Dana Johnson, Founder and Board President
A long-time believer in the power of art to bring joy, empower, heal, and connect people, Dana Johnson was inspired to to create Nimbus Arts after her family’s experiences with art in a children’s hospital. “At Nimbus, I love seeing people get completely absorbed by the process of creating something,” Dana says. “The calm and joy is contagious.” At Lewis and Clark College, Dana combined her study of art, English, and psychology to create a Community Arts major. She then studied library and information science at the University of Washington. After working as a librarian and then as a software designer in New York, Dana moved with her family to Napa Valley where she and her husband started Ovid Napa Valley Winery and where, in 2005, Dana founded Nimbus Arts. In addition to being empowered by art in general, Dana finds herself inspired by Pierre Bonnard, William Kentridge, Jacob Lawrence, Laura Owens, Rob Ryan, and all the artists at Nimbus Arts.
Matt Rogers, Board Member
Matt is an artist and community leader living in St. Helena with his wife and three daughters. A graduate of The San Francisco Art Institute, Matt works in various media and focuses on painting, drawing, sculpture and printmaking. Matt’s work is the visual manifestation of his inspiration, travels, and life events—and he finds inspiration everywhere. When not working in his St. Helena studio, Matt is turning life into an event, bringing people together. As a working artist, father and philanthropist, Matt brings his extraordinary energy, commitment to art, and enthusiasm to the Nimbus Board.
Matt shows his work at the Caldwell Snyder Gallery in St. Helena, San Francisco and New York, Ma(i)sonry in Yountville, and recently exhibited at St. Supery Winery.
Sue Furdek, Board Secretary
Greg Pitts, Board Member
Since an early age, Greg has possessed a passion for artistic expression and finding art in nature, resulting in him living in outdoor-focused rural and agrarian locations such as Middlebury, VT, the Roaring Fork Valley in Colorado and the Napa Valley, where he currently resides with his wife and two children. Greg can often be found painting, playing music with friends or riding his bike or skis in the woods.
Greg also believes in the power of community and has participated at many levels and ages – as a Planning Commissioner, City Council member, coach of multiple sports and Cub Scout leader in St. Helena. He is also currently an advisory member to Saira Hospitality, a non-profit that focuses on training underprivileged communities to strive in hospitality related employment.
Outside of his passions and his family, Greg owns a boutique hospitality advisory firm focused on projects in inspiring destinations and is currently developing a bicycle-centric hotel in the heart of Napa Valley. Prior to moving to Napa Valley, Greg worked as an environmental economist studying climate change and other impacts on our natural environment for groups such as U.S. and CA EPA and the World Bank.
Lidia Maldonado, Board Member
A native of St. Helena, Lidia Maldonado graduated from local schools and attended Napa Valley Junior College. Growing up in the vineyard industry, she brings decades of experience to the operation of Maldonado Family Vineyards. She and her husband run the small Winery and Vineyard Management company, she as business manager, he as winemaker/vineyard manager.
Lidia’s dedication to her business is every bit as strong as her devotion to the community and most importantly to her growing family. Lidia and Hugo have been married 34 years. They have a daughter, Mayra, who graduated from Fresno State with a degree in Enology and a minor in French. A son Emiliano, 18, who is currently a Freshman at Fresno State. Their two youngest children Carlos, 16, and Camila, 14, are students at St. Helena High School. They also have two grandchildren, Olivia and Damian.
In 2009, Lidia established the Damian Maldonado Memorial Foundation in honor of her oldest son who passed away in 2007. The foundation looks to give both encouragement and financial aid to aspiring college students from throughout Napa Valley.
Lidia lends her spare time to causes related to education, healthcare and community development, always appreciating an opportunity to volunteer where she can.
Rick Garber, Treasurer
Rick is a Managing Wealth Advisor with Ashton Thomas Private Wealth based in Saint Helena California and has been with the firm since 2020.
Previously, Rick was a Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley, an executive compensation specialist at Merrill Lynch, and a financial advisor with Smith Barney. Rick also has prior experience in the insurance industry as an estate planning specialist and a regional sales executive.
Rick obtained the Certified Private Wealth Advisor® designation in 2011 through a joint program offered by The Investments and Wealth Institute and the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.
“My goal is being an indispensable resource for my clients,” Rick says of his philosophy as a wealth advisor. “It’s an elusive goal, but it’s my standard. Access, responsiveness, and authenticity while delivering intellectual capital: that’s what it’s all about.”
Rick and his wife Sonya celebrated their 10th anniversary in Saint Helena in 1999. Over the years, they forged a deep connection to Napa Valley and began splitting time between the valley and their longtime home in Atlanta when they purchased a residence in Saint Helena in 2015. In 2018, they decided to make Saint Helena their permanent home and have not looked back. Rick and Sonya support numerous local charities and enjoy food and wine, staying fit, music, film and the arts.
Maria Franchi Torres, Board Member
An entrepreneur, a fashion icon, and an interior designer. A Napa native, Maria was born and raised in the Napa Valley and attended Otis College of Art and Design in Southern California pursuing a career in art and fashion. She worked at two fashion houses – Richard Tyler and Badgley Mischka . Maria moved back to Napa where she found her passion for interior design with Erin Martin. She has since created her own business Tone & Manner working with both residential and commercial clients. As a wife and partner to Bob Torres, Maria has helped raise millions of dollars for the Boys and Girls Club of St. Helena and the St Helena Hospital and Health Center, as well as supporting Nimbus Arts and other art programs for children in Napa Valley.
Past Board Members
Anne Cottrell
Martha Doornink
David Garden
Jennifer Risher
Laurie Shelton
Claire Stull