Originally from Atlanta, Ellen moved to Brooklyn, NY at the age of 17 to attend Pratt Institute
where she received her BFA. Professionally she went on to spend years working in marketing
and business development for the mental & behavioral health field. After deciding she wanted to
transition to the non-profit sector she knew she wanted to figure out a way to marry her two
passions in life; the arts and helping to serve others.
Ellen first came to Inner-City Arts as a volunteer where she quickly felt very much at home on
campus. Dedicated to the mission of the organization, she now serves as a Program
Coordinator. Ellen believes that Inner-City Arts is not only a safe creative space for kids, but one
for adults as well. She is grateful for the opportunity to work among fellow artists in efforts to
bring arts education to underserved communities.
Leadership & Staff



Gladys Avila
Work of Art Program Coordinator
Nancy Avila
Accounting Supervisor


Jamie Cataldo
Director of Individual Giving and Events
Wendy Cruz
H.R. Generalist
Amy Cuenco
Director of Finance


George Garcia
COO & Interim Executive Director



Justin Izbinski
Institutional Giving Associate

Samantha Longman
Teaching Artist, Creativity Lab





Orlando Moreno
Programs Coordinator




Michael Sample
Co-Artistic Director

Marissa Sykes
Lead Teaching Artist, Creativity Lab
Rebecca Tager
Teaching Artist, Ceramics



Board Officers

Jonathan Schreter
Chair, Bolton & Company
Susan Luehrs
Secretary, Wells Fargo BankBoard Members

Erikk Aldridge
AEG
Patricia Brum
Snell & Wilmer, LLP
Eric Coleman
The Walt Disney Company
Malik Ducard
Google/Youtube
Peter Gal
Dreamworks
Brian Goldsmith
Lionsgate
Kapil Gupta
Cedars Sinai
Jackie Harman
COYN
Sean Howard
MGC Sports/ Solomon Page
Brian Ishida
Pacific Western Bank
Jeffrey E. Jaeger
Standard Properties
Wade Killefer
KFA, LLP
Sam Kunianski
SK Consulting
Kevin Pleasant
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Tom Stillwell
Big Fish Consulting
Vanessa Walker Oakes
Flintridge Preparatory School
Grant Withers
Capital GroupThe Founders
- Bob Bates Co-Founder
- Irwin J. Jaeger Co-Founder
Founders Board Members
- Geoffrey Anenberg Creative Space
- Wallis Annenberg
- Kim Baer
- Bill & Tamara Bagnard
- Jon Basalone Trader Joe's
- Frank Baxter
- Craig Benell
- Alan Berro
- Michael Becker
- Cynthia Harnisch Breunig
- Al Brooks
- Marvin G. Burns
- Vera R. Campbell
- Ira Cohen
- Bob Davidson
- Sharon DeBriere
- Susan Emerling-Torres
- Mitchell Frank Spaceland Productions
- Bobbie Greenfield
- Crosby Haffner Synan Holdings
- Eugene L. Hernandez
- Douglas Hinchliffe
- Steve Hirsh
- Linda Hothem
- Paul C. Johnson
- Glorya Kaufman
- Laurie Konheim
- Melanie Lundquist
- Rick Madden Kirkland & Ellis LLP
- Kathleen Maguire
- Michael Maltzan
- Jay Mangel
- Jeff Marine
- Silvia Marjoram American Business Bank
- Randy Miller
- Connie Moran-Romero
- Scott Morielli Graff Californiawear
- Anthony E. Nicholas
- Drew Planting
- Maura Rampolla
- Monica Rosenthal
- Joseph Sanford
- Martha Saucedo
- Steve Schoenholz Tempted Apparel
- William Schoenholz
- Eric Schotz
- Michael Schreter
- Bob Shearin
- Mithra Sheybani Attorney
- Mark Slavkin
- Beatriz Stotzer
- Katerina Tana
- Joni Topper JP Morgan Chase
Young Professionals Board Members
- Huwayda Fakhry Nabih Youssef Associates
- Justin J. Garza The Dream Adopters
- Sarah Hanner Charly West
- Amanda Hovest KBDA
- Michael Khosravifard UX Design
- Toyin Moses Actress