Our Staff
Michelle D. Freeman, Chairman & President
Michelle DiFebo Freeman is the founding President and Chairman of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation. Michelle has also served as the President and Chairman of the Carl M. Freeman Foundation since 2007 and is the owner and an active board member of the Carl M. Freeman Companies. She is actively involved with the Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland and is responsible for the management and oversight of the Freeman Family farm, a 500 acre historic property located in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and associated employees. Michelle is currently serving on the boards of The Washington National Opera, CharityWorks and YouthAIDS.
Patti Grimes, Executive Director
Patti Grimes works to build relationships with the communities we serve by overseeing the programming and performances at The Freeman Stage at Bayside. Prior to joining the Foundation, Patti worked as Vice President of Marketing and Customer Relations for the Carl M. Freeman Companies. She is an active volunteer for the Adopt-a-Family and Adopt-A-School programs as well as other service organizations. Patti recently served as President of the Bethany-Fenwick Chamber of Commerce. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from James Madison University.
Lucinda Williams, Development Director
Lucinda Williams brings over two decades of non-profit arts management experience to the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation and The Freeman Stage at Bayside. For five years, Lucinda served as Executive Director of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, (“DSO”), the state’s only fully professional orchestra. Under her tenure, the orchestra produced its first recording on the Telarc label that garnered a Grammy® award nomination for symphony. The orchestra also received a one million dollar endowment to its foundation in her honor. Prior to her work at the DSO, Lucinda was Executive Director of the Garrett Lakes Arts Festival and Garrett Performing Arts Center, the largest presenting arts organization in the resort area of Deep Creek Lake located in western Maryland. During her tenure there, she established a summer series featuring the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. She also managed her own arts and entertainment company, “Serenade Productions.” Productions included concerts featuring Marvin Hamlisch, Johnny Mathis and Alicia Keyes. She also produced three million-dollar gala fundraisers for the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture in Baltimore.
From 1996 through 2004 Lucinda served as Vice President of Artistic, Education and Community Programming for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. She worked with Music Directors David Zinman and Yuri Temirkanov to program over 26 classical concert series annually. Lucinda also programmed the orchestra’s pops series with Music Directors Marvin Hamlisch and Jack Everly. Under her leadership, the symphony received a three million dollar grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to fund an arts-infused curriculum program that served 12 schools in Baltimore City and County. Lucinda is a Board member of the Cab Calloway School for the Performing Arts and the Delaware Arts Alliance. She has served on the boards of the League of American Orchestras, Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra, Garrett County Economic Development and Tourism Panel, and the Maryland State Arts Council.
Doug Phillips, Marketing Manager
Doug Phillips serves as the Marketing & Communications Manager to communicate the mission and messages of both the Joshua M. Freeman and Carl M. Freeman Foundations through media relations, publications, and online communications. Doug has extensive professional work experience in sales, marketing and customer service. Doug, a lifetime resident of the Eastern Shore, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Salisbury University, where he majored in Art, with concentrations in Graphic Design & Photography.
Robin Spangenberg, Operations Manager
Robin Spangenberg serves as the Operations Manager of The Freeman Stage at Bayside; focusing on volunteer management and ensuring that the “Friends of The Freeman Stage” are provided with memories for the ages. Prior to joining the Foundation, he spent over two years with The Atlantic Sands Hotel in Rehoboth where he performed many duties as the Beverage Manager and Restaurant Manager of two restaurants on the Boardwalk. He also gained invaluable experience working at the Woodloch Pines Resort in Pennsylvania for over seven years prior to moving to Sussex County. Robin graduated with High Honors from Wesley College in Dover, Delaware where he majored in American Studies. Currently, Robin resides with his family in Millville, DE.
Bernadette Dowling, Accounting Manager
Bernadette Dowling serves as the Accounting Manager for the Foundation. Her role is to oversee the Foundation accounting to ensure that all financial matters are properly recorded and comply with accounting standards. Bernadette has extensive accounting experience in a variety of industries. She has been a resident of Sussex County since 2002 after relocating from Wilmington, Delaware. Bernadette is a graduate of Goldey-Beacom College with a Bachelor of Science degree in the Accounting Honors program.
Sue Sevier, Administrative Associate
Sue Sevier serves as the Administrative Associate of the both the Joshua M. Freeman and Carl M. Freeman Foundations as support for the Foundation staff. Prior to joining the Foundation, Sue worked for Seacoast Realty as the administrative associate at Bayside and ResortQuest Vacation rentals. Sue brings to the Foundations knowledge and experience in many areas, with over three decades specializing in all facets of customer service. Sue currently resides in Delaware with her family and is excited for the diverse opportunities that the Foundation will allow her own family to experience now and in the future.
