We support a stronger creative economy in Philadelphia.
Arts, culture and the creative economy contribute to Philadelphia’s vibrancy and livability. They also generate more than $4 billion in economic activity and more than 50,000 jobs. The Arts + Business Council is dedicated to ensuring the success of Philadelphia’s creative economy through leadership development programs, events and volunteer opportunities that help make the sector more productive, impactful and inclusive.
We invite you to read our brochure explaining our programs or to get in touch with comments, questions or ideas for partnering.
Mission
To accelerate the effectiveness and impact of organizations, businesses, and individuals who make up Philadelphia’s creative economy.
Vision
An informed, inspired, and networked creative economy is a more inclusive, productive, and impactful one. We believe we can play a role in making Philadelphia the best city to run a nonprofit, build an art practice, or grow a creative business through our capacity-building services and learning opportunities.
Meet the Team
Diana is a writer, frequent public speaker, and champion of the creative economy, specializing in urban policy and non-profit management. Diana leads the Arts + Business Council’s strategy and programs in addition to managing the Advisory Board.
Tommy Butler
Director, Programs + Operations
(215) 790-3827
[email protected]
As a Philadelphia-based director and play-maker, Tommy fully understands the challenges artists must overcome on a daily basis to create their work and he has dedicated his life to making it as easy as possible for art-makers to do what they do best.
Ari Kushner
Director, Marketing + Development
(215) 790-3606
[email protected]
With a decade of experience in progressive roles at established and emerging non-profits and social enterprises, Ari works everyday to communicate the value of creative thinking and community engagement to companies and organizations that invest in their workforces and communities.
Ryan Morris, Esq.
Director, Volunteer Services
(215) 790-3822
[email protected]
Ryan brings a dutiful dedication to helping artists solve their legal problems. A legal luminary who loves art, he believes the payoff to securing a thriving creative economy is the beauty, culture and community we see around us every day.
If culture comes from the top, we’re in good hands. Meet our Leadership.
Advisory Board
Alan Jacobson, Chair
President, J2 Design + Exit Design
Andrea Allon
Chief Operating Officer, The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia
Robert Baron, Esq.
Partner, Ballard Spahr LLP
Brian Bernhardt
CFP, Vice President, Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management
Jeffrey Buchakjian
Partner, EisnerAmper LLP
Jessica Calter
Director, Marketing and Communications, PIDC
Raymond Carballada
President, Theory Consulting
Kelly Collareli
Director, Customer Strategy and Governance, PECO
Christine Cox
Founder, Artistic and Executive Director, BalletX
Tom Darlington
Services Executive, Global Media & Entertainment, IBM
Lisha Davis
Head of Innovation Studio, Vanguard Innovation Studio
Donna Crilley Farrell
Vice President, Corporate Communications, Independence
Lorraine Fisher
Principal / Director of Interiors, HOK
Jeffrey Fuller
President, Jeffrey Fuller Fine Art, Ltd.
Valerie Gay
Executive Director, Art Sanctuary
Dave Gloss
Executive Coach and Leadership Trainer, Gloss Coaching and Consulting
Jane Golden
Executive Director, City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program
Courtney Goldstein
Senior Vice President, eCommerce, Digital Media & Marketing, Comcast
Jeffrey Grossman
Partner, Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP
Lisa Haas
Chief Marketing Officer, Cozen O’Connor
Lori Armstrong Halber, Esq.
Partner, Fisher Phillips
Marc Helberg
Managing Vice President, Pariveda Solutions
Antoinette Marie Johnson
CEO, Cohere
Alicia Karr
Executive Vice President + CFO, Meyer Design
Brian Lee
Partner, Navigate
Hugh McStravick
Vice President, Assistant Director, PNC Bank
Marsha Moss
Public Art Curator & Consultant
Roseann Oleyn
Vice President, Institutional Advancement, WHYY, Inc.
Ellen Owens
Merle-Smith Director of Learning Programs, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology
Thomas Padon
Director, Brandywine River Art Museum
Jennifer Pittenger
Associate, HOK
Jennifer Pouchot
Vice President, Digital & Creative, SEI
Rakia Reynolds
President, Skai Blue Media
Allen Sabinson
Dean, Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design, Drexel University
Mark Samuels
Corporate Marketing and Communications, SEI
Andy Sofish
Office Lead, Principal, CapTech
Joseph A. Tammaro, Jr.
Sector President, Metro PA-NJ Middle Market & Public Finance Lending, TD Bank
Susan Teegan
Executive Director, ArtWell
Eileen Tognini
Independent Curator
Will Toms
Co-Founder, REC Philly
Ricardo Torres
Principal, Vereti Concepts
Jay Wahl
Artistic Director, Programming & Presentations, Kimmel Center, Inc.
Kip Wetzel
Principal, Navigate
David Yager
President, University of the Arts
AFFILIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
ABC is a member of the national Arts & Business Council of Americans for the Arts, which includes a network of Arts & Business Council members across the United States.
ABC is a proud member of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance.