Kimmel Center Appoints Four New Members To Board Of Directors, With Teresa Bryce Bazemore As First African American and First Female Chair

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, a non-profit, Board-led institution, announces four new members to its Board of Directors. The elected members are all esteemed regional leaders, selected to serve alongside an already impressive list of the Philadelphia community's civic and business influencers to guide the Kimmel Center into a successful future. Assuming the role of Board Chair on July 1, 2018, Teresa Bryce Bazemore is the first African American and first woman to serve as Chair of the Board for the Kimmel Center.

New board members include: Bart Blatstein, President & CEO of Tower Investments, Inc.; Obra S. Kernodle IV, Commissioner to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board; Jeffrey A. Leonard, Esq. of Cozen O'Connor; and Stanley Middleman, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Mortgage Corporation.

"I am eager to collaborate with our four new board members to continue the Kimmel Center's work of presenting inspired performances and hosting important social conversations," said Anne Ewers, President & CEO of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. "As a Cultural Campus, home to eight Resident Companies, and a community-focused institution, we believe that our current board will lead us into a future that reflects our vision to transform lives daily through the arts."

"Our Philadelphia community remains the focus of the Kimmel Center board, as we continue to represent the organization and its mission to reach broad and diverse audiences across our city," said Chair Teresa Bryce Bazemore. "I'm looking forward to seeing the impact these new individuals have on the region's most impactful, nonprofit performing arts center!"

The Kimmel Center Board of Directors is currently led by Chair Teresa Bryce Bazemore, Immediate Past CHair David P. Holveck, Vice Chair Robert R. Corrato, Vice Chair Jane Hollingsworth, Treasurer Michael D. Zisman, Secretary Jami Wintz McKeon, and President & CEO Anne Ewers.

Full bios of the Kimmel Center Board of Directors' additions are below:

Teresa Bryce Bazemore

Teresa Bryce Bazemore has more than 25 years experience as a Senior Executive in mortgage banking and insurance. She is currently on the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, Chimera Investment Corporation, and the Funds Boards of T. Rowe Price. From July 2008 through April 2017, Teresa served as President of Radian Guaranty where she led the strategic planning, business development and operations of the mortgage insurance business. She has also led information technology and governmental affairs for Radian Group. Prior to her position as President, Teresa was both the General Counsel/Corporate Secretary and Chief Risk Officer of Radian Group.

Considered a leader in the field, Ms. Bazemore was named one of the Top 20 Leading Industry Women by Mortgage Banking Magazine. Numerous professional appointments include the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Economic Advisory Council. She has also served as a Director of the Mortgage Bankers Association of America.

The 2017 Paradigm Award from The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia is the most recent of a host of awards she has received.

Ms. Bazemore participates in a wide variety of community activities including serving on the Boards of WHYY, Public Media Company, the Forum of Executive Women and as Chair of the Audit Committee of the UVA Foundation.

Teresa received her B.A. from the University of Virginia and her J.D. from Columbia University.

Bart Blatstein

Bart Blatstein is President and CEO of the privately held development company Tower Investments. Inc. Through his vision and steady guidance, Tower Investments, Inc. has become widely respected for its aggressive and creative urban investments in major projects, as well as its expertise in all aspects of planning, design, construction, financing, and leasing. Among the company's many signature projects, Bart redeveloped Northern Liberties, creating the award-winning Piazza and Liberties Walk community, and establishing this once barren neighborhood as the place in Philadelphia to live, work and play. His redevelopment efforts have created jobs, business opportunities, tax revenues and the impetus for more investment in the Philadelphia.

In his more than 40 years in the real estate industry, Bart has earned the reputation as one of the region's most respected and successful developers. Bart transformed vast tracts of post-industrial properties along Columbus Boulevard into flourishing retail, entertainment, and office developments, including Riverview Plaza, Columbus Crossing, and Dickinson Square. In Manayunk, Tower developed one of the largest contiguous commercial site along the Schuylkill River.

Along North Broad Street, Bart started a renaissance with three major development projects. Avenue North, adjacent to Temple University's campus is the first private development in decades and includes the Shops at Avenue and The Edge student housing. Tower Place at Broad and Spring Garden highly successful conversion of the former State Office Building into 204 luxury residential units. The former Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News building is currently undergoing a $300 million renovation into the new Philadelphia Police Headquarters.

Bart is also very active in numerous business, civic and charitable endeavors. He was a founding member of the Waterfront Developers Council and is a past President of the Jewish Publishing Group Board, Board of Trustees of Community College of Philadelphia and serves on, President's Advisory Board and Board of Visitors of Temple University, Northeast Treatment Centers, Federation of Jewish Agencies as Real Estate Division chairman and Israel Bonds and the Technical Assistance Center for Emerging Contractors.

In every sense of the word, Bart is a true Philadelphian whose unique passion and vision for the city has transformed long-forgotten neighborhoods into vibrant, reclaimed communities with bright futures. Perhaps most importantly, Bart has earned the reputation for getting the job done and following through on every development project he has set out to accomplish. The transformation of Atlantic City, beginning with the re-imagining of The Playground and Showboat Hotel, is his next frontier.

Obra S. Kernodle IV

On November 28, 2017, Governor Tom Wolf appointed Obra S. Kernodle IV to a three-year term as a Commissioner to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

Prior to his appointment, Mr. Kernodle served as Executive Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Wolf. Previously, he had played a key role on the Wolf campaign as both deputy Campaign Manager and Political Director, then senior advisor for Governor-elect Wolf's transition team.

Mr. Kernodle's professional background also includes his work with Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter as Deputy of Legislative Affairs in which he helped to coordinate the city's Actual Value Initiative. In 2012, Mr. Kernodle was part of President Obama's reelection effort as the Pennsylvania Southeast Political Director.

Mr. Kernodle also currently sits on the boards for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Visit Philly and Welcome America. Born and raised in Philadelphia, he is a graduate of Roman Catholic High School, and obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Education from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University in 2002.

Jeffrey A. Leonard

Mr. Leonard focuses his practice on multiple areas of real estate law, including real estate development, real estate finance, joint venture transactions, multifamily transactions, landlord-tenant disputes, and loan workouts. He currently serves on the firm's management committee and board of directors, and is chair of the firm's Business Law Section.

Mr. Leonard is an executive board member of the PENJERDEL Council, an economic development council which promotes development of commerce in the Philadelphia region. Mr. Leonard's professional memberships include the American, Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia bar associations and the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Mr. Leonard is a 1982 graduate of Lafayette College and a 1985 graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, where he was a member of The Tax Lawyer.

Stanley C. Middleman

Stanley C. Middleman is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Mortgage Corporation, a national, full-service mortgage banker headquartered in Mount Laurel, NJ. The company is one of the 10 largest mortgage originators nationally and was ranked the top VA originator for 2016. Freedom Mortgage has been ranked in the Inc. 5000 list of America's Fastest Growing Companies for five consecutive years, earning a place on the Inc. 5000 Honor Roll for 2017.

The company attributes its significant expansion in recent years to robust organic growth and strategic acquisitions, reflecting the company's commitment to industry leadership. Currently, Freedom Mortgage has over 5,000 employees and over 100 locations throughout the country.

In addition to his role leading Freedom Mortgage, Mr. Middleman is a prominent business strategist within the industry. He is on the Board of Directors for the Mortgage Bankers Association and also serves on the Residential Board of Governors (RESBOG). The RESBOG is responsible for establishing legislative and regulatory policies and positions on residential lending issues. Mr. Middleman is also a member of the Housing Policy Executive Council (HPEC), an affiliate of the Financial Services Roundtable. The Council advocates for the benefits of a fully competitive and integrated housing market and represents dozens of leading national mortgage finance companies.

Mr. Middleman currently serves on the Board of Governors for NAHREP (National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals) and has served on numerous advisory boards, including Freddie Mac, Ellie Mae, Inc., and Fannie Mae. He has over 30 years' experience in the financial services industry.

Mr. Middleman is a graduate of Temple University with a BS in Accounting.

---

Located in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia, the Kimmel Center's mission is to operate a world-class performing arts center that engages and serves a broad audience through diverse programming, arts education, and community outreach. The Kimmel Center Campus is comprised of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, SEI Innovation Studio, and the Merck Arts Education Center), the Academy of Music (owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association), and the Merriam Theater. The Kimmel Center is also home to eight Resident Companies: The Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, The Pennsylvania Ballet, The Philly POPS, PHILADANCO, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and Curtis Institute of Music. With nearly 9,000 seats per night, The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is the region's most impactful performing arts center, and the second largest in the country. TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is the season sponsor of the Kimmel Center's 2018-2019 Season. American Airlines is the official airline of Broadway Philadelphia. For additional information, visit kimmelcenter.org.

To post a comment, you must register and login.