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
Christian McBride
Newport Jazz Artistic Director
Nathaniel Rateliff
Newport Folk Steward
Christopher Capotosto
Chief Creative Officer & Producer
Dan Swain
Director of Development and Programs
Deb Girard
Director of Business Operations
Jen Rieber
Event Director
Meg Helsel
Publicity Director
Billy Glassner
Partnership Director & Archivist
Allison Pangakis
Operations Manager
John Passaro
Production Manager
Leland Baker
Music Education Manager
Meghan McBreen
Manager of Ticketing & Credentials
BOARD
Bruce Gordon*
Chairman
Nicholas Pell*
Treasurer
Tim Albinson
Patricia Blanchet
Paula Boggs
Dick Cashin*
Nicole Bernard Dawes
Michael Dorf
Steven Gewirz
Vikas Kapoor*
Roger Kass
Jessica Kausen
Patrick Kerins
Jim Lanzone
Anthony Lewis
Ron McCray
Larry Miller
Ward Mooney
Jay Sweet
William Vareika*
Past Board Members:
George Wein*
Founder
Jeff Bowlby
*Tom Busard
Jerome Chazen*
Leyla Ertegun*
Joshua Feigenbaum*
Elliot Hoffman*
William Lewis, Jr.*
Ronald MacKenzie, MD
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.