Board of Driectors
Home / Board of Directors
Terese is an experienced professional with over seventeen years of experience in the financial services industry, with an extensive background in financial management, including expertise in strategy sourcing. She is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of families and individuals striving for personal and professional growth. Terese has successfully led and supported company-wide and project-specific initiatives to align service strategies, financial management and operational systems to help organizations fulfill their missions and satisfy contractual requirements. Her experience includes, but is not limited to, finance and accounting, program management and governance, risk management, budgeting and accounting, operational quality and improvement, contract and compliance implementation for non-profit, public and private sector organizations.
Terese is also the owner and CEO of Fierce Financial Services. Fierce Financial Services is a financial literacy and services organization that elevates individuals and small businesses financial mindset from rich to wealthy.
Deirdre holds a B.S. degree in Liberal Studies from the University of Bridgeport.
She has worked for 30 years for two Fortune 500 companies in Banking & Finance and Engineering.
Deirdre currently works full time as an office manager for a non-profit, in Milford.
She brings a life-long passion for theatre arts and a desire to work towards advancing Arts in CT programs to the public.
Diedre’s other positions include: Vice President – Hollow Neighborhood Revitalization (Bridgeport); Connecticut Ambassador (CT Office of Tourism); Volunteer (Sacred Heart University Alumni Events); Member of CT Line Dancers.
THE TEAM
Board of Directors
Home / Board of Directors

Huwerl Thornton, Jr.
President
Huwerl is no stranger to the stage. Picking up the bass guitar in 8th grade, he has played electric bass and upright bass all throughout New England in jazz festivals and band competitions in junior high school and high school.
Huwerl was also in a gospel band that sang for God’s glory all over the East Coast.
As a junior in college he took the stage in a different way as he performed in Little Shop of Horrors. The acting bug bit hard and he has been on the stage as an actor and a musician ever since. The arts are so important in the development in children and Huwerl is a staunch supporter.
He has been married for 26 years. He has one talented daughter and 3 beautiful granddaughters ages 5, 2 and 8 months who have also begun their journey into the arts.
Terese Alexander
Treasurer
Terese is an experienced professional with over seventeen years of experience in the financial services industry, with an extensive background in financial management, including expertise in strategy sourcing. She is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of families and individuals striving for personal and professional growth. Terese has successfully led and supported company-wide and project-specific initiatives to align service strategies, financial management and operational systems to help organizations fulfill their missions and satisfy contractual requirements. Her experience includes, but is not limited to, finance and accounting, program management and governance, risk management, budgeting and accounting, operational quality and improvement, contract and compliance implementation for non-profit, public and private sector organizations.
Terese is also the owner and CEO of Fierce Financial Services. Fierce Financial Services is a financial literacy and services organization that elevates individuals and small businesses financial mindset from rich to wealthy.


Diedre Thomas
Member at Large
Deirdre holds a B.S. degree in Liberal Studies from the University of Bridgeport.
She has worked for 30 years for two Fortune 500 companies in Banking & Finance and Engineering.
Deirdre currently works full time as an office manager for a non-profit, in Milford.
She brings a life-long passion for theatre arts and a desire to work towards advancing Arts in CT programs to the public.
Diedre’s other positions include: Vice President – Hollow Neighborhood Revitalization (Bridgeport); Connecticut Ambassador (CT Office of Tourism); Volunteer (Sacred Heart University Alumni Events); Member of CT Line Dancers.