Lavinia Branca Snyder is a writer, photographer and digital artist. Previously, Lavinia has worked in the financial sector and as the Development Director for The Workhouse Theatre Company in New York. In 1997, she founded Lavinia's World, a multi-faceted children's entertainment company that publishes educational children's books for kids age 3 to 9 years old. Lavinia currently serves on the Board of the The Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering and the Southampton Fresh Air Home as well as being a Trustee for the Brian and Lavinia Snyder Foundation. She lives in New York with her husband Brian Snyder and her teen-age daughter Ophelia.

Michelle Russell Johnson has spent over two decades in the asset management business, the last six of which were as a Senior Vice President at Paulson & Co. Inc. She has a very strong track record of success in sales and client service with institutional investors worldwide having focused much of her efforts on the Endowment and Foundation community. Since arriving to NYC in 1984, Michelle has devoted her time and energy to helping children thru philanthropic work with such charitable organizations as Sheltering Arms, Autism Speaks, The McCarton Foundation, and 100 Women in Hedge Funds. She is a leader and motivator in bringing awareness and in raising money for the not for profit community. She lives in New York with her husband Neil and two teenage children Rachael and Noah. Rachael, a passionate and talented artist, collaborated with Ross Bleckner the past two years for the ARTrageous Benefit auction.

Erica Reid is a devoted wife and hands-on mother who extends her love of children beyond her own home. She dedicates time to mentoring girls at a charter school in the Harlem Village Academies, and is an active supporter of The Studio Museum in Harlem, Baby Buggy, and Journey for Change among other organizations. Erica’s goal is to expose families to community programming and better education, opening their minds from the familiar neighborhood to the world beyond. Her generous charitable acts also include fine arts community outreach and international volunteerism. Erica hopes that her actions will inspire others, making a positive, lasting difference in this world.

Ross Bleckner is an artist renowned for his deeply affecting abstract paintings suffused with humanity and an awareness of social concerns. Ross has been an advocate for foster children and has collaborated with Artrageous by creating art since 2003. Ross is also known for his generosity with mentoring young artists, commitment to numerous AIDS causes, and social causes in Africa. His current efforts on behalf of abducted children and former child soldiers in Uganda is the latest evidence of his willingness to work to effect change in the lives of those in need. He is the first artist to be recognized by the United Nations as an international Goodwill Ambassador.

Eli Wilner is the founder and CEO of Eli Wilner & Company, a New York City art gallery that specializes in American and European frames from the 17th century through the present. Eli Wilner has demonstrated leadership in philanthropic ventures in the art community for many years; he believes supporting cultural institutions is an important aspect to bolstering the arts community. In addition to the Artrageous Benefit auction, Eli’s philanthropy has taken many forms: the donation of replica frames, the restoration of period frames, the donation of didactic materials for museum installations, and cash contributions to assist in the realization of many projects.

Brent R. Nicklas is the managing partner of Lexington Partners, a global private equity firm with over $15 billion in committed capital. Prior to forming Lexington in 1994, Mr. Nicklas was a founding partner of Landmark Partners and before that he was a Vice President of Merrill Lynch Capital Markets. Mr. Nicklas is an honor graduate of Amherst College with a BA in economics and holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is a Vice Chairman of the Corporate Fund at the Kennedy Center and is a past Member of the Stanford GSB Advisory Council.