Sheldon Smith, Community Outreach Manager
Sheldon brings his experience as a community leader to every aspect of his work with Make-It’s members, workshop hosts, participants and visitors. He guides hosts through the process of developing and leading workshops and serves as a mentor to our makers. Sheldon formerly worked as Art Coordinator at a local community support center, providing art as an outlet for at-risk teens, disabled persons, and those seeking ways to cope with substance recovery. He has been designing art and clothing since 1994 including personalized T-shirts, graphics, murals and fashion.
Marla Shelasky, Development & Communications Manager
Marla brings extensive experience in arts administration, program development, membership recruitment, audience research, and event planning to her role at Make-It Springfield. She manages the organization’s communications strategy, including social media and outreach tools, while also leading grant writing and donor communications efforts. From 2018–2023, she coordinated Artists of Springfield, MA, curating 11 exhibitions across the Pioneer Valley and showcasing the work of 48 Springfield artists. As a practicing artist herself, Marla values Make-It as a welcoming home for all creatives.
Gillian Hinkson, President & Board Chair
Gillian brings a strong background in leadership, community engagement, and creative entrepreneurship to her role. She serves on the boards of Brotherhood On the Move and the League of Women Voters Northampton Area, and as a Trustee at The Community Foundation of Western MA. Gillian serves as a Democratic State Committee Woman and, through Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Beta Alpha Zeta Chapter, she curates impactful community programs. Professionally, Gillian is a Victim/Witness Advocate at the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office.
Nancy Urbschat, Board Member, Treasurer
Nancy is principal/owner of TSM Design. She has been a staunch supporter of downtown Springfield and the arts for a long time. She’s served on boards, donated time, talent, treasure to any number of arts organizations over the years. She is wildly impressed with Make-It Springfield. She wants to help raise awareness of all the great work being done at 286 Bridge Street.
Vilenti Tulloch, Board Member
Vilenti is the CEO and Founder of the Academic Leadership Association (ALA), where he leads initiatives that empower youth, families, and educators through mentoring, professional development, and community partnerships. A recognized community leader and recipient of the NAACP Community Service Award and BusinessWest 40 Under 40 for his entrepreneurial efforts, Vilenti is dedicated to closing the achievement gap and advancing equity in education. His work emphasizes relationship-building, leadership development, and creating pathways for student and educator success.
Laura Masulis, Co-founder
For over five years, Laura served as MassDevelopment’s Transformative Development Lead Fellow in Springfield, working closely with community partners to build a downtown district that is a vibrant center for entrepreneurship, arts and dining. Laura previously served as Senior Partnerships Manager at Interise, a national non-profit helping diverse, established small businesses scale in lower-income communities. Early in her career, Laura worked for Public Consulting Group focused on improving state public assistance programs.
Michael DiPasquale, Co-founder
Michael leads outreach activities for UMass Amherst’s Urban Extension program in Springfield. An Assistant Professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning, Michael’s teaching and research focuses on the revitalization of America’s “Legacy Cities”, the country’s once dominant manufacturing centers. Make-It Springfield began as a creative way to bring life to a vacant downtown storefront. A licensed architect and city planner, Michael held positions at design firms in Detroit, St. Louis and Boston before moving to western Massachusetts.
