Our Team
Our year-round team, board members, and seasonal staff dedicate themselves to the Foundation’s mission to move our genres, festivals, and community forward for generations to come.
STAFF
Jay Sweet
Executive Director
Kira Karbocus
Chief Operating Officer
Christopher Capotosto
Chief Creative Officer
Christian McBride
Artistic Director, Newport Jazz
Dan Swain
Director of Development and Programs
Jen Rieber
Event Director
Meg Helsel
Publicity Director
Deb Girard
Director of Ticketing & Administration
Billy Glassner
Partnership Director & Archivist
Allison Pangakis
Operations Manager
John Passaro
Production Manager
Becca Peters
Artist Relations Manager
Leland Baker
Music Education Manager
Clara Maurer
Administrative Assistant
BOARD
Bruce Gordon*
Chairman
Nicholas Pell*
Treasurer
Tim Albinson
Patricia Blanchet
Paula Boggs
Dick Cashin*
Nicole Bernard Dawes
Michael Dorf
Leyla Ertegun*
Steven Gewirz
Vikas Kapoor*
Roger Kass
Jessica Kausen
Patrick Kerins
Jim Lanzone
Anthony Lewis
Ronald MacKenzie, MD
Ron McCray
Larry Miller
Ward Mooney
Jay Sweet
William Vareika*
Past Board Members:
George Wein*
Chairman Emeritus & Founder
Tom Busard
Jerome Chazen*
Joshua Feigenbaum*
Elliot Hoffman*
William Lewis, Jr.*
Jonathan Nelson
Deborah Ross*
Bruce Trauner*
* Founding Member
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
Your donation to Newport Festivals Foundation will help ensure the future of our festivals and support musicians and music education programs across the country.