Jason Luks - Founder
Jason is the founder and Director of Performing Hearts. Since 1999, he has hosted many of the organizations’ events, including participating as a workshop leader and as a performer. Jason is a senior Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. Jason's recent commercial credits include Saturday Night Live (season opener skit with LeBron James) and Law and Order. His modern and tap choreography has been featured in several shows in New York City, Michigan, and Las Vegas. Jason performed in the 55th Presidential Inauguration celebration along with featured dancer Hilary Duff in America's Future Rocks Today: A Call to Service hosted by the President’s daughter, Barbara Bush, and attended by the President and First Lady! Jason is a member of Mike Minery’s Tapaholics Dance Company , which has performed in New York City at the Duke Theater and at the new Ailey Studios Joan Weill Center for Dance as well as in Mclean, Virginia at the Alden Theatre. Jason led the USA Tap Dance team as its male junior and adult champion between 2000 and 2003. He earned the Gold Medal/World Champion title in 2003 and 2004 in the International Dance Organization’s World Tap Dance Festival held in Riesa, Germany. Jason has held many other titles from national dance competitions including American Dance Awards, Dance Masters of America, and StarQuest.
E-mail: jason@performinghearts.com

Kristin Lavo - Founding Member
Kristin is a founding member of Performing Hearts. She is an active performer at the events hosted by Performing Hearts and directs the teaching programs for children. Kristin is the 2000 and 2001 Female US Junior Tap Dance Champion. She has represented the United States in the International Dance Organization World Tap Dance Festival held in Slovenia and Gemany in each of the past four years. In December 2003, Kristin earned the Gold Medal for the USA becoming the World Female Tap Dance Champion. Kristin also won the Gold Medal for her duo performance (with Jason) of Sammy Davis Jr.'s "Love Me or Leave Me." Kristin teaches dance to young children and she was elected to the Future Leaders of America.
E-mail: kristin@performinghearts.com

Jordyn Luks - Founding Member
Jordyn is a founding member of Performing Hearts. She is an active performer at the events hosted by Performing Hearts. This past July, Jordyn became the US Junior Tap Dance Champion at the North America Dance Championships! Jordyn's solo interpretation of "Orange Color Sky" was an inspiration to the young people she met a Camp Happy Times. Jordyn is the youngest founding member of the organization. Jordyn is also a world class dancer. She and her duo partner, Jessie Berg, earned the Silver Medal for their performance of "Hush" in Riesa, Germany in November 2002. She was also a member of the USA tap formation "Thoroughly Modern Millie" -- a group of about 20 girls between the age of 7 and 11 -- and they won the Gold Medal in the childrens formation category!

John K. Cowles - Board of Directors and Trustee
John is Senior Vice President, Kraft Foods North America and General Manager, Beverages where he is responsible for managing Kraft’s entire beverage portfolio – including brands like Kool-Aid, Tang, Country Time, Crystal Light, Capri Sun, Fruit2O and Tazo Teas. He joined Kraft Foods in December 2000, as part of the Nabisco acquisition, as Vice President of Marketing for Biscuits where he was responsible for the cookie portfolio with icon brands such as Oreo, Chips Ahoy, Newton, Snackwells and Teddy Grahams. John began his career at Booz Allen & Hamilton and has held positions in Marketing, Sales, and Operations in domestic and international locations. John received his B.S. with distinction in Engineering from Cornell University and M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. John and his family reside in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.

Alan D. Sobel, CPA, MST - Board of Directors and Trustee
Alan is the Managing Partner of Sobel & Co. where he is responsible for facilitating the strategic direction and the day-to-day management of the firm. Mr. Sobel provides expertise to clients in the areas of financial reporting, tax planning for closely held businesses and SEC registrants, and strategic business planning. Alan has considerable experience with mergers and acquisitions, and provides value by working with clients on sourcing deals, negotiating and structuring transactions, financial and business due diligence, and transaction financing. He has “developed” strong industry expertise in the manufacturing, construction, distribution, real estate development, and financial services industries. Alan is a Certified Public Accountant in New Jersey and New York. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, as well as the New Jersey (NJSCPA) and New York State Societies of Certified Public Accountants. Alan currently is the Chairman of the NJSCPA Audit Committee. He is a former Vice President and trustee of the NJSCPA, and a past President of its Essex Chapter. Alan presently serves as the President of the Board of Directors for The Children’s Institute, a non-profit school for emotionally disturbed and autistic children. He is also a member of the board of trustees of Gilda’s Club Northern New Jersey, an organization dedicated to providing social and emotional support to people with cancer. Alan is a former Adjunct Professor of Taxation at Fairleigh Dickinson University and has frequently lectured on the topics of mergers and acquisitions, financial reporting, and business planning. Alan received a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from Bentley College. He earned his Masters of Science in Taxation from Fairleigh Dickinson University where he was elected to the National Honor Society for Business Administration. Alan and his family reside in Rockaway, New Jersey.