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Kristen Anne Ferraro was born in Springfield, MA, to Ralph, an educator and writer, and Anne Marie, a nurse and hospice chaplain. She has one older brother and two younger sisters and proudly identifies as a first-generation Italian-American. Her father was born in Martone, Reggio Calabria, Southern Italy, and immigrated to Ellis Island, New York, with his mother. Her mother has Irish, English, and French heritage and is a former Catholic nun.
Kristen began her performing arts journey at age 10, participating in local theater productions. Over the years, she took on leading roles in plays and musicals across Western Massachusetts and Connecticut. At 14 and 16, she earned awards for Best Performance by an Actress for "Artichoke" (directed by Carroll Britch) and Best Supporting Actress for "Graceland" (directed by Robert Freedman). Upon graduating high school, she received several art scholarships, having performed nearly 50 roles in theaters throughout Western New England.
During college, Kristen consistently played lead roles in summer stock productions and university musicals and was frequently a featured soloist in intercollegiate chorale concerts. She was recognized as one of the nation's most talented college students by "Who's Who Among College and University Students." After graduating from Bay Path University, she moved to New York City to study the Meisner Technique at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theater. After completing the first year, she was accepted into the second-year program among a select group of students. There, she studied under industry leaders such as Richard Pinter, Ron Stetson, Gary Ramsey, Ian McRae, and Ron Shetler. Kristen began working professionally soon after graduation, touring nationally in the lead role of Scout in "To Kill a Mockingbird." Her subsequent work included leading roles in an independent feature film, several NYC-area theater performances, and gaining experience on set through TV extra and stand-in roles.
Transitioning into the corporate world, Kristen built a successful career in creative direction, strategic marketing, and communications at companies like NBC, Forstmann Little & Company, MassMutual, and Cigna. While running her marketing firm, she received the "40 Under 40" award for her business and nonprofit contributions in New England under her former married name, Kristen Kellner (Kellner Consulting). She holds a BS in Business Management from Bay Path University. In October 2018, Bay Path University honored her with the "Young Alumni Award" for her achievements in business, philanthropy, and the arts.
She currently resides in the Northeastern United States.
