Neil R. Scheier, M.D, President of JAACA, is a Physician with the University of Rochester and also serves as Vice President of the Joseph Avenue Business Association. He has worked for years to improve the climate of life and work in Rochester. Neil has master’s degrees in finance and economics, Ph.D. studies in economics, and an M.D. from New York Medical College. He’s practiced medicine for 30 years and developed senior living centers in Upstate New York. Neil is a father of six and grandfather of 15.

William (Bill) J. Ferguson II, Vice President of JAACA, holds a B.A. in Dance from The Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Bill joined Garth Fagan Dance in 1989 and became a principal company member in 1996. Since retiring from the concert stage in 2008, he previously served as Executive Artistic Liaison for Garth Fagan Dance and Personal Assistant to Garth Fagan, ultimately serving as the organizations Executive Director before establishing The Ferguson Consulting Group. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Bill is father to William Donovan and Nicholas Lamond.

Alan Feldstein, JAACA treasurer, has practiced law in the area of commercial real estate for over 40 years and has been a partner with Boylan Code since 1999. He holds B.A. and J.D. degrees from SUNY Buffalo. Alan’s family attended Congregation B’nai Israel (now being renovated as our center for performing and visual arts) and he had his Bar Mitzvah there. Alan lives in Penfield with his wife, Bonnie. 

Isobel Goldberg Goldman, JAACA secretary, is a career graphic designer and longtime community organizer. She has held positions nationally as an art director including with Significs Design Studio in Rochester, Aardvark Advertising Agency in Atlanta, and Polo Ralph Lauren in New York City. In recent years, Isobel has served as the Community Relations Director for the Jewish Community Federation and most recently as the Director of Grants and Programs with the Farash Foundation. Isobel is the Founder and CEO of The Crayon Project, an art and literacy program that has distributed thousands of supplies to Rochester City School children.

Darrin Brentnall currently serves as Assistant Vice President of Arrow Financial Corporation and Treasurer of the Wayne County Business Council. Previously, Darrin was the Vice President, Commercial Services Officer at Canandaigua National Bank & Trust Company. A longtime resident of the Finger Lakes Region, Darrin graduated from Newark High School and holds an MBA from the University of Rochester. He is President of the Wayne County Business Association. He lives in Farmington with his family and their dog, Daisy.

Ned Corman holds degrees from UR’s Eastman School of Music and Penn State University. An accomplished musician, he’s performed and recorded with Chuck Mangione, Fred Waring & The Pennsylvanians, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and others. A music educator for more than three decades, Ned taught in the Penfield Central School District for more than 25 years, where he pioneered their jazz program and founded the Penfield Music Commission Project. He also founded The Commission Project, Swing ‘n Jazz, and Rochester Independent Music Festival. Ned is married to artist and philanthropist Linda Q. Corman.

Sherman Dickerson is a lifelong resident of Rochester, with a long history of devotion to families and community. The father of two sons, he currently works for General Motors. In addition to serving on the Board of the Joseph Avenue Arts and Culture Alliance, Sherman is President of the Joseph Avenue Business Association. He is the recipient of numerous entrepreneurship and community service awards.

Meredith Dragon has been CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester since April 2016. Prior, she had served as Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts since 2009 and Assistant Director at the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville, Florida, for 13 years. Meredith has brought donors, agencies, synagogues, and institutions together for the greater good of Rochester’s Jewish community. She is married to Ze’ev and has three sons, Matan, Ori and Etai.

Mario Martínez has performed leading baritone roles in numerous opera, oratorio and musical productions during his professional singing career. He was recently appointed as Associate Dean for Visual & Performing Arts, in the College of Arts & Sciences, at Nazareth College, where he has also served as Chairperson and Director of the School of Music. Martínez is currently serving as Governor for the New York District of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). He holds doctorate and master degrees in Vocal Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelor of Arts in music and sociology from Luther College.

Michael Rothman holds B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of Rochester, and a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Minnesota. He served on faculty at the Minneapolis Community and Technical College for more than 30 years. A 1961 graduate of Irondequoit High School, Michael has deep roots in Rochester, where he was born and raised. He had his Bar Mitzvah at B’nai Israel, and fondly remembers the vitality of the Joseph Ave neighborhood during his childhood. 

Jaime Rivera is the owner of Local Motion Sport and Fashion Shop on Joseph Avenue and has been part of the Joseph Avenue business community since 1986. A New York City native, Jaime takes great pride in having raised his three children in the Joseph Avenue community, establishing his business with co-owner and wife, Cookie, and in his contribution to several Hispanic leadership initiatives. He can converse in three languages and looks forward to using the performing arts as a means to bring people of different backgrounds together for community growth.