Our Team

Meet the Brooklyn Arts Center team

Jay and Tara Tatum, Brooklyn Arts Center Owners

Jay & Tara Tatum / Owners

Jay Tatum is a true-blue hometown boy, born and reared in our very own Port City. Tara is local too, by way of Fayetteville. They have been married for 23 years and have two boys, Noah and Ethan. Tara is a CPA and works as the practice manager of Wilmington Plastic Surgery. Jay started his DJ company, Active Entertainment, in 2001. Jay and his DJs have provided the music for nearly 300 weddings and events at the BAC. After spending so much time working in Brooklyn, it seemed only natural that Jay should one day buy the place. And so in September 2018, that’s what he and Tara did. With their wealth of business and entertainment experience and their commitment to family and community, Jay and Tara will put their full focus on maintaining and strengthening the Brooklyn Arts Center’s standing as the premier, multi-use event venue in the Southeast.

Charyl Williams / Director of Events & Marketing

Although she’s new to the staff, the truth is Charyl has been a much loved member of the BAC family since more or less day one. She has been the owner—and Captain—of Social Butterfly Events for more than a decade and has designed and managed more than a hundred gorgeous weddings at the venue since 2011—and hundreds more locally and around southeastern North Carolina. Few, if any, know Brooklyn better than Charyl, so the evolution from SBE to BAC has been effortless and, frankly, joyous. Why joyous? Because that’s the perfect word for Charyl. Her smarts, experience, steady hand, and fabulous sense of humor have in the past and will in the future continue to light up N 4th Street. She was born and reared in Lockport, New York, but has called Wilmington home for 20 years. She’s been married nine years to her husband Eric Williams, and together they are the proud parents of a six-year-old ball of pure awesome energy named EJ. “I’m excited to still be a part of the Wilmington wedding community and thrilled to be involved with all the other fantastic BAC events,” Charyl says.

Dave Melton / Facilities Manager

Dave Melton is a Wilmington native who truly embodies the spirit of the Cape Fear area. From surfing to preserving historic homes, Dave's life reflects his deep connection to his roots. A surf shop manager job introduced him to Jenny, now his wife and lifelong partner of 29 years. Together, they've raised their son, Foxx, who is currently studying engineering at UNCA. Dave's career in renovating and flipping historic properties in Wilmington paved his way for his role as the facilities manager at the Brooklyn Arts Center, where his expertise and passion for preservation shine. Over the last three decades, he has left his mark on historic properties throughout downtown and looks forward to pouring some of his soul into the BAC. When he's not working, Dave loves spending time with his family, exploring in their Sprinter Van, skiing on fresh snow, and soaking up the energy of music festivals.