Staff Leadership

Joseph P. Benincasa, President & CEO
Joseph P. Benincasa joined the Fund in 1989. He directs comprehensive social services, health care services, employment and training, and affordable, supportive and senior housing. The Entertainment Community Fund’s headquarters are in New York City with regional offices in Los Angeles and Chicago, a nursing home in Englewood, NJ, and supportive housing residences in Brooklyn and Manhattan, NY, and West Hollywood, CA. He is also President of the Actors Fund Housing Development Corporation which is building affordable, supportive and senior care residences for artists in major urban centers. Full Bio.  

Barbara S. Davis, LMSW, Chief Operating Officer
Barbara S. Davis has been with the Entertainment Community Fund since 1984. As Chief Operating Officer, she oversees the intersection of administration, finance, advancement and programs including social services, health care, workforce development for the Fund’s three offices in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, and at its supportive housing residences in Manhattan, Brooklyn and West Hollywood, as well as at the assisted-living and nursing care home in New Jersey. Full Bio.

Connie Yoo, CPA, Chief Financial Officer
Connie Yoo has been with the Entertainment Community Fund since 1995. Since 2009 she has been Chief Financial Officer. As Chief Financial Officer she is responsible for the financial affairs of the Entertainment Community Fund and its affiliate organizations, including Actors Fund Housing Development Corporation. Such responsibilities include financial reporting and accounting, audits, banking, investment and treasury management and government compliance. As a member of the senior leadership team she helps develop and implement the strategic directions of the Entertainment Community Fund. Full Bio. 

Thomas M. Exton, Chief Advancement Officer
Thomas M. Exton joined the Entertainment Community Fund in 2010. He is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive fundraising, leadership and communications program which includes raising $12 million annually through major gifts, memberships, planned giving, institutional giving, special events and special campaigns. Full Bio.

Keith McNutt, Executive Director, Western Region
Keith McNutt has been Director of the Western Region of the Entertainment Community Fund since 2006, and was named Executive Director in 2020. Prior to moving to Los Angeles, he worked in and then managed the HIV/AIDS Initiative of the Fund’s New York office for over 11 years. Full Bio.

Jordan Strohl, Executive Director, Actors Fund Home
Jordan Strohl has been Administrator of The Actors Fund Home since 2006. Under his leadership, the facility has received a perfect survey from the New Jersey State Department of Health and maintains a Five Star rating from the Federal Government’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Full Bio.

Advancement
Katherine Freedman
Managing Director of Advancement

B. Tanille Carter
Director of Advancement, Western Region

Maggie Oberrender
Director of Communications and Marketing

Douglas Ramirez
Director of Special Events

Finance, Human Resources & Administration
Thomas Borchard
Managing Director of Human Resources & Administration

Karen Wang
Controller

Carlos de Jesus
Director of Financial Reporting

Angelique Prahalis
Director of Administration, Western Region

Information Technology
John Torres
Managing Director of Information Technology

Social Services
Tamar Shapiro, LCSW
Managing Director of Social Services

Tina Hookom, LCSW
Director of Social Services

Impact and Evaluation
Emmanuel Freeman
Director of Information and Impact

Actors Fund Housing Development Corporation
Daniel Arnow
Executive Director, AFHDC

Artists Health Insurance Resource Center
Renata Marinaro
Managing Director of Health Services

The Career Center
Elena Muslar
Managing Director of The Career Center

Dara Blaine
Director of The Career Center

as of October 2023