Stephany B. Neal
Founder, Executive Producer
The 369th Experience was initially created as an official program of the US World War I Centennial Commission to depict the African American and Puerto Rician experience through the eyes of the 369th US Infantry Regiment, also known as the Harlem Hellfighters. In 2015, The 369th Experience, Inc. was designated as a 501(c)(3) woman owned nonprofit organization committed to developing and implementing educational musical cultural opportunities for the recreated Harlem Hellfighter’s band. As principal and impresario, with over 10 years of program and project management with the Department of State and Defense, Stephany Neal worked with musicians, historians, scholars and 75 students from HBCUs to develop performance and educational opportunities that promoted cultural understanding and respect for the lost history of the Harlem Hellfighters. Our band has performed the original band’s repertoire in prestigious sites in Washington, DC, and New York City. Educational components include a K-12 Study Guide that meets the Department of Education’s standards for certain core subjects, and a College Resource Guide for undergraduate, graduate, and general public researchers. Stephany holds an MBA/MS in Technology Management-Project Management from the University of Maryland University College. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Bethune Cookman University and an Associate Degree in Marketing Management from Bluefield State College. One Short Term Goal is to perform at the grave of James Reese Europe at the Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC. One Long Term Goal is to perform in Brest, France and recreate the historic concert with a performance at the Theatre des Champs Elysees in Paris, France.
