Rick Schussel
Artistic Director

Rick has been creating theater, dance and art exhibitions for the past 25 years. He has produced over 200 dance and multi-cultural events, viewing the arts as essential to the human diet. As the Artistic Director of New Dance Group Arts Center he continues, with the Board of Directors, to build an open-door policy arts center focused on performance and individual artistic growth. In addition to having a distinguished performing career as a dancer, choreographer, director, and teacher, Rick possesses experience and expertise in business strategy and implementation. He holds a New York State real-estate license and is an Adjunct Professor at Marymount College in New York City. Rick believes that we are all ‘Artistic Agents’ forging views to express and bring attention to the world around us.

Anna K. Zak, MPA
Executive Director

Anna holds a Master of Public Administration in Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy, with an International Specialization from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and has graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Journalism from Long Island University. Anna was born in Poland and has traveled, studied and worked abroad. She has worked with NYU/Wagner and Education Development Center on The Our World 2007 Capstone Project which was nominated for the Howard Newman Award of Excellence. The project took Anna to Beirut, Lebanon where she interview youth on camera for an in depth case study. She studied at Universiteit van Amsterdam, The Netherlands and has participated in the International Health Policy & Prospect Intensive Seminar in Geneva, Switzerland as well as the National Collegiate Honors Council Study Abroad Program at Universidad de Alcala de Henares, Spain. Furthermore, Anna possesses sound experience in New York’s vibrant nonprofit and government sectors. The last five years of which she spend working for a New York State Senator, as Public Relations Representative and most recently as Chief of Staff. Anna serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors of New York Dance and Arts Innovations (NYDAI), a nonprofit organization supporting performing arts in New York City. Previously, Anna has worked at NYDAI as the Events Coordinator; she also served as their Master of Ceremonies at weekly Art Nights and The Annual International Chopin & Friends Festival for over eight years. Her experience is further enhanced by her brief past in the field of journalism and broadcasting. Amongst others her works have been featured in Newsweek Polska, Magazine.Art, Magazine 11211 and on WNYE Channel 25. Anna is fluent in English and Polish and proficient in Spanish.

Ulric Bond
Booking Manager

Ulric was born in Guyana and came to the United States at the age of 10.  He holds an Associate Degree of Business Administration from Baruch College. He fell in love with fashion at the age of 17 and worked his way up the fashion ladder ever since. He managed the men’s department at Lord and Taylor in the early part of his career. He then moved on to be the representative for DKNY for a few years. Shortly after, he became the representative for Gucci. In 2006, Ulric became a part of New Dance Group and became intrigued with the fast paced and challenging environment of the art world.

Sarla B. Patel

Accounting Manager

Information coming soon!

Gina Verdi, MNO
Director of Marketing & Events

Gina holds a Master of Nonprofit Organizations from The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University and a BA in Spanish from Notre Dame College.  During graduate school, she worked on many consulting teams for educational, arts and social service organizations.  Prior to her time at Case, Ms. Verdi worked in the Marketing Department of Cleveland Opera, in the Membership Office of Cleveland Public Art, as a Fine Arts instructor at Laurel School, as the General Management Intern at the La Jolla Playhouse and as a Board/Company Member of Bad Epitaph Theater Company.  She is also a trained Child Life Volunteer and spent nine years at University Hospital’s Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.  In addition to her administrative work, Gina proudly served as a stage and production manager for over a decade at theaters in Ohio, New York and California, including The Cleveland Play House. Gina is fluent in English and Italian and proficient in Spanish and American Sign Language.

Jennifer Williams
Front Desk Manager

Jennifer has been a staff of New Dance Group since 2002. She was born, raised and educated in Guyana, South America, where she wrote the General Certificate of Education (London) examination (GCE), and the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) exams. In the US, she is a licensed & certified Phlebotomy Technician, EKG Technician and Clinical Medical Assistant, but chose to remain in the field of Arts, which she has grown to love.