Maplewood Honors Lisa

Resolution of Recognition and Appreciation for Lisa Gay Mainardi by Maplewood Township Committee public meeting, March 16, 2021. Presenter Committee Woman Nancy Adams and Speaker Mayor Frank McGehee honor Lisa on behalf of the Committee.

  • “I have worked with Lisa Mainardi in many capacities over the years — from her organizing the American Trend & Color Committee (where she recruited top industry professionals as members) to her taking over a small print show and turning it into a vibrant and vital resource for the fashion industry. Lisa’s ability to bring people together, to recognize talent and to make things happen is unparalleled. Her work ethic and passion make her a force of nature.”

    – Sharon Graubard
    Owner, Mintmoda

  • "The efforts given to coordinating, funding and participating in Black History Month events speak volumes for Maplewood Township's commitment to integration and inclusion. I want to recognize the efforts of the Township of Maplewood Division of Arts & Culture in coordinating, promoting and hosting many of the events for Black History Month. In particular, Lisa Mainardi has gone above and beyond to encourage creative ideas and collaboration across groups - not only for Black History Month but throughout the year. Her role in helping to orchestrate and support multiple cultural heritage festivals across groups, to encourage holding local activities that leverage the NYT 1619 Project and celebrate Juneteenth, to bring different entities together like the Community Coalition on Race and Progressive Theater and to create a closing event for Black History Month are just a few examples of her contributions. It's not uncommon to receive a phone call from Lisa saying, "So, what are you guys doing for (fill in the blank)?" to which she would then make some suggestions or share information about who else might be looking to partner. We are so lucky to have such dedicated and forward looking professionals in our community, and I feel privileged to work with all of you."

    — Audrey Rowe
    Program Director, South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race

  • "It is with much enthusiasm and confidence that I submit this testimonial of confidence for Lisa Mainardi. I have known Lisa for approximately 4 years, having worked with her as the liaison between The Burgdorff and interACT Theatre Productions. In that time I have worked with her on five shows that took place at The Burgdorff. Throughout our time working with Lisa, she was attentive to our needs, as well as the needs of the Burgdorff somehow making both of those needs come to fruition. As a constant presence in the physical space of the Burgdorff, Lisa was always available and willing to discuss in person any conversations that needed to take place, address any questions we had, and offer her vote of confidence in the work that we were doing. Not pretending to have all the answers, she was honest and up front when she needed to follow up with another administrator for answers and clarification rather than speak for that person. Her eagerness to see the arts alive and in great practice in the Burgdorff and the Woodland is energizing. Many discussions have ensued about possibilities for the Burgdorff and interACT, and Lisa’s care for the building, as well as our organization and our success left us not only willing, but wanting to pitch in on projects around the Burgdorff where we could. Her organizational skills are astounding, juggling the schedules for both buildings, as well as the numerous organizations that use the space and the town’s scheduling needs. Her demeanor is professional but yet casual, she is not unapproachable in the slightest and for non-profit theatre organizations, that is immensely important. Her creativity, leadership, problem-solving, and malleability make her a great asset who can think on her feet, appeasing any situation that may arise with an artistically focused mind and compassionate spirit. I hope to have the opportunity to work with Lisa on countless projects in the future, as I cannot imagine having such a great rapport with anyone else."

    – Nicholas J. Clarey
    Artistic Director, interACT Theatre Productions

  • "Lisa’s resume underscores her leadership, entrepreneurial, and management skills. Lisa has a solid professional history as a manager of people and events – and a track record to prove it. Yet, what makes Lisa an outstanding director is her vision to see beyond what exists and the energy that she brings to move ideas into action. Setting a new path is what Lisa does best! Lisa and I first met commuting into NYC over 20 years ago early in our careers. For as long as I’ve know her, Lisa has been connecting people to build a better village. I think it starts with Lisa’s interest in others. Both professionally and socially, she engages people. Lisa sees common interests and makes it her mission to bring people together by creating a compelling experience. Whether she is running an international industry event or the local school fundraiser, Lisa brings her passion to ensure that the result will be properly planned, staffed, set up, promoted, and in total, a resounding success for all who participate. One of Lisa’s signature traits is providing unexpected amenities and exceeding expectations. I’ve seen Lisa work on various projects, and I’ve worked with her. For several years as an independent contractor, I worked with Lisa on the industry shows that she produced. I saw first hand the bounty of ideas that Lisa brought to each endeavor and then the perseverance to deliver, and repeatedly, she exceeded. I witnessed the unrelenting stamina Lisa has as a woman on a mission. Lisa has a keen talent for finding creative, able people and nurturing a collaborative spirit on her projects. She is resourceful, pragmatic and determined to surpass expectation."

    – Andrea Blythe
    Partner, Blythe Design Studio, LLC
    Former independent contractor

  • "I have known Lisa for many years, as a personal friend and also on a professional basis. For the last five years, the Robert J. Miller Foundation has rented The Woodland for our annual major fundraiser. The first year was challenging but since Lisa joined the staff at that facility, she has helped us re-imagine the site and utilize it to the fullest extent possible. Her creative assistance has enabled us to present an exciting event, fun and safe, for the 1,000 attendees. We utilize the entire Woodland property – each area having a different activity. This wouldn’t have been possible without Lisa’s guidance."

    — Ellen M. Davenport
    Secretary, Robert J. Miller Foundation, Inc.
    Former Mayor of Maplewood, NJ

  • "Lisa has been my friend since her husband and I ran against one another for Township Committee. After I retired from my healthcare career, I worked for Lisa at DIRECTION doing her office work. Lisa brings the creativity, visionary thinking and planning, and collaboration to the Township just as she created and advanced her own world-wide company. And, DIRECTION grew, not only in size but in its offerings and their depth. Whether creating a special focus on students or digitizing within the market, Lisa continually sought to provide more for her industry and artists. It is not often a person is able to succeed with both the big picture and the details, with business producers and with artists. Lisa is that person."

    — Kathleen Leventhal
    Former Deputy Mayor, Maplewood NJ

  • "Anyone who could run a major fashion, design and trend conference as she had, has the skills to coordinate and inspire arts programing of Maplewood. And then there is the fact that she knows everyone and everything in Maplewood. So many of us even worked for her at DIRECTION then, including myself.”

    — Ellen Greenfield Hates Celk
    Former Welcome Committee, DIRECTION Show
    Former Board Chair, 1978 Maplewood Arts Center
    Docent, The Newark Museum of Art for 25 years

  • "Lisa Mainardi is a great ambassador for the Township of Maplewood. Her community involvement and ability to reach people, where they are, shows her dedication to serving this community in which she lives. The advice she has given personally to progressive theater and myself—to bring programing that promotes diversity, inclusion and community involvement— attracts potential residents to Maplewood.”

    — Gregory Omar Osborne
    Founder & Artistic Director, Progressive Theater

  • "Lisa Mainardi is very talented and creative in her approach to events and programing. She has presented many great ideas to the Woman’s Club of Maplewood for potential collaboration, sponsorship, or partnership. Lisa has the ability to cut through to the heart of the matter and tackle things in a really direct and fabulously problem solving way. Lisa knows what she is doing and is the one person who makes things work at The Woodland. In addition, Lisa was instrumental in bringing the Maplewood Woman’s Club back to The Woodland with a beautiful High Tea Celebration. Lisa is professional and kind. She went out of her way to make us feel very welcomed and appreciated in the community. She made going back to The Woodland pleasant and an easy place to return to, and for that, many of us at The Woman’s Club Maplewood are very grateful. And most recently, it was Lisa that made our 103rd Founder’s Celebration a very special day.”

    — Joann Aponte
    Former President, The Woman’s Club of Maplewood
    — Bobbie Rosengarten
    Treasurer, The Woman’s Club of Maplewood

  • "I met Lisa Mainardi in the mid ‘90s when we served on the Color Table of the International Fabric & Fashion exhibition. IFFE was a major trade show held at the Javits Center every spring and fall which drew fiber and textile innovators, garment manufacturers and retailers from all over the world. The committee created seasonal color and trend direction which we presented on the first day of the show. Lisa was the creative director of Cotton, Inc. and I was the creative director of DuPont Textile Fibers, which made us competitors. However, we worked well together and eventually became friends. When the committee head abruptly left, Lisa was chosen to take the lead—a rather daunting responsibility, especially for one so young. However, Lisa did not hesitate and proceeded to rename the group to the American Trend & Color Committee and she put together a committee made up of approximately twenty five of the leading color/trend professionals in the trade. Naturally, there were a lot of strong egos working in the same room, but under Lisa's leadership, the meetings were productive, informative and even fun with beautiful end results that were highly valued by the industry. A few years later I watched Lisa take a small art show—INPRINTS NY and grow it into a major event called DIRECTION, which proved to be a smashing success from day one. It soon became the #1 textile design show in the United States. It was truly the talk of the entire garment center. She also went on a global search scouting for talent to lead seminars on lifestyle, art, cultural trends and even wellness. Lisa through her networking and brainstorming was on the cutting edge of trend and constantly adding new enhanced features to the show from galleries and giant displays to information centers on sustainability, digital printing and groundbreaking forums highlighting new textile, dye and fiber innovations. I had the honor of having my own space at DIRECTION and working with Lisa on color and trend forecasts and seminars each season. This event held each August, January and April proved to be extremely helpful to my business as I procured several prestigious new clients through same. The evening before each show opening, all the exhibitors would bring their boards, banners, artwork, colors, prints, books, etc., to set up. So here we were—many of us in competing businesses—happily setting up our booths and enjoying the lovely spread of dinner and goodies Lisa would provide. She always went out of her way to make everyone feel welcome and at home and was great at connecting people to each other. The atmosphere was festive, congenial and even family like. After the show Lisa provided each exhibitor with a list of all visitors to the show with their contact information and details. This was truly unheard of for a trade show to do but Lisa really cared about the success of our businesses. In addition Lisa had students working as interns and receiving invaluable training and insight. She would hold student competitions, student displays and even housed students in their own booths in a show within the larger show. The experience with DIRECTION season after season is one I will always remember with appreciation and I credit Lisa for her vision, attention to detail and dedication."

    — Roseann Forde
    Color & Trend Forecaster/Consultant
    Former Creative Director, Dupont

  • "Lisa Mainardi’s effort on behalf of the Forward Leap Network provides great real-world exposure for the textile design programs at FIT and the other participating schools. It makes all the difference having savvy professionals to help nurture new talent get out into the world.”

    — Karen Gentile
    Former Chairperson, Textile/Surface Design Department, The Fashion Institute of Technology

  • “Forward Leap is a special showcase conceived and realized by Lisa Mainardi and the DIRECTION Show to introduce outstanding students and recent graduates to the industry. DIRECTION offers an immediate and professional experience to a new generation of young designers, soon- to-be-seeking-employment, and at the same time provides for interested professionals attending the show, a convenient environment within which to preview these young individuals and their work. In addition to the excitement of DIRECTION, it furnishes an exceptionally beautiful venue for them to take that proverbial leap of faith, riding their personal stars straight into reality. I can imagine no better introduction."

    — Eileen Mislove
    Professor, Fashion Institute of Technology
    Consultant, DIRECTION
    Former Owner, INPRINTS NY LLC