Morris Arts: Tickets on Sale for "Great Conversations"
Published on March 19, 2018
Tickets are now on sale for Morris Arts' 10th Anniversary Great Conversations to be held on April 26, at the Madison Hotel in Convent Station. Marking the 10th anniversary, this year's event honors Joen Ferrari, the founder of Great Conversations. Guests can mix and mingle with a stellar lineup of conversationalists at a 6pm reception leading to the 7:15pm dinner where guests can converse in more depth with a specific host selected in advance.
Discover the pleasure of live conversation with celebrated hosts from the arts, media, tech, sciences, healthcare, public service, sports, industry and more.
Among this year's hosts are a robotics expert, a jazz saxophonist, Stanley Cup champion, a Medal of Honor recipient, a world famous climate scientist, a celebrated chef or other similarly fascinating and accomplished individuals. Each dinner table will feature a host Conversationalist whose unique experiences, life story and achievements will catalyze intriguing conversations.
Learn about their work, their thoughts on the world, their insights into their fields, and the experiences that shaped their lives. How did they get to where they are now? What lessons can they impart? This is an evening to exchange ideas and savor the pleasures of live encounters. You may be surprised by what you discover.
Our host conversationalists this year include the following distinguished individuals:
ARTS, MUSIC & MEDIA
(JPG, 342KB) Mark Gross
Tom Bergeron
ROI-NJ - Editor & Chief Content Officer of new multimedia NJ business publication; former NJBIZ editor
Joanne Del Rio
Novartis - Art Collection Manager overseeing Novartis' extensive art collection in North and South America; Board Chair for Save Ellis Island
Leia Gaccione
South + Pine American Eatery - Chef/Owner of Morristown's latest gastronomic success; former Chef de Cuisine for celebrity chef Bobby Flay; competed in 3 seasons of Iron Chef America
Mark Gross
Jazz Saxophonist, Recording Artist & Educator with 2 Grammy® award-winning projects; performed with Dizzy Gillespie, the Duke Ellington Orchestra and on Broadway; Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts Faculty
Christina Baker Kline
Highly acclaimed author of the NY Times bestsellers, Orphan Train and A Piece of the World
Carly Murphy
Sotheby's - VP for Global Client Development, Contemporary Art
John Servidio
General Manager of NJTV; Vice President of Subsidiary Stations for WNET
(JPG, 140KB) Bill Stephney
Bill Stephney
Co-creator and producer for the rap group Public Enemy, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees; Def Jam Records former President; Broad Market Media Principal; NJPAC Producer & Curator
BUSINESS
James Kraus
Crum & Forster €“ SVP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
Jason Levine
MondelÄ“z International€“ Regional Chief Marketing Officer North America
Ned Linnen
Avis Budget Group €“ EVP & Chief Human Resources Officer
Robin Rotenberg
BASF Corporation - VP, Corporate Communications & Chief Communications Officer; former President, BASF Canada
ENTREPRENEURS & TECH
Irene Chang Britt
Independent Board Director & Strategic Advisor; 30 years in Consumer Packaged Goods including President and C-Suite executive at Pepperidge Farm
(JPG, 81KB) Linda Wellbrock
Michael Engel
PwC €“ Intelligent Process Automation Leader for Emerging Technologies; Adviser to the Institute for Robotic Process Automation
Aaron Price
CEO & Founder €“ Propelify (one of the country's largest innovation communities) & NJ Tech Meetup; tech community expert for The White House (Obama Administration), Governor Phil Murphy, and the WSJ
Linda Wellbrock
CEO & Founder of Leading Woman Entrepreneurs, a media and events company that recognizes outstanding women business owners and entrepreneurs
HEALTHCARE & PHARMA
Carsten Brunn, PhD
Bayer Pharmaceuticals €“ President, Americas Region
(JPG, 6KB) Suneet Varma
Nancy Corcoran-Davidoff
Hackensack Meridian Health Network €“ EVP & Chief Experience Officer
Alex Kelly
Allergan €“ EVP, Corporate Affairs & Chief Communications Officer
Carrie Eglinton Manner
Quest Diagnostics €“ SVP, Advanced Diagnostics; Chair of the Board for Thrive Networks
Suneet Varma
Pfizer Essential Health - Global President
Joe Wilkins
Atlantic Health System €“ SVP & Chief Transformation Officer
LAW
Jami McKeon
Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP €“ Partner, Chair of the Firm; named among The National Law Journal's 75 Most Outstanding Women Lawyers
MILITARY SERVICE
(JPG, 1MB) Col. Jack Jacobs
Colonel Jack Jacobs (Retired)
Medal of Honor recipient for service in Vietnam; NBC News military analyst
REAL ESTATE
Leslie E. Smith Jr.
Rockefeller Group €“ former EVP; developed the International Trade Center/NJ Foreign Trade Zone in Mt. Olive NJ; Principal - Smith & Main
SCIENCE & MEDICINE
Lisa Goddard, PhD
Columbia University - Director & Senior Research Scientist at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society; Global expert on El Niño, La Niña & near-term climate change
Allen Keller, MD
NYU School of Medicine €“ Associate Professor of Medicine & Director of Center for Health and Human Rights; Director - Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture
SPORTS
Bruce Driver
New Jersey Devils Defenseman, Captain, and Stanley Cup Champion; Two-time NCAA Division I National Champion; Olympian
Brent Qvale
New York Jets Offensive Lineman #79
This very popular event fills up quickly so be sure to buy tickets early, available online at www.morrisarts.org. Proceeds from Great Conversations help to support the many programs and services provided by Morris Arts.