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Our People

Board of Directors and Trustees

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Alan Sobel 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.
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John Cowles is the President & Chief Executive Officer of FXI, a leading producer of innovative foam products for the Home, Healthcare, Electronics, Industrial, Personal Care and Transportation markets. Prior to joining FXI in 2011, Mr. Cowles was CEO of Touchstone Wireless where he led the Company to become a fast growing organization with strong profitability through supply chain transformation and strong customer focus. Prior to his time at Touchstone, Mr. Cowles was President at George Weston Bakeries of Horsham, Pa., where he transformed the supply chain, accelerated innovation and improved communication leveraging icon brands of Arnold Natural and Thomas. Mr. Cowles also served as Executive Vice President and General Manager for Kraft Foods where he ran the Beverage, Cookies, Confections and Condiments businesses. Mr. Cowles also worked for 9 years at Campbell Soup Company where he led organizations in Asia Pacific and the U.S. Mr. Cowles began his career at Booz, Allen & Hamilton, Inc. Mr. Cowles received an MBA from Harvard Graduate School of Business and a B.S. in industrial engineering from Cornell University. Mr. Cowles resides in Wayne, Pa. with his wife and children.
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Steven Crystal is the President & CEO of Crystal Ball Services specializing in metals, energies and stock indexes. His company provides advisory services to floor traders, institutions and banks. Mr. Crystal also owns and operates a network of real estate, motorcycle sales and auto parts businesses and contributes his time to many philanthropic organizations. He began trading in 1969 and, in 1980, purchased seats and began floor trading at the New York Mercantile Exchange and the New York Commodities Exchange. He traded on the floor until 1992 when he launched office trading at the offices of Crystal Ball Services. Mr. Crystal received his Bachelors degree from Rutgers College and Masters from George Washington University.

Leadership Team

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Jordyn Luks is a co-founder and Director of Performing Hearts. She maintains relationships with host organizations and volunteer groups. Jordyn has been a frequent performer at events supporting numerous community service organizations including Kids for Kids, Dancers Responding to Aids, Stand Up to Cancer, Hancock French Woods Arts Alliance and the Challenger program. Jordyn is a sophomore at the University of Richmond (Class of '14). An alumni of Newark Academy (Class of '10) Jordyn was a member of NA's Honor Council, dance and theater productions, school ambassador, community service events and Yearbook Editor-in-Chief.

Jordyn and her brother, Jason, provided the initial vision and organized the group of young people that launched Performing Hearts. The idea was simple.... brighten the days for children with serious illnesses and disabilities by exposing them to the art of dance as both participants and observers. It was shortly thereafter that Performing Hearts was formally recognized by the NJ State General Assembly and Senate in a joint legislative resolution and by the Office of the Governor for its community service contributions. Performing Hearts has sponsored events for several large organizations dedicated to similar causes, including The Children’s Aid Society and The Valerie Fund. Jason continues to support Performing Hearts and similar organizations as a director, choreographer and guest performer.

Having the opportunity to share what I love with others in a way that is helpful to them provides me with joy that is hard to describe. I encourage all people my age, whether they are dancers or not, to make a difference in the world around them. All it takes is an idea, some initiative and supportive friends and family - you can do it! I would be happy to exchange ideas and experiences with anyone interested in starting a new event or joining the existing Performing Hearts organization.
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Dr. Patti Krapels is the Co-Director of the Jefferson Township Performing Hearts Challenger Dance Program. She began her career, and continues today, as a Chiropractic physician specializing in pediatrics, and practices with her husband, Glenn. As her children, Ashley, Trevor and Blake began to demonstrate a love for dance at a young age, she became actively involved in a program specializing in children’s dance education. Her experience with that program evolved into a true passion for teaching dance to young children -- starting at the beginner level as they first experience rhythmic movement, to their first on-stage performance, and thereafter, as they develop their skills in ballet, tap, lyrical and jazz styles. Since then, Miss Patti has become a children’s dance program designer and lead teacher at several area dance studios and preschools.

Miss Patti has been instrumental in creating the curriculum for Little Spinners – a program that DANJ is introducing this summer. Miss Patti’s gentle innovative teaching style, motivating classroom atmosphere and her flare for original age-appropriate choreography make her a wonderful teacher for our littlest dancers. We feel very lucky to have her as a member of our faculty and she, likewise, looks forward to continuing to share her joy of dance with all of her students. Miss Patti earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Physiology from Michigan State University and her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Life University.
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Jason Luks is a co-founder of Performing Hearts. He has hosted many of the organizations’ events, including participating as a workshop leader and as a performer. Jason is a graduate of the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. Jason's recent commercial credits include Irving Berlin's White Christmas, Ted Kennedy's birthday celebration hosted by President Obama at the Kennedy Center, Saturday Night Live, MTV's Video Music Awards and Law and Order. His modern and tap choreography has been featured in several shows in New York City, Michigan, Illinois 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! As a member of Mike Minery’s Tapaholics Dance Company, Jason performed at the Duke Theater (NYC), Ailey Studios Joan Weill Center for Dance (NYC) and the Alden Theatre (Mclean, VA). 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 in Riesa, Germany. Jason has held many other titles from national dance competitions including American Dance Awards, Hall of Fame, Shock, Break the Floor, Dance Masters of America and StarQuest.

Jason and his sister, Jordyn, provided the initial vision and organized the group of young people that launched Performing Hearts ten years ago. The idea was simple.... brighten the days for children with serious illnesses and disabilities by exposing them to the art of dance as both participants and observers. It was shortly thereafter that Performing Hearts was formally recognized by the NJ State General Assembly and Senate in a joint legislative resolution and by the Office of the Governor for its community service contributions. Performing Hearts has sponsored events for several large organizations dedicated to similar causes, including The Children’s Aid Society and The Valerie Fund. Jason continues to support Performing Hearts and similar organizations as a director, choreographer and guest performer.
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