Spotlight Gala Journal 2022
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women@<br />
<strong>2022</strong><br />
saturday<br />
october 1<br />
spectacular<br />
years<br />
<strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala | 1
we’re so<br />
glad to have<br />
you as our<br />
guests!<br />
Women@NJPAC gratefully<br />
acknowledges the ingenuity<br />
and expertise of the <strong>Spotlight</strong><br />
<strong>Gala</strong> <strong>2022</strong> Committee whose<br />
dedication and efforts have<br />
made our 25th celebration<br />
a resounding success.<br />
mission The New Jersey Performing<br />
Arts Center, by celebrating diversity,<br />
shall be America’s foremost urban<br />
presenter of arts and entertainment,<br />
a creative and effective leader in<br />
arts education for children, a convener<br />
of useful and enlightening civic<br />
engagement events, and a catalyst<br />
for economic development in its<br />
home city of Newark.<br />
gala chair<br />
Mindy Cohen<br />
Women@NJPAC and<br />
NJPAC Trustee<br />
leadership<br />
Faith Taylor<br />
President<br />
Women@NJPAC<br />
John Schreiber<br />
President and CEO<br />
NJPAC<br />
Steven M.<br />
Goldman, Esq.<br />
Barry H. Ostrowsky<br />
Co-Chairs, NJPAC<br />
Board of Directors<br />
Amy Fitzpatrick<br />
Vice President<br />
Development, NJPAC<br />
Sarah A. Rosen<br />
Managing Director<br />
Women@NJPAC<br />
gala<br />
fundraising<br />
committee<br />
Althea Alston<br />
Valerie Blau<br />
Nicole Butler<br />
Kerri B. Levine<br />
Erin Morales<br />
Suzanne Spero<br />
event<br />
execution<br />
Christine Carroll<br />
Manager, Special<br />
Events, NJPAC<br />
Stacey Joseph<br />
Development<br />
Manager, NJPAC<br />
Mariah Gibson<br />
Assoc. Managing<br />
Director<br />
Women@NJPAC<br />
Patricia Ryan<br />
Creative Art Director<br />
NJPAC<br />
Tina Boyer<br />
Director, Creative<br />
Services, NJPAC<br />
Jen Braun<br />
Director, Editorial<br />
Content, NJPAC<br />
Nicola Alexander<br />
Assistant, Creative<br />
Services, NJPAC<br />
Margaret Gallagher<br />
Graphic Design<br />
Gail P. Stone<br />
Amy-Susie Bradford<br />
Christine E. Borowsky<br />
Christine Walia<br />
Gail P. Stone<br />
Events, Inc.<br />
Arc3design<br />
Lighting Design<br />
David Mitchell<br />
Fine Event Design<br />
Décor Design<br />
Sarah Acer<br />
Maya Rubin-Wish<br />
The Lede Company<br />
Catering<br />
Spirits<br />
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<strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala | 1
“ I am humbled to<br />
witness how we have<br />
thrived during these<br />
challenging times.”<br />
welcome<br />
from the president<br />
of women@njpac<br />
Building a community is what NJPAC<br />
does best — from bringing audiences<br />
together with world-class artists, to<br />
providing school children from across<br />
Greater Newark with teaching artists<br />
who inspire and encourage them, to<br />
convening gatherings large and small<br />
to talk about the issues that concern us<br />
most, from the advancement of social<br />
justice to the rights of women in the<br />
21st century. This is at the core of our<br />
mission and we have a dedicated<br />
group of volunteers who make it<br />
happen. Tonight, I’m thrilled that our<br />
Women@NJPAC <strong>Spotlight</strong> <strong>Gala</strong> has<br />
brought all of you together here at the<br />
Arts Center — in person, for the first<br />
time in three years! — to mark NJPAC’s<br />
25th season. Women@NJPAC has<br />
been a cornerstone of the Arts Center’s<br />
success since before its theaters were<br />
built, and we continue to grow today by<br />
connecting women to network and share<br />
their stories, by supporting the ambitions<br />
of young women and girls across our<br />
state, and by continuing to raise funds<br />
($53 million and counting!) to ensure<br />
that all children have access to the arts<br />
here at NJPAC. Our “sisterhood for good”<br />
is a powerful force — and after<br />
25 years, we’re stronger than ever!<br />
As the President of Women@NJPAC,<br />
I want to thank you for your continued<br />
support. I am humbled to witness<br />
how we have thrived during these<br />
challenging times.<br />
Teachers Village<br />
Prudential Tower<br />
& Military Park<br />
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Small Business<br />
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YouthBuild Newark, Inc.<br />
Visit prudential.com/newark<br />
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Free Ultra-High-Speed Wi-Fi<br />
New Jersey Performing Arts Center<br />
New Jersey Performing Arts Center<br />
Hahne & Co. Redevelopment<br />
AeroFarms<br />
Committed to Newark for more than 140 years,<br />
Committed we continue to to Newark see the for promise more than of prosperity. 140 years,<br />
we continue to see the promise of prosperity.<br />
YouthBuild Newark, Inc.<br />
Free Ultra-High-Speed Wi-Fi<br />
Hahne & Co. Redevelopment<br />
AeroFarms<br />
School District<br />
Reform<br />
School District<br />
Reform<br />
In 1875, Prudential founder John Dryden chose Newark<br />
In as 1875, the home Prudential for an founder idea that John would Dryden change chose America Newark<br />
as forever: the home life insurance for idea for that everyday would families. change America<br />
forever: life insurance for everyday families.<br />
Today, we’re doing more than ever to champion the aspirations<br />
Today, of Newark we’re families. doing more Through than ever partnerships to champion across the the aspirations city,<br />
of we’re Newark creating families. avenues Through for new partnerships ideas and technologies<br />
across the city,<br />
we’re to emerge. creating For avenues businesses, for new nonprofit ideas organizations and technologies and<br />
to educational emerge. For institutions businesses, to thrive. nonprofit And organizations to help individuals and<br />
educational achieve the promise institutions of prosperity to thrive. for And generations to help individuals to come.<br />
achieve the promise of prosperity for generations to come.<br />
We began with a sense of purpose that lives on today<br />
We in our began commitment with a sense to Newark of purpose and that communities lives on today around<br />
in the our world. commitment to Newark and communities around<br />
the world.<br />
Prudential is proud to celebrate NJPAC’s 25 years of providing<br />
Prudential world-class is performances proud to celebrate and educational NJPAC’s 25 programs years of providing that engage<br />
world-class the Newark community performances and and the educational state of NJ. programs that engage<br />
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Faith Taylor<br />
2 | <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala<br />
© <strong>2022</strong>. Prudential, the Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many<br />
jurisdictions worldwide.<br />
© <strong>2022</strong>. Prudential, the Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many<br />
jurisdictions 1059719-00001-00 worldwide.<br />
1059719-00001-00
With love and<br />
gratitude to the<br />
Chambers Family<br />
for their<br />
unwavering<br />
support of NJPAC<br />
and Newark.<br />
And…<br />
Happy 25th<br />
Birthday njpac.<br />
You make us feel<br />
so young.<br />
Mindy Cohen and<br />
David Bershad<br />
welcome<br />
from the spotlight<br />
gala chair<br />
Welcome back! This is my fourth<br />
time chairing NJPAC’s biggest party<br />
of the year. I couldn’t pass up the<br />
chance to work on this wonderful event<br />
again, and to get to see you all back<br />
in the Arts Center’s gorgeous theaters.<br />
I’m beyond excited about tonight’s<br />
celebration. Stars from the worlds of<br />
music, dance and Broadway will lift all<br />
our spirits at our amazing show — and<br />
performances by students and alumni of<br />
the Arts Center’s educational program<br />
will inspire us with their incredible talent.<br />
I am dazzled by all that NJPAC has<br />
done in 25 years, and I know that what’s<br />
to come is just as exciting. And I’m<br />
grateful to the Chambers family —<br />
Ray and Patti, and their children Michael,<br />
Jennifer and my fellow Women@NJPAC<br />
Trustee, Christine Gilfillan — for being<br />
our honorees tonight. Their belief in the<br />
power of the performing arts has never<br />
waned. Their guidance and support has<br />
made the Arts Center what it is today<br />
and shaped what it will become for<br />
many tomorrows. Tonight we recognize<br />
their vision and tenacity, and set the<br />
stage for the next era at NJPAC.<br />
“ I am dazzled by all<br />
that NJPAC has done<br />
in 25 years, and I know<br />
that what’s to come is<br />
just as exciting.”<br />
Mindy A. Cohen<br />
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welcome<br />
from the president<br />
& ceo of njpac<br />
welcome<br />
from the njpac board<br />
of director co-chairs<br />
“ I’m so happy you’re<br />
here with us tonight,<br />
to honor our past<br />
and raise a glass to<br />
our future.”<br />
Tonight, we formally inaugurate NJPAC’s<br />
25th anniversary season — a milestone<br />
we’re celebrating by looking back on all<br />
this Arts Center has accomplished, and<br />
most importantly, looking forward to<br />
how much more we will achieve in<br />
the years ahead. More children will find<br />
their voices, tell their stories and reach<br />
their full potential through our expanded<br />
arts education programs. More people<br />
will fill the streets of Newark’s vibrant<br />
downtown as our campus is redeveloped<br />
to include homes, shops, restaurants<br />
and arts venues. More NJPAC-presented<br />
performances will bring joy and<br />
inspiration to audiences — whether those<br />
performances are held here in our<br />
theaters, in our new partner locations<br />
throughout the city, or are developed<br />
on our campus and presented at venues<br />
across the country or shared through<br />
broadcasting. Thanks to good friends<br />
like you, who have made our boldest<br />
dreams for this special place come true,<br />
the Arts Center’s future is as exciting and<br />
full of promise as it was the day we first<br />
opened our doors. I’m so happy you’re<br />
here with us tonight, to honor our past<br />
and raise a glass to our future. Here’s to<br />
the next 25 years!<br />
NJPAC has accomplished so much in<br />
its first quarter-century. Millions of<br />
people have come to Newark to see<br />
performances in its beautiful theaters.<br />
Almost two million children have seen<br />
their first ballet or musical here, learned<br />
to play an instrument in an Arts Center<br />
class or stepped out onto a stage for<br />
the first time at a “student share.”<br />
And thousands more have seen a show<br />
produced at the Arts Center when it tours<br />
the country, or have been introduced to<br />
the wonders of American Song or hip<br />
hop dance through an NJPAC-produced<br />
television broadcast. And all around<br />
the Arts Center’s campus, Newark’s<br />
downtown has grown into a vibrant and<br />
busy destination. That’s a remarkable<br />
record — but it’s only half the story.<br />
The big news at this <strong>Gala</strong> is how NJPAC<br />
is now pushing the boundaries of how<br />
useful and effective an Arts Center can<br />
be, by exploring the impact of the arts on<br />
well-being, attracting a world-class film<br />
studio to Newark, teaching teachers to<br />
use the arts to make their lessons more<br />
effective, raising important questions<br />
about equity and justice, and even<br />
building a whole new neighborhood<br />
right on its campus. NJPAC is proof<br />
of the remarkable power of the<br />
performing arts. Thank you for being<br />
here tonight, and thank you for<br />
being part of the community that<br />
built this very special place, and is<br />
propelling it into a remarkably<br />
exciting future. We have<br />
so much to celebrate!<br />
“ NJPAC is proof of the<br />
remarkable power of<br />
the performing arts.”<br />
Steven M. Goldman, Esq.<br />
John Schreiber<br />
Barry H. Ostrowsky<br />
6 | <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala<br />
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generously sponsored by<br />
lead sponsor<br />
underwriter sponsor<br />
The MCJ Amelior Foundation<br />
spotlight sponsor<br />
Mindy A. Cohen and<br />
David J. Bershad<br />
vice chairs<br />
Toby and Leon G.<br />
Cooperman<br />
Horizon Blue Cross Blue<br />
Shield of New Jersey<br />
Merck & Co., Inc.<br />
PSEG<br />
PwC<br />
Arthur F. Ryan<br />
Tanenbaum Keale, LLP<br />
Nina and Ted Wells<br />
Windels Marx<br />
List as of 9/26/<strong>2022</strong><br />
platinum sponsor<br />
Gibbons, P.C.<br />
gold sponsors<br />
ADP<br />
American Express<br />
Audible, Inc.<br />
Bank of America<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence E.<br />
Bathgate, II<br />
BD<br />
CastleOak Securities, L.P.<br />
Elberon Development<br />
Group<br />
The Fidelco Group, Randi<br />
and Marc E. Berson<br />
The Griffinger Family<br />
Steven M. Goldman<br />
Harris Blitzer Sports<br />
Entertainment/<br />
The Philadelphia 76ERS<br />
Joan and William Hickey<br />
The Honorable<br />
Thomas H. Kean<br />
William and Paula Marino<br />
NJM Insurance Group<br />
Rutgers University –<br />
Newark<br />
RWJBarnabas Health<br />
The Smart Family<br />
Foundation/<br />
David S. Stone, Esq.,<br />
Stone & Magnanini<br />
Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch<br />
Turner Construction<br />
Company<br />
The Walsh Family<br />
silver sponsors<br />
Bloomberg Philanthropies<br />
BNY Mellon<br />
Boston Consulting Group<br />
Chubb<br />
Community Foundation<br />
of New Jersey<br />
Edison Properties<br />
Newark Foundation<br />
Greenberg Traurig LLP<br />
Jones Lang Lasalle, Inc.<br />
Mazars, USA<br />
McCarter & English, LLP<br />
PNC<br />
Seyfarth Shaw<br />
Simon Quick Advisors<br />
SP+<br />
Ticketmaster<br />
United Airlines<br />
Finn and Kim Wentworth<br />
Josh Weston<br />
luminary ticket(s)<br />
Atlantic, Tomorrow’s Office<br />
Alma DeMetropolis<br />
S. Dillard and<br />
Adrienne Kirby<br />
hero ticket(s)<br />
Charles C. Anderson<br />
Jacob and Jennifer Buurma<br />
Healey Family Foundation<br />
Meg and Howard Jacobs<br />
Vani Krishnamurthy and<br />
Alok Sanghvi<br />
L+M Development<br />
Partners Inc.<br />
Panasonic Foundation<br />
Christine S. Pearson<br />
John Schreiber and<br />
Virginia McEnerney<br />
Rosemary and<br />
Robert Steinbaum<br />
Faith and Gary Taylor<br />
text to give<br />
performer ticket(s)<br />
Deborah and Joseph<br />
Belfatto<br />
Patricia L. Capawana<br />
Margarethe and<br />
Mark Laurenzi<br />
Harry S. Pozycki<br />
Tracy and Theodore<br />
Spencer<br />
friend ticket(s)<br />
Clifford Blanchard<br />
Monica Casiello<br />
Evelyn and Stephen Colbert<br />
Michellene Davis<br />
Goldman Sachs<br />
Franklin Hall<br />
KPMG<br />
Linda Layne<br />
Judith Lieberman<br />
Gabriella E. Morris and<br />
Dennis Brownlee<br />
Neiman Marcus Short Hills<br />
Ferlanda Fox Nixon and<br />
Milford Nixon<br />
Tiasia O’Brien<br />
Michael Rachlin<br />
Richard Roper<br />
Schenck Price Smith<br />
& King, LLP<br />
Lori Spoon<br />
TD Bank<br />
Victoria Foundation<br />
Text NJPAC to 243725<br />
to support scholarships<br />
for Arts Education,<br />
or scan the QR code<br />
full page ad<br />
sponsors<br />
Atlantic, Tomorrow’s Office<br />
Chubb<br />
half page ad<br />
sponsors<br />
Brach Eichler LLC<br />
Chiesa Shahinian &<br />
Giantomasi PC<br />
Genova Burns LLC<br />
Gilbane Building Company<br />
Veronica M. Goldberg<br />
K. Russo Consulting<br />
The Phoenix Group<br />
Structure Tone<br />
in-kind donation<br />
Advanced Parking<br />
Concepts<br />
Allied Beverage Group LLC<br />
8 | <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala<br />
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October October 1, <strong>2022</strong>1, <strong>2022</strong><br />
Women@NJPAC Women@NJPAC<br />
New Jersey New Jersey Performing Performing Arts Center Arts Center<br />
1 Center 1 Center Street Street<br />
Newark, Newark, October Jersey New 1, <strong>2022</strong> Jersey 07102 07102<br />
Dear Friends Dear Women@NJPAC<br />
Friends of the Women of the Women at NJPAC: at NJPAC:<br />
New Jersey Performing Arts Center<br />
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<br />
this ered Newark, evening this New evening for Jersey the for Women@NJPAC’s 07102 the 25th Annual 25th Annual <strong>Spotlight</strong> <strong>Spotlight</strong> <strong>Gala</strong>, entitled <strong>Gala</strong>, entitled<br />
gath-<br />
“The Possible “The Possible Dream.” Dream.”<br />
Dear Friends of the Women at NJPAC:<br />
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<br />
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<br />
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 <strong>Spotlight</strong> its days best are days <strong>Gala</strong>, in are entitled in<br />
quality quality<br />
front of front “The it. of Possible it. Dream.”<br />
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<br />
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<br />
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<br />
performing performing front arts, of it. empower arts, empower future future generations generations of Newark of Newark musical musical performers performers and and<br />
stars, and stars, keep and our keep city our moving city moving forward. forward.<br />
Tonight’s event will bring NJPAC’s supporters and Newark together again to<br />
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<br />
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<br />
their to come. leader-<br />
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<br />
stars, and keep our city moving forward.<br />
All the All best the for best an enjoyable for an enjoyable gala! gala!<br />
This year’s gala will also honor the Chambers Family in recognition of their leadership<br />
yours,<br />
New yours, Jersey and for their commitment to NJPAC, our City, and the arts. We<br />
Sincerely Sincerely<br />
are privileged to have the Chambers family on Newark’s team.<br />
All the best for an enjoyable gala!<br />
Sincerely yours,<br />
Ras J. Baraka Ras J. Baraka<br />
Mayor Mayor<br />
Ras J. Baraka<br />
Mayor<br />
OFFICE OF OFFICE THE MAYOR OF THE MAYOR<br />
920 BROAD 920 STREET, BROAD RM STREET, 200 • NEWARK, RM 200 • NEWARK, NJ 07102 NJ 07102<br />
TEL: (973) TEL: 733-6400 (973) 733-6400 • FAX (973) • FAX 733- (973) 3711733- 3711<br />
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR<br />
920 BROAD STREET, RM 200 • NEWARK, NJ 07102<br />
TEL: (973) 733-6400 • FAX (973) 733- 3711
We are proud to have been part of<br />
“The Possible Dream” and its ongoing<br />
impact in Newark.<br />
to NJPAC on<br />
25 spectacular years!<br />
Twenty-five years later, we couldn’t be more<br />
hopeful for what lies ahead for NJPAC.<br />
To all of our friends, colleagues, and to the<br />
staff and crew of NJPAC…thank you for<br />
including us in tonight’s celebration.<br />
You’ve made us feel a part of<br />
The Chambers Family<br />
Cheers and congratulations<br />
to our tenacious, creative,<br />
and dedicated <strong>Gala</strong> Chair<br />
Mindy A. Cohen on a<br />
spectacular evening!<br />
We’re grateful for your<br />
leadership of the <strong>Gala</strong><br />
and so glad to celebrate<br />
together in person.<br />
14 | <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala
congratulations<br />
to<br />
the<br />
and<br />
chambers<br />
family<br />
Arthur Ryan<br />
P O W E R I N G P R O G R E S S<br />
At PSEG, diversity, equity and inclusion drive success across our<br />
company and are an essential part of everything we do, every day.<br />
<strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala | 17
Investing in the health of<br />
your community.<br />
Here when you need us most.<br />
HorizonBlue.com<br />
congratulations to the<br />
chambers<br />
family<br />
S:8.5"<br />
T:9"<br />
B:9"<br />
for their extraordinary<br />
philanthropy, leadership,<br />
dedication and commitment<br />
to education, the arts<br />
and enhancing the lives<br />
of many children and<br />
families throughout the<br />
State of New Jersey.<br />
with sincere appreciation,<br />
Nina and Ted Wells<br />
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.<br />
18 | <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala<br />
<strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala | 19
<strong>2022</strong><br />
founders<br />
award<br />
for commitment to<br />
njpac, newark & the arts<br />
We honor the Chambers Family for their inspiring<br />
philanthropy and extraordinary commitment to<br />
the City of Newark, NJPAC and Women@NJPAC.<br />
The Chambers Family<br />
Ray and Patti Chambers<br />
Christine and Mike Gilfillan<br />
Michael and Tina Chambers<br />
Jennifer and Mercel Chambers<br />
bravo!<br />
&<br />
congratulations<br />
to<br />
the Chambers<br />
Family<br />
tonight’s honorees<br />
women@njpac<br />
Board of Trustees<br />
20 | <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala
tonight’s founders award honorees<br />
The Chambers Family<br />
thank you for your commitment<br />
to njpac, newark & the arts<br />
Ray Chambers is a fifth-generation<br />
Newarker. As a boy, Ray lived in a<br />
four-family home in Newark’s West<br />
Ward. He went to Newark’s public<br />
schools, graduated from West Side<br />
High School and the Business School<br />
at Rutgers University in Newark.<br />
Ray played in a rock and jazz group<br />
through high school and college.<br />
The band members remain lifelong<br />
Newark friends to this day.<br />
Ray had great success in business<br />
with his late partner, former<br />
Secretary of the Treasury William<br />
E Simon, at Wesray Capital.<br />
In 1985, Ray visited the Boys<br />
and Girls Clubs in Newark — an<br />
organization he had been a<br />
member of as a ten-year-old.<br />
After that visit, Ray realized he did<br />
not want to continue in business.<br />
Rather, he and his family wanted<br />
to focus on improving the lives of<br />
children and giving back to the<br />
city of Newark. Ray stepped down<br />
from business in 1989 and has<br />
devoted his life to humanitarian<br />
work for the last 33 years.<br />
The Chambers family established<br />
The MCJ Amelior Foundation in 1986.<br />
Ray’s daughter, Christine Gilfillan,<br />
has been its President for the last<br />
20 years. Her siblings, Michael<br />
and Jennifer, serve as Trustees.<br />
In 1987 the Chambers family launched<br />
the READY Program, working with<br />
Barbara Bell Coleman, who had<br />
brought Ray back to the Boys and<br />
Girls Club of Newark when she<br />
was President there. The program<br />
funded the college tuition of<br />
hundreds of Newark school children<br />
if they stayed on the right path.<br />
That same year, Governor Kean<br />
announced he wanted to build a<br />
world-class performing arts center<br />
in Newark. Many doubted that the<br />
Arts Center could be built in the city.<br />
Ray assured the State Legislature<br />
that the private sector would match<br />
funding from the State to develop the<br />
New Jersey Performing Arts Center<br />
in Newark’s downtown. Ray became<br />
NJPAC’s Founding Board Chairman.<br />
Inspired by NJPAC, the Chambers<br />
family, led by Ray’s son-in-law,<br />
Mike Gilfillan, formed a group<br />
that acquired the New Jersey Nets<br />
and the Devils in order to build a<br />
sports arena in Newark to further<br />
Newark’s downtown redevelopment.<br />
Ray’s good friend, Art Ryan, then<br />
the CEO of Prudential (and Co-<br />
Chair of NJPAC’s Board) played a<br />
major role in the Prudential Center<br />
project. “The Rock” opened in 2007.<br />
In 1990, President George H.W. Bush<br />
asked Ray to be Founding Chairman<br />
of his Points of Light Foundation.<br />
Ray and others then launched the<br />
National Mentoring Partnership.<br />
Ray knew from his work on the<br />
READY program that a caring adult<br />
could have a profound impact<br />
on the life of a young person. At<br />
that time, there were only 350,000<br />
mentors in our country. In 1997,<br />
Ray joined with General Colin<br />
Powell to create America’s Promise.<br />
Today there are more than 5 million<br />
mentors in our country! (Ray himself<br />
even mentored Cory Booker.)<br />
After the horrific events of September<br />
11, Secretary of State Colin Powell<br />
inspired Ray to help prevent<br />
terrorism by “leveling the playing<br />
field” globally. At that time, malaria<br />
in Africa was the number one killer<br />
of children in the world, causing<br />
1.2 million deaths each year.<br />
Secretary General Ban Ki Moon<br />
appointed Ray the United Nations<br />
Special Envoy for Malaria. Ray<br />
led a coalition of global health<br />
groups over the next ten years that<br />
resulted in more than 1.5 billion<br />
people in Africa being provided with<br />
insecticide-treated mosquito nets,<br />
which prevent the transmission of<br />
malaria. The result? Child mortality<br />
was reduced by 71 percent, and the<br />
lives of 7 million children were saved.<br />
Ray currently serves as the<br />
Ambassador to the World Health<br />
Organization for Global Strategy.<br />
The Chambers family simply believes<br />
the best way to achieve happiness is<br />
to help as many people as possible.<br />
Patti Chambers, Ray’s wife, was<br />
a founder of the NJPAC Women’s<br />
Board Association (now known as<br />
Women@NJPAC) and treasures her<br />
work with the amazing children at the<br />
PG Chambers School in Cedar Knolls.<br />
Christine and Mike, Michael and Tina<br />
and Jennifer and Mercel feel fortunate<br />
to be supporting issues that they feel<br />
have the greatest impact in Newark,<br />
their communities, and in the world.<br />
We are grateful for<br />
this remarkable<br />
family’s commitment<br />
to others.<br />
22 | <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala<br />
<strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala | 23
spotlighting gala<br />
artists of the past<br />
24 | <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala<br />
Lionel Richie (center), 2002<br />
Queen Latifah , 2007<br />
Jennifer Hudson, 2010<br />
Brian Stokes Mitchell, 2020<br />
On its 25th anniversary,<br />
NJPAC presents<br />
a <strong>Spotlight</strong> <strong>Gala</strong><br />
celebrating great New<br />
Jersey artists — and the<br />
next generation of stars<br />
One of the many things NJPAC was built to<br />
celebrate is New Jersey’s rich and varied<br />
cultural heritage. From R&B to Broadway,<br />
funk to tap to classical, artists who have set<br />
a new standard in so many genres hail from<br />
our state. Tonight, we’ve gathered some of<br />
the most famous and beloved talents with<br />
roots in our community to perform here on<br />
the occasion of our 25th anniversary. These<br />
are artists whose music has been the<br />
soundtrack of so many important moments<br />
in our lives — performing side-by-side with<br />
some rising stars whose names you’ll hear<br />
for many years to come. We’re grateful to<br />
have this incredible group come together to<br />
highlight the work of this Arts Center,<br />
demonstrate the depth of the talent that<br />
grows in the Garden State and to make this<br />
a night to remember for so many of NJPAC’s<br />
dearest friends. And we’re especially excited<br />
to present, alongside these established<br />
entertainers, a cohort of our own NJPAC<br />
Arts Education students — both children<br />
who are currently enrolled in our programs<br />
and alumni who have gone on to study at<br />
the Berklee College of Music and launch<br />
careers in the arts.<br />
regina belle<br />
Regina Belle is an Academy Award and multi-<br />
GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, songwriter and<br />
actress. Her string of hits includes “Make It Like It<br />
Was,” “If I Could,” “Baby Come to Me” and “This is<br />
Love.” The New Jersey native, born and raised in<br />
Englewood, first demonstrated her vocal abilities<br />
as a child in the church, then polished her musical<br />
skills at Dwight Morrow High School (where she<br />
studied trombone, tuba and steel drums) and at<br />
the Manhattan School of Music for Preparatory<br />
College, where she studied classical voice training.<br />
She attended Rutgers University until her senior year,<br />
when she left her studies to go on tour with The<br />
Manhattans. She remained with the group for two<br />
years before launching her solo career. Belle’s vocals<br />
on the Peabo Bryson duet “A Whole New World” —<br />
the signature song from Disney’s hit 1992 animated<br />
feature film Aladdin — won the GRAMMY® Award<br />
for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group in 1994<br />
and solidified her place among music royalty. While<br />
Belle has enjoyed major success in her career,<br />
there were also hardships. After releasing her first<br />
gospel album Love Forever Shines in 2008,<br />
she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Following<br />
two surgeries and 10 months of rehabilitation, she<br />
was back on top. In 2015 Belle returned to Rutgers<br />
and earned her bachelor’s degree in Africana<br />
Studies with a minor in music. In 2016, she released<br />
The Day Life Began, which signaled the beginning<br />
of a whole new chapter in her life. “I draw strength<br />
from knowing that I’m operating within the purpose<br />
of my life and I’m having a ball doing it!” she says.<br />
ray chew<br />
Tonight’s Music Director<br />
Music director, producer and composer Ray<br />
Chew’s work has been seen on multiple<br />
television networks, in front of the camera<br />
and behind the scenes, beginning with<br />
syndication’s longest running series,<br />
It’s Showtime at the Apollo (NBC). Other series<br />
include Singing Bee (NBC), Sunday Best (BET),<br />
Rising Star (ABC) and American Idol (FOX).<br />
He returned to ABC’s Emmy Award-winning<br />
Dancing with the Stars for its 31st season last<br />
month. His music direction is sought for events<br />
including the Emmy Awards, the GRAMMY®<br />
Awards Premiere Ceremony, the 2008<br />
Democratic National Convention, the 44th<br />
Annual NAACP Image Awards, Miss Universe<br />
and the BET Awards. Philanthropic projects<br />
include the Power 2 Inspire Foundation,<br />
assisting aspiring musicians, and the<br />
American Federation of Musicians project to<br />
help those affected by COVID-19.<br />
<strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala | 25
laura benanti<br />
Tony® Award-winner and five-time Tony® Award<br />
nominee Laura Benanti is a celebrated actress of<br />
both stage and screen. On Broadway, she<br />
appeared in Into the Woods, Nine, She Loves Me,<br />
My Fair Lady and Gypsy, for which she won the<br />
Best Featured Actress in a Musical Tony. On<br />
television, she can be seen in Amy Schumer’s Life<br />
& Beth, and is set to appear in the second season<br />
of HBO’s The Gilded Age, created by Downton<br />
Abbey’s Julian Fellowes. She can also currently be<br />
seen in HBO Max’s Gossip Girl. She starred in<br />
Netflix’s Worth opposite Michael Keaton, Stanley<br />
Tucci and Amy Ryan. She also starred opposite<br />
Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish in the film Here<br />
Today and appeared in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s<br />
directing debut, Tick, Tick…Boom!<br />
Benanti has made multiple appearances on<br />
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as Melania<br />
Trump; The New York Times dubbed her<br />
impersonation one of their “Best Performances<br />
of 2016.” Additionally, she created the HBO Max<br />
special Homeschool Musical: Class of 2020,<br />
co-authored a children’s book M is for Mama<br />
(and also Merlot): A Modern Mom’s ABCs. Born in<br />
New York City, she was raised in Kinnelon and<br />
won a Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award for<br />
playing in 1996 the title role in Hello, Dolly.<br />
savion glover<br />
Savion Glover is a Tony Award-winning choreographer<br />
and legendary hoofer, whose career has spanned<br />
nearly four decades. The Newark native began his<br />
Broadway career as The Tap Dance Kid and continued<br />
with Black and Blue, Jelly’s Last Jam and Bring in da<br />
Noise, Bring in da Funk which garnered him a Tony<br />
Award for Best Choreography. He has performed with<br />
jazz legends including McCoy Tyner, Roy Haynes and<br />
Jack DeJohnette. Film credits include Tap, starring<br />
Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis, Jr., Spike Lee’s<br />
Bamboozled and George Miller’s Happy Feet and<br />
Happy Feet Two. He appeared in television<br />
commercials for Nike and Coca Cola, and has been a<br />
longstanding performer on Sesame Street. He was<br />
recognized for his choreography for the Broadway<br />
musical Shuffle Along, directed by George C. Wolfe,<br />
as well as for the direction and choreography for<br />
Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope. Glover performed at<br />
NJPAC’s opening night and has been engaged with<br />
the Arts Center since, currently serving as the<br />
organization’s Dance Advisor and as a member of its<br />
Board of Directors. He is also dedicated to furthering<br />
its arts education programming and leads Summer<br />
Intensive performance workshops here, open to<br />
talented young people across Greater Newark.<br />
george clinton<br />
“Godfather of Funk” George Clinton — who grew up<br />
in Newark and Plainfield — revolutionized R&B<br />
during the ’70s, twisting soul music into funk by<br />
adding influences from late-’60s heroes Jimi<br />
Hendrix, Frank Zappa and Sly Stone. From 1970 to<br />
1980, his band Parliament/Funkadelic made the R&B<br />
top 10 with hits “Flash Light,” “Aqua Boogie,” and<br />
“One Nation Under a Groove.” With the rise of<br />
funk-inspired rap and rock in the ’90s, Clinton’s<br />
music became the blueprint for artists like MC<br />
Hammer, LL Cool J and Snoop Dogg. He gained<br />
wider visibility by appearing in films like The Night<br />
Before, House Party, PCU and Good Burger, hosting<br />
the HBO series Cosmic Slop and filming commercials<br />
for Apple and Nike. He also composed the theme<br />
songs for TV’s The Tracey Ullman Show and The PJs.<br />
He has received GRAMMY®, Dove and MTV<br />
Music Video awards, and has been recognized by<br />
BMI, the NAACP Image Awards and Motown<br />
Alumni Association for lifetime achievement.<br />
Parliament/Funkadelic was inducted into<br />
the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. In 2012,<br />
he received an Honorary Doctorate of Music<br />
from Berklee College of Music.<br />
26 | <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala<br />
wé mcdonald<br />
When she was only 17 years old, Wé McDonald’s<br />
appearance on the hit NBC TV show The Voice, and her<br />
show-stopping rendition of Nina Simone’s “Feeling<br />
Good,” drew worldwide attention. After being coached<br />
by Alicia Keys, the Paterson-raised McDonald won<br />
third place in the televised competition, and her career<br />
was fast-tracked for success. A singer since age 12,<br />
she attended New York City’s Harlem School for the<br />
Arts after school and on weekends, where she studied<br />
music, acting, dance, opera and jazz vocals. At 16,<br />
McDonald competed and won three times at the<br />
Apollo Theater’s famous Amateur Night competition.<br />
She has since performed across the United States and<br />
internationally, sharing stages with music legends such<br />
as Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban, Chris Botti, CeeLo<br />
Green, John Legend, Alicia Keys and others. She has<br />
toured with the Apollo Celebrates Ella Fitzgerald concert<br />
and the off-Broadway rock ’n’ roll classic, Rocktopia,<br />
with Dee Snider. She is also a worldwide ambassador<br />
for World Vision, an organization working to supply<br />
fresh water to underdeveloped villages around the<br />
world. In April 2018, McDonald authored her second<br />
book, The Little Girl with The Big Voice, which tells the<br />
story of a little girl who overcomes the challenges of<br />
being bullied. Her books are currently being used by<br />
schools across America as a tool to overcome bullying.<br />
<strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala | 27
dionne warwick<br />
Five-time GRAMMY® Award-winner Dionne Warwick, born<br />
in Orange, has enchanted audiences worldwide since the<br />
1960s. Her remarkable hit-making career, encompassing<br />
more than 60 charted songs and more than 100 million<br />
records sold, began with her first release in 1962, “Don’t Make<br />
Me Over.” After 30 hits and nearly 20 albums, she received<br />
her first GRAMMY® in 1968 for “Do You Know the Way<br />
to San Jose?” Her second followed in 1970 for the album<br />
I’ll Never Fall in Love Again. During the ’70s she released<br />
six albums, topping the charts with “Then Came You”<br />
in 1974. She released Dionne in 1979, becoming the first<br />
female artist to win Best Female Pop and Best Female<br />
R&B Performance. In 2019, she earned a Lifetime<br />
Achievement GRAMMY® from the recording academy.<br />
Over the years she has collaborated with the<br />
Bee Gees, Johnny Mathis, Smokey Robinson,<br />
Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder and many more.<br />
A dedicated humanitarian, she has advocated<br />
for AIDS awareness, children’s hospitals and<br />
music education. Using music to support her<br />
activism, she performed on the charity single,<br />
“We Are the World” and made history with<br />
Gladys Knight, Elton John and Stevie Wonder<br />
with “That’s What Friends Are For,” the first<br />
recording dedicated to raising<br />
AIDS awareness.<br />
christian mcbride<br />
Bassist, composer and arranger Christian McBride moved<br />
to New York in 1989 to pursue classical studies at Juilliard,<br />
but was recruited to the road by saxophonist Bobby<br />
Watson. In 2000, the lessons of the road came together<br />
when McBride formed his longest-running musical project,<br />
the Christian McBride Big Band. In 2012, their release<br />
The Good Feeling won the GRAMMY® for Best Large<br />
Ensemble Jazz Album — one of eight GRAMMY ® Awards<br />
Christian has received during his career.<br />
An educator and advocate as well as an artist,<br />
McBride spoke at President Bill Clinton’s town hall<br />
meeting “Racism in the Performing Arts” in 1997. He was<br />
named Artistic Director of the Jazz Aspen Snowmass<br />
Summer Sessions (2000), co-director of the National Jazz<br />
Museum in Harlem (2005) and the Second Creative Chair<br />
for Jazz of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association<br />
(2005). He also serves as Artistic Advisor for Jazz<br />
Programming at NJPAC. McBride hosts and produces<br />
The Lowdown: Conversations with Christian on SiriusXM<br />
satellite radio and NPR’s Jazz Night in America, a<br />
collaboration between WBGO, NPR and Jazz at Lincoln<br />
Center. Completing the circle is his work with Jazz House<br />
Kids, the Montclair community arts education<br />
organization founded by his wife, vocalist Melissa Walker.<br />
matthew whitaker<br />
Matthew Whitaker, an alumnus of NJPAC’s Arts<br />
Education programs, began playing at age three, after<br />
his grandfather gave him a Yamaha keyboard. At 13,<br />
he became the youngest artist endorsed by<br />
Hammond. At 15 he became the youngest Yamaha<br />
Jazz Piano Artist. Whitaker now tours the U.S., Europe,<br />
Asia and Australia, performing on stages including the<br />
Apollo Theater, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and the<br />
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.<br />
He has appeared on television programs such as FOX<br />
TV’s Showtime at the Apollo, The Today Show, Harry<br />
Connick Jr. Show, Ellen and 60 Minutes. Whitaker<br />
recently starred in, produced and scored the ALL ARTS<br />
documentary About Tomorrow and composed the<br />
original score for the film Starkeisha, currently<br />
streaming on Hulu. In 2019 and 2020, he was the<br />
winner of the ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young<br />
Jazz Composers Award for original compositions<br />
“Emotions’’ and “Underground.” Whitaker has three<br />
studio albums: Outta The Box, Now Hear This and<br />
Connections on which he has collaborated with<br />
Derrick Hodge, Ray Chew, Jon Batiste, Christian<br />
McBride and Regina Carter.<br />
lucy<br />
alan hsiao jalin shiver liany mateo lilli m. yeghiazaryan<br />
ricky<br />
persaud, jr.<br />
Tens of thousands of children take part in NJPAC’s arts education programs annually. Some of<br />
these students find in the arts not just joy and fulfillment, but a career. We are thrilled to showcase<br />
tonight NJPAC Arts Education alumni who subsequently attended Berklee College of Music. Some<br />
now perform professionally. We are enormously proud of their talent and success.<br />
djkiss<br />
DJ JaKissa Taylor-Semple, better known to her fans as DJKiss, is known for<br />
her love of fashion and beauty as well as for her undeniable musical talent.<br />
Kiss regularly performs as a DJ at high-profile celebrity events around the<br />
country, including The Governors’ Ball, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts<br />
and Sciences’ official post-Oscars celebration and the MTV Movie Awards.<br />
In addition, Kiss toured with Oprah Winfrey as the official DJ on her stadium<br />
tour, The Life You Want Weekend, and with Pharrell Williams for shows in<br />
America and Hong Kong. She’s also spun her signature mix of soulful,<br />
feel-good tunes at the weddings of actors Matt Damon and Angela Bassett,<br />
director George Lucas and for numerous corporate clients.<br />
28 | <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala
how can an arts center transform a city?<br />
“When I started here, people<br />
were always asking us:<br />
What’s the fastest way to<br />
the Parkway? They didn’t<br />
want to be on the streets<br />
of Newark. We don’t hear<br />
that anymore.”<br />
— Yesenia “Jessie” Jimenez,<br />
Senior Director of Ticket<br />
Services and Sales, and a<br />
26-year NJPAC employee<br />
“NJPAC is the most diverse<br />
performing arts center in<br />
the country — its concerts, its<br />
audience and its staff all reflect<br />
the global city that Newark<br />
has become. It’s a place for<br />
performances that speak to the<br />
heritage of so many, a place<br />
for celebrations of every kind,<br />
and a place for important<br />
conversations about justice<br />
and equity. I am proud to<br />
have, at the heart of our city,<br />
this special place designed to<br />
welcome and lift up all of us.”<br />
– Newark Mayor Ras Baraka<br />
“NJPAC signaled the<br />
rebirth of downtown<br />
Newark…When NJPAC<br />
opened, our business<br />
jumped 20 percent. And<br />
it never dropped.”<br />
– Michael Brummer, co-owner,<br />
Hobby’s Delicatessen, Newark<br />
30 | <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala<br />
“When I look around today, the<br />
city’s rebound is palpable – from<br />
the Arts Center to the Museum,<br />
to the Arena, to the proposed<br />
residential development at the<br />
old Bears Stadium. They didn’t<br />
all happen because of the Arts<br />
Center. But none of this would<br />
have happened without us.”<br />
– Marc Berson, Founder and Chairman, The Fidelco<br />
Group; NJPAC Executive Committee Member<br />
<strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala | 31
njpac’s first<br />
quarter-century<br />
1987<br />
July: Gov. Thomas<br />
Kean announces<br />
plans to build<br />
the New Jersey<br />
Performing Arts<br />
Center in Newark.<br />
1988<br />
NJPAC is<br />
established<br />
as a nonprofit<br />
corporation with<br />
Ray Chambers<br />
as Chairman.<br />
Fundraising to build<br />
the Arts Center<br />
begins.<br />
2012<br />
July: America’s Got<br />
Talent begins a run<br />
of 18 broadcasts<br />
from the Prudential<br />
Hall stage, bringing<br />
hopefuls and<br />
guest stars like<br />
Justin Bieber and<br />
Green Day to<br />
the Arts Center.<br />
October: First TD<br />
James Moody Jazz<br />
Festival held. The<br />
Sarah Vaughan<br />
International Jazz<br />
Vocal Competition,<br />
designed to launch<br />
the careers of<br />
novice jazz singers,<br />
is inaugurated.<br />
1989<br />
Lawrence P.<br />
Goldman is hired<br />
as NJPAC’s first<br />
President and CEO.<br />
1994<br />
NJPAC Arts<br />
Education program<br />
launches.<br />
June: The NJPAC<br />
Women’s Board<br />
Association (later<br />
Women@NJPAC)<br />
established; Diana<br />
T. Vagelos named<br />
founding President.<br />
2013<br />
October: Black<br />
Girls Rock! films<br />
at NJPAC for the<br />
first time. The show<br />
features Regina<br />
King, Queen<br />
Latifah, Misty<br />
Copeland and<br />
Jennifer Hudson.<br />
2014<br />
A new department<br />
of Community<br />
Engagement<br />
is established<br />
to strengthen<br />
NJPAC’s<br />
relationships<br />
with the state’s<br />
many distinctive<br />
communities.<br />
December:<br />
The Hip Hop<br />
Nutcracker, a<br />
reimagining of<br />
Tchaikovsky’s<br />
holiday classic<br />
through hip hop<br />
dance, premieres at<br />
NJPAC, creating a<br />
new winter tradition<br />
for the Arts Center.<br />
The show will go on<br />
to tour more than 50<br />
venues across the<br />
country annually.<br />
The evolution of a<br />
performing arts center into<br />
an anchor cultural institution<br />
1996<br />
Women’s Board<br />
holds its first<br />
<strong>Gala</strong>, Passport<br />
to the World, at<br />
Continental Airlines<br />
hangar at Newark<br />
International<br />
Airport. Ray<br />
Charles performs.<br />
1997<br />
August 16: The<br />
Hard Hat Concert,<br />
for construction<br />
workers who built<br />
NJPAC, held in<br />
Prudential Hall,<br />
featuring Southside<br />
Johnny, Max<br />
Weinberg and<br />
Ronnie Spector.<br />
October 18:<br />
NJPAC officially<br />
opens; its inaugural<br />
<strong>Gala</strong> Celebration<br />
attracts celebrities,<br />
political leaders<br />
and community<br />
members. Opening<br />
concert recorded<br />
for PBS’ Great<br />
Performances series.<br />
2015<br />
February: NJPAC<br />
announces its first<br />
co-production<br />
with the nearby<br />
Prudential<br />
Center, Ladies<br />
Night, paving the<br />
way for future<br />
collaborations with<br />
“The Rock” and<br />
other large venues.<br />
2018<br />
One Theater Square<br />
opens to residents;<br />
John Schreiber is<br />
among the first to<br />
move in.<br />
1999<br />
May: The Arts<br />
Center’s Sounds<br />
of the City free<br />
summer concert<br />
series launches.<br />
2001<br />
October 11:<br />
Affirmation of<br />
Culture and<br />
Community concert,<br />
featuring the NJSO,<br />
Newark Boys<br />
Choir and NJPAC’s<br />
Jubilation Choir,<br />
held at NJPAC in<br />
memory of the<br />
victims of 9/11.<br />
2002<br />
September: Lionel<br />
Richie headlines the<br />
<strong>Spotlight</strong> <strong>Gala</strong>; the<br />
fifth anniversary of<br />
NJPAC’s opening<br />
is marked with<br />
a campus-wide<br />
dance party.<br />
2019<br />
April: NJPAC<br />
announces it will<br />
construct a new<br />
building on its campus,<br />
the Cooperman<br />
Family Arts Education<br />
and Community<br />
Center, to house<br />
its arts education<br />
and community<br />
engagement programs<br />
and two professional<br />
rehearsal studios.<br />
October 5:<br />
NJPAC receives a<br />
New York Emmy for<br />
its production of The<br />
Hip Hop Nutcracker on<br />
public television.<br />
October 15:<br />
NJPAC announces<br />
All Together<br />
Now: The NJPAC<br />
Changemaking<br />
Campaign, a $225<br />
2004<br />
NJPAC launches<br />
second Capital<br />
Campaign, focused<br />
on developing<br />
the Arts Center’s<br />
Endowment Fund,<br />
raising $182 million<br />
over five years.<br />
2006<br />
Summer: After the<br />
opening of the<br />
light rail station<br />
on Center Street,<br />
Queen Latifah<br />
arrives aboard a<br />
light-rail train for<br />
the premiere of her<br />
film, Hairspray, at<br />
NJPAC.<br />
million capital<br />
campaign, the<br />
third in the Arts<br />
Center’s history.<br />
$100 million had<br />
already been raised<br />
by the campaign’s<br />
announcement.<br />
2020<br />
March 13: As the<br />
coronavirus sweeps<br />
across the nation,<br />
NJPAC closes its<br />
theaters and pivots<br />
to become one of<br />
the nation’s largest<br />
producers of virtual<br />
programming,<br />
presenting more<br />
than 500 virtual<br />
events during the<br />
pandemic.<br />
2008<br />
January: NJPAC<br />
selects Dranoff<br />
Properties of<br />
Philadelphia as<br />
its partner in the<br />
construction of<br />
Two Center Street<br />
(later One Theater<br />
Square) on the Arts<br />
Center’s campus,<br />
the first newlyconstructed<br />
marketrate<br />
residential<br />
tower built in<br />
downtown Newark<br />
in decades.<br />
May 4: Bruce<br />
Springsteen<br />
takes the stage<br />
in Prudential Hall<br />
when he is inducted<br />
into the inaugural<br />
class of the New<br />
Jersey Hall of Fame.<br />
May 5: Anthony<br />
Davis receives the<br />
Pulitzer Prize for his<br />
opera, Central Park<br />
Five, which was<br />
premiered by the<br />
Trilogy: An Opera<br />
Company at NJPAC<br />
in 2016.<br />
2021<br />
June: NJPAC<br />
announces the<br />
next phase of its<br />
masterplan for its<br />
campus will be the<br />
construction of a<br />
neighborhood of<br />
low- and highrise<br />
multifamily<br />
2009<br />
The Geraldine R.<br />
Dodge Foundation<br />
selects NJPAC as<br />
the new site for<br />
The Dodge Poetry<br />
Festival, which<br />
moves to Newark<br />
in 2010.<br />
2011<br />
May: The Dalai<br />
Lama, Goldie<br />
Hawn and Deepak<br />
Chopra are among<br />
the celebrities,<br />
officials and Nobel<br />
Laureates who<br />
attend the Newark<br />
Peace Education<br />
Summit at NJPAC.<br />
June: John<br />
Schreiber, a Tonyand<br />
Emmy-Awardwinning<br />
producer,<br />
becomes NJPAC’s<br />
second President<br />
and CEO.<br />
1997 <strong>2022</strong><br />
buildings, condos,<br />
and retail and cultural<br />
spaces on what is<br />
now Parking Lot A.<br />
<strong>2022</strong><br />
May: The Arts Center<br />
partners with Great<br />
Point Studios to build<br />
Lionsgate Newark,<br />
a new film and<br />
television production<br />
studio in Newark’s<br />
South Ward.<br />
October 1: NJPAC<br />
celebrates its 25th<br />
anniversary season<br />
at its first in-person<br />
<strong>Spotlight</strong> <strong>Gala</strong> in<br />
three years.
njpac’s future<br />
setting the stage<br />
25<br />
for the next<br />
years<br />
34 | <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala<br />
Mulberry Street extension<br />
This anniversary season, NJPAC has embarked<br />
on a series of initiatives that will advance its<br />
mission to revitalize its home city of Newark<br />
through the arts, extend the reach and depth of<br />
its arts education and community engagement<br />
programming, and utilize the performing arts<br />
to improve the well-being of our community.<br />
These initiatives include:<br />
the cooperman family arts education<br />
and community center<br />
This new facility, made<br />
possible by a foundational<br />
gift from the Cooperman<br />
Family, will be a purposebuilt<br />
setting for NJPAC’s<br />
arts education and free<br />
community arts programs,<br />
and a space dedicated<br />
to the creation of new<br />
performance work by<br />
diverse artists. The Arts<br />
Center’s many education<br />
initiatives will find a new<br />
home on our campus at the<br />
Cooperman Center, which<br />
will also offer new programs<br />
and services for students,<br />
families, educators and<br />
artists. The new Center will<br />
include multiple teaching<br />
spaces where Greater<br />
Newark kids can discover<br />
both performance skills<br />
(in hip hop, acting, musical<br />
theater and jazz) and also<br />
technical theater skills in<br />
stage lighting, design and<br />
more. The building will also<br />
be home to new community<br />
programs for Newarkers<br />
of all ages, from babies to<br />
seniors, and will house a<br />
children’s arts reading room<br />
curated in collaboration with<br />
the Newark Public Library.<br />
A whole floor of the<br />
Cooperman Center will be<br />
devoted to two state-of-theindustry<br />
professional<br />
rehearsal studios where<br />
creators can develop<br />
new works that can be<br />
performed here in Newark<br />
and tour across the country.<br />
Many Cooperman Center<br />
spaces will also be available<br />
for community groups to<br />
use through a space-grant<br />
program. The Center is<br />
slated to be completed by<br />
the end of 2025.<br />
the lot a<br />
development project<br />
NJPAC plans to redevelop<br />
its campus to create<br />
a welcoming new<br />
neighborhood of shops,<br />
homes and cultural spaces<br />
surrounding its theaters, to<br />
extend downtown Newark’s<br />
Arts and Education District<br />
from Military Park to the<br />
Riverfront. The new<br />
development will include an<br />
extension of Mulberry Street<br />
through our campus, public<br />
green spaces including a<br />
reimagined Chambers<br />
Plaza, two multi-family<br />
apartment buildings,<br />
15 for-sale condos and<br />
multiple ground floor spaces<br />
for retailers, restaurants<br />
and other cultural uses.<br />
A centerpiece of the new<br />
Mulberry Street extension<br />
will be a food hall curated<br />
by celebrity chef Marcus<br />
Samuelsson, which will<br />
include a teaching kitchen.<br />
The project will also include<br />
the redesign of the Arts<br />
Center’s eastern facade to<br />
create a new entrance point<br />
to NJPAC and a new event<br />
space facing Mulberry.<br />
Construction is currently<br />
scheduled to be completed<br />
by early 2026.<br />
The Cooperman Family Arts Education<br />
<strong>2022</strong> spotlight and Community gala | 35<br />
Center
The Cooperman Family<br />
Arts Education and<br />
Community Center<br />
a new chambers plaza<br />
Thanks to a major gift from<br />
Essex County, the Arts<br />
Center’s “front yard”<br />
Chambers Plaza will<br />
be re-architected and<br />
redesigned to create a<br />
welcoming space that offers<br />
outdoor gatherings and<br />
performances 12 months<br />
a year. This renovation will<br />
also add trees and<br />
greenery, creating a new<br />
downtown park space,<br />
Essex County Green, that<br />
will be part of the new<br />
landscape of Chambers<br />
Plaza. While NJPAC’s<br />
beloved Horizon Sounds<br />
of the City summer concert<br />
series will still take place<br />
here, the redesigned<br />
Chambers Plaza will<br />
allow for other events<br />
such as farmers’<br />
and winter markets.<br />
colton institute for research<br />
and training in the arts<br />
Building on NJPAC’s unique<br />
focus on arts education as<br />
a means of learning,<br />
empowerment and social<br />
and emotional development,<br />
the Colton Institute is<br />
devoted to pedagogic<br />
research, curriculum<br />
creation, teacher training<br />
and pre-professional<br />
workforce development.<br />
Made possible by a<br />
donation from Judy and<br />
Stewart Colton in support of<br />
arts education programming<br />
and research into new arts<br />
training techniques, the<br />
Colton Institute will enable<br />
the Arts Center’s continued<br />
growth as a national leader<br />
in advancing 21st-century<br />
arts education. The Colton<br />
Institute, the first-ever<br />
research hub and creative<br />
incubator within a<br />
performing arts center,<br />
new neighborhood<br />
partnerships<br />
The Arts Center already<br />
produces and presents more<br />
than 200 free events and<br />
performances annually, the<br />
majority of them in Newark.<br />
However, as NJPAC solicited<br />
community input for the<br />
design of the Cooperman<br />
Center, one message from<br />
the Newark community<br />
was heard loud and clear:<br />
Bring more performances<br />
to us where we live, in our<br />
neighborhoods, as well as<br />
in the city’s downtown.<br />
In response, the Arts Center<br />
will in its 2023 season<br />
launch deep and lasting<br />
partnerships with existing<br />
community centers in<br />
each of Newark’s Wards.<br />
In each of these locations,<br />
we will work with local artists<br />
will allow NJPAC to study<br />
the impact of its curricular<br />
approaches. The Colton<br />
Institute will also increase<br />
the Arts Center’s educational<br />
offerings and advance its<br />
services for students —<br />
many of whom come from<br />
economically disadvantaged<br />
circumstances — including<br />
mentorship, field training<br />
and creating a pathway<br />
for college and career<br />
opportunities in the<br />
performing arts. The Arts<br />
Center has also launched<br />
a 25th Anniversary Fund<br />
for the Future of Arts<br />
Education at NJPAC to<br />
support and advance new<br />
programs created by<br />
the Colton Institute.<br />
and residents to co-create<br />
new performing arts<br />
programming that is of,<br />
by and for the community,<br />
addresses local community<br />
needs and is offered<br />
consistently throughout<br />
the season at each of our<br />
partner locations. The first<br />
of these partnerships will<br />
launch in 2023.<br />
an arts and well-being<br />
programming vertical<br />
Inspired by research that<br />
shows that engagement<br />
with the arts can have a<br />
measurable impact on<br />
health and well-being,<br />
particularly for at-risk<br />
populations like seniors<br />
and adolescents, NJPAC<br />
will develop a new<br />
programming vertical that<br />
seeks to harness the power<br />
of the performing arts<br />
to enhance well-being.<br />
Created in partnership with<br />
RWJBarnabas and Horizon<br />
Blue Cross Blue Shield,<br />
this vertical will include<br />
everything from dance<br />
classes that improve health<br />
outcomes to social<br />
prescribing programs<br />
that allow healthcare<br />
providers to “prescribe”<br />
a performance to their<br />
patients. In addition, NJPAC<br />
will work with Rutgers<br />
University School of Public<br />
Health and Mason Gross<br />
School of the Arts to<br />
conduct long-term research<br />
on the best practices for<br />
using the arts to improve<br />
community health.<br />
the lionsgate<br />
newark film studio<br />
In partnership with Great<br />
Point Studios, NJPAC has<br />
established Lionsgate<br />
Newark, the first purposebuilt<br />
studio in New Jersey<br />
specifically constructed for<br />
TV and film production, in<br />
Newark’s South Ward.<br />
Lionsgate, a global content<br />
leader, will be the studio’s<br />
long-term anchor tenant.<br />
NJPAC will manage public<br />
affairs and community<br />
relations for the studio<br />
and create educational<br />
programs and internships<br />
for Newark high school and<br />
college students at the<br />
Studio. The 300,000-squarefoot,<br />
full-service, modern<br />
entertainment complex will<br />
include production stages<br />
ranging from 20,000 to<br />
30,000 square feet. The<br />
facility will offer a full set of<br />
production services on site,<br />
including props, set building,<br />
restaurants, location<br />
catering and security.<br />
The project is anticipated<br />
to create more than 600<br />
new long-term jobs, with<br />
priority for positions going<br />
to residents of Newark.<br />
The studio is expected to<br />
generate more than $800<br />
million of annual economic<br />
impact for Newark and<br />
New Jersey. Construction is<br />
scheduled to be completed<br />
in mid-2024.<br />
Programming to offer<br />
more events and<br />
services that focus on<br />
the advancement of<br />
women and girls.<br />
the evolution of<br />
women@njpac<br />
Women@NJPAC, the Arts<br />
Center’s “sisterhood for<br />
good,” is expanding its<br />
programming to offer more<br />
events and services that<br />
focus on the advancement<br />
of women and girls.<br />
Guided by its focus on<br />
the “three C’s” —<br />
Community, Connections<br />
and Continuity — the group<br />
hosts conversations and<br />
performances that center<br />
the experience of women<br />
and girls, including a<br />
planned girls’ leadership<br />
summit, while also creating<br />
networking events that<br />
allow members to connect<br />
with similarly communityengaged<br />
women from<br />
across New Jersey.<br />
Of course, the organization<br />
will also continue its historic<br />
work of fundraising to<br />
support NJPAC’s Arts<br />
Education and Community<br />
Engagement initiatives.<br />
Lionsgate, Newark<br />
36 | <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala<br />
<strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala | 37
Congratulations<br />
TO TONIGHT’S FOUNDERS<br />
AWARD HONOREES<br />
Using the power of leading-edge science<br />
to save and improve lives around the world<br />
For more than a century, we’ve been at the forefront of research,<br />
bringing forward medicines, vaccines and innovative health solutions<br />
for some of the world’s most challenging diseases.<br />
At Merck, we rise to the challenge in pursuit of better health outcomes.<br />
The Chambers Family<br />
• Ray and Patti Chambers<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
Christine and Mike Gilfillan<br />
Michael and Tina Chambers<br />
Jennifer and Mercel Chambers<br />
Proud to support the New Jersey Performing<br />
Arts Center and Women@NJPAC<br />
A Proven Approach<br />
performance. presence. pride.<br />
gibbonslaw.com<br />
NJ NY PA DE DC FL<br />
Copyright © <strong>2022</strong> Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. All rights reserved. US-NON-10811 06/22<br />
Gibbons P.C. is headquartered at One Gateway Center, Newark, NJ 07102.<br />
<strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala | 39
Ray Chambers<br />
and his Family<br />
TRADITION. INNOVATION. DISTINCTION.<br />
as recipients of the<br />
<strong>2022</strong> Founders Award.<br />
We join in honoring our Friend,<br />
We are proud to support the<br />
Ray Chambers<br />
and his Family<br />
NJPAC <strong>Spotlight</strong> <strong>Gala</strong>!<br />
as recipients of the<br />
<strong>2022</strong> Founders Award.<br />
We are proud to support the<br />
NJPAC <strong>Spotlight</strong> <strong>Gala</strong>!<br />
a salute to the<br />
women@njpac,<br />
the chambers<br />
family<br />
and to<br />
the success<br />
of the<br />
25th Anniversary<br />
Lee and Toby Cooperman<br />
windelsmarx.com<br />
windelsmarx.com<br />
Twitter / LinkedIn @WindelsMarx<br />
Twitter / LinkedIn @WindelsMarx<br />
NEW YORK, NY NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ MADISON, NJ STAMFORD, CT<br />
NEW YORK, NY NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ MADISON, NJ STAMFORD, CT<br />
40 | <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala<br />
<strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala | 41
We are proud to support the<br />
Women @ NJPAC <strong>Spotlight</strong> <strong>Gala</strong><br />
and all of the fantastic work they do for<br />
our community as the<br />
official imaging provider of NJPAC.<br />
Proud to Support<br />
New Jersey Performing Arts Center<br />
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<strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala | 43
25 Years Of<br />
Inspiring Dreams<br />
NJPAC has welcomed more than a million children since<br />
Opening Night in 1997. Tanenbaum Keale LLP is proud to<br />
share the ongoing mission of bringing arts education to every<br />
level of the community, planting the seeds and nurturing the<br />
growth of artists and visionaries of future generations.<br />
A passion<br />
for purpose<br />
PwC is proud to support<br />
Women@NJPAC and tonight’s<br />
<strong>Spotlight</strong> <strong>Gala</strong> as part of our<br />
commitment to making a<br />
meaningful difference in the<br />
world and helping others thrive.<br />
TheNewEquation.com<br />
44 | <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala<br />
© <strong>2022</strong> PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership.<br />
All rights reserved.
at<br />
find your<br />
voice and your<br />
creative community<br />
Honesty | Integrity | Performance<br />
CastleOak Securities, L.P.<br />
is a proud sponsor of the<br />
NJPAC <strong>Spotlight</strong> <strong>Gala</strong><br />
Celebrating 25 years!<br />
theater • jazz • hip hop • band<br />
sign up today!<br />
Generous support for Arts Training is provided, in part, by BD, Judy and Stewart Colton, Toby and Lee Cooperman, Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey,<br />
Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, M&T Bank, Merck Foundation, NJ Advance Media, Richmond County Savings Foundation, Santander,<br />
TD Charitable Foundation, Victoria Foundation, WBGO Jazz 88.3FM, Wells Fargo Foundation, Women@NJPAC, and an anonymous donor.<br />
njpac.org/students • artseducation@njpac.org • 973.353.8057<br />
CastleOak Securities, L.P<br />
(646) 521-6700<br />
www.castleoaklp.com<br />
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<strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala | 47
Elberon Development Group<br />
is pleased to support<br />
Congratulations<br />
TO NJPAC ON ITS<br />
to<br />
the <strong>2022</strong> NJPAC <strong>Spotlight</strong> the <strong>Gala</strong> and to pay tribute to <strong>2022</strong> NJP<br />
ily,<br />
the Founders’ the Award, Honorees, The Chambers Family, Founders’ A<br />
e whose support of NJPAC has been generous since whose SILVER ANNIVERSARY suppo<br />
the beginning…25 years ago.<br />
th<br />
uous<br />
The foresight The of the Chambers Family and its continuous foresight of<br />
d<br />
generosity to NJPAC during its existence enabled generosity to<br />
the arts center to become an anchor institution the arts cen<br />
in the City of Newark.<br />
We are proud to be longtime supporters<br />
of NJPAC, and we applaud its priceless<br />
contribution to our community.<br />
The Griffinger Family<br />
El<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
congratulations<br />
to NJPAC for a<br />
wonderful 25 years<br />
and to the Chambers Family<br />
and all the Founders<br />
for their vision and<br />
commitment in making<br />
it all happen!<br />
Bill & Paula Marino<br />
The Fidelco Group congratulates NJPAC<br />
on a triumphant return to<br />
the <strong>Spotlight</strong> <strong>Gala</strong> in person!<br />
And to our dear friends,<br />
The Chambers Family<br />
for their spectacular commitment<br />
to the city of Newark.<br />
Marc and Randi Berson<br />
Lora and Jeff Hersh<br />
Kerri and Jared Levine<br />
<strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala | 49
RWJBarnabas Health proudly supports<br />
Women@NJPAC and the 25 th Anniversary<br />
<strong>Spotlight</strong> <strong>Gala</strong> and congratulates this year’s<br />
honorees, the Chambers family.<br />
Thanks for putting<br />
art in the heart of the<br />
community<br />
Bank of America recognizes NJPAC for its success<br />
in bringing the arts to performers and audiences<br />
throughout the community. We commend you on<br />
creating an opportunity for all to enjoy and share a<br />
cultural experience.<br />
Visit us at bankofamerica.com/about.<br />
rwjbh.org<br />
Clara Maass Medical Center<br />
Community Medical Center<br />
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center<br />
Jersey City Medical Center<br />
Monmouth Medical Center and<br />
The Unterberg Children’s Hospital<br />
Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus<br />
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and<br />
Children’s Hospital of New Jersey<br />
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and<br />
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital<br />
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton<br />
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway<br />
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset<br />
Trinitas Regional Medical Center<br />
RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health Center<br />
Children’s Specialized Hospital<br />
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey<br />
©<strong>2022</strong> Bank of America Corporation<br />
MAP4117394 | ENT-211-AD<br />
congratulates<br />
tonight’s honorees,<br />
the Chambers Family<br />
& NJPAC for<br />
25 magnificent years!<br />
50 | <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala
Who says you can’t have a good time while<br />
making the world a better place?<br />
connections,<br />
conversations<br />
& celebrations<br />
52 | <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala<br />
Women@NJPAC President Faith<br />
Taylor and her daughter, artist<br />
Kiyomi Taylor, center,<br />
with guests at the Spring<br />
Luncheon & Auction.<br />
njpac’s “sisterhood for good”<br />
toasts an exceptionally<br />
successful season<br />
Women@NJPAC, the Arts Center’s<br />
“sisterhood for good,” hosted parties,<br />
luncheons and other festivities all<br />
year long, but they also advanced all<br />
aspects of the organization’s mission,<br />
from promoting the leadership potential<br />
of women and girls, to fundraising to<br />
ensure that all children have equal<br />
access to the arts at NJPAC.<br />
In fact, it was a banner year for the<br />
group on several fronts: Women@<br />
NJPAC made its largest impact ever<br />
on the Arts Center’s education and<br />
community engagement programs,<br />
donating $1.8 million to deliver financial<br />
aid for students, underwrite new<br />
programs and sustain current offerings.<br />
And the Women@NJPAC Spring<br />
Luncheon & Auction, held in person<br />
for the first time since 2019, raised a<br />
record-breaking $350,000. More than<br />
500 members and their guests donned<br />
seasonal finery for the Luncheon<br />
as they gathered to hear cosmetics<br />
industry icon and self-described<br />
“serial entrepreneur” Bobbi Brown talk<br />
about launching her latest business,<br />
Jones Road Beauty, with Allure’s<br />
Editor in Chief, Jessica Cruel.<br />
Other events focused on women in<br />
leadership roles in many industries:<br />
Showrunners: Women Who Power the<br />
Arts drew together women executives<br />
from arts organizations across the<br />
metropolitan area to talk about their<br />
Jessica Cruel, Editor in Chief of Allure,<br />
with Montclair’s beauty industry icon,<br />
Bobbi Brown, at the Luncheon.<br />
work with Karen Brooks Hopkins,<br />
famed President Emerita of the<br />
Brooklyn Academy of Music.<br />
Megan Myungwon Lee, Chairwoman<br />
and Chief Executive Officer of<br />
Panasonic North America, the Arts<br />
Center’s Newark neighbor, spoke<br />
about her journey to the organization’s<br />
C-suite at an NJPAC Business<br />
Partners Roundtable co-sponsored<br />
by Women@NJPAC.<br />
And longtime Arts Center supporters<br />
and stakeholders were saluted at<br />
gatherings large and small, from a<br />
luncheon for Women@NJPAC’s<br />
founding members to a Founders<br />
Award Dinner honoring the<br />
Cooperman Family, complete with<br />
musical entertainment by Under the<br />
Streetlamp and Rock & Roll Hall<br />
of Famer Darlene Love.<br />
Darlene Love<br />
serenades the<br />
Cooperman Family<br />
at the Founders<br />
Award Dinner.<br />
<strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala | 53
“This was a<br />
joyful season for<br />
Women@NJPAC —<br />
and a year of<br />
enormous<br />
successes as<br />
well. When this<br />
sisterhood<br />
works together,<br />
we make<br />
remarkable<br />
things happen.”<br />
– Sarah Rosen, Managing<br />
Director, Women@NJPAC<br />
1<br />
2<br />
3<br />
4<br />
5<br />
1. NJPAC Jazz for Teens<br />
students Victoria Csatay<br />
(standing) and Lili M.<br />
perform at the Luncheon.<br />
2. Megan Myungwon<br />
Lee, Chairwoman and<br />
Chief Executive Officer<br />
of Panasonic North<br />
America, speaks about<br />
her journey at an NJPAC<br />
Business Partners<br />
Roundtable event.<br />
3. Linda Harrison, CEO,<br />
Newark Museum of Art;<br />
Karen Wong, a Senior<br />
Advisor at the New<br />
Museum; Sade Lythcott,<br />
CEO of The National<br />
Black Theater; and Anne<br />
Pasternak, Director of<br />
the Brooklyn Museum<br />
at Showrunners: Women<br />
Who Power the Arts.<br />
4. Toby and Leon<br />
Cooperman speak at the<br />
Founders Award Dinner.<br />
5. Leading Ladies:<br />
Reframing Newark<br />
Through Art panelists:<br />
Yeimy Gamez Castillo,<br />
Rebecca Jampol,<br />
Regina Barboza and<br />
Laura Bonas-Palmer.<br />
6. SHE Wins students<br />
from Newark meet<br />
with political leader<br />
and voting rights<br />
activist Stacey<br />
Abrams at her NJPACpresented<br />
appearance<br />
at Kings Theater,<br />
Brooklyn, as part of<br />
a Women@NJPACsponsored<br />
outing.<br />
7. Austin Cleary, AVP of<br />
Sales and Planning<br />
at NJPAC, with Patty<br />
Capawana at a Women@<br />
NJPAC’s Founders<br />
Luncheon, the group’s<br />
first post-pandemic<br />
in-person event.<br />
8. Leon Cooperman greets<br />
NJPAC’s founding<br />
President and CEO,<br />
Lawrence Goldman, and<br />
Goldman’s wife, Laurie<br />
Chock (seated) at the<br />
Founders Award Dinner.<br />
9. Women@NJPAC Trustee<br />
Tammye Jones and a<br />
guest at the Annual<br />
Spring Luncheon.<br />
10. NJPAC Arts Education<br />
students perform.<br />
Women@NJPAC made<br />
its largest donation<br />
ever, $1.8 million, in<br />
support of the Arts<br />
Center’s educational<br />
and community<br />
programs this season.<br />
54 | <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala | 55<br />
6<br />
7<br />
10<br />
8<br />
9
NJM Insurance Group<br />
is proud to support the<br />
Women@NJPAC<br />
<strong>Spotlight</strong> <strong>Gala</strong> <strong>2022</strong><br />
and congratulates this year’s honorees<br />
congratulations<br />
to njpac<br />
for their<br />
incredible impact<br />
over the past 25 years!<br />
This isn’t just insurance.<br />
It’s NJM.<br />
njm.com | 1-800-232-6600<br />
Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch<br />
EST. 1 9 1 3<br />
We are proud<br />
to support the<br />
Women@NJPAC<br />
For their commitment to being a catalyst of<br />
arts, entertainment, education, and economic<br />
development in the city of Newark.<br />
Congratulations to tonight’s<br />
Founders Award <strong>2022</strong> Honoree:<br />
The Chambers Family<br />
congratulations<br />
the to<br />
chambers &<br />
family<br />
. . . to 25 more!<br />
Veronica Goldberg<br />
women@<br />
56 | <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala<br />
<strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala | 57
ATTORNEYS AT LAW<br />
WE MEAN<br />
BUSINESS<br />
Locally Committed<br />
Nationally Recognized<br />
We are proud to support NJPAC and<br />
Women @ NJPAC <strong>Spotlight</strong> <strong>Gala</strong><br />
Ranked #1 New Jersey Contractor by ENR,<br />
Structure Tone, Woodbridge has been<br />
serving our clients across the state for 35 years<br />
structuretone.com/community<br />
Part of the STO Building Group family of companies • 10 Woodbridge Center Drive • Woodbridge, NJ • 07095<br />
congratulations<br />
and best wishes to our dear friends<br />
the chambers family<br />
for this very special honor<br />
& to njpac for 25<br />
spectacular<br />
years!<br />
Larry & Michelle Bathgate<br />
Gilbane is proud to support NJPAC and<br />
celebrate the “Impossible Dream” come true.<br />
Gilbane Building Company | One Riverfront Plaza, 1037 Raymond Blvd Suite 320, Newark, NJ 07102 | www.gilbaneco.com<br />
<strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala | 59
congratulations to<br />
the chambers family<br />
on receiving<br />
the founders award<br />
and congratulations to<br />
the njpac leadership<br />
and entire staff on njpac’s<br />
25th Anniversary!<br />
Bill & Joan Hickey<br />
Congratulations,<br />
njpac for 25 years<br />
of bringing joy!<br />
K. Russo Consulting Inc. aligning talent<br />
to fit your evolving culture<br />
Executive Search, Customized Recruitment<br />
Solutions and Executive Coaching<br />
Website: krussoconsulting.com<br />
Phone: 203.978.1004<br />
Email: admin@krussoconsulting.com<br />
a standing<br />
ovation<br />
to tonight’s honorees<br />
the chambers family & to njpac<br />
on a thrilling 25 years<br />
and an even more exciting future!<br />
BRACH EICHLER IS PROUD TO SUPPORT<br />
NJPAC AND CONGRATULATES THE<br />
<strong>2022</strong> SPOTLIGHT GALA HONOREES,<br />
THE CHAMBERS FAMILY!<br />
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS<br />
Matthew M. Collins, Esq.<br />
mcollins@bracheichler.com<br />
John D. Fanburg, Esq.<br />
jfanburg@bracheichler.com<br />
Brian Richard Lenker, Esq.<br />
blenker@bracheichler.com<br />
60 | <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala<br />
Steven M. Goldman<br />
Susan Dromsky-Reed, Esq.<br />
sdromsky-reed@bracheichler.com<br />
Alan R. Hammer, Esq.<br />
ahammer@bracheichler.com<br />
Roseland, NJ | New York, NY | West Palm Beach, FL | www.bracheichler.com | 973.228.5700<br />
Allen J. Popowitz, Esq.<br />
apopowitz@bracheichler.com
The Phoenix Group<br />
CSG Law is proud to support NJPAC and their<br />
anniversary <strong>Spotlight</strong> <strong>Gala</strong> – celebrating 25<br />
spectacular years!<br />
We admire NJPAC’s dedication to serving the<br />
community through arts education programs<br />
and the launch of many ambitious initiatives.<br />
We are a staffing and solutions<br />
firm dedicated to delivering high<br />
quality resources in the most<br />
efficient and cost-effective way.<br />
370 Lexington Avenue,<br />
Suite 205<br />
New York, NY 10017<br />
Contact us to find<br />
your next great<br />
hire or dream job<br />
recruiting@tpgnyc.com<br />
212-599-7100<br />
NEW JERSEY | NEW YORK<br />
csglaw.com<br />
Prior results do not guarantee<br />
a similar outcome.<br />
CHIESA SHAHINIAN & GIANTOMASI PC<br />
Audible congratulates<br />
NJPAC on its 25 years as<br />
a home for the arts in<br />
Newark, and we thank the<br />
Chambers family for their<br />
lifetime of commitment<br />
and unwavering service<br />
to the city.<br />
62 | <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala<br />
Souvenir de la voix | Hans Lundy & Malcolm Rolling of YENDOR for the Newark Artist Collaboration<br />
Dear Patti and Ray,<br />
I’m in awe of you and your<br />
family’s inspiration and<br />
to all you do!<br />
Love,<br />
Audrey Bartner<br />
<strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala | 63
APC Hospitality has been a proud partner of NJPAC<br />
since inception. Congrats on 25 great years!<br />
HOSPITALITY<br />
APC is a leading provider of hospitality, parking & security solutions in<br />
the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic & Southeast regions. Our portfolio<br />
includes partnerships with luxury residential, resorts, hotels, medical<br />
centers, healthcare facilities, corporate centers, universities, and<br />
events.<br />
We pride ourselves with unsurpassed quality of operation,<br />
outstanding technical and talent resources, along with the best<br />
training programs in the business!<br />
APC’s success story begins with our amazing staff, who are driven by<br />
our trademarked mission statement, “Proudly creating the perfect<br />
first & last impression”. By virtue of our experience, APC’s dedicated<br />
team represents a best-in-class approach to every relationship<br />
dened as the “APC WAY.” This unique combination of extraordinary<br />
service, state of the art technology, professional management and<br />
understanding of hospitality elevates our industry to an art.<br />
Suite of Hospitality Services:<br />
Valet Parking<br />
Concierge/Front Desk<br />
Security<br />
Front Entrance Mgt<br />
Shuttle Transportation<br />
Directed/Assisted Parking<br />
Scan QR code below to learn more:<br />
Garage/Lot Management<br />
Pool/Gym Concierge<br />
Porter/Bell Service<br />
Consulting: Hospitality &<br />
Parking Ops/Design<br />
APC Hospitality LLC<br />
Office: 973-857-2008<br />
info@apchospitality.com<br />
apchospitality.com<br />
64 | <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala<br />
<strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala | 65
history of<br />
spotlight<br />
gala honorees<br />
1997<br />
The Chambers Award:<br />
Raymond and<br />
Patricia Chambers<br />
The Vagelos Award:<br />
Dr. P. Roy Vagelos and<br />
Diana Vagelos<br />
1998<br />
The Chambers Award:<br />
Allen and Joan Bildner<br />
The Vagelos Award:<br />
The Star-Ledger and<br />
Susan and<br />
Donald Newhouse<br />
1999<br />
The Chambers Award:<br />
The Lewis Katz Family<br />
The Vagelos Award:<br />
AT&T and<br />
Richard Martin<br />
2000<br />
The Chambers Award:<br />
The Honorable<br />
Thomas H. Kean<br />
The Vagelos Award:<br />
CIT and Albert Gamper<br />
2021 honorees<br />
Toby and Leon G. Cooperman<br />
and the entire Cooperman Family<br />
2001<br />
The Chambers Award:<br />
Betty Wold Johnson<br />
and Douglas Bushnell<br />
The Vagelos Award:<br />
PSE&G, E. James Ferland<br />
and Alfred Koeppe<br />
2002<br />
The Chambers Award:<br />
Josh and Judy Weston<br />
The Ryan Award:<br />
Arthur and Patricia Ryan<br />
The Vagelos Award:<br />
Verizon and Dennis Bone<br />
2003<br />
The Chambers Award:<br />
Victor Parsonnet<br />
The Ryan Award:<br />
Lore and Eric Ross<br />
The Vagelos Award:<br />
Wachovia Corporation<br />
and Reginald E. Davis<br />
2004<br />
The Chambers Award:<br />
Michael R.<br />
Griffinger, Esq.<br />
The Ryan Award:<br />
Arlene and Leonard<br />
Lieberman<br />
The Vagelos Award:<br />
American Express<br />
Company and<br />
Edward Gilligan<br />
2005<br />
The Chambers Award:<br />
Ruth and<br />
A. Michael Lipper<br />
The Ryan Award:<br />
Savion Glover<br />
The Vagelos Award:<br />
Sills Cummis & Gross<br />
and Clive Cummis<br />
2006<br />
The Chambers Award:<br />
Morris and Charlotte<br />
Tanenbaum<br />
The Ryan Award:<br />
Mary Sue Sweeney Price<br />
and Clement Price<br />
The Vagelos Award:<br />
ADP and<br />
Arthur Weinbach<br />
2007<br />
10 th Anniversary<br />
The Chambers Award:<br />
The Chambers Family<br />
The Ryan Award:<br />
The Ryan Family<br />
The Vagelos Award:<br />
The Vagelos Family<br />
2008<br />
The Chambers Award:<br />
Leon G. and Toby<br />
Cooperman<br />
The Ryan Award:<br />
Barbara Bell Coleman<br />
and The Honorable<br />
Claude Coleman<br />
The Vagelos Award:<br />
Horizon Blue Cross Blue<br />
Shield of New Jersey<br />
and William Marino<br />
2009<br />
The Chambers Award:<br />
Marc E. Berson<br />
The Ryan Award:<br />
Nina Mitchell Wells, Esq.<br />
and Theodore V. Wells,<br />
Jr., Esq.<br />
The Vagelos Award:<br />
Merck & Co., Inc. and<br />
J. Chris Scalet<br />
2010<br />
The Chambers Award:<br />
Rose and John Cali<br />
The Ryan Award:<br />
Donald A. Robinson, Esq.<br />
The Vagelos Award:<br />
Prudential Financial and<br />
John R. Strangfeld<br />
2011<br />
The Chambers Award:<br />
Mary Ellen and<br />
Robert C. Waggoner<br />
The Ryan Award:<br />
Trish Morris-Yamba and<br />
Dr. A. Zachary Yamba<br />
The Vagelos Award:<br />
JPMorgan Chase & Co.<br />
and James E. (Jes) Staley<br />
2012<br />
The Chambers Award:<br />
Walter and Judy Shipley<br />
The Ryan Award:<br />
Alfred C. Koeppe<br />
The Vagelos Award:<br />
PwC and Robert E. Moritz<br />
2013<br />
The Chambers Award:<br />
Veronica M. Goldberg<br />
The Ryan Award:<br />
Cephas Bowles<br />
The Vagelos Award:<br />
Gibbons P.C. and<br />
Patrick C. Dunican,<br />
Jr., Esq.<br />
2014<br />
The Chambers Award:<br />
William J. and<br />
Paula Marino<br />
The Ryan Award:<br />
Lawrence P. Goldman<br />
The Vagelos Award:<br />
The Chubb<br />
Corporation and<br />
Harold L. Morrison, Jr.<br />
2015<br />
The Chambers Award:<br />
Nicolas Berggruen and<br />
Ron Beit<br />
The Ryan Award:<br />
Robert and Patricia<br />
Curvin<br />
The Vagelos Award:<br />
United Airlines and<br />
Oscar Munoz<br />
2016<br />
The Chambers Award:<br />
Stephen P. Holmes<br />
and Wyndham<br />
Worldwide<br />
The Ryan Award:<br />
Victor L. Davson<br />
The Vagelos Award:<br />
Robert H. Doherty and<br />
Bank of America<br />
2017<br />
20 th Anniversary<br />
The Founders Award:<br />
Don Katz, Founder and<br />
CEO of Audible<br />
2018<br />
The Founders Award:<br />
Barry H. Ostrowsky,<br />
President and CEO<br />
of RWJBarnabas<br />
Health<br />
2019<br />
The Founders Award:<br />
Ralph Izzo,<br />
Chairman, President and<br />
Chief Executive Officer<br />
Public Service Enterprise<br />
Group<br />
Ralph A. LaRossa,<br />
President and Chief<br />
Operating Officer,<br />
PSEG Power<br />
2020<br />
The Founders Award:<br />
Thomas H. Kean,<br />
Former Governor of<br />
New Jersey<br />
Philip D. Murphy,<br />
Governor of New Jersey<br />
Tammy Snyder Murphy,<br />
First Lady of New Jersey<br />
2021<br />
The Founders Award:<br />
Toby and Leon G.<br />
Cooperman and the<br />
entire Cooperman Family<br />
66 | <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala<br />
<strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala | 67
NJPAC Board of Directors <strong>2022</strong><br />
as of September <strong>2022</strong><br />
CO-CHAIR<br />
Steven M. Goldman, Esq.<br />
CO-CHAIR<br />
Barry H. Ostrowsky<br />
PRESIDENT & CEO<br />
John Schreiber<br />
TREASURER<br />
Marc E. Berson<br />
ASSISTANT TREASURER<br />
David Jones<br />
SECRETARY<br />
Michael R. Griffinger, Esq.<br />
FOUNDING CHAIR<br />
Raymond G. Chambers<br />
CHAIRS EMERITI<br />
William J. Marino<br />
Arthur F. Ryan<br />
Lara Abrash<br />
Marsha I. Atkind<br />
Lawrence E. Bathgate II, Esq.<br />
James L. Bildner<br />
Daniel M. Bloomfield, M.D.<br />
Modia “Mo” Butler<br />
Jacob S. Buurma, Esq.<br />
Nancy Cantor, Ph.D.<br />
Regina Carter<br />
Mindy A. Cohen<br />
Matthew Connor<br />
Enrico Della Corna<br />
Edwan Davis<br />
Pat A. Di Filippo<br />
Robert H. Doherty<br />
Patrick C. Dunican, Jr., Esq.<br />
Debbie Dyson<br />
Anne E. Estabrook<br />
Christine C. Gilfillan<br />
Savion Glover<br />
Yan Gu<br />
Ryan P. Haygood, Esq.<br />
William V. Hickey<br />
Jeffrey T. Hoffman<br />
Ralph Izzo, Ph.D.<br />
The Honorable Thomas H. Kean<br />
Scott A. Kobler, Esq.<br />
Mitchell A. Livingston, Esq.<br />
Charles F. Lowrey<br />
Ellen B. Marshall<br />
Christian McBride<br />
Carlos Medina<br />
D. Nicholas Miceli<br />
Deepak Raj<br />
Eva Reda<br />
Stephen O. Richard<br />
Richard W. Roper<br />
Gary D. St. Hilaire<br />
fayemi shakur<br />
The Honorable Clifford M. Sobel<br />
David S. Stone, Esq.<br />
Michael A. Tanenbaum, Esq.<br />
Rishi Varma<br />
Carmen S. Villar<br />
Ricardo Watson<br />
Nina M. Wells, Esq.<br />
Josh S. Weston<br />
Karen C. Young<br />
Women@NJPAC Board of Trustees <strong>2022</strong><br />
PRESIDENT<br />
Faith Taylor<br />
CO-EXECUTIVE<br />
VICE PRESIDENTS<br />
Margarethe Laurenzi<br />
Sonia Luaces<br />
VICE PRESIDENTS<br />
Deborah Q. Belfatto<br />
Mindy A. Cohen<br />
Suzanne M. Spero<br />
TREASURER<br />
Lisa Osofsky<br />
SECRETARY<br />
Christine Pearson<br />
IMMEDIATE PAST<br />
PRESIDENT<br />
Marcia Wilson Brown, Esq.<br />
Farah N. Ansari<br />
Linda Baraka<br />
Rana P. Barclay<br />
Audrey Bartner<br />
Adenah Bayoh<br />
Sherri-Ann P. Butterfield, Ph.D.<br />
Patricia L. Capawana<br />
Alejandra Ceja<br />
Patricia A. Chambers* **<br />
Sally Chubb* **<br />
Mary Lynn Clark<br />
Barbara Bell Coleman**<br />
Michellene Davis, Esq.<br />
Antoinette Ellis-Williams<br />
Catherine J. Flynn, Esq.<br />
Christine C. Gilfillan<br />
Aisha Glover<br />
Veronica M. Goldberg* **<br />
Zenola Harper, Esq.<br />
Shané Harris<br />
Tammye T. Jones<br />
Vani Krishnamurthy<br />
Brooke Lawson<br />
Kerri B. Levine<br />
Ruth C. Lipper**<br />
Dena F. Lowenbach**<br />
Marlie Massena<br />
Gabriella E. Morris, Esq.*<br />
Ferlanda Fox Nixon, Esq.<br />
Lori Spoon<br />
Mary Kay Strangfeld**<br />
Mikki Taylor<br />
Diana T. Vagelos* **<br />
Nina Mitchell Wells, Esq.<br />
Nicole D. Wescoe<br />
* Founding Member<br />
** Trustee Emerita<br />
Ex Officio<br />
The Honorable<br />
Ras J. Baraka<br />
The Honorable<br />
Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.<br />
Elizabeth A. Mattson<br />
The Honorable<br />
Elizabeth Maher Muoio<br />
The Honorable<br />
Philip D. Murphy<br />
The Honorable<br />
LaMonica McIver<br />
Faith Taylor<br />
The Honorable<br />
Tahesha Way<br />
Directors Emeriti<br />
Dennis Bone<br />
Barbara Bell Coleman<br />
Albert R. Gamper<br />
Veronica M. Goldberg<br />
Judith Jamison<br />
A. Michael Lipper, CFA<br />
Victor Parsonnet, M.D.<br />
Donald A. Robinson, Esq.<br />
John R. Strangfeld, Jr.<br />
Morris Tanenbaum<br />
Diana T. Vagelos<br />
Robert C. Waggoner<br />
68 | <strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala<br />
<strong>2022</strong> spotlight gala | 69
as of September <strong>2022</strong><br />
office of the<br />
president<br />
John Schreiber**<br />
President & CEO<br />
Ashanti Hargrove<br />
Executive Assistant to the<br />
President & CEO<br />
Chelsea Keys<br />
Senior Director, Strategic<br />
Initiatives & Institutional<br />
Governance<br />
David Rodriguez**<br />
Executive Vice President<br />
& Executive Producer<br />
Kira M. Ruth****<br />
Senior Manager<br />
Programming Operations<br />
Valerie Fullilove*<br />
Executive Assistant<br />
Timothy Lizura<br />
Senior Vice President<br />
Real Estate & Capital Projects<br />
Alyson Maier<br />
Senior Director<br />
Arts & Well-Being<br />
arts<br />
education<br />
Jennifer Tsukayama*<br />
Vice President, Arts Education<br />
Mark Gross*<br />
Director, Jazz Instruction<br />
Rosa Hyde*<br />
Senior Director<br />
Performances & Special Events<br />
Operations<br />
Jennie Wasserman<br />
Project Director, City Verses<br />
Victoria Revesz*<br />
Senior Director<br />
Arts Education Operations<br />
Roe Bell<br />
Senior Manager<br />
School and Community<br />
Programs<br />
Alonzo Blalock<br />
Manager, In-School Programs<br />
staff<br />
Ashley Mandaglio*<br />
Assoc. Director Professional<br />
Learning & Programs<br />
Danielle Vauters*<br />
Senior Manager<br />
Programming and<br />
Performances<br />
Kristine Mathieson<br />
Senior Manager<br />
CRM & Business Operation<br />
Justin DePaul<br />
Arts Education Office &<br />
Facilities Manager<br />
Daniel Silverstein<br />
Manager, Onsite Programs<br />
Rene Velez-Torres<br />
Manager, Youth &<br />
Emerging Artist Development<br />
Kimberly Washington<br />
Manager Marketing,<br />
Sales & Recruitment<br />
Randal Croudy<br />
Coordinator Arts<br />
Education Performances<br />
Steven Hayet<br />
Coordinator<br />
Business Operations<br />
Antonella Sanchez<br />
Coordinator<br />
Program Operations<br />
Demetria Hart<br />
Project Coordinator<br />
City Verses<br />
Natalie Dreyer<br />
Arts Integration Faculty Lead<br />
community<br />
engagement<br />
Eyesha Marable*<br />
Assistant Vice President<br />
Community Engagement<br />
Daniela Fonseca<br />
Associate Producer<br />
Marcus Beckett<br />
Associate Producer<br />
Alessandra Izaguirre<br />
Coordinator, Community<br />
Engagement<br />
development<br />
Amy Fitzpatrick<br />
Vice President, Development<br />
Sarah Rosen*<br />
Managing Director<br />
Women@NJPAC<br />
Erin Morales<br />
AVP, Institutional Giving<br />
Joshua Adler<br />
Director, Major Gifts<br />
Jenifer Braun*<br />
Director, Editorial Content<br />
Deborah Purdon<br />
Director Research &<br />
Prospect Management<br />
Rolston Cyril Watts*<br />
Senior Manager<br />
Development Operations<br />
Harris Cabrera<br />
Senior Manager<br />
Foundation Relations<br />
Valerie Blau<br />
Associate Director<br />
Corporate Giving<br />
Christine Carroll<br />
Manager, Special Events<br />
Stacey Joseph<br />
Development Manager<br />
Gabrielle DeGaetano<br />
Membership Manager<br />
Salina Lostan<br />
Coordinator<br />
Corporate Relations<br />
Angela Woodack<br />
Coordinator, Major Gifts<br />
Kemar Brown<br />
Gift Processing &<br />
Database Coordinator<br />
finance<br />
Lennon Register<br />
Vice President & CFO<br />
Yolanda Doganay<br />
Assistant Vice President<br />
& Controller<br />
Mary Jaffa****<br />
Assistant Vice President<br />
Finance<br />
Manuela Silva****<br />
Senior Accountant, Payroll<br />
Monique Cook*<br />
Senior Financial Analyst<br />
Inger Parsons<br />
Staff Accountant<br />
Accounts Payable<br />
people &<br />
organization<br />
Beth Silver<br />
VP, Chief People Officer<br />
Ginny Bowers Coleman****<br />
Director, Volunteer Services<br />
Taheerah Smiley*<br />
Human Resources Generalist<br />
Donna Walker-Kuhne*<br />
Senior Advisor Diversity,<br />
Equity and Inclusion<br />
Sarina Nieves<br />
P&O Assistant/Receptionist<br />
information<br />
technologies<br />
Andre Mutovic<br />
CTO<br />
Ernie DiRocco***<br />
AVP, Infrastructure<br />
& Operations<br />
Carl Sims****<br />
Director, Cyber Security<br />
Heather Olsen<br />
Senior Director, Platform<br />
Applications<br />
Rodney Johnson***<br />
IT & Telecom Support Analyst<br />
marketing &<br />
communications<br />
Katie Sword**<br />
Vice President<br />
Marketing<br />
& Communications<br />
Fallon Currie*<br />
Senior Manager<br />
CRM & Business Operations<br />
Yesenia Jimenez****<br />
Senior Director<br />
Ticket Sales & Service<br />
Charlene A. Roberts*<br />
Director<br />
Performance Marketing<br />
Patricia Ryan<br />
Creative Art Director<br />
Tina Boyer*<br />
Director, Creative Services<br />
Latoya Dawson*<br />
Senior Manager<br />
Performance Marketing<br />
Katie Stein<br />
Director<br />
Digital Marketing & Content<br />
Doris Ann Pezzolla****<br />
Senior Graphic Designer<br />
Alexis Green<br />
Digital Marketing Coordinator<br />
Anthony Toto<br />
Email Marketing Manager<br />
Shakiru Bola Okoya<br />
Multimedia Production<br />
Manager<br />
Ashlee Nolan<br />
Coordinator, Creative Services<br />
April Jeffries<br />
Senior Ticket Sales & Service<br />
Specialist<br />
Nicola Alexander<br />
Assistant, Creative Services<br />
Daryle Charles**<br />
Ticket Sales & Service<br />
Specialist<br />
Jerome H. Ennis<br />
Consultant Herbert<br />
George Associates<br />
Angela Thomas<br />
Consultant, Performance<br />
Public Relations<br />
operations<br />
Chad Spies***<br />
Vice President<br />
Operations & Real Estate<br />
Anthony Rosta<br />
Director, Facilities<br />
David Dias<br />
Director of Security, Safety,<br />
Traffic & Parking<br />
Hernan Soto****<br />
Senior Supervisor<br />
Operations Support Staff<br />
Francisco Soto**<br />
Supervisor Operations<br />
Support & Services<br />
Tyrone Boyd<br />
Operations Support Staff<br />
Delbert Green<br />
Operations Support Staff<br />
Meredith Hull*<br />
Operations & Event Manager<br />
Todd Tantillo****<br />
Chief Engineer<br />
J. Dante Esposito****<br />
Assistant Chief Engineer<br />
Brian Cady***<br />
Maintenance Engineer<br />
Sherman Gamble***<br />
Maintenance Engineer<br />
Mariusz Koniuszewski**<br />
Maintenance Engineer<br />
Thomas Amory<br />
Maintenance Engineer<br />
Thomas Dixon****<br />
Safety & Security Manager<br />
Robin Jones***<br />
Senior Director<br />
House Management<br />
Lamont Akins****<br />
House Manager<br />
Jerry Battle**<br />
Head Usher<br />
Sabrina Ceballo<br />
House Manager<br />
Cynthia Hamlett-Robinson***<br />
Assistant House Manager<br />
Tracey Robinson<br />
Head Usher<br />
NJPAC in its early days,<br />
before our rebranding and<br />
One Theatre Square.<br />
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production<br />
Chris Moses***<br />
AVP, Performance Operations<br />
Christopher Staton**<br />
Senior Production Manager<br />
Crystal Cowling*<br />
Associate Production<br />
Manager<br />
Rachel Macleod*<br />
Production Coordinator<br />
William Worman****<br />
Head Carpenter<br />
Mario Corrales****<br />
Assistant Head Carpenter<br />
Bryan Danieli***<br />
Assistant Head Carpenter<br />
Barbara Guerra<br />
Apprentice Carpenter<br />
Hugo Munoz-Campos*<br />
Apprentice Carpenter<br />
Jacob Allen***<br />
Head Electrician<br />
John Enea*<br />
Assistant Head Electrician<br />
Adam Omeljaniuk****<br />
Journeyman Electrician<br />
Marion Pinckney****<br />
Journeyman Electrician<br />
Jan Clark<br />
Assistant Head Electrician<br />
John DiCapua*<br />
Assistant Head Audio<br />
Eric Johnson<br />
Head of Audio<br />
John Finney***<br />
Assistant Head Audio<br />
Richard Edwards****<br />
Journeyman Carpenter<br />
George Honczarenko***<br />
Journeyman Carpenter<br />
Joseph Hunt***<br />
Journeyman Carpenter<br />
Naheem Wright**<br />
Specialist Carpenter<br />
Amere Jenkins**<br />
Specialist Audio<br />
Daniel Pagan*<br />
Specialist Video<br />
Allison Wyss****<br />
Senior Artist Assistants<br />
Melvin Anderson**<br />
Artist Assistant<br />
Lowell Craig***<br />
Artist Assistant<br />
Rachel Dresner<br />
Artist Assistant<br />
Loni Fiscus<br />
Artist Assistant<br />
Daniel Ovalle*<br />
Artist Assistant<br />
Sindy Sanchez Virto<br />
Artist Assistant<br />
MJ Santry<br />
Artist Assistant<br />
Suzanne Santry<br />
Artist Assistant<br />
programming<br />
Evan White****<br />
VP, Programming<br />
Simma Levine<br />
Producer, Special Projects<br />
Craig Pearce**<br />
Producer, Festivals &<br />
Performances<br />
Kitab Rollins***<br />
Senior Director Performance<br />
& Broadcast Rentals<br />
special<br />
events<br />
Austin Cleary***<br />
Assistant Vice President<br />
Sales & Planning,<br />
NJPAC Events<br />
ticket<br />
services<br />
Erik Wiehardt***<br />
Director, Ticketing CRM<br />
& Data<br />
Stephanie Walker****<br />
Associate Director, Ticketing<br />
CRM & Data<br />
Nicole Craig****<br />
Director, Ticket Sales & Service<br />
Robin Polakoff*<br />
Ticketing System Specialist<br />
Veronica Dunn-Sloan***<br />
Ticket Sales & Service<br />
Specialist<br />
Darren DeBose<br />
Box Office Manager<br />
Jana Thompson*<br />
Box Office Representative<br />
Belva Moody*<br />
Box Office Representative<br />
service<br />
recognition<br />
(as of 9/6/22)<br />
**** 20+ years<br />
*** 15+ years<br />
** 10+ years<br />
* 5+ years<br />
celebrating<br />
25 spectacular years<br />
Concert Performance<br />
Credits<br />
Ray Chew<br />
Music Director / Organ /<br />
Keys<br />
Artie Raynolds<br />
Bass<br />
Tony Ormond<br />
Guitar<br />
Jerome Jennings<br />
Drums<br />
Matthew Oestreicher<br />
Keys II / Synth<br />
James Cage<br />
Trumpet<br />
Dan Levine<br />
TBone<br />
Darryl Dixon<br />
Alto sax<br />
Vocals:<br />
John James<br />
Ramona Dunlap<br />
Tiffany Monique Ryan<br />
Concert Production<br />
Credits<br />
David Rodriguez<br />
Executive Vice President<br />
& Executive Producer<br />
Vivian Scott Chew<br />
Co-Producer<br />
Simma Levine<br />
Producer<br />
Special Projects<br />
Chris Moses<br />
Assistant Vice President<br />
of Performance<br />
Operations<br />
Rachel Macleod<br />
Assistant Production<br />
Manager<br />
Al Crawford<br />
Lighting Design<br />
Brendan Warner<br />
Associate Lighting<br />
Designer / Programmer<br />
Jeff Harris<br />
Associate Light<br />
Deisgner<br />
Stage Managers<br />
Catherine Bloch<br />
Mary Susan Gregson<br />
Megan Barry<br />
Jaynell Grayson<br />
Scott Siege<br />
Assistant to Ray Chew<br />
Jennifer Tsukayama,<br />
VP Arts Education<br />
Rosa Hyde<br />
Senior Director of Arts<br />
Education Performance<br />
and Special Events<br />
Mark Gross<br />
Director of Jazz<br />
Instruction<br />
Stax Music Academy<br />
Rhythm Section and<br />
Alumni Band<br />
Soulsville Foundation<br />
Pat Mitchell Worley,<br />
CEO<br />
Isaac Daniel,<br />
Executive Director<br />
In 1996 the Women’s Board holds its first <strong>Gala</strong>,<br />
Passport to the World, at Continental Airlines<br />
hangar at Newark International Airport.<br />
Ray Charles performs.<br />
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women@<br />
@njpacwomen | njpac.org/gala | #njpacgala<br />
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