NEXT TABLE ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

Tanya Bracco

Co-executive producer at CBS's The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Tanya Bracco, a graduate of California State University, Fullerton with a degree in Theatre & Television, is currently the co-executive producer at CBS’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Before joining The Late Show in September 2015, she spent a decade at The Colbert Report, where she held various production roles and garnered recognition with two Emmy Awards, three Producers Guild Awards, and two Peabody Awards.

At The Late Show, Bracco integrates the creative and production aspects of the program and provides daily creative direction alongside Opus Moreschi. Her extensive experience in television production makes her an invaluable asset to the show’s success.

Tamara Tunie

Award-Winning Actress - Stage, Television & Film

Tamara Tunie has a distinguished body of work that encompasses stage, television, and the silver-screen. She recently was seen in the role of Cissy Houston, mother of the great American icon, Whitney Houston, in I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY, which reunited her with her CAVEMAN’S VALENTINE & EVE’S BAYOU director, Kasi Lemmons.

Ms. Tunie followed the filming, with a critically acclaimed turn on the London Stage as US Vice President, Kamala Harris, in The Old Vic Production of THE 47TH, which transports audiences to a near future where Harris goes toe to toe with Donald Trump in the next US election. One of the distinct hallmarks of this remarkable career is a long examination of American culture and its unique social and power dynamics. Beginning with such films as Oliver Stone’s WALL STREET with Michael Douglas, Harold Becker’s CITY HALL with Al Pacino, Taylor Hackford’s DEVIL’S ADVOCATE with Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron, to Robert Zemeckis’ FLIGHT opposite Denzel Washington, with whom she also starred on Broadway as “Calpurnia” in JULIUS CAESAR, Ms. Tunie’s attraction to content with depth and meaning is apparent.

This thread continues with the Sundance TV series THE RED ROAD, where Tamara starred as the challenged Native-American tribal chief “Marie Van Der Veen” opposite Jason Momoa, the BBC/Netflix international drama BLACK EARTH RISING which scrutinizes the West’s complicity in the destabilization of Africa; portraying “Under-Secretary of State, Eunice Clayton”, and AMC’s DIETLAND where she explored the underbelly of the American Beauty-Industrial Complex as“Julia”, manager of the mysterious “beauty closet”.

Her award-winning stage works include the World Premiere of AMERICAN SON, a searing examination of race and class where she originated the role of “Kendra Ellis-Connor” and was honored with the Berkshire Theatre Award, her Obie-Award winning turn as “Marvelous” in Danai Gurira’s FAMILIAR, which grapples with identity, assimilation, tradition, and the clashing of ideals of an African-Immigrant family, and most recently she starred in the world premiere of BERNARDA’S DAUGHTERS, where she portrayed matriarch “Florence Delva” with “oracular grandeur”; another contemporary play that “mines” the effects of gentrification, police brutality and what it means to be “American”, on a Haitian-American family in Brooklyn.

Ms. Tunie first gained an international following in the role of “Medical Examiner, Dr. Melinda Warner”, with 23 seasons on Dick Wolf’s legendary NBC series LAW AND ORDER: SVU. Tamara is a series regular on the Netflix cult favorite, COWBOY BEBOP, and the second season of the Apple-TV hit, futuristic-drama SEE, as “The Bank”, with Jason Momoa and Alfre Woodard.

Recurring guest starring roles include such hit shows as ALMOST FAMILY, EMERGENCE, BETTER CALL SAUL, BLUE BLOODS, BILLIONS, ‘ALPHA HOUSE, 24, ELEMENTARY, THE GOOD WIFE & SURVIVOR’S REMORSE.

Ms. Tunie is a Founder of Black Theatre United. She is Chair Emerita of the Board of Directors of Figure Skating in Harlem, a non-profit organization that supports academic excellence and instills life skills to young girls in the Harlem community through the art and discipline of figure skating, to ensure they are champions “off the Ice”! She serves on the Board of Directors at Harlem Stage/The Gatehouse, City Theatre Company in Pittsburgh, and is on the Advisory Board of Hearts of Gold, a not for profit that supports women and their children in New York City shelters, and helps them transition out of the system.

In 2005, Mayor Bloomberg awarded Ms. Tunie the “Made in New York Award” from the City of New York, for her support and commitment to Film, Television and Theater. Ms. Tunie holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Carnegie-Mellon University, and now serves on the Executive Board of Trustees.

Jeff Ivory

Founder and CEO of GamerXSociety

Jeff Ivory is the founder and CEO of GamerXSociety, a gaming company leveraging proprietary play and earn technology to provide personalized perks to gamers as they play their favorite games. Jeff is a lifelong gamer and has been quoted as saying, ‘Video games saved my life,’ he has utilized his deep understanding of deploying and managing cloud networks as a 7-year member of the Boeing Satellite and Aerospace Defense team to revolutionize the gaming industry through universal gamification technology. In 2016, Jeff started an esports-focused company where he organized the first ever ‘Los Angeles Pokemon Go’ bar crawl— this kicked off a three-year partnership with Dave & Buster’s, where he produced recurring esports events across several Southern California locations, which recently has expanded into a national partnership across 100 D&B locations. In early 2020, Jeff taught himself full-stack web development in direct response to the negative impact the Covid-19 pandemic shutdowns had on the live esports side of his business – resulting in him building the foundations of what would become the core technology of GamerXSociety.

Patty Alper

President of the Alper Portfolio Group

Patty Alper is president of the Alper Portfolio Group, a marketing and consulting company, and is a board member of both the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) and US2020, the White House initiative to build mentorship in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers. She has also been appointed to the corporate committee for Million Women Mentors, is a trustee of the Phillips Collection, and was recently inducted into Who’s Who in America.

Patty’s experiences have led her to roles as a prominent speaker and the author of three books, including Teach to Work: How a Mentor, a Mentee, and a Project Can Close the Skills Gap in America, Curriculum for Mentor Trainers, and An Implementation Guide for Mentor Program Coordinators. Patty’s 35-year career in business, coupled with two decades of hands-on experience working directly with youth, uniquely qualifies her to understand the growing skills gap from both perspectives: the employers who seek to build a pipeline and hire better-prepared youth for twenty-first-century jobs and the youth who are often ill-equipped or ill-trained to enter the new workforce.

In her book, speaking engagements, and video tutorials, Patty describes how Project Based Mentorship® brings together corporate employees, retirees, and businesses as a corps of knowledge practitioners with the common goal of passing on skills to the next generation. Patty draws on her extensive philanthropic work to bring the business and education sectors together meaningfully, building on the strength of each to close the skills gap. A trustee of the Alper Family Foundation for the last 20 years, Patty’s unique approach to entrepreneurial mentorship has been featured in The New York Times, The Huffington Post, The Washington Post (twice), TIME, and Philanthropy Magazine.

Through her services on the national board of NFTE, Patty’s vision served as the groundwork for the Adopt-a-Class program she founded in 2001. During her years of service at NFTE, she invited countless business leaders to join her in a mentoring capacity, helping teachers across the country inspire and coach entrepreneurship students on their business plans. Shortly after college, Patty spent five years working with incarcerated, runaway, and suicidal youth in Iowa’s Youth Detention System. She served as a counselor to psychotic adolescents at Chestnut Lodge, a long-term psychiatric hospital in Maryland.

In 1980, Patty was one of the first women in the construction field as cofounder of a multi-million-dollar project management company. The company specialized in building corporate headquarter facilities and high-end interiors for large businesses in the DC market. That innovative spark led Patty to another niche, producing and hosting her own radio talk show, For Love or Money, on Infinity Broadcasting. Today, the Alper Portfolio Group provides consulting services for the commercial real estate, financial, and non-profit sectors. Patty holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Theology from Cornell College Iowa and has continued masters-level marketing studies at American University. She is married and has two stepchildren as well as three grandchildren. She loves competitive golf, art, theater, and music and continues her study of theology.

Lorraine Hariton

Experienced CEO and Board Member, Advisor on business strategy and development. Former CEO of Catalyst (2018-2024)

Lorraine Hariton is President & CEO of Catalyst, a global nonprofit working with the world’s most powerful CEOs and leading companies to help build workplaces that work for women. Catalyst’s vision and mission to accelerate progress for women through workplace inclusion has been a lifelong passion for Lorraine. She is honored to lead the organization and help write the next chapter in its 60-year legacy.

Lorraine brings a diverse and robust background in technology, innovation, and partnership to her role at Catalyst. Her extensive career includes senior-level positions in Silicon Valley and leadership roles across the private, nonprofit, and government sectors. In 2009, President Obama appointed her to the Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs at the US Department of State. Most recently, Lorraine was Senior Vice President for Global Partnerships at the New York Academy of Sciences.

Lorraine has been involved in women’s advancement and leadership initiatives throughout her career. At the New York Academy of Sciences, she created the Global STEM Alliance and its 1000 Girls, 1000 Futures program, a global mentoring initiative to help girls pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). At the US Department of State, Lorraine established the Global Entrepreneurship Program, the WECREATE program for women entrepreneurs, and the Secretary’s Council on Women’s Leadership. She has served on several boards of organizations committed to advancing women in the workplace, including the UN Women Global Innovation Coalition for Change, the Stanford Clayman Institute for Gender Research, and Watermark. Lorraine is the proud mother of Glen and Laura and enjoys spending time with her grandchildren. She is also an accomplished triathlete who enjoys cycling, tennis, and all things outdoors. Lorraine holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematical Sciences from Stanford University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School.

Eilene Davidson Grayken

Award-Winning International Theatre Producer

Eilene Davidson Grayken is a dedicated philanthropist and supports numerous causes, including education, medicine, hospitals, and programs for addiction treatment.

Eilene is also an award-winning international theatre producer who works in the UK, US, Australia, and Europe. Eilene is currently producing Agatha Christie and Plaza Suite on the West End. On Broadway, she recently produced Prima Facie, A Doll’s House, Leopoldstadt and Life of Pi.

Other recent plays include: Anything Goes (London), A Christmas Carol (London), Jagged Little Pill (Australia) Uncle Vanya (London) Betrayal (London and Broadway) A Day in the Death of Joe Egg (London), Admissions (London), 9 to 5 (London), Starry Messenger (London), Emilia (London).

Eilene formerly worked as an actress, writer, and dramaturg in Europe and the USA. She is in the President’s circle at BAFTA, is a Society of London Theatre (SOLT) member, and sits on the board of the prestigious Huntington Theatre in Boston, USA.

Jess Ewart

Brand and Venture Strategy Expert

Jess Ewart is a brand and venture strategy expert based in Paris, France. A sought-after strategist and communicator with 20+ years of entrepreneurial and investor experience, she has founded, grown, and initiated nonprofits, businesses, and movements around the globe focused on topics including women’s rights, entrepreneurship, and well-being. Prior clients include Virgin United, The Chopra Foundation, and GenieCast.

Jennifer S. Berman

Co-Founder of MZQ Consulting

Jennifer S. Berman is a leading Employee Benefits attorney and compliance consultant whose insight and experience has helped dozens of employers, large and small, navigate the complex and ever-changing world of employee benefit plan rules and statutes. In addition to her role at Kelly Benefits, she is CEO and cofounder of MZQ Consulting, LLC, a benefits compliance and ACA reporting firm that also specializes in ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, IRS Code, the ACA and more.

An expert on health care reform developments and legislation, Jen is a sought-after speaker and commentator on a wide variety of health care reform and employee benefits issues, especially ones related to the Affordable Care Act and the coronavirus pandemic. As a wife and mother living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a rare musculoskeletal disease that causes her to use a wheelchair some of the time, she brings a unique perspective and advocacy to her work on behalf of others managing complicated medical needs in the health care marketplace. Jen frequently contributes to the national dialogue on health care and has been featured in NPR, Newsweek, The New York Post, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes. In 2020, Jen was included on The Daily Record’s VIP list, which recognizes Maryland’s leaders who are 40 years old or younger based on their professional accomplishments, community service, and a commitment to inspiring change.

Jen earned her B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania and her J.D. degree, cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She earned her executive MBA at Loyola University Maryland in 2019. For nine consecutive years, she was named a Maryland Rising Star in the area of Employee Benefits/ERISA by Super Lawyers. She is also a founding member of the Ehlers-Danlos Research Foundation. Jen lives in Baltimore with her husband, Josh, and their two children, Jack and Abby.

Dan Flood

Founder and Partner of Maverick Management

Dan Flood is the Founder and Partner of Maverick Management, a Los Angeles-based “indie” investment firm focused on supporting businesses broadly across the media and entertainment sectors. Maverick provides access to the same capital and strategic advisory as ordinary private equity but with a refreshingly direct, efficient, and transparent approach.

Prior to Maverick, Dan was a private equity investor at Solace Capital Partners and an investment banker at Credit Suisse. He graduated from the Haas School of Business at the University of California Berkeley and achieved his Eagle Scout Award.

In his free time, Dan enjoys surfing, fishing, golfing, playing the guitar, watching live sports, consuming media, and taking Maverick to the beach (his dog, not the investment firm).