Governance

2022-2023 Board of Directors

Janice Mintel Jack, President

Having started singing in a cherub choir at the age of 5, Janice still finds herself immersed in music. She added the study of piano, violin, flute, and formal vocal training throughout the years. She has participated in choirs, orchestras, ensembles, and during college, was employed as an accompanist for the School of Music. Highlights of her music background include performing at the world premiere of Vaclav Nelhybel’s Sine Nomine in Dijon, France, and singing Fauré’s Requiem and Vivaldi’s Gloria at L’Eglise de la Madeleine in Paris in June of 2019.

Janice holds a BA in Secondary Education (French) from Millikin University, MA in French from Illinois State University, and an Ed.S. in administration from Eastern Illinois University. She served as a high school French and German teacher, dean, assistant principal, and principal for a total of 33 years. After she retired, she spent another 10 years as an adjunct professor in higher education.

She is a seasonal Floridian, residing in Bonita Springs, then returns to Illinois for the summer. She is a member of Bonita Springs First Presbyterian Church, where she sings in the choir. She also serves as the Orchestra and Personnel Manager for the Naples Community Orchestra.

Nicholas Turner, Vice President and General Manager

Nick is a member of a Naples pioneer family who looks for every opportunity to share a story about the rich history of our beautiful city. A graduate of Florida State University and former member of the FSU Marching Chiefs, he volunteers playing trumpet for the orchestra and local churches. His other role includes the responsibilities of Stage Manager for the orchestra.

Sue Bookbinder, Secretary

Education:
BS in Economics, Brooklyn College, NY;
Executive HR Program, University of Michigan
Susan’s career began in IT and then moved into IT Human Resources. As Division HR Director of an IT division of 12,000 employees, Susan and her team built an integrated HR Set of Protocols, Philosophies and supportive Programs that reduced annual turnover in the company from close to 70% to under 8%.The HR PP&P integrated skills development with education, mobility, career growth and promotion. It became recognized in the IT community as being the “gold standard”.

Due to a diagnosis of MS, Susan was forced to retire early.

Now, in Naples, Susan is an active volunteer with many Non Profit organizations and causes in Collier County (including, but not limited to, the Lighthouse of Collier). Susan was recently Co President of the Naples Chapter of the American Technion Society and for the last 10 years, has been running a Contemporary Fiction Women’s Book Group, of over 150 women!

Susan has been a volunteer for the Education Foundation’s Champions for Learning in Collier County and, along with herhusband Art, were recognized as “Champions” at their Nite Of Champions event.Sue is also now an active member of the Women’s Giving Circle in Collier County.

Due to her other passionate interests in music and theater, Sue has become an active supporter of the Gulfshore Playhouse, the Russian Cultural Center, and the Naples Community Orchestra.

On Jan 10, 2020, Sue, along with her husband Art, received the Lamed Vavnik Award, for “their acts of benevolence”. On Feb 3, 2020, Sue, along with her husband Art, received the Jewish National Fund’s “Tree of Life Award” in “recognition for their outstanding community involvement” and dedication to enhancing the lives of the disabled community.Sue has just recently joined the Board of Directors of the JNF and has committed to the funding of a soon to be built Bookbinder Family Special In Uniform Technology Center in Israel.

John Weiss, Treasurer

John Weiss retired in November, 2009 from a position as a systems consultant at Metropolitan Life’s computer center in Clarks Summit, PA. He has played the cello with the Marywood University College-Community Orchestra for over 35 years. In the winter he plays cello with the Naples (FL) Community Orchestra and currently serves as Treasurer on their Board of Directors. He also sings with the Philharmonic Center Chorale associated with the Naples Philharmonic.

He holds a B.A. in Accounting from Lehigh University and an M.A. in Teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University. He is the program director at the Scranton Tennis Club in the summer, and serves as president of the club currently. He is also assistant girls tennis coach at Abington Heights High School.

He has sung with the Arcadia Chorale, a professional chamber choir in Scranton, PA, for over 35 years, and has served on the Chorale’s board for much of that time. He is currently involved with financial development and grant writing for the Chorale. He has also served at various times in audience development, program planning, and special events. He has served a number of years as president of the Arcadia board.

Mr. Weiss is a long-time member of the Music and Worship committee at the First Presbyterian Church in Clarks Summit, and is the chair of the 2019-2020 Arts at First Presbyterian concert series committee and serves as their grant writer. John sings in the church’s adult choir and also plays the cello occasionally in worship.

Stan Anderson, Director

Stan Anderson is a native of Cleveland, Ohio and received his Bachelor’s Degree from Baldwin Wallace College with a concentration in Liberal Arts and Education. While attending “BW”, Stan studied trumpet privately with James Darling of the Cleveland Orchestra, and Mary Squire of the Ohio Chamber Orchestra. He also auditioned for and won one of four trumpet slots, and received a full scholarship to attend the Festival of A Thousand Oaks Music Camp in Peru, Nebraska. The Festival provided Stan the opportunity to study with Guest Trumpet Lecturer, Armando Ghitalla, Principal Trumpet of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

After graduating from BW, Stan had a successful career in Higher Education working for several colleges and universities, both public and private institutions in the capacity of Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Planning. Stan made a career change after attending graduate school at Cleveland State University, and focused his career in Human Resources, with a specialization in Talent Acquisition and Executive Recruiting, primarily serving in the banking and financial services industries.

Stan became a resident of Florida in 2007, as he was “recruited” away from JPMorgan Chase to Naples by Fifth Third Bank, and held the position of Vice President for several years, in which Stan was responsible for strategically leading executive level vertical recruitment services for the Investment Advisor, Business Banking, and Commercial lines of business for the South Florida Affiliate. Most recently, Stan is serving as an Executive Recruiting Consultant specializing in several industries to include, both manufacturing and the supply chain industries.

Stan is entering his seventh season as a member of the Naples Community Orchestra, as he also volunteers and plays trumpet for several churches in the Naples Community.

John Spadaccini, Director

John Spadaccini is native to Connecticut. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Central Connecticut State University and a Master of Science degree in College Student Development & Counseling from Northeastern University. He spent six years working with students at Northeastern University on career preparation, and he managed PlacePro, the university’s co-op management system. John also spent five years working for Northland Pioneer College in rural Arizona as their Manager of Career Services. Over five years, he transformed a stagnant program with limited vision and scope into a vibrant office serving over 21,000 miles of rural Arizona. He worked with a culturally diverse student body, including the Navajo, Hopi, and White Mountain Apache people. Many of his students were the first generation in their families ever to attend college, and many were non-traditional college students. In October 2019, John joined the staff at Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, FL as their Director of Career Services.He works with students to identify their true vocation.
Mr. Spadaccini served on the planning committee for the Proud2BCatholic Music Festival in Massachusetts and has played his violin as a member of Melrose Symphony Orchestra, White Mountain Symphony Orchestra, Warwick Symphony Orchestra, and Naples Community Orchestra. He was a founding member of the Boston Catholic Men’s & Women’s Conferencesand has been an active member of the Knights of Columbus since 2010. He was recognized as District Deputy of the Year for fraternal year 2017 – 2018 by the Arizona State Council, Knights of Columbus. Mr. Spadaccini enjoys helping people, especially college students, to realize their potential and find success.

Boris Sandler - Board of Director

Boris Sandler was born in Tbilisi, Georgia in the former U.S.S.R. and began playing violin at age 7. He was the first prize winner at the State Competition for young performers at age 16 and played Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky and Mozart violin concertos with the Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra. Sandler moved to the United States with his family in 1979 and began studies with Dorothy Delay at the Juilliard School. He then continued his studies at the Manhattan School of Music in New York where he received lessons with the concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic, Glenn Dicterow. In 2007, Sandler took a sabbatical from the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra to play with a newly formed opera orchestra in Valencia, Spain under the direction of Lorin Maazel.

Since joining the Naples Philharmonic in 2001, Boris has performed frequently as a chamber musician and as a recitalist with his wife, pianist Bella Gutshtein. They are founders of the Estero

Concert Series, which marks its 9th anniversary this coming season.

This summer Boris played with the Colorado Music Festival in Boulder Co.

Elaine Chase, Director

Elaine’s love of music dates back to starting piano lessons at the age of 8. She was fortunate to study piano and dance at the Juilliard School, Preparatory Division, in New York City while still a child. Additionally, she took up cello in 7th grade and added string bass in high school in order to be able to participate as a member of the public school orchestra.

Elaine, a native of New York, holds a BA degree from the University of Rochester, where she studied psychology and English. While an undergraduate, she was able to continue piano lessons for her own pleasure at Eastman School of Music. She earned her EdM degree in Education Psychology, also from the University of Rochester and worked in the public schools in Michigan for 30 years as a school psychologist and school counselor. Her journey to Florida came via a move to Massachusetts following her retirement and marriage to Arthur Chase. Since becoming a Floridian, she has volunteered with children in the public schools, at the Women’s Shelter, and with Literacy Volunteers of Collier County.

A new Director on the Board of NCO, Elaine particularly appreciates its intergenerational approach that allows high school and college students, community volunteers, and professional musicians to join together for the sheer joy of playing music.

We are proud to announce the creation of the Naples Community Orchestra Advisory Board.

Comprised of members of the community and those with close ties to the orchestra, they are people who are passionate about NCO. They will lend their expertise to the organization’s future as a vital part of the Naples community.

Max Rabinovitsj

Artistic Director Max Rabinovitsj brings a remarkable professional background to his position. In Europe, he founded the Trio da Vinci, which toured extensively on that continent. He was Director of Festivals in Entrecasteaux, France and in Sintra and Evora in Portugal. Max debuted as a solo recitalist in New York City at Alice Tully Hall, in Lincoln Center, and performed the Bach Double concerto in Carnegie Hall with Isaac Stern. As a conductor, he became well known for his interpretations of the classical repertoire and his work with Youth Orchestras. He conducted great artists such as Rostropovich, Jaime Laredo, Gil Shaham, Viktoria Mullova, Maria Joao Pires, Davide Gueringas, Roger Pascal, Pierre Amoyal and many others. As soloist, Max has played under James Levine, Leon Fleisher, Max Rudolf, Thomas Mayer, Walter Susskind, Vladimir Goldschman, Jerzy Semkov, Lukas Foss, Claudio Scimone, Eleazar De Carvalho, Michel Tabachnik, and Philippe Bender.

Max has been a Professor at Washington University, the University of Texas and the University of Evora (Portugal). He has also taught at the Nice Conservatory (France) and Edgecliff Academy in Cincinnati. He met his wife Mary, a harpist, when they were both students at The Curtis Institute of Music.

Since moving to Naples a little over six years ago, Max and his wife have been active in the Naples music community. He has performed at the Cultural Russian Center many times and continues as violinist in The Trio da Vinci. The other Trio da Vinci members are Dror Biran, piano and Paul York, cello. The members are all on the faculty of Louisville School of Music where Max goes every year to give master classes and perform.

Max hopes to continue giving recitals in Naples. He has played recitals with pianist Alexandra Carlson both in Naples and Sarasota. His calendar is quite full and exciting. Becoming Music Director of The Naples Community Orchestra fulfills a lifelong passion for conducting.

Myra Williams

Myra grew up in Dallas, Texas, where she won numerous competitions and appeared as piano soloist with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. She always loved both music and science, but science became her career and music her avocation. Myra received her BS in Physics & Math from SMU and a PhD in Molecular Biophysics from Yale. She spent over 30 years as an executive at Merck and Glaxo and was President and CEO of a biotech company. She returned to music after she retired.

Myra has served on the boards of numerous companies and non-profit organizations. She was a member of the Board of Education in Princeton, NJ. She was also president of the Naples Music Club (now Music Foundation of Greater Naples). She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Community Foundation of Collier County, the Latchkey League, an honorary board member of Classic Chamber Concerts, and a member of the Executive Board of Dedman College at SMU. She serves as a volunteer tutor for science and math in Naples.

She and her husband, Van Zandt Williams, split their time between Naples and Princeton, NJ. They have two daughters and six grandchildren.

Ronald Meyer

I am a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis where I received a BSBA. After college I served three years as a Naval Officer prior to starting a career in retailing. I was with the Famous Barr division of the May Company in various executive capacities including merchandising, operations, and administration for 13 years. Subsequent to that I started a wood products manufacturing company in conjunction with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota. My next endeavor was co-founding an off price women’s clothing company that eventually became a national chain. I retired from that business in 1996. I started coming to Naples in 1991 and became a resident in 2008. My wife and I split our time between Naples and St. Louis and have been active volunteers in a number of non-profit organizations in both locations.

Become part of the Naples Community Orchestra Team

We are always interested in expanding both the Board of Directors and Advisory Board with members of our community. If you are interested in volunteering for either Board or serving the organization in another capacity, please contact Janice Jack, janfjack@aol.com