MEET THE BOARD
TERRE RYBOVICH,
BOARD CHAIR
Terre Rybovich creates large charcoal and pastel drawings—detailed, ethereal images. Her work has been exhibited across Florida and is in dozens of private collections plus several public ones.
Rybovich is also an artist advocate. She was instrumental in creating an aritsts’ organization with the West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Association to initiate a series of annual studio tours in Northwood, complete with trolley service.
Rybovich has a Bachelors in Politics and Economics from New York University, and a Masters in Rural Sociology from Wisconsin-Madison. Her first career, in activist philanthropy, instilled daring she now channels into drawing.
Board Member 2022-24, Board Chair 2024-26
Gerard Albert III covers Broward County for WLRN. Before joining WLRN full time, he reported on crime and public safety in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He was awarded the South Carolina Press Association's first place award for profile writing and third place for enterprise reporting. Gerard also reported on crime and public safety in West Palm Beach, where he reported on the intersection of mental health and the criminal justice system. Gerard earned his Bachelors degree from Florida International University where he served as the Editor-in-Chief of the student newspaper.
Board Secretary 2022-24, 2024-26
GERARD ALBERT III, SECRETARY
IGNACIO FONT
Ignacio Font is an experienced Art Teacher with almost 30 years of experience teaching Photography, Printmaking, Art Education and Studio Art. Born of Cuban parents on the island of Puerto Rico, Ignacio received his Bachelor of Fine Arts at Florida International University and received his MFA from School for Visual Arts, New York.
He is the co-founder of Font Squared, a boutique arts marketing firm and co-founder of collaboARTive. Currently, Ignacio teaches art at a private school in Miami, and creates work whenever and wherever he can.
Board Chair 2022-24, Member 2024-26
ERIN PARISH
Raised in innercity Detroit, all four of Erin’s parents were artists. She received her B.A. from Bennington College in Vermont and went directly to graduate school at Queens College, New York, NY. She received her M.F.A. in 1990 and has been employed full time in the art world in art galleries, as an artist’s assistant, or since the early 2000’s, as a fulltime artist.
In addition to being an artist, Parish also is a curator, now based in Miami Beach. Of late, she is the Curator for the Tenth Street Gallery in Sarasota and previously was the Director of Exhibitions at the Laundromat Art Space in Miami.
Board Member 2022-24, 2024-26
GIZELLE ORTIZ-VELAZQUEZ
Gizelle Ortiz-Velazquez is a seasoned workforce development professional and the Senior Director of UpSkill Miami at United Way Miami. With 20 years of experience, she is dedicated to helping others succeed. Her career highlights her skill in creating and executing strategic plans. Gizelle's expertise includes leadership, workforce development, strategic planning, operations management, career coaching, job placement, community engagement, and business marketing.
Gizelle is a member of the Miami Dade County Community Relations Board and the National Congress of Puerto Rican Women-Miami chapter. She has a Professional Coach certification from the University of Miami, a BA in International Relations from Syracuse University, and an MBA from St. John's University. Passionate about helping others reach their potential, Gizelle is a leader in workforce development and career services. She has lived in Miami for 29 years and enjoys thrifting, art, history, music, and dancing.
Board Member 2024-26
ELIZABETH RODRIGUEZ
Born in NYC and raised in Miami, Elizabeth, a.k.a. Liz, shifted from a 15-year international career in luxury goods to real estate, gaining a unique understanding of the evolution of South Florida's market. She stands out for her professionalism, engaging demeanor, and strategic approach, leveraging her knowledge for win-win outcomes. Additionally, Liz's multilingual skills and armed with an MBA, Liz leverages her diverse skill set to navigate South Florida's multifaceted market effectively.
Her empathetic approach and strong leadership skills are reflected in the numerous 5-star reviews from satisfied clients and respected colleagues, attesting to her relentless pursuit of excellence. Liz's unwavering commitment to excellence and her focus working as a listing and relocation specialist sets her apart as a rising star in the real estate industry.
Board Member 2024-26
PARKER LAKE
Parker Lake is constantly looking for worthy causes to which he can support to help create a better world. Social and environmental issues that matter to Parker include (in alphabetical order) freedom, ensuring justice and basic human rights for all; providing a rounded education and life experience for our youth; promoting safety, survivability and enjoyment of our aquatic environment; and supporting the arts and local artists.
Parker has a BA in Economics from the University of Southern California. He lives in Miami, FL with his wife, Pamela Vasquez, who has an arts practice of photography.
Board Member 2024-26
Our Team
Jean Blackwell Font
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Jean Blackwell Font is the co-founder of Font Squared and collaboARTive. She is a mixed media artist, an arts marketer and administrator living and working in Miami, FL.
Working in assemblage, mixed media, and collage, Jean never stops learning about art and her own artistic practice, learning from people she knows personally or from studying the lives, art, and work of those she admires. Influenced by artists Betty Saar, Doris Salcedo, and Joseph Cornell, the artist has developed a visual vocabulary to express her ideas and concepts.
She is a member of ArtTable, the foremost professional organization dedicated to advancing the leadership of women in the visual arts, and Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline honor society. Her artwork has garnered the attention of several important collectors in Miami and is now part of Florida International University Special Collections.
Carol Jazzar
Exhibitions Support
Carol Jazzar is a self-taught interdisciplinary artist who lives and works in El Portal, Florida. Her work is centered on Nature, be it her own, or that of Mother Nature. To realize her artist goals, she sustains two practices: one in the studio, which revolves around collages, drawings and writing; the other outdoors, using photography and site-specific projects.
Between 2007 and 2014, she ran a contemporary art gallery out of the garage on her property in Miami's El Portal neighborhood, where she showed artists such as Jen Stark, Farley Aguilar, David Rohn, Shoshanna Weinberger and Ronny Quevedo, among others. Her previous creative incarnation was as a clothing designer under the label Chains Addiction. Her work is part of the collections of the Miami-Dade Public Library, Miami International Airport, Related Group, Girl’s Club and other private collections.
Ana Chavez
Program Development
Ana Chavez is a media artist, curator and events producer. She holds a B.F.A from the Rhode Island School of Design and is an M.A. graduate of Performance Studies from NYU. Critical to her development as an artist and curator, while at RISD she developed the position of Cultural Programmer for the Office of Multicultural Affairs, curating over fifteen performance-based events for Contemporary Performing Arts, Civil & Human Rights, Black History, and Women’s Focus months. These continue to be used as program models at RISD to foster a multicultural and inclusive community. Chavez took her activism and curating to Massachusetts, where she served as a lead organizer of Queer Women of Color Boston (QWOC+), a grassroots organization dedicated to creating safe spaces for LGBTQ people of color.