The new Supporters of the Performing Arts (SOPA) Board of Directors for 2010, is pleased to feature a wider variety of experience and skills than ever before. At its annual business meeting on January 25, Board members voted to reverse the positions of its 2009 Chairman and Vice Chairman and install two new board members. At the top of the executive committee, Robert Gunn now takes over as SOPA’s Chairman for 2010. Bob has owned his home on Rambling Drive since 1993, but only recently retired from General Mills in Minneapolis as its corporate pilot. Immediately upon moving here with his wife, Jane, he began exploring the musical career that he had postponed. He now sings with and serves on the boards of the Oratorio Society and the Estes Park Chorale, often performing vocal solos and duets for various local charities as well.

 

The SOPA Board decided to ask its former Board Chairman, Jerry Rutledge, to serve as Vice Chairman. Jerry is personally active with the Board from May through October, communicating closely by e-mail and telephone from Waseca during the winter months. His extensive executive experience in the insurance industry and in fund-raising makes his advice invaluable.
 

James Broomfield, CPA, has agreed to serve as Treasurer. He has many years of business experience as CEO/ comptroller for several industries. He now works in tax preparation and business financial consulting out of his home in Glen Haven and serves as Treasurer for the Estes Valley Land Trust.

 

Lynette Johnson, one of the initial SOPA Board members, continues as Board Secretary. Upon retiring from a public school and university teaching career in English and Spanish, she and her husband, Loren, a retired Air Force Band Commander and Conductor, moved to Estes Park in 1995. She has served on the Chamber Music Society Board and the Estes Park Music Festival Board. She is now in her eighth year as Treasurer of the Estes Park Area Music Teachers’ Association and her fourth year as President of the Oratorio Society of Estes Park.

 

Christopher E. Wood, also one of the initial SOPA Board members, continues as the SOPA Campaign Coordinator. Chris, the owner and manager of McGregor Mountain Lodge, understands the problems of local business owners, especially those of the tourism industry, first hand. A former director of several successful musicals for the Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies (FAGR) and a current singer in the VocalEase Quartet, he also understands the problems and frustrations of staging musical and dramatic productions in the various inadequate facilities in Estes Park.

 

The Naming Rights/Contract Administrator, Greig Steiner, was also an initial member of the SOPA Board. No one needs an introduction to Greig because of his fifty-years as owner of, manager of, and painter for Greig Steiner Gallery and Design Studios in Estes Park. While many residents still talk about the memorable stage sets that Greig has designed for the FAGR, they may not know that Greig was the Art Director, Stage Director, Choreographer, and Dancer for the Dark Horse Theater of Estes Park, the predecessor to the FAGR. More than that, Greig still designs sets all over the USA. He has also served for twenty-five years on the Estes Park Music Festival Board. His wealth of experience in the arts is truly amazing.

 

The two new at-large members of the SOPA Board further enhance the range of skills and experience needed to complete this year’s SOPA Board. Gail Upp began with a BA and MA in Theater Arts from Colorado Women’s College and the University of Northern Colorado but then moved into a career in films as writer, producer, sound designer, and editor for various independent and educational film productions and as a file-editing instructor at the University of Southern California. During her early years in Estes Park, she acted in various roles for the FAGR productions as well as leading and expanding the activities of that organization through several successful years as its president. After twenty-five years away, she is glad to be back.

 

The newest at-large member is Stanton Black, a rolling stone in creating successful business enterprises. A graduate of KSU, he started out as a design engineer for Texas Instruments but soon went into business for himself, forming corporations, designing, marketing, managing, and operating useful devices in the areas of video games, solar energy, and the first commercial high-definition laser video projector used in large-venue shows. He was also the Vice-president of entertainment for the Chuck E. Cheese’s Entertainment Centers, worldwide, and the owner of Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Franchises in suburban Dallas, TX . Currently, he and his wife, Marilyn own Playland Services, Inc., which specializes in providing total maintenance and safety plan administration for play areas located in commercial establishments, especially quick-serve restaurants.

 

The Ex-Officio members of the SOPA Board are local business entrepreneur Ron
Wilcocks, and school administrators Linda Chapman and Robert Burkhardt. SOPA’s professional grant-application writer is Kay Kirkman. Trustee Dorla Eisenlauer continues as the very supportive Town Board Liaison for SOPA .

 

With this varied array of experience and training in all aspects of fund-raising, communications, business management, accounting, stage design, sound design, marketing, and city government, as well as in the performing arts, themselves, on its board, SOPA looks forward to gathering the resources of the Estes Park community to do whatever it takes to build a performing arts center for its residents and guests. Suggestions and questions are always welcome. Call 970-481-6630; write to P.O. Box 3077, Estes Park, CO 80517; and/or visit SOPA’s website at www.estesparktheater.com. This is not just a SOPA project; this is an Estes Park community project.