Board of Directors
Executive Board
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Preeti Vasudevan
Preeti is an award-winning choreographer and performer creating provocative contemporary works from her Indian tradition. Founder and Artistic Director of Thresh Performing Arts Collaborative, her mission is to create experimental productions that foster a provocative dialogue with identity, and our relationship with heritage cultures and contemporary life. Preeti has been recognized by a number of prestigious institutions in the US for her outstanding contribution to dance. Some of her works have received the highest awards in India, which include: three META (Mahindra Excellence in Theater Awards) awards for The Absent Lover (2009) and seven META nominations for Savitri (2013). Preeti holds a Master's in Dance Studies from Laban Centre London and is a Certified Movement Analyst from the Laban Institute of Movement Studies, NY.
Elena Sapir
Elena Sapir's life is a tapestry woven with motherhood, creativity, philanthropy, and a deep love for connection. Raised in Soviet Russia, she's called New York City home for over two decades. An enthusiastic traveler with a keen eye for beauty and art, Elena finds purpose in bringing people together. She empowers others on their wellness journeys as a trained health coach and facilitator of women's circles. Her philanthropic spirit extends to causes she passionately supports. Elena's artistic side flourishes through her work with preserved moss, transforming them into one-of-a-kind pieces that showcase the beauty of nature and the importance of preserving our environment. But above all, she cherishes her role as a devoted mom.
Bruno Kavanagh
Bruno graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in Modern Languages, specializing in French and Italian Literature. Since the mid-1990s, Bruno has focused in the field of computer-based learning, setting up a series of companies to develop and build innovative digital learning applications for corporate clients (including Johnson & Johnson, Astra-Zeneca and many others) and further education institutions (including the University of Texas at Austin and Georgetown University). He was part of the launch team for the highly successful McKinsey Academy (a subsidiary of McKinsey & Co.) and since 2017 has served as the CEO of Learn Interactive Inc.
In addition to proudly serving as the President of the Thresh board, recent volunteer work includes advising on the re-launch of Firki, a digital platform serving government-school teachers in India (managed by Teach for India, an affiliate of Teach for America). He has also served on the advisory board of Global School Leaders, an NGO helping develop school principals in the developing world.
Bruno divides his time between New York and his native London and is a keen amateur musician (piano) and sportsman (tennis & cricket).
Jeffrey Sexton
Over the course of his 30-year career as a diplomat with the United States Department of State, Jeffrey has been a passionate advocate for using the arts to further America’s diplomacy around the world. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service holding the rank of Minister-Counselor, Jeff brings wide-ranging experience leading teams, negotiating outcomes, and managing resources for some of the Department of State’s largest and most strategic public diplomacy programs in countries such as Russia, Pakistan, and India. Prior to joining the Foreign Service in 1989, Jeff spent eight years in Germany as a Russian specialist with the U.S. Army, including service in Berlin with the U.S. Military Liaison Mission to the Soviet Military in East Germany. He holds a Master of Arts degree in international relations from the University of Southern California, as well as a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. Jeff’s passion for music has strongly influenced his work as a diplomat and his belief in the power of the arts to bridge diverse cultures.
Michelle Fremuth
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Michelle is a business excellence leader specializing in continuous improvement, change leadership, and strategic planning. As the founder and principal consultant of Organizational Excellence Consulting LLC, she partners with organizations to solve problems and drive transformative change. Michelle also serves as Chief Operating Officer at Cloud100, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth through AI education. Michelle’s previous roles (including at Coursera and Anheuser-Busch InBev) have similarly been focused on themes of operational excellence, process improvement, business agility and innovation, knowledge management, and continuous improvement. Michelle holds an MBA from Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School of Business and a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering. She is a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Registered Scrum Trainer, and licensed Change Facilitator.
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A lifelong advocate for the arts, Michelle has a background in dance and aerial arts, and a love of experimental music. She also enjoys rock-climbing, playing the piano, drawing and painting, writing poetry, and adding to her extensive book collection.
Dr. Linda Wiley Bing
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Dr. Linda Wiley Bing is the founder and CEO of Turning Point Leadership Group LLC, specializing in diversity, equity, inclusion, leadership development, and relationship management. A Certified Diversity Executive, her award-winning training programs have been recognized by The Society for Human Resource Management and have impacted individuals, small businesses, and Fortune 50 companies alike. With experience in the U.S. and internationally, her expertise is frequently sought after as a keynote speaker and presenter, with appearances on CBS Evening News and major radio stations.
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Dr. Bing is also a Certified Relationship Specialist, author of Tame Your Tongue & Transform Your Relationship and Tame Your Tongue & Transform Your Organization, and a motivational speaker in the Les Brown Speaker’s Network. She hosts the In Her Shoes with Dr. Linda podcast and previously co-hosted “Love & Relationships” on Atlanta’s V-103 FM. Holding a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology, along with degrees in Psychology and Organizational Behavior, she serves on the Leadership Council of the National Small Business Association. Her innovative programs have transformed lives by strengthening relationships and increasing success.
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Almera Mahmood
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Almera serves as the Chief Strategy Officer at Prolific, where she partners with clients to transform ambitious growth visions into actionable roadmaps that unlock exponential opportunities. With her dual expertise in finance and strategy, she specializes in identifying untapped market potential and creating sustainable growth frameworks.
Drawing from her extensive background in finance across industry leaders including Salesforce, Carrier, Accenture and Morgan Stanley, Almera brings a unique blend of analytical rigor and strategic thinking to growth initiatives.
Her academic credentials include dual BBAs in Finance and Accounting from Loyola University, complemented by an MBA and MSF from the prestigious Indiana University Kelley School of Business. As a graduate of the Tobias Leadership Program at Indiana University, Almera maintains a strong commitment to leadership development and community impact through active involvement in nonprofits. She balances her professional pursuits with diverse personal interests, including running, baking, interior design, and reading. Her unwavering dedication to continuous learning and meaningful initiatives drives transformative change in both professional and community spheres.
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Quantis Lane
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Quantis Lane is an extraordinary executive and the visionary founder of the Bohemian Advisory Collective, a globally esteemed consultancy based in Gulfport, Mississippi. Renowned for his innovative approach and steadfast commitment to excellence, he has established himself as a luminary in the business consulting arena, navigating complex landscapes through his unparalleled work with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, foreign governments, and professional sports organizations. Quantis actively champions community engagement and social responsibility, promoting economic development and entrepreneurship, and embodies a forward-thinking philosophy with his belief that "We are better than we were yesterday, and not as great as we will be tomorrow." Recognized for his strategic vision and empathetic leadership style, he is a rare commodity in the business community, inspiring transformative change and solidifying his reputation as a premier consultant on the global stage.
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Paul Glick*
Laurence Singer*
Bess Pilcher Lovec*
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*Emeritus Members
Advisory Board
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Michael Siegel
Mike is a practicing Internist/Cardiologist in New York City. He and his wife, Nomi Ghez, have several long-term local and international involvements with vocal arts, dance, and educational organizations. They are enthusiastic ballroom dancers and incorrigible New Yorkers, but also lovers of life in the country, where they can often be found hiking the woods of Putnam county with dog Lexie, horse Tango, and friends with similar addictions. If they are really lucky, some selection of their 4 children and 6 grandchildren join the fun.
Dona Lee Kelly
Dona Lee is Director of Development at the Rubin Museum and is part of the museum’s executive team. Previously, she led development, capital campaign, and/or external affairs efforts at the National Academy of Design, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, Primary Stages, and The MacDowell Colony. Dona Lee began her career as a dancer, actor, choreographer, and teacher—performing with Musawwir Gymnastic Dance, Marleen Pennison Company among others, and choreographing for productions at Theatre for A New Audience, L’Opéra Francaise de New York, and Hoboken Chamber Orchestra. For 15 years, she taught at the Stella Adler Conservatory, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, and with Ms. Adler for her character class.
Jennifer Deare
For more than 30 years, Jennifer has been a dynamic force in marketing and an award-winning entrepreneur. Her strategic thinking and passion have inspired innovation, allowing her clients to thrive in evolving consumer and media markets.
She has generated outstanding results for companies of all sizes, from startups like Jet.com to industry leaders like Citi, American Express, Discovery Networks, and DIRECTV. She consistently pioneers new tactics while staying true to the essential nature of marketing: connecting with and inspiring consumers.
Jennifer was a trailblazer, founding and leading Deare Marketing, Inc., the first woman-owned promotion agency, which launched several of the first strategic alliances between corporations like Warner Bros. Pictures and Best Western Hotels before being acquired by a major global advertising agency. She then established D3 NYC as a top boutique digital, social, and creative content resource for leading companies.
Beyond her work, Jennifer is deeply committed to supporting women entrepreneurs and woman-owned businesses. She runs marketing workshops in MBA and Accelerator programs that have helped both US and South American women-owned companies flourish.
She brings a holistic approach to her work, integrating principles of mindfulness and well-being learned through her certifications as a Yoga Instructor and her studies in The Science of Happiness.
First Voices Advisory Board
Monica Grable
Arts Education Director, Montana Arts Council
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Alaina Buffalo Spirit
Northern Cheyenne Tribes Advisor
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Susan Wolfe
Art Educator, Lame Deer Schools, Montana
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Mary Serbe
Art Educator and Fundraising Consultant
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Aaron Rosen
Director of the Henry Luce III Center for the Arts & Religion, Wesley Theological Seminary
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Adam Jahiel
Independent Photographer