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Staff
Sarah Lentini
Sarah Lentini was appointed President & CEO of the Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester in June 2000. A graduate of McGill University in Montreal, Sarah has over 20 years experience in business, education, and non-profit management. She has expertise in designing and managing community initiatives in partnership with government, business, human services, and education. Prior positions include: Director, Planning & Development, for United Way of Greater Rochester; Senior Analyst for Monroe County's Department of Planning and Economic Development; and Senior Community Housing Planner for the City of Rochester's Department of Community Development. She has also taught English and mathematics, and worked as an Executive Search Consultant.
Michael Futter
Michael Futter, Director of Development and Grant Programs, joined the Arts and Cultural Council in June 2004. Michael’s duties include coordination of the Community Arts Grants (Decentralization Grants and Capacity Building Grants), Strategic Opportunity Stipends, Culture Builds Communities Grants, Education through the Arts Grants, membership campaigns for Individual Artists, Arts Organizations, Arts-Related Businesses, and Supporting Individuals/Businesses. He is also responsible for the Arts and Cultural Council’s fundraising efforts. Michael earned his bachelor degrees in Theatre and Marketing from the University of Richmond. He also holds an MA and MBA in Arts Administration from the University of Cincinnati. While living in Cincinnati, Ohio, Michael held positions as Operations Manager of the Linton Chamber Music Series and Managing Director of Theatre IV. He also worked closely with the Fine Arts Fund, the nation’s oldest and largest United Arts Fund.
Gerard Gombatto
Gerard (Jerry) Gombatto joined the Arts & Cultural Council as Marketing and Communications Manager in January 2008 and was promoted to the position of Director of Marketing and Special Projects in July of 2008. Some of his duties include: coordinating the Annual Arts Awards and managing the A&CCESS™ Savings Card program and the Arts Council’s website. Other responsibilities include overseeing advertising, distribution and production of Metropolitan magazine and maintaining the company's database. In addition, Jerry works closely with the Director of Communications on the company's Online Regional Events Calendar and electronic newsletter, Arts e-News. A native of Rochester (Town of Greece), Jerry decided to pursue a career in arts administration after training as an opera singer for over 8 years, both in the US and Italy. He returned to the area in August of 2007 from St. Louis, MO, where for five years he served as Development Officer and Volunteer Coordinator for one of the nation’s leading opera festivals, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. He earned a bachelors degree in Music from Ithaca College and studied vocal performance at New England Conservatory and The Boston Conservatory.
Tracy Kroft
Tracy Kroft joined the Arts & Cultural Council in May of 2007 and in July was promoted to the position of Grants Manager. Previously, Tracy worked for nine years at Barnes & Noble as Administrative Assistant to the District Manager, working especially with customer service and community relations. She also worked as the editorial assistant to a principal investigator at the University of Rochester. She has a degree in liberal arts. An avid supporter of local musicians and musical venues, she is a member of two choirs, writes a music “blog,” is trying to learn to play the guitar (currently having mastered two chords) and continues working on her singing skills. Tracy is a Rochester native, proud mom of one high-school aged daughter and one college-aged son, and is owned by one yellow Labrador retriever.
Heidi Quinlivan
Heidi Quinlivan, Finance Manager, is responsible for finance and benefits administration, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, generation of financial reports, annual audit, and employee payroll and benefits as well as health insurance for members. Heidi earned her Bachelor of Science degree at the State University of New York, College at Geneseo in Elementary Education with a concentration in Fine Arts and attended Monroe Community College for accounting. She has honed her skills at a diverse collection of companies including: Center for Learning Assessment and School Structure, Kirtas Technology, and Infotonics Technology Center. Heidi has significant on-the-job experience in all areas of business operations and she considers herself fortunate to have worked with some very talented and unique people. Rochester is the Quinlivans’ adopted city, and Heidi and her husband John have lived here most of their adult lives. They consider themselves fortunate to live in an area very rich in the arts. Heidi enjoys walking, reading, poetry writing, dance, and spending time with her family.
Jennifer Watson
Jennifer Watson joined the Arts & Cultural Council as Grants Manager in September 2008. Most recently, Jennifer lived in the City of Pittsburgh, where she worked as the Neighborhood Initiatives Coordinator in the Mayor’s Office, managing programs from vacant lot reclamation and greening/gardening to community development activities. Jennifer also served as a Mayoral Fellow with the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts in Baltimore, Maryland, coordinating Free Fall Baltimore, a substantial grant program to promote free access to the arts. Previously, she served as a Program Coordinator for Communities in Schools, promoting parental and community involvement and connecting area resources with an urban middle school in Pittsburgh. Jennifer earned a Masters in Public Policy from the Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, and a Bachelors Degree in Theatre at Allegheny College. She is thrilled to have recently moved back to her hometown of Rochester and enjoys singing with a local choir, taking in the great outdoors with her recently rescued mutt, exploring Rochester’s fabulous arts and culture, and spending time with family.
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