Archives: People

Jordan Drew began her dance training under the tutelage of the late Timothy M. Draper at the Draper Center for Dance Education in Rochester, New York. While training, she was awarded many prestigious honors, including the “Hope Award” and “Top 12 Finalist” at the Youth America Grand Prix Finals in New York City. She won scholarships to both the American Ballet Theater Summer Intensive and the Paris Opera Ballet School. In 2008, she continued her training at Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet Training Program, performing in King’s ballet “Long Flat Dry Plain” at the Monaco Dance Forum in Monte Carlo. Later, she went on to join the San Francisco-based contemporary ballet company dawsondancesf until 2017. Jordan recently finished 7 years as the principal character role of “Eleanor Rigby” in The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas. Jordan has since joined The Ballet Championships of America as both a judge and educator and as a Cirque du Soleil Casting Partner.

Photography: Jordan Drew | courtesy of Jordan Drew

Photography: Kara Wilkes | courtesy of Kara Wilkes

Joy received her undergraduate degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering from North Carolina State University. She went on to receive her masters and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering in 2015 from MIT where her research focused on theoretical semiconductor process modeling, inventing environmentally-benign fabrication processes and electrochemical energy systems. While in school, she was deeply involved in engineering education and outreach— teaching electronics at MIT’s SEED Academy and volunteering to run workshops and science fairs with her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Following graduate school, Joy transitioned from researching physical models to building commercial ones in software – leading mobile development at a MIT-founded music technology startup, AudioCommon, as a partner. After leading development of three mobile products at AudioCommon, she transitioned to the west coast to Apple.

While at Apple, Joy has held three uniquely different roles. The first was in a hybrid role as a senior technical program manager for Apple’s former autonomous vehicle program’s experience prototyping team. She helped manage large scale experience prototype ideation and engineering that included fully immersive hardware and software prototypes for autonomous vehicle experiences.

Once the team transitioned, she returned to her process research roots to lead a team of process engineers and technicians doing research in emerging display technology development as a Senior Hardware Engineering Manager and Technology Center Lead for Apple’s microLED panel technology efforts for flexible displays. This work over 5+ years yielded not only patents for the unique backplane design but also new co-developed materials that now are being used across our small size displays to improve optical performance and enable new form factor designs. Currently, she is working in the iPhone TFT Process team and continues to engage in panel technology development and production for next generation small size displays.

Outside of work, Joy has served previously on the NC State University College of Engineering Young Alumni board and the boards of STEM-related non-profits focused on providing technical, research experiences for minorities and women, including the GEM Fellowship (Alumni Board), i-Trek and INTech Camp for Girls. She believes generosity is our privilege, and she is extremely grateful to serve this board and the LINES Ballet community.

Photography: Joy Johnson | Courtesy of Joy Johnson

Recognized as a trailblazer and thought leader, Aaron’s focus on innovation and cultural engagement has transformed traditional marketing and advertising strategies. As the CEO/co-founder of Walton Isaacson (WI), a full-service advertising agency with offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, and New York, Aaron’s focus is squarely on identifying unseen opportunities rooted in cultural insights and connections, transforming the definition of the agency model by prioritizing diversity of thinking and encouraging strategic solutions that defy tradition. In recognition of his contributions to and ongoing impact on the industry, Aaron was inducted into the AAF Advertising Hall of Fame Class of 2023, an honor only bestowed upon 275 individuals in its 74-year history.

Founded in partnership with famed NBA superstar and entrepreneurial icon Earvin “Magic” Johnson, WI has built inventive and dynamic business relationships with brands and organizations such as Lexus, McDonald’s, American Airlines, Bristol Myers Squibb, PNC Bank, and Amazon.

His leadership in the advertising community has led to several industry board positions including a 2024 appointment to the American Advertising Federation (AAF), a 2023 appointment to The Ad Council board, and a 2022 appointment to the National Board of the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A’s).

In 2023, Aaron was named Agency Executive of the Year by Ad Age. He is a recipient of Babson College’s Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award, was recognized by the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A’s) as one of the 100 People Who Make Advertising Great, and is a member of the Ebony Magazine Power 100 list.

Photography: Aaron Walton | © Kal Yee

Ruth Nott brings decades of experience in organizational leadership, community engagement, and arts education to the organization. Before joining LINES Ballet, Ruth served as Managing Director of Opera Parallèle in San Francisco, where she led the organization through significant growth. Her leadership was instrumental in fostering innovation through growth and stability of personnel, business structure and procedures, and fund development. Prior, Ruth was the Education Director at the San Francisco Opera from 2008 to 2019, where she founded and led the company’s first-ever department focused on arts education and community building. Under her leadership, the team developed innovative programs that reached over 70,000 people annually, including the highly acclaimed Arts Resources in Action (ARIA), which won a Yale Distinguished Music Education Partnership Award. Ruth was also honored with the Dreamcatcher Award from the San Francisco Unified School District for her significant contributions to arts education.

Ruth has also worked with major arts organizations, such as the Metropolitan Opera Guild, New York City Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago, among others. She has contributed to the field in a variety of capacities, including consulting and co-founding PrimeLife Arts Learning, an online platform dedicated to enhancing the social and emotional well-being of older adults.

Ruth Nott will play a pivotal role in guiding LINES Ballet through its next phase of growth, ensuring the organization’s artistic excellence, long-term sustainability, and legacy. She will oversee efforts to expand fundraising initiatives, strengthen individual donor engagement, board member growth and giving, and institutional partnerships, in addition to the implementation of a comprehensive organizational identity campaign. Ruth will also support the development of a permanent LINES Archive to preserve the company’s rich history and artistic contributions for generations to come.

As Chief Operating Officer of BMO Commercial Bank, Augustin de Kerversau’s mandate focuses on supporting business strategy, enabling growth ambitions, and executing strategic initiatives. Augustin is directly responsible for a shared services platform serving the Commercial Bank across North America, including data & analytics, strategy, sales enablement, business technology, professional development, risk management, and KYC operations.

BMO Commercial Bank is a top five commercial bank in North America, delivering a broad range of financing and treasury solutions to help drive the growth of companies across the U.S., Canada, and beyond.

Prior to joining BMO, Augustin served as Head of Corporate & Commercial Banking at Bank of the West. Augustin joined Bank of the West in 2012 as Senior Vice President, Risk and Portfolio Manager. In 2014, he was appointed Executive Vice President, Head of Loan Book and Credit Products, where he was responsible for commercial loan underwriting and led a complete transformation of the commercial credit journey. In 2019, Augustin was appointed Executive Vice President, Head of Commercial Banking Group, overseeing all commercial banking activities. In 2020, Augustin joined Bank of the West’s Executive Management Committee.

In 2023, Bank of the West was acquired by BMO. Augustin played a pivotal role in ensuring a highly successful merger process with minimal employee and client attrition and attractive financial outcomes. He was appointed to his current role of Chief Operating Officer, BMO Commercial Bank, in November 2023.

Prior to joining Bank of the West, Augustin served in various roles within the BNP Paribas Group in New York, Singapore, and Paris.

Augustin serves as a member of the board of directors of Alonzo King LINES Ballet, as well as Music Mission San Francisco, a music school offering free education to underserved youth.

He holds a master’s degree in international finance from ESCP Europe and a master’s in business administration from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Photography: Augustin de Kerversau | Courtesy of BMO

Al Wong is a seasoned real estate investor and developer with extensive experience in multifamily, condominium, and single-family properties. He has restored and revitalized architecturally significant buildings and remains a passionate advocate for pro-housing policies in California. Al has been a visible figure in housing activism, appearing in multiple television commercials, most recently in the 2024 “No on Prop 33” campaign.

Earlier in his career, Al was a pioneering force in the technology sector, joining Apple as an early employee. As an International Product Manager, he played a key role in the development of the Macintosh SE and Kanji Mac, contributing to Apple’s global expansion. He holds a degree in economics from UC Berkeley.

A dedicated martial artist, Al holds a Black Belt in Aikido and ranks in three additional disciplines. Committed to community safety, he developed “Aware & Prepared,” a self-defense course designed to help Asian seniors combat anti-Asian violence.

Al was elected to the LINES Ballet Board of Directors in 2012 and holds the distinction of being its longest-serving board member. He currently serves on the Development Committee, where he plays a key role in fundraising strategy, donor cultivation, and event execution. Over the years, he has helped plan and execute both virtual and in-person galas, consistently contributing to record-breaking fundraising efforts.

Born in Toronto and having lived in Hong Kong before settling in the Bay Area, Al brings a global perspective to his work. In addition to his contributions to LINES Ballet, he is an active supporter of San Francisco YIMBY, advocating for policies that promote housing accessibility and urban development.

Photography: Al Wong | Courtesy of Al Wong

Born in London, Benjy Weinberger and his family moved to Israel when he was young, where he spent his formative years in Jerusalem. He served in the Israeli Defense Forces and then studied mathematics, physics, and computer science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

In 2002, he moved to San Francisco and joined the big leagues of tech, working at several prominent Silicon Valley companies before finally starting his own venture, which he ran until 2024.

Benjy loves San Francisco for its unique combination of world-class city features, such as restaurants, art, and culture (hello, LINES Ballet!), and its proximity to such great natural beauty, with a huge diversity of outdoor activities just a short drive away.

A fitness enthusiast, he likes keeping fit as an avid distance runner. During the pandemic, he became a Peloton fan, incorporating indoor cycling and weight training as important parts of his regime. He enjoys cooking and working with his hands—a nice change from software work.

Apart from serving as a board member at LINES Ballet, he supports organizations working to help the most disadvantaged in our society, locally and globally, including the SF Food Bank, the American Jewish World Service, and similar local organizations in Israel, giving back to the country that gave him so much.

His love for the performing arts in general and dance in particular led to his discovery of LINES Ballet shortly after his move to San Francisco, and he’s been a fan ever since. Since that moment and even now, he’s proud and grateful to be involved with this special organization and the community around it.

Photography: Benjy Weinberger | © Benjy Weinberger

Born and raised in Morocco, Bouchra fell in love with ballet at a young age. With no established ballet company in her hometown, she nurtured her passion through dance films before later taking classes.

Bouchra holds a Master in Management from École Supérieure de Commerce de Paris (ESCP) Europe and a Research Master in Economics from University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, where her thesis explored how opera house funding models influenced their resilience during financial crises. Her professional background spans business management, strategy consulting, and sales development in tech, including time at Google.

Currently based in San Francisco, Bouchra is the President and co-founder of Inner Child Foundation, dedicated to supporting the arts and education. She has produced several dance films and intends to explore more creative work at the intersection of arts and tech.

Photography: Bouchra Rachid Pinto | © Nicholas Pinto