Derek Lucci
Founder & President
 [email protected]

Derek Lucci, Founder & President

​Born and raised in New Hampshire, Derek brings more than two decades of experience as an Actor, Director, Writer, Visual Artist and lead Educator to his role as founder and Director of Open Sky.

In addition to an extensive resume of commercial theater and television work in New York City and at venues across the country, Derek has developed a series of solo performance pieces adapted from the work of William Gaddis, J. M. Coetzee, and David Foster Wallace. 

Formerly Head of Primary Training at New York University/Tisch Playwrights Horizons Theater School, Derek's teaching credits include positions at The Experimental Theater Wing (NYU/Tisch School for the Arts). He has served as a guest Artist and Lecturer at The Yale School of Drama Summer Conservatory, UMASS Amherst, University of Oklahoma, and at school and drama programs throughout New Hampshire.

Derek Holds a BA in English/Theater from the University of New Hampshire, a certificate from The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, and an MFA in Acting from Yale School of Drama. He is a member of Actors Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild.

In addition to his work with Open Sky, Derek continues to teach acting, and coach actors, privately. More at http://dereklucci.weebly.com/

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Board of Directors

Hon. Judge John t. Broderick, JR. Chair

Formerly of the New Hampshire Supreme Court, Judge Broderick served as an Associate Justice of the court from 1995 to 2004 and as its Chief Justice from 2004 to 2010. Judge Broderick holds a BA from the College of the Holy Cross and a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Judge Broderick has served as the Dean and President of the University of New Hampshire School of Law and Director of the Rudman Center for Justice, Leadership & Public Policy.

​Since 2015, Judge Broderick has been on a journey to end the stigma surrounding mental health in New Hampshire.

Derek Lucci, Executive Director​​

See Derek's full bio above.

Jeni Mahoney, VICE PRESIDENT​

Jeni is a Playwright, Dramaturg, Teacher, and Artistic Director with a special interest in the development of new work. As Producing Artistic Director of Seven Devils New Play Foundry, and founder of Seven Devils Playwrights Conference, she has created and implemented the programming of more than 240 new American plays by Pulitzer Prize winners, emerging voices, high school students, and everything in-between. Plays developed at Seven Devils have gone on to productions on Broadway, off-Broadway, and at professional theaters around the world.

Jeni is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America and the National Theatre Conference and was inducted into the IndieTheatre Hall of Fame in 2014. She has served as an adjudicator for the National Endowment for the Arts theatre funding program and is on the Board of Directors for Fleischer Studios, Inc., where she serves as Head of Digital Media and Animation Historian.  ​

Dr. Cynthia Whitaker, Secretary

​Dr. Whitaker is dually licensed as a Psychologist and a Master-Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor. She is the President & CEO at Greater Nashua Mental Health and an affiliate faculty member at Antioch University New England, where she also earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology.

Dr. Whitaker’s previous roles include Chief of Services and Clinical Supervisor for the Southern Hillsborough County Drug Court, and Coordinator of Deaf Services for the State of New Hampshire. She is fluent in American Sign Language and is dedicated to ensuring mental health care is available to all New Hampshire residents. Dr. Whitaker is a strong advocate of social justice, and has committed her career to the state’s behavioral health systems.

LISA STARNES, TREASURER

​Lisa is a former Consulting Actuary and Principal Partner of the Milliman firm, where she specialized in group health and consulted in all risk- and financial-related matters in the group health field for a wide spectrum of clients including health insurers, hospitals, physician groups, etc. Lisa was instrumental in setting up Open Sky as a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

Scott Seagren, ​Board Member

Scott is the President of Ripple Effect Studio in Manchester, NH, where he works with senior leaders and teams across the country as an Executive Coach and facilitator. He has led CEO peer groups through Vistage Worldwide since 2010.

A lifelong believer in the power of growth and transformation, Scott is passionate about developing people, conserving natural spaces, and serving his community. He also serves on the board of Five Rivers Conservation Trust and helps maintain cross-country ski trails at White Farm in Concord.

Scott has been involved in prison ministry since 1987, including serving as a Mental Health Institutional Chaplain. He is grateful to connect with that calling through Open Sky and to support its mission of fostering hope, healing, and transformation.