Aaron Zhang
Boardmember
Aaron: Investor, Comedy Enthusiast, and Strategic Thinker
Aaron brings his sharp investment acumen and passion for the arts to NYLaughs, leveraging his experience investing in media and technology businesses with the Sequoia Fund, a $16 billion investment firm based in New York. A lifelong fan of stand-up comedy since his days growing up in Canada, Aaron is driven by a mission to make laughter a shared, accessible experience for all.
Beyond the balance sheets, Aaron knows the power of community. As a founding board member of Chess in the Library, he helped create free chess programs and tournaments across Canada’s public library system—proof that strategy and fun can go hand in hand.
Now at NYLaughs, Aaron combines his knack for smart investments with his love of comedy to help build a world where laughter is as common as a pawn-to-queen move.
Alex Lauren
Boardmember
Alex: Financial Strategist & Innovation Architect
Alex is the kind of leader who doesn’t just manage products—he transforms them. As SVP of Product Management Strategy at Bank of America, he’s spent 20 years turning big ideas into executable strategies, optimizing processes, and making financial systems run smoother than a well-rehearsed punchline.
With expertise in business transformation, risk identification, capital planning, and derivatives clearing (fancy finance talk for “making sure things don’t go off the rails”), Alex combines deep industry knowledge with a sharp eye for innovation. He’s also got an MBA from The Wharton School, just in case anyone needed extra proof that he knows his stuff.
At NYLaughs, Alex brings his strategic mindset and problem-solving skills to ensure we’re building something sustainable—because while comedy may be an art, keeping it funded and thriving is definitely a science.
Arvind Mahendru
Treasurer
Arvind: Treasurer with a Strategic Edge
Arvind is a seasoned strategist and financial expert who brings his sharp insights and global perspective to NYLaughs as Treasurer. As the founder of Scalar, he provides fractional executive leadership in roles like CSO, CFO, and COO, helping startups and early-stage businesses navigate growth, manage risk, and implement systems across industries such as telecom, biotech, and fintech.
With a career shaped by navigating economic shifts and global events, Arvind is a master of turning uncertainty into opportunity. His exceptional negotiation skills and financial acumen have guided businesses through growth and crisis, and he brings this expertise to NYLaughs to help sustain and grow its mission of connecting communities through laughter.
A globetrotter who’s explored 42 countries, Arvind values learning from diverse cultures and perspectives. Armed with multiple degrees in business and finance, he blends strategic foresight with consumer insights to drive impact—whether optimizing budgets or spreading joy across NYC.
Cris Italia
Boardmember
Cris: Comedy Visionary and Talent Powerhouse
Cris Italia is a true trailblazer in the comedy world, with a knack for discovering and championing comedic brilliance. As the founder of CH Entertainment and a driving force behind “The Stand” comedy club and restaurant, Cris has built stages for some of the biggest names in the business, from Tracy Morgan and Jim Gaffigan to Sarah Silverman and Michael Che.
His industry influence doesn’t stop there—Cris has managed top-tier comedic talent like Pete Davidson, who rose to fame as the youngest cast member of Saturday Night Live, and worked as a standup comedy booker for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. As Executive Producer of cult favorites like Super Troopers 2 and Entre Nos for HBO, along with numerous comedy specials, Cris has an unparalleled eye for what’s funny and fresh.
Currently, Cris is revolutionizing how audiences experience comedy with WITZ Comedy TV, bringing a 24/7 lineup of bold, original programming to FAST and VOD platforms. At NYLaughs, Cris’ expertise helps us champion rising talent and deliver relentless comedy to New Yorkers everywhere.
Kunal Verma
Board Chair
Kunal: Finance Whiz with a Heart for Community
Kunal Verma brings his powerhouse CPA skills and entrepreneurial spirit to NYLaughs, backed by a career that’s as diverse as it is impressive. With extensive experience across a range of industries—including Fortune 100 companies, startups, and nonprofits—Kunal has managed billion-dollar acquisitions, led financial operations for a company with 15,000 employees, and founded firms that help small businesses thrive. He knows how to make the numbers work—and the impact last.
A Harvard and Tulane grad, Kunal’s heart beats for community. His early work in disaster relief after Hurricane Katrina sparked a lifelong passion for giving back. Today, when he’s not crunching numbers, he’s empowering women, supporting minority-owned businesses, and spreading financial wisdom through his free small-business webinar series.
At NYLaughs, Kunal’s expertise helps create a strong foundation for bringing more joy and laughter to New Yorkers everywhere.
Mike Pannacciulli
Chair, Strategy
Mike: Operations Wizard & Master of Making Things Work
If NYLaughs were a streaming platform, Mike would be the algorithm keeping everything running—efficient, strategic, and always a step ahead. As Vice President of Global Content Operations at Paramount Streaming / Paramount+, he’s a master of turning chaos into well-oiled workflows, leading high-performance teams, and ensuring content flows as smoothly as a perfectly timed punchline.
With expertise in Video on Demand, live TV streaming, and every acronym in the content distribution universe—OTT, AVOD, SVOD, TVOD (seriously, he speaks fluent streaming)—Mike is the behind-the-scenes powerhouse making sure media moves seamlessly. From contract compliance to industry analytics, he knows how to keep things on track, on time, and optimized to perfection.
At NYLaughs, he brings his top-tier management skills to help us keep the laughter rolling—on schedule, on budget, and without buffering. Because if anyone can streamline the unpredictable world of live comedy, it’s him.
Ryan Wells
Boardmember
Ryan: Master Storyteller & Reputation Wrangler
Ryan doesn’t just manage media—he shapes the narrative. As the Global Head of Media Relations at BNY Mellon, he’s spent his career crafting powerhouse communication strategies that build brands, transform businesses, and keep reputations shinier than a late-night talk show monologue.
With expertise in media relations, crisis communications, executive messaging, and corporate positioning, Ryan knows how to make the right headlines (and avoid the wrong ones). Whether he’s training top execs for high-stakes interviews or spinning complex financial topics into digestible stories, he’s the guy who keeps the conversation moving in all the right directions.
At NYLaughs, Ryan helps us tell our story with impact, ensuring our mission to bring free comedy to NYC reaches the right ears—and that no PR crisis ever involves an ill-advised joke about accountants (our financial board members wouldn’t stand for it).
Suzette Simon
Founder, Artistic Director and Secretary
Suzette Simon is a TV producer and casting director with an extensive history in the entertainment world. She’s cast talent for BET, MTV, MTV2, and Discovery, and was the casting director the team launching Revolt TV. Her resume also includes producing top-rated shows for ABC’s daytime talker Katie with Katie Couric, and Hoppus on Music on FUSE, hosted by Blink 182’s Mark Hoppus (and a season with Amy Schumer). Plus, she’s consulted on talent for BET and produced comedy and new music showcases for the industry.
She’s worked on network TV with Jerry Seinfeld’s Marriage Ref, produced the second season of Isaac on Style, and helped produce the Emmy-nominated Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List. Suzette is also a member of the Producers Guild of America and served as a delegate on the AP Council.
But her true comic journey began while writing for Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, which led her to try her hand at stand-up comedy in the subway stations of NYC (a real underground scene!). From there, she expanded her vision and founded NYLaughs, where her mission is simple:
To bring laughter to every corner of New York, making it as much a part of the city as pizza slices and unsolicited opinions.
Tiffany Roget
Boardmember
Tiffany: Defender of Deep Laughs and Thoughtful Stories
Tiffany is a champion of big laughs and bigger ideas, bringing her love for comedy, writing, and community enrichment to NYLaughs. A graduate of the prestigious two-year Second City conservatory program, she has a sharp comedic sensibility and a knack for storytelling. Her writing has appeared in outlets like USA Today, showcasing her ability to mix wit with meaningful reflection.
Tiffany’s personal philosophy aligns perfectly with NYLaughs’ mission: comedy isn’t just entertainment—it’s a catalyst for healing, growth, and connection. Beyond her work in comedy, she’s currently crafting a Young Adult mystery novel centered on the captivating world of thoroughbred horses, blending her creative flair with her passion for storytelling.
At NYLaughs, Tiffany’s dedication helps keep the laughs alive and the conversations meaningful.
