Board of Directors

• Neil Trama

• Founder/Chairman

• Neil Trama’s  introduction to music began at a early age. “My father put a violin in my hands when I was in first grade,” Trama says.  “So I learned what a powerful and transformative force music can be for kids.  Neil Trama turned this force into OurConservatory.org.

• Before founding OurConservatory, Neil Trama moved to San Francisco and started his professional career as a Talent Buyer and Promotions Director giving such artists as Train, Stroke 9 and BRMC their first gigs in the city.  These roles allowed him to hone his – A&R skills helping him facilitate a multi-record contract for Big BlueHearts - leading to his first job as an A&R Scout at Geffen Records -reporting directly to the legendary A&R Director, Roberta Peterson.  Neil Trama moved on to be the first A&R Representative hired by Mammoth Records in Los Angeles reporting to label President, Jay Faires.  Neil Trama later worked as A&R Representative for  Madonna’s imprint label, Maverick Records reporting to Senior VP, Russ Rieger where he discovered Rachael Yamagata.

• More recently, Neil Trama created his own Music Supervision Firm Blunt Force Trama and has worked for Bravo/NBC, Discovery International, NRDC, LCV, Deloitte as well as independent filmmakers.

• Neil Trama’s active interest in charitable work began while attending St. John Fisher College. Neil Trama co-founded a 24-hour Dance Marathon benefiting terminally ill children.  This yearly event has since become the largest single donor for “The Teddi Project”which grants terminally ill children and their families final wishes.  Neil Trama has also raised funds for Upstate New York’s Camp Good Days and Special Times a Camp for terminally ill children – and for Camp Best, a Camp for the brothers and sisters of children living with cancer.  Neil Trama continues to be active in charity work, while last in San Francisco,  he organized 10k charity races in the Presidio for the Okizo foundation (a camp for kids with cancer).  Neil Trama currently makes his home in Los Angeles, California and is actively involved in the music scene and charities in the region.

Carey Bruton

Director

• Carey Burton is a results-driven Marketing and Sales Director with expertise in brand management and positioning,  international communication, licensing, budget planning, multi-divisional and cultural team building.  Burton has a record of broadening distribution base by launching and extending product lines, determining the right price and market, enhancing product awareness globally. He also has an International business background throughout Europe and in Asia/Latin America. Currently, Burton is the Global Director for Sport Heritage and Sport Style, Sales & Marketing Department at adidas in New York.  Burton has extensive experience in fundraising and special events, including fundraising for the New York Opera and Symphony

Todd Maxwell

Director

• Todd Maxwell is currently the managing partner of eMaximize , an internet consulting firm in Los Angeles.   Prior to that he served as Vice President of Technology for Larkspur Hotels & Restaurants based in San Francisco. Maxwell has been an active member of the music communities in Los Angeles and San Francisco for the past 15 years organizing numerous benefits, managing bands, and promoting many successful events. Maxwell has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Syracuse University and is passionate about helping the children discover their passion through music.

Nate Fraser

Secretary-General

• Nate is currently working as Territory Manager -  Upstate, NY for the Valspar Corporation, a leading manufacturer of Architectural Coatings worldwide.  Trained originally as a writer, Nate helped create the ‘Dance for Love’ 24 Hour Dance Marathon at St. John Fisher College with OurConservatory.org Founder, Neil Trama.  The two founded what has become a lifelong creative partnership raising funds for noted charities and founding a band that would help launch Neil’s career in Music.  Nate’s experience in Technology-Related Sales & Management companies including Toshiba, McAfee, Symon and Meridian Technology Group helps Neil and his team craft the day-to-day message of OurConservatory.org.

• Advisory Board

• Dr. Heidi Horsley

Advisor

• Dr. Heidi Horsley is an internationally known grief expert and Licensed Psychologist with a private practice in New York City. She has been working with adolescents and children for over fifteen years. Heidi hosts the syndicated internet radio show, Healing the Grieving Heart, which is one of the top ranked shows on Health Voice America. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University School of Social Work, specializing in clinical practice with children.

• In addition, Heidi is a member of the Columbia University/FDNY research team which works with families who lost a firefighter in the World Trade Center. She also serves as a National Board Member and Vice President of the Open to Hope Foundation. Heidi uses music therapy in her practice, and has seen first hand the power that music has in building self esteem, and creating meaning, passion, and purpose in a kids life. She received her masters degrees from Columbia University and Loyola University in New Orleans, and her doctorate degree from the University of San Francisco.

Steve Wallace

Advisor

• Steven W. Wallace is VP of Major Gifts for the Little Company of Mary Community Health Foundation supporting hospitals in Torrance and San Pedro, California. He has been working with institutions of higher learning for over 21 years and recently served as director of development for the College of Humanities at California State University, Northridge. Steven has spent time as Director of Donor Relations and later as Senior Associate Directory of Development for the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. Prior to Chicago, Steven was Directory of Donor Relations for Columbia University in New York and held administrative positions at Hunter College’s School of Health Sciences in New York and the UC San Francisco School of Dentistry. A frequent presenter at Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) in Donor Relations conferences, Steven received his Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from the University of California, Berkeley and Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco.

Helen Park

Advisor

• Helen S. Park is a marketing executive who has held director-level positions at Forbes Inc. NY, The Los Angeles Times and Pepperdine University. She is currently teaching Greek tragedy in Seoul Korea, and loves working with kids. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Greek and Latin from UCLA and has studied at the University of St. Andrews.

Caroline Rustigian Bruderer

Advisor

• Caroline is the Founder and President of K-Line & Company, an independent public relations and marketing agency that specializes in the fields of music, film, media, lifestyle and philanthropy. With a long history of working for some of the biggest brands in these industries, Caroline’s diverse experience and broad contact base is key to her success in providing exceptional representation and promotion for her clients which have included most of the major record labels, film studios, as well as fine-dining restaurants and many charity organizati

Ted Volk

Advisor

• Ted Volk is an accomplished and experienced Music Industry Executive with an outstanding record of success and an impeccable reputation within the industry. He is responsible for breaking some of the biggest bands in the business, and has a renowned expertise in forecasting trends in music and developing launch plans around those forecasts.

• Ted was most recently at Capitol Records where in addition to managing the staff he developed and oversaw launch and marketing plans for Coldplay, Yellowcard, Beastie Boys, Radiohead and Jane’s Addiction.

Robert Curran

Advisor

• Robert Curran recently joined in partnership with Base Productions to develop multi-media content, including television, online and mobile programming.

• Previously, Curran was vice president of development and production for Discovery Networks International. Curran was responsible for developing original, brand-defining programs and series for Discovery Channel, Discovery Travel & Living, Discovery Home & Health, Discovery Real Time and Discovery Turbo.  Curran worked closely with production teams across the globe to identify and create programming for diverse audiences worldwide.

• Curran joined Discovery Networks in 2005 from Scout Productions in Boston, Massachusetts where he was head of production.  In this role, Curran oversaw the development and production of a full slate of television series including the Emmy winning series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.   In addition, Curran helped to develop Queer Eye for the Straight Girl, Knock First, Ding Dong Feng Shui and Space Race.

• From 1994 to 2003, Curran served as vice president creative affairs and vice president production for MGM Worldwide Television. Curran worked on several acclaimed television movies including Emmy winner Twelve Angry Men, Inherit the Wind, Marciano, and The Silver Strand.  In addition, Curran was responsible for several television series including Emmy winner The Outer Limits, Stargate SG-1, Poltergeist, Jeremiah and The Magnificent Seven.

• From 1990 to 1994, as executive director of the Pittsburgh Film Office, Curran supervised local production on such acclaimed films as Hoffa, Boys on the Side, Lorenzo’s Oil and the Academy Award-winning Silence of the Lambs. Curran’s television movie credits in this role include The Stand, Breathing Lessons, The Fire Next Time and The Jacksons: An American Dream.

• Previously, Curran worked as development manager with Macmillan Publishing Company in New York where his television series credits include Family Album, U.S.A and radio series Tuning in the U.S.A.

• Early in his television career, Curran worked as a live action producer, director and writer for the Children’s Television Workshop on The Sources, an international version of The Electric Company.  He also served in various roles with ABC on series that included Monday Night Football, ABC PGA Tour, ABC College Football and ABC’s Wide World of Sports.