Liz Neumark

Liz Neumark is the CEO of Great Performances.
In almost three decades of being at the top of the food chain in New York City, Liz Neumark has learned that it is all about satisfying needs. Liz believes there is no more critical time in the relationship between people and the foods they eat or have access to than today. Liz is a visionary in putting future culinary ideas on the plates of New Yorkers and a trendsetter in bringing food politics to the table, all with great taste and memorable flavors.
Liz conceived of Great Performances in 1980 as a waitress service for women in the arts, offering an alternative way to supplement meager artist incomes with work in the fledgling catering industry. When the industry boomed overnight, Great Performances grew along with it. The company, headquartered in Hudson Square, NYC, is one of the largest off-premise catering companies in the city, serving a wide range of corporate, social, and non-profit clients. The company also holds exclusive contracts at leading cultural institutions, including Jazz at Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn Museum, Apollo Theater, Caramoor, and Wave Hill. In 2007, Liz joint-ventured with Delaware North Companies to manage and operate one of New York City’s most sought-after banquet and event spaces - The Plaza Hotel.
Since 2006, Great Performances also owns a 60-acre organic farm in Columbia County, NY. An industry first, Katchkie Farm represents commitment to celebrating local flavors while supporting sustainable agriculture and good earth practices. The Farm supplies Great Performances with fresh produce for special events, as well as farmers markets throughout New York and the company’s cafes. Katchkie Farm is also home to The Sylvia Center, an educational non-profit dedicated to inspiring children to eat well through farm visits and garden-to-table cooking workshops.
The company’s philanthropic role further includes a commitment to food rescue and the fight against hunger. Katchkie Farm commits 5% of its annual harvest to anti-hunger organizations, notably New York Common Pantry and City Harvest.
Liz is an Executive Committee Board Member of GrowNYC, Board Member of Fund for Public Housing, member of Women's Forum and C200, and sits on the Advisory Board for West Side Campaign Against Hunger and the Food and Finance High School. She is Board Chair of the Hudson Square Connection (BID) and The Sylvia Center, Liz has been honored with the Food Arts Silver Spoon Award and Ernst and Young New York Entrepreneur of the Year Award. She blogs for The Huffington Post and is also author of Sylvia's Table, a highly acclaimed seasonal cookbook for families. Most recently, Liz was named by Crain's NY as one of New York's Most Powerful Women.
Liz is a third generation New Yorker, a Barnard graduate who majored in Urban Studies and Political Science. She, her husband and children live in Manhattan.