Darrell G. Brooke, President

Darrell G. Brooke is a partner of Taylor Summers Rhodes Rasmussen Brooke & Woodard LLP, and specializes in estate planning and taxation law. He received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California and went on to study law at Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the State Bar of California, the American Bar Association, and Old Pasadena Business & Professional Association, where he served as President from 1995-1997. Darrell became involved with the Levitt Pavilion Pasadena as a member of our 2008 gala committee, and his dedication and expertise led to an invitation to join the Board of Directors in the fall of 2008.

Nancy Davis, Vice President

Nancy Neal Davis has had a distinguished career in profit and non profit management in Southern California. At such leading retail, cultural, and educational institutions as I. Magnin & Co., the Joffrey Ballet, and Carnegie Observatories, she has earned a wealth of experience and cultivated contacts that reach across Southern California. Through her consultancy business, Davis Associates Inc., Nancy helps numerous organizations, individuals and families with philanthropic advisement. Special focus areas are fund raising, foundation creation, research, marketing, special events, board empowerment, strategic planning and public relations. Nancy is active as a community volunteer with the Tournament of Roses Foundation Board and the Braille Institute. She also enjoys studying landscape architecture,film and design. Nancy was one of the “founding advisors” to the Levitt Pavilion and serves as Chair of the Development Committee and on the Executive Committee.

Maxine Harris, Secretary

Maxine Harris joined the board of directors in late 2010. In early 2011 she became the Vice President and Senior Trust Officer of the Bank of the West in Los Angeles. Maxine has spent over 20 years working in the financial sector dealing specifically with trusts and estate planning for companies such as the Whittier Trust Company, U.S. Trust Company, Bankers Trust Company of California, and Bankers Trust Company of New York. In addition to her financial work, Maxine is highly active within her local community, serving on several boards including Union Station Homeless Services and the San Gabriel Valley Red Cross. She has also served on the boards of the Women's Leadership Council and the Organization of Women Executives. Maxine received her BA in Psychology from Rutgers University, and her ABA from Northwestern University.

Julio Morales, Treasurer

Julio Morales joined the Levitt Pavilion's board of directors in the spring of 2011. Julio is the Financial Director for the City of El Monte. He has over 17 years of broad-based corporate and public finance experience, previously serving as a municipal finance manager at the City of Oakland, investment banker at Bank of America, and reinvestment provider at Transamerica.

Julio is also on the Finance Committee for the YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Chapter, the Treasurer of the Anderson Latino Management Association (UCLA), a member of the University of Michigan and Harvard University Alumni Association, the Government Finance Officer’s Association (GFOA), California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSFMO), the National Federation of Municipal Analysts (NMFA), and the National Association of Independent Financial Advisors (NAIPFA).

Christine Adams

Christine Adams is a federal criminal prosecutor for the United States Department of Justice. A mother of three and stepmother of three, she has been involved with a number of children's organizations over the years. Currently, Christine also serves on the board of the Women's Care Cottage, which provides housing and services for homeless women and children. She joined the Friends of the Levitt Pavilion in order to work with our Levitt Loves Kids, Levitt in the Schools, and Children's Night programs.

Martin Davich

Martin Davich is an acclaimed, Emmy-winning composer in both TV and film. He studied music and composition at the University of Southern California and went on to a career playing and conducting for such artists as Anthony Newley and Burt Bacharach. He has composed music for numerous TV series including E.R., Trinity and Beverly Hills 90210 as well as many movies, such as Mad Money, Touching Home and I Bring What I Love. Martin has been with the Levitt Pavilion since 2009.

Jesse Dillon

Jesse Dillon joined the Levitt Pavilion board of directors in 2009. After providing premium management, development, and sales support to the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper Group for over 10 years, Jesse now serves as the Advertising Manager for the Pasadena Star News. Prior to his work with the Star News, Jesse was the Major Account Executive for the Los Angeles Times. He received both a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Management and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management from Azusa Pacific University. Jesse has also won several awards for his work in advertising, marketing, and sales.

Marc T.G. Dworsky

Marc Dworsky was born in Cape Town, South Africa and joined the board of directors in early 2010. He received his B.A. from York University (1983) and his LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School (1986), where he was the Gold Medalist and received the Viscount Bennett Fellowship awarded annually to the most outstanding law student in Canada. In 1986, he served as law clerk to the Hon. Mr. Justice G.V. La Forest of the Supreme Court of Canada, and in 1987, received his LL.M.from Harvard Law School, where he specialized in comparative constitutional law. Marc has been a partner of Munger, Tolles and Olson LLP since 1995. He was named as a Southern California Super Lawyer in 2004 and 2005, and in 2006 was one of 134 lawyers nation-wide named to the Client Services All-Star Team compiled by BTI Consulting based on its survey of General Counsels at over 200 Fortune 1000 companies.

Robert Gandara

Robert Gandara joined DMI Music & Media Solutions in January 2010 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, responsible for finance, accounting, operations, I.T. and human resources. Robert has spent the last 18 years working in music, media and technology, most recently as CFO for Ripple Networks, a pioneer in the digital out-of-home signage business. Prior to Ripple, Robert headed up the North American finance operations for entertainment giant Live Nation, where he oversaw the finance and accounting functions for 14 business units across the country, and negotiated national concert tours for artists such as Coldplay, Dave Matthews Band, Jimmy Buffett, and Rascal Flatts among others. Prior to Live Nation, Robert held various finance and operations positions with the major label groups including EMI, Sony BMG, and Universal Music Group, managing all cost centers of the business including a&r, marketing, sales and promotions for artists such as Janet Jackson, Beastie Boys, Alicia Keys, Santana and Mary J Blige. Robert holds a B.S. in Business Administration from California State University Northridge, and an Executive M.B.A. from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.

Shirley Jahad

An Award-winning journalist, Shirley Jahad has been serving listeners in Southern California for the past five years on 89.3 KPCC-FM. As an anchor, host, and correspondent covering news throughout the diverse communities all over Southern California, Shirley received the 2009 Los Angeles Press Club Award for best coverage of breaking news events. Before moving to Pasadena, she received her journalism degree from Northwestern University and worked for many years as a correspondent, host, and interim News Director and Assistant News Director for WBEZ Chicago Public Radio. In addition to her radio work, Shirley has also written and narrated award-winning documentaries for television on the History Channel and KTLA. She joined the Levitt Pavilion board of directors in 2009.

Ilonda Linden

Ilona Linden joined the board of directors in the spring of 2010 and belongs to the second generation of Lindens committed to carrying on the business founded by her father, Dr. William Linden. Linden Optometry has been a mainstay on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena for over 53 years. Ilona and her partners are dedicated to giving back to the community that has made their success possible. As part of that commitment, Linden Optometry provides free eyecare screening at local health fairs, and serves the underprivileged and disabled through their involvement with various local organizations. Ilona is also committed to serving the San Gabriel Valley community on a personal level. She is currently serving her third term as Secretary of the Sierra Madre Rose Float Association, and is a member of the Tournament of Roses. She previously served four years on the Board of the Playhouse District Association. Ilona is also a member of Pasadena Rotary and is a Paul Harris Fellow. She is a Pasadena native, and is proud to be carrying on her father’s legacy.

Ericka Lozano-Buhl

Ericka Lozano-Buhl is the Associate State Director for Community Outreach for AARP California. She joined the Levitt Pavilion board in 2009. Prior to her work with AARP, Ericka worked in the Local Government & Community Relations department of UCLA. She has been active in several political campaigns for government officials and grassroots community organizing. At AARP, she is responsible for community outreach, education, volunteer management, and legislative advocacy for nine congressional districts in the Los Angeles and San Bernardino areas. Before her move to Pasadena three years ago, she served on the board of the Friends of the Westwood Library and the St. Monica Parish Octoberfair.

Olivia Neece

Olivia Ernst Neece is Director of Neece Associates, a Real Estate & Securities Investment Firm. Previous positions include VP in The Ernst Group & Asst. Professor at Cal State Northridge in Finance & Mgmt. Prior to 1988 she designed hotels and banks; owned her firm Olivia Neece Planning & Design for 12 years; VP at Hirsch-Bedner, VP of Design at Aircoa. She received a 4 year Certificate in Interior Design at UCLA, and became a Licensed General Contractor and Certified Interior Designer. Her BS is in Finance & Real Estate from USC, MBA from UCLA, and 5 years of post-graduate research at The Peter F. Drucker School of Mgmt., Claremont Univ, 1 ½ years research at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory & ½ year at Nortel Networks. Her work has been published in books, journals & magazines in Strategic Mgmt., Mgmt. Information Science & Interior Design, and has been awarded in all three fields. She served on the Boards of Club 100, Center Theatre Group Assoc., 3 Academy of Mgmt. Group Boards, and the Board of the LA ASID and IBD. She is a Deacon and Choir member of her church. Olivia and her husband Anthony are Lifetime Founders of the Music Center; LA Opera-Opera Council; Center Theatre Group-Inner Circle; LA County Museum of Art-President’s Circle; and support numerous other organizations, They have a daughter, a married son and three grandchildren. Olivia enjoys travel, computer research and creating jewelry and handbags.

Jill Pearson

Jill Pearson owns and designs Wasabi Jewelry, an 18 year old wholesale business that sells to stores across the country and overseas. She and her husband, Bill, have lived in Pasadena for over 20 years. Her only child, a daughter, Sammie Pearson, is 13 years old and served as Ambassador for Levitt Loves Kids during the 2009 season. She has been involved in local charities for over 10 years serving in numerous positions with the Kidspace Circle of Friends and the Clairbourn School Families Association, as well as supporting many other local organizations. Both she and her daughter are current members of National Charity League where she is the current NCL liaison to Levitt Pavilion Pasadena.

Ariel Penn

Ariel Penn joined the board of directors in early 2010. She has worked with the City of Pasadena since 1991 and now oversees the Filming and Special Events Office and supervises a staff who coordinates all on-location filming in Pasadena (over 450 film projects a year). She also markets Pasadena as a location to the film industry, and coordinates City logistics for over 75 major special events a year including post-parade operations for the Tournament of Roses, the Pasadena Marathon, and the Amgen Tour of California. She produced the L.A. Area Emmy winning film (1993, for cinematography) “Times Have Changed: Filming in Pasadena” and was nominated for an Emmy, in addition, for her producing. In 2003, Ariel was chosen by the City Manager to project manage, on the City’s behalf, the renovation of Memorial Park's bandshell. Ariel completed a double major in Business Administration and English Literature from Antioch University L.A. in 1988.

Robert Shahnazarian

General Manager for Noorrestaurant | ballroom in Pasadena, Mr. Shahnazarian has over 15 years of experience in the entertainment industry as well as four years in the service industry. His career includes over twelve years of employment at Sony Music, where he worked with numerous Grammy Award wining artists including Taylor Swift, Train, John Legend and many others. In addition, his employment at the legendary Geoffrey’s restaurant in Malibu has provided him with insight and experience in providing world-class service to high-end clientele. He holds a B.A. in Communication from Pepperdine as well as an M.B.A from Pepperdine University | Graziadio School of Business and Management and sits on the Burbank Cultural Arts Committee. An international traveler with sophisticated taste, Mr. Shahnazarian brings passion of world culture and an extensive knowledge of customs and traditions to his work.

Founders

Douglas Huberman
Barbosa Polverini

Levitt Ambassadors

Claire Brian
Paco Farias
Jan Harrington
Barry Hensiek
Doug Huberman
Nic Fetter
Elizabeth Levitt Hirsch
Gary Pellant
David Whitcomb
Deena & Doug Willis