Spotlight Gala Journal 2022

women@ 

2022 

saturday 

october 1 

spectacular 

years 

2022 spotlight gala | 1

we’re so 

glad to have 

you as our 

guests! 

Women@NJPAC gratefully 

acknowledges the ingenuity 

and expertise of the Spotlight 

Gala 2022 Committee whose 

dedication and efforts have 

made our 25th celebration 

a resounding success. 

mission The New Jersey Performing 

Arts Center, by celebrating diversity, 

shall be America’s foremost urban 

presenter of arts and entertainment, 

a creative and effective leader in 

arts education for children, a convener 

of useful and enlightening civic 

engagement events, and a catalyst 

for economic development in its 

home city of Newark. 

gala chair 

Mindy Cohen 

Women@NJPAC and 

NJPAC Trustee 

leadership 

Faith Taylor 

President 

Women@NJPAC 

John Schreiber 

President and CEO 

NJPAC 

Steven M. 

Goldman, Esq. 

Barry H. Ostrowsky 

Co-Chairs, NJPAC 

Board of Directors 

Amy Fitzpatrick 

Vice President 

Development, NJPAC 

Sarah A. Rosen 

Managing Director 

Women@NJPAC 

gala 

fundraising 

committee 

Althea Alston 

Valerie Blau 

Nicole Butler 

Kerri B. Levine 

Erin Morales 

Suzanne Spero 

event 

execution 

Christine Carroll 

Manager, Special 

Events, NJPAC 

Stacey Joseph 

Development 

Manager, NJPAC 

Mariah Gibson 

Assoc. Managing 

Director 

Women@NJPAC 

Patricia Ryan 

Creative Art Director 

NJPAC 

Tina Boyer 

Director, Creative 

Services, NJPAC 

Jen Braun 

Director, Editorial 

Content, NJPAC 

Nicola Alexander 

Assistant, Creative 

Services, NJPAC 

Margaret Gallagher 

Graphic Design 

Gail P. Stone 

Amy-Susie Bradford 

Christine E. Borowsky 

Christine Walia 

Gail P. Stone 

Events, Inc. 

Arc3design 

Lighting Design 

David Mitchell 

Fine Event Design 

Décor Design 

Sarah Acer 

Maya Rubin-Wish 

The Lede Company 

Catering 

Spirits 

2 | 2022 spotlight gala 


“ I am humbled to 

witness how we have 

thrived during these 

challenging times.” 

welcome 

from the president 

of women@njpac 

Building a community is what NJPAC 

does best — from bringing audiences 

together with world-class artists, to 

providing school children from across 

Greater Newark with teaching artists 

who inspire and encourage them, to 

convening gatherings large and small 

to talk about the issues that concern us 

most, from the advancement of social 

justice to the rights of women in the 

21st century. This is at the core of our 

mission and we have a dedicated 

group of volunteers who make it 

happen. Tonight, I’m thrilled that our 

Women@NJPAC Spotlight Gala has 

brought all of you together here at the 

Arts Center — in person, for the first 

time in three years! — to mark NJPAC’s 

25th season. Women@NJPAC has 

been a cornerstone of the Arts Center’s 

success since before its theaters were 

built, and we continue to grow today by 

connecting women to network and share 

their stories, by supporting the ambitions 

of young women and girls across our 

state, and by continuing to raise funds 

($53 million and counting!) to ensure 

that all children have access to the arts 

here at NJPAC. Our “sisterhood for good” 

is a powerful force — and after 

25 years, we’re stronger than ever! 

As the President of Women@NJPAC, 

I want to thank you for your continued 

support. I am humbled to witness 

how we have thrived during these 

challenging times. 

Teachers Village 

Prudential Tower 

& Military Park 

Prudential Tower 

& Military Park 

Small Business 

Development 

Small Business 

Development 

Teachers Village 

Charter School Development 

Charter School Development 

YouthBuild Newark, Inc. 

Visit prudential.com/newark 

Visit prudential.com/newark 

Free Ultra-High-Speed Wi-Fi 

New Jersey Performing Arts Center 


Hahne & Co. Redevelopment 

AeroFarms 

Committed to Newark for more than 140 years, 

Committed we continue to to Newark see the for promise more than of prosperity. 140 years, 

we continue to see the promise of prosperity. 

YouthBuild Newark, Inc. 

Free Ultra-High-Speed Wi-Fi 

Hahne & Co. Redevelopment 

AeroFarms 

School District 

Reform 

School District 

Reform 

In 1875, Prudential founder John Dryden chose Newark 

In as 1875, the home Prudential for an founder idea that John would Dryden change chose America Newark 

as forever: the home life insurance for idea for that everyday would families. change America 

forever: life insurance for everyday families. 

Today, we’re doing more than ever to champion the aspirations 

Today, of Newark we’re families. doing more Through than ever partnerships to champion across the the aspirations city, 

of we’re Newark creating families. avenues Through for new partnerships ideas and technologies 

across the city, 

we’re to emerge. creating For avenues businesses, for new nonprofit ideas organizations and technologies and 

to educational emerge. For institutions businesses, to thrive. nonprofit And organizations to help individuals and 

educational achieve the promise institutions of prosperity to thrive. for And generations to help individuals to come. 

achieve the promise of prosperity for generations to come. 

We began with a sense of purpose that lives on today 

We in our began commitment with a sense to Newark of purpose and that communities lives on today around 

in the our world. commitment to Newark and communities around 

the world. 

Prudential is proud to celebrate NJPAC’s 25 years of providing 

Prudential world-class is performances proud to celebrate and educational NJPAC’s 25 programs years of providing that engage 

world-class the Newark community performances and and the educational state of NJ. programs that engage 

the Newark community and the state of NJ. 

Faith Taylor 


© 2022. Prudential, the Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many 

jurisdictions worldwide. 

© 2022. Prudential, the Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many 

jurisdictions 1059719-00001-00 worldwide. 

1059719-00001-00

With love and 

gratitude to the 

Chambers Family 

for their 

unwavering 

support of NJPAC 

and Newark. 

And… 

Happy 25th 

Birthday njpac. 

You make us feel 

so young. 

Mindy Cohen and 

David Bershad 

welcome 

from the spotlight 

gala chair 

Welcome back! This is my fourth 

time chairing NJPAC’s biggest party 

of the year. I couldn’t pass up the 

chance to work on this wonderful event 

again, and to get to see you all back 

in the Arts Center’s gorgeous theaters. 

I’m beyond excited about tonight’s 

celebration. Stars from the worlds of 

music, dance and Broadway will lift all 

our spirits at our amazing show — and 

performances by students and alumni of 

the Arts Center’s educational program 

will inspire us with their incredible talent. 

I am dazzled by all that NJPAC has 

done in 25 years, and I know that what’s 

to come is just as exciting. And I’m 

grateful to the Chambers family — 

Ray and Patti, and their children Michael, 

Jennifer and my fellow Women@NJPAC 

Trustee, Christine Gilfillan — for being 

our honorees tonight. Their belief in the 

power of the performing arts has never 

waned. Their guidance and support has 

made the Arts Center what it is today 

and shaped what it will become for 

many tomorrows. Tonight we recognize 

their vision and tenacity, and set the 

stage for the next era at NJPAC. 

“ I am dazzled by all 

that NJPAC has done 

in 25 years, and I know 

that what’s to come is 

just as exciting.” 

Mindy A. Cohen 



welcome 

from the president 

& ceo of njpac 

welcome 

from the njpac board 

of director co-chairs 

“ I’m so happy you’re 

here with us tonight, 

to honor our past 

and raise a glass to 

our future.” 

Tonight, we formally inaugurate NJPAC’s 

25th anniversary season — a milestone 

we’re celebrating by looking back on all 

this Arts Center has accomplished, and 

most importantly, looking forward to 

how much more we will achieve in 

the years ahead. More children will find 

their voices, tell their stories and reach 

their full potential through our expanded 

arts education programs. More people 

will fill the streets of Newark’s vibrant 

downtown as our campus is redeveloped 

to include homes, shops, restaurants 

and arts venues. More NJPAC-presented 

performances will bring joy and 

inspiration to audiences — whether those 

performances are held here in our 

theaters, in our new partner locations 

throughout the city, or are developed 

on our campus and presented at venues 

across the country or shared through 

broadcasting. Thanks to good friends 

like you, who have made our boldest 

dreams for this special place come true, 

the Arts Center’s future is as exciting and 

full of promise as it was the day we first 

opened our doors. I’m so happy you’re 

here with us tonight, to honor our past 

and raise a glass to our future. Here’s to 

the next 25 years! 

NJPAC has accomplished so much in 

its first quarter-century. Millions of 

people have come to Newark to see 

performances in its beautiful theaters. 

Almost two million children have seen 

their first ballet or musical here, learned 

to play an instrument in an Arts Center 

class or stepped out onto a stage for 

the first time at a “student share.” 

And thousands more have seen a show 

produced at the Arts Center when it tours 

the country, or have been introduced to 

the wonders of American Song or hip 

hop dance through an NJPAC-produced 

television broadcast. And all around 

the Arts Center’s campus, Newark’s 

downtown has grown into a vibrant and 

busy destination. That’s a remarkable 

record — but it’s only half the story. 

The big news at this Gala is how NJPAC 

is now pushing the boundaries of how 

useful and effective an Arts Center can 

be, by exploring the impact of the arts on 

well-being, attracting a world-class film 

studio to Newark, teaching teachers to 

use the arts to make their lessons more 

effective, raising important questions 

about equity and justice, and even 

building a whole new neighborhood 

right on its campus. NJPAC is proof 

of the remarkable power of the 

performing arts. Thank you for being 

here tonight, and thank you for 

being part of the community that 

built this very special place, and is 

propelling it into a remarkably 

exciting future. We have 

so much to celebrate! 

“ NJPAC is proof of the 

remarkable power of 

the performing arts.” 

Steven M. Goldman, Esq. 





generously sponsored by 

lead sponsor 

underwriter sponsor 

The MCJ Amelior Foundation 

spotlight sponsor 

Mindy A. Cohen and 

David J. Bershad 

vice chairs 

Toby and Leon G. 

Cooperman 

Horizon Blue Cross Blue 

Shield of New Jersey 

Merck & Co., Inc. 

PSEG 

PwC 

Arthur F. Ryan 

Tanenbaum Keale, LLP 

Nina and Ted Wells 

Windels Marx 

List as of 9/26/2022 

platinum sponsor 

Gibbons, P.C. 

gold sponsors 

ADP 

American Express 

Audible, Inc. 

Bank of America 

Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence E. 

Bathgate, II 

BD 

CastleOak Securities, L.P. 

Elberon Development 

Group 

The Fidelco Group, Randi 

and Marc E. Berson 

The Griffinger Family 

Steven M. Goldman 

Harris Blitzer Sports 

Entertainment/ 

The Philadelphia 76ERS 

Joan and William Hickey 

The Honorable 

Thomas H. Kean 

William and Paula Marino 

NJM Insurance Group 

Rutgers University – 

Newark 

RWJBarnabas Health 

The Smart Family 

Foundation/ 

David S. Stone, Esq., 

Stone & Magnanini 

Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch 

Turner Construction 

Company 

The Walsh Family 

silver sponsors 

Bloomberg Philanthropies 

BNY Mellon 

Boston Consulting Group 

Chubb 

Community Foundation 

of New Jersey 

Edison Properties 

Newark Foundation 

Greenberg Traurig LLP 

Jones Lang Lasalle, Inc. 

Mazars, USA 

McCarter & English, LLP 

PNC 

Seyfarth Shaw 

Simon Quick Advisors 

SP+ 

Ticketmaster 

United Airlines 

Finn and Kim Wentworth 

Josh Weston 

luminary ticket(s) 

Atlantic, Tomorrow’s Office 

Alma DeMetropolis 

S. Dillard and 

Adrienne Kirby 

hero ticket(s) 

Charles C. Anderson 

Jacob and Jennifer Buurma 

Healey Family Foundation 

Meg and Howard Jacobs 

Vani Krishnamurthy and 

Alok Sanghvi 

L+M Development 

Partners Inc. 

Panasonic Foundation 

Christine S. Pearson 

John Schreiber and 

Virginia McEnerney 

Rosemary and 

Robert Steinbaum 

Faith and Gary Taylor 

text to give 

performer ticket(s) 

Deborah and Joseph 

Belfatto 

Patricia L. Capawana 

Margarethe and 

Mark Laurenzi 

Harry S. Pozycki 

Tracy and Theodore 

Spencer 

friend ticket(s) 

Clifford Blanchard 

Monica Casiello 

Evelyn and Stephen Colbert 

Michellene Davis 

Goldman Sachs 

Franklin Hall 

KPMG 

Linda Layne 

Judith Lieberman 

Gabriella E. Morris and 

Dennis Brownlee 

Neiman Marcus Short Hills 

Ferlanda Fox Nixon and 

Milford Nixon 

Tiasia O’Brien 

Michael Rachlin 

Richard Roper 

Schenck Price Smith 

& King, LLP 

Lori Spoon 

TD Bank 

Victoria Foundation 

Text NJPAC to 243725 

to support scholarships 

for Arts Education, 

or scan the QR code 

full page ad 

sponsors 

Atlantic, Tomorrow’s Office 

Chubb 

half page ad 

sponsors 

Brach Eichler LLC 

Chiesa Shahinian & 

Giantomasi PC 

Genova Burns LLC 

Gilbane Building Company 

Veronica M. Goldberg 

K. Russo Consulting 

The Phoenix Group 

Structure Tone 

in-kind donation 

Advanced Parking 

Concepts 

Allied Beverage Group LLC 



October October 1, 20221, 2022 

Women@NJPAC Women@NJPAC 

New Jersey New Jersey Performing Performing Arts Center Arts Center 

1 Center 1 Center Street Street 

Newark, Newark, October Jersey New 1, 2022 Jersey 07102 07102 

Dear Friends Dear Women@NJPAC 

Friends of the Women of the Women at NJPAC: at NJPAC: 


On behalf On 1 Center behalf of the Street people of the people of Newark, of Newark, it is my it pleasure is my pleasure to welcome to welcome everyone everyone gathered 

this ered Newark, evening this New evening for Jersey the for Women@NJPAC’s 07102 the 25th Annual 25th Annual Spotlight Spotlight Gala, entitled Gala, entitled 

gath- 

“The Possible “The Possible Dream.” Dream.” 

Dear Friends of the Women at NJPAC: 

For a quarter For a quarter of a century, of a century, NJPAC NJPAC has brought has brought the world’s the world’s greatest greatest performers performers to to 

Newark’s Newark’s On stage, behalf entertaining stage, of the entertaining people and of inspiring Newark, and inspiring our it is audiences my our pleasure audiences with to diverse welcome with diverse and everyone high and high gathered 

programs. this programs. evening NJPAC NJPAC has for created the has Women@NJPAC’s created a dazzling a dazzling record, 25th record, but Annual its but best Spotlight its days best are days Gala, in are entitled in 

quality quality 

front of front “The it. of Possible it. Dream.” 

Tonight’s For Tonight’s event a quarter will event bring of will a century, NJPAC’s bring NJPAC’s supporters has supporters brought and Newark and the world’s Newark together greatest together again performers to again to to 

celebrate celebrate Newark’s all the stage, all amazing the entertaining amazing plans the plans center and the inspiring center has for has our this for audiences year this and year decades with and diverse decades to come. and to come. high 

These plans These quality will plans programs. continue will continue NJPAC to enhance has to enhance created NJPAC’s a NJPAC’s dazzling luster as luster record, a world-class a but world-class its center best days center for the are for in the 

performing performing front arts, of it. empower arts, empower future future generations generations of Newark of Newark musical musical performers performers and and 

stars, and stars, keep and our keep city our moving city moving forward. forward. 

Tonight’s event will bring NJPAC’s supporters and Newark together again to 

This year’s This celebrate gala year’s will all gala the also will amazing honor also honor the plans Chambers the Chambers center Family has Family in for recognition this in year recognition and of their decades of leadership 

in ship These New in Jersey plans New Jersey will and continue for and their for commitment to their enhance commitment NJPAC’s to NJPAC, to luster NJPAC, our as City, a our world-class and City, the and arts. center the We arts. for We the 

their to come. leader- 

are privileged are performing privileged to have arts, to the empower have Chambers the Chambers future family generations family Newark’s of Newark’s team. team. musical performers and 

stars, and keep our city moving forward. 

All the All best the for best an enjoyable for an enjoyable gala! gala! 

This year’s gala will also honor the Chambers Family in recognition of their leadership 

yours, 

New yours, Jersey and for their commitment to NJPAC, our City, and the arts. We 

Sincerely Sincerely 

are privileged to have the Chambers family on Newark’s team. 

All the best for an enjoyable gala! 

Sincerely yours, 

Ras J. Baraka Ras J. Baraka 

Mayor Mayor 

Ras J. Baraka 

Mayor 

OFFICE OF OFFICE THE MAYOR OF THE MAYOR 

920 BROAD 920 STREET, BROAD RM STREET, 200 • NEWARK, RM 200 • NEWARK, NJ 07102 NJ 07102 

TEL: (973) TEL: 733-6400 (973) 733-6400 • FAX (973) • FAX 733- (973) 3711733- 3711 

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR 

920 BROAD STREET, RM 200 • NEWARK, NJ 07102 

TEL: (973) 733-6400 • FAX (973) 733- 3711

We are proud to have been part of 

“The Possible Dream” and its ongoing 

impact in Newark. 

to NJPAC on 

25 spectacular years! 

Twenty-five years later, we couldn’t be more 

hopeful for what lies ahead for NJPAC. 

To all of our friends, colleagues, and to the 

staff and crew of NJPAC…thank you for 

including us in tonight’s celebration. 

You’ve made us feel a part of 

The Chambers Family 

Cheers and congratulations 

to our tenacious, creative, 

and dedicated Gala Chair 

Mindy A. Cohen on a 

spectacular evening! 

We’re grateful for your 

leadership of the Gala 

and so glad to celebrate 

together in person. 

14 | 2022 spotlight gala

congratulations 

to 

the 

and 

chambers 

family 

Arthur Ryan 

P O W E R I N G P R O G R E S S 

At PSEG, diversity, equity and inclusion drive success across our 

company and are an essential part of everything we do, every day. 


Investing in the health of 

your community. 

Here when you need us most. 

HorizonBlue.com 

congratulations to the 

chambers 

family 

S:8.5" 

T:9" 

B:9" 

for their extraordinary 

philanthropy, leadership, 

dedication and commitment 

to education, the arts 

and enhancing the lives 

of many children and 

families throughout the 

State of New Jersey. 

with sincere appreciation, 

Nina and Ted Wells 

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. 




founders 

award 

for commitment to 

njpac, newark & the arts 

We honor the Chambers Family for their inspiring 

philanthropy and extraordinary commitment to 

the City of Newark, NJPAC and Women@NJPAC. 


Ray and Patti Chambers 

Christine and Mike Gilfillan 

Michael and Tina Chambers 

Jennifer and Mercel Chambers 

bravo! 

& 


to 

the Chambers 

Family 

tonight’s honorees 

women@njpac 

Board of Trustees 


tonight’s founders award honorees 


thank you for your commitment 

to njpac, newark & the arts 

Ray Chambers is a fifth-generation 

Newarker. As a boy, Ray lived in a 

four-family home in Newark’s West 

Ward. He went to Newark’s public 

schools, graduated from West Side 

High School and the Business School 

at Rutgers University in Newark. 

Ray played in a rock and jazz group 

through high school and college. 

The band members remain lifelong 

Newark friends to this day. 

Ray had great success in business 

with his late partner, former 

Secretary of the Treasury William 

E Simon, at Wesray Capital. 

In 1985, Ray visited the Boys 

and Girls Clubs in Newark — an 

organization he had been a 

member of as a ten-year-old. 

After that visit, Ray realized he did 

not want to continue in business. 

Rather, he and his family wanted 

to focus on improving the lives of 

children and giving back to the 

city of Newark. Ray stepped down 

from business in 1989 and has 

devoted his life to humanitarian 

work for the last 33 years. 

The Chambers family established 

The MCJ Amelior Foundation in 1986. 

Ray’s daughter, Christine Gilfillan, 

has been its President for the last 

20 years. Her siblings, Michael 

and Jennifer, serve as Trustees. 

In 1987 the Chambers family launched 

the READY Program, working with 

Barbara Bell Coleman, who had 

brought Ray back to the Boys and 

Girls Club of Newark when she 

was President there. The program 

funded the college tuition of 

hundreds of Newark school children 

if they stayed on the right path. 

That same year, Governor Kean 

announced he wanted to build a 

world-class performing arts center 

in Newark. Many doubted that the 

Arts Center could be built in the city. 

Ray assured the State Legislature 

that the private sector would match 

funding from the State to develop the 


in Newark’s downtown. Ray became 

NJPAC’s Founding Board Chairman. 

Inspired by NJPAC, the Chambers 

family, led by Ray’s son-in-law, 

Mike Gilfillan, formed a group 

that acquired the New Jersey Nets 

and the Devils in order to build a 

sports arena in Newark to further 

Newark’s downtown redevelopment. 

Ray’s good friend, Art Ryan, then 

the CEO of Prudential (and Co- 

Chair of NJPAC’s Board) played a 

major role in the Prudential Center 

project. “The Rock” opened in 2007. 

In 1990, President George H.W. Bush 

asked Ray to be Founding Chairman 

of his Points of Light Foundation. 

Ray and others then launched the 

National Mentoring Partnership. 

Ray knew from his work on the 

READY program that a caring adult 

could have a profound impact 

on the life of a young person. At 

that time, there were only 350,000 

mentors in our country. In 1997, 

Ray joined with General Colin 

Powell to create America’s Promise. 

Today there are more than 5 million 

mentors in our country! (Ray himself 

even mentored Cory Booker.) 

After the horrific events of September 

11, Secretary of State Colin Powell 

inspired Ray to help prevent 

terrorism by “leveling the playing 

field” globally. At that time, malaria 

in Africa was the number one killer 

of children in the world, causing 

1.2 million deaths each year. 

Secretary General Ban Ki Moon 

appointed Ray the United Nations 

Special Envoy for Malaria. Ray 

led a coalition of global health 

groups over the next ten years that 

resulted in more than 1.5 billion 

people in Africa being provided with 

insecticide-treated mosquito nets, 

which prevent the transmission of 

malaria. The result? Child mortality 

was reduced by 71 percent, and the 

lives of 7 million children were saved. 

Ray currently serves as the 

Ambassador to the World Health 

Organization for Global Strategy. 

The Chambers family simply believes 

the best way to achieve happiness is 

to help as many people as possible. 

Patti Chambers, Ray’s wife, was 

a founder of the NJPAC Women’s 

Board Association (now known as 

Women@NJPAC) and treasures her 

work with the amazing children at the 

PG Chambers School in Cedar Knolls. 

Christine and Mike, Michael and Tina 

and Jennifer and Mercel feel fortunate 

to be supporting issues that they feel 

have the greatest impact in Newark, 

their communities, and in the world. 

We are grateful for 

this remarkable 

family’s commitment 

to others. 



spotlighting gala 

artists of the past 


Lionel Richie (center), 2002 

Queen Latifah , 2007 

Jennifer Hudson, 2010 

Brian Stokes Mitchell, 2020 

On its 25th anniversary, 

NJPAC presents 

a Spotlight Gala 

celebrating great New 

Jersey artists — and the 

next generation of stars 

One of the many things NJPAC was built to 

celebrate is New Jersey’s rich and varied 

cultural heritage. From R&B to Broadway, 

funk to tap to classical, artists who have set 

a new standard in so many genres hail from 

our state. Tonight, we’ve gathered some of 

the most famous and beloved talents with 

roots in our community to perform here on 

the occasion of our 25th anniversary. These 

are artists whose music has been the 

soundtrack of so many important moments 

in our lives — performing side-by-side with 

some rising stars whose names you’ll hear 

for many years to come. We’re grateful to 

have this incredible group come together to 

highlight the work of this Arts Center, 

demonstrate the depth of the talent that 

grows in the Garden State and to make this 

a night to remember for so many of NJPAC’s 

dearest friends. And we’re especially excited 

to present, alongside these established 

entertainers, a cohort of our own NJPAC 

Arts Education students — both children 

who are currently enrolled in our programs 

and alumni who have gone on to study at 

the Berklee College of Music and launch 

careers in the arts. 

regina belle 

Regina Belle is an Academy Award and multi- 

GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, songwriter and 

actress. Her string of hits includes “Make It Like It 

Was,” “If I Could,” “Baby Come to Me” and “This is 

Love.” The New Jersey native, born and raised in 

Englewood, first demonstrated her vocal abilities 

as a child in the church, then polished her musical 

skills at Dwight Morrow High School (where she 

studied trombone, tuba and steel drums) and at 

the Manhattan School of Music for Preparatory 

College, where she studied classical voice training. 

She attended Rutgers University until her senior year, 

when she left her studies to go on tour with The 

Manhattans. She remained with the group for two 

years before launching her solo career. Belle’s vocals 

on the Peabo Bryson duet “A Whole New World” — 

the signature song from Disney’s hit 1992 animated 

feature film Aladdin — won the GRAMMY® Award 

for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group in 1994 

and solidified her place among music royalty. While 

Belle has enjoyed major success in her career, 

there were also hardships. After releasing her first 

gospel album Love Forever Shines in 2008, 

she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Following 

two surgeries and 10 months of rehabilitation, she 

was back on top. In 2015 Belle returned to Rutgers 

and earned her bachelor’s degree in Africana 

Studies with a minor in music. In 2016, she released 

The Day Life Began, which signaled the beginning 

of a whole new chapter in her life. “I draw strength 

from knowing that I’m operating within the purpose 

of my life and I’m having a ball doing it!” she says. 

ray chew 

Tonight’s Music Director 

Music director, producer and composer Ray 

Chew’s work has been seen on multiple 

television networks, in front of the camera 

and behind the scenes, beginning with 

syndication’s longest running series, 

It’s Showtime at the Apollo (NBC). Other series 

include Singing Bee (NBC), Sunday Best (BET), 

Rising Star (ABC) and American Idol (FOX). 

He returned to ABC’s Emmy Award-winning 

Dancing with the Stars for its 31st season last 

month. His music direction is sought for events 

including the Emmy Awards, the GRAMMY® 

Awards Premiere Ceremony, the 2008 

Democratic National Convention, the 44th 

Annual NAACP Image Awards, Miss Universe 

and the BET Awards. Philanthropic projects 

include the Power 2 Inspire Foundation, 

assisting aspiring musicians, and the 

American Federation of Musicians project to 

help those affected by COVID-19. 


laura benanti 

Tony® Award-winner and five-time Tony® Award 

nominee Laura Benanti is a celebrated actress of 

both stage and screen. On Broadway, she 

appeared in Into the Woods, Nine, She Loves Me, 

My Fair Lady and Gypsy, for which she won the 

Best Featured Actress in a Musical Tony. On 

television, she can be seen in Amy Schumer’s Life 

& Beth, and is set to appear in the second season 

of HBO’s The Gilded Age, created by Downton 

Abbey’s Julian Fellowes. She can also currently be 

seen in HBO Max’s Gossip Girl. She starred in 

Netflix’s Worth opposite Michael Keaton, Stanley 

Tucci and Amy Ryan. She also starred opposite 

Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish in the film Here 

Today and appeared in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 

directing debut, Tick, Tick…Boom! 

Benanti has made multiple appearances on 

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as Melania 

Trump; The New York Times dubbed her 

impersonation one of their “Best Performances 

of 2016.” Additionally, she created the HBO Max 

special Homeschool Musical: Class of 2020, 

co-authored a children’s book M is for Mama 

(and also Merlot): A Modern Mom’s ABCs. Born in 

New York City, she was raised in Kinnelon and 

won a Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award for 

playing in 1996 the title role in Hello, Dolly. 

savion glover 

Savion Glover is a Tony Award-winning choreographer 

and legendary hoofer, whose career has spanned 

nearly four decades. The Newark native began his 

Broadway career as The Tap Dance Kid and continued 

with Black and Blue, Jelly’s Last Jam and Bring in da 

Noise, Bring in da Funk which garnered him a Tony 

Award for Best Choreography. He has performed with 

jazz legends including McCoy Tyner, Roy Haynes and 

Jack DeJohnette. Film credits include Tap, starring 

Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis, Jr., Spike Lee’s 

Bamboozled and George Miller’s Happy Feet and 

Happy Feet Two. He appeared in television 

commercials for Nike and Coca Cola, and has been a 

longstanding performer on Sesame Street. He was 

recognized for his choreography for the Broadway 

musical Shuffle Along, directed by George C. Wolfe, 

as well as for the direction and choreography for 

Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope. Glover performed at 

NJPAC’s opening night and has been engaged with 

the Arts Center since, currently serving as the 

organization’s Dance Advisor and as a member of its 

Board of Directors. He is also dedicated to furthering 

its arts education programming and leads Summer 

Intensive performance workshops here, open to 

talented young people across Greater Newark. 

george clinton 

“Godfather of Funk” George Clinton — who grew up 

in Newark and Plainfield — revolutionized R&B 

during the ’70s, twisting soul music into funk by 

adding influences from late-’60s heroes Jimi 

Hendrix, Frank Zappa and Sly Stone. From 1970 to 

1980, his band Parliament/Funkadelic made the R&B 

top 10 with hits “Flash Light,” “Aqua Boogie,” and 

“One Nation Under a Groove.” With the rise of 

funk-inspired rap and rock in the ’90s, Clinton’s 

music became the blueprint for artists like MC 

Hammer, LL Cool J and Snoop Dogg. He gained 

wider visibility by appearing in films like The Night 

Before, House Party, PCU and Good Burger, hosting 

the HBO series Cosmic Slop and filming commercials 

for Apple and Nike. He also composed the theme 

songs for TV’s The Tracey Ullman Show and The PJs. 

He has received GRAMMY®, Dove and MTV 

Music Video awards, and has been recognized by 

BMI, the NAACP Image Awards and Motown 

Alumni Association for lifetime achievement. 

Parliament/Funkadelic was inducted into 

the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. In 2012, 

he received an Honorary Doctorate of Music 

from Berklee College of Music. 


wé mcdonald 

When she was only 17 years old, Wé McDonald’s 

appearance on the hit NBC TV show The Voice, and her 

show-stopping rendition of Nina Simone’s “Feeling 

Good,” drew worldwide attention. After being coached 

by Alicia Keys, the Paterson-raised McDonald won 

third place in the televised competition, and her career 

was fast-tracked for success. A singer since age 12, 

she attended New York City’s Harlem School for the 

Arts after school and on weekends, where she studied 

music, acting, dance, opera and jazz vocals. At 16, 

McDonald competed and won three times at the 

Apollo Theater’s famous Amateur Night competition. 

She has since performed across the United States and 

internationally, sharing stages with music legends such 

as Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban, Chris Botti, CeeLo 

Green, John Legend, Alicia Keys and others. She has 

toured with the Apollo Celebrates Ella Fitzgerald concert 

and the off-Broadway rock ’n’ roll classic, Rocktopia, 

with Dee Snider. She is also a worldwide ambassador 

for World Vision, an organization working to supply 

fresh water to underdeveloped villages around the 

world. In April 2018, McDonald authored her second 

book, The Little Girl with The Big Voice, which tells the 

story of a little girl who overcomes the challenges of 

being bullied. Her books are currently being used by 

schools across America as a tool to overcome bullying. 


dionne warwick 

Five-time GRAMMY® Award-winner Dionne Warwick, born 

in Orange, has enchanted audiences worldwide since the 

1960s. Her remarkable hit-making career, encompassing 

more than 60 charted songs and more than 100 million 

records sold, began with her first release in 1962, “Don’t Make 

Me Over.” After 30 hits and nearly 20 albums, she received 

her first GRAMMY® in 1968 for “Do You Know the Way 

to San Jose?” Her second followed in 1970 for the album 

I’ll Never Fall in Love Again. During the ’70s she released 

six albums, topping the charts with “Then Came You” 

in 1974. She released Dionne in 1979, becoming the first 

female artist to win Best Female Pop and Best Female 

R&B Performance. In 2019, she earned a Lifetime 

Achievement GRAMMY® from the recording academy. 

Over the years she has collaborated with the 

Bee Gees, Johnny Mathis, Smokey Robinson, 

Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder and many more. 

A dedicated humanitarian, she has advocated 

for AIDS awareness, children’s hospitals and 

music education. Using music to support her 

activism, she performed on the charity single, 

“We Are the World” and made history with 

Gladys Knight, Elton John and Stevie Wonder 

with “That’s What Friends Are For,” the first 

recording dedicated to raising 

AIDS awareness. 

christian mcbride 

Bassist, composer and arranger Christian McBride moved 

to New York in 1989 to pursue classical studies at Juilliard, 

but was recruited to the road by saxophonist Bobby 

Watson. In 2000, the lessons of the road came together 

when McBride formed his longest-running musical project, 

the Christian McBride Big Band. In 2012, their release 

The Good Feeling won the GRAMMY® for Best Large 

Ensemble Jazz Album — one of eight GRAMMY ® Awards 

Christian has received during his career. 

An educator and advocate as well as an artist, 

McBride spoke at President Bill Clinton’s town hall 

meeting “Racism in the Performing Arts” in 1997. He was 

named Artistic Director of the Jazz Aspen Snowmass 

Summer Sessions (2000), co-director of the National Jazz 

Museum in Harlem (2005) and the Second Creative Chair 

for Jazz of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association 

(2005). He also serves as Artistic Advisor for Jazz 

Programming at NJPAC. McBride hosts and produces 

The Lowdown: Conversations with Christian on SiriusXM 

satellite radio and NPR’s Jazz Night in America, a 

collaboration between WBGO, NPR and Jazz at Lincoln 

Center. Completing the circle is his work with Jazz House 

Kids, the Montclair community arts education 

organization founded by his wife, vocalist Melissa Walker. 

matthew whitaker 

Matthew Whitaker, an alumnus of NJPAC’s Arts 

Education programs, began playing at age three, after 

his grandfather gave him a Yamaha keyboard. At 13, 

he became the youngest artist endorsed by 

Hammond. At 15 he became the youngest Yamaha 

Jazz Piano Artist. Whitaker now tours the U.S., Europe, 

Asia and Australia, performing on stages including the 

Apollo Theater, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and the 

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 

He has appeared on television programs such as FOX 

TV’s Showtime at the Apollo, The Today Show, Harry 

Connick Jr. Show, Ellen and 60 Minutes. Whitaker 

recently starred in, produced and scored the ALL ARTS 

documentary About Tomorrow and composed the 

original score for the film Starkeisha, currently 

streaming on Hulu. In 2019 and 2020, he was the 

winner of the ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young 

Jazz Composers Award for original compositions 

“Emotions’’ and “Underground.” Whitaker has three 

studio albums: Outta The Box, Now Hear This and 

Connections on which he has collaborated with 

Derrick Hodge, Ray Chew, Jon Batiste, Christian 

McBride and Regina Carter. 

lucy 

alan hsiao jalin shiver liany mateo lilli m. yeghiazaryan 

ricky 

persaud, jr. 

Tens of thousands of children take part in NJPAC’s arts education programs annually. Some of 

these students find in the arts not just joy and fulfillment, but a career. We are thrilled to showcase 

tonight NJPAC Arts Education alumni who subsequently attended Berklee College of Music. Some 

now perform professionally. We are enormously proud of their talent and success. 

djkiss 

DJ JaKissa Taylor-Semple, better known to her fans as DJKiss, is known for 

her love of fashion and beauty as well as for her undeniable musical talent. 

Kiss regularly performs as a DJ at high-profile celebrity events around the 

country, including The Governors’ Ball, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts 

and Sciences’ official post-Oscars celebration and the MTV Movie Awards. 

In addition, Kiss toured with Oprah Winfrey as the official DJ on her stadium 

tour, The Life You Want Weekend, and with Pharrell Williams for shows in 

America and Hong Kong. She’s also spun her signature mix of soulful, 

feel-good tunes at the weddings of actors Matt Damon and Angela Bassett, 

director George Lucas and for numerous corporate clients. 


how can an arts center transform a city? 

“When I started here, people 

were always asking us: 

What’s the fastest way to 

the Parkway? They didn’t 

want to be on the streets 

of Newark. We don’t hear 

that anymore.” 

— Yesenia “Jessie” Jimenez, 

Senior Director of Ticket 

Services and Sales, and a 

26-year NJPAC employee 

“NJPAC is the most diverse 

performing arts center in 

the country — its concerts, its 

audience and its staff all reflect 

the global city that Newark 

has become. It’s a place for 

performances that speak to the 

heritage of so many, a place 

for celebrations of every kind, 

and a place for important 

conversations about justice 

and equity. I am proud to 

have, at the heart of our city, 

this special place designed to 

welcome and lift up all of us.” 

– Newark Mayor Ras Baraka 

“NJPAC signaled the 

rebirth of downtown 

Newark…When NJPAC 

opened, our business 

jumped 20 percent. And 

it never dropped.” 

– Michael Brummer, co-owner, 

Hobby’s Delicatessen, Newark 


“When I look around today, the 

city’s rebound is palpable – from 

the Arts Center to the Museum, 

to the Arena, to the proposed 

residential development at the 

old Bears Stadium. They didn’t 

all happen because of the Arts 

Center. But none of this would 

have happened without us.” 

– Marc Berson, Founder and Chairman, The Fidelco 

Group; NJPAC Executive Committee Member 


njpac’s first 

quarter-century 

1987 

July: Gov. Thomas 

Kean announces 

plans to build 

the New Jersey 

Performing Arts 

Center in Newark. 

1988 

NJPAC is 

established 

as a nonprofit 

corporation with 

Ray Chambers 

as Chairman. 

Fundraising to build 

the Arts Center 

begins. 

2012 

July: America’s Got 

Talent begins a run 

of 18 broadcasts 

from the Prudential 

Hall stage, bringing 

hopefuls and 

guest stars like 

Justin Bieber and 

Green Day to 

the Arts Center. 

October: First TD 

James Moody Jazz 

Festival held. The 

Sarah Vaughan 

International Jazz 

Vocal Competition, 

designed to launch 

the careers of 

novice jazz singers, 

is inaugurated. 

1989 

Lawrence P. 

Goldman is hired 

as NJPAC’s first 

President and CEO. 

1994 

NJPAC Arts 

Education program 

launches. 

June: The NJPAC 

Women’s Board 

Association (later 

Women@NJPAC) 

established; Diana 

T. Vagelos named 

founding President. 

2013 

October: Black 

Girls Rock! films 

at NJPAC for the 

first time. The show 

features Regina 

King, Queen 

Latifah, Misty 

Copeland and 

Jennifer Hudson. 

2014 

A new department 

of Community 

Engagement 

is established 

to strengthen 

NJPAC’s 

relationships 

with the state’s 

many distinctive 

communities. 

December: 

The Hip Hop 

Nutcracker, a 

reimagining of 

Tchaikovsky’s 

holiday classic 

through hip hop 

dance, premieres at 

NJPAC, creating a 

new winter tradition 

for the Arts Center. 

The show will go on 

to tour more than 50 

venues across the 

country annually. 

The evolution of a 

performing arts center into 

an anchor cultural institution 

1996 

Women’s Board 

holds its first 

Gala, Passport 

to the World, at 

Continental Airlines 

hangar at Newark 

International 

Airport. Ray 

Charles performs. 

1997 

August 16: The 

Hard Hat Concert, 

for construction 

workers who built 

NJPAC, held in 

Prudential Hall, 

featuring Southside 

Johnny, Max 

Weinberg and 

Ronnie Spector. 

October 18: 

NJPAC officially 

opens; its inaugural 

Gala Celebration 

attracts celebrities, 

political leaders 

and community 

members. Opening 

concert recorded 

for PBS’ Great 

Performances series. 

2015 

February: NJPAC 

announces its first 

co-production 

with the nearby 

Prudential 

Center, Ladies 

Night, paving the 

way for future 

collaborations with 

“The Rock” and 

other large venues. 

2018 

One Theater Square 

opens to residents; 

John Schreiber is 

among the first to 

move in. 

1999 

May: The Arts 

Center’s Sounds 

of the City free 

summer concert 

series launches. 

2001 

October 11: 

Affirmation of 

Culture and 

Community concert, 

featuring the NJSO, 

Newark Boys 

Choir and NJPAC’s 

Jubilation Choir, 

held at NJPAC in 

memory of the 

victims of 9/11. 

2002 

September: Lionel 

Richie headlines the 

Spotlight Gala; the 

fifth anniversary of 

NJPAC’s opening 

is marked with 

a campus-wide 

dance party. 

2019 

April: NJPAC 

announces it will 

construct a new 

building on its campus, 

the Cooperman 

Family Arts Education 

and Community 

Center, to house 

its arts education 

and community 

engagement programs 

and two professional 

rehearsal studios. 

October 5: 

NJPAC receives a 

New York Emmy for 

its production of The 

Hip Hop Nutcracker on 

public television. 

October 15: 

NJPAC announces 

All Together 

Now: The NJPAC 

Changemaking 

Campaign, a $225 

2004 

NJPAC launches 

second Capital 

Campaign, focused 

on developing 

the Arts Center’s 

Endowment Fund, 

raising $182 million 

over five years. 

2006 

Summer: After the 

opening of the 

light rail station 

on Center Street, 

Queen Latifah 

arrives aboard a 

light-rail train for 

the premiere of her 

film, Hairspray, at 

NJPAC. 

million capital 

campaign, the 

third in the Arts 

Center’s history. 

$100 million had 

already been raised 

by the campaign’s 

announcement. 

2020 

March 13: As the 

coronavirus sweeps 

across the nation, 

NJPAC closes its 

theaters and pivots 

to become one of 

the nation’s largest 

producers of virtual 

programming, 

presenting more 

than 500 virtual 

events during the 

pandemic. 

2008 

January: NJPAC 

selects Dranoff 

Properties of 

Philadelphia as 

its partner in the 

construction of 

Two Center Street 

(later One Theater 

Square) on the Arts 

Center’s campus, 

the first newlyconstructed 

marketrate 

residential 

tower built in 

downtown Newark 

in decades. 

May 4: Bruce 

Springsteen 

takes the stage 

in Prudential Hall 

when he is inducted 

into the inaugural 

class of the New 

Jersey Hall of Fame. 

May 5: Anthony 

Davis receives the 

Pulitzer Prize for his 

opera, Central Park 

Five, which was 

premiered by the 

Trilogy: An Opera 

Company at NJPAC 

in 2016. 

2021 

June: NJPAC 

announces the 

next phase of its 

masterplan for its 

campus will be the 

construction of a 

neighborhood of 

low- and highrise 

multifamily 

2009 

The Geraldine R. 

Dodge Foundation 

selects NJPAC as 

the new site for 

The Dodge Poetry 

Festival, which 

moves to Newark 

in 2010. 

2011 

May: The Dalai 

Lama, Goldie 

Hawn and Deepak 

Chopra are among 

the celebrities, 

officials and Nobel 

Laureates who 

attend the Newark 

Peace Education 

Summit at NJPAC. 

June: John 

Schreiber, a Tonyand 

Emmy-Awardwinning 

producer, 

becomes NJPAC’s 

second President 

and CEO. 

1997 2022 

buildings, condos, 

and retail and cultural 

spaces on what is 

now Parking Lot A. 


May: The Arts Center 

partners with Great 

Point Studios to build 

Lionsgate Newark, 

a new film and 

television production 

studio in Newark’s 

South Ward. 

October 1: NJPAC 

celebrates its 25th 

anniversary season 

at its first in-person 

Spotlight Gala in 

three years.

njpac’s future 

setting the stage 

25 

for the next 

years 


Mulberry Street extension 

This anniversary season, NJPAC has embarked 

on a series of initiatives that will advance its 

mission to revitalize its home city of Newark 

through the arts, extend the reach and depth of 

its arts education and community engagement 

programming, and utilize the performing arts 

to improve the well-being of our community. 

These initiatives include: 

the cooperman family arts education 

and community center 

This new facility, made 

possible by a foundational 

gift from the Cooperman 

Family, will be a purposebuilt 

setting for NJPAC’s 

arts education and free 

community arts programs, 

and a space dedicated 

to the creation of new 

performance work by 

diverse artists. The Arts 

Center’s many education 

initiatives will find a new 

home on our campus at the 

Cooperman Center, which 

will also offer new programs 

and services for students, 

families, educators and 

artists. The new Center will 

include multiple teaching 

spaces where Greater 

Newark kids can discover 

both performance skills 

(in hip hop, acting, musical 

theater and jazz) and also 

technical theater skills in 

stage lighting, design and 

more. The building will also 

be home to new community 

programs for Newarkers 

of all ages, from babies to 

seniors, and will house a 

children’s arts reading room 

curated in collaboration with 

the Newark Public Library. 

A whole floor of the 

Cooperman Center will be 

devoted to two state-of-theindustry 

professional 

rehearsal studios where 

creators can develop 

new works that can be 

performed here in Newark 

and tour across the country. 

Many Cooperman Center 

spaces will also be available 

for community groups to 

use through a space-grant 

program. The Center is 

slated to be completed by 

the end of 2025. 

the lot a 

development project 

NJPAC plans to redevelop 

its campus to create 

a welcoming new 

neighborhood of shops, 

homes and cultural spaces 

surrounding its theaters, to 

extend downtown Newark’s 

Arts and Education District 

from Military Park to the 

Riverfront. The new 

development will include an 

extension of Mulberry Street 

through our campus, public 

green spaces including a 

reimagined Chambers 

Plaza, two multi-family 

apartment buildings, 

15 for-sale condos and 

multiple ground floor spaces 

for retailers, restaurants 

and other cultural uses. 

A centerpiece of the new 

Mulberry Street extension 

will be a food hall curated 

by celebrity chef Marcus 

Samuelsson, which will 

include a teaching kitchen. 

The project will also include 

the redesign of the Arts 

Center’s eastern facade to 

create a new entrance point 

to NJPAC and a new event 

space facing Mulberry. 

Construction is currently 

scheduled to be completed 

by early 2026. 

The Cooperman Family Arts Education 

2022 spotlight and Community gala | 35 

Center

The Cooperman Family 

Arts Education and 

Community Center 

a new chambers plaza 

Thanks to a major gift from 

Essex County, the Arts 

Center’s “front yard” 

Chambers Plaza will 

be re-architected and 

redesigned to create a 

welcoming space that offers 

outdoor gatherings and 

performances 12 months 

a year. This renovation will 

also add trees and 

greenery, creating a new 

downtown park space, 

Essex County Green, that 

will be part of the new 

landscape of Chambers 

Plaza. While NJPAC’s 

beloved Horizon Sounds 

of the City summer concert 

series will still take place 

here, the redesigned 

Chambers Plaza will 

allow for other events 

such as farmers’ 

and winter markets. 

colton institute for research 

and training in the arts 

Building on NJPAC’s unique 

focus on arts education as 

a means of learning, 

empowerment and social 

and emotional development, 

the Colton Institute is 

devoted to pedagogic 

research, curriculum 

creation, teacher training 

and pre-professional 

workforce development. 

Made possible by a 

donation from Judy and 

Stewart Colton in support of 

arts education programming 

and research into new arts 

training techniques, the 

Colton Institute will enable 

the Arts Center’s continued 

growth as a national leader 

in advancing 21st-century 

arts education. The Colton 

Institute, the first-ever 

research hub and creative 

incubator within a 

performing arts center, 

new neighborhood 

partnerships 

The Arts Center already 

produces and presents more 

than 200 free events and 

performances annually, the 

majority of them in Newark. 

However, as NJPAC solicited 

community input for the 

design of the Cooperman 

Center, one message from 

the Newark community 

was heard loud and clear: 

Bring more performances 

to us where we live, in our 

neighborhoods, as well as 

in the city’s downtown. 

In response, the Arts Center 

will in its 2023 season 

launch deep and lasting 

partnerships with existing 

community centers in 

each of Newark’s Wards. 

In each of these locations, 

we will work with local artists 

will allow NJPAC to study 

the impact of its curricular 

approaches. The Colton 

Institute will also increase 

the Arts Center’s educational 

offerings and advance its 

services for students — 

many of whom come from 

economically disadvantaged 

circumstances — including 

mentorship, field training 

and creating a pathway 

for college and career 

opportunities in the 

performing arts. The Arts 

Center has also launched 

a 25th Anniversary Fund 

for the Future of Arts 

Education at NJPAC to 

support and advance new 

programs created by 

the Colton Institute. 

and residents to co-create 

new performing arts 

programming that is of, 

by and for the community, 

addresses local community 

needs and is offered 

consistently throughout 

the season at each of our 

partner locations. The first 

of these partnerships will 

launch in 2023. 

an arts and well-being 

programming vertical 

Inspired by research that 

shows that engagement 

with the arts can have a 

measurable impact on 

health and well-being, 

particularly for at-risk 

populations like seniors 

and adolescents, NJPAC 

will develop a new 

programming vertical that 

seeks to harness the power 

of the performing arts 

to enhance well-being. 

Created in partnership with 

RWJBarnabas and Horizon 

Blue Cross Blue Shield, 

this vertical will include 

everything from dance 

classes that improve health 

outcomes to social 

prescribing programs 

that allow healthcare 

providers to “prescribe” 

a performance to their 

patients. In addition, NJPAC 

will work with Rutgers 

University School of Public 

Health and Mason Gross 

School of the Arts to 

conduct long-term research 

on the best practices for 

using the arts to improve 

community health. 

the lionsgate 

newark film studio 

In partnership with Great 

Point Studios, NJPAC has 

established Lionsgate 

Newark, the first purposebuilt 

studio in New Jersey 

specifically constructed for 

TV and film production, in 

Newark’s South Ward. 

Lionsgate, a global content 

leader, will be the studio’s 

long-term anchor tenant. 

NJPAC will manage public 

affairs and community 

relations for the studio 

and create educational 

programs and internships 

for Newark high school and 

college students at the 

Studio. The 300,000-squarefoot, 

full-service, modern 

entertainment complex will 

include production stages 

ranging from 20,000 to 

30,000 square feet. The 

facility will offer a full set of 

production services on site, 

including props, set building, 

restaurants, location 

catering and security. 

The project is anticipated 

to create more than 600 

new long-term jobs, with 

priority for positions going 

to residents of Newark. 

The studio is expected to 

generate more than $800 

million of annual economic 

impact for Newark and 

New Jersey. Construction is 

scheduled to be completed 

in mid-2024. 

Programming to offer 

more events and 

services that focus on 

the advancement of 

women and girls. 

the evolution of 

women@njpac 

Women@NJPAC, the Arts 

Center’s “sisterhood for 

good,” is expanding its 

programming to offer more 

events and services that 

focus on the advancement 

of women and girls. 

Guided by its focus on 

the “three C’s” — 

Community, Connections 

and Continuity — the group 

hosts conversations and 

performances that center 

the experience of women 

and girls, including a 

planned girls’ leadership 

summit, while also creating 

networking events that 

allow members to connect 

with similarly communityengaged 

women from 

across New Jersey. 

Of course, the organization 

will also continue its historic 

work of fundraising to 

support NJPAC’s Arts 

Education and Community 

Engagement initiatives. 

Lionsgate, Newark 



Congratulations 

TO TONIGHT’S FOUNDERS 

AWARD HONOREES 

Using the power of leading-edge science 

to save and improve lives around the world 

For more than a century, we’ve been at the forefront of research, 

bringing forward medicines, vaccines and innovative health solutions 

for some of the world’s most challenging diseases. 

At Merck, we rise to the challenge in pursuit of better health outcomes. 


• Ray and Patti Chambers 

• 

• 

• 

Christine and Mike Gilfillan 

Michael and Tina Chambers 

Jennifer and Mercel Chambers 

Proud to support the New Jersey Performing 

Arts Center and Women@NJPAC 

A Proven Approach 

performance. presence. pride. 

gibbonslaw.com 

NJ NY PA DE DC FL 

Copyright © 2022 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. All rights reserved. US-NON-10811 06/22 

Gibbons P.C. is headquartered at One Gateway Center, Newark, NJ 07102. 


Ray Chambers 

and his Family 

TRADITION. INNOVATION. DISTINCTION. 

as recipients of the 

2022 Founders Award. 

We join in honoring our Friend, 

We are proud to support the 

Ray Chambers 

and his Family 

NJPAC Spotlight Gala! 

as recipients of the 

2022 Founders Award. 


NJPAC Spotlight Gala! 

a salute to the 

women@njpac, 

the chambers 

family 

and to 

the success 

of the 

25th Anniversary 

Lee and Toby Cooperman 

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Twitter / LinkedIn @WindelsMarx 

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NEW YORK, NY NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ MADISON, NJ STAMFORD, CT 

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Women @ NJPAC Spotlight Gala 

and all of the fantastic work they do for 

our community as the 

official imaging provider of NJPAC. 

Proud to Support 


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25 Years Of 

Inspiring Dreams 

NJPAC has welcomed more than a million children since 

Opening Night in 1997. Tanenbaum Keale LLP is proud to 

share the ongoing mission of bringing arts education to every 

level of the community, planting the seeds and nurturing the 

growth of artists and visionaries of future generations. 

A passion 

for purpose 

PwC is proud to support 

Women@NJPAC and tonight’s 

Spotlight Gala as part of our 

commitment to making a 

meaningful difference in the 

world and helping others thrive. 

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at 

find your 

voice and your 

creative community 

Honesty | Integrity | Performance 

CastleOak Securities, L.P. 

is a proud sponsor of the 

NJPAC Spotlight Gala 

Celebrating 25 years! 

theater • jazz • hip hop • band 

sign up today! 

Generous support for Arts Training is provided, in part, by BD, Judy and Stewart Colton, Toby and Lee Cooperman, Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, 

Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, M&T Bank, Merck Foundation, NJ Advance Media, Richmond County Savings Foundation, Santander, 

TD Charitable Foundation, Victoria Foundation, WBGO Jazz 88.3FM, Wells Fargo Foundation, Women@NJPAC, and an anonymous donor. 

njpac.org/students • artseducation@njpac.org • 973.353.8057 

CastleOak Securities, L.P 

(646) 521-6700 

www.castleoaklp.com 

3 World Financial Center 

200 Vesey Street, 4 th floor 

New York, NY 10281 


Elberon Development Group 

is pleased to support 

Congratulations 

TO NJPAC ON ITS 

to 

the 2022 NJPAC Spotlight the Gala and to pay tribute to 2022 NJP 

ily, 

the Founders’ the Award, Honorees, The Chambers Family, Founders’ A 

e whose support of NJPAC has been generous since whose SILVER ANNIVERSARY suppo 

the beginning…25 years ago. 

th 

uous 

The foresight The of the Chambers Family and its continuous foresight of 

d 

generosity to NJPAC during its existence enabled generosity to 

the arts center to become an anchor institution the arts cen 

in the City of Newark. 

We are proud to be longtime supporters 

of NJPAC, and we applaud its priceless 

contribution to our community. 

The Griffinger Family 

El 

 

 

 

 


to NJPAC for a 

wonderful 25 years 

and to the Chambers Family 

and all the Founders 

for their vision and 

commitment in making 

it all happen! 

Bill & Paula Marino 

The Fidelco Group congratulates NJPAC 

on a triumphant return to 

the Spotlight Gala in person! 

And to our dear friends, 


for their spectacular commitment 

to the city of Newark. 

Marc and Randi Berson 

Lora and Jeff Hersh 

Kerri and Jared Levine 


RWJBarnabas Health proudly supports 

Women@NJPAC and the 25 th Anniversary 

Spotlight Gala and congratulates this year’s 

honorees, the Chambers family. 

Thanks for putting 

art in the heart of the 

community 

Bank of America recognizes NJPAC for its success 

in bringing the arts to performers and audiences 

throughout the community. We commend you on 

creating an opportunity for all to enjoy and share a 

cultural experience. 

Visit us at bankofamerica.com/about. 

rwjbh.org 

Clara Maass Medical Center 

Community Medical Center 

Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center 

Jersey City Medical Center 

Monmouth Medical Center and 

The Unterberg Children’s Hospital 

Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus 

Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and 

Children’s Hospital of New Jersey 

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and 

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital 

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton 

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway 

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset 

Trinitas Regional Medical Center 

RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health Center 

Children’s Specialized Hospital 

Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey 

©2022 Bank of America Corporation 

MAP4117394 | ENT-211-AD 

congratulates 

tonight’s honorees, 

the Chambers Family 

& NJPAC for 

25 magnificent years! 


Who says you can’t have a good time while 

making the world a better place? 

connections, 

conversations 

& celebrations 


Women@NJPAC President Faith 

Taylor and her daughter, artist 

Kiyomi Taylor, center, 

with guests at the Spring 

Luncheon & Auction. 

njpac’s “sisterhood for good” 

toasts an exceptionally 

successful season 

Women@NJPAC, the Arts Center’s 

“sisterhood for good,” hosted parties, 

luncheons and other festivities all 

year long, but they also advanced all 

aspects of the organization’s mission, 

from promoting the leadership potential 

of women and girls, to fundraising to 

ensure that all children have equal 

access to the arts at NJPAC. 

In fact, it was a banner year for the 

group on several fronts: Women@ 

NJPAC made its largest impact ever 

on the Arts Center’s education and 

community engagement programs, 

donating $1.8 million to deliver financial 

aid for students, underwrite new 

programs and sustain current offerings. 

And the Women@NJPAC Spring 

Luncheon & Auction, held in person 

for the first time since 2019, raised a 

record-breaking $350,000. More than 

500 members and their guests donned 

seasonal finery for the Luncheon 

as they gathered to hear cosmetics 

industry icon and self-described 

“serial entrepreneur” Bobbi Brown talk 

about launching her latest business, 

Jones Road Beauty, with Allure’s 

Editor in Chief, Jessica Cruel. 

Other events focused on women in 

leadership roles in many industries: 

Showrunners: Women Who Power the 

Arts drew together women executives 

from arts organizations across the 

metropolitan area to talk about their 

Jessica Cruel, Editor in Chief of Allure, 

with Montclair’s beauty industry icon, 

Bobbi Brown, at the Luncheon. 

work with Karen Brooks Hopkins, 

famed President Emerita of the 

Brooklyn Academy of Music. 

Megan Myungwon Lee, Chairwoman 

and Chief Executive Officer of 

Panasonic North America, the Arts 

Center’s Newark neighbor, spoke 

about her journey to the organization’s 

C-suite at an NJPAC Business 

Partners Roundtable co-sponsored 

by Women@NJPAC. 

And longtime Arts Center supporters 

and stakeholders were saluted at 

gatherings large and small, from a 

luncheon for Women@NJPAC’s 

founding members to a Founders 

Award Dinner honoring the 

Cooperman Family, complete with 

musical entertainment by Under the 

Streetlamp and Rock & Roll Hall 

of Famer Darlene Love. 

Darlene Love 

serenades the 

Cooperman Family 

at the Founders 

Award Dinner. 


“This was a 

joyful season for 

Women@NJPAC — 

and a year of 

enormous 

successes as 

well. When this 

sisterhood 

works together, 

we make 

remarkable 

things happen.” 

– Sarah Rosen, Managing 

Director, Women@NJPAC 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

1. NJPAC Jazz for Teens 

students Victoria Csatay 

(standing) and Lili M. 

perform at the Luncheon. 

2. Megan Myungwon 

Lee, Chairwoman and 

Chief Executive Officer 

of Panasonic North 

America, speaks about 

her journey at an NJPAC 

Business Partners 

Roundtable event. 

3. Linda Harrison, CEO, 

Newark Museum of Art; 

Karen Wong, a Senior 

Advisor at the New 

Museum; Sade Lythcott, 

CEO of The National 

Black Theater; and Anne 

Pasternak, Director of 

the Brooklyn Museum 

at Showrunners: Women 

Who Power the Arts. 

4. Toby and Leon 

Cooperman speak at the 

Founders Award Dinner. 

5. Leading Ladies: 

Reframing Newark 

Through Art panelists: 

Yeimy Gamez Castillo, 

Rebecca Jampol, 

Regina Barboza and 

Laura Bonas-Palmer. 

6. SHE Wins students 

from Newark meet 

with political leader 

and voting rights 

activist Stacey 

Abrams at her NJPACpresented 

appearance 

at Kings Theater, 

Brooklyn, as part of 

a Women@NJPACsponsored 

outing. 

7. Austin Cleary, AVP of 

Sales and Planning 

at NJPAC, with Patty 

Capawana at a Women@ 

NJPAC’s Founders 

Luncheon, the group’s 

first post-pandemic 

in-person event. 

8. Leon Cooperman greets 

NJPAC’s founding 

President and CEO, 

Lawrence Goldman, and 

Goldman’s wife, Laurie 

Chock (seated) at the 

Founders Award Dinner. 

9. Women@NJPAC Trustee 

Tammye Jones and a 

guest at the Annual 

Spring Luncheon. 

10. NJPAC Arts Education 

students perform. 

Women@NJPAC made 

its largest donation 

ever, $1.8 million, in 

support of the Arts 

Center’s educational 

and community 

programs this season. 

54 | 2022 spotlight gala 2022 spotlight gala | 55 

6 

7 

10 

8 

9

NJM Insurance Group 

is proud to support the 

Women@NJPAC 

Spotlight Gala 2022 

and congratulates this year’s honorees 


to njpac 

for their 

incredible impact 

over the past 25 years! 

This isn’t just insurance. 

It’s NJM. 

njm.com | 1-800-232-6600 

Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch 

EST. 1 9 1 3 

We are proud 

to support the 

Women@NJPAC 

For their commitment to being a catalyst of 

arts, entertainment, education, and economic 

development in the city of Newark. 

Congratulations to tonight’s 

Founders Award 2022 Honoree: 



the to 

chambers & 

family 

. . . to 25 more! 

Veronica Goldberg 

women@ 



ATTORNEYS AT LAW 

WE MEAN 

BUSINESS 

Locally Committed 

Nationally Recognized 

We are proud to support NJPAC and 

Women @ NJPAC Spotlight Gala 

Ranked #1 New Jersey Contractor by ENR, 

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structuretone.com/community 

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and best wishes to our dear friends 

the chambers family 

for this very special honor 

& to njpac for 25 

spectacular 

years! 

Larry & Michelle Bathgate 

Gilbane is proud to support NJPAC and 

celebrate the “Impossible Dream” come true. 

Gilbane Building Company | One Riverfront Plaza, 1037 Raymond Blvd Suite 320, Newark, NJ 07102 | www.gilbaneco.com 


congratulations to 

the chambers family 

on receiving 

the founders award 

and congratulations to 

the njpac leadership 

and entire staff on njpac’s 

25th Anniversary! 

Bill & Joan Hickey 

Congratulations, 

njpac for 25 years 

of bringing joy! 

K. Russo Consulting Inc. aligning talent 

to fit your evolving culture 

Executive Search, Customized Recruitment 

Solutions and Executive Coaching 

Website: krussoconsulting.com 

Phone: 203.978.1004 

Email: admin@krussoconsulting.com 

a standing 

ovation 

to tonight’s honorees 

the chambers family & to njpac 

on a thrilling 25 years 

and an even more exciting future! 

BRACH EICHLER IS PROUD TO SUPPORT 

NJPAC AND CONGRATULATES THE 

2022 SPOTLIGHT GALA HONOREES, 

THE CHAMBERS FAMILY! 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS 

Matthew M. Collins, Esq. 

mcollins@bracheichler.com 

John D. Fanburg, Esq. 

jfanburg@bracheichler.com 

Brian Richard Lenker, Esq. 

blenker@bracheichler.com 


Steven M. Goldman 

Susan Dromsky-Reed, Esq. 

sdromsky-reed@bracheichler.com 

Alan R. Hammer, Esq. 

ahammer@bracheichler.com 

Roseland, NJ | New York, NY | West Palm Beach, FL | www.bracheichler.com | 973.228.5700 

Allen J. Popowitz, Esq. 

apopowitz@bracheichler.com

The Phoenix Group 

CSG Law is proud to support NJPAC and their 

anniversary Spotlight Gala – celebrating 25 

spectacular years! 

We admire NJPAC’s dedication to serving the 

community through arts education programs 

and the launch of many ambitious initiatives. 

We are a staffing and solutions 

firm dedicated to delivering high 

quality resources in the most 

efficient and cost-effective way. 

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Prior results do not guarantee 

a similar outcome. 

CHIESA SHAHINIAN & GIANTOMASI PC 

Audible congratulates 

NJPAC on its 25 years as 

a home for the arts in 

Newark, and we thank the 

Chambers family for their 

lifetime of commitment 

and unwavering service 

to the city. 


Souvenir de la voix | Hans Lundy & Malcolm Rolling of YENDOR for the Newark Artist Collaboration 

Dear Patti and Ray, 

I’m in awe of you and your 

family’s inspiration and 

to all you do! 

Love, 

Audrey Bartner 


APC Hospitality has been a proud partner of NJPAC 

since inception. Congrats on 25 great years! 

HOSPITALITY 

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outstanding technical and talent resources, along with the best 

training programs in the business! 

APC’s success story begins with our amazing staff, who are driven by 

our trademarked mission statement, “Proudly creating the perfect 

first & last impression”. By virtue of our experience, APC’s dedicated 

team represents a best-in-class approach to every relationship 

dened as the “APC WAY.” This unique combination of extraordinary 

service, state of the art technology, professional management and 

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history of 

spotlight 

gala honorees 

1997 

The Chambers Award: 

Raymond and 

Patricia Chambers 

The Vagelos Award: 

Dr. P. Roy Vagelos and 

Diana Vagelos 

1998 


Allen and Joan Bildner 


The Star-Ledger and 

Susan and 

Donald Newhouse 

1999 


The Lewis Katz Family 


AT&T and 

Richard Martin 

2000 


The Honorable 

Thomas H. Kean 


CIT and Albert Gamper 

2021 honorees 

Toby and Leon G. Cooperman 

and the entire Cooperman Family 

2001 


Betty Wold Johnson 

and Douglas Bushnell 


PSE&G, E. James Ferland 

and Alfred Koeppe 

2002 


Josh and Judy Weston 

The Ryan Award: 

Arthur and Patricia Ryan 


Verizon and Dennis Bone 

2003 


Victor Parsonnet 


Lore and Eric Ross 


Wachovia Corporation 

and Reginald E. Davis 

2004 


Michael R. 

Griffinger, Esq. 


Arlene and Leonard 

Lieberman 


American Express 

Company and 

Edward Gilligan 

2005 


Ruth and 

A. Michael Lipper 


Savion Glover 


Sills Cummis & Gross 

and Clive Cummis 

2006 


Morris and Charlotte 

Tanenbaum 


Mary Sue Sweeney Price 

and Clement Price 


ADP and 

Arthur Weinbach 

2007 

10 th Anniversary 




The Ryan Family 


The Vagelos Family 

2008 


Leon G. and Toby 

Cooperman 


Barbara Bell Coleman 

and The Honorable 

Claude Coleman 


Horizon Blue Cross Blue 

Shield of New Jersey 

and William Marino 

2009 


Marc E. Berson 


Nina Mitchell Wells, Esq. 

and Theodore V. Wells, 

Jr., Esq. 


Merck & Co., Inc. and 

J. Chris Scalet 

2010 


Rose and John Cali 


Donald A. Robinson, Esq. 


Prudential Financial and 

John R. Strangfeld 

2011 


Mary Ellen and 

Robert C. Waggoner 


Trish Morris-Yamba and 

Dr. A. Zachary Yamba 


JPMorgan Chase & Co. 

and James E. (Jes) Staley 

2012 


Walter and Judy Shipley 


Alfred C. Koeppe 


PwC and Robert E. Moritz 

2013 




Cephas Bowles 


Gibbons P.C. and 

Patrick C. Dunican, 

Jr., Esq. 

2014 


William J. and 

Paula Marino 


Lawrence P. Goldman 


The Chubb 

Corporation and 

Harold L. Morrison, Jr. 

2015 


Nicolas Berggruen and 

Ron Beit 


Robert and Patricia 

Curvin 


United Airlines and 

Oscar Munoz 

2016 


Stephen P. Holmes 

and Wyndham 

Worldwide 


Victor L. Davson 


Robert H. Doherty and 

Bank of America 

2017 

20 th Anniversary 

The Founders Award: 

Don Katz, Founder and 

CEO of Audible 

2018 


Barry H. Ostrowsky, 

President and CEO 

of RWJBarnabas 

Health 

2019 


Ralph Izzo, 

Chairman, President and 

Chief Executive Officer 

Public Service Enterprise 

Group 

Ralph A. LaRossa, 

President and Chief 

Operating Officer, 

PSEG Power 

2020 


Thomas H. Kean, 

Former Governor of 

New Jersey 

Philip D. Murphy, 

Governor of New Jersey 

Tammy Snyder Murphy, 

First Lady of New Jersey 

2021 


Toby and Leon G. 

Cooperman and the 

entire Cooperman Family 



NJPAC Board of Directors 2022 

as of September 2022 

CO-CHAIR 

Steven M. Goldman, Esq. 

CO-CHAIR 


PRESIDENT & CEO 


TREASURER 

Marc E. Berson 

ASSISTANT TREASURER 

David Jones 

SECRETARY 

Michael R. Griffinger, Esq. 

FOUNDING CHAIR 

Raymond G. Chambers 

CHAIRS EMERITI 

William J. Marino 

Arthur F. Ryan 

Lara Abrash 

Marsha I. Atkind 

Lawrence E. Bathgate II, Esq. 

James L. Bildner 

Daniel M. Bloomfield, M.D. 

Modia “Mo” Butler 

Jacob S. Buurma, Esq. 

Nancy Cantor, Ph.D. 

Regina Carter 


Matthew Connor 

Enrico Della Corna 

Edwan Davis 

Pat A. Di Filippo 

Robert H. Doherty 

Patrick C. Dunican, Jr., Esq. 

Debbie Dyson 

Anne E. Estabrook 

Christine C. Gilfillan 

Savion Glover 

Yan Gu 

Ryan P. Haygood, Esq. 

William V. Hickey 

Jeffrey T. Hoffman 

Ralph Izzo, Ph.D. 

The Honorable Thomas H. Kean 

Scott A. Kobler, Esq. 

Mitchell A. Livingston, Esq. 

Charles F. Lowrey 

Ellen B. Marshall 

Christian McBride 

Carlos Medina 

D. Nicholas Miceli 

Deepak Raj 

Eva Reda 

Stephen O. Richard 

Richard W. Roper 

Gary D. St. Hilaire 

fayemi shakur 

The Honorable Clifford M. Sobel 

David S. Stone, Esq. 

Michael A. Tanenbaum, Esq. 

Rishi Varma 

Carmen S. Villar 

Ricardo Watson 

Nina M. Wells, Esq. 

Josh S. Weston 

Karen C. Young 

Women@NJPAC Board of Trustees 2022 

PRESIDENT 

Faith Taylor 

CO-EXECUTIVE 

VICE PRESIDENTS 

Margarethe Laurenzi 

Sonia Luaces 

VICE PRESIDENTS 

Deborah Q. Belfatto 


Suzanne M. Spero 

TREASURER 

Lisa Osofsky 

SECRETARY 

Christine Pearson 

IMMEDIATE PAST 

PRESIDENT 

Marcia Wilson Brown, Esq. 

Farah N. Ansari 

Linda Baraka 

Rana P. Barclay 

Audrey Bartner 

Adenah Bayoh 

Sherri-Ann P. Butterfield, Ph.D. 

Patricia L. Capawana 

Alejandra Ceja 

Patricia A. Chambers* ** 

Sally Chubb* ** 

Mary Lynn Clark 

Barbara Bell Coleman** 

Michellene Davis, Esq. 

Antoinette Ellis-Williams 

Catherine J. Flynn, Esq. 

Christine C. Gilfillan 

Aisha Glover 

Veronica M. Goldberg* ** 

Zenola Harper, Esq. 

Shané Harris 

Tammye T. Jones 

Vani Krishnamurthy 

Brooke Lawson 

Kerri B. Levine 

Ruth C. Lipper** 

Dena F. Lowenbach** 

Marlie Massena 

Gabriella E. Morris, Esq.* 

Ferlanda Fox Nixon, Esq. 

Lori Spoon 

Mary Kay Strangfeld** 

Mikki Taylor 

Diana T. Vagelos* ** 

Nina Mitchell Wells, Esq. 

Nicole D. Wescoe 

* Founding Member 

** Trustee Emerita 

Ex Officio 

The Honorable 

Ras J. Baraka 

The Honorable 

Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. 

Elizabeth A. Mattson 

The Honorable 

Elizabeth Maher Muoio 

The Honorable 

Philip D. Murphy 

The Honorable 

LaMonica McIver 

Faith Taylor 

The Honorable 

Tahesha Way 

Directors Emeriti 

Dennis Bone 

Barbara Bell Coleman 

Albert R. Gamper 


Judith Jamison 

A. Michael Lipper, CFA 

Victor Parsonnet, M.D. 

Donald A. Robinson, Esq. 

John R. Strangfeld, Jr. 

Morris Tanenbaum 

Diana T. Vagelos 

Robert C. Waggoner 



as of September 2022 

office of the 

president 

John Schreiber** 

President & CEO 

Ashanti Hargrove 

Executive Assistant to the 

President & CEO 

Chelsea Keys 

Senior Director, Strategic 

Initiatives & Institutional 

Governance 

David Rodriguez** 

Executive Vice President 

& Executive Producer 

Kira M. Ruth**** 

Senior Manager 

Programming Operations 

Valerie Fullilove* 

Executive Assistant 

Timothy Lizura 

Senior Vice President 

Real Estate & Capital Projects 

Alyson Maier 

Senior Director 

Arts & Well-Being 

arts 

education 

Jennifer Tsukayama* 

Vice President, Arts Education 

Mark Gross* 

Director, Jazz Instruction 

Rosa Hyde* 


Performances & Special Events 

Operations 

Jennie Wasserman 

Project Director, City Verses 

Victoria Revesz* 


Arts Education Operations 

Roe Bell 


School and Community 

Programs 

Alonzo Blalock 

Manager, In-School Programs 

staff 

Ashley Mandaglio* 

Assoc. Director Professional 

Learning & Programs 

Danielle Vauters* 


Programming and 

Performances 

Kristine Mathieson 


CRM & Business Operation 

Justin DePaul 

Arts Education Office & 

Facilities Manager 

Daniel Silverstein 

Manager, Onsite Programs 

Rene Velez-Torres 

Manager, Youth & 

Emerging Artist Development 

Kimberly Washington 

Manager Marketing, 

Sales & Recruitment 

Randal Croudy 

Coordinator Arts 

Education Performances 

Steven Hayet 

Coordinator 

Business Operations 

Antonella Sanchez 

Coordinator 

Program Operations 

Demetria Hart 

Project Coordinator 

City Verses 

Natalie Dreyer 

Arts Integration Faculty Lead 

community 

engagement 

Eyesha Marable* 

Assistant Vice President 

Community Engagement 

Daniela Fonseca 

Associate Producer 

Marcus Beckett 

Associate Producer 

Alessandra Izaguirre 

Coordinator, Community 

Engagement 

development 

Amy Fitzpatrick 

Vice President, Development 

Sarah Rosen* 

Managing Director 

Women@NJPAC 

Erin Morales 

AVP, Institutional Giving 

Joshua Adler 

Director, Major Gifts 

Jenifer Braun* 

Director, Editorial Content 

Deborah Purdon 

Director Research & 

Prospect Management 

Rolston Cyril Watts* 


Development Operations 

Harris Cabrera 


Foundation Relations 

Valerie Blau 

Associate Director 

Corporate Giving 

Christine Carroll 

Manager, Special Events 

Stacey Joseph 

Development Manager 

Gabrielle DeGaetano 

Membership Manager 

Salina Lostan 

Coordinator 

Corporate Relations 

Angela Woodack 

Coordinator, Major Gifts 

Kemar Brown 

Gift Processing & 

Database Coordinator 

finance 

Lennon Register 

Vice President & CFO 

Yolanda Doganay 


& Controller 

Mary Jaffa**** 


Finance 

Manuela Silva**** 

Senior Accountant, Payroll 

Monique Cook* 

Senior Financial Analyst 

Inger Parsons 

Staff Accountant 

Accounts Payable 

people & 

organization 

Beth Silver 

VP, Chief People Officer 

Ginny Bowers Coleman**** 

Director, Volunteer Services 

Taheerah Smiley* 

Human Resources Generalist 

Donna Walker-Kuhne* 

Senior Advisor Diversity, 

Equity and Inclusion 

Sarina Nieves 

P&O Assistant/Receptionist 

information 

technologies 

Andre Mutovic 

CTO 

Ernie DiRocco*** 

AVP, Infrastructure 

& Operations 

Carl Sims**** 

Director, Cyber Security 

Heather Olsen 

Senior Director, Platform 

Applications 

Rodney Johnson*** 

IT & Telecom Support Analyst 

marketing & 

communications 

Katie Sword** 


Marketing 

& Communications 

Fallon Currie* 


CRM & Business Operations 

Yesenia Jimenez**** 


Ticket Sales & Service 

Charlene A. Roberts* 

Director 

Performance Marketing 

Patricia Ryan 

Creative Art Director 

Tina Boyer* 

Director, Creative Services 

Latoya Dawson* 


Performance Marketing 

Katie Stein 

Director 

Digital Marketing & Content 

Doris Ann Pezzolla**** 

Senior Graphic Designer 

Alexis Green 

Digital Marketing Coordinator 

Anthony Toto 

Email Marketing Manager 

Shakiru Bola Okoya 

Multimedia Production 

Manager 

Ashlee Nolan 

Coordinator, Creative Services 

April Jeffries 

Senior Ticket Sales & Service 

Specialist 

Nicola Alexander 

Assistant, Creative Services 

Daryle Charles** 


Specialist 

Jerome H. Ennis 

Consultant Herbert 

George Associates 

Angela Thomas 

Consultant, Performance 

Public Relations 

operations 

Chad Spies*** 


Operations & Real Estate 

Anthony Rosta 

Director, Facilities 

David Dias 

Director of Security, Safety, 

Traffic & Parking 

Hernan Soto**** 

Senior Supervisor 

Operations Support Staff 

Francisco Soto** 

Supervisor Operations 

Support & Services 

Tyrone Boyd 


Delbert Green 


Meredith Hull* 

Operations & Event Manager 

Todd Tantillo**** 

Chief Engineer 

J. Dante Esposito**** 

Assistant Chief Engineer 

Brian Cady*** 

Maintenance Engineer 

Sherman Gamble*** 


Mariusz Koniuszewski** 


Thomas Amory 


Thomas Dixon**** 

Safety & Security Manager 

Robin Jones*** 


House Management 

Lamont Akins**** 

House Manager 

Jerry Battle** 

Head Usher 

Sabrina Ceballo 

House Manager 

Cynthia Hamlett-Robinson*** 

Assistant House Manager 

Tracey Robinson 

Head Usher 

NJPAC in its early days, 

before our rebranding and 

One Theatre Square. 



production 

Chris Moses*** 

AVP, Performance Operations 

Christopher Staton** 

Senior Production Manager 

Crystal Cowling* 

Associate Production 

Manager 

Rachel Macleod* 

Production Coordinator 

William Worman**** 

Head Carpenter 

Mario Corrales**** 

Assistant Head Carpenter 

Bryan Danieli*** 

Assistant Head Carpenter 

Barbara Guerra 

Apprentice Carpenter 

Hugo Munoz-Campos* 

Apprentice Carpenter 

Jacob Allen*** 

Head Electrician 

John Enea* 

Assistant Head Electrician 

Adam Omeljaniuk**** 

Journeyman Electrician 

Marion Pinckney**** 

Journeyman Electrician 

Jan Clark 

Assistant Head Electrician 

John DiCapua* 

Assistant Head Audio 

Eric Johnson 

Head of Audio 

John Finney*** 

Assistant Head Audio 

Richard Edwards**** 

Journeyman Carpenter 

George Honczarenko*** 


Joseph Hunt*** 


Naheem Wright** 

Specialist Carpenter 

Amere Jenkins** 

Specialist Audio 

Daniel Pagan* 

Specialist Video 

Allison Wyss**** 

Senior Artist Assistants 

Melvin Anderson** 

Artist Assistant 

Lowell Craig*** 


Rachel Dresner 


Loni Fiscus 


Daniel Ovalle* 


Sindy Sanchez Virto 


MJ Santry 


Suzanne Santry 


programming 

Evan White**** 

VP, Programming 

Simma Levine 

Producer, Special Projects 

Craig Pearce** 

Producer, Festivals & 

Performances 

Kitab Rollins*** 

Senior Director Performance 

& Broadcast Rentals 

special 

events 

Austin Cleary*** 


Sales & Planning, 

NJPAC Events 

ticket 

services 

Erik Wiehardt*** 

Director, Ticketing CRM 

& Data 

Stephanie Walker**** 

Associate Director, Ticketing 

CRM & Data 

Nicole Craig**** 

Director, Ticket Sales & Service 

Robin Polakoff* 

Ticketing System Specialist 

Veronica Dunn-Sloan*** 


Specialist 

Darren DeBose 

Box Office Manager 

Jana Thompson* 

Box Office Representative 

Belva Moody* 

Box Office Representative 

service 

recognition 

(as of 9/6/22) 

**** 20+ years 

*** 15+ years 

** 10+ years 

* 5+ years 

celebrating 

25 spectacular years 

Concert Performance 

Credits 

Ray Chew 

Music Director / Organ / 

Keys 

Artie Raynolds 

Bass 

Tony Ormond 

Guitar 

Jerome Jennings 

Drums 

Matthew Oestreicher 

Keys II / Synth 

James Cage 

Trumpet 

Dan Levine 

TBone 

Darryl Dixon 

Alto sax 

Vocals: 

John James 

Ramona Dunlap 

Tiffany Monique Ryan 

Concert Production 

Credits 

David Rodriguez 

Executive Vice President 

& Executive Producer 

Vivian Scott Chew 

Co-Producer 

Simma Levine 

Producer 

Special Projects 

Chris Moses 


of Performance 

Operations 

Rachel Macleod 

Assistant Production 

Manager 

Al Crawford 

Lighting Design 

Brendan Warner 

Associate Lighting 

Designer / Programmer 

Jeff Harris 

Associate Light 

Deisgner 

Stage Managers 

Catherine Bloch 

Mary Susan Gregson 

Megan Barry 

Jaynell Grayson 

Scott Siege 

Assistant to Ray Chew 

Jennifer Tsukayama, 

VP Arts Education 

Rosa Hyde 

Senior Director of Arts 

Education Performance 

and Special Events 

Mark Gross 

Director of Jazz 

Instruction 

Stax Music Academy 

Rhythm Section and 

Alumni Band 

Soulsville Foundation 

Pat Mitchell Worley, 

CEO 

Isaac Daniel, 

Executive Director 

In 1996 the Women’s Board holds its first Gala, 

Passport to the World, at Continental Airlines 

hangar at Newark International Airport. 

Ray Charles performs. 



women@ 

@njpacwomen | njpac.org/gala | #njpacgala

Spotlight Gala Journal 2022

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