The Board

Elisa Vanelli - President

Elisa is a sculptor whose work explores the sacred relationship between humans, nature, and the unseen. Born in Italy and having lived in the south of France for over 13 years, Elisa is fluent in five languages and holds a Master’s degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures. Her lifelong love of language—spoken, written, and visual—shapes her view of art as a powerful form of communication that transcends words. Elisa’s practice is deeply elemental. She works primarily with clay, a medium she honors as the perfect expression of the four elements: it is earth by origin, shaped with water, dried by air, and transformed by fire.
Based in Massachusetts, Elisa is also the Exhibition Chair of the New England Sculptors Association and is currently preparing her first immersive solo exhibition, Remembering Through Sacred Frequencies, for 2026.
In 2024, she was selected as a New England Emerging Artist by Art in New England.

Michelle Ellis - VP and marketing Specialist

Christian Peyla - Treasurer

Christian Peyla brings decades of leadership, technical expertise, and organizational insight to the TideKeepers Board. He is the founder of PG Trionic, a company he established in 1995 after 20 years with Sevcon Inc., where he held key management roles in engineering, manufacturing, and operations across both the U.S. and Europe.

Now retired, Christian serves on the board of the Essex Shipbuilding Museum and remains deeply connected to Cape Ann’s maritime heritage. His lifelong passion for the ocean and the natural world inspires his commitment to community-based environmental and cultural projects. With his sharp eye for structure, discipline, and integrity, Christian brings the steady presence of a seasoned executive to the artistic and visionary world of the TideKeepers.

Maureen Canney - Secretary 

Maureen Canney is a freelance writer, former news correspondent and has spent recent years meeting countless visionary artists while writing for Art New England magazine. It is through ANE where Maureen first met Elisa Vanelli who impressed Maureen with her creative prowess as an artist as well as a deep spiritual understanding and connection to nature and the world around us all.  Maureen is a professional photographer who loves to capture her love of nature and the ocean.  Maureen also lived for nearly two years in Los Angeles where she had the pleasure of working closely with Merv Griffin at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Maureen is an independent film artist who has shot two short films, one of which was shown at the California Independent Film festival. Maureen has endeavored recently to expand her writing to include a dramedy film script. Maureen feels a deep connection to the ocean and is thrilled to have been invited to participate in the Atlantis project and on the Tide Keepers board of directors. She can't wait for the world to see this visionary artist's creations which she firmly believes will hold a space of healing for any one who might visit these beautiful sculptures.

Jason Burnett - Documentary and Media Producer

Jason Burnett is an independent filmmaker and storyteller who relocated to Cape Ann, Massachusetts, to explore the intense connections between the sea and our wellness. Jason transitioned into the creative arts through his founding of Bear Cove Productions with an intense focus on human-centered, locally grounded documentary filmmaking.

His current project, The Magic Coast, is an ongoing docuseries that highlights the people, places, and stories that define life along Cape Ann’s unique shoreline. Through his lens, Jason seeks to capture the intangible qualities that make coastal communities both resilient and magical.

Jason joined the Atlantis board to support Elisa Vanelli’s visionary project, a public art installation that reflects themes of transformation and our shared relationship with the sea. He brings to the board his experience in documentary production and a deep commitment to nurturing the creative spirit of Cape Ann.

Rafael Ramirez - Community Liaison

Rafael Ramirez is a retired restaurateur with a deep love for cooking and creating meaningful connections through food and hospitality. In the latter part of his career, he also worked in financial services, bringing a strong sense of discipline and balance to both fields.

A passionate cyclist for many years, Rafael completed numerous long-distance rides, including a memorable solo journey in 1994 from Wall Street in Boston to Wall Street in New York City over two and a half days, raising funds in support of the AIDS community.

Rafael moved to Manchester-by-the-Sea four years ago, where a chance meeting at Singing Beach—through his dog Goliath and Elisa’s dog Beaux—sparked a meaningful friendship. He was honored to be invited to join the TideKeepers Foundation and is proud to contribute to a project that unites environmental stewardship, public art, and community legacy.