PRESS RELEASE: The Mann Appoints Three New Board Members

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE MANN APPOINTS THREE NEW BOARD MEMBERS:
MICHAEL W. BANKS, JAMES SMART AND STEPHEN LEVICK

PHILADELPHIA (Apr. 7, 2017) – The Mann Center for the Performing Arts announces Michael W. Banks, James Smart and Stephen Levick as the newest members of the board of directors. Banks is president of the African-American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) for Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Smart is a partner at Marcum LLP’s Philadelphia office and Levick is a general partner for the Major League Baseball team the Tampa Bay Rays.

“We are thrilled to have three new talented individuals join our board of directors at the Mann,” said Catherine M. Cahill, President and CEO. “Each brings a unique set of skills and experiences, as well as a deep love of the arts, that will elevate our already diverse board. We know that their insight and expertise will help the Mann continue to innovate and remain the leading outdoor concert venue and center for arts and cultural education in Philadelphia and the region.”

As a leader of the AACC, Banks works to support the economic empowerment and growth of African-American businesses in the region. Prior to assuming his current role, Banks worked as a financial controller for a Philadelphia startup that he helped position for national growth, and subsequently as vice president at Citibank where he led their equity trading desk. He has served on the board of the African American Chamber of Commerce, the finance committee of PHL Diversity, and most recently as a member of the advisory committee for the Office of Economic Opportunity in the city of Philadelphia’s commerce department.

A native Philadelphian, Smart joined Marcum in 2015 via the firm’s merger with Smart Devine, a leading full-service accounting firm which he founded in 2010. Prior to Smart Devine, he founded Smart & Associates which became the 21st largest accounting firm in the U.S. and fifth largest in Philadelphia. Smart’s entrepreneurial and humanitarian endeavors have secured him various awards, including the Eagles Fly for Leukemia Humanitarian Award and Beta Gamma Sigma Lifetime Leadership Award from La Salle University.

Levick, who lives in Philadelphia with his family, is a partial owner of the Tampa Bay Rays. Prior to becoming a general partner for the Rays, he worked as a managing director for Goldman Sachs and as a managing director and limited partner at Spear, Leeds, & Kellogg. Levick began his financial career on the trading floors of both the American Stock Exchange and the Philadelphia Stock Exchange.

Banks, Smart and Levick join an active board of dedicated trustees who are engaged and committed to the furtherance of the Mann’s mission and strategic vision.

About the Mann
As one of the foremost outdoor music centers in the country, the Mann has a historical legacy of artistic excellence as a world-class entertainment destination presenting premier artists in association with AEG Presents. Each summer season, renowned symphony orchestras, iconic rock stars, and the latest touring artists in indie, rock, hip hop, R&B, and pop take the stage here. The Mann is the summer home of The Philadelphia Orchestra and has presented critically acclaimed performers in every decade since the 1930s. Located in the heart of Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, the Mann hosts more than 200,000 visitors annually. Signature concert experiences are surrounded by Philadelphia’s stunning skyline and include seats beneath the Mann’s acoustically acclaimed pavilion; picnics, blankets, and music under the stars on its great lawn; and dining in Crescendo, the venue’s spectacular tented restaurant. For more information, visit www.MannCenter.org.