Staff and Board

Olga Levina is a co-founder of JCTC and as Executive Producer she oversees JCTC’s mission, visual and performing arts programming.  Under her leadership, JCTC’s team produced and presented theatre, music, dance, film, visual arts and other performances, including thematic series –Universal, Justice, Happiness, Identity, Vanity, Borderless, Disruptions and Fear and created such programs as JCTC-KIDS; JCTC-Conversations; Arts-4-All, JCTC-Films, Artists in Residency, DirectorsLab, Jersey City New Play Festival and The BOX. Levina has worked as a dancer-choreographer, actress and director. She graduated from Minsk School of the Performing Arts, studied acting with V. Bondarenko (Gorky’s Russian Theatre in Minsk),Yuri Lutinsky, acting and directing with Jorge Cacheiro (MFA in Theatre, MSU). Levina received Belarusian Philharmonic Award for the most creative choreography for Woman’s Nature in 1988. She also attended Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, Sally Jonson Studio, Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance(NYC) and holds BFA in Acting from Montclair University.

Tomek Smolarski is a cultural manager, producer, and curator with over 20 years of experience producing international cultural events and building bridges across disciplines through cultural diplomacy. His work spans theater, film, and performance, and he has collaborated with leading U.S. institutions including BAM, MoMA, Lincoln Center, Anthology Film Archives, MoMI, Pacific Film Archive, and La MaMa Theatre, among many others.

Emily Dzioba-Wasserman is a dramaturg, playwright, and arts administrator based in Jersey City. She is the Literary Associate at Premiere Stages, and the Program Director of The Storyteller Studio, a professional development space for emerging dramaturgs and playwrights at the New Jersey Play Lab. Other dramaturgical work: Art House Productions, The Strides Collective, Theater Masters, Blinking Light Theatre (Sydney, AUS); she is a script reader for the National Playwrights Conference at the O’Neill, The Playwrights Foundation, and 1319 Press. As an educator, Emily is interested in ensemble-generated storytelling, as she is trained in Tectonic Theater Project’s Moment Work devising method. As of Fall 2026, she is a member of the Speranza Theatre Co’s Women+ Playwrights Circle. Member of LMDA; BA, Drew University.

Maxim Andriyovych is a Ukrainian-born designer and creative strategist whose work brings together brand identity, marketing and the systems. For more than a decade he has worked with clients and agencies worldwide, building visual identities where concept and execution move as one.

At JCTC, Maxim leads the theater’s visual identity, marketing and advertising across print and digital. He shapes how audiences discover each season, from campaign design to promotion, and oversees the digital platforms behind ticketing, audience communication. His work connects the creative side of the theater with the practical one, so that every production reaches the people it was made for.

John Paul Garcia is currently the Office Manager/Bookkeeper/Private Events Coordinator at White Eagle Hall, the premier live music destination in North Jersey. When he’s not multitasking at the place he truly calls his second home, he is busy multitasking with quite a few other things. He also manages a mixed-use building in Clifton, NJ as well as helming his own bookkeeping company, Eleven Eleven Enterprises LLC (https://elevenelevenentllc.wixsite.com/website). With over 25 years hands on experience in bookkeeping and office management, John Paul defines the term “administrative and financial guru.” (linkedin.com/in/john-paul-garcia-3610679/)

John Paul did study screenwriting at Tisch School of the Arts, graduating with a BFA (with honors). However, his true passion is music. John Paul has been a semi-professional guitarist in his past, playing in many different genres of music, among them rock, a tri-state cover band, a Spanish Rock band and a Cuban Salsa band, among other musical interests. He did record an independent recording with a few friends, intertwining the Caribbean sounds of bachata with many different contemporary styles of music (https://www.reverbnation.com/gruporelax). Currently, John Paul is playing at open mics when possible in the hopes of getting into another musical situation (www.youtube.com/jaypgee1973)

Finally, none of this would make sense unless he was truly first and foremost dedicated to his daughter. Raising her as a single dad is the singularly most rewarding yet hardest thing he’s ever done. But he wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

Tolonda Ross is a trailblazer. She is an award-winning real estate agent and investor who retired early to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams. During her 31 years of dedicated service to the City of Jersey City, she served as the first black Deputy City Clerk and first black Alternate Registrar. In that capacity, Tolonda penned countless resolutions and ordinances for the Jersey City Municipal Council and in October 2013, she signed Jersey City’s first same-sex marriage license.
Her dynamic personality and entrepreneurial spirit propelled her to become the “solopreneur” of TiGRess Consulting LLC and Art-In-Heels. As the owner of TiGRess Consulting LLC, Tolonda specializes in helping clients transform ideas and event dreams into reality. With her extensive expertise in branding, graphic design, and social media marketing, she has built a reputation for creating unforgettable experiences that leave a lasting impression. Through her unwavering dedication to excellence and empowering others, Tolonda has proven herself a true leader. She owned and operated The Loft Art Lounge in Jersey City (January 2020-January 2025), a unique creative event space that doubled as a collaboration hub for local artists and entrepreneurs.
From 2015 to 2020, Tolonda shaped the tone and direction of the Urban Times News as the editor-in-chief, representing the newspaper’s editorial stance. Tolonda successfully transitioned the publication from a political focus to one that encompassed a broader range of community news. She recently self-published a series of journals under the pen name Tigress Ross, adding author to her impressive list of titles. Her commitment to service, entrepreneurship, and creativity is a shining example of how passion can be translated into purpose.
Tolonda Ross is a seasoned Northern NJ REALTOR® with Pinnacle Real Estate Group LLC and serves on the New Jersey REALTORS® Equal Opportunity/Cultural Diversity Committee.
She earned the At Home with Diversity® (AHWD), Pricing Strategy Advisor (PSA), and e-PRO® certifications from the National Association of REALTORS® and has received several awards and accolades for her dedication to the real estate industry and local community. Tolonda holds a BA in Marketing (Saint Peter’s University), an MBA in Information Systems (Saint Peter’s University and an MPA in Public Administration (Fairleigh Dickinson University). Looking back on her academic journey, Tolonda knows that each degree was essential to her journey.

Silvan Tang is a New York–based sound artist, composer, music producer, sound designer, and audio technician whose practice explores the relationship between sound, space, technology, and human perception. Working across Off-Broadway theatre, live performances, interactive installations, and immersive exhibitions, she creates sonic experiences that invite audiences to engage with stories and environments through listening. She studied Composing for Visual Media from LACM, and graduated from NYU Music Technology. Her recent work has been presented at the Chain Theatre Festival, Hollywood Fringe Festival, United Solo Festival, AAPI CHUAN Festival, NYU GALA, and New York Film Festival.

www.silvantangmusic.com

Albert Rudnitsky is a New York-based theater and film director, writer, and producer. A graduate of both the Moscow Art Theatre University and the Academy of Theatre Arts (GITIS), he has extensive experience working with prestigious institutions such as the Fomenko Theater, Taganka, and the Theatre of Nations.

For over a decade, Albert contributed to the international theater festival “Stanislavsky Seasons.” Between 2014 and 2018, he served as the Main Director of the International Stanislavsky Foundation, an organization that has honored cinema and theater legends such as Anthony Hopkins, Ian McKellen, and Ingmar Bergman. His directorial background also includes serving as the Artistic Director of the Sound Media Kids theater school in 2016.

Albert’s award-winning short films have been featured at numerous international and Oscar-qualifying festivals. Most recently, he served as the script supervisor and dialogue consultant on Sean Baker’s film Anora, which won the Palme d’Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and received five Academy Awards.

Joseph Austria is a theatrical carpenter, technician, and designer based in the New York Metropolitan area who is a graduate of Ramapo College of New Jersey and studied Theater and Music (B.A. in Theater – Concentration in Tech/Design; Minor in Music). He has experience with sound, set, and lighting design/technical work and has worked for multiple audio/visual companies and various collegiate and professional theaters. Past credits include: Ramapo College of New Jersey, Rosen PAC, Urban Stages, L&J Tech Services, and Metro Multimedia. He has also served as the Technical Director of the Don Bosco Preparatory High School Theater Department. His work has been nominated for the Foxy Awards at Montclair State University, The NJ Rising Stars Awards at Paper Mill Playhouse, and the Metro Awards by the Helen Hayes Youth Theatre.

Paul Dennison is a management consultant at Dennison Associates, who provides consulting services in the areas of corporate and philanthropic partnership development, organizational management, strategic framework, creative placemaking, grant management and data analysis. He has over 25 years consulting experience that includes information technology.

Paul strives to create conditions to appreciate and effectively assess the needs of organizations and programs. Stakeholders, including individuals’ purpose and goals are included into their strategies that help develop tools for distinctive action that have decisive impact.

He supports arts and culture community revitalization and through creative placemaking initiatives he works to raise awareness and increase dialogue among area stakeholders to expand and develop areas of support to make arts, culture and design an integral element of community development, economic opportunity and urban planning strategies.

Along with volunteer work as a Museum of Jersey City History (MJCH) board member, Paul serves as Board President with Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC), a nonprofit arts and culture organization that focuses on social, social justice, political and equity issues thru theater, visual arts, music, dance and community collaborative engagement.

Ben LoPiccolo serves as the CEO and partner of BLDG-UP, a dynamic real estate development firm focused on optimizing and elevating the value of every project they undertake. Boasting an extensive career spanning about three decades in the industry, Ben’s journey commenced with the renovation of luxury homes in Manhattan.

His enterprising spirit led him to Jersey City in the late ’90s, where he orchestrated the transformation of his start-up into a multi-million-dollar development firm. Ben’s expertise and unwavering commitment to excellence have garnered him numerous accolades and widespread recognition in development. His work has been featured in esteemed media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, New York Curbed, NBC, and more.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Ben actively contributes to the community as a devoted board member, visionary founder, and enthusiastic volunteer at the Jersey City Theater Center. In his personal life, he finds joy in spending quality time with his cherished family, exploring new destinations through travel, and connecting with the serenity of nature.

Tolonda Ross is a trailblazer. She is an award-winning real estate agent and investor who retired early to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams. During her 31 years of dedicated service to the City of Jersey City, she served as the first black Deputy City Clerk and first black Alternate Registrar. In that capacity, Tolonda penned countless resolutions and ordinances for the Jersey City Municipal Council and in October 2013, she signed Jersey City’s first same-sex marriage license.
Her dynamic personality and entrepreneurial spirit propelled her to become the “solopreneur” of TiGRess Consulting LLC and Art-In-Heels. As the owner of TiGRess Consulting LLC, Tolonda specializes in helping clients transform ideas and event dreams into reality. With her extensive expertise in branding, graphic design, and social media marketing, she has built a reputation for creating unforgettable experiences that leave a lasting impression. Through her unwavering dedication to excellence and empowering others, Tolonda has proven herself a true leader. She owned and operated The Loft Art Lounge in Jersey City (January 2020-January 2025), a unique creative event space that doubled as a collaboration hub for local artists and entrepreneurs.
From 2015 to 2020, Tolonda shaped the tone and direction of the Urban Times News as the editor-in-chief, representing the newspaper’s editorial stance. Tolonda successfully transitioned the publication from a political focus to one that encompassed a broader range of community news. She recently self-published a series of journals under the pen name Tigress Ross, adding author to her impressive list of titles. Her commitment to service, entrepreneurship, and creativity is a shining example of how passion can be translated into purpose.
Tolonda Ross is a seasoned Northern NJ REALTOR® with Pinnacle Real Estate Group LLC and serves on the New Jersey REALTORS® Equal Opportunity/Cultural Diversity Committee.
She earned the At Home with Diversity® (AHWD), Pricing Strategy Advisor (PSA), and e-PRO® certifications from the National Association of REALTORS® and has received several awards and accolades for her dedication to the real estate industry and local community. Tolonda holds a BA in Marketing (Saint Peter’s University), an MBA in Information Systems (Saint Peter’s University and an MPA in Public Administration (Fairleigh Dickinson University). Looking back on her academic journey, Tolonda knows that each degree was essential to her journey.

Maria L. Nieves is a change management specialist with three decades of experience helping organizations succeed, grow, and evolve by using her background in project management and talent development. Throughout her career she has guided organizations and teams to achieve ambitious strategic visions.

Maria was most recently the President & CEO of the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce, where, during her 11-year tenure, she helped increase membership growth by 20% annually and transformed the Chamber into a highly respected organization providing tangible value to its members, including high-quality programming, benefits, and resources. Under her leadership, the Chamber launched #HudsonGives, an annual, competitive giving day that helped more than 100 local Hudson County nonprofits raise nearly $2 million over four years and engaged more than 5000 individual donors. The Chamber also launched a highly successful Women of Commerce Council and an annual diversity conference called HOLA. During her time at the Chamber, she developed numerous partnerships with corporate sponsors to develop a robust calendar programming and saw the Chamber’s retention or members exceed 90% annually.

She is currently enrolled in a RN program at Holy Name Medical Center School of Nursing.

Tiffany E. McQueary was born in Hoboken, NJ and raised in Jersey City, NJ. She attended PS #15 in Jersey City, where she excelled academically. She attended Marist High School in Bayonne and was awarded the Scholar-Athlete Award upon graduation. Tiffany would then continue her academic career at New Jersey City University, where she served on the Student Government Executive Board and pledged a Community Service Fraternity Alpha Phi Omega. It was during college that Tiffany realized that she had a deep passion for helping others after participating in multiple Habitat for Humanity Alternative Spring Breaks. After graduating with honors in 2008, she then began working as Program Coordinator for Suits for Success Hudson County (previously known as Dress for Success Hudson County). While at Suits for Success, Tiffany helped thousands of clients on their journey to self-sufficiency, ensuring that they received the skills and resources that they needed. In 2009, while working at Suits for Success, Tiffany went back to school to pursue her master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA). In 2011, Tiffany decided to get more involved in her local community and joined the I Love Greenville Community Partnership (ILGCP), led by Garden State CDC and worked along with a group of Steering Committee Members to develop the Greenville Community Plan (GCP),which addresses the most important issues in the Greenville community as identified by the community residents and stakeholders. Since 2016, Tiffany has served as chair of the I Love Greenville Community Partnership, the group that formed during that GCP planning process and has worked collectively to secure millions of Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC) funding for organizations to focus on projects that address quality of life issues related to housing, employment, education, health and wellness, and economic development. Tiffany received honors when graduating with her MPA in 2012 and took her talents to Marist High School as the Director of Marketing & Admissions where she worked to increase enrollment. In 2016, Tiffany was promoted to Chief Advancement Officer, and in 2017 she led a campaign that to postpone the inevitable closing of the school. After Marist closed its doors in 2020, Tiffany then went on to work for the Benedictine Sisters of Elizabeth as the Director of evelopment & Marketing, where she built a development program from the ground up. Since November of 2022, Tiffany has been serving as the first Development Officer for the Jersey City Free Public Library.