Meet The Board

Tobi Santagado, CEO, has acted in a leadership capacity for many organizations over the years. After achieving an Advertising Degree from the University of Florida she went on to coordinate special events for David’s Bridals, managed large annual Kid

Tobi Santagado, CEO, has acted in a leadership capacity for many organizations over the years. After achieving an Advertising Degree from the University of Florida she went on to coordinate special events for David’s Bridals, managed large annual Kids festivals, and invented and raised capital for a Toy Lending library in her hometown. Tobi’s primary focus throughout the years has been on setting a high standard and then meeting and exceeding that goal through hard work and extreme attention to detail. Her most precious project was home schooling both her children from kindergarten through high school where upon graduation the both received full scholarships to Rutgers University. In recent years, she has co-owned an accounting firm, remodeling company and the non-profit organization, Mignolo.

Robert Santagado, CFO, is a highly accomplished accountant with over 25 years of experience. He has been on both sides of the private/public sector and served 17 years as Chief Accounting Officer for the premier factoring/asset-based lending organiza

Robert Santagado, CFO, is a highly accomplished accountant with over 25 years of experience. He has been on both sides of the private/public sector and served 17 years as Chief Accounting Officer for the premier factoring/asset-based lending organizations in the industry. His passion for efficiency and execution helps to streamline accounting processes and deliver unparalleled execution of service, while maintaining a presence in the Corporate and Individual Tax world. He is licensed in NJ, FL and VA and is prepared to serve clients in all 50 states.

Karolina Holmstrom, Executive Director, is originally from Parsippany, NJ, and holds a BFA in Dance Performance and an EdM in Dance Education from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts. She graduated holds a membership with the National

Karolina Holmstrom, Executive Director, is originally from Parsippany, NJ, and holds a BFA in Dance Performance and an EdM in Dance Education from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts. She graduated holds a membership with the National Honor Society for Dance Arts and National Dance Education Organization. At Rutgers, she worked with choreographers and artists such as Cleo Mack, Netta Yerushalmy, Randy James, David Torres, Blair Ritchie, Pam Tanowitz, Ani Javian, and Lauren Grant of the Mark Morris Dance Group. Since graduation, her choreographic works have been performed in professional showcases in New York and New Jersey. In 2016, she received her 200HR vinyasa yoga teaching certification through Om Factory and now teaches classes and private clients. Karolina currently dances with ~mignolo dance~ and 78moves in both repertory works and dance films and is working toward her Education Masters in dance education.

Ishita Mili is a Bengali American director and choreographer based in New Jersey. She won various awards throughout her childhood as a bharatanatyam soloist. After becoming established in Indian dance forms, she broke out of the boundaries of traditi

Ishita Mili is a Bengali American director and choreographer based in New Jersey. She won various awards throughout her childhood as a bharatanatyam soloist. After becoming established in Indian dance forms, she broke out of the boundaries of traditional dance and auditioned for UFP Hip Hop Dance Co., performing and choreographing with them from ‘14-’18. She was awarded the Folk Arts Apprenticeship grant in ‘21 from the NJ State Council of the Arts to study Mayurbhanj chhau under Sri Rakesh Sai Babu, world-renowned performer and descendent from a royal lineage of chhau practitioners. After extensively studying a variety of dance styles, Ishita ventured into creating and directing as a holistic multidisciplinary artist. In 2017, Ishita founded IMGE Dance LLC as a performance company based in dance, film, and music that uses mixed cultural roots to share global stories with artists of diverse backgrounds.

Myrlande is a Haitian American and has worked for KPMG LLP in Montvale, NJ as an Ethic and Compliance for the last nineteen years. She received a Bachelor of Science (BS) at State University of New York, College of Art, and Science at Plattsburgh wit

Myrlande is a Haitian American and has worked for KPMG LLP in Montvale, NJ as an Ethic and Compliance for the last nineteen years. She received a Bachelor of Science (BS) at State University of New York, College of Art, and Science at Plattsburgh with a focus in marketing and minor in accounting in 1999. She also received her MBA at Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in 2005. Myrlande developed a keen sense of devotion for the nonprofit sector as a beneficiary of an informal youth development program in Haiti 5 years ago. This experience gave her a deep appreciation for how nonprofits seek to improve the quality of life for our region; one program at a time.

Linda Vonderschmidt-LaStella is a Metuchen artist whose primary work is ceramic wall sculptures. In addition to exhibiting widely, she has murals permanently installed in public, educational and corporate spaces, as well as private residences. A few

Linda Vonderschmidt-LaStella is a Metuchen artist whose primary work is ceramic wall sculptures. In addition to exhibiting widely, she has murals permanently installed in public, educational and corporate spaces, as well as private residences. A few of the places her work can be seen include The Salesian Retreat Center, Childs, MD, Neumann University, Aston, PA, Hopewell Medical Center, Hopewell, NJ, and permanently installed on both interior and exterior spaces of private residences throughout the Garden State. What’s more, Linda is known for bringing communities together around the arts, having completed large, outdoor installations that incorporate tiles sculpted by hundreds of locals. With an M.F.A. from The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, she has established a number of community galleries, taught, offered workshops and created original ceramic art for thirty years from her studio Earthsongs. In 2023, she was named a Fellowship Finalist by the NJ State Council on the Arts for her work in ceramics. Her focus at this point is creating her original sculpture from her studio Earthsongs.

Josh Knoblick is a sculptor, entrepreneur, and big thinker. He is a founder, the architect and current Executive Director of Gardenship. He has built numerous installations, sculptures and spaces around the world. His love of all things creative and 

Josh Knoblick is a sculptor, entrepreneur, and big thinker. He is a founder, the architect and current Executive Director of Gardenship. He has built numerous installations, sculptures and spaces around the world. His love of all things creative and community drive him to create ecosystems for artists, creatives and makers to grow, thrive, share and prosper.

Dr. Magee is a Certified Educator with more than 28 years of progressive experience ineducation. Specializing in special education and leadership, she is the owner of AchieveEducational Consulting and has presented at various conferences and seminars

Dr. Magee is a Certified Educator with more than 28 years of progressive experience ineducation. Specializing in special education and leadership, she is the owner of AchieveEducational Consulting and has presented at various conferences and seminars. During her tenure at Orange County Public Schools, she served as a special education teacher,a special education coordinator, and a district administrator. She currently serves as Directorof Exceptional Student Education for Orange County Public Schools. In this role, sheoversees, Section 504, special education services for students in charter and private schools,and she supports the dispute resolution team for the school district. As a director of the special education department, she supervises 50 staff members including school psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors, language diagnosticians, and teachers. Dr. Magee successfully manages a budget of approximately $3 million. She is responsible for ensuring the needs of 40,000 students are met and services are delivered incompliance with district, state, and federal guidelines. In addition, she develops workshops forteachers, parents, and administrators. As the CEO of Achieve Educational Consulting, she provides consulting and professionaldevelopment to private schools, charter schools, and other organizations. She is passionateabout building new leaders, working with new startups, and helping organizations reach theirfull potential.  Dr. Magee studied at Valencia College, The University of Central Florida, Orlando, SampereInstitute of Languages, Spain, and Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale. She holds an undergraduate degree in Spanish, a master’s degree in Special Education, and a DoctoralDegree in Organizational Leadership. Dr. Magee currently sits on the Board of Directors of On The Cutting Edge Outreach, which isan organization that provides tutoring services to K-12 students, along with career planningfor post-secondary adults. Dr. Magee lives in Ocoee, FL with her husband Michael, and their children, Michala and Macaire. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling the world, taking in good tennis matches, and listening to her favorite audiobooks.