Richard K. Payne is the President of the Board of Directors of the Valley Performing Art. Richard is also on the Board of Directors for the United Way for the Mat-Su Valley. He is the proud father of four and is madly in love with his beautiful wife Tyan Payne DC. They are both Wasilla Main Street small business owners: Tyan at the Back and Neck Center and Richard at Denali Law. They have made Wasilla their home and love to serve and live in this community

Kathy has been involved with Valley Performing Arts for the past several years.  She has served on the Board of Directors as Vice President, has worked on the fundraising committee and has done the PR for numerous VPA productions.  She has shared the stage twice with her daughters Aubrey and Lindey.  Kathy has degrees in Child Development and Speech Pathology and has spent the majority of her career working with deaf children and their families.  She is currently helping her husband Mike run his business, Alaska Center for Dentistry, and working as a chauffer for her daughters and their friends!

Originally from the province of Ontario, Marcia moved to Alaska in 1996 to teach English and Theatre in the Copper River School District. In 2002 she moved to the Mat-Su and was delighted to continue her passion for theatre by becoming involved with VPA. In addition to serving on the Board, she is looking forward to directing.

Fay Von Gemmingen was born and raised in Anchorage, and moved to Palmer in 2006. She currently is a member of Valley Performing Arts Board of Directors , and chair of City of Palmer Board of Economic Development. Fay is a Certified Public Accountant and served on the Anchorage Assembly from 1995 to 2004, Chair for 2 years. Fay has been active in many organizations including: Soroptimist International of Cook Inlet, Anchorage Estate Planning Council, Alaska Society of CPAs, Anchorage Chamber Athena Society, Alaska Municipal League, Alaska Women's Political Caucus, and Rainbow Girls. She is married to Pat, and they have two children and two grandchildren.

Paul R. Beer is a Senior Business Relationship Manager with Wells Fargo for just over 5 years, with over 20 years banking experience. An University of Anchorage Alaska graduate. Paul enjoys getting involved in the local area through volunteer work with various non-profit organizations like United Way, Rotary, and Valley Performing Arts to help build and strengthen the local community. Having been on the Valley Performing Arts Board Development Committee for several years, Paul was excited about his nomination to the "big" VPA Board. When not working or volunteering the Alaskan born enjoys basketball, softball, mountain biking, fishing, hiking, camping, and spending quality time with his wife and 5 kids.

Steve Brown is a manager in the Real Estate and Commercial Lending Department at Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union. He is the past board president of three different local non-profit organizations and is enjoying his recent involvement with VPA. He is currently on the capital project committee and is helping with the initial stages of planning for a new community theater. He also ventures on stage from time to time with his most recent involvement in VPA's production of Agatha Christie's Spider's Web.

As Advertising Sales Manager for the local bureau of the Anchorage Daily News and with prior experience as the Ticket Sales Manager of the Portland Opera Assoc., Cherie offers years of experience in promotion and marketing to the board. She uses these skills as an active member in many community and charitable organizations. Cherie and her husband, John Shue III, have been long time VPA season ticket holders and though she doesn't perform, she has a great admiration for those who do.

My husband, Mike, and I moved to Alaska from Indiana, where I received my degree in Entomology, and taught science. I am currently a science teacher at Wasilla High School. I have two young sons, and have been actively involved in different community theaters for 18 years. Before VPA, I was technical theatre director at Frankfort Senior High in Indiana, and was theatre director at Houston High School for 3 years. I have been with VPA for nearly two years now, and did the light design for Beauty and the Beast and Absurd Person Singular. I have also filled in as House Manager for the last two shows of this past season, and been a member of the Board Development Committee. I am looking forward to continuing as a volunteer for the theatre and will be the executive director for the one acts in Season 32.

A Southwestern United States native, Stu is a much better stagehand than actor.  (And, in order to serve on the board of directors, he did have to sign a pledge to never sing within 100 yards of any VPA event.)  Stu is the membership director for The Alaska Club Mat-Su Valley locations and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from New Mexico State University.  A former Air Force officer and 20+ year Alaska resident, Stu specializes in community relations, marketing and project management and enjoys helping out behind the scenes at VPA.

Lucas Parker was born and raised in Eagle River, Alaska. In 2007 he moved to Wasilla to expand his business, Parker and Sons Construction. He is married and and is a father of four children, three boys and recently adopted a little girl. He enjoys getting involved in the community wherever he can. Lucas has been a part of VPA with constructing set pieces for a few recent productions. He loves living in the Valley community and is looking forward to this opportunity to becoming a contributing member of the VPA Board.