Nonprofit Board

Board of Trustees

Leadership

board-katieKatie Brewer
Board Co-President

I joined the AECT family in 2011. Both of my daughters have loved every minute with AECT on and off stage. After seeing all of the wonderful growth and character development my children gained through their experience with AECT I knew volunteering my time on the AECT board would be well worth it. I received a B.A in Psychology from Central Michigan University and a M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Western Michigan University. After many years of social work I now focus my time on Making the World a Better Place by volunteering my time at All-of-us Express, the Laingsburg High School Drama Boosters, the Laingsburg Girl Scouts, advocating for animals and helping with my family real estate business.

Adrienne Yates
Board Co-President

Growing up in Elkhart, Indiana, Adrienne developed an appreciation for the arts, playing the French horn, singing, and performing on stage in musicals. Her passion to engage and excite children in the arts was evident throughout her 13 years teaching and 3+ years administration experience in education.  She spent two years teaching in Germany, experiencing 17 countries and their beautiful cultures, works of art and theaters. Arts Appreciation and Arts Integration are programs Adrienne supports being utilized in schools and in the classroom as early as possible, through classes or clubs, art shows and showcases. With these programs being removed at an alarming rate, programs like AECT are that much more important for our communities today.  Adrienne’s three children live in Laingsburg, and look forward to many years of enjoying the programs AECT has to offer.

Andy Boyan

Board Vice President

Andy Boyan, Ph.D. is VP of Research & Innovation for Urban FT, a fintech provider. He loves theatre, and has roots in high school and collegiate theatrical performance and crew. A dedicated husband and father, Andy brings a his goofy dad-jokes and knack for technology to help AECT grow and create safe, fruitful spaces and programs for community kids.

Cynthia Wright-Pratt
Board Co-Treasurerboard-cynthia

As of Fall 2016, Cynthia has costumed 25 shows for All-of-us Express. Starting in 2013, Cynthia was elected to the All-of-us Express board and is currently Treasurer and chair of the Nominating Committee. As a board member, Cynthia is working toward strengthening and ensuring the future of All-of-us Express Children’s Theatre.

Cynthia has a masters degree from Michigan State University in rehabilitation counseling and has worked for the State of Michigan since 1993 as a consultant for Michigan Rehabilitation Services.

Jeffrey D’Valentine
Board Co-Treasurer
Jeff is a life-long resident of East Lansing. He graduated Suma Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration and a master’s degree in Labor Relations and Human Resources from Michigan State University. For the past five years, he has been a parent volunteer for St. Johns Public Schools, acting as a role model and providing a positive male presence in the classrooms. He joined AECT as a Family Membership when his youngest son accepted a role in AECT’s production of Bridge to Terabithia, in 2018. AECT provided a tremendous opportunity for him to become involved with something that his son loves, while helping to promote the same benefits and experiences his son derived from being a cast/crew member, such as developing strong friendships, gaining confidence and learning new life-long skills.
Todd Vanderbur
Board Co-Secretary
Adam Denton
Board Co-Secretary

Sara Frank-Hepferboard-sara
Board Member

I am a graduate of the National Shakespeare Conservatory as well as the College of Financial Planning. I have worked as an actor, a youth job developer and a financial advisor. Presently I am Vice President at Financial Technology, Inc. I have served on several boards including the East Lansing Zonta Club, the Lansing Derby Vixens and currently Fenner Nature Center. My diverse background has allowed me to gain many skills that will be useful as a board member of All-of-Us Children’s Theater.

Paul Beczkiewicz

Board Member

Paul has been involved in the arts his whole life.  Starting on the violin at age 4 and switching to cello at age 8, he followed a music career path through high school and college where he earned a Bachelor of Music in cello performance from Indiana University.  Visual arts and theater were also part of Paul’s life in high school, college and in a few semi-professional productions.  Taking his love of the arts to the management side, he earned a master’s degree in arts administration and has worked for several arts organizations, including The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and The Cleveland Orchestra.  He has been a fundraiser for non-profit organizations for 20 years, currently serving as Associate Director of Philanthropy for The Nature Conservancy and has served on several community non-profit boards, most recently at Fenner Conservancy in Lansing.

Jen Van Der Heide

Board Member

Jen’s family has been an AECT member since 2014 when her son participated in a summer camp and then joined the cast of The Neverending Story.  A former high school English teacher, Jen is now a faculty member in English Education in the College of Education at Michigan State University.  As a teacher educator, she is delighted and impressed with the many ways AECT apprentices youth into meaningful theater experiences and responsibilities.  As a board member, she hopes to support the organization so that generations of youth can continue in meaningful participation in a variety of programs.

Dayna Smith
Board Member

Having always had a penchant for the arts Dayna learned to play the piano at an early age and was involved in several theater productions as well as the glee club during her tenure in high school  .

A born and bred Mid- Michigan local Dayna first came to know about ACET during the late 2000’s when her then single digit daughters were involved in a spring production.

Dayna attended Wayne State University and currently works as Regional Director of Business Development for Aloette Cosmetics . She is also a licensed insurance agent. Dayna joined the board to “give back” and is very active in her church and volunteers in the community.

She expects her diverse background in leadership and operations will positively impact the ACET members as well as the community and further the mission of the Board.

Morgan Pohl
Board Memberboard-morgan

Morgan has been involved with AECT since Aesop Says in 2006. She has earned a Master badge in Costumes and was last seen as Toad in The Wind in the Willows in 2015.  Morgan is presently a junior at Michigan State University double majoring in Theatre and Women’s & Gender Studies and double minoring in Mathematics and LGBTQ & Sexuality Studies. Morgan has been serving on the AECT board since 2014.

Audrey Tieman
Youth Board Member

Audrey Tieman has been with AECT since 2011,  both in acting roles and in the guild program. Currently attending Haslett High School, She’s very excited at the opportunity to serve on the board as a youth member and gain valuable experience.
Addy Vanderbur
Youth Board Member

All-of-us Express Children’s Theatre (AECT) is a community-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees elected at the annual membership meeting held each September. Officers are elected by the Board during the annual membership meeting in September.

The Artistic Director, show Directors, Stage Managers, Crew Heads/Supervisors and Instructors are employed through the City of East Lansing Division of Parks, Recreation and Arts (ELPRA); they are not employed by or supervised by the AECT Board of Trustees. AECT board members and officers are volunteers.