We work with connectors and community builders to lead, serve and inspire a more creative region. Culture and creativity are built into everything we do, from the way we envision new opportunities and evaluate outcomes to the way we collaborate across programs and cultivate deep partnerships.
For a quick snapshot of who we are, we invite you to download and review a report on where we’re heading, and explore our staff and Advisory Board below. Get to know us, drop us a line, post a tweet or shoot us a note. We’re excited to connect!
Mission
The mission of the Arts + Business Council for Greater Philadelphia is to catalyze a new framework to innovate by investing in and connecting the creative economy to the business community through programs that foster an immersive exchange.
Vision
A thriving creative economy, including arts, culture and for-profit creative businesses, contributes to the economic prosperity and quality of life of Greater Philadelphia. Our creative community is strengthened with capacity-building services provided by the business, legal & technology communities, while business professionals learn new approaches to creativity, leadership and innovation by working with the creative sector.
Meet the Team
Markita Morris-Louis, Esq.
Executive Director
215-790-3833
[email protected]
Markita’s diverse career experience and personal interests span community development, the performing arts, and real estate finance. She is responsible for the strategy, programs and administration of ABC, and also manages the Advisory Board.
Tommy Butler
Operations + Creative Programming Manager
(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 of 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.
Our Advisory Board works with leaders from the region’s top businesses and arts, culture and heritage organizations. With their guidance and support, we strengthen the creative and business sectors through world-class leadership programs, pro bono services and global thought leadership events. With richness of perspective and diversity in approach, our Advisory Board truly does lead, serve and inspire a more creative region.
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.