Travel-industry Leader to Helm Providence Arts Catalyst’s Board of Trustees
Melissa Snape, Head of Corporate Citizenship at Collette, a global tour operator based in Rhode Island, has assumed the role of FirstWorks Board President. Melissa succeeds former FirstWorks board presidents Nirva LaFortune, Executive Director of City Year, Catherine Taylor, State Director of AARPRI, Normand Benoit, former Partner at Partridge, Snow & Hahn LLP, and Fred Butler, Retired Vice President of Business Ethics & Corporate Secretary, Textron.
“We are thrilled to have Melissa lead the FirstWorks Board as we mark 22 years of connecting art with audiences in Rhode Island,” said Kathleen Pletcher, FirstWorks Founder and Executive Artistic Director. “Melissa brings her passion for audience engagement and reaching new communities to FirstWorks and has been integral to our Strategic Planning over the past three years.”
As board president, Melissa will work closely with Kathleen on a strategic process for the organization, one that will strengthen the future of the arts in Providence and ensure that FirstWorks’ mission continues with even greater impact.
FirstWorks has served over 1 million people with world-class arts programming in Rhode Island through festivals, educational programs and performances since its founding in 2004. FirstWorks is the founding partner of Providence’s signature arts festival, PVDFest, produced in collaboration with the City of Providence. Coming up next, FirstWorks will host its seventh annual free Summer Beats concert series in Roger Williams Park this July 10 and 24, with an expansion into 195 District Park for the finale on August 14, 2026. For the full lineup visit https://firstworks.org/experience.
FirstWorks also welcomes Steven Boudreau, Director of Equity and Engagement at the Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging to the FirstWorks Board this spring. Steven’s work is rooted in promoting equity and engaging underrepresented communities. He brings his experience at the intersection of arts, health, and community engagement to FirstWorks to deepen our impact as a catalyst for connection, well-being, and civic imagination.
For the full FirstWorks leadership team and staff list, visit https://firstworks.org/our-team.
ABOUT MELISSA SNAPE
Melissa Snape is the Head of Corporate Citizenship at Collette, where she leads the company’s global approach to community impact, responsible travel, philanthropy, and volunteering. With decades of experience in tourism and hospitality, law, and consulting, including 29 years at Collette, she brings deep expertise in strategy, program design, sustainability, and values-led leadership, helping integrate Collette’s purpose and mission across the organization’s business and culture.
Melissa is actively engaged in the nonprofit and social impact sector, as both an angel investor and serving on boards and advisory committees focused on economic empowerment, arts and culture, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and social enterprise. She is the Board Chair of Social Enterprise Greenhouse, where she supports entrepreneurs working to drive meaningful social and economic change; has served as a board member and strategic planning committee chair at the groundbreaking performing arts nonprofit FirstWorks since 2023; and a board member of Breaking Bread, a nonprofit devoted to bridging the opportunity gap by providing mentoring and leadership development.
She is passionate about partnership-driven impact, skills-based volunteering, and the transformative power of travel to strengthen communities around the world. Melissa has a BA from the University of Colorado, Boulder, a JD from Boston University School of Law, and is a certified holistic health coach.
