United Performing Arts Fund Names 2020 Campaign Co-Chairs
MILWAUKEE – The United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) has named three respected business leaders as co-chairs for the 2020 UPAF Campaign. The trio consists of Tami Garrison, community affairs director of MillerCoors, Justin Mortara, principal of the Mortara Group, and Rolando Rodriguez, chairman, president and CEO of Marcus Theatres®.
“UPAF is always so fortunate to attract phenomenal co-chairs for our annual campaign and 2020 will continue the tradition,” said Deanna Tillisch, president and CEO of UPAF. “Since my first UPAF Campaign in 2012, I have had the privilege of working with 23 exceptional co-chairs, all of which have shared a passion for the performing arts and recognized their important contribution to the quality of life we enjoy in the Greater Milwaukee area. I am proud to share my last UPAF Campaign with this dynamic team. Tami, Justin and Rolando each have a history of community involvement and strong support of the performing arts.”
“A vibrant performing arts scene contributes to the success of our region, as it not only entertains, but also increases event-related spending, drives tourism and attracts innovative companies to our area,” said co-chair Rolando Rodriguez. “I look forward to further witnessing the strong impact that the performing arts have on our community and the generosity of those in the Greater Milwaukee area.”
The 2020 UPAF Campaign will run from Monday, March 2 through Wednesday, June 10, 2020. Last year’s UPAF Campaign raised $11.9M for 14 Member Groups.
About the Co-Chairs
Tami Garrison oversees hometown Community Affairs for MillerCoors. She is responsible for community investments, partnerships and the company’s corporate reputation in Milwaukee, Chicago and Golden. Tami is an alumna of the Future Milwaukee Leadership Program at Marquette University as well as the Milwaukee Forum. She was been recognized by the Milwaukee Business Journal as a Woman of Influence in 2017 and one of the “Top 100 Power Brokers” in 2018. Tami has an extensive history of serving the Milwaukee community, currently serving on the Board of Directors of TEMPO Milwaukee, UPAF and the Zoological Society of Milwaukee and as an advisory board member for the Donald Driver Foundation’s Driven to Achieve Awards. She attended Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Dr. Justin Mortara is the former CEO of Mortara Instrument, Inc., a medical device firm headquartered in Milwaukee. He began his career at the company in 1998 and was appointed CEO in 2008. During Justin’s tenure, Mortara Instrument grew revenues tenfold to over $100 million and received various accolades including the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) Future 50 Award, the Deloitte Wisconsin 75, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Top 100 Workplaces Award, the Frost and Sullivan Product Line Strategy Award and the Milwaukee Business Journal’s Manufacturer of the Year Grand Award for Technology and Healthcare Innovation. In 2017, Mortara Instrument was acquired by Hillrom, a leading global medical technology company with more than 10,000 employees worldwide. Justin currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Ballet. He served as Board Chair of the Ballet throughout their $26 million capital campaign to fund their new facility, the Baumgartner Center for Dance. Justin received his bachelor’s with honors in physics at the University of Chicago and his Ph.D. in physics at the University of California Berkeley.
Rolando Rodriguez is chairman, president and CEO of Marcus Theatres and executive vice president of the Marcus Corporation. Prior to joining the Marcus Corporation in 2013, he held leadership roles at AMC Theatres, Walmart and Rave Cinemas. Rolando has been recognized as a Top 100 Emerging Leader by Diversity MBA Magazine, Man of the Year for 2015 by the Motion Picture Club and Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee’s Executive of the Year. In 2018, the Milwaukee Business Journal honored him with a diversity leadership award for his exceptional contributions to the community and business landscape. Currently Rolando is Vice Chairman of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) and has served in various other NATO leadership roles for the past 20 years. He serves on the Board of Directors of Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and leads multiple Hispanic initiatives, including chairing the board for the recently created Milwaukee Hispanic Collaborative. Rolando received his bachelor’s degree from Eckerd College and his master’s degree from Rockhurst University.
About UPAF
The United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) has been setting the stage since 1967 by providing critical investment in our region’s vibrant performing arts scene. UPAF’s mission is to secure community resources, promote the performing arts as a regional asset and improve the quality of life through responsible investment in and financial support of the performing arts in Southeastern Wisconsin. In 2019 UPAF raised more than $11.9 million to support the area’s performing arts environment. UPAF proudly bears Charity Navigator’s highest distinction for nonprofits – a four-star rating – and is the No. 1 united arts fund in the country in terms of dollars raised.
As an umbrella organization, UPAF supports a breadth of performing arts groups that collectively offer something for everyone through its 14 Member Groups and numerous Affiliates. More than one million people are touched each year through performances, educational outreach, special events and community partnerships.
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