Our Board of Directors consists of the two founding members (Francis Kuzler and Jennifer Larkin) each of whom has extensive experience in programming as well as the not-for-profit sector.
We have also added two new board members in the last two months. Jan Rosenveld is the General Manager of the Ace Hotel New York and has a rich background in the international hospitality industry and the arts, as well as the charitable world of New York City. Sue Torres is the owner and Executive chef of Suenòs Restaurant. Sue also has a rich background in charitable event organization and the New York City philanthropic world.
For bios of Francis Kuzler and Jennifer Larkin, please visit our staff page.
Jan Rosenveld — Board of Directors
Jan Rozenveld serves as managing director at the popular Ace Hotel NY, a friendly hotel that opened in May of 2009, where he was involved with the construction, development and all operational and financial aspects of the hotel, as well as setting up all of its PR, sales and marketing strategies. In recognition of his work, Rozenveld was recently named New York GM of the Year for 2010 by the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI).
He has achieved distinguished veteran status in the luxury, boutique and friendly hotel industry, having opened, repositioned, renovated and managed properties including The Greenwich Hotel, Royalton, Paramount and St. Regis Hotels (all in New York), The Tides South Beach in Miami Beach, the Windjammer Landing Beach Resort in St. Lucia, the Westin Casaurina Resort in Grand Cayman, the Amanpulo Resort in the Philippines, The Chateau De Bagnols in France, the Stafford Hotel in London and others. Rozenveld also serves on the board of directors of The Brooke Jackman Foundation for children in need, and in 2006 won the Brookster Award for his dedication to the cause.
Sue Torres — Board of Directors
Best known for her delectable Mexican cuisine, chef Sue Torres is an expert on combining flavor, color, and texture through her culinary art. She has worked at some of New York's finest restaurants, including The "21" Club, La Grenouille, Isabella's, Lola's and Arizona 206 & Café. Torres became head chef at Rocking Horse Café Mexicano at just 23 years old, providing "the most exciting Mexican food in the city," according to The New York Times, and later started the restaurant Hell's Kitchen from the ground up. Sueños, her own restaurant opened in 2003, quickly became one of New York's favorite hideaways, featuring a variety of fresh Mexican dishes, authentic Mexican décor and stellar margaritas.
Over the years, Torres has received notable recognition from The New York Times, New York Post, Time Out New York, New York Magazine, Food & Wine, Working Woman's list of "20 Women Under 30" to watch, Bon Appetit's Best Cocktail List of 2004, Vogue's "Taster's Choice" 2004, and made guest appearances on "The Martha Stewart Show," "The Rachel Ray Show" and the Food Network's "Iron Chef".
