BOARD OF DIRECTORS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS •

  • Rachael Caskey

    Rachael Caskey is a local artist based in Manor, PA. She has an intuitive, eclectic style. She creates everything from mixed media to modern abstract art. She has a flair for color and texture in every piece. Her work intersects everyday life, nature and spirituality to foster a sense of mystery, love and connection.

    She works primarily with acrylic paints on canvas. Her body of work consists of layers of acrylic paint and fine and vintage papers with strong bold paint strokes, a mélange of the natural with the mystical or supernatural that is coupled with an emphasis on contrasting values. 

    In addition to creating her own unique paintings, she is open to commissions for homes, corporate offices, vacation properties and boutique businesses. Art collectors who follow her painting career say that Rachael’s body of work is easily identifiable by her use of subjects, layers and contrast. Her paintings reflect her mood, natural and spiritual inspiration, personal thoughts, physical and mental struggles, and triumphs.

    Each painting is an intuitive process. Unless she is working on an art commission, most of her paintings flow naturally without a particular theme at the start, almost like a reflection of her nonlinear life experiences.

  • Brian Crawford

    Brian Crawford

    BOARD PRESIDENT

    Strategic Planning + Finance Chair

    Brian is the founder of PGH Museums with a long history of community service and nonprofit management dating back to his childhood, where he earned his Eagle Scout, and experience in event planning and new media. Brian has acquired his skill set through goal driven determination and execution without a formal post secondary education. His largest achievement is by organizing the committee, and leading that committee, to create the Millvale Music Festival, a festival which hosts hundreds of bands across more than a dozen venues and attracts thousands of attendees. With his team, Brian oversaw an operating budget for the two day festival of over 70,000 dollars. In addition to the Millvale Music Festival, Brian similarly founded the California University Relay For Life which raised tens of thousands of dollars for the American Cancer Society each year. The event has been held for 13 years.

    Brian has worked with government officials on a statewide and municipal level working for the Pennsylvania General Assembly in the House of Representatives and as an elected official serving on North Irwin Borough Council. Brian has helped to put Pittsburgh on the international stage by leading a discussion panel of local podcasters which was live streamed as part of International Podcast Day’s 30+ hour live stream which includes live programs from podcasters from every continent. The panel was held during a local podcast convention, titled Pittsburgh Pod Con, which Brian organized with the help of Sidekick Media Service, Sorgatron Media, and The River’s Edge Radio Network. Brian also helped found, and has since departed, the online radio network, The River’s Edge which streams music from local artists 24 hours a day.

    Brian grew up with a fascination in history, particularly local history. He developed his love for art in his mid to late 20’s after moving to the city and being exposed to art through his radio program with The River’s Edge and by joining his friend Randy Hyland exploring museums. Since developing an interest in art, Brian has become an art collector of mostly local art with a goal to donate a life long collection to the community.

  • Veronica Jancuk

    Veronica Jancuk

    MARKETING CO-CHAIR

    Veronica has over 13 years’ experience in creative project management, producing digital experiences, photography, videography, rebranding, marketing, and social media management at agencies, in house, and with the government.

    She currently works at Hugo & Marie, a creative agency and artist management firm based in NYC. In her free time, her appreciation for art and design extends into sourcing vintage and thrifting art, furniture, and other objects, interior design of her home, and creating her own art.

    Her favorite museum and gallery in Pittsburgh are the Carnegie Museum of Art and the gallery at Associated Artists of Pittsburgh due to her personal connection with the over 100 year old organization (she is a descendent of one of the founding members, Aaron Harry Gorson, who was also one of the original exhibiting artists!), her role as a board member, and their support of local artists in and around the region. She hopes to expand awareness and support of The New Pittsburgh Exposition through her expertise in digital, marketing, and brand and to maximize the use and design of our website to help develop and promote content.

    veronicajancuk.com
    @ver0nicavisi0n on Instagram

  • RJ Kozian

    BOARD VICE PRESIDENT

    RJ, also known as 2020k, is a Queer Pop and Experimental Electronic artist who was raised and currently resides in the Pittsburgh, PA area.

    Additionally, Rj has experience working in public media and has been involved in the Pittsburgh arts and music scene for over 17 years. RJ is one of the original board members for The New Pittsburgh Exposition and hosts our Art Talk podcast.

  • Elizabeth Osborn

    BOARD SECRETARY

    Marketing Co-Chair

    Elizabeth is a graduate of High Point University with a master’s in communication and business leadership and a bachelor’s in internal business with minors in Italian, art history, and economics.

    She works remotely for a nonprofit arts council based out of Syracuse, New York. There she works in event planning and coordinates grant requests with knowledge of what organizations are looking for in the grant writing process.

    Elizabeth’s favorite museum is the Andy Warhol Museum finding Warhol’s pop art, film, and its impact on advertising to be inspiring. She developed a passion for art after seeing the ballet, The Nutcracker, and took the opportunity to admire the architecture of the theater. Elizabeth is hoping to find new and innovative ways to help us connect people to the arts and history through out of the box ideas such as pop-up events and better utilizing social media.

  • Don Sgambati

    Don Sgambati

    BOARD TREASURER

    Don grew up on the east side of Pittsburgh and has worked in his father’s bakery most of his life. He graduated from Point Park University in 2019 and started his own financial planning practice Downtown. He currently lives in Mt. Washington and enjoys listening to music, hunting ducks and fishing for trout.

  • CJ Thorpe

    CJ Thorpe

    SPONSORSHIP ENGAGEMENT CHAIR

    CJ is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor’s in philosophy and African American Studies. CJ has worked for the US State Department and the USA Pavilion as a Youth Global Ambassador at the World Expo in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) representing the United States to over 1,000 dignitaries. During his work with the department of state, he wrote proposals for the USA Pavilion, navigated UAE law, and assisted in executing events. During this time, he was awarded the USA Pavilion Leadership Award. CJ worked as a program facilitator and AmeriCorps Keys service member for the Industrial Arts Workshop and was a member of the Leadership Council member as a student athlete with Penn State Football.

    CJ’s favorite museum in Pittsburgh is the Mattress factory due to its history and the way the museum worked with artists to allow them to create the large, sometimes full room, installations in the museum. CJ became interested in art during middle school when he was taught the history of screen printing and about Andy Warhol. The connection between art and history instilled an interest in both which has grown over time.

    CJ hopes to help us become more involved in schools and in minority communities to help spark an interest of art and history to kids with hopes that it will develop into lifelong interests.

  • Lance McFadden Bio Photo

    Lance McFadden

    Lance was born and raised in Pittsburgh and attended Penn Hills Senior High School. After earning a B.A. in Public Policy and Administration at California University of Pennsylvania, he attended Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Virginia. He moved back to Pittsburgh’s Northside where he currently resides with his dog Bragi.

    Lance is involved in several other organizations in the city. He is involved in The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the Voter Empowerment Education Enrichment Movement, the Perry Hilltop Citizens Council, the Northside Public Safety Council, and the Allegheny Elks Lodge #339. He believes in participating in positive social change through active community involvement. Lance is also a practicing attorney in the city.

  • Joshua Snider

    Joshua Snider

    Josh is a printmaker, owning PGH Print Ship based out of Etna, PA. Through his business, he has worked with many nonprofit and volunteer organizations which has given him insight into how they work and operate. PGH Print Ship has won multiple awards in graphic design and Joshua plans to use assets at his business to aid us with design opportunities.

    Joshua has served on the board of advertising with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds Soccer club where he secured corporate advertisements. Joshua’s favorite gallery is Point Five Gallery in Etna. He appreciates the gallery’s intimate nature. He also is a fan of the Mattress Factory and The Andy Warhol Museum. Joshua was always an appreciator of art but an introduction to the Unblurred event in the Garfield / Friendship area galvanized his interest. From there, he became enthralled in local Pittsburgh art establishments such as the Pittsburgh Glass Center, The Roboto Project, Garfield Artworks, and PULLPROOF Studio.

    Joshua hopes to use his talents to grow our supporter base and general awareness and to make our mission more easily and quickly understood.

  • Missy Sorg

    Missy Sorg

    Born and raised in Western New York, Missy Sorg followed her heart to Pittsburgh and has been a staple in the Beechview neighborhood ever since! Although she started her career as a litigation paralegal she shifted gears in 2015 dabbling in marketing and social media development after becoming involved as a volunteer with Podcamp Pittsburgh. When an opportunity arose in 2016, she left her corporate paralegal job to focus full-time on marketing and social media development and hasn’t looked back.  

    Outside of work tasks, Missy donates her time back to the community through various volunteer projects–from helping organize an annual two-day podcasting and social media conference from 2008-2017, to her current role as the Beechview Revitalization Advisory Group (BRAG) Chairperson. She has also given presentations on social media, podcasting, and blogging through events such as Podcamp Pittsburgh, Podcast Movement, and WordCamp Pittsburgh.

    A self-proclaimed Jill-of-all-trades, Missy enjoys a variety of hobbies and interests in her free time. Her passion is baking, which netted her a third place award for a custom cookie recipe she developed for a friend.  Missy currently resides in the Beechview neighborhood of Pittsburgh with her husband and long-haired chihuahua, Wicket.

  • Aedan Marty

    Aedan Marty

    BOARD ADVISOR

    Aedan has a wealth of business experience including helping to found a startup company in the Pittsburgh area. Aedan also has experience volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh and has worked with the Special Olympics. Aedan has a a masters in business administration from Quantic School of Business and Technology and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Management from Carnegie Mellon University. He is a graduate of Pittsburgh Allderdice High School.

  • Tina Walker

    Tina Walker

    BOARD ADVISOR

    Tina is an honorary board member of PGHmuseums. She is a native Pittsburgher, currently a resident of Millvale, PA and graduated cum laude from La Roche College with a degree in Visual Communications/Biology, and had a 15 year career in advertising. Tina served as president of the Millvale Community Development Corporation for 6 years and continued to serve on its board for 2 more years. She was one of the founders of the Millvale Community Library and served on its board of trustees, a member of the Millvale Planning Commission, and involved in the Allegheny Together Program strengthening Millvale's core business district. She is currently a board member of the of the future REAADY Academy and is serving as its Director of Community Relations.