
WESTPORT–Four Westport residents with decades of combined experience in business, non-profits and education have joined The Westport Library Board of Trustees. Christy Charise, James Corgel, Darcy Travlos, and Ashley Zwick begin their one-year terms today.
Trustee Robert Boroujerdi, who had been serving as senior vice president, has been named president, succeeding Pat Wieser, who will remain on the board as a member. Trustee Krishna Patel will succeed Boroujerdi as senior vice president.
The other officers for 2025-26 are Treasurer Ben Chan, Secretary Sheri Gordon, Finance Committee Chair Scott Bennewitz, Governance and Nominations Committee Chair Martina Sze, and Development Committee Chair Mark Silverstein.
“We’re incredibly fortunate to have such a remarkable library at the heart of our town,” Boroujerdi said. “Alongside my fellow board members, I’m honored to help steward this shared resource — a gift we all benefit from and help shape. The Library truly stands as a reflection of our community itself: curious, welcoming, and always learning.”
Boroujerdi is a former partner at Goldman Sachs who later joined Third Point LLC, an institutional asset manager, as the head of markets. He is an active investor and advisor across public and private markets.
Several members cycled off the board: Andrea Berkely, Randy Herbertson, Celeste La Croix, Jay Norris, and Andrew Wilk.
“We look forward to the new ideas and energy that we know this outstanding group of new board members will bring, but we’ll of course miss seeing our longtime board members at our regular meetings,” said Westport Library Executive Director Bill Harmer. He added that the members leaving the board will remain involved as patrons and volunteers.
Here’s a closer look at the board’s newest members:
Christy Charise
Christy Charise and her husband Justin co-founded Saugatuck Financial in 2009. She led the daily operations and growth initiatives for more than a decade and continues to lead various aspects of the practice. She enjoys spending time with her husband and children Austin and Ashley, and friends, as well as their mini-goldendoodles Pineapple and Bailey. She also loves traveling, cooking and a good cup of coffee.
James Corgel
James Corgel has served in leadership and team roles with several nonprofits since his 2013 retirement from a long career at the IBM Corporation, where he held several key general manager roles with global responsibility.
Among his service with various organizations, he is a board member of the wildlife sanctuary and educational center Earthplace, serving as board chairman from 2020 to 2022. Corgel and his wife, Chris, have lived in Westport for more than 35 years.
Darcy Travlos
Darcy Travlos is a capital markets specialist, investor, and entrepreneur with deep experience across technology, media, industrial and consumer sectors. A former investment banker and equity research analyst, she has advised more than 200 companies and led more than 70 technology and consumer-related transactions. A contributor to Forbes.com, she has appeared on CNBC, Bloomberg, Fox Business and national radio. A Westport resident since 2000, she is also a member of the advisory board for the Library’s Verso Studios media resource and production hub, and enjoys travel, tennis, and long walks with her black labrador Robert.
Ashley Zwick
Ashley Zwick brings more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit and education sectors. She currently serves as the executive director of the Tuck Initiative on Workplace Inclusion at Dartmouth and teaches courses on social impact at New York University. When Zwick moved to Westport in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, she sought a home within walking distance of The Westport Library. She and her family of passionate readers found a home on Evergreen Avenue. She calls the library her favorite part of living in Westport.
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The Westport Library
20 Jesup Road
Westport, CT 06880
(203) 291-4800


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