Albany Barn, Inc. Staff
Albany Barn, Inc. is a 501c3 not-for-profit that consists of Albany Barn, Electric City Barn, and Artistry Studios.
McCauley Cannizzo, Executive Director: McCauley (she/her) joined the Albany Barn, Inc. team in June 2021 as an Operations Coordinator at Electric City Barn, then moved on to becoming the Director of Membership & Operations in June 2022. McCauley has felt right at home at Albany Barn, Inc. and looks forward to what is next for the organization in its mission of supporting the Capital Region creatives! She holds a M.S. in Organizational Membership with a Public Administration Specialization from Sage Graduate Schools. Her B.F.A. in Studio Art is from Cazenovia College, with minors in Arts Management, Art History, and Photography. She loves to talk about all things art, baking, and pets (be sure to ask her about her pets at home, but watch out, she will definitely show you some photos and you may want to plan time accordingly).
Eric Szyjka, Director of Facilities: Smells Strongly of Coffee. Coated with a notable thickness of sawdust. Most likely to wear cargo pants to the party. These are all things said of our resident hammer-and-wrench fella, Eric Szyjka. Eric joined the Barn as an Americorps VISTA in January 2021, and as full-time staff a year later. Officially employed to oversee the safety of ECB and maintenance of equipment, Eric is also an engaged member in the space. He can be found working on personal projects, consulting with members on theirs, and cornering unsuspecting community members into conversations on obscure topics related to tools, history, or making things.
Haylie Dixon, Events & Programming Coordinator: Haylie (they/them) is the Events & Programing Coordinator for Albany Barn, Inc. If you need help with planning an event, finding a space to rent, planning a community program, workshop or class… They are your go-to person! Haylie is a recent graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Business management & Entrepreneurship with a minor in Visual Arts. They are very excited to be working with this new community as a member of the Albany Barn Inc. staff and a new resident of the Capital Region. They are always open to talk about food, small businesses and community events. If prompted, they will spend plenty of time showing you pictures of their pets. Haylie is also an experimenting artist and always looking to learn new skills and explore new mediums.
Board of Directors
Tom Thibault, President: Tom is the fourth Generation owner of Adirondack Appliance as well as the New England regional Sales Manager for Prizer Painter Stove Works (BlueStar). He is a proud husband and father of 4 children. His passions are food (cooking & BBQ-ing, specifically!) and serving the Capital Region through support of The Barn and other local non-profit organizations.
Terrell Rabb, Vice President: Terrell moved to Albany in 2004 to pursue a graduate degree in Political Philosophy. In 2006 he began his professional career supporting the Department of Public Service’s records access request management. Since 2006 he has dedicated himself to understanding the intricacies of regulatory frameworks, with a specialized focus on regulations for research since 2011. Now Terrell is the Director for Research Security at the University at Albany. He is pivotal in safeguarding the integrity of research activities, ensuring the secure and ethical conduct of scientific endeavors, and mitigating potential risks associated with research projects to ensure the highest standards of integrity.
Michael Lorka, Treasurer: Michael is a current employee of Death Wish Coffee where he serves as a Director of Financial Planning & Analysis. His previous experience included work in the capital region as an investment banking associate with the Schwartz Heslin Group. Michael sourced his appreciation for the arts through his exposure to The Roycroft in East Aurora, NY. Michael is very active in the capital region community, being a member of the Tech Valley Young Professional Network and the Friends of Albany Crew. Michael got involved with the Albany Barn in June of 2018.
Nicholl Lockwood, Secretary: Nicholl joined the Retail Council of New York State in 2007 and currently serves as the Vice President of Operations. The Retail Council is a non-profit, full-service trade organization in downtown Albany and is New York’s largest statewide association of its kind. Nicholl is a Certified Payments Professional and holds a New York State Property and Casualty license and a Life, Accident and Health license. She chairs the Workers’ Compensation Safety Group 493 Executive Committee. A graduate of the University at Albany, Nicholl is a strong supporter of small business and the local arts community.
Marisa Espe, Sgt. at Arms: Marisa is the Director of Communications at the Albany Institute of History & Art and previously served as Communications Director at Steven Holl Architects in Rhinebeck, NY. She has held positions at various arts organizations, including SEPTEMBER Gallery, Bard College, and the Wexner Center for the Arts. A guest curator with River Valley Arts Collective, she also writes independently about art. Marisa is dedicated to supporting artists and arts communities and has been involved with Albany Barn since 2025.
Michelle Hines Abram Thibeault, Director: Michelle has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. She was Executive Chef for Mood Food, which under her leadership garnered a spot on New York Magazine’s Top Ten list. After spending a few years in the kitchen, she was recruited to be the Director of Special Events for RDC & The Destination Group. She eventually went out on her own and started Innovative Events, a boutique luxury event planning and catering companies in NYC and Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. She was a Trustee Member of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and was recognized for her charitable work for the Jacksonville Chapter of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Returning to upstate New York as the Director of Banquet & Convention Services at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Albany, New York . She became the Director of the hotel’s wine program and then transitioned to Food & Beverage Director. In 2009 M.H.A. Thibeault was a Founding Director and served for several years as Vice President of the Board of Directors for the “Albany Chefs’ Food & Wine Festival: Wine & Dine for the Arts”, who’s mission is to promote and enhance Albany by highlighting and marketing its’ chefs and innovative cuisine and to provide sustainable funding to the downtown arts community. Her numerous charitable endeavors include serving as Executive Director for Dance Crazy, serving on the board of directors for the Stakeholders Foundation, yearly campaigns for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society including being a 2013 Woman of the Year Candidate, LunaFest to benefit Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation, founding the Meil Fleur Societé, annual fundraisers for Yono’s Scholarship Foundation and for the Albany Barn.
Susan Appe, Director: Susan is a Capital Region native who has settled in Albany’s Washington Park neighborhood. She is Associate Professor of Public Administration and Policy at Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy at the UAlbany, SUNY, where her research focuses on government-nonprofit relations, public governance and foreign aid provision. She teaches graduate and undergraduate classes on public service, philanthropy and nonprofit management. Prior to her appointment at UAlbany, Susan was a faculty member at Binghamton University and she is regularly invited to guest lecture and has held Visiting Professor appointments at universities in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Susan has a BA from Saint Michael’s College and a MA in Arts Management from the University of Oregon. She received her MPA and PhD in Public Administration and Policy from Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, UAlbany, SUNY. In addition to the Albany Barn, she serves on the Board of Directors RISSE (Refugee & Immigrant Support Services of Emmaus, Inc.), a local, Capital Region nonprofit organization that supports newcomers to the region in building sustainable lives. In her free time, she enjoys playing racquet sports, collecting art from local and emerging artists and cycling during the warmer months in New York State.
Justin Clement, Director