Board of Directors

Marc Hollid-Ausset is a founder and Chief Executive Officer of SesameUnlimited.com.  A membership based application that affords travelers and locals alike a simple way to book and save on everything to do in each Sesame City.  Marc has worked in business development for the travel and tourism sector of NYC since the early 2000’s.  He has a degree in Performing Arts from Suffolk County Community College and completed a double major of Advertising Design & Fashion Merchandising Management at The Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC.  Marc is extremely happy to utilize his skills for business development to help in a world that he is passionate about – the Performing Arts Community.

Joe Naftal is the CEO of Penny Prima®, the Marketing Director for Dance Connection, and a lighting designer for theatre, dance, opera, and themed entertainment.  Joe’s lighting design credits include Area Stage Company, Holiday World Theme Park, the Adrienne Arsht Center, the Philadelphia Academy of Music, Hofstra University, John W. Engeman Theatre, Five Towns Performing Arts Center, Nassau Community College, Queensborough Community College, the Tank NYC, and more.  His credits as a lighting supervisor/assistant lighting designer include the Paul Taylor Dance Company (Lincoln Center and US Tour), Phantom of the Opera (Broadway), Dog Man The Musical, The Gentleman Caller, Laramie: A Legacy, Bulldozer, The Mad Ones (Off-Broadway), American Ballet Theatre (Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center, and Kennedy Center), Philadelphia Ballet, Washington Ballet, Nevada Ballet Theatre, and Piedmont Opera. Joe is an adjunct professor of theatre design at Adelphi University, Nassau Community College, and Five Towns College, has guest lectured for Hofstra University, and has taught seminars on marketing and production across the United States.  His book on dance production has been published across North America, Europe, and Australia. Joe holds a BFA in Design & Production from University of North Carolina School of the Arts and is a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and United Scenic Artists. Joe brings to CM’s Board his experience in creative leadership, production design, marketing, strategic growth, and academia. Having grown up at CM, Joe is honored to serve the organization today as the Secretary of the Board of Directors.  www.JosephNaftal.com

Bob Solak | Treasurer- is a Contract Manager for Educational & Institutional Cooperative
Services, Inc. (E&I), a New York not-for-profit Corporation located in Jericho, NY.  He has been there since the year 2000 serving the needs of the Higher Education and K-12 markets by saving them money through their portfolio of cooperative contracts.  His responsibilities include oversight of the contracts used by the members of the Cooperative in the
facilities category, negotiating new contracts and improvements to existing contracts with suppliers and providing creative solutions to the unique customer service needs of the members.  He has lived on Long Island for more than twenty five years with his wife and their two children.  CM became a part of his life when he saw Journey Cross and Crucifixion for the first time, many years ago at The Church of the Good Shepherd in Holbrook.  Friends who were involved with Journey back then invited him to join the troupe the next season.  From the start of rehearsals in his first season he could tell that this was something special and he wanted to make this an annual part of his life.  A few years later, his children also joined the Troupe.  In his many years of involvement and service to this committed and faithful group of people he has encouraged others to join and live the experience for themselves.  Now, being part of the Board of Directors it is his hope to be a catalyst within the organization to help nurture and provide a venue for the talented people who come through the doors of CMPAC.

Malika Batchie Lockhart is pleased to return to CMPAC. She began her time here in 1998 with the production of The Wiz and performed in several productions afterwards.
Malika is currently the Assistant Director of Campus Activities & Multicultural Affairs at the Ammerman Campus of Suffolk County Community College. She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and African Studies with a minor in Theatre as well as her Master’s Degree in Social Work. With over 20 years in higher education serving as a counselor, professor, and administrator, she hopes to bring this same passion for education and building community to her new role as Director.
Malika is extremely grateful for the theatre home that Noel Ruiz and Joe Campanello introduced to her. She hopes to display this gratitude by assisting in strengthening the sense of an inclusive community and help keep the legacy of CMPAC alive and well.

Ellen Dumlao – is an honors graduate of Boston’s Berklee College of Music and studied Voice and Vocal Performance at The Boston Conservatory of Music.  She is the lead female vocalist of Rhapsody (www.rhapsodytheband.com), voted Long Island’s best wedding band by Best of Long Island for its fifth consecutive year.  She has been part of the CM family since its inception 30 years ago.  Ellen was one of the original instructors of CM’s Summer Arts Educational Programs at Knickerbocker.  She worked as a CM Musical Director and as Director for the Children’s Theater and main-stage productions.   She has seen the journey of this “impossible dream” from its humble start at Knickerbocker Ave and to Dante Court before it settled in its longtime home off Montauk Highway. CM continues to be a HOME for her as it does for so many in the CM community for which all of us remain forever in debt to our beloved founder and mentor, Noel Ruiz.

Christine Jansson- is a NYS Licensed Real Estate agent with Belzak and Bodkin Realty. She has held her license for 8 years and has been in the real estate field for over 10 years. Along with finding clients their dream homes Christine specializes in foreclosures an investment property.  Her husband Kevin, of 30 years, is her partner in the real estate business. Christine and Kevin raised their 2 children in Babylon where she still continues to volunteer in the community. After serving as Coordinator of Babylon Village Girl Scout for 3 years, she took on the team position of treasurer for 6 years. Although her children have graduated and are no longer in scouting she continues to be the leader of a high school troop. This gives her the opportunity to continue to encourage young women to become leaders of the future. Christine’s other volunteer work includes committee member of Boy Scouts of America Troop 194, Vacation Bible School director for 15 years after bringing the program back to St Joseph’s RCC, and president of BSFA for 2 years at Babylon High School. This gave her the opportunity to get back involved with theater. Having a son who is a stage carpenter by trade and a daughter graduating college with a minor in theater it is only natural that she wants to devote more time to the theater. She is so excited to be part of the CM Board of Directors where she can use the skills she has acquired through her career and volunteering to grow and support the CM community.

Suzanne Neske earned her BA in English at Nasson College in Springdale, Maine, and worked toward her MLS/Theatre Emphasis at SBU.  She also attended a Summer Program at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC.   Her love of acting, singing, and performing led her to many roles throughout college as well as singing in local bands.  Suzanne is a retired English teacher who taught several courses including AP Literature and Composition, Drama and Acting, and Public Speaking for 40 years at Connetquot High School.  At the HS, she advised many activities and directed plays for 17 years.  In 2012, Suzanne was one of four finalists in the New York State United Teachers Teacher of the Year Award.