Page 16 - 12th Annual Long Island Imagine Awards Program

Meet the Judges Meet the Judges

Bob Spiotto Nicole L. Weingartner
Director of Events/Clubhouse Manager Director of State Government Affairs
Country Pointe Plainview Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP

ROBERT “Bob” SPIOTTO is an Artistic/Executive/ Nicole L. Weingartner, well-established as “The Long
Producer/Director, Event Producer, Consultant, Actor, Island Lobbyist,” has been dedicated to aiding and
Educator, & Writer, who has worked in the entertainment assisting many of Long Island’s nonprofit organizations
industry for over 40 years. with representation at the local, county, state and
federal levels of government, securing millions of dollars
Bob holds a B.F.A. in Theater Performance (Hofstra in funding to essential organizations of Long Island’s
University) and a M.F.A./Directing (The Catholic University communities.
of America) Currently, Bob serves as the Director of Events/
Clubhouse Manager at Country Pointe, Plainview, having Nicole provides strategic advocacy support to Davidoff
previously served as the Director of Programs at NYC’s Hutcher & Citron’s state and local government relations
Friars Club. Previously, he was the first Executive/Artistic clients on budgetary, legislative, and regulatory matters,
Director of the Suffolk Theater, prior to which he worked the design and implementation of legislative advocacy campaigns, review of potential
at Hofstra University (1990-2012), serving in several capacities: Executive Producer/ implications of State and/or local laws, assisting in Political Action Committee (PAC)
Artistic Director - Hofstra Entertainment; Artistic Director of Community Arts Programs/ operations (creation, management, bookkeeping, and reporting) and development of
Hofstra Cultural Center, and Producer of Special Events. He also served on the faculty of philanthropic social media campaigns.
Hofstra’s School of Continuing Education, taught for Hofstra’s Summer Camps, and was
an adjunct professor in the School of Communication, and received awards from Hofstra Particularly skilled in assisting organizations and businesses that are located and/or
for his distinguished service and teaching accomplishments.
do business on Long Island, Nicole has forged strong, valued relationships over the
Bob has created/produced/directed unique shows and events for groups and organizations past fifteen years on the municipal, county, state, and federal levels allowing clients
including the National Museum of Women in the Arts, The Nassau County Bar to navigate complex issues such as funding, contracting/procurement, and crisis
Association, The Order/Sons of Italy in America, The Long Island Arts Alliance, the management. She began her career serving Long Island members in the New York
March of Dimes, and the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center, to name a few. An State Senate and the New York State Assembly. Her years of experience in the Albany
adjunct theater professor at Suffolk Community College, Bob has directed hundreds of helps clients navigate the legislative and budget processes each year.
theater productions at various regional and professional theaters, schools and universities,
and has served as host, master of ceremonies, writer and auctioneer for many events. In addition, Nicole has been a leader within many organizations, such as serving as Co-
Regional acting credits include the M.C. (Cabaret), John Adams (1776), Guido (Nine,), Chair of the Viscardi Advisory Council, a member of the Women’s Steering Committee
Tateh (Ragtime), The Cat in the Hat (Seussical), Fagin (Oliver), Ganesha (A Perfect Ganesh), of the Association for a Better New York (ABNY), a member of the Board of Directors
and Bill (Me and My Girl), to name a few, and has created and appeared in one-man shows of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Long Island chapter (AFPLI), a Board
exploring the lives of P.T. Barnum, Giuseppe Garibaldi, Primo Levi, Michelangelo, and Member of the AFP PAC, a member of the U.S. Government Relations Committee of
Sholom Aleichem among others, as well as a dozen other unique shows. A trio of his the Association of Fundraising Professionals Global (AFP) as well as on the Board of the
critically acclaimed one-man musical tributes include That’s Amore: A Tribute to Mr. AHRC Suffolk Foundation.
Hollywood Musical – Harry Warren, Shades of Grey: A Musical Tribute to Joel Grey,
and Courting the Jester: A Musical Salute to Danny Kaye, which was re-worked and
presented at Lincoln Center. He also created and performed in original musical reviews
for President George H. W. Bush, and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Bob received
outstanding reviews for his direction of the off-Broadway production, Harry and Eddie:
The Birth of Israel. Bob served on the Board of the NY State Theater Institute, and
locally on the Board of the Long Island Arts Council. Bob is a past recipient of the
Dante Award (American Association of Teachers of Italian), for his contributions to Italian-
American culture; was honored by the NY State Commission for Social Justice; received
the Estabrook Distinguished Service Award (Hofstra); received the highest honor awarded
by the Long Island Arts Council (ARTY Award); was honored by the LI Chapter of the
March of Dimes as an Educator of the Year; and was named an Advocate for the Arts by
the Long Island Arts Council.
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