Alex Goleman completed his BBA in International Business and BA in German from Hofstra University, and has taken MBA courses from Baruch University. He got his start in arts administration through Pentacle’s internship program where he became passionate about using his business and professional skills to help others create art. Since joining Pentacle in 2014, Alex has provided fiscal administration for dozens of artists and dance entities in the NYC area as well as across the country. As Director of Fiscal Services, he is responsible for managing the department, training new fiscal staff, and setting up new artists’ accounts. Under his leadership, Pentacle’s Fiscal Services have seen unprecedented growth in the number of artists using the services, particularly fiscal administration and the comprehensive fiscal sponsorship programs, Foundation for Independent Artists (FIA) and FIA Projects.

Alex has given presentations and workshops on fiscal sponsorship and financial topics at APAP and Gibney Dance, and he was a participant in DanceNYC’s study, “NYC’s Foreign Born Dance Workforce,” providing insight and data from Pentacle’s fiscal sponsorship programs. Prior to joining Pentacle, he was a recruiter and Account Manager at Axelon Services Corporation, and a Quality Control Analyst at Park IP Translations.

Clarissa Soto Josephs began working at Pentacle in 2011 after earning dual degrees in Dance Performance and Entrepreneurship with a concentration in Legal Studies from Hofstra University. In 2016 she earned an MBA degree from Quinnipiac University, and was named one of the New York Hispanic Coalition’s “40 Under 40 Rising Stars” in the same year. A staff member of Pentacle for over ten years, Clarissa has worked in the Fiscal and Education & Outreach Departments providing direct services to over one hundred artists, training hundreds of interns and fellows in arts administration, and developing innovative ways to effectively serve young artists through Pentacle’s services and programs.

In 2016, Clarissa became Pentacle’s Director of Programs, where she developed and directed the groundbreaking 2.5-yr Administrative Resource Team (ART) Research Study with major support from The Scherman Foundation’s Rosin Fund, Mertz Gilmore Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, and governmental funding. In 2019, she was promoted to Associate Director of Pentacle, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, her leadership enabled the organization to move quickly to remote operations, retain all of its staff, on-board two new Arts Management Training Fellows, create the new nextSteps virtual administrative platform, and expand its vital services and programs by providing FREE support to vulnerable performing artists particularly impacted by COVID-19.

In July 2021, Clarissa was appointed Executive Director of Pentacle, the first BIPOC woman and the first non-founder to hold this top leadership role at the organization. As Executive Director, she is excited to continue up-holding the organization’s 45-year mission of helping artists, while also taking a fresh look at how Pentacle can develop new equitable and sustainable business models and practices. Her goals as Executive Director are to remain accessible to the artists, and as a BIPOC woman in a leadership role, to continue the work of Pentacle’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee to further create a healthy and safe space for the staff, the artists, and everyone to be seen and valued.

Zena Hinds is a producer, fundraiser, and political junky interested in the intersection of the arts and social justice. Some of her past and current clients include Opening Act, Tectonic Theater Project, InHEIRitance Project, and Stages on the Sound. With a background in acting, she approaches grant writing from a storytelling perspective and is excited to share tools and tricks with the Roundtable!

Dominic Comperatore is the founder of Empire Tax Prep, specializing in taxes for performers and artists. As a licensed tax preparer registered in both New York and California, as well as being a working actor in film, television and theater, he brings an intimate knowledge of the issues particular to artists when dealing with the IRS.  He maintains a bi-coastal clientele and is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and AEA.