Liz Neumark
Liz Neumark | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1956 (age 67–68) New York City, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Barnard College |
| Occupation(s) | chef, entrepreneur |
Liz Neumark (born in New York City) is an American entrepreneur, chef, and advocate.
Neumark is the founder and CEO of New York catering company Great Performances, and the founder of nonprofit organization The Sylvia Center.
As of 2023, she was a member of the New York State Food Policy Council,[1] and sits on the boards of GrowNYC, The Fund for Public Housing, The Sylvia Center, and Open House NY.[2] She is also a vice president of the board of directors for the Bronx Chamber of Commerce.[2]
Life and career
Neumark graduated from Barnard College in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in urban studies.[3]
Great Performances
In 1979, she founded Great Performances, a waitress-staffing agency for women in the arts industry.[2] The venture transformed over the years into a catering company that specializes in serving cultural institutions throughout New York City. In 1982, the company received a $25,000 loan to open their first kitchen, which was located in Soho.[3] In 2019, Great Performances moved their headquarters from Hudson Square, Manhattan to Mott Haven, Bronx.[4]
Great Performances is the exclusive caterer for artistic institutions including Jazz at Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Apollo Theater, Brooklyn Museum, Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts and Wave Hill. In keeping with its appreciation of the arts, Great Performances created the Scholarship Awards Program which supports aspiring artists among its staff with $5,000 awards to help them complete a project that will further their artistic pursuits.[5]
In 2006, Neumark established Katchkie Farm, an organic farm on 35 acres (140,000 m2) of land near Kinderhook in Columbia County. Situated on the farm is The Sylvia Center, the organization founded by Neumark to promote healthy cooking and nutrition education for kids via experiential learning.[2][6]
In 2007, Great Performances entered a 25-year contract to cater events at the Plaza Hotel ballroom as part of a joint venture with Delaware North.[7]
Writing
Neumark has previously blogged on the topic of food politics for HuffPost.[8]
Recognition
She is a recipient of the 2008 Food Arts Silver Spoon Award,[9] and was named one of the 100 Most Influential Women in NYC Business in 2007 by Crain's New York.[7] In 2012, she was presented with the Barnard's Woman of Achievement Award.[10] In 2023, the New York City Tourism Foundation honoured Neumark as a leader in the city's hospitality and cultural industries.[11]
References
- ^ "NEW YORK'S PREMIER EVENTS, CATERING AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT COMPANY". Great Performances. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
- Weissman, Michaele (30 April 2009). "A Moveable Feast". Forbes. Retrieved 24 February 2016. - ^ a b c d MPH, Marissa Sheldon (31 October 2023). "Interview With Liz Neumark, CEO of Great Performances and Founder of The Sylvia Center". NYC Food Policy Center (Hunter College). Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ a b Elan, Elissa (24 September 2007). "Liz Neumark". Nation's Restaurant News. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ Rocchio, Patrick (3 March 2019). "Great Performances caterers moving to Mott Haven". Bronx Times-Reporter. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ^ Kramer, Louise (7 January 2007). "Bridging the Worlds of Commerce and the Arts". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
- ^ Jean Hanff Korelitz (September 2009). "Food for the Soul". Reader's Digest. Archived from the original on 27 August 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ a b "Executive unites catering, culture to hit the big time". Crain's New York Business. 16 September 2007. Archived from the original on 21 December 2009. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
- ^ "Contributor – Liz Neumark". HuffPost. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ^ "Food Arts". Food Arts. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
- ^ "Liz Neumark '77". Barnard College. Archived from the original on 23 March 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ "Glitz, Glamour, And Giving Takes Center Stage At The NYC Tourism Foundation 21st Annual Gala". Harlem World Magazine. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2024.