Lisa Simmons is the Program Manager at the Massachusetts Cultural Council and is the Program Manager for the Festivals Program that provides funding for over 220 festivals in the Commonwealth the Local Cultural Council Program that provides support for 329 cities and town offering grants and cultural programming in communities and co-manager of the Communities Initiative that focuses on keeping the power of culture local.  She is the former Deputy Director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel of Tourism where she oversaw domestic and international travel programs as well as the communications director for the Mass Film Office.  Ms. Simmons is on the advisory board of Company One Theater, Public Outreach Committee for Historic New England and former board member of Mass Humanities.