(BURLINGTON, NJ) -- ArtPride New Jersey is proud to announce new leadership and the appointment of distinguished professionals to its Board of Trustees for fiscal year 2026. The incoming Trustees, as well as the slate of new Board officers, bring a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to supporting the arts across the Garden State.
Adam Perle, President & CEO of ArtPride New Jersey, stated, “We are energized by the exceptional leadership and diverse experience that our new officers and trustees bring. As ArtPride evolves, these individuals will help guide our strategic efforts to elevate the arts as a catalyst for change and community well-being across New Jersey.”
The newly appointed officers for fiscal year 2026 are:
* Chair - Carin Berkowitz, Ph.D., Executive Director, New Jersey Council for the Humanities
* Vice Chair: Tracey O’Reggio-Clark, Executive Director, New Brunswick Cultural Center
* Vice Chair: Michael Stotts, Executive Director, Paper Mill Playhouse
* Treasurer: Gary Schneider, Executive Director, Grounds For Sculpture
* Secretary: Heather Barberi, Executive Director, Grunin Foundation
In addition, ArtPride New Jersey welcomes the following newly elected trustees:
Barbara Bickart | Senior Advisor of Arts and Culture, New Jersey Economic Development Authority. Barbara Bickart leads NJEDA’s arts, culture, and placemaking initiatives. With over 25 years of experience as an artist and educator, she brings a deep understanding of equity, social impact, and collaborative arts practices. She has taught at numerous universities and directed projects that empower historically marginalized communities.
Ben Blinder | Chief Operating Officer, Gattefossé USA. Ben Blinder brings extensive leadership from the pharmaceutical and personal care industries, paired with lifelong engagement in the arts. A trumpet player and supporter of local orchestras and libraries, he is committed to arts advocacy and cultural accessibility.
Catherine Coughlin | Public Relations Account Director, Sharp Think. Catherine Coughlin has led high-impact PR campaigns for prominent arts institutions nationally and internationally. With a career that began at the Montclair Art Museum, she has maintained strong ties to NJ’s arts sector and brings a strategic communications lens to the board.
Gary Garrido Schneider | Executive Director, Grounds For Sculpture. Gary Schneider has steered Grounds For Sculpture into a community-centered institution showcasing dynamic contemporary artists. With decades of museum leadership experience, he also brings previous board service with ArtPride New Jersey and a deep understanding of nonprofit governance.
Steve Runk | Director of Communications, Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University. Steve Runk has over 30 years of arts leadership experience, including service as Executive Director of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. A communications expert and advocate, he brings a broad network and in-depth knowledge of New Jersey’s arts infrastructure.
John Schreiber | President & CEO, New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Under John Schreiber's leadership, NJPAC has flourished as one of the country’s most diverse and impactful cultural institutions. He has spearheaded major development projects and co-founded the North to Shore Festival, reinforcing the arts as a driver of economic and community development.
Lazarus Simmons | Program Coordinator, Rutgers University - Mason Gross School of the Arts. Lazarus Simmons combines administrative expertise and artistic innovation, creating impactful programs and mentoring students in the arts. He is also a founding member of theater and film collectives that center equity and new narratives, bridging academic, nonprofit, and creative spaces.
For a full list of ArtPride New Jersey’s Board of Trustees, please visit ArtPrideNJ.org.
ArtPride New Jersey's Commitment to Equity - As part of its dedication to becoming an anti-racist organization, ArtPride New Jersey Foundation continues to champion the voices of historically excluded communities, including Black, LatinX, Asian Pacific Islander, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities. The foundation recognizes the existence of systemic inequities in New Jersey's arts and cultural community and is committed to transformative change.
Through advocacy, awareness, and grassroots efforts, ArtPride New Jersey seeks to amplify diverse artistic voices and ensure equitable access to the arts for all.
Discover Jersey Arts is a program of the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation dedicated to increasing awareness of and participation in the arts statewide. JerseyArts.com showcases New Jersey’s creative community through feature stories, videos, and podcasts; highlighted events and ticket deals; a comprehensive directory of arts organizations; and other content. Discover Jersey Arts was co-founded and is supported by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
The ArtPride New Jersey Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that promotes the value of the arts to New Jersey’s quality of life, education, and economic vitality through research and a variety of programs and services.
