An Organization That Supports the
Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
We are a group of local citizens with a vision, who came together and formed a nonprofit organization in 2011 to support the Ponte Vedra Beach Concert Hall. Join us as patrons of quality performing arts programming to enhance cultural activities in our community. Membership benefits and downloadable form on the following 'Become A Member' page.
Friends of the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall Board of Directors
Jerry Wilson
President
Jerry Wilson serves as President of the Friends PVCH and chairs the Executive Committee. He became a member in 2018 and was elected to the Board in 2019. He created the strategic framework and plan for the next decade of prosperity. Wilson has an extensive business career including 24 years with The Coca-Cola Co., where he retired as a board-elected SVP, and the global Chief Customer and Commercial Officer. He and his wife live in Ponte Vedra where he also volunteers on the Sea Turtle Patrol.
Steve Gard
Steve Gard is a director and former President of the Friends. Steve practiced law in Atlanta and Jacksonville before retiring in 2020 to begin a full-time mediation practice. In addition to serving on the Board of the Friends from its inception, Steve is a member of the St. Augustine Masonic Lodge, the Morocco Shrine Temple in Jacksonville, and the Middleburg post of the American Legion. Steve is an avid lover of blues music and plays drums in a Jacksonville-based blues band.
Cecilia Hennig
Sal Rappa
My name is Salvatore Rappa and I’ve been on the friends board now for over nine years . I was a New York City middle school music teacher for 26 years and before that I was on the road playing in various bands for 5 years. I’m a graduate of Berklee College of music. I received my Masters in music Ed at Queens college in NYC . Today I sub in St. Johns County for the public schools . And presently play in a country band that plays steadily in Saint Augustine every Sunday. Meeting and talking music to people that love music at the hall whether they are joining as a member or already a member is a great pleasure of mine.
Hugh Rappa
Except for a year hiatus, Hugh has been a member of the Friends since its inception and served as the original treasurer for the Friends, until his hiatus. He has always been a supporter of theater and musical events. Currently Hugh is a full professor and the Associate Program Director for a Physician Assistant program in Jacksonville. He received his degree and medical training from the University of Padua, Italy. He was a member of the JDL Board and the Executive Board for Ponte Vedra athletic Association for 5 years. He has been affiliated with BSA at Christ Episcopal Church (PVB) since 2010, first as an Assistant Den leader with Pack 277 and then an Assistant Troop Leader with Troop 277 and currently is an Eagle Scout Mentor for Troop 277.
Jennifer Werba
Jennifer is an accomplished Sales and Marketing Leader with many years of working within the Non-Profit/Arts industry. She holds a BA in Public Relations from Shorter College. Prior to her current marketing consultant position, she worked at AudienceView/TheaterMania helping theaters and event spaces fine tune their ticketing, subscriber and development data. In addition to helping the Friends, she is the President of the Ocean Palms Elementary PTO and volunteers at Sawgrass Country Club.
Jeannine Smith
Jeannine LaRouche Smith began her career as a Development Director in Philadelphia and has spent the past 25 years in the arts and social service sectors. She has led campaigns at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Ravinia Festival in Chicago, IL and currently advises non profits in the area of capacity building, strategic campaign management and board development. Mom to two teenagers, she’s a Navy spouse, amateur cellist and enjoys the beaches and trails of Florida.
Rosemary Takacs met FoPVCH as an usher for the Concert Hall and St. Augustine Amphitheater. She has volunteered through-out her life, including two Peace Corps assignments. She manages water projects in Latin America, as WASH Ambassador for NE Florida Rotary Clubs. She is a CPA; retired as Sr. Auditor for JEA . She serves on the Finance Committee, implementing accounting software. Rosemary grew up in Motown, where she gained an appreciation for music, including the accordion.
Pamela Bomba
Pamela is a Tax Partner with Pivot CPAs. She has always lived in Northeast Florida and now calls Palm Valley home. While she has a strong background in all areas of taxation, Pamela primarily specializes in consulting and compliance for large, multi-state entities and their owners as well as high net worth individuals. In the community, she has served on the board of the St John's County Chamber - PVB division, the Cultural Center of PVB and First Coast Manufacturer’s Association.
Rob MacGilvray
Rob joined the Ponte Vedra Community in 2018. Rob is a graduate of Hamilton College and relocated from the New York City area where he spent over 20 years working in the financial sector as a member of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Currently, Rob works for Robinhood Securities as a Trading Specialist. Rob enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing tennis, volunteering at local organizations and listening to great music.
Duane Lupinski
Duane Lupinski has served on the board of the Friends of the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall for over 7 years. Originally from Pennsylvania, he has lived in the Northeast Florida area for more than 25 years and currently resides in St. Johns with his wife and two children. A University of North Florida graduate with a BS in Information Science, Duane has worked in the field of IT for a number of companies and is currently employed in that capacity at CSX. As an amatuer musician and avid concert goer, he has a deep appreciation for music’s ability to bring people together and establish a strong sense of community.
Brian Johnston
A Central Kentucky native, Brian began his career on Capitol Hill, as a congressional staffer for his home state. He spent 20+ years in professional roles in public policy, government affairs, advocacy, PR & communications for several large Washington firms, trade associations and advocacy organizations on issue campaigns including: wireless and telecommunications, patient health, biotechnology and life sciences, and big pharma. A Ponte Vedra Beach transplant during COVID, Brian is a rabid music fan and concert / event-goer, and enjoys finding all that St. Johns County and the North Florida region have to offer our local communities in terms of live music and the performing arts. A Father to two young boys, Brian and his wife (who first moved to PVB in 1994) enjoy the beach and as many outdoor activities as they can pursue.