The Staff & Board

MICHAEL LORD | Chair
Mike Lord was a member of the Art House Board of Trustees from 2017 to 2019, and served as Secretary of the Board for his final year as a Trustee. He is thrilled to be back on the Board, helping the organization maintain and expand upon the successes of recent years. He became involved in Art House in 2012, through the INKubator program, reading and performing in readings of works in progress for writers in the program. Presently, Mike works as a Manager in the Office of Sponsored Programs at New York University to lend his skills and talents in the area of grants administration to Art House in furtherance of the organization's mission. But life isn’t all about grants and work, as we all know! Mike performed in an improv Murder Mystery club while an undergrad at Boston College, plays bass and guitar, and also hosts a podcast about the music of the band Genesis and the associated solo careers, called Tabletop Genesis. He currently lives in West New York, and is a New Jersey native, having grown up in the Asbury Park area.

BREE FALATO | Vice-Chair
Bree Falato has spent nearly two decades working in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors, specializing in community impact, strategic programming, and partnerships. She currently serves as the Director of Corporate and Volunteer Engagement at Publicolor, a New York City based non-profit focused on college and career readiness for underserved youth in New York City public schools. She is passionate about fostering community engagement and building partnerships, both through her work with Publicolor and in her personal life. Aside from serving on the board of Art House Productions, Bree actively participates in various committees within her children’s school and neighborhood. She lives in Hoboken, NJ, with her three children.

MARK KAHN | Treasurer
Mark Kahn founded Downtown Yogurt® of Jersey City in 2014 and has since grown his franchise with locations in New York City and Pennsylvania. He is also a community development professional and financial analyst with VDS Development, focused on affordable housing and retail planning in Hudson, Essex and Bergen Counties. Mark has over 25 years of experience in financial services, focused on debt capital markets and structured finance at JP Morgan, Deutsche Bank and Deloitte. He currently serves on the Boards of the Cameron Kravitt Foundation and Temple Beth-El of Jersey City and has served as Treasurer of the Board of Governors of Smoke Rise, a community of 950 homes on 2500 acres in Northern New Jersey. Mark has a BA in Economics from Lafayette College and an MS from the School of Management at New Jersey Institute of Technology.

IRENE BARNABY
Irene is a top real estate broker, people-connector, huge art lover, local business owner, and community organizer. For over 20 years, she's been an award-winning agent who's recognized as a knowledgeable and valuable local guide, trusted advisor, and dedicated resource to her community. She serves as treasurer for the Village Neighborhood Association as well as a mayor-appointed board member position on the Jersey City Board of Assessment. Irene is a native of the Republic of Georgia and holds a degree in International Business and Economics. She has resided in New Jersey for over 25 years and lives with her fiancé and three dogs in the Harsimus Cove neighborhood. Irene enjoys a lifelong love of skiing and international travel that has taken her to more than 50 countries around the world.

MICHAEL COSTANZO
Michael Costanzo began his career in 2002 while still in high school. His family has been in the car industry since 1925 and upon graduating, he began working with his father and uncle at their family business, P. Costanzo Auctioneers, one of the largest wholesale car dealers in New Jersey. In 2021, Michael opened his first retail dealership open to the public, NJ Auto Pros, in Tinton Falls, NJ. Michael spends his free time surfing, golfing, and enjoying the outdoors. He supports environmental causes, and the arts. He is excited to join the Board of Trustees to help grow the organization.

GERARD D. PIZZILLO
Gerard D. Pizzillo is a partner at Genova Burns focusing on all aspects of Commercial Real Estate throughout New York and New Jersey. He handles Corporate Law & Business Transactions, Commercial Real Estate & Redevelopment and Land Use & Approvals. He has represented numerous real estate and corporate entities in all aspects of transactional real estate, development and commercial legal issues.

Mr. Pizzillo has experience in real estate development and redevelopment law as well as tax abatement, zoning and land use. He has drafted and reviewed documents in all areas of commercial and residential real estate transactions, including leasing and financing.

Mr. Pizzillo represents public housing authorities in Section 8 and Housing and Urban Development requirements as well as associated issues in education, business organization and civil and corporate law.

Mr. Pizzillo has successfully litigated complex matters in state and federal courts.

He has been attending Art House events and fundraisers since the early 2000’s and is thrilled to be serving on the Art House Board of Trustees.

ANJALI PRAKASH
Anjali Prakash is a NJ based global markets sales leader with a background spanning both finance and technology, bringing a unique ability to connect ideas, people and platforms. With early training in computer science and experience as a software engineer, she pairs technical fluency with a relationship-driven sales career, helping build and scale businesses through strategic partnerships and creative thinking. Beyond her professional work, Anjali is deeply committed to the art as as a parent of two highly artistic teenagers who are autistic. She advocates for making art more accessible and inclusive. She is particularly interested in supporting initiatives that lower barriers to entry, expand audiences and create meaningful community engagement through art.

JENNIE PU
Jennie Pu is Director of the Hoboken Public Library and a longtime parent volunteer and PTA leader, advocating for public schools and delivering programming and services to children and residents. She previously served as a school librarian within the Jersey City Public Schools, which her children attend, and Dean of Libraries for Hudson County Community College. Jennie was the first Hudson County librarian to be named the New Jersey Library Association’s Librarian of the Year (2024). She won the Jersey City Public Schools Parent Leadership Award and was named a Jersey City Woman of Action. She was recognized for her “tenacious and fearless efforts to support intellectual freedom and the right to read” and a “force of nature” by state and national library leaders. Jennie is a twenty-year resident of Jersey City and a former trustee of the Hamilton Park Neighborhood Association. 

ROSANNE TAUFIELD
Rosanne Taufield was born and raised in Jersey City. Rosanne is Principal-Vice President of Real Estate Development for Panepinto Properties, Jersey City, NJ. Panepinto Properties is deeply committed to the Jersey City community and has been realizing significant projects for over four decades. Current projects Rosanne is working on in Jersey City, include: URBY at Journal Square, 499 Summit Avenue, and Harborside Plaza IV.

In addition to her lifelong ties and commitment to Jersey City, Rosanne is devoted to animal conservation and educational organizations, including WCS–Bronx Zoo, Cheetah Conservation Fund New York chapter, and horse therapy. Rosanne’s personal menagerie includes a horse, rescued cats, including Serval Hybrid and Bengal cats, dogs, and a loquacious African Grey Parrot. Her accomplished dogs include UKC Champions and American Rare Breed Association Champion/Grand Champions. (Coursing and CAT/FAST CAT races, focusing on agility and sportsmanship.) Rosanne is devoted to Jersey City and aspires to enhance all aspects of the community, especially the Arts in Jersey City.

ADVISORY BOARD

DAVID GIBSON
David is the co-founder and managing principal of the New York City design consultancy known as Two Twelve. Mr. Gibson is internationally recognized as an advocate of "public information design" and for his work on behalf of cities, institutions, and corporations over the past thirty-five since Two Twelve's founding. David studied architecture at Cornell University, attended the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, and received an MFA in graphic design from Yale University. He is also an award-winning organic garden designer. He gives workshops and lectures on way finding design at educational institutions and industry associations across the United States and around the world. He is a past President and Board Member of the Society for Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD) and is author of the award-winning volume The Wayfinding Handbook: Information Design for Public Places, published by Princeton Architectural Press. He was named Fellow of SEGD in 2009.

LAWRENCE BLUESTONE
Lawrence Bluestone is Counsel in Genova Burns' Jersey City, NJ office and a member of the Appellate, Complex Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property, Employment Law & Litigation, and Procurement Law, Government Contracts & Bid Protest Litigation Practice Groups. Mr. Bluestone focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation and appellate law matters on behalf of public and private sector clients, primarily focusing on management of multi-million dollar companies and business disputes. Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, J.D., 2008. Tufts University, B.A., 2005.

JIM PESKIN
Jim Peskin is a director, arts administrator and educator. Most recently he has been serving on an interim basis as the Associate Managing Director at Luna Stage. In a total departure from his work in the Theater, he works as a Docent for the Save Ellis Island Foundation where he is the head guide and keeper of the historical narrative. He was the Executive Director of the Montclair Arts Council and was Interim Director of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance. He has taught at Drew University, Northview High School and was an artist in residence for the NJ State Council on the Arts, PaperMill Playhouse and NJPAC among other. As a theatre professional he was a resident director for What Exit? and Playwrights Theatre of NJ and has directed in regional and small professional theatres.

CHRISTINE GOODMAN | Founder & Executive Director Emeritus
Christine was named by Jersey City Magazine as the #1 Most Influential Figure in the city's arts and culture scene. She received the Key to the City in 2007 on behalf of Art House Productions, in recognition of Art House's outstanding leadership in the arts. In 2009, The Star-Ledger highlighted Christine in their "I Am NJ" feature spread as "a woman who is turning the spotlight on [Jersey City's] arts community." In 2010, Christine was honored by Bank of America as a Local Hero through its Neighborhood Excellence Initiative, in recognition of her outstanding community leadership and service.

Goodman is a prominent voice in the city's movement to build a professional, permanent arts community and speaks regularly on the subject. She has been profiled and interviewed in media outlets such as WNYC's The Brian Lehrer Show, Channel 12, and AM New York. She has served as an Arts Commissioner for the City of Jersey City, and on the Hudson County advisory board for the development of a county-wide Arts Master Plan.

Prior to her career in arts management, Goodman has toured the country as an actress, performed her poetry across NY/NJ, and taught acting classes for children and adults. Goodman trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, and is an honors graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.