Our Team
Our year-round team, board members, and seasonal staff dedicate themselves to the Foundation’s mission to move our festivals and communities forward for generations to come.
STAFF
Jay Sweet
Executive Director
Nathaniel Rateliff
Newport Folk Steward
Nate Smith
Newport Jazz Artistic Director
Christopher Capotosto
Producer & Creative Director
Dan Swain
Director of Development and Programs
Deb Girard
Director of Business Operations
Jen Rieber
Event Director
Allison Pangakis
Director of Site Operations
Billy Glassner
Partnership Director & Archivist
Meg Helsel
Publicity Director
Hannah Gold
Talent Buyer
John Passaro
Production Manager
Leland Baker
Music Education Manager
Olivia Whirty
Foundation Coordinator
BOARD
Bruce Gordon*
Chairman
Nicholas Pell*
Vice Chairman
Patrick Kerins
Treasurer
Tim Albinson
Patricia Blanchet
Paula Boggs
Dick Cashin*
Nicole Bernard Dawes
Michael Dorf
Steven Gewirz
Dan Gilbane
Vikas Kapoor*
Roger Kass
Jessica Kausen Byrnes
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.