Our team

Levitt’s national team is a group of passionate individuals

We’re committed to ensuring Levitt partners and grantees receive guidance, support and resources to successfully launch and carry out either the permanent Levitt venue program or the Levitt AMP Music Series in their communities.

Sharon Yazowski

Executive Director

As Executive Director, Sharon provides visionary leadership in fulfilling the Levitt Foundation’s mission. She is the chief spokesperson for the organization, traveling across the country to share the impact of Levitt programs and creative placemaking. Her passionate commitment to the arts as a vehicle for creating equitable, sustainable and healthy…

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Mark Arteaga

Director of Operations

As the Director of Operations, Mark manages Levitt’s office operations, human resources, financial reporting and IT infrastructure. He plays a key role in ensuring all systems and procedures add to the efficiency of the Foundation so that our mission can be realized in the most cost-efficient and effective way. Mark…

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Andrew Barker

Content Writer

As Content Writer, Andrew Barker helps to tell the stories behind the Levitt Foundation’s mission and work in the field. A member of the communications team, he works to increase national visibility for the Foundation’s various programs and initiatives, and the role its networks of venues and Levitt AMP grantees…

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Victoria Bridenstine

Director of Programs

As Director of Programs, Victoria plays a key role in shaping the grantmaking strategy at the Levitt Foundation. She oversees the management of the Foundation’s Friends of Levitt partners and grantee portfolios, develops strategies and priorities to support the sustainability of Levitt’s grantee partners, and identifies resources that provide meaningful…

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Valerie Chan

Communications Fellow

As the Communications Fellow, Valerie supports internal and external communication projects and processes to help shape the branding, marketing, and communications strategy for the Levitt Foundation. She supports the Director of Communications and collaborates with the Communications Team in creating engaging multifaceted media content for Levitt. Valerie is a recent…

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Kimberly James

Senior Programs Manager

As the Senior Programs Manager, Kimberly provides grants management support for the Foundation’s national portfolio of grantees, with a focus on the Friends of Levitt venue partners. She also plays a key role in identifying resources to support the Levitt network, manages network-wide collaborations and programming, supervises audience and grantee…

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Dagmar Koss

Programs Associate

As the Program Associate, Dagmar provides administrative support to the Programs Department, including support to the Foundation’s grantmaking cycles and processes. She also helps coordinate various national gatherings and collaborative, network-wide program initiatives.  
Prior to joining the Levitt Foundation, Dagmar spent eight years managing farmers markets in NYC and LA…

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Ryan Locante

Database Administrator

As the Database Administrator, Ryan ensures that Friends of Levitt partners and Levitt AMP grantees are provided with accurate information while visiting the Foundation’s grantee portal. He is also responsible for analyzing and organizing data to assist in measuring the Foundation’s long-term success and impact.   Prior to joining the…

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Joanna McCoy

Digital Communications Associate

As the Digital Communications Associate, Joanna creates content that is aligned with the Levitt Foundation’s mission, to create community through music. Supporting the Communications team, she manages the day-to-day curation, scheduling and posting of content on Levitt’s various social media channels. Joanna also plays an important role in the creation…

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Nicole McGaffey

Senior Communications Manager

As Senior Communications Manager, Nicole plays a key role in implementing Levitt’s communications strategies for both internal and external audiences. The Senior Communications Manager supports the Director of Communications in the creation, implementation and oversight of print pieces, e-newsletters, eblasts, and website content. Before joining the Levitt Foundation, Nicole contributed…

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Arianne Ousley

Operations Manager

As Operations Manager, Arianne is responsible for providing administrative support to the foundation, including providing daily support to the Executive Director and Director of Operations. She also plays an important role in maintaining and managing the organization’s financial, HR, IT and donor records. Arianne has a background in performing arts…

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Rayna Rogers

Operations Associate

As the Operations Associate, Rayna provides support to the Director of Operations and the Operations Manager, including general office management, event coordination, financial, HR, and IT support.   Beyond her work with Levitt, Rayna is a fine artist and entrepreneur; she creates original content for sales and exhibition purposes and curates artistic and educational…

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Vanessa Silberman

Deputy Director

As Deputy Director, Vanessa plays a key role in the strategic direction and long-term vision of the Levitt Foundation as it pertains to funding allocation, program development, communications, research and field-building initiatives. She also spearheads new and existing partnerships to advance the organization and reflect Levitt’s mission, values and commitment…

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Amber Withers, Ph.D.

Program Officer

As the Program Officer, Amber provides meaningful support and resources to advance the work of Levitt AMP grantees as part of the Levitt Foundation’s grantmaking activities. Amber has over ten years of program management and community engagement experience. Prior to the Levitt Foundation, she worked at a Los Angeles-based education…

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Board of directors

Andrew Hirsch

Vice President

Pasy Wang

Treasurer

Sharon Yazowski

Secretary / Executive Director

Larry Chaifetz

Peter Levitt

John McNamara

Kathy Eberly Ovitt