We’re delighted to welcome Bob Kelly and Inge Spungen to the Wharton Arts Board of Trustees. Their leadership, expertise, and passion for the performing arts will be invaluable as we continue to expand our mission of providing a transformative performing arts education in New Jersey.
Bob’s deep appreciation for music, combined with his extensive experience in business leadership and nonprofit governance, will help strengthen our strategic initiatives and fundraising efforts. His firsthand connection to Wharton Arts, through his son’s involvement in the NJYS Jazz Orchestra, gives him a unique perspective on the impact of our programs.
Inge’s dedication to community advocacy and education, as demonstrated by her leadership at The Paterson Alliance and various nonprofit boards, will be instrumental in broadening our outreach and ensuring equitable access to a high-quality performing arts education. With a strong background in finance and strategic planning, she brings valuable insights that will help us sustain and grow our programs.
Their combined expertise in business, philanthropy, and the arts will play a key role in shaping the future of Wharton Arts.
We are honored to have them join us in our mission to inspire and educate the next generation of musicians, performers, and future arts leaders. Please join us in welcoming Bob and Inge to the Wharton Arts family!
All my very best,
Gina
Bob Kelly loves music and believes deeply that exposure to music can connect people and transform lives. Grandson of a church organist and piano teacher, and son of a choral singer, Bob grew up playing the trumpet. He got to know and appreciate Wharton Arts when his youngest son, Miles, joined the jazz program and played piano in the NJYS Jazz Orchestra.
Bob is a graduate of Yale College and Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. He is a founding partner of Tinicum, L.P., a private investment partnership with $5 billion of assets under management. Bob has experience on numerous boards of directors, including both public and private companies and non-profits. For eight years, he served as trustee of Far Brook School, a K-8 school in Short Hills, New Jersey that is focused on education through immersion in the arts. Bob, who lives in Summit, has three kids (two pianists and a guitar player).
Before retiring last June, Inge Spungen served as Executive Director of The Paterson Alliance, a coalition of more than 100 nonprofits and community partners. Under her leadership collaborations grew and the nonprofit community worked together to create a vibrant Paterson. The Paterson Alliance is proud to publish Paterson’s Kids Count every five years. The data from Kids Count informs the Alliance’s strategy for the next several years. Issues that are being targeted from the most recent edition include a focus on Pre-K registration, lead testing and remediation, and supports for families in social emotional learning and mental health concerns, which were exacerbated by the pandemic.
Inge also served as co-chair on the Paterson Complete Count Committee for the 2020 Census. Her efforts were rewarded when Paterson counted 159,732 residents, which far exceeded expectations.
Inge is part of the team that brought the League of Women Voters back to life in Paterson and served as its president. Inge has been the Board President of 4Cs of Passaic County and a Board member for Passaic County Habitat for Humanity. She currently serves on the Paterson Children’s Foundation Board.
Inge is a CPA, with 20 years of business experience, primarily in New York City, culminating with her role as Director of Finance for Cravath, Swaine & Moore, an international law firm. Inge’s passion for child advocacy is fulfilled in her work and includes having been a foster family with her husband David and their daughter, Katarina. When there is spare time, Inge enjoys knitting, reading, gardening, and spending time with family and friends.