MANAGEMENT

Gigi is a trial lawyer and owner of Gigi Murphy Law PLLC and CNY Ballet’s President. She specializes in patent and other commercial litigation and has successfully represented leading U.S. companies in high stakes jury trials and injunctive proceedings. Gigi was recognized on the 2021-2024 The Best Lawyers in America lists for Commercial Litigation and Intellectual Property Litigation, and on the 2019 and 2020 Delaware Super Lawyers Rising Stars lists for Intellectual Property and Civil Litigation. Gigi does extensive pro bono work representing clients in prisoner rights and family court proceedings. She is a former diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service, former international business consultant, and former classical ballet dancer who trained in Tampa, Florida with Haydée Gutiérrez, at the San Francisco Ballet School with Richard Cammack, at the former School of the Pennsylvania Ballet with Lupe Serrano, as well as in Tampa and New York with Royes Fernandez, Barbara Fallis, Richard Thomas, David Howard, and Melissa Hayden. She also owned and directed her own ballet studio for many years. Gigi won the Barnes & Thornburg Joseph Maley Pro Bono Award in 2018, Penn Law’s Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award, and a U.S. Foreign Service Meritorious Honor Award, for her management of the Refugee Office at the American Consulate General in Hong Kong during a time of crisis.

Marisa is owner and artistic director of Guzmán’s Dance Studio in Syracuse. She is a lifetime member of the CNY dance community. She specializes in Flamenco and is one of the only teachers of this dance style in Upstate New York. She also teaches jazz, creative movement, ballet, modern and is trained in Stott Pilates. She is an award-winning choreographer whose credits include the Syracuse Contemporary Dance Company, Syracuse Opera, Syracuse Symphony, Fayetteville-Manlius High School musicals, Town of Manlius summer shows and most recently a SALT award winner for her choreography in CNY Playhouses’ “Adams Family.” She has performed with Alegre Flamenco throughout the Upstate Region. She recently got her certification to teach Rhythm Works Integrative Dance classes for children with special needs.

Monica is founder and CEO of Stem Sims, and the former CEO and founder of Athena Group, which provided security solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense and many others for over thirty years before being acquired by Mercury Systems, Inc. Monica has extensive expertise in start-ups, business management, and grant writing.

Robert currently serves as a key member of an accounting team at Pyramid Management Group, specializing in providing strategic financial guidance to businesses of all sizes. Whether managing budgets, conducting audits, or navigating complex tax regulations, Robert’s expertise ensures financial stability and compliance. Robert earned his undergraduate in accounting from the State University of New York at Oswego where he later went on to earn his MBA with a focus in accounting.

Brett is Director of the Majestic Theater at Gettysburg College and former Curatorial Director of Live Arts with over ten years of experience with The Santa Fe Opera, Peak Performances, and Live Arts at the Morris Museum. Brett conceived the contemporary arts series, Live Arts at the Morris Museum to foster artistic creation across multiple genres; the series has presented seven world premieres since its launch in 2019. During the summer of 2020, Brett launched Jazz on the Back Deck and Lot of Strings Music Festival as safe, socially distanced ways to keep audiences and artists connected for live performance. Both of those series continue as mainstays of the organization’s annual programming and have included notable collaborations with Jazz at Lincoln Center, American Symphony Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, as well as many other Grammy-Award winning and nominated artists.

Sara Payne is a seasoned executive and attorney with over 18 years of experience at the intersection of law, public policy and business strategy, particularly in highly regulated industries and emerging markets. She currently serves as Policy Counsel and Vice President of Government Affairs for a national, publicly traded company based in Florida, where she leads federal and state policy development initiatives, legislative strategy and regulatory engagement (2019–Present). Sara previously served as an emerging industry practice group leader at a super-regional law firm of more than 300 attorneys (2012–2019), where she oversaw complex permitting, commercial litigation, administrative proceedings, regulatory and policy development matters, and guided strategic growth for the firm. Earlier in her career, she worked as a business development and strategy consultant for a medical device innovation incubator (2008–2012) supporting commercialization and market entry for emerging healthcare technologies. Sara began her career as the Founder and CEO of an Olympic-level equestrian sport company (1999–2008), demonstrating commitment to exceptional athletic performance, early entrepreneurial leadership and effective operational management. Education Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, Syracuse University College of Law Master of Public Administration, Healthcare Policy & Management, Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs Master of Business Administration, Le Moyne College Bachelor of Science, Environmental Science, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry Personal A Central New York native, Sara resides in Marcellus with her husband and daughter (a young student at Ballet and Dance of Upstate New York). She is a lifelong supporter of the performing arts and brings a deep appreciation for cultural organizations and their role in enriching communities.

Leigh Ann owns Oh My Darling in downtown Syracuse. She previously owned and operated a women’s boutique store, Lee Lee’s Forest, at the South Street Seaport in New York City, which was named the Best Kept Secret in the Financial District by AM New York. Leigh Ann toured with Feld Entertainment “Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show” for 3 years performing in over 16 countries. She professionally trained in Modern Dance in Chicago at Columbia, Thodos Dance, Deeply Rooted and Visceral. Benz was a company member with Mordine & Co. She has appeared in stage performances in Syracuse, including The Nutcracker and Cinderella as Cinderella’s stepsister. She is excited to see CNYB grow and flourish in this amazing community!

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Ralph Solis was accepted to, and attended the leading school in commercial arts education, the High School of Art and Design in Manhattan, NY. There, he developed his artistic abilities in sketching, sculpting, fine art, photography, and graphic design. Solis was a competitive, sponsored Skateboarder for 13 years. Solis then moved to Syracuse, NY in 2018 to pursue a career in law enforcement with the Syracuse Police Department. Solis has completed certifications in leadership, communication, and conflict resolution tactics and skills, since joining the SPD. Since calling Syracuse home, Solis has taken on a passion and love for the city and has high hopes for what a quality arts scene can do to improve our city for all who reside in it.