Vicki Gold Levi is the daughter of Al Gold, Atlantic City’s first Chief Photographer, and a post he held until his death in 1964. Affectionately known as “Goldie,” he was popular for his photographs of the Miss America Pageant and the plethora of celebrities who entertained in the clubs along the Boardwalk. Ms Gold Levi has co-authored several books including Atlantic City: 125 Years of Ocean Madness. She is a co-founder of the Atlantic City Historical Museum and an historical consultant to HBO’s Boardwalk Empire series.
Donna Albano is a Professor in the Hospitality, Tourism & Event Management Studies (HTMS) Program in Stockton University’s School of Business. Donna earned her undergraduate degree from Widener University in Hospitality Management and her masters and doctorate in Educational Leadership from Rowan University where she was the recipient of the Larry Marcus Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership, Doctoral Studies. Donna is responsible for teaching, research and service at the university. Additionally, Donna is a member of Stockton’s Foundation Board, the Stockton’s Women Leadership Council, the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, Global Engagement Advisory Board, and Scholarship Committee.
In 2016 Donna received the Spirit of Hospitality Award by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority given to an outstanding individual who has made a long-lasting and significant contribution to the Atlantic City region's hospitality and travel industry. In 2021, Donna was awarded the Stevenson W. Fletcher Achievement Award by the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (ICHRIE). The award recognizes an individual educator or trainer for outstanding achievement in contributing innovative ideas, methods or programs that have advanced teaching, learning or practice in the field of hospitality and tourism education.
Suzette Charles , Miss America 1984, is the successor of Vanessa Williams and was Miss New Jersey hailing from Mays Landing, New Jersey.
With a degree in English, Molly was able to write professionally her entire career. As a technical writer, she covered an array of topics ranging from NASA telemetry systems to health care policy & procedures. In her spare time, she entertains the right side of her brain writing non-technical short stories, articles, and interviews. Her works have been published in several anthologies as well as in newspaper and magazines: Atlantic City Weekly, Montgomery Life, Boardwalk Journal, New Jersey Lifestyle, South Jersey, & JerseyMan. Her favorite subjects to write about center around her home, her roots - Atlantic City and New Jersey in general. She is active in several local organizations and currently serves as a Board Member for the Atlantic City Boardwalk Holocaust Memorial project. In addition, she volunteers for the ARC of Atlantic County. Her first book, The Hotel on St. James Place: Growing up in Atlantic City between the Boardwalk and the Holocaust tells her story - a hybrid of memoir and vivid vignettes that juxtapose her parents, Holocaust survivors and proprietors of a small hotel in Atlantic City, next to some colorful characters ranging from pimps to runaways. All promising to add up to an unforgettable journey of resilience, survival, and acceptance.Molly is currently working on her next book – a detective novel set in Atlantic City – you never know what can be happening on and under the Boardwalk.
Mike Lopez, #ACMike is the face of Atlantic City and your go to guy for all things AC! Leading social media influencer in South Jersey, influencing thousands of viewers/followers per post, with the intention of driving growth, tourism, health and wellness to Atlantic City. Atlantic City “Destination Consultant Specialist” (DCS). Devoted to the enrichment and education of Atlantic City and the Southern New Jersey Area. Radio Host and Producer of the ACMike Show on South Jersey’s News Talk Leader, 1400WOND AM Radio Longport Media Creator and Producer of the ACMike TV show on Stockton University Comcast and YouTube channels. Live Stream TV Host on Triax57 Has worked closed with the likes of Joe Piscopo, Bobby Rydell, Dave Damiani, Haley Reinhart, Landau Murphy Jr., Senators, Mayors, Veterans, Public Safety DEP’s, Professional and Local Athletes, Local Businesses, Casinos, CRDA, Faith Based Organizations, and various non-profits
As the Director of Academic Operations for Stockton University’s Campus in Atlantic City, Alex is responsible for establishing and sustaining academic initiatives, review program and operational effectiveness, and provide administrative, and budgetary leadership for the institution’s assets in Atlantic City. He has been Stockton’s longest serving employee working in Atlantic City, which began with the college reopening the Carnegie Library in 2004. In addition to serving on the Library Foundation, he serves as the Board Chairman of Jewish Family Services’ Community Advisory Board, the Metropolitan Business and Citizens Association (MBCA) and chairs the MBCA’s Scholarship Committee, the Atlantic City Police Foundation, the Community Foodbank of New Jersey Advisory Board, and the U.N.I.T.E. HERE Local 54 Scholarship Committee. He served two terms as an Atlantic County Freeholder, and two terms on Linwood City Council.
Teddy O'Keefe
A native daughter of Atlantic City, community organizer Cindy Owen is descended from a family who has lived in AC for over 100 years, and owned Kligerman Dairies (remember the home-delivered old glass bottles with the ‘cream top’ ?). Cindy attended Atlantic City public schools, the original Atlantic City High School and worked in the then newly opened casinos. She earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees at Temple University, specializing in the field of child welfare.
Back in her hometown, Cindy has worked with the arts community specifically, The Atlantic City Arts Foundation, scouting walls for murals in the 6th Ward and coordinating community concerts on her front porch, as part of 48Blocks AC. She has also worked with The Atlantic City Arts Commission, identifying outdated traffic boxes, which her daughter then painted, transforming them into beautiful works of art. Cindy conceived and co-designed three new vintage-inspired “Atlantic City Welcomes You” signs, which grace the Chelsea entrances into Atlantic City. Cindy is a member of the local NAACP, and the Chelsea Neighborhood Association (CNA) and is the current chair of the CNA’s Scholarship Program.
Director of Public Relations & Community Affairs at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Ms. Pearce is a marketing and communications professional offering experience in public relations, advertising, corporate branding and high profile special events with expertise in a variety of practices. Possesses strong leadership skills that include strategic business planning, marketing, operations, corporate fundraising, media planning and creating strong sponsorship alliances.
Robert has worked for the Atlantic City Free Public Library since November 1979 having started as a part-time Library Assistant working at the Andrew Carnegie building on the corner of Pacific avenue and Martin Luther King boulevard. Mr. Rynkiewicz, a graduate of Drexel University School of Information Science was appointed to the position of Library Director in November 2015 and was instrumental in reorganizing the Foundation of the Atlantic City Free Public Library.
Rusty Silverman
Wendel A. White was awarded a BFA in photography from the School of Visual Arts in New York and an MFA in photography from the University of Texas at Austin. White taught photography at the School of Visual Arts, NY; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, NY; the International Center for Photography, NY; Rochester Institute of Technology; and is currently Distinguished Professor of Art at Stockton University.