If you’re a self-starter and thrive in a fast-paced environment, a career in live entertainment is for you. Hear from leaders in the industry on their current passion projects and how they ensure that the show goes on.
Gain a behind-the-scenes perspective on event planning, production management, and the dedication required to bring the magic to life on stage. Whether you're aspiring to be a performer, event organizer, or part of the production team, this event offers an evening filled with valuable insights, networking, and a deeper understanding of what it takes to carve a fulfilling career path in the dynamic realm of live performances.
Saidah Blount, Executive Director, Celebrate Brooklyn!, BRIC
With a remarkable career spanning over 20 years, Blount has established herself as a dynamic leader, content creator, and producer. She played pivotal roles in producing and developing new sonic and cultural platforms for global brands, including impactful contributions to Sonos, NPR, and Cornerstone/The FADER. Notably, as a Global Marketing Director for Sonos, Blount elevated the company’s presence in the music and audio content space, garnering recognition for the development of award-winning content as the Executive Producer of their music service, Sonos Radio.
For over 45 years, BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! has presented celebrated global music icons, chart topping indie bands, critically acclaimed dance troupes, films and more. It has become one of New York City’s foremost cultural attractions and a beloved summer tradition.
Patricia Cruz, Executive Director, Harlem Stage
Patricia Cruz began her term as Executive Director of Harlem Stage/Aaron Davis Hall, Inc. in 1998. Ms. Cruz is responsible for overseeing programming and administrative management as well as long range planning, fundraising, fiscal management and program development in accordance with the mission of the institution. She directs a staff of 18 and is the chief liaison to the Board of Directors. Accomplishments include:
Securing $2 million in endowment funds
Expanding programs and audiences; and
Successfully completing a $26 million Campaign for Harlem Stage for the adaptive restoration of the Gatehouse
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The highlight of her tenure was securing and renovating a historically landmarked 100 year old gatehouse building of the Croton Aqueduct System, across the street from the ADH facility. Following a 2-year renovation, The Gatehouse now provides a new state of the arts theatre and offices for Harlem Stage. The project, completed in 2006 has also served as a catalyst for economic and community development for the 4-block area surrounding the Gatehouse. All of the activities cited above were made possible through public and private partnerships and designed to expand services to artists and our communities. The achievement of which she is most proud is the institution's identification and support of the development of new work by artists of color.
Prior to joining ADH, from 1989 to 1998, Ms. Cruz held the position of Deputy Director for Programs for The Studio Museum in Harlem where she directed the planning, implementation and management of all Studio Museum programs. In this position she developed the acclaimed Vital Expressions in American Art series, which presented major artists, scholars and performers for over twelve years. She began her tenure at the Studio Museum in 1982 as Director of Development, supervising all aspects of the organization’s public and private sector fundraising. She also served as Acting Director in 1988 and 1994.
Ms. Cruz has over forty years of experience in arts management. For six years she was a program director for the Chicago Council on Fine Arts, where she designed and directed the Council’s first grants program, which became a model for partnerships of public and private funding. She began her career in arts administration with Chicago’s Urban Gateways, one of the nation’s first and leading arts education agencies. Pat Cruz also enjoyed a simultaneous career as a performing artist in theatre working in both classical and avant gard productions and finally exclusively with her late husband, the artist Emilio Cruz. In 1982 they presented two of his works, Homcostasis: Once More the Scorpion and The Absence Held Fast to its Presence in France and Italy under the auspices of the Festival Mondial Du Theatre.
Currently, Ms. Cruz serves as a member of the Cal Arts Board of Overseers, and on the Brendan Gill jury of the Municipal Arts Society. Most recently she was a member of the Tony Nominating Committee. Ms. Cruz also served and as a member of the Executive Committee of Board of the Urban Assembly. She has served on the Board of The Andy Warhol Foundation and is also past president of The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), an organization that supports and nurtures the work of artists and arts organizations throughout the state and ArtTable, a national organization of women in the Arts.
Ariel Palitz, Managing Director, Hospitality & Intergovernmental Relations, Oaktree Solutions
Ariel Palitz is New York City’s first “Nightlife Mayor,” Appointed as the Founding Director of the Mayor's Office of Nightlife serving under both Mayor Bill de Blasio and Mayor Eric Adams (2018 to 2023). In that time, she used her experience as a former East Village nightclub owner and community board member to create the infrastructure for a new government office, identified systemic challenges and developed non-enforcement solutions, while simultaneously navigating the hospitality industry through the Covid 19 pandemic.
Today Ariel is a global nightlife ambassador working as an independent government consultant, and public speaker, and is the Managing Director of Hospitality and Intergovernmental Affairs with Oaktree Solutions while serving as the Nightlife Advisor for both the NYC Hospitality Alliance and International Nightlife Association.
Gwynne Wardrop, Executive Director, Cultural Events and Experiences, The New York Times
Gwynne Wardrop is an Emmy Award-winning producer of live events and experiences. Gwynne joined The New York Times in 2005, where she has produced many of The Times’s signature consumer event programs, including the long-running TimesTalks series, The New York Times Food Festival, Arts & Leisure Weekend, and Election Night Live. She led the development of The Times’s conference business, creating and executing live journalism events that engaged industry leaders and Times readers on such topics as education, climate change, the future of work and sustainable cities, in locations throughout the world.
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In her current role as executive director, Cultural Events and Experiences, she is responsible for delivering high-profile company-wide events, including the annual State of The Times program, Pulitzers Day, and an ongoing series of activities designed to enhance employees’ in-office experience.
Prior to joining The Times, Gwynne was the Director of Major Events for NYC2012, where she was responsible for the management and production of events designed to promote New York City’s candidacy as host for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Gwynne grew up in Reading PA and received her BA and MA in Spanish Linguistics and Literature from Temple University. She lives in Brooklyn Heights.
Moderator: Nikki Bethel, President & CEO, Emma Bowen Foundation
Nikki Bethel is a dynamic, results-driven senior leader with 20+ years of experience in strategic planning, diversity, equity & inclusion, talent management, leadership development, and public speaking. She is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Emma L. Bowen Foundation (EBF). In this role, Nikki is responsible for leading the development and implementation of the overall EBF mission to prepare students of color for the workforce and increase and sustain diversity in the media industry. She is the primary spokesperson for the Foundation and works with the Board of Directors, staff and stakeholders to develop the future strategic direction of EBF and oversee the execution and communication of that strategy across the organization, with corporate partners and the broader industry. Nikki also guides and oversees the financial sustainability of the Foundation, maintains the EBF brand identity, and successfully implements operational improvements to support the long-term success of the Foundation’s mission.
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Prior to the Emma Bowen Foundation, Bethel was the Senior Vice President of Talent Management for Home Box Office, Inc., and was responsible for overseeing the areas of talent acquisition and organizational effectiveness, which encompasses executive leadership and coaching, management training and professional development, employee communications and initiatives. She also oversaw integrated business solutions, including culture, talent assessment, succession planning and organizational strategy. In addition, Bethel represented HBO at Time Warner and WarnerMedia councils in the learning and development areas. She was named to this position in August 2015. Bethel joined HBO in 2003 as a recruiting associate and was named manager, Human Resources, in 2004, responsible for employee relations for eight internal departments. In 2006, she was promoted to director, Human Resources, adding several internal clients to her responsibilities. She was elevated to vice president and then senior vice president, Organizational Effectiveness, in 2008 and 2013, respectively.
In 2001, Bethel was a consultant at A-List, where she developed, coordinated and managed strategies designed to help college students and professionals find placement and/or transition across industries. Between 1998 and 2001, she worked in the financial sector as an associate, Global Diversity at Morgan Stanley and as an associate, Human Resources at Merrill Lynch, responsible for various strategic initiatives including career development, recruitment and retention. She began her career in 1997 as a teacher at English High School in Boston, where she also managed an after-school tutoring program for elementary grade students through the B.E.L.L. Foundation.
Bethel is a member of the Brooklyn Chapter of The Links, Inc., a lifetime member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and is an honorary member of the Women’s League of Science and Medicine, Inc. She also sits on the board of The Apollo, is a former board member of the Emma L. Bowen Foundation, and is a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC).
She holds a BA degree in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park, an MA in Education from Harvard, and received a Human Resources Management Certificate from the City University of New York (New York City College of Technology). Nikki is happily married to the love of her life and they live between Sag Harbor and Brooklyn with their daughter.
Presented with the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment and BRIC Arts Media
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
The Center's programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Accessibility: Center for Communication provides reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities. Requests for accommodations for Center for Communication events should be submitted at least two weeks before the date of the accommodation need. Please email community@centerforcommunication.org for assistance.
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