Yvonne Sewall-Ruskin
President & Founder

Established the Max’s Kansas City Project 1996, incorporated in 2001 and gained its 501C3 tax exempt status. Handles the day to day operations of the non profit, organizes and produces fundraisers and events, interfaces with the production team and the volunteer staff, reviews the applications for assistance with the board members. Author, film producer and founder of the Max’s Kansas City Project established in memory of her late ex-husband, Mickey Ruskin, creator of the legendary restaurant/bar/club, Max’s Kansas City. BA in English, U. of Conn; Masters in Education, NYU. Assisted in developing “ Upstairs at Max’s,” that showcased and featured unsigned bands some of which included Aerosmith, Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith, Bonnie Raitt, and the Velvet Underground to name a few. Ms Sewall moved on to manage recording studio’s including Bearsville Studios (assistant manager), 39^th Street Music, Evergreen Recording, and Celestial Sound in NYC.  In 1983 she created I CONTACT, the first audio production service in New York City. Ms. Sewall is the author of an oral history on Max’s, High On Rebellion Inside the Underground at Max’s Kansas City, published by Thunders’ Mouth Press in 1998.  Aside from being the CEO of the Max’s Kansas City Project she is currently working on a documentary film on Max’s, “A Walk on the "In" Side, and holds both a real estate’s broker’s license and a teaching license.

Kathleen Doherty, Esq Secretary/Media Relations

Ms. Doherty acts as the organization’s secretary and has co-produced some of the events and fundraisers. She advises the board on legal issues where applicable, and is instrumental in establishing and promoting the visibility of the organization and its events in the media.  B.A. Suny-Purchase;  M.A. in Psycology Adelphi U; J.D. Fuchsberg Law Center.  Practiced law in Federal Courts for Eastern and Southern Districts of NY. Published research at the Eastern Psychological Assoc. on Self Defeating Personality Disorder and its role in drug addiction. Admitted to the New York State Bar in 1995. Ms. Doherty was admitted to practice law in the Federal Courts for the Eastern & Southern Districts of NY. She is currently employed with the law firm of Torino & Bernstein, PC where she practices in the area of civil defense litigation.

Shelley Valfer
Treasurer

Keeps the financial records of the organization in order.  Shelley Valfer has been involved in the entertainment industry as both performer and administrator.  He has worked in both the profit and non-profit sector as a puppeteer in the Bread and Puppet Theater to being Administrative director of the Kitchen Center for the Performing Arts in it's previous Soho location. Presently he is a computer consultant and road tour accountant for the Allman Brothers Band.

Jack Abbott
  Marketing Director

Mr. Abbott has served the Max’s Kansas City Project as assistant to the Executive Director and Marketing Director. His responsibilities include researching and stabilizing the projects fundraising events by interfacing with the organization’s strategic partners in the NYC area, and handles some of the marketing and promotions.  He also conducts some of the meetings with applicants for funding from the five New York Boroughs to assess their character, their history and the urgency of their need for financial assistance.  Jack has worked in the entertainment industry for 25 years developing an artist management company that negotiated recording contracts and a public relations firm promoting these artists on national and international tours. Mr Abbott also served as an independent record producer for RCA Records. Mr. Abbott has been published in the Village Voice, Rolling Stone and Circus Magazine.  He also assisted in the creation of the East Village Eye, an independent newspaper dedicated to the development of the arts and entertainment in New York City’s lower east side and East Village.

Jessica Ruskin
Project/Grant Consultant

Ms Ruskin is a Program Director at the Exploratorium Science Museum in San Francisco. Her responsibilities include hiring, training and supervising the administrative support staff. As well as coordinating all aspects of outreach programs, managing program budgets, expenses and grant income. She graduated Cornell University summa cum laude & earned her masters in Museum Education from George Washington University in Washington, DC. Jessica is proficient in grant proposal writing and teams and budget management.  She was on the team of Habitat for Humanity for two years, joined the staff of  Kidspace Museum in Pasadena, Ca. where she coordinated all aspects of professional development seminars and facilitated museum visits for preschool children as well as establishing & maintaining partnerships with community organizations.

Michael Ruskin
Graphics/Carpenter

Faye Feller
Development Consultant

Ms. Feller is a development consultant to the UN-Non Governmental Organizations.  Ms. Feller is on our advisory board. She conceived the original idea for an online mentoring program for educating and mentoring our youth.  We applauded the concept and developed the program around her original premise. She will remain active in the development stages of the program.  Ms. Feller works in association with the Department of Youth and Community Development for the safety and health of children, youth and families. She used her knowledge and expertise to prepare the Department of Youth and Community for the Youth Fusion Summit.