Jennifer Arnoldi is a Senior Associate and Project Manager with Mills + Schnoering Architects, LLC. She works principally on the restoration and rehabilitation of existing buildings, both historic and contemporary. Jen is an experienced architect and designer with a background in building diagnostics, including nondestructive evaluation and building data analysis; restoration planning and documentation; and historic documentation including preparation of National Historic Register of Historic Places Nominations for individual resources and historic districts, as well as managing documentation and approvals for Federal Tax Credit projects. She holds a BA in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania and an M. Arch. from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Nicholas Schiavone has been a Hard Hat Educator with Save Ellis Island for over 5 years. He began after retiring from a 30+ year career with the New York City Housing Authority. Nicholas has always loved history and has a BA in History from St. John’s University. His grandparents were immigrants through Ellis Island and he always asks his guests for their family immigration stories which can bring Ellis Island to life. 

Andrew Gustafson is a researcher, tour guide, and the vice president of Turnstile Tours & Studio, a social enterprise consultancy that works with non-profit and cultural organizations to build capacity to welcome the public. Andrew has been a licensed New York City sightseeing guide for over 10 years, and he leads tours with a special focus on the city’s waterfront, infrastructure, and industry. He has developed tours and education programs at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn Army Terminal, New York City’s public markets, and Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, and he has consulted on programming and accessibility at institutions across the globe, including Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Storm King Art Center, The Ringling, and the Singapore Tourism Board. Andrew is also an Allied Professional of the American Institute of Architects and is a member of their tours committee, leading tours by boat with Classic Harbor Line about the city’s architecture and infrastructure. 

Valentina Miller is the Production Lead at Night Kitchen Interactive. She has launched dozens of digital projects for museums, science centers, and cultural institutions over the past six years and oversees the lifecycle of digital projects from conceptualization to installation. Valentina’s expertise in project management, education, animation, videography, and interactive storytelling allows her to facilitate both client-facing strategic planning and technical problem-solving in a production environment. She focuses on a human-centered approach for designing interactive experiences targeted toward a growing digital-native audience. Valentina is an educator at heart who enjoys sharing new techniques and contributing to conferences and research discussions. Most recently, she was featured in CONTEXT Magazine’s 2021 “Designers You Should Know” article and led a panel about climate change interpretation at The Association of Science and Technology Centers 2022 conference. She teaches Digital Media, Game Design, and Animation courses at Drexel University, and wrote four classes for the Virtual Reality and Immersive Media major. 

Leonardo Vazquez, AICP/PP is the Executive Director of the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation. He has been helping enhance communities for more than 30 years as an author, community economic development professional, creative placemaker, educator, journalist, and urban planner. He founded and directed two organizations that helped grow the field of creative placemaking around the United States through innovative convenings and professional development programs: The National Consortium for Creative Placemaking and Creative Placemaking Communities. Together, these organizations engage more than 8,000 people from the worlds of arts, cultural heritage, public policy, and more to explore ways to leverage the power of arts and culture to enhance communities. Leo has been recognized nationally and in New Jersey for his work in urban planning, creative placemaking, and social justice. In 2012, he won the American Planning Association’s National Planning Leadership Award for Advancing Diversity and Social Justice in Honor of Paul Davidoff. Leo has won a national award from the American Planning Association (APA) for his work in urban planning and social justice. His work in community engagement and creative placemaking also led to receiving state and national awards from the association. He is the co-editor of “Diálogos: Placemaking in Latino Communities”, and author of Leading from the Middle: Strategic Thinking for Urban Planning and Community Development Professionals. He is a co-founder of the Latinos and Planning division of the American Planning Association (APA) and is an advisor to the APA’s Arts and Planning Division. 

Danielle De Laurentis has been directing programs and funds at The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF) for fifteen years. She is involved in all aspects of the organization, working to improve community life in the Northern NJ region by galvanizing and connecting people around various issues such as pediatric obesity, gentrification, downtown revitalization, and environmental protection. She also leads ArtsBergen, NNJCF’s regional arts initiative to strengthen the arts community and connect communities to the arts. In 2013, she completed Rutgers Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy’s Master Practitioner in Creative Placemaking intensive yearlong program. She continues to champion creative placemaking, leading the public and community-based art work of the Foundation to integrate art and culture into municipal planning, address critic issues, and honor lesser-heard voices in communities. Under her direction, NNJCF has become a leading organization producing public art in Bergen County. She is passionate about both the participatory art process and creating interactive public art that instills belonging and encourages play and connection. Danielle earned a dual BA in Communications and Art History from Fairfield University and completed a one-year post-graduate program in advertising design at the Fashion Institute of Technology. 

Michelle Moon, principal of Saltworks Interpretive Consulting, offers a distinctive approach to crafting powerful museum experiences. Drawing from pivotal roles at institutions like the Tenement Museum, Peabody Essex Museum, and Mystic Seaport, she’s pioneered unique educational experiences and audience strategies that really connect. With a distinctive flair for narrative transformation, Michelle strategically designs exhibits, interpretation, and programming, seamlessly bridging past and present. Her visionary approach ensures museums not only preserve history but also engage, enlighten, and inspire contemporary audiences with profound resonance.

Marc Lorenc, Ph.D. is the Chief Public Historian at the New Jersey Historical Commission overseeing multiple aspects of RevolutionNJ, New Jersey’s official commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. He earned his doctorate in anthropology from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and holds a graduate certificate in African Diaspora Studies. He is also the Director of the Dr. James Still Community Archaeology Project, sits on the board of the Dr. James Still Historic Office Association, and is the Founder of Unstuck in Time Gaming, an anthropological board game company.   

Darley Newman is recognized in Forbes for her “PBS media empire.” Darley Newman, a trailblazing entrepreneur and multi-platform host, is celebrated for her groundbreaking work in media. With a dedication to both exploration and narrative, Darley has created compelling series that transcend borders, broadcasting and streaming on PBS, Amazon Prime, Ovation TV, and in over 85 nations. Her Emmy Award-winning productions, “Travels with Darley” and “Equitrekking,” have solidified her status as a leading voice in the industry. Darley’s recent architectural and historical series, “Look up with Darley,” earned an Emmy nomination, further highlighting her versatility. 

Beyond her extensive catalog of 72 half-hour episodes of “Travels with Darley,” she ventures into new territories, guiding audiences through destinations tied to the American Revolution for “Revolutionary Road Trips” and iconic Route 66. Her engaging livestreams and events with Smithsonian Associates routinely draw sold-out crowds, exploring themes ranging from Civil Rights Trail history in Alabama to sustainable adventures in Santa Fe to culinary delights in Tokyo. 

A respected author and media figure, Darley’s work has garnered widespread acclaim, earning recognition from prestigious publications like Success Magazine, NPR, and The Washington Post. She has graced the screens of national networks such as Today Show and FOX, CBS, and NBC affiliates. 

In addition to seven Emmy nominations, Darley’s contributions to travel journalism have earned her the North American Travel Journalist Award and the Inspiring Woman Award from Women in Philanthropy and Leadership. She is a two-time Telly Award recipient and a member of the Taste Awards Hall of Fame. 

Darley’s adventurous spirit has led her to oversee productions in over 30 nations and 26 states, where she’s encountered exhilarating challenges, from facing charging elephants in Botswana to exploring the depths of South Korea’s waters.