PGH Museums Board of Directors
Brian Crawford
Brian is the founder of PGH Museums with a long history of community service and nonprofit management dating back to his childhood, where he earned his Eagle Scout, and experience in event planning and new media. Brian has acquired his skill set through goal driven determination and execution without a formal post secondary education. His largest achievement is by organizing the committee, and leading that committee, to create the Millvale Music Festival, a festival which hosts hundreds of bands across more than a dozen venues and attracts thousands of attendees. With his team, Brian oversaw an operating budge for the two day festival of over 70,000 dollars. In addition to the Millvale Music Festival, Brian similarly founded the California University Relay For Life which raised tens of thousands of dollars for the American Cancer Society each year. The event has been held for 13 years.
Brian has worked with government officials on a statewide and municipal level working for the Pennsylvania General Assembly in the House of Representatives and as an elected official serving on North Irwin Borough Council. Brian has helped to put Pittsburgh on the international stage by leading a discussion panel of local podcasters which was live streamed as part of International Podcast Day’s 30+ hour live stream which includes live programs from podcasters from every continent. The panel was held during a local podcast convention, titled Pittsburgh Pod Con, which Brian organized with the help of Sidekick Media Service, Sorgatron Media, and The River’s Edge Radio Network. Brian also helped found, and have since departed, the online radio network, The River’s Edge which streams music from local artists 24 hours a day.
Brian grew up with a fascination in history, particularly local history. He developed his love for art in his mid to late 20’s after moving to the city and being exposed to art through his radio program with The River’s Edge and by joining his friend Randy Hyland exploring museums. Since developing an interest in art, Brian has become an art collector of mostly local art with a goal to donate a life long collection to the community.
Veronica Jancuk
Veronica has over 13 years’ experience in project management, producing websites, rebranding, photography, videography, marketing, and social media. She currently works at Hugo & Marie, a creative agency and artist management firm based in NYC. Her favorite museum and gallery in Pittsburgh are the Carnegie Museum of Art and the gallery at Associated Artists of Pittsburgh due to her personal connection with the over 100 year old organization. She is a descendent of one of the founding members, Aaron Harry Gorson, who was also one of the original exhibiting artists. Veronica developed a love of art from her mother who spent time drawing and painting. She hopes to expand our supporter program through social media and maximize the use and design of our website to help develop and promote content.
Elizabeth Osborn
Elizabeth is a graduate of High Point University with a master’s in communication and business leadership and a bachelor’s in internal business with minors in Italian, art history, and economics. Elizabeth remotely works for a nonprofit arts council based out of Syracuse, New York. There she works in event planning and coordinates grant requests with knowledge of what organizations are looking for in the grant writing process. Elizabeth’s favorite museum is the Andy Warhol Museum finding Warhol’s pop art, film, and its impact on advertising to be inspiring. She developed a passion for art after seeing the ballet, The Nutcracker, and took the opportunity to admire the architecture of the theater. Elizabeth is hoping to find new and innovative ways to help PGH Museums connect people to the arts and history through out of the box ideas such as pop-up events and better utilizing social media.
Don Sgambati
Don grew up on the east side of Pittsburgh and has worked in his father’s bakery most of his life. He graduated from Point Park University in 2019 and started his own financial planning practice Downtown. He currently lives in Mt. Washington and enjoys listening to music, hunting ducks and fishing for trout.
Joshua Snider
Josh is a printmaker, owning PGH Print Ship based out of Etna, PA. Through his business, he has worked with many nonprofit and volunteer organizations which has given him insight into how they work and operate. PGH Print Ship has won multiple awards in graphic design and Joshua plans to use assets at his business to aid PGH Museums with design opportunities. Joshua has served on the board of advertising with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds Soccer club where he secured corporate advertisements. Joshua’s favorite gallery is Point Five Gallery in Etna. He appreciates the gallery’s intimate nature. He also is a fan of the Mattress Factory and The Andy Warhol Museum. Joshua was always an appreciator of art but an introduction to the Unblurred event in the Garfield / Friendship area galvanized his interest. From there, he became enthralled in local Pittsburgh art establishments such as the Pittsburgh Glass Center, The Roboto Project, Garfield Artworks, and PULLPROOF Studio. Joshua hopes to use his talents to grow PGH Museums supporter base and general awareness and to make PGH Museum’s mission more easily and quickly understood.
CJ Thorpe
CJ is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor’s in philosophy and African American Studies. CJ has worked for the US State Department and the USA Pavilion as a Youth Global Ambassador at the World Expo in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) representing the United States to over 1,000 dignitaries. During his work with the department of state, he wrote proposals for the USA Pavilion, navigated UAE law, and assisted in executing events. During this time, he was awarded the USA Pavilion Leadership Award. CJ worked as a program facilitator and AmeriCorps Keys service member for the Industrial Arts Workshop and was a member of the Leadership Council member as a student athlete with Penn State Football. CJ’s favorite museum in Pittsburgh is the Mattress factory due to its history and the way the museum worked with artists to allow them to create the large, sometimes full room, installations in the museum. CJ became interested in art during middle school when he was taught the history of screen printing and about Andy Warhol. The connection between art and history instilled an interest in both which has grown over time. CJ hopes to help PGH Museums become more involved in schools and in minority communities to help spark an interest of art and history to kids with hopes that it will develop into lifelong interests.
Tina Walker
Tina is an honorary board member of PGHmuseums. She is a native Pittsburgher, currently a resident of Millvale, PA and graduated cum laude from La Roche College with a degree in Visual Communications/Biology, and had a 15 year career in advertising. Tina served as president of the Millvale Community Development Corporation for 6 years and continued to serve on its board for 2 more years. She was one of the founders of the Millvale Community Library and served on its board of trustees, a member of the Millvale Planning Commission, and involved in the Allegheny Together Program strengthening Millvale's core business district. She is currently a board member of the of the future REAADY Academy and is serving as its Director of Community Relations.