The Asbury Park Music Foundation Board of Trustees is excited to announce that Matthew J. Hockenjos has been hired as the new Executive Director. As Executive Director, Hockenjos will be responsible for administration of program operations, marketing, fundraising and implementing the strategic plan.
Hockenjos attended Rider University and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts Administration, with a concentration in nonprofit organizations and the entertainment industry. While in school, Matt worked in marketing and promotions for radio and television companies including Townsquare Media, 95.9 WRAT, VideoHelper Production Music and MTV Networks.
Hockenjos was retained by the Asbury Park Music Foundation last September to help create and operate the first annual Asbury Park Music in Film Festival, which was held on April 10-12, 2015. He served as the Executive Director of the three-day festival that was widely successful and attracted over five thousand attendees. He will continue oversee the management of the 2016 Asbury Park Music in Film Festival.
President of the Asbury Park Music Foundation, Tom Gilmour commented “The APMF Board of Trustee’s recognized Matt’s potential to significantly impact our first film festival. We have rewarded him for his hard work and passion by promoting him to our new Executive Director of the Foundation.”
The Asbury Park Music Foundation is a New Jersey 501 (c) 3 public charity founded in November of 2011 in response to the overwhelming success of the Smithsonian Institution’s Main Street exhibit: “New Harmonies; Celebrating American Roots Music.” The foundation was set up to preserve, exhibit and promote the City of Asbury Park’s rich musical heritage – past, present and future – and to contribute to the City’s revitalization by securing Asbury Park as a musical destination. APMF also operates the exhibit and performance space called Where Music Lives located at 708 Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park. In addition, the Foundation in partnership with the Lakehouse Music Academy recently created a Youth Initiative to raise funding to provide music opportunities for under-served Asbury Park youth.
