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Catherine Vacovsky
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Abel López, Associate Producing Director of GALA Hispanic Theatre, Elected as Chair

Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, announced today the election of Abel López as Chair and two new members to its Board of Directors: Floyd W. Green, III, vice president and head of community relations at Aetna, Inc.; and Edgar L. Smith, Jr. CEO of World Pac Paper, LLC.

“I am pleased that Abel will be taking on this leadership role. He has been an extraordinary board member, and his commitment to the organization and the arts will make him an outstanding Chair,” said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “I am also happy to welcome Floyd and Edgar—two exceptional community and business leaders—to our Board of Directors. They bring great dedication and commitment to the arts and arts education, and I look forward to working with them and our other board members to further expand the reach the arts have in America."

Abel López has served as GALA Hispanic Theatre’s associate producing director for more than 25 years, during which time he has produced more than 65 shows and directed another 25. Currently, he sits on the board of directors of National Association of Latino Arts & Culture, Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, Theatre Washington, Black Women Playwrights Group and Performing Arts Alliance. He has served as Chair of the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, Theater Communications Group, Leadership Washington, League of Washington Theaters, Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, National Inclusion in the Arts, and the Performing Arts Alliance. His contributions to the arts have been recognized with the Richard Bauer Leadership Award from the Washington Performing Arts Video Archive (2002) and The Washington Post Award for Distinguished Community Service at the 1990 Helen Hayes Awards. In 1991, he was named a Washingtonian of the Year.

Floyd W. Green, III is vice president and head of community relations for Aetna, Inc, which was named to Americans for the Arts’ BCA 10 in 2011. In his role he is responsible for developing grass roots marketing strategies to assist in business development, customer retention, healthcare disparities and strategic partnerships. He is also responsible for Aetna’s corporate philanthropic investments to strengthen Aetna’s brand, which includes local and national granting, expanding employee volunteerism and employee gift matching programs. Finally, his organization is responsible for all national and local events/trade shows as well as the company’s award winning international briefing center. Green was recently appointed Commissioner by Mayor Pedro E. Segarra, Mayor of Hartford to the Capital Region Development Authority. In addition, he is on the boards of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) National Partnership Board for HIV/AIDS, the award winning Connecticut Forum, Xavier University’s Corporate Advisory Board, New Orleans, the inaugural corporate advisory council for the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA), past honorary chair of the 105 Voices of History Celebration, Uptown Professional Board of Advisors and the Howard University’s School of Communications Board of Visitors. Green is a member of Actor’s Equity Association, the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) and a lifetime member of the National Black MBA’s and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated. Most recently, he was awarded 2011and 2012 Uptown Professional magazine’s top 100 executives in corporate America and one of Savoy Magazine's 2012 selection as 100 most influential black executives in corporate America.

Edgar L. Smith, Jr. is the founder, chairman and CEO of World Pac Paper, LLC. He has more than 25 years of experience with Fortune 500 companies, including Coca-Cola North America, R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co., James River Corp., Georgia- Pacific Corp. and Smurfit-Stone. Smith has served on several corporate boards, including the Paul Hemmer Companies and BrandWatch Technologies, Inc. He currently serves as a Vice Chair, and on the Executive Committee, for the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber and as Vice Chairman for the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau. He also serves on the Executive Board of Business Committee for the Arts (BCA), a Division of Americans for the Arts. In addition, he serves in leadership capacities on the Board of Directors of other prominent Cincinnati civic and community nonprofit organizations, including ArtsWave (Executive Committee, Secretary, Community Campaign Chair-2011 and current Life Trustee), Boy Scouts of America (Eagle Scout), Cincinnati USA Regional Tourism Network (RTN) and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (Ex-official – Executive Committee). He has also served as the Past Chapter Chairman of the American Red Cross Cincinnati Area Chapter (2006-2008) and with the Cincinnati Arts Association. Edgar was elected, in 2011, to serve on the Board of Directors of the US Chamber of Commerce (Washington, DC). He was appointed and currently serves on the Board of Advisors for the School of Business Administration at Clark Atlanta University (Atlanta, GA).  Edgar is a member of the Board of Trustees at Marietta College (Marietta, OH). He was selected, by the American National Red Cross, and served on the National Leadership Council (Washington, DC). He previously served, nationally, as the Vice Chair, National Committee on Nominations, (2004-2006). He and his company are the recipient of numerous business awards and community honors.

Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America. With offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City, it has a record of more than 50 years of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.