(RED BANK) The Count Basie Center for the Arts today announced that Ivy Charmatz, an Emmy® Award-winning storyteller and communications leader, will join the organization as Senior Vice President of Communications & Content Strategy. In this newly created role, Charmatz will lead the Basie Center’s institutional storytelling and strategic communications, ensuring that the organization’s impact is shared in powerful ways with audiences, supporters, and partners. The position comes as the Basie Center celebrates its centennial and prepares for the next century of growth and community impact.

“For 100 years, the Basie has been at the heart of New Jersey’s cultural life, bringing world-class performances to our stages and creating opportunities that inspire and connect our community,” said Adam Philipson, President and CEO, Count Basie Center for the Arts. “As we look to the next century, and embrace a bold vision around creating shared educational, artistic, and community experiences that ignite curiosity, understanding, and joy, I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Ivy to our leadership team. Her deep history with the Basie Center and her gift for storytelling will help us share this next chapter in ways that resonate with audiences, supporters, and partners across the region.”

Charmatz’s relationship with the Basie Center stretches back more than a decade. During her tenure as Executive Producer of News and Special Projects at News 12 New Jersey, she partnered with the Basie Center to produce several projects, most notably the long-running holiday special, Sounds of the Season from the Count Basie Center for the Arts.

“I am deeply grateful and incredibly excited to join the Basie Center at such an historic moment,” said Ivy Charmatz, Senior Vice President of Communications & Content Strategy, Count Basie Center for the Arts. “For many years, I’ve seen firsthand the impact the Basie Center has on the communities it serves. The opportunity to work alongside this talented team, which I have known and admired for so long, is a tremendous honor. The Basie Center is growing, innovating, and reaching further than ever before, and I’m thrilled to help share that story.”

The Basie Center is building on a century of history to expand its role as New Jersey’s premier cultural destination. With ambitious new programming, deeper investments in education and community initiatives, and centennial projects such as ParkStage – a special summer venue announced for 2026 – the organization hopes to bring the arts to even more people across the region. Together, these efforts ensure the Basie Center’s impact will reach further than ever before, inspiring audiences and strengthening communities for generations to come.

“The Basie has always been about more than entertainment – the not-for-profit organization focuses first and foremost on creating experiences that bring people together to strengthen our community,” said Jeremy Grunin, Chairperson, Count Basie Center for the Arts Board of Trustees. “The Basie Center is committed to telling stories that resonate far beyond our walls. Ivy’s passion for storytelling and proven leadership make her a tremendous addition to a stellar leadership team.”

Prior to joining the Basie Center, Charmatz was Senior Vice President at Mercury Public Affairs, where she specialized in storytelling, strategic communications, media relations, and crisis management. Before Mercury, she spent more than 20 years as a journalist, including her leadership role at News 12 New Jersey, where she helped shape coverage of many of the state’s most significant stories and created some of the station’s most recognized programming. She is also the host and executive producer of the podcast, Big Little Stories.

Charmatz is the recipient of four New York Emmy® Awards, two Gracie® Awards, and a National Edward R. Murrow Award, among other honors. She serves on the Advisory Board of Allaire Community Farm and the Board of Trustees of Blood Cancer United – New Jersey (formerly known as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of New Jersey), where she received the organization’s 2018 Beacon of Hope Award. Charmatz was named to ROI-NJ’s Influencers: Women in Business list in both 2024 and 2025.

She is a graduate of Rutgers University and lives in Monmouth County.