Familiar Faces in New Places

New Rialto Board of Trustees Vice President Asima Jansveld and President Margaret Smith

Exciting news means exciting changes for the Rialto!

As we’ve previously shared, the State of New Jersey has provided us with a $43.3 million tax credit award, or more than 80% of the funds needed to make the new Rialto Center for Creativity a reality, and our campaign to raise the additional $10 million needed to secure the state award, complete our construction costs and fund our early operations is underway.

We are thrilled to announce that Bill Crandall will take on the new role of Interim Executive Director. Crandall has served as President of the Rialto Board of Trustees for nearly three years and, as a lifelong resident of Westfield, he is uniquely suited for this role and brings a tremendous range of professional experience and passion to the organization. With the NJEDA CAFE award confirmed, and after three years of organizational development work, our Executive Director, Elliot Fox, will be stepping down to make way for new leadership in this next phase of the organization. Fox will remain the Rialto’s Project Consultant.

We’re equally thrilled to announce that the Rialto’s Board of Trustees has elected Margaret Smith to serve as President and Asima Jansveld as Vice President. Margaret is one of the founding Board Members of the organization and we are excited to have her in this leadership role. Asima Jansveld joined the Board in early 2025 and brings her non-profit expertise and excitement for the project to her new role.

The State of New Jersey just gave our project a major boost, and we look forward to bringing this transformative project to fruition and ensuring the Rialto remains a place where our neighbors from Westfield and beyond may gather to enjoy creativity for another 100+ years.

There’s still plenty to do, and we’ll keep sharing that journey with you as it unfolds.

Thanks for being part of it.

Please see additional info below.

Bill Crandall, who has been serving as President of our Board of Directors, is moving into a new role as Interim Executive Director. He will collaborate with the Board on strategy, lead day-to-day operations and manage staff. Bill brings a lot of experience that fits this moment: Over a 25-year career, he has worked across media, entertainment and venues, creating cultural programming, building audiences, developing partnerships, generating revenue and leading teams. He has held senior leadership roles at Rolling Stone, Madison Square Garden and SiriusXM, and has produced content for organizations including the Smithsonian, CBS and Huffington Post.

Margaret Smith is our new President of the Board of Trustees. In addition to her five years as Rialto Board Vice President, Margaret has a wealth of nonprofit experience in Westfield and beyond. She is a member and past Chair of the Westfield Public Arts Commission, a Board Member of the Morris Museum, a member of the Advisory Council of the University of Notre Dame’s DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, a member of the Members Committee of the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, and an IMAGINE-A Center for Coping and Loss facilitator. She is also a teaching artist and certified therapeutic arts facilitator. Margaret brings a combination of nonprofit experience, arts leadership and a real understanding of the role creativity can play in a community, and we’re excited to have her take over as Board President.

Asima Jansveld is our new Vice President of the Board of Trustees. In addition to her year-plus as a Rialto Board member, Asima brings decades of nonprofit and urban-planning leadership focused on turning community vision into reality. She most recently served as Chief Program and Engagement Officer for the High Line in New York City, and led the High Line Network – a group of nonprofit public spaces across North America. Her career has spanned the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, with a focus on the social and economic impacts of place-based policies and programs. As a consultant, Asima continues to work with the High Line, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the West Side Cultural Network.

Elliot Fox will shift to Project Consultant, continuing to represent the Rialto to government bodies and financial institutions, and launching our operations. Elliot is an Arts & Interim Manager and Organizational Consultant, assisting organizations with capital projects, fundraising, operations, change management, and capacity-related issues. As a presenter, educator, and award-winning producer for more than 30 years, he has developed and produced hundreds of plays, workshops, and events with both iconic and early-career artists and partners. He has developed theaters and education programs with Signature Theater Co, Primary Stages, and Fordham University, among others. We are thrilled to have his continued expertise during this crucial transitional stage for the Rialto.