Celebrating...
On behalf of Positive Legacy’s volunteers, staff, and board of directors, we want to say thank you and present our 2022-2023 Annual Report. This year, we’re proud to announce we’ve reached over $1 million in grants provided! This is a huge milestone, and we could not have done it without the support of individuals like you.
About
Who We Are:
Our mission is to integrate music and service to benefit people and the environment. Working in conjunction with Cloud 9 Adventures, partner organizations and a collective of creative leaders, Positive Legacy coordinates environmental and humanitarian service projects fueled by the power of music. We transcend cultural boundaries by attending to the needs and aspirations of the communities we visit on our musical sojourns. We create sustainable support through action from musicians and fans. Our intention is to create sustainable support through action from musicians and fans.
Positive Legacy became a 501(c)(3) in 2010, but its mission and work began in 2003 as the Greening program on board the maiden voyage of Jam Cruise. Jam Cruise is an iconic music festival onboard a cruise ship. Through years of making impactful more sustainable changes to the cruise industry practices, the concept of Positive Legacy was born: to integrate music and service to benefit people and the environment. Today the nonprofit is run and supported by a wide variety of music industry and professional experts. The core team includes:
OUR TEAM
Staff:
KRISTEN SOMMER-
SWAGER
Executive Director
Kristen truly believes in the power of music to unite people from all different backgrounds and in utilizing music as a platform to improve the world’s environmental & humanitarian conditions.
CHRISTINE CAMPBELL
Organizational Development Director
Christine brings a giant love of music, a fervor for service & more than 20 years of human services education/experience, including a Master’s Degree specialty in NonProfit Management to Positive Legacy.
KATIE FOX
Marketing Director
Katie is a music-loving media junkie who brings many years of experience in the music industry to a space where she can help build & execute integrated marketing strategies that align with her social & environmental values.
KEENYN MCFARLANE
Finance Director
Keenyn has held CFO roles with several nonprofits, privately-held companies & in federal and state government. He is also the Founder of Cornerstone Collaborative Florida, Inc., a nonprofit working to create & solidify pathways that serve poor & vulnerable people across the state.
MARY HONIOTES
Social Media Manager
Mary's background in Intl Studies, love of travel & community development make her a perfect fit as Positive Legacy’s Social Media Manager & Day of Service Coordinator. Online and at events, she knows how to connect resources to needs while impacting the communities we work in.
ARAB GINNETT
Administrative Manager
Music has always played an important role in Arab’s life, which combined with her love of event planning, drives her passion for Leaving A Positive Legacy.
JOEL GUSTAFSON
Director of Grant Management
Joel’s love for music & helping others is the reason he is so passionate about working with Positive Legacy. His experience in the music industry & permaculture farming help him to create sustainable driven environmental & humanitarian projects.
Board Of Directors:
JESS GRIES
President
Jess is an entertainment lawyer living in Colorado. His practice focuses on the music industry and he represents artists, production companies, talent agencies, festivals and other industry players.
SETH WEINER
Vice President
Seth Weiner, the man with many talents, doing it all from being Your Rocktioneer (a benefit auctioneer) to an entertainer, emcee, and host of the podcast Inside Out wTnS.
CARRIE REPPERT
Secretary
Carrie has worked in the nonprofit field for over 18 years, serving in a variety of leadership roles. Combining her passion for service & love of music, she joined the PL team in 2012 bringing her diverse background to help the organization grow.
SEAN RAGLAND
Treasurer
Sean has worked in accounting and finance for over ten years. He has worked as a volunteer at a several non-profit animal groups and has a passion for music.
ANN KENWORTHY
Founder & Guardian Angel
Ann co-founded our 501(c)(3) in 2010 & served as the 1st President of the Board of Directors (2010-2015) & was our 1st Executive Director (2015-2018). She is once again serving on the board with a passion for guarding our mission & our values.
JEFFREY SWAGER
Board of Directors Member
Jeffrey is a founding board member and past President of Positive Legacy. He has vested interest in using music as a medium to raise proceeds & awareness for the recipients, non-profit organizations, foundations and causes he works with.
BRYAN BIRCH
Board of Directors Member
Bryan Birch is the founder of ZeroHero, Inc, a Colorado based company that specializes in installing zero-waste programs into all types of events and festivals.
JUSTIN LEVY
Board of Directors Member
Justin has been with Conscious Alliance since 2004. His role has grown and evolved alongside the organization, exponentially increasing its overall impact.
GEORGIANA PLATT
Board of Directors Member
Georgiana combines her market research and consumer goods sales marketing background with the non-profit world of helping those in need.
MIKE NOVAK
Board of Directors Member
Mike is the Co-Founder of Louder Than Digital, a digital marketing agency, and Get Louder Productions, a video production house and VR technology firm.
DIANA AZAB
Board of Directors Member
Music runs through Diana's blood. For 12 years she has been the Marketing Director at Cervantes' in Denver where she is now a partner. Her love of events, music and marketing brings her full circle to her position with Positive Legacy!
Advisory Board:
MARY CHAMBERLAIN
Advisory Board
Having seen the amazing work done by the Jam Cruise Positive Legacy program in the communities we’ve visited over the years, Mary was honored to be a founding board member of Positive Legacy.
JULIE VAN
AMERONGEN
Advisory Board
Julie serves as an Advisory Board Member and is a Jam Cruise repeat offender who spearheads Positive Legacy action days in port, exercising her passion for service.
KELLY VIAU
Advisory Board
Kelly is an all around go-to-girl with her hands in a lot of projects. Most notably, her role as Director of Business Development for Cloud 9 Adventures.
SEBASTIAN AFRICANO
Advisory Board
Sebastian Africano has worked with marginalized communities in 15 countries, specializing in improving rural livelihoods and sustainable resource management.
RUSS FARR
Advisory Board
Russ has lived in Puerto Morelos, Mexico and has overseen many grant projects for Positive Legacy over the past decade. His understanding of how to connect resources and needs allows him to excel in making real impacts to the communities he resides in.
SEAN MCNAMARA
Advisory Board
Sean joined the Greening Team back on Jam Cruise 4 as an environmental educator/adviser and has since served as a co-coordinator for Positive Legacy benefits in the ports that we visit...
MATT BUTLER
Advisory Board
Matt is founder and conductor of The Everyone Orchestra, a revolving cast of stellar musicians who play nationwide festivals, concerts and special events...
EDDIE ROBERTS
Advisory Board
Eddie Roberts is the band leader, guitarist and producer of UK funk group The New Mastersounds. He originally put the band together in 1999...
BRIAN ASPLIN
Advisory Board
Having worked in the live music for most of the last 20 years Brian has worn many hats including currently owning independent record label Harmonized Records, managing bands like Everyone Orchestra...