BOARD OF DIRECTORS

TAP enjoys the guidance and support of a very involved Board of Directors, 100% of whom contribute financially to TAP each year. Our board reflects a diversity of cultural backgrounds, income and experience.

Gregory S. Perrin (Board Chair)
Chief Development Officer, University of Texas Libraries
Gregory has been involved in theater for twenty years and has directed, produced and/or performed in more than twenty plays and commercials.  He earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Houston School of Theatre.  However, he is most proud of his accomplishments as a playwright. Gregory was the first commissioned playwright of the Fiesta First Ward Children's Theater Project produced by Theater LaB Houston. He has studied with Edward Albee, a three time Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, who selected one of his plays for the Edward Albee Playwrights' Workshop. Gregory also has extensive experience in nonprofit management, fundraising and consulting. He enjoys working with TAP because he believes that TAP is impacting the lives of thousands of children in a meaningful and transforming way.

Benita Trevino (Vice Chair)
Volunteer Services, Project Management, Seeds for Change Consulting, LLC
Benita is a native Austinite and a graduate from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Business Administration.  She spent over 18 years in the corporate world developing her experience in project management in a variety of fields ranging from aircraft modification to customer service before moving to the non-profit sector.  She is a Certified PMI® Project Management Professional.  Currently, Benita works as a consultant with Seeds for Change Consulting which provides customized solutions to non-profit organizations. Benita has served on several special event committees including the Junior League of Austin’s A Christmas Affair, American Heart Association Heart Ball, and the Safeplace Anniversary Party.

Richard J. Smalling (Treasurer)
President, American Innovations, Ltd.
Rich is originally from Long Island, NY but escaped as soon as he left high school. He received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1985.  Over the next six years, Rich worked as a development engineer with Borg Warner and General Electric in West Virginia, France, The Netherlands and Kentucky. In 1993, Rich received an MBA from the University of Michigan and began working for FMC in Philadelphia, where he met his wife Anne. During their first four years of marriage, Rich and Anne moved to Austin, started new careers, built two houses, had two children and started a business. Since 1994, Rich has been President of American Innovations, a provider of electronics, software and services to the oil and natural gas pipeline industry. Rich is past President and Finance chair of the Austin chapter of Young Entrepreneurs’ Organization. He is past President and currently Treasurer of the board of directors of Theatre Action Project. In his spare time, he spends as much time as possible with Anne and daughters Marina and Samantha, squeezing in golf, biking and wakeboarding whenever possible.

Karen Sullivan (Secretary)
Youth Theatre Director
Karen has worked with various combinations of theatre, education, and youth for fifteen years in schools, theatres, and community organizations. She holds an MA in Counselor Education from New York University, and an MFA in Drama and Theatre for Youth from The University of Texas at Austin. A native New Yorker, Karen struggled for years to find a new city to call home. Seven years ago she moved to Austin, and began a deep love affair with this dynamic city. Currently, Karen is primarily involved in building museum theatre projects with the Department of Theatre and Dance at UT, and has recently worked at the Harry Ransom Center and Blanton Museum. Karen has watched TAP grow and continue to expand its presence in the Austin community, and is proud to be able to use her background and skills to serve such a remarkable organization. 

Raman N. Dewan
Partner, Jackson Walker, LLP
Bio to come.

Ann S. Graham
Independent Arts Consultant
Ann S. Graham dedicates her professional life to promoting a culturally rich and livable built environment dba as People + Art = Building Community.  As a freelance producer, she specifically looks for projects that build connections between artists and neighbors - linking artists and arts groups with financial and community resources. She is project manager for floodlines, project liaison for SunFlowers – a Garden of Energy and recently produced Real Community is Real Art, a city wide workshop on the arts and urban development. Ann was the founding Executive Director of First Night Austin, the New Year’s Eve Celebration of the Arts, which held its inaugural event on December 31, 2005.  She has served in leadership positions in the arenas of neighborhood, arts and education organizations including the COA’s Art In Public Places program, Hyde Park Neighborhood Association, and elementary and middle school parent organizations.  In addition to serving on the Board of Theatre Action Project, Ann serves on the Advisory Board of Liveable City and is co-chair of the Parents & Friends of the Liberal Arts & Science Academy.  Ann is the mother of two sons, ages 15 and 17, and her husband Arlen Johnson is a Professor of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics at the University of Texas, Austin.

Derek Jones
Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Derek is a longtime Austinite and graduate of the University of Texas, where he received his BBA in Marketing and General Business, with a minor in Psychology. He has been involved in theatre for 30 years, having produced, directed and acted in dozens of shows throughout Texas. In just the last three years, he has performed in almost a dozen plays at various Austin and surrounding theatres, such as NxNW Theatre, City Theatre, Different Stages and The Palace Theatre in Georgetown, where he also serves on the Board. In his spare time, he is a Financial Advisor for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. He was also involved in one of the most successful startups ever in Austin, Tivoli Systems, back in the dot.com boom of the 90's. He is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such a dynamic and difference-making oranization like Theatre Action Project, and serves on the Finance Committee. His true enjoyment, however, comes from spending time with his amazing children, Katrina and Benjamin.

Carron Scott Whittaker
Global Public Service Industry Program Executive, Accenture
Carron Whittaker, a Manager in the Public Services Industry at Accenture, is a fifteen year veteran in working with public service entities.  In her career at Accenture, she has focused her efforts on developing customer-centric solutions, implementing new policies, and reengineering processes for state and local health and human services agencies.  Currently, Carron is serving as the Global Industry Program Executive for the Accenture Public Services Industry practice and is also the Testing Center of Excellence lead for the Texas Medicaid and Healthcare Partnership.   Carron holds a BA in Social Welfare from the University of California at Berkeley, an MPAff from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, Austin.  Although a native of Altadena, California, she currently resides in Austin, Texas with her husband and daughter.  Carron also serves on the board of Austin Children’s Choir and sits on the Corporate Advisory Committee for the Long Center for the Performing Arts.

ADVISORY COUNCIL

We are supported by a fantastic group of advisors. Our Advisory Council members act as ambassadors and offer guidance on key issues.

Christopher Adejumo, Professor, UT Austin Art and Art History

Laura Buehler, Parent

Katie Dawson, Lecturer, UT Austin Dept. Theatre and Dance

Brian Donovan, General Administrator, Inter Cooperative Council

Diana Groves, Student Intervention Specialist, AISD

Sara Hickman, Parent, Musician, Texas State Musician 2010

Grady Hillman, Community Arts Consultant and Poet   

Shirlene Justice, After School Director, AISD, Community Education

Kathleen Juhl, Professor, Southwestern University School of Theatre Arts

Carolyn Mosely, Mother/Founder/CEO, The Ortralla LuWone Mosley Foundation

Gary Knight, Vice President, Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch

Brion Oaks, Vice President of Cultural Health, American Heart Association

Rupert  Reyes, Artistic Director, Teatro Vivo

Robert  Roth, President, Seawell Elam Foundation

Aseante Scales, Senior Marketing Rep, Amerigroup

Kirk Watson, Principal and Founder, Causeway Interactive

Kennard Wright, Alumni Coordinator, UT Austin LBJ School of Public Affairs

Aimee  Zivin, Drama and Ethics Instructor, St. Andrews Episcopal School