Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra

Jason Balaban has been president of ADINC/J.Kaplan Advertising since 1989. The firm specializes in marketing, print design and advertising. He is also a founder and partner in MYAH Films, a web site design and video production company. Previously Jason operated an independent bookstore. He graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in politics. He currently resides in Englewood, NJ, where he is president of the Tudor Hall Condominium Association.

Clive Burrow, Chairman of New York TAB (Travel Advisory Bureau), a tourism marketing agency, has been promoting New York City since he founded the membership organization in 1996. Operating in both London and New York, TAB’s members include tour operators, cultural organizations, sightseeing companies, attractions and carefully selected retail. Mr. Burrow is a member of the New York chapter of Skal International, a leading travel and tourism business networking association and is the Executive Chairman of LOMA, the Lower Manhattan Marketing Association. Born in London, England, Mr. Burrow has lived in New York for over 20 years, always downtown. Since 1999, he has lived and worked in the South Street Seaport Historic District.

Michaelle Burstin is the Global Head of Marketing, Branding and Communications for the Fixed Income Department at Credit Suisse. Prior to joining Credit Suisse, Michaelle held senior positions at public relations firms Burson-Marsteller and Hill & Knowlton. She also worked as a political appointee in the office of the United States Trade Representative for the Clinton Administration and worked in television news as an assignment editor and field producer. Michaelle helped launch the Lucie Awards, an annual awards ceremony honoring significant achievements in photography. Michaelle has a Master's Degree from the American University and a Bachelors Degree from U.C. Berkeley.

Gerald I. Carp, a founding partner of Mazur Carp & Rubin and chair of the firm's Estates and Trusts practice, is widely recognized as an expert in complex estate-related litigation for individuals and businesses, wealth protection/preservation, and estate and trust administration. Gerry is a member and has served as co-chair of the Estates, Trusts and Surrogate's Court Practice Committee of the New York County Lawyers Association. He serves on a special State Bar committee to research and report on attorney-fiduciary compensation and to oversee the office of the Public Administrators. A peer-elected Fellow of the American College of Trust & Estate Counsel, Gerry is an active member of committees on fiduciary litigation and business planning. He is principal oboist in the Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra, the Metropolitan Orchestra of New Jersey and the Adelphi Chamber Orchestra.

Lynda Davey is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Avalon, a financial firm offering the services of veteran executives from the worlds of banking and investing.

Sharon Phair Fortenbaugh has worked on the business side of traditional and new media for 25 years as associate publisher of France Press LLP, Paper Publishing, Inc. and as advertising director of Forbes' Egg Magazine, Vanity Fair and Andy Warhol's Interview. She has expertise in brand launches and positioning, particularly for luxury products and services. In the non-profit sector, she worked for Livet-Reichard, Inc., specialists in developing programs and fundraising for arts organizations. Sharon attended the University of Maryland, School of Journalism. She serves on the board of Project City Kids, Inc.

Author and former television producer Lee F. Gruzen is a founder and co-chair of SeaportSpeaks, which organized the 2006 SeaportSpeaks Charrette that focused on the development of the Seaport area while encouraging its vitality and historical authenticity. She co-founded the Interfaith Community, now a national organization. She is a member of the South Street Seaport Museum, the New York Ship Lore & Model Club, the Working Harbor Committee, Manhattan Sailing Club and the Waterfront Wenches. A graduate of Wellesley College and Bank Street College of Education, Lee is working on a book about New York Harbor.

Andrew Ormson is Chief Operating Officer of Gramercy Cardiac Diagnostic Services. Previous positions include the foundation and management of a digital marketing consultancy based in New York and leadership of a leading US national magazine and consumer website. Musical activities include a number of years as President of the Greenwich Village Singers, along with extensive US and international experience as a choral singer. A British citizen, Andrew's extensive past board experience includes a number of UK and US companies including Emap Advertising, Seymour International, and Emap Metro in New York. He has been a board member of The Camden People's Theater, the International Periodical Distributors Association, the Advertising Association Finance Committee, the Magazine Publishers' Association of America Magazine Retail Advisory Committee, Others Are Us, an international development organization, and Battery Park City's Regatta condominium.

John Thomas Randolph, II is the executive vice president of real estate for Sciame Development, a firm known for high quality residential and mixed-use development projects in the New York area. John serves on the board of Designer Black, a consortium of New York City professionals in the field of real estate and design, and also on the board of The Actors Center in New York City. Prior to Sciame, he worked for CIGNA Corporation in Philadelphia and served as the co-chair of the Young Friends for the Philadelphia Orchestra. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Swarthmore College and an MBA from The Wharton School.

Alan Schiffres is Managing Director of Portfolio Management Associates, Inc., a management consulting firm specializing in consumer financial services. Prior to joining PMA he held senior management positions at American Express, the Dean Witter Group and Citicorp. Alan is a long-time resident of lower Manhattan, having lived in the South Street Seaport area for over 25 years. He holds a Bachelor degree from Brown University and an MBA from The Harvard Business School.
 

Treasurer

Bruce Pritikin, a Partner at DDK & Company, is a Certified Public Accountant and attorney with more than 30 years of experience.

Director of Communications

Alison Simko is a communications consultant with clients including the Alliance for Downtown New York, Bovis Lend Lease, Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance and Municipal Art Society. Her work experience includes Curtis Brown, Ltd literary agency, Sport magazine and Adweek/ASM Communications, where she became a senior editor. Alison co-founded The Broadsheet, a biweekly newspaper serving downtown neighborhoods. She is a member of the board of directors of Liberty Community Gardens and the Downtown Dog Owners Association. For additional materials or further information about the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra, please contact Alison at 917-929-8375 or alisonsimko@yahoo.com.