Vintage Hollywood Board of Directors
Annie Aft started on Madison Avenue as an ad exec and for the last decade has turned her abundant skills to the nonprofit world helping children with facial deformities; educating people about organ and tissue donation; and children about oral health, including a stint as the Tooth Fairy. Annie is a Smith College graduate and former restaurant manager and cabaret singer in NYC, where she admits to spending far too much time at Yankee Stadium. Annie loves scuba diving, hiking and traveling abroad. Her favorite foods are her father’s chicken parmagian, her mom’s meatballs and her favorite wine is pinot noir.
Nancy Boxwell is the Managing Partner at the entertainment law firm of Gang Tyre Ramer & Brown. Nancy was born and raised in Southern California, and she covered her bases with an undergraduate degree from USC and a law degree from UCLA. Her perfect day would include a long walk, a good book, a new recipe and plenty of time with her husband and her two large lap dogs. Nancy’s favorite food (and guilty pleasure) is french fries and her wine of choice is Pinot Grigio.
Natalie Lum Freedman produces feature documentaries. Her most recent film is “Sand and Sorrow” (2007), narrated by George Clooney, about the events that led to the rise of Darfur’s Arab-dominated government and the international community’s “legacy of failure” to respond to the genocide carried out in the country. Natalie is a superb chef and lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their two children.
Hal Lampert (Treasurer) joined the Vintage Hollywood board of directors in 2009. He’s a partner in the accountancy firm of Lampert & Eskridge, and a longtime collector and lover of fine wines. He and his wife Sharon support many philanthropic causes in the Los Angeles area, and have co-chaired the successful “Evening with the California Winemasters,” which benefits Cystic Fibrosis, several times.
Allison Levine (Secretary) is owner of Please The Palate, a boutique firm specializing in marketing and event planning for the wine and spirits industry. She’s a Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) and has a WSET (Wine & Spirits Education Trust) Certification. Allison is also a freelance writer who has contributed to Wine Country This Week, J Living, The Tasting Panel Magazine and Food & Beverage International. She’s a member of LUPEC (Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails) Los Angeles, a classic cocktail society that strives to improve the lives of Angeleno women through fundraising events for local women’s charities.
Julie Milligan is a Santa Monica-based attorney who specializes in family law. She’s skilled in non-litigation conflict resolution and has served as both a volunteer mediator and Judge Pro Tem in the Family Law Department of the Southwest District of the Los Angeles Superior Court. Julie is both a gourmand and a wine connoisseur, and travels the globe to further her knowledge and enjoyment of both.
Rick Shephard (President) is a Los Angeles native who has attended six universities, but has degrees from only two: Stanford University (undergraduate) and UCLA (MBA). He has spent his career in financial services, beginning at Price Waterhouse, next as a partner of a mid-sized business management firm, and for the last twenty years at his own management firm, Shephard & Associates. Rick collects and enjoys fine wine, with a strong bias towards Napa Valley cabs, Russian River Pinot Noirs , and Montelcino brunellos.
Arlene Wszalek produces feature documentaries (“The Night James Brown Saved Boston” and “The U.S. vs. John Lennon”) and online advertising campaigns for entertainment industry clients. In addition to being a founding board member of Vintage Hollywood, she serves on the Smith College President’s Council. Arlene remains eternally grateful to the Master Sommelier who confided to her that the best pairing EVER is popcorn and Champagne. She lives in Studio City with her husband Tom (who prefers his pinot noir still, not sparkling).
