Board Members Bio Profiles

Liz Lauter: Liz has been an arts and ceramics educator at Redwood High school in Marin, retiring after 20 years. She is the only National Board Certified high school level art teacher in Marin. She has a Master’s Degree in Education Administration, and BFA from UC Davis. She was the Fine Arts Department Chair, and Tamalpais School District Fine Arts Facilitator, coordinating curriculum and staff development for Tam, Redwood,  and then Drake high schools.  While at Redwood she was the National Art Education Association’s Art Honor Society chapter sponsor, leading after school mosaic mural public art design and installation projects across the Redwood campus. In 2005 she was awarded Teacher of the Year by the Redwood faculty. In 2006 the Marin Sunrise Rotary Club awarded her “Teacher of the Year” for her leadership in their collaborative millennial project building a sculpture garden on the Redwood campus.

Prior to teaching, she had her own design and manufacturing company in textile gifts headquartered in Marin, selling wholesale nationally and internationally. She currently is a full-time artist and business owner, selling her ceramics work nationally. She loves to garden and started and manages a community garden in San Geronimo.

Liz is also a passionate grandma and dogma to 7 grandchildren and their pets who visit Camp Grandma regularly. Liz lives in West Marin with her husband, David.

Candace Swimmer: Candace Swimmer is a seasoned biotech professional with extensive experience managing large projects and leading scientific groups. In addition to her career in science, she has a strong background in community involvement, having served as President and Regatta Director of the Lake Merritt Boat Club. She contributes to the arts community serving as treasurer on the board of the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival. Currently, Candace is a passionate photographer and has called Mill Valley home for the past 15 years.

Pierre Guidetti: Born in Paris, studied at University of Paris X Psychology, psychoanalysis and economics Transfer to business school in Paris then UC Berkeley. Photograph to pay for my studies Co-founder and owner of Savoir-Faire partnership in Sausalito in 1983 VP sales and Marketing. 1995 CEO of Savoir-Faire INC in Novato CA. Sold SF in 2020, president of Mac Pherson (The largest wholesale distributor of art and craft supplies in America. )(from :  BBC 2023 to 2025 documentaries author and producer. And consultant for Japanese , French and Italian companies. Global branding and strategic planning. Have served on board of : Lycee français school; Pastel society of America, Life achievement award for the national  art material trade association. Co wrote a book, published Blogs, lecture tours in Universities, Art schools , museum and associations. Savoir-Faire is a company founded by my wife Maureen and I. Stated in Sausalito early 80is  Exclusive importer and distributor of global resources of prestigious brands of art supplies. An activist promoting the arts through education ,schools , associations, conferences, workshops, social media, blogs and vlogs, artivism. Moto : Art is essential.  Not only good for you but good for the world. 

Jael LaFemina: James LaFemina “Jael” is a seventeen year resident of Tam Valley. He is a stone mason and artist specializing in stone. Jael has a sculpture studio in Sausalito where he sculpts stone for private commissions and shows as well as a design build firm specializing in residential stone finishes. Jael is interested in the intersection of art and community.

Paola Arandia: Paola Arandia is a banking professional and community leader based in Marin County. Since joining Bank of Marin in 2013, she has progressed from banker to Branch Manager II, currently leading the Mill Valley office. In 2023, Paola was honored as one of North Bay Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 for her professional success and dedication to community service. She serves on the board of the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival, acts as an ambassador for the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce, and has contributed to organizations such as Side By Side and Canal Alliance. Paola earned her Marketing degree from Universidad del Valle de México and an MBA from Dominican University of California.

Nadia Tarzi-Saccardi: Owner, Ceramic Art Center of Marin | Director, Terra Linda Ceramic Artists. Nadia Tarzi-Saccardi is a ceramic artist, educator, and arts leader with over two decades of experience in ceramics instruction, studio management, exhibition curation, and cultural preservation. She is the owner of the Ceramic Art Center of Marin and the director of Terra Linda Ceramic Artists, where she leads creative programming, teaching, mentorship, community engagement, and artist development.

Before establishing her studios, Nadia served as Founder and Executive Director of the Association for the Protection of Afghan Archaeology, spearheading international efforts in cultural heritage protection, archaeological research, publication and restoration. Her work as a restorer and lecturer has taken her to conferences and institutions across the U.S. and abroad, where she has presented on the archaeology of Central Asia, the preservation of ancient artifacts as a cornerstone of cultural identity, and the challenges of the illicit antiquities market.

A long-time Marin resident, Nadia has curated exhibitions, received multiple regional art awards, and is passionate about using ceramics as a bridge for creativity, community, and cultural connection.

Nadia is a new member of the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival Board, where she brings her experience as an artist, educator, and community leader to help support and celebrate the festival’s mission.

“As a long-time Marin resident, I’ve seen the wonderful impact and memory-building that the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival creates, a cherished yearly rendezvous between our community and the arts. It’s a celebration that welcomes both emerging and long-time artists, fostering inclusion, creativity, and connection for those who come from near and far. I’m honored to help further its mission.”

Brett Crawford: Brett Crawford is an accomplished artist, scientist, and community leader with a broad range of experience, from wheel-thrown ceramics to drug development. With over 30 years working in ceramics, Brett is recognized for his dynamic wheel-thrown pieces that highlight natural curves, bold transitions, and creative surface treatments. His approach to ceramics is rooted in his scientific background and many years spent in the studio, both creating and teaching. Brett is a co-founder of the Marin Ceramic Cooperative in Sausalito. His art has been exhibited at places such as the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art and The Arc Gallery, and he has been honored at the Marin County Fair.

Professionally, Brett holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from UCSD and has devoted his career to developing treatments for rare childhood genetic diseases. He co-founded Zacharon Pharmaceuticals, which was acquired by BioMarin. Brett has played roles leading scientific teams in rare disease drug development for more than two decades. He is a scientific advisor for companies and patient advocacy organizations in the rare disease sector. His scientific expertise deeply influences his ceramic art, infusing his process with discipline, curiosity, and a strong appreciation for methodical work in both science and art.

He currently chairs the Festival Organizing Committee and serves on the Board of Directors for the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival, supporting emerging artists and fostering the festival’s longstanding commitment to community arts engagement.

Mallory Rose: I graduated from Laguna College of Art + Design with a degree in Drawing and Painting, with an emphasis in Illustration and Graphic Design. My foundation is rooted in the arts, but my career has always been equally grounded in connection and community.

I spent more than six years working within the AICAD academic community, supporting admissions recruiting, student engagement, and programs that helped young artists find their place and voice. Alongside that work, I built a career in customer experience and creative strategy, with over seven years leading social media and storytelling within the fashion and wellness industry. Across each chapter of my work, the throughline has always been the same: helping creative communities feel seen, supported, and connected.

At my core, I am both an artist and a community member. I grew up in a small mountain town in Santa Cruz, where art and nature shaped my earliest understanding of what it means to belong somewhere. My partner of more than 11 years grew up in Mill Valley, where we now live and are raising our three year old son.

Supporting the arts within the community we call home is deeply meaningful to me. It is not only an extension of my life as a creative person, but also an example I hope to set for my son. I believe art brings people together, nurtures curiosity, and helps communities grow with empathy and imagination. It's an honor to contribute that spirit and experience to the work of the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival.