USITT Committees

The Corporation shall have standing committees and any number of operational and ad hoc committees that the Board of Directors may designate from time to time. Each committee serves the Board of Directors. The Institute Bylaws contain standing committee descriptions and appointment details.

Read each description below for details on committee membership.

STANDING COMMITTEES

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors with the audit of USITT's books and records and the system of internal controls.

Committee Members:

  • Deb Sherrer, Chair
  • Dennis Booth
  • Tony Hardin

Awards & Resolutions Committee

The Awards & Resolutions Committee is responsible for the selection of recipients for various awards and resolutions to be presented by the Institute. 

Committee Members:

  • Jenny Kenyon, Chair
  • Travis DeCastro
  • Dick Devin
  • Cary Gillette
  • Michelle Harvey  
  • Elynmarie Kazle
  • Sylvia Hillyard Pannell
  • Christopher Plummer
  • Sarah Prince
  • Joel E. Rubin

Non-Voting:

  • USITT Executive Director
  • USITT Member Services Associate

Conference & Stage Expo Committee

Annual Conference & Stage Exposition Committee is responsible for recommending to the Board of Directors policies and procedures used to govern the Annual Conference & Stage Expo and dates and sites for the annual Conference.

Committee Members:

  • Jack Feivou, Chair
  • Kasey Allee-Foreman
  • Tammy Honesty
  • Vickie Scott

Ex-officio:

  • USITT Executive Director
  • USITT Staff

Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Committee

The Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Committee is responsible for supporting and promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion within USITT’s programs and projects and the Institute as a whole.

Committee Members:

  • Tony Hardin, Chair
  • Narda Alcorn
  • Kasey Allee-Foreman
  • Lea Asbell-Swanger
  • Jessica Bergson
  • Madilyn Garcia
  • Cary Gillett
  • Sarah Lozoff
  • Michael Mehler
  • Topher Morris
  • Britton Mauk
  • Jesse Portillo
  • Nicole Queenan
  • Tina Shackleford
  • Jim Streeter
  • David Stewart
  • Yolanda Williams

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee is charged with oversight of the financial operation of the Corporation, and shall be chaired by the Treasurer. This Committee shall review financial procedures, operations, and reports of the Corporation, and shall analyze financial data of the Corporation’s financial assets, obligations, and of such matters as directed by the Board of Directors, and provide recommendations to the Board. It will recommend an annual budget for the Corporation and provide continuing review of it.

Committee Members:

  • Kim Scott, Chair
  • Lea Asbell-Swanger
  • Dennis Dorn
  • Madilynn Garcia
  • Mickey Henry
  • Marsha LeBoeuf
  • Carl Lefko
  • Mark Shanda
  • John Uthoff
  • Sherry Wagner-Henry

Ex-officio:

  • USITT President
  • USITT President-Elect

Non-voting:

  • USITT Director of Finance & Human Resources
  • USITT Executive Director

Grants and Fellowship Committee

Recommends recipients of grants and fellowships from the Edward F. Kook Fund. Responsible for organizing and conducting the tri-annual Art Auction.

Committee Members:

  • Dennis Dorn, Chair
  • Richard Arnold, Jr.
  • Deb Sherrer
  • Paul Vincent
  • Leon Wiebers

Ex-officio:

  • USITT President
  • USITT President-Elect
  • USITT VP International Activities
  • USITT Treasurer
  • USITT Executive Director (non-voting)

International Activities Committee

Responsible for establishing contact and maintaining communication with international organizations, associations and professional groups and for coordination of the international efforts of USITT.

Committee Members:

  • Kevin Rigdon, Vice President, Ex-officio
  • Vince Mountain, Chair
  • Ian Garrett, PQ National Curator
  • Tom Burch, PQ Emerging Curator
  • Shane Kelly, BOD Representative
  • Patrick Rizzotti, Conference Programming
  • Alessia Carpoca, Conference Committee Representative
  • Margaret Mitchell
  • Mitch Hefter
  • Anna Glover
  • Tatiana Vintu
  • Linda Pisano
  • Josafath Reynoso

OISTAT Commission Representatives:

  • Sabrina Notarfrancisco, Costume 
  • Joe Pino, Sound 
  • Rob Eastman-Mullins, Scenic Design
  • Todd Studebaker, Lighting 
  • William Kenyon, Education
  • Michael Ramsaur, OISTAT Centre
  • Carl Walling, Publications & Communications
  • Loren Schreiber, Technology
  • William Kenyon, Education
  • Greg Cook, Architecture
  • Mitch Hefter, Engineering
  • Anna Glover, Health & Safety

Membership Committee

The Membership Committee is responsible for encouraging the growth of the Institute and of sustaining its membership.

Committee Members:

  • Elynmarie Kazle, Co-Chair
  • Deb Sherrer, Co-Chair
  • Kate Ellis
  • Derek Epstein
  • Pinky Estell
  • Beth Geatches
  • Carey Hanson
  • Michael Katz
  • Ryan Kirk
  • Andi Lyons
  • Batul Rizvi

Non-voting:

  • USITT Director of Member Services

Nominations Committee

The Nominations Committee reviews the qualifications of potential nominees for elected positions on the Board of Directors and present an annual election slate to the membership for voting. Develops selection criteria to be used in the recruitment process.

Committee Members:

  • Paul Brunner, Chair
  • Lara Beene
  • Ashley Bellet
  • Gemma Guy
  • Shane Kelly
  • Karen Maness
  • Verda Beth Martell
  • Dave Navalinsky
  • Jesse Portillo
  • Todd Proffitt
  • Mark Putman
  • Matthew Schlief
  • David Stewart

Publications Committee

The Publications Committee serves in an advisory capacity to the Board of Directors on matters dealing with the development of publications that reflect the Institute’s core mission, the establishment of policy regarding publications.

Committee Members:

  • Rafael Jaen, Chair
  • Ashley Bellet
  • Richard Bryant
  • Holly Poe Durbin
  • Christin Essin
  • Margaret Mitchell
  • Mark Shanda
  • Mike Monsos
  • Peggy Rosefeldt

Non-Voting:

  • TD&T Editor
  • Sightlines Editor
  • USITT Executive Director
  • USITT President
  • USITT Immediate Past President
  • USITT President-Elect

OPERATIONAL/AD HOC COMMITTEES

Board Mentorship Committee

Board Mentorship Committee promotes access to board governance and leadership to graduate students and emerging professionals interested in serving on a nonprofit arts board of directors.

Committee Members:

  • Deb Sherrer, Chair
  • R. Michael Gros, Admissions Panel Chair
  • Jess Bergson
  • Pinky Estell
  • Kim Scott
  • Sherry Wagner-Henry

Design Expo Committee

This committee recommends policies for Design Expo and Cover the Walls, and plans and implements the biennial exhibitions.

Committee Members:

  • Doug Gilpin, Chair
  • Dan Denhart, Co-Chair
  • Arden Weaver, Co-Chair
  • Ashley Bellet
  • Elizabeth Chaney
  • Joseph B. Farley
  • Greg Gillette
  • Whitney Glover

Fellows Fund

This committee recommends distributions from the Fellows Fund to the board of directors for various initiatives, projects, or activities to be undertaken by the Institute.

Committee Members:

  • Christine Kaiser, Chair
  • Dick Arnold
  • Dan Culhane, ex-offico: USITT Treasurer
  • Travis DeCastro
  • Joel E. Rubin

Non-Voting:

  • USITT Executive Director, ex-offico

History & Heritage Committee

The primary focus of this committee is the history and heritage of theatre, theatre design and technology, and theatre practitioners.

Committee Members:

  • William Kenyon, Chair
  • Shan Ayers
  • Andrea Bilkey
  • David Budries
  • Rich Dunham
  • Laura Lee Everett
  • Sandy Everett
  • Dave Glowacki
  • Jerry Gorrell
  • Jeff Gress
  • Karen Maness
  • Heather Milam
  • Linda Pisano
  • Rick Stephens
  • Carl Walling
  • Arden Weaver

Stage Expo Exhibitors Committee

Stage Expo exhibitors are represented by this committee. It provides a forum where exhibitors can communicate with the Board of Directors, Commissions, and other committees.

Committee Members:

  • Dave Durbin, BMI Supply, Chair
  • Richard Dunham, University of Georgia
  • Gary Fails, City Theatrical
  • Yvonne Ho, Point Source Audio
  • Tobin Neis, Barbizon Lighting
  • Ros Madison, Royal Conservatorie of Scotland
  • Fred Mikeska, AC LightingDirk Ring, Walt Disney Parks Entertainment
  • Hilary Sprecht, Period Corsets
  • Patti Tuttrup, ETC
  • Stacey Walker, Focal Press

Ex-officio:

  • USITT VP Conferences
  • USITT Executive Director
  • USITT Expo Director

Recommended Practices Committee

The Recommended Practices Committee verifies that the requirements for due process, consensus, and other criteria for approval have been met in the development, revision, reaffirmation, or withdrawal of a USITT Standard, Guideline, or Recommended Practice. The committee also administers the procedures dictated by the USITT Procedures for Creating Standards and interacts with other organizations that create similar documentation.

Committee Members:

  • Jerrold S. Gorrell, Chair (Liaison to PLASA TSC)
  • Louis Bradfield - Alternate Liaison to PLASA TSC
  • Mitchell K. Hefter
  • Dave Glowacki - ex officio: Health & Safety Commissioner
  • Karl G. Ruling - NFPA 101-Life Safety Code Representative
  • Kenneth E. Vannice - NFPA 70 National Electrical Code Representative

Tech Expo Committee

This committee recommends policies regarding the Theatre Technology Exhibit and plans and implements the biennial exposition.

Committee Members:

  • Tim Francis, Chair
  • Jodi Karjala, Project Leader
  • Randy DeCelle, Graphics
  • Scott Bartley
  • David Boevers
  • Jean Burch
  • Keith Cornelius
  • Kent Cyr
  • Aaron Dyszelski
  • Luke Hadsall
  • Delbert Hall
  • Robin Jaffe
  • Michael Katz
  • Kalen Larson
  • John McCullough
  • Rick Mayfield
  • Bill Meyer
  • Christopher Morris
  • Justin Walsh
  • David Wheeler