

  • I'm always on the lookout for candles and unique jewelry.

Kelsey Ford

Executive Director

  • Born and raised in Western Pennsylvania, Kelsey Ford has over a decade of experience as a strategic arts administrator. She holds a B.S. degree in Advertising & Public Relations as well as an M.A. degree in Arts Management and an M.S. degree in Library & Information Science. She has worked in artistic programming, marketing, fundraising, and event planning for several Pittsburgh arts and culture nonprofits, including the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Youth Chorus, City of Asylum, and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. She has contributed to many beloved Pittsburgh events, including the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Children’s Theater Festival and City of Asylum’s Jazz Poetry Month. While at the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, she also created Bookish in the ‘Burgh, Pittsburgh’s Teen Book Festival. Kelsey is passionate about supporting nonprofits through strategic thinking that is grounded in equity and empathy.

  • I love art journaling with my partner.

  • I love all the paper goods - stickers, prints, zines, handmade books, etc.!

Parag S. Gohel

Program Operations Manager

  • Parag S. Gohel (he/him) has been steeped in the Pittsburgh arts community for over fifteen years, shaping its creative landscape through artist residencies, guerrilla event-making, immersive theater, volunteerism, community engagement, and arts education. His interdisciplinary journey fuels a deep passion for both the creative process and the people behind it. Most recently, he served as the Director of Education and Engagement at Pittsburgh Public Theater, Director of Education at Quantum Theatre, and a lead artist with The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Arts Education Department, alongside adjunct teaching positions at the University of Pittsburgh and Point Park University. His work has been featured at Pittsburgh’s First Night, Children's Festival, Three Rivers Arts Festival, Festival of Firsts, and has reached audiences in Philadelphia, New York, and internationally. Rooted in principles of joyful collaboration and artistic imagination, Parag seeks opportunities that foster meaningful connections and enrich the human experience, always holding equity and excellence in the same hand.

  • My favorite thing to make for special occasions is a custom food or beverage item for which I craft personalized packaging.

  • I’m always on the lookout for cool art pieces for my walls and love trying scratch-made self care items.

Ariel Beach-Westmoreland

Secretary, Board of Directors

  • Since 2022, Ariel Beach-Westmoreland (they/them) has served as Secretary on the Board of Handmade Arcade. They bring a dynamic background in event production and operations, having worked with organizations such as Remake Learning, Flyspace Productions, and XPogo LLC, where they produced events in 27 countries—including all seven continents—for audiences of up to 15,000 in-person and over 57 million virtually. A co-founder of Community Forge, Ariel has been instrumental in building mission-driven companies that champion equitable economies and youth development. Their work emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and equity, reflecting Handmade Arcade’s inclusive vision of supporting makers to achieve their creative and financial goals. Outside of work, Ariel channels their creativity into photography, muraling, and crafting—continuing to seek out quirky, community-focused projects that spark joy and positive impact.

  • I love to make photography zines for friends

  • I love the funky wood crafted kitchen products at the markets!

Mia Hooper

President, Board of Directors

  • Mia has over a decade of arts administration experience, primarily in development, grantmaking, and finance. Currently, she is the COO of the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, where she oversees internal operations for the organization. In addition to her role at the Arts Council, she serves as the Board President of Handmade Arcade, an organization dedicated to supporting local artists and creative entrepreneurs. A dedicated public servant, Mia is also a borough Council Member for East McKeesport, working to improve her community through strategic planning and engagement. Mia holds a degree in Economics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, which has helped shape her approach to both the arts and community development. Outside of her professional commitments, she enjoys spending quality time with her family and indulging in her love of crime dramas, often binge-watching her favorite shows in her downtime.

  • I'm more a baker than a maker. Cinnamon rolls are my specialty.

  • I love scoring cool ceramic pieces for both everyday use and decor.

Shaqui Scott

Member, Board of Directors

  • As a Program Officer at the POISE Foundation, Shaqui Scott develops and implements grant programs that align with the foundation’s mission, focusing on strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and program evaluation to ensure equitable funding and community impact. Previously, as Manager of Grants and Membership at the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, he oversaw all grant programs and led initiatives like the Black Arts Action Committee (BAAC) and Allegheny Arts Revival Grant, expanding funding for underrepresented communities. Shaqui holds an MBA in Management and a Bachelor’s in Business Management and Music from Seton Hill University. A guest lecturer and board member, he shares expertise in nonprofit management and philanthropy. Outside of work, he is an entrepreneur, musician, and comedian, curating stand-up shows, music events, and community programs throughout Pittsburgh.

  • Scrapbooks with my daughter

  • Paintings and sculptures

Caitlyn Abt

Member, Advisory Committee

  • An experienced event planner, marketer, and project manager, Caitlyn currently works as Director of Events at the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, leading the event and activation strategy. Caitlyn is passionate about enhancing Downtown through high-quality, diverse events and activations that create a sense of community. Prior to joining PDP, Caitlyn worked at Carnegie Mellon in Marketing at the Tepper School of Business, as the Assistant Director of Events at Flyspace Productions, Pittsburgh’s foremost event production company, and in Marketing with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Originally the North Hills of Pittsburgh, Caitlyn has been committed to the region for her entire life and career.

  • I love to make watercolor cards for friends and family.

  • I like finding new prints for my home and office and fun stickers for my water bottles.

Seiko Sisco

Member, Advisory Committee

  • Seiko Sisco is the founder of Waku Waku Baby, a handmade baby shoes and gift shop featuring her original fabric designs. She began her handmade entrepreneurial journey through Handmade Arcade’s Emerging Makers Spring Market in 2019, which kickstarted her business. As a licensed surface pattern designer and small business owner, she blends artistry with functionality, using vegan-friendly materials and organic, sustainable fabrics whenever possible. Her work has been featured in The Incline, Pittsburgh Today Live, and local Pittsburgh boutiques. Seiko believes in the joy and value that creativity brings to communities. She is honored to serve on Handmade Arcade’s Advisory Committee to help foster opportunities for makers and artists.

  • Cute baby shoes with my original fabric designs!

  • I have a soft spot for handmade mugs and anything with a cute smiling face!

Emmanuelle Wambach

Member, Advisory Committee

  • Emmanuelle Wambach moved to Pittsburgh in 2014 to become part of Pittsburgh’s vibrant arts community. In 2016, she traveled to Japan as part of a ceramic artist residency. She returned to Pittsburgh with a renewed love of ceramics and a motivation to create. Emmanuelle explored her mother’s love of gardening and fabrics, where she discovered her own passion for lace and its history. This led to her current body of ceramic work. She established Emmanuelle Ceramics LLC in 2021 and is the owner and artist there. Emmanuelle is a member and teaching artist at Union Project, and Advisory Committee Member at Handmade Arcade, is active in many Pittsburgh arts groups, and has work in several shops around the Pittsburgh area.

  • I love to make ceramic ornaments and sew cosplay costumes.

  • I love shopping for handmade bath and body items!

Board Members Not Pictured:

Beth Slagle

Attorney, Meyer, Unkovic & Scott LLP

Nicole Zellie Lann

Director, Talent Strategy at Duquesne Light Company