consultants

Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her/hers) is a Principal at ALJP Consulting. She is a passionate, values-driven, arts and culture leader, with a lifelong commitment to creating visionary and strategic plans that impact change and lead to a more just, thriving, and equitable community. She was the inaugural Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for Ford's Theatre Society in Washington, D.C., leading the organization’s workforce, theatrical, programmatic and outreach efforts around access, opportunity, and belonging.  Erica previously served as Director of Marketing & Production for Theatre Communications Group (TCG), where she served on the core team of the strategic planning committee, penning the new mission of TCG, and creating and curating new programs such as TCG Books Presents First Fridays (featuring playwrights including Pulitzer Prize Winner Michael R. Jackson, Dael Orlandersmith, Heidi Schreck, and Young Jean Lee). A serial entrepreneur, she is also Founder & CEO of The Brandprint, a full-service, creative strategy, media, and production firm of experts who build brand capital and memorable in-person and digital experiences for non-profit and mission-fueled organizations. Erica’s previous roles also include Sr. Director of Digital Marketing & Business Development at Odyssey Media, servicing affluent & influential multicultural female audiences through digital and event activations and the signature conference for 30+ the nation's leading Fortune 500 companies. She is also the founding TKTS Patron Services Coordinator for Theatre Development Fund. An award-winning actress and playwright, Ortiz has worked on over 50 productions in theater and film. She has performed at the John F. Kennedy Center (DC), Rep Stage (MD), Amoralists Theater Company (NY), MTWorks (NY), T. Schreiber Studio (NY), the New York Fringe Festival, PS 122 (NY), Atlas Performing Arts Center (DC), among others. As a production design consultant, she was featured on Bravo’s Project Runway, collaborating with finalist Bishme Cromartie.

Michael J. Bobbitt (he/him/his) is a Consultant at ALJP Consulting. He has dedicated his professional career to arts leadership. He is a theatre director, choreographer, and playwright. On February 1, 2021, he joined Mass Cultural Council as Executive Director, becoming the highest-ranking cultural official in Massachusetts. Upon joining Mass Cultural Council, Bobbitt was invited and agreed to serve on the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) Board of Directors. Beginning in March 2019 he served as the Artistic Director of the New Repertory Theatre in Watertown, MA; immediately prior he held the same position at the Adventure Theatre-MTC in Maryland for twelve years. While in Maryland Bobbitt led the organization to be a respected theatre/training company in the DC region, as well as a nationally influential professional Theatre for Young Audiences. He led a merger with Musical Theater Center, increased the organizational budget and audience, commissioned new works by noted playwrights, transferred two shows to Off-Broadway, built an academy, and earned dozens of Helen Hayes Award Nominations, garnering eight wins. Bobbitt gained extensive experience in nonprofit arts management by training at Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management, The National Arts Strategies Chief Executive Program, and Cornell University’s Diversity and Inclusion Certification Program. He has served as an Associate Professor of Theatre at both the Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Howard University and volunteered on numerous nonprofit boards, including Non-Profit Village, Maryland Citizens for the Arts, Leadership Montgomery, Weissberg Foundation, Watertown Public Art Commission, and ArtsBoston. In 2021 he was selected to join artEquity’s second cohort of the BIPOC Leadership Circle, and in July 2022 he was awarded a certificate of completion for the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Executive Education. In October 2022 he was presented with the Action Bearing Award by MassOpera for his leadership in the development of an equitable cultural sector and recognized by Speak Out for his efforts to build a more inclusive cultural sector. Bobbitt has directed/choreographed at Arena Stage, Ford’s Theatre, The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Olney Theatre Center, Studio Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Center Stage, Roundhouse Theatre, The Kennedy Center, and the Washington National Opera. His national and international credits include the NY Musical Theatre Festival, Mel Tillis 2001, La Jolla Playhouse, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, Jefferson Performing Arts Center, and the Olympics. As a writer his work was chosen for the NYC International Fringe Festival and The New York and Musical Theatre Festival. He has plays published by Concord Theatricals/Rodgers and Hammerstein Theatricals, Broadway Publishing and Plays for Young Audiences. Bobbitt has received the Excel Leadership Award (Center for Nonprofit Advancement), the Emerging Leader Award (County Executive’s Excellence in the Arts and Humanities), and Person of the Year Award (Maryland Theatre Guide).

Tramaine Chelan'gat (she/her/hers) is an Associate at ALJP Consulting.  She is a global Social Impact Strategist and Management Consultant with 15 plus years of senior management and communications experience in Health, Media, Arts, Education, Policy Advocacy, and Community Engagement. Tramaine is a Kenyan-American - born and raised in the American South - who is currently based in New York City. She harnesses innovation that advances social justice, education, cultural, and economic progress. She has consistently propelled organizations forward during times of transition and held pioneering leadership roles with organizations such as UNICEF USA and StoryCorps. She received her B.A. in English Creative Writing and Media Studies and M.A. in Intercultural Management and International Development. She is an award-winning writer and has been a member of the Association for Managers of Innovation for 7 years. For the past decade, Tramaine has focused on the African Diaspora by serving as consultant, senior advisor, project manager, and coach for various organizations to advance Culture; Technology; Women’s and Girls’ Leadership; Education; Business and Entrepreneurship Development; Public Health; Advocacy; and Government Relations.

Kim Davis (she/her/hers) is an Associate at ALJP Consulting. She is an artist, educator, and researcher with more than 25 years of experience in arts and culture performance, education, and administration for nonprofit and municipal organizations. Most recently, she served as Senior Director of Education at Old Town School of Folk Music, where she developed and implemented the Creative Dance Residency, producing and presenting artists and companies such as Nejla Yatkin, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Jump Rhythm Jazz Project, Valerie Alpert Dance Company, and The Cambrians. She also has given lectures and presentations and facilitated discussions at a variety of conferences, municipal departments, and universities. She has experience curating programs for festivals, conferences, artist residencies, and workshop presentations and she served as an Art of Rehearsal mentor for six years at Chicago’s famed Links Hall. She participated in the New England for the Arts’ National Dance Project - 2016 Regional Dance Development Initiative’s Presenter Showcase and she also served as a task force member of Chicago Dancemakers Forum’s 2017 inaugural Elevate Dance Chicago festival. Her background includes program design, workshop and curriculum development, individual mentorship and group facilitation, project management, strategic planning, and executive leadership. She is passionate about using the arts as a gateway to communication and the dismantling of systemic racism and injustice in communities. Davis is completing an EdD in Leadership and Innovation from Arizona State University and holds an MS from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, a BA from Columbia College of Missouri, and has completed training in caucus facilitation, and certificates in Ethical Leadership and DEI in the Workplace. Her research investigates the attrition/retention and success of Black womxn in leadership positions within the arts and culture sector in predominantly white institutions. She currently serves on the Executive Committee of Links Hall.