OUR TEAM
VP OF ARTS & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT @THEBETSYHOTEL
Deborah Plutzik-Briggs
Deborah Briggs created the arts and culture program at The Betsy Hotel, which in 2017 garnered an award from Americans for the Arts as one of the Nation’s leading corporate arts and culture initiatives. Deb holds a Doctorate in Arts Education, and Masters in Music Education from Columbia University, a Master of Science from the University of Illinois, a Bachelor’s Degree in Performance from the Eastman School of Music, and a certificate in Public Policy from the Institute for Educational Leadership in Washington, DC. She’s the daughter of American poet, Hyam Plutzik - hyamplutzikpoetry.com (1911-62).
PROGRAM CONSULTANT
Jean Blackwell Font
Jean has worked with The Betsy Writers Room since its founding - in programs, marketing, and community engagement. Jean’s day job is as co-founder of collaboARTive.org and she’s a collage artist.
SPECIAL PROJECT CURATORS
(Poet) Caridad Moro-Gronlier
The Betsy's New Tropic Poetry Column, 2023
Escribe Aqu/Write Here, 2022 and 2023
Caridad Moro-Gronlier was born in Los Angeles, California to Cuban immigrant parents who relocated to Miami, FL in 1979. She is the author of TORTILLERA, the winner of the TRP Southern Poetry Breakthrough Prize for Florida which was published by Texas Review Press in the Spring of 2021, and Visionware published by Finishing Line Press as part of its New Women's Voices Series. She is a Contributing Editor of Grabbed: Writers Respond to Sexual Assault forthcoming from Beacon Press in 2020 and an Associate Editor for SWWIM Every Day, an online daily poetry journal. Moro-Gronlier's work has been nominated for two Pushcart Prizes, The Best of the Net and a Lambda Literary Award. Recent work can be found at The Best American Poetry Blog, Rhino, Go Magazine, Fantastical Florida, Notre Dame Review, and others. A career educator, Moro-Gronlier has been honored as the recipient of an Educational Leader Award from Unity Coalition for her work with LGBTQ youth. Caridadmoro.com
(Jazz Activist/Performer) Carole Ann ‘CAT” Taylor
The Betsy’s Overture to Overtown Jazz Festival, 2021, 2022, 2023
“While enjoying the beauty of being a grandmother of six … if there’s any legacy I want to leave, it’s that I did as much as I could to foster economic development, individual Black businesses, and the further economic empowerment of our additional ethnic communities”. Ever the nurturer, Ms. Taylor (http://bitly.ws/Hs3c ) continues to inspire with a generosity of spirit saying, “I will continue to advocate for Black businesses, small businesses and Heritage Neighborhoods economic development. Along the way I’ll continue to pursue my career as a jazz singer and perform all the beloved classic jazz standards.” Carole Ann performs at various clubs throughout Miami Dade County and regularly appears at Miami’s prestigious Hotel, the Betsy.” (The Harlem Times, 2023)
(Conductor) Michael Rossi
The Betsy's 3rd Thursdays Opera on the Terrace Program
Projections on The Betsy Facade, Valentines Day, 2023
Master Classes and 'Meet the Artist' Programs
Michael Rossi is a rising star in the next generation of conductors. He has conducted the world's leading organizations including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Xalapa.
As an educator, Michael has founded the Miami Beach Classical Music Festival which educates hundreds of young professional musicians each summer for 8 weeks with the world's leading performers and educators. In 10 years, Michael has expanded the season to include a professional Alumni Division, 5 full opera productions, 4 Symphonic Concerts, a Professional Wagner Institute, 50 solo recitals /chamber music performances, and a pioneering and intensive Career Institute that he teaches to entrepreneurial participants during the summer session. Miamimusicfestival.com
(Music Educators) Ryan and Cindy Ellis
The Betsy's 3rd Thursdays Intergenerational Jazz Vocals Program, 2022 and 2023
Cindy Ellis is a Cuban-American vocalist who has performed with and conducted ensembles in a variety of venues including Carnegie Hall, the Adrienne Arsht Center, New World Symphony Hall, Guzman Center, Kennedy Center, and on Saturday Night LIVE. As a jazz artist, she is frequently featured in venues throughout South Florida and is a regular in the Betsy Hotel’s Mostly Jazz performance series.
Ryan Ellis is a Miami-based jazz pianist. As a touring performer, Ellis has worked in the Caribbean and Hawaii performing with Eddie Jones, Bobby Dukoff, Paul Brown, and Ira Sullivan. He is Director of the Choral program at Zelda Glazer/Miami Dade Arts Charter and prior, in his role at Ferguson High School, his chorus has performed in Kennedy Center, Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando, and New York’s Carnegie Hall. Ellis received his undergraduate degree from the University of Miami and a graduate degree from Florida International University with special support and commendation from the Johnny Mercer Foundation. Ryan is also lead sound consultant for The Miami Beach Promenade Music Series and The Betsy’s Arts Programs.