The Center’s Board of Directors is responsible for oversight of the organization’s operations and they help guide the Center's long-term vision and planning.  The Board also focuses on the continued financial stability of the organization and, to that end, participates significantly in our fundraising efforts. 

Brian C. Offutt, Board President

Brian Offutt is the Senior Vice President, Creative Operations for Nickelodeon. Except for two year stints in Boston, MA and Los Angeles, CA, he has been a resident of New York City since 1987. He has served previously on New York City-based not-for-profit boards including The Visiting Nurse Service of NYC, The Kitchen, and Urban Bush Women. He received a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in history from Harvard University.

Brian joined the Center Board initially in 2003 serving until 2005, when his job required him to move to Los Angeles. He rejoined the Center Board in 2008, after his return to NYC. In 2009, he served as the Co-Chair of the Executive Director Search Committee that identified Glennda Testone and recruited her to the Center. During 2010 and 2011, he served as the Center's Treasurer and Finance & Audit Committee Chair.

H. Gwen Marcus, Board Co-Chair

Ms. Marcus is the Executive Vice President, General Counsel of Showtime Networks Inc. Ms. Marcus received her BA from Brandeis University and her JD from New York University School of Law.  

Gwen joined the Board in June 2007 and became Co-Chair in June of 2009. She has been instrumental in raising the profile of the Center’s signature gala for women, Women’s Event. Through her efforts the event has often been attended by celebrities including Jennifer Beals, Ilene Chaiken and other L Word cast members. The Center honored Ms. Marcus at this event in 2006 for her tremendous leadership as an out lesbian in corporate America. In addition to her other Committee work, Ms. Marcus served as Co-Chair of the Search Committee which selected the Center’s first woman Executive Director, Glennda Testone.  

Paul Gruber, Board Co-Chair

Paul Gruber has served on the staff of the Metropolitan Opera Guild since 1976, at various times directing the company’s Ticket Service, Membership, Merchandising and Public Programs departments. He produced some 200 recordings on the MET label, and published and edited The Metropolitan Opera Encyclopedia, The Metropolitan Opera Guide to Opera on Record and The Metropolitan Opera Guide to Opera on Video. At the height of the Guild’s merchandising program, he directed retail and mail order operations for the Met, Lincoln Center, Lincoln Center Theater and American Ballet Theater. For the Public Program division, he has staged tributes and produced videos honoring Teresa Stratas, James Levine, Plácido Domingo, Renata Tebaldi, Birgit Nilsson, Luciano Pavarotti, Joan Sutherland and Marilyn Horne, often serving as on-stage host and interviewer. He was music consultant for HBO’s Emmy Award-winning series, Classical Baby and writes for the Yale Review.

Paul joined the board of the Center in 2004, and since then has had the pleasure of working with the organization's talented staff and board on development, events, cultural programs and general administration. He lives in New York with his partner of 32 years, Keith Champagne.