Joe Giarrusso, President David Cohan, Vice President Scott Sherman Ph.D., Secretary |
Ann Greer Willie Rhine |
Joe
Giarrusso, President
Mr. Giarrusso started his career in the entertainment business at CBS Network and then went on to become production finance head for Tri Star Pictures and HBO Productions. He retired from Entertainment Partners as Senior Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales, a multi-billion Entertainment Management Service Company. Joe also is a Classical music composer with two CDs of his compositions published.
David Cohan, Vice President
Mr. Cohan is the Managing Director of PeaksCo LLC, a consulting practice with a specialty in helping to finance mission-oriented projects that benefit low-income communities throughout the U.S. He has primarily focused on real estate finance, investment, development, acquisitions and portfolio asset management during his 35-year career. He is now also an enthusiastic local hiker and pickleball player. Mr. Cohan has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Scott Sherman, Ph.D, Secretary
Mr. Sherman is a retired clinical psychologist. He is a founding board member and on the executive committee of Coachella Valley Repertory. He has been secretary to the board since its first meeting in August 2008. His commitment to CVRep is based on the belief that experiencing entertaining theater of substance helps people to grow, learn and develop a better understanding of themselves and their community.
Michael Monachino, Treasurer
Mr. Monachino is the president of T*IPS Management LLC, a management consulting company that advises on intellectual property matters, President of MFD Restoration Warehouse Ltd, specializing in the renovation and repurposing of heritage buildings and was with IBM for 34 years.He retired from IBM as Senior Vice President, Worldwide Development and Industry Marketing. In the past he has been involved with the Children’s Wish Foundation in New York City. In addition to CVRep, Mike is a director of the Sterling Estates Homeowners Association. He is also an artist and has been active with the Artist’s Council of the Palm Springs Art Museum.
Peggy Jacobs, Executive Board Member
Ms. Jacobs hails from Chicago, Illinois, where she served as a prosecutor in the Cook County State’s Attorney Office for several years before retiring to Palm Desert in 1991. She is an avid supporter of Eisenhower Medical Center, Big Horn BAM, the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, the McCallum Theatre, Palm Springs Art Museum and serves on the MAC board of Palm Springs Art Museum.
Atma Wiseman, Executive Board Member
Ms. Wiseman is an interior designer as well as an image consultant for print and television. She worked for Roger and Chaz Ebert on the PBS television show “Ebert Presents At The Movies.” Certified by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) as a fitness trainer, Atma is also an aquatic therapy rehab instructor. She is a board member of Israel Cancer Research Fund, and has served on the board of the Steinway Society of Riverside County as the past VP of Marketing. Atma’s board service to CVRep includes a position on the executive and finance committees. Both her parents were active in community theatre.
Jim Egan was an international business executive for most of his career. Prior to retiring he held the position as president of Latin America for Tyco International. Jim and his wife Carol share a passion for the arts and for supporting organizations that transform the lives of young people and others in the local community. Along with CVRep, Jim is activity involved with the Palm Springs Art Museum and serves on the Board of Trustees. Jim has served on the board of directors for eight years of the American Outreach Foundation, an organization that supplies mechanized wheelchairs to disabled veterans and others. He is also involved with The Foundation, of the Palm Springs Unified School District in a Task Force which is focusing on providing students with the skills needed to participate in Artificial Intelligence fields.
Bernie Fromm is the former president of Fromm Electric Supply, Reading, PA. He served as Chairman of Board of Trustees of Alvernia University in Reading as well as the Boards of The Reading Hospital, Bank of Pennsylvania, Jewish Federation, and National Association of Electrical Distributors.
Hugh Glenn retired in 2006 after a distinguished career in the jewelry business, including positions as President of the Hugh Glenn Corporation and Omega Watch USA. Current Board experience includes Co-Chairman of the Board Brookdale Geriatric Department, Martha Stewart Center for Living, Mount Sinai Hospital, Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company, Neenah, Wisconsin and 24K Club of New York City. Honors include 2008 Triple Zero Award, American Gem Society Honoree, National Conference of Christian and Jews, 1998 Honoree, American Jewish Committee, 1990.
Ann Greer works with the Virginia Waring International Piano Competition and Palm Springs Air Museum. Her background is theater, home video and marketing. She serves on the ACT for Multiple Sclerosis and Opera Showcase of the Desert boards. A firm advocate for the importance of the arts to civilization, Ann graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Scripps College, studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and taught at Kyung Sung Graduate University in Pusan, South Korea.
Scott Griffith was President/Executive Producer of America’s largest professional dinner theater for nearly thirty years. With a background in accounting, computer science, and live entertainment, his expertise as a consultant has been sought by many theatre companies. He was President of the American Dinner Theatre Institute for ten years. With degrees from Drake University and the University of Minnesota, he now spends time working in desert area real estate, event planning, swimming, Pilates, and gourmet cooking.
Mark Leonard trained as an artist until deciding to pursue a career as a paintings restorer. He worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for five years, and then spent twenty-six years as a paintings restorer at The J. Paul Getty Museum. In 2012, he was invited to join the staff of the Dallas Museum of Art as Chief Conservator. After helping to build the museum’s conservation department and serving subsequently as the interim Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs, he returned to creating his own work in 2017. He is represented by Louis Stern Fine Arts in West Hollywood, California.
Kayla Pressman brings many years of experience in public relations, event production and talent management, primarily in the entertainment industry. Her organizational and production expertise were finely honed while managing the careers of Patti LaBelle, the Pointer Sisters and Florence Henderson. Under her own company, SIGNATUREVENTS, she co-produced the opening of REDCAT, Roy and Edna Disney Cal Arts Theater, at the Disney Hall Complex in Los Angeles. In addition to working with Cal Arts, clients have included Fashion Week El Paseo, Steinway Society of Riverside County and Israel Cancer Research Fund.
Willie Rhine began his career in the entertainment industry as Owner and Artistic Director of Tophat Playhouse in Palm Springs. Currently, Willie co-owns the highly acclaimed EIGHT4NINE Restaurant & Lounge. He and his loving partner Albert Gonzalez are Members of The Desert AIDS Project’s Partners for Life, The AIDS Assistance Program’s Jeannette Rockefeller Angel Program, and The Center’s Ocotillo Club.
CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
Gary D. Hall is a Senior Vice President with the Private Bank at Wells Fargo, and is instrumental in getting significant Wells Fargo dollars to our community nonprofits in need. He serves on many non-profit boards, and in addition to CVRep, is a trustee of the Palm Springs Art Museum and Educational Outreach co-chair, trustee for The Palm Springs International Film Society, trustee for the McCallum Theatre and Chairman of the McCallum Theatre Institute.
ADVISORY BOARD
Peter Bochnewich is an attorney and owner of Bochnewich Law Offices, APC, Palm Desert, with emphasis in trust and estate trial work, estate planning, probate, and civil matters. Peter is past President of the Desert Bar Association and Desert Estate Planning Council, and active in community affairs. Peter has 10/10 AVVO attorney rating and is a Palm Springs Life MagazineTop Lawyer 2013-2015. Peter, wife Luz and daughter Anastasia believe in CVRep.
Sidney R. Craig, Executive Board Member
Mr. Craig owned a theatrical agency, The Craig Agency, for 35 years representing such actors and actresses as Jack Klugman, Stewart Granger, Hermione Gingold, Gloria Loring, etc. He currently serves on ten boards and commissions including, Palm Springs Police Advisory Board, Shelter For The Storm, and The Executive Board of the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
Nancy Cunningham is the Founding President of the Literary Society of the Desert. She retired from a career in both the corporate and non-profit worlds, serving as Manager of Stockholder Relations for General Motors and was the Executive Director of the Detroit Historical Society and a corporate development officer for the University of Chicago. She has served on the Rancho Mirage Library Foundation, is a Founder of the Palm Springs Architectural and Design Museum, and is active in the McCallum Muses.
Steven T. Erickson, CPA is a past director and treasurer of CVRep. Being an integral part of CVRep in the early years was enjoyable, educational, and enhanced Steven’s love for thought-provoking theatre! Steven is Managing Partner of Maryanov Madsen Gordon & Campbell in Palm Springs and is a graduate of Concordia College (MN). Steven has also served Angel View as director and the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce as director and treasurer. Steven remains involved with CVRep as the chairperson of the Audit Committee.
Barbara Fremont, Philanthropist
Jerry Keller is the owner of Lulu California Bistro in Palm Springs and Acqua California Bistro in Rancho Mirage.