Board of Directors
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Pierre Désy
President
Senior executive within medical associations and nonprofits. Executive and life coach dedicated to empowering individuals to achieve their personal and professional goals. Served on Dance for Life as Ambassador since 1998.
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Michael J. Anderson
Vice President
Former dancer with The Joffrey Ballet; Vice President for External Engagement and Development at the Chicago History Museum; fundraising professional; longtime advocate of arts and education.
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Patti Eylar
Treasurer
Former dancer with Lyric Opera Ballet, Chicago City Ballet and Ballet Chicago; Former Faculty and Accountant School of Ballet Chicago; Former Co-Director Chicago Ballet Arts, Current Faculty Chicago Ballet Arts, Chicago Dance Collective; longtime supporter of Chicago dance.
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Andre Hansford
Secretary
Program and change management Manager at KPMG; Youth mentor for iMentor; Dance and contemporary art advocate.
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Tiffiny Flaim
Chair, Governance Committee
President of BIOFOAM® Inc, former Associate Producer of Dance for Life (97/98), dancer with River North Dance Chicago & Lyric Opera, Harid Conservatory graduate, and Certified BeMoved® Instructor. Fund recipient. Past President of Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance, BOD- Federation of Women Contractors, Subject Matter Expert- Carpenters International Training Center.
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Massimo Pacilli
Chair, Internal Affairs Committee
Director of Technology Implementation, Office of Public Health Data at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention; faculty, DePaul University; former dancer with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.
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Krystina Fisher
Chair, External Affairs Committee
Senior Vice President, Executive Director, MSL; consumer brand marketer in entertainment, travel and hospitality, and mass CPG brands; senior advisor to Fortune 500 companies.
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Daryl Sneed
Co-Founder / Owner / CEO at SOUNDOFF; Founder & Creative Director, Ricorso; former healthcare management consultant and people executive.
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Lynne Belsky
Former dancer with The Joffrey Ballet; Co-Founder and ballet teacher at CBG Institute for Dance and Health; Internist and owner of Living Well Medical Associates, LLC.
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Len Mayersky
Vice President Relationship Manager with Fifth Third Bank. Past executive board member for local non profits and chambers of commerce.
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Christine Bagley
Former Trustee and Development Chair for Chicago House; Former Elementary Educator; Former Head Interior Designer and Buyer; Community Philanthropist.
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Jose Torres
Rehearsal Director and former First Dancer with Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater; Manager of Budget, Financial Planning & Analysis, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.
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Cara Marie Gary
Former dancer with The Joffrey Ballet, Orlando Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre II. A career highlight was collaborating with choreographers on classical and contemporary works. Graduated summa cum laude from North Greenville University. Currently an Account Manager at YAGEO Group.
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Temur Suluashvili
Former lead dancer with The Joffrey Ballet for 19 years. Currently a high-end realtor for Avenue Reality LLC. Passionate about photography, creating mixed media art and costume design.
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Board of Directors Emeritus
Harriet Ross, Board President 2015-2016
Kevin McGirr, Board President 2017-2018
Robert Neubert, Board President 2019-2020
Sara Schumann, Board President 2023-2024
Staff
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Sasha Dzubay
Interim Executive Director
Principal consultant specializing in organizational leadership, operations, and event management in nonprofit space driving results toward excellence.
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Lindsey Scouten
Operations Coordinator
Assistant Rehearsal Director, choreographer and company dancer with Hot Crowd, Freelance Artist with PURUS MOTUS and more, former Healthcare Supervisor and Rehabilitation Aide.
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Marci Chin
Senior Project Manager
Event planning and project management consultant with extensive experience in the hospitality industry and philanthropic space.
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Jill Chukerman
Communications and Media Relations
Independent communications professional for Chicago performing arts companies and presenters, including many dance organizations, for 25+ years; board president, Saint Sebastian Players theatre company.
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Maryellen Coens
Accountant