Congratulations to all of our 2027 Distinguished Achievement Awards winners! Please join us in celebrating this remarkable and talented group of people.

Distinguished Achievement Awards (DAA)

The Distinguished Achievement Awards honor individuals who have established meritorious career records in specific fields of expertise in any area of design or technology in the performing arts or entertainment industry. Each will be a featured part of the Conference in a special session presented by one of the Commissions.

Areas of achievement include, but are not limited to disciplines represented by the Commissions of USITT, scenic design, lighting design, sound design, technical direction, costume design & technology, theatre architecture, theatrical consulting, production management, stage or arts management, entertainment technology, education, or a convergence of these disciplines.

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Ashley Bishop

Distinguished Achievement in Technical Production

Born into a family of theater enthusiasts, Ashley Bishop’s journey in the craft took root during her time at Bucknell University. Under the mentorship of Heath Hansum, she discovered her passion for the world of backstage theater production and construction. This foundation led her to the Yale School of Drama, where she received an MFA within the Technical Design and Production department.Driven to build a career on Broadway, Ashley secured an internship at Show Motion Inc. in the summer of 2001.

Upon graduating the following year, she returned to the company full-time — marking the beginning of a remarkable, ongoing tenure. Over the past 25 years, Ashley and the team at Show Motion have engineered, constructed, and supported over 500 Broadway shows and prominent tours across national and international stages. Her portfolio features an array of acclaimed and iconic productions, including: Jersey Boys, Kinky Boots, Mean Girls, Beautiful, Hello Dolly, Once, Matilda, Stranger Things, Ragtime, Operation Mincemeat, Back to the Future, Beetlejuice, The Great Gatsby, Frozen, Paddington, Carousel, Ragtime, To Kill a Mockingbird, Death of a Salesman, Camelot, The Music Man, The King and I,  A Few Good Men, Into the Woods, Chess, Every Brilliant Thing, A Christmas Carol, and School of Rock.

"I am deeply honored to receive the Distinguished Achievement Award, particularly when I look at the incredible artists who have won it before. They are the true backbone of the theater industry and names I have admired throughout my entire career. To find myself included in their company is genuinely the honor of a lifetime.

My journey in the theatre began with my parents, and I am deeply grateful for their early introduction and unwavering support of my education. I owe an immense debt of gratitude to my academic mentors: Heath Hansum at Bucknell University, and Ben Sammler and Alan Hendrickson at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale. In my professional life, William Mensching has been a foundational influence; truly, everything I know about Broadway, I learned from him. Lastly, I thank my loving husband, Brian, whose patience and understanding make navigating the demanding lifestyle of this industry possible."

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Joshua Dachs

Distinguished Achievement in Architecture

Joshua Dachs is recognized as one of the world’s leading theatre consultants. Drawing on a background as a violinist, trained as an architect, and having practiced as a theatrical set and lighting designer, he has led FDA’s consulting practice for over 40 years, providing planning, programming, and design leadership for hundreds of successful projects. In early phases he focuses his work on helping clients conceptualize and plan their projects, and during the design phase focuses on room shaping, seating layouts and sightlines, backstage layouts, and overall spatial organization.

He has worked with many of America’s leading resident theatre companies, including the Mead Center for American Theater for Arena Stage, San Diego Old Globe’s Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, the Guthrie on the River in Minneapolis, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Hudson Valley Shakespeare, the Delacorte Theater for the Public Theater in New York’s Central Park, and many others.

"Peer recognition is always the most gratifying kind to me, since it comes from those that have the best appreciation of the kind of work I’ve been doing.

Thanks to the great Jules Fisher and to the fantastic FDA staff — past and present."

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Doug Fleenor

Distinguished Achievement in Lighting Design & Technology

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ZALDY Goco

Distinguished Achievement in Costume Design & Technology

ZALDY is a three time EMMY award winning costume and fashion designer working in television, live stage, music tours and fashion. Coming from the fashion industry where ZALDY presented eight women’s collections for NY Fashion Week, while also acting as head designer of Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B. Collection. His work led him to designing major music tours as the exclusive designer to Michael Jackson for “ This Is It”, Lady Gaga’s “Monster Ball Tour”, Britney Spears “Femme Fatale”, Katy Perry’s “ Witness” tour and most recently her record breaking “Lifetimes” tour.

ZALDY designed three productions for Cirque du Soleil including Michael Jacksons “ Immortal World Tour” followed by Michael Jackson “ONE”, a permanent Las Vegas Show, and the traveling big top show “Volta”. ZALDY also designed the live stage production “In 2024 ZALDY designed the entire Victoria's Secret Fashion Show including the models outfits and wings as well as the musical guests looks including Tyla, Lisa from BlackPink, and Cher.

ZALDY has been working with RuPaul since the launch of her debut album “Supermodel of the World” and continues to be her exclusive designer for all of the Rupaul’s Drag Race shows including US, All Stars and UK.

ZALDY launched his first Mens collection for Fall/Winter 2026 during New York Fashion Week and recently showed his second collection in September at The Hotel Chelsea.

"Its always an honor to be celebrated and singled out by your peers. I would like to thank my husband Dmitry."

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Jim Guy

Distinguished Achievement in Scenic Design & Technology

Jim has been a Props professional since shortly after he joined the resident company of The Cleveland Play House more than 47 years ago, following brief stints elsewhere as a librarian and stage manager. Since then, his work has appeared on and Off-Broadway, on tour, in print, on television, in museums and on the stages of theaters, opera and ballet companies across the country. In that time, he has propped an estimated 600 plays, musicals and operas. For seven years he was Director of the MFA program in Theatrical Properties Design and Management at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Before that he ran his own freelance company, The Prop Guys, designing and producing props, sets and special effects for industrial shows, events, photography, print, film, video, museums and the performing arts. He was the Properties Director at Milwaukee Repertory Theater from 1998 to 2022. As time and temperament allow, he now freelances, consults, mentors and teaches, most notably bringing his Firearms Safety for Stage workshop to educational and performing arts organizations nationwide. He is slowly but surely chipping away on a book, “Firearms Safety for Stage, A practical guide to safe onstage and offstage practices, for Prop People, Stage Managers, Crew and Technical Staff.”  Jim serves as proud Past President of the Society of Props Managers (S*P*M), the international association of professional Prop Managers, Freelancers, and Educators. He was born in a log cabin. He never tells a lie.

"Well, it means I must have been doing SOMETHING right these last 47 seasons. As a long-time member of the Not-for-Profit and Educational Props Communities, I appreciate the visibility this award provides for our little corner of the Design and Technology World. Props often goes unnoticed and underrated for what it can contribute to a performance and production. I feel like this award is for all of us in the Prop Trenches, especially for the members of the Society of Props Managers (S*P*M), who have worked hard to raise awareness and visibility of our Art and Craft. I am honored to represent our tribe by Spreading the Gospel of Props.

I must thank my comrades, the officers and membership of S*P*M, as well as the Production Managers, Artistic Directors, Designers, and Producers who have recognized what I can bring to the table and who have given me the chance to become a better Prop Person with each production. I stand on the shoulders of my mentor, friend, collaborator and co-conspirator, the late, great Richard Gould, and I want to thank everyone who I have had the opportunity to boost onto my shoulders. We continue Richard’s legacy of pursuing quality, historically accurate, detail-oriented Props, while maintaining a humane workplace that stresses good humor under pressure and the value of practical planning and collaboration. I also want to thank all the Actors, TDs, Stagehands, Production Department Heads and Stage Managers who have helped me to pull off a career filled with uncertainties, challenges and rewards. They made my stuff sing onstage. I have had the opportunity to work with some of the most skilled and talented Props Artists and Artisans and, once again, need to declare "You guys make me look SO good!" Finally, I thank my long-suffering Wife, my Kids and my friends for their continuing support and understanding."

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Mitch Hefter

Distinguished Achievement in Engineering

Mitch Hefter has been working in lighting controls for over 45 years. He has played a major role in setting entertainment technology standards and promoting electrical safety.  Mitch worked for several manufacturers in design and project management, including Strand Lighting, Rosco Entertainment Technology, Genylte Controls, Philips Lighting – now Signify, including Dynalite and Color Kinetics. He is now Principal of Mitch Hefter Consulting.

Mitch is a USITT Fellow, a past Engineering Commissioner, a recipient of the USITT Founders Award, Honorary Lifetime USITT Membership in 2014, and the Ken Vannice Award for service to the Engineering Commission in 2026.  He has served on the USITT Board of Directors and is on the USITT Bylaws Committee.

Mitch is a founding member of the Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA) Technical Standards Program (ANSI E1) and serves on the ESTA Technical Standards Council.  He co-chairs the ESTA Electrical Power Working Group and is a member of the Control Protocols Working Group. Mitch was instrumental in the development of USITT DMX512 in 1986 and chairs the ESTA E1.11 USITT DMX512-A Task Group. He is also an ETCP Certified Entertainment Electrician, Recognized Trainer, and Subject Matter Expert.

Mitch has worked on updates to the National Electrical Code® since 1981 and was instrumental in getting USITT's first representative onto NEC Panel 15. Mitch has been representing the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) on NEC Panel 15 since 1997 and is the USITT Alternate on NEC Panel 13.  

Mitch is an IES Fellow, a member of the IES Standards Committee, and chairs the IES Lighting Control Systems Committee.

He has presented at USITT, LightFair, LDI, NAMM, IES chapters, and other venues on multiple electrical topics, including the NEC® and Emergency Lighting Control.    

Mitch was recently appointed to the Board of Directors for the Flowertown Players in Summerville, SC.

"I'm very honored to be receiving this recognition for my work in the industry. I have found the work to be rewarding in so many ways - the constant learning, sharing of information, and contributing to the growth and improving safety in our industry. Along with the many friendships along the way.

My greatest thanks go to my wife and sons for all their support and sacrifice in allowing me the time and to participate in USITT, ESTA, and IES. And of course, to my many mentors (too many to name here) and colleagues over the years."

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Gregg Henry

Distinguished Achievement in Management

Gregg Henry has been artistic director of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival and the Kennedy Center Kenan Fellowship program since 2000. With the full support of the Kennedy Center, he led the expansion of programming in design and technical theatre. In 2003, in collaboration with the late G.W. Mercier, he initiated summer-long design residencies with the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center for student stage managers, dramaturgs, sound, lighting and scenic designers. Beginning in 2025, in partnership with Tiffany Gavin and the O’Neill Production Team, he assisted the College of Fellows of the American Theatre launch their August Wilson Fellowship for students of color in theatrical production. For ten years, the Kennedy Center hosted a two-week long Designer/Director Relationship Master Class with Ming Cho Lee and Constance Hoffman. For seventeen years, Beverly Emmons and Rob Kaplowitz led a non-competitive five-day Lighting and Sound Design Project in the KC’s Family Theater for sixteen students, with AEA actors and stage managers, and a full IATSE crew. Since 2001, the Kennedy Center Kenan Fellowships have provided nine-month salaried residencies in the DC theatre community for lighting, scenic, costume and projection designers, stage managers, properties artisans, scenic artists, and directors. As producer of the MFA Playwrights’ Workshop, in association with National New Play Network, and the Kennedy Center’s Undergraduate Playwrights’ Workshop, he has supervised the developmental workshops of 133 new plays. He has directed six productions for Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences. Additional production work as a director has been seen at Theater J, Mosaic Theater Company, Round House Theatre, Theater Alliance, and WSC Avant Bard. In February 2025, Theatre Washington awarded him the Victor Shargai Award for service and creative leadership in the Washington DC community. In April 2025 he was inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Theatre.

"USITT has been an essential anchor to our programming for students over the years. Our partnerships with the organization for over three decades have made our programming enormously rich.

Special thanks to my National Committee colleagues in our Design, Technologies and Management programs across the country for their ongoing, fervent support of our students."

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Joe Payne

Distinguished Achievement in Education

Joe Payne is Head of Design for the Department of Theatre at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, where he runs an MFA program in Sound and Media Design. He has designed sound, projections, and/or composed music for more than 250 professional productions throughout the United States, for companies including the Utah Shakespeare Festival, Weston Theatre (VT), Riverside Theatre and Gulfshore Playhouse (FL), Berkeley Rep, Syracuse Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Pioneer Theatre Company (SLC), Indiana Repertory Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, and others.  Favorites include Heist, Silent Sky (featured in PQ27), Hamlet, Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, multiple versions of A Christmas Carol, King Lear (World Stage Design 2017), The Tempest (PQ15), the complete Henry IV, V, VI series, Hand to God, and The Bakkhai (an original rock musical). Joe was the founding commissioner of the USITT Digital Media Commission, a member of United Scenic Artists Local USA 829, and the Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association.

"I am incredibly honored and humbled to receive this award. I never imagined I would be in the company of those I continue to respect and admire. I am increasingly passionate about mentorship and training the next generation, as well as sharing my artistry and enthusiasm for storytelling and creating spaces. I am surprised and thrilled to be awarded such an honor for something I intrinsically find so rewarding.

Thank you to the Education Commission, and to USITT as an organization which has allowed me to find space and opportunities for community and involvement, to the University of Tennessee for the continued support for growth, and to my family who continues to support this crazy lifestyle."

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Joe Pino

Distinguished Achievement in Sound Design & Technology

Joe Pino began designing sound in 1981. His career includes mixing, engineering and designs for theaters across the US. In 1999, he  began teaching at Carnegie Mellon University, where he later created their sound design program, educating decades of theatre artists in the possibilities of conceptual design and sound. After completing his MFA in directing, a lucky connection resulted in becoming  a mixer for the Blues Alley Jazz Club. He soon found himself mixing for a roster of artists that included Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, Sun Ra, Michael Hedges and McCoy Tyner. After a time, realizing he missed making theater, he took a job at the Alley Theater in Houston Texas. When their sound designer quit two shows into the season, he was field-promoted to resident sound designer. He stayed at the Alley for nine years, working with extraordinary talents ranging from José Quintero to Robert Wilson.In 2005 Joe got involved with OISTAT, winning the first ever sound design gold medal at World Stage Design in Toronto. This led to many international projects, installations, and exhibits. He served as the head of the OSITAT Sound Design sub-commission from 2013-2021. In 2019 he was the project leader and curator for the Sound Space at the Prague Quadrennial.

“I have been very fortunate in my career. I was often in exactly the right place at the right time by pure happenstance or sheer dumb luck. Early on, I was blessed to learn from amazing mentors, like Karl Richardson and Hans Peter Kuhn. The generous community of the USITT Sound Commission has continued to inform and challenge me over the past 25 years.” Joe is also a tinkerer, a maker of photographs, a modular synthesizer enthusiast, an experimental filmmaker, and a lifelong collector of rocks.

"It is an honor to be recognized by an organization that has been such an important part of my career.

I would like to thank the USITT Sound Commission past and present."

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Bill Reynolds

Distinguished Achievement in Safety & Health

Bill Reynolds’ involvement in technical theatre began as a student at Monroe High School (MHS) when he served as foreman of the theater department’s stage crew. After graduating in 1969, he spent two years at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Geneseo engaged in the Theatre Department’s technical production program.  Bill transferred to Northern Michigan University from which he graduated with a BA in 1973. In 1977, Bill graduated from the Yale School of Drama (YSD) with an MFA in Technical Design & Production. Bill spent 5 years in Binghamton, NY, initially as the Technical Manager for the Tri-Cities Opera Company, then as Technical Director for the SUNY Binghamton Theatre Department.

Bill joined the faculty of Technical Design & Production (TD&P) at YSD in 1982. Bill served as Associate Technical Director and then as Director of Facility Operations for the Yale School of Drama/Yale Repertory Theatre (YSD/YRT). In 2008, Bill was appointed as YSD/YRT’s first Director of Theater Safety and Occupational Health. In June 2017, Bill retired after 35 years at YSD/YRT. He continues to teach classes in theater safety for YSD graduate students. In 2021, Bill received the Phyllis Warfel Alumni Award for outstanding service to the School of Drama.

Bill’s advocacy for safety and health in theatre production led him to participate in several national organizations. Bill has attended conferences and presented theater safety and health sessions for the New England Theater Conference, USITT, InfoComm, the University Risk Managers and Insurers Association, the Center for Campus Fire Safety, the American Occupational Health Conference, the Association for Theatre in Higher Education, the Minnesota Theatre Alliance and the Campus Safety, Health and Environmental Managers' Association.  

Bill has been actively involved in USITT since the 1985 25th Annual conference held in New York City.  Over decades of attending conferences, he became involved in USITT commissions, first as a member of the Management Commission and then the Safety & Health Commission. For the Management Commission he encouraged a focus on accessibility in the performing arts, chairing and presenting sessions grounded in the ADA.  As a member and then Vice-Commissioner of the Safety & Health Commission, Bill chaired and presented many conference sessions. Bill also initiated several programs related to safety and health in theatre production, including a safety and health mentoring program, and the Student Alliance for Safety and Health.

Bill became an OSHA Authorized General Industry Trainer in 2010. At YSD, he incorporated the requirements for OSHA’s 10- and 30-hour General Industry courses into his theatre safety and health curriculum, enabling the students to receive their OSHA completion cards.  Bill has conducted OSHA 10- and OSHA 30-hour training for USITT, University of California Safety Summit, Tencue Productions, The Alley Theatre, Theatre Projects Consultants, Nextstage Design and the Gulfshore Playhouse.  Bill has taught theater safety classes and consulted on theater safety for The Julliard School, Wesleyan University, Carnegie-Mellon University and Eastern Connecticut State University.

Bill authored Safety and Health for the Stage: Collaboration with the Production Process, published by Focal Press in 2020.  The book provides context for safety and health to be an integral part of the theatre production process. The book covers requirements for compliance with codes, standards and recommended practices, emphasizing the importance of implementing a positive safety culture within the production organization.  

“That the award is designated in Safety and Health brings focus and attention to the essential role for safety and health in theatre and live entertainment.  Much of my teaching, training and outreach during my career has been pursued with this goal in mind: advocating for safety and health to be an active participant in the production process from a project's inception to strike.

My theatre technical production commitment has been guided and inspired by many people, including Jack Watkins (MHS), John Vestal (SUNY Geneseo), and Ben Sammler (YSD/YRT).  My passion for safety and health in theatre production rests on the shoulders of pioneers in this essential aspect, in particular Monona Rossol and Randy Davidson.  I owe a debt to several theatre safety and health professionals who have guided and expanded the USITT Safety & Health Commission including David Glowacki, Bryan Huneycutt, Greg Petruska, Janet Sellery, and Anna Glover. I am grateful and appreciative to these and others who helped bring me to this moment of receiving this award.

And finally, I am particularly thankful to Anna Glover for ably taking the safety and health reins at YSD/YRT as Director of Theatre Safety and Occupational Health. Anna has elevated the engagement and involvement of safety and health in theatre production and live entertainment at YSD/YRT and throughout the industry, effectively building on the baseline created during my years at YSD/YRT. I am humbled to receive this award. I am grateful this award brings focus and attention to the essential role of safety and health in theater and the entertainment industry.

I am incredibly honored and humbled to receive this award. I never imagined I would be in the company of those I continue to respect and admire. I am increasingly passionate about mentorship and training the next generation, as well as sharing my artistry and enthusiasm for storytelling and creating spaces. I am surprised and thrilled to be awarded such an honor for something I intrinsically find so rewarding.

Thank you to the Education Commission, and to USITT as an organization which has allowed me to find space and opportunities for community and involvement, to the University of Tennessee for the continued support for growth, and to my family who continues to support this crazy lifestyle."

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