From The South Orange Performing Arts Center:
The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Burton Yount to its Board of Governors, along with updates to its South Orange Downtown and Village liaison roles.
Burton Yount, Jen Greenberg, Tatiyana B. Lofton
“We’re thrilled to welcome Burton to our Board of Governors,” says Executive Director Lana Rogachevskaya. “His passion for music and community engagement, combined with deep expertise in design and user experience, will be a tremendous asset as we continue expanding SOPAC’s reach and impact.”
Yount joins Board Chair Aida Jones and 15 fellow board members in advancing SOPAC’s mission to elevate the cultural landscape of North Jersey. “Burton is a valuable addition to our team,” says Jones. “We look forward to learning from his experience and tapping into his creative insight.”
An engaged member of the South Orange–Maplewood community for more than 20 years, Yount has long supported music education and youth development. He has served as manager of the Northern New Jersey Youth Orchestra and the Harambee Chamber Orchestra and helped establish a chamber music series at Columbia High School. Through this work, he has partnered closely with educators, music directors, students, and families.
“I’m honored to join the SOPAC Board of Governors,” says Yount. “I’m excited to help expand awareness of SOPAC’s incredible programming and find new, impactful ways to connect our community through music and the arts.”
Professionally, Yount is a User Experience Designer at JPMorgan Chase and brings more than 25 years of experience as an Art Director in the music industry, including eight years at Blue Note Records. His expertise in user experience strategy, digital design, and audience engagement will support SOPAC’s continued growth and innovation.
New Community Liaisons
SOPAC also announces updates to its community liaison roles:
- Tatiyana B. Lofton has been appointed South Orange Downtown’s Liaison to SOPAC, succeeding Melissa Hodge.
- Jen Greenberg has been appointed South Orange Village Liaison to SOPAC, succeeding Summer Jones.
Lofton, a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University with a degree in Civil Engineering, brings a background spanning engineering, entrepreneurship, and community leadership. She currently serves as Vice Chair of South Orange Downtown, is a member of SOPAC’s Board of Governors, and is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker. Her work reflects a strong commitment to service, entrepreneurship, and community outreach.
Greenberg, an elected South Orange official since 2023, brings a community-first perspective and decades of local involvement. A lifelong South Orange resident and principal of the Jen Greenberg Group at Compass, she combines experience in marketing, real estate, and public service with a deep commitment to fostering inclusive, welcoming neighborhoods.
Board Chair Aida Jones adds, “Our liaisons play a critical role in strengthening the bridge between SOPAC and the broader South Orange community. We are grateful for the dedicated service of Melissa and Summer, and we’re excited to welcome Tatiyana and Jen into these roles. Their leadership, perspective, and deep community connections will help ensure SOPAC remains responsive, collaborative, and firmly rooted in the community we serve.”
SOPAC extends its sincere gratitude to Summer Jones and Melissa Hodge for their dedicated service and looks forward to working closely with Lofton and Greenberg as the organization continues its mission of creating unforgettable, life-changing artistic experiences for its diverse and dynamic community.
Learn more about SOPAC’s Board of Governors here.
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About SOPAC
The South Orange Performing Arts Center offers audiences exhilarating and diverse arts entertainment in its intimate venue, serving as the cultural heartbeat of the greater South Orange/Maplewood region and contributing to the economic and social vibrancy of its highly diverse community.
SOPAC is an accessible cultural destination that presents world-class artists in an intimate and welcoming environment. The Jennifer & Tony Leitner Performance Hall is a 439-seat mainstage theatre with superb acoustics, sight lines and seating. Audiences remark that performances in this space are like having their favorite artists right in their own living room. Artists acknowledge that the atmosphere encourages conversations with audiences. The Loft at SOPAC is a 2,185 square-foot multi-purpose space used for performances, rehearsals, classes, and special events.
The unique architecture of SOPAC’s building, which includes a stunning 3-story glass-enclosed atrium, is also home to the Herb + Milly Iris Gallery. Beyond the building, SOPAC co-produces local events such as South Orange Summer Nights and serves students and schools through its arts education residencies.
SOPAC is invested in arts education. SOPAC serves students and schools in our region through a School Performance Series, performing Arts Residencies, and an annual juried art exhibit entitled INSPIRED MINDS: Young Artist Exhibition. SOPAC also collaborates with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts each year to host the Region 5 Poetry Out Loud competitions. The Seton Hall University Arts Council presents a diverse range of events at SOPAC with seasoned professionals, students, and faculty.
SOPAC opened its doors in 2006, born from a shared vision of the South Orange Village Trustees and Seton Hall University as the centerpiece of an ambitious redevelopment plan. Now celebrating its 20th Anniversary Season, SOPAC continues to serve as a cultural cornerstone for the region — an economic driver for the community and a catalyst for artistic opportunity — while looking ahead to its next chapter of impact and growth.
