Lincoln Jones was born in Fullerton, California, and began dancing at the age of nineteen, receiving scholarships to the Joffrey, San Francisco, Pennsylvania, and Milwaukee schools, and later teaching and performing in New York before moving to Los Angeles to establish “one of America’s most adventurous and exciting ballet companies” (KUSC). The company quickly became known for presenting classical ballet in modern, non-proscenium venues, exclusively to live music.

Jones’ acclaimed programming for ACB includes his presentation of Balanchine works (The New York Times recognized ACB for furthering the choreographer’s legacy on the West Coast. Fjord Review called his staging of The Euterpides (an original ballet to a score commissioned from composing prodigy Alma Deutscher) and Balanchine’s Serenade at a Television City soundstage “art as the highest form of hope,” while The New Criterion wrote that “the future of human-created beauty hangs on the efforts of artists like Deutscher and Jones.” Jones’ original works (including 2016’s Adamiana, 2024’s ACB Jazz, and 2025’s The Euterpides and Death and the Maiden) have been the subjects of reviews praising both his choreographic work and the significance of his programming. Dance critic Victoria Looseleaf called Death and the Maiden “masterful, inventive and courageous.” The Ballet Herald wrote “ACB’s shows reject categorization, working to transform the art form into something entirely new.”

In recent seasons, Jones has presented dance in increasingly compelling and creative formats, staging immersive productions of Inferno and Burlesque (to a score commissioned from late Pulitzer Prize winner Charles Wuorinen) and Astaire Dances. Jones’ immersive staging of The Nutcracker Suite became an unexpected L.A. holiday tradition, selling out every season since its 2017 premiere. Los Angeles Magazine wrote “American Contemporary Ballet is undeniably one of the most talented institutions across the entire globe.”

Suzette Ramirez-Carr is a strategic advisor with more than 25 years of experience guiding organizations through growth, cultural transformation, and leadership change across industries including finance, entertainment, academia, and the arts. She has held chief human resources officer roles at TKO Group Holdings, Beautycounter, United Talent Agency, Oaktree Capital Management, and Southern Methodist University. Ramirez-Carr has also served on the boards of Hope Street Friends Early Education Center and the Arlington Museum of Art.

Erica Laurén Hay is a distinguished global leader in luxury real estate, design and construction, currently serving as vice president at I-Grace Builders and Advisors. She previously served as the national director of project development at Shawmut Design and Construction, managing landmark hospitality, luxury retail, and residential commissions nationwide. Hay has served on the boards of Los Angeles Headquarters, Ralston College, and American Society of Interior Design.

Jay Snider is an entrepreneur, executive and philanthropist, and the founder and chairman of UNIT Solutions. Through The Jay and Terry Snider Foundation, he is active in preserving our nation’s original enlightenment values as captured in the Declaration of Independence. He is chairman of the board of Civilization Works and a board member of the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem. He also served as president of the Philadelphia Flyers NHL franchise and president of Spectacor, a diversified sports, entertainment and media company.

Lane Merrifield is a renowned entrepreneur and innovator in the digital and educational technology sectors. He co-founded Club Penguin, the largest social network and virtual world for children, which was acquired by The Walt Disney Company in 2007. As executive vice president at Disney Online Studios, he played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s digital presence. Merriwether is also the founder of Wheelhouse and the Innovation Centre, which houses and invests in early-stage tech companies and entrepreneurs, and the co-founder of FreshGrade, an educational assessment and communication platform that was acquired in 2021. He supports and guides a number of education, arts, technology and community programs through the Merrifield Family Foundation.

Lincoln Jones is the founder, director and choreographer of American Contemporary Ballet, overseeing all artistic operations of the company. His acclaimed programming for ACB includes the works of George Balanchine, his own ballets, and the masterworks of ballet history. Jones' presentation of dance in increasingly compelling, innovative, and often immersive stagings -- always to live music -- has earned wide critical praise and drawn new audiences to the art form. Also noted for his deep insights into the art form, Jones has given talks on ballet with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and has choreographed commercials for Apple, Facebook, Virgin Mobile, and other international brands. Through ACB, Jones continues to expand the role of ballet as an entertaining and relevant part of Los Angeles' cultural landscape.

Katherine Roth, MD is a physician-scientist and postdoctoral fellow at City of Hope focused on precision oncology and genomics. Her research explores how genomic data can help guide cancer treatment. She also teaches in the University of Southern California's Global Medicine Program.