Board of Directors

Pam Nichter

President

Pam and her husband Mitch retired from their careers in the Bay Area in 2015 and relocated to the tiny town of Harmony. Both Nichters are passionate gardeners and enjoy working in their home gardens as well as volunteering time with the Master Gardeners of SLO County. Fans of live theatre, the Nichters sought a local theatre to enjoy and support, and to their delight discovered SLO REP.

A longtime board member of Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Marin Summer Theatre, Pam joined the SLO REP board in 2017. She is honored to be part of the team helping to nurture professional theatrical productions for the entertainment and enrichment of the public, and theatre education opportunities for youth. Pam strongly believes the entertainment and storytelling aspects of live theatre can provide transformative and thought-provoking opportunities for dialog with friends, family and communities

Diane Clausen

Vice President

Diane moved to SLO from the SF Bay Area in 2013 upon retirement from a career in education. Starting out as a Middle School teacher, she then spent 30+ years as a development professional (fundraising) for institutions including UCSB, Laguna Blanca School, UC Davis and Menlo School in Atherton, CA.

A forever fan of theatre, music and dance, Diane soon became a regular at SLO REP shows. Her son and family live in SLO and she takes particular pleasure in watching her grandchildren in their many performances, several of which have been at SLO REP. Diane has served on the Homeless Foundation of SLO County, as a member of the Friends of 40 Prado Board, and in various positions on the SLO Newcomers Board.

Diane is proud to serve as Vice President of the SLO REP Board at a time when moving to the next level of excellence, made possible by the likelihood of a new downtown facility, is very much a reality in the near future.

Michael Simkins

Secretary

Michael is a lifelong learner and theatre buff. He was an elementary schoolteacher for 15 years in the Los Angeles area where he also taught drama and musical theatre workshops for elementary and middle school students. He pursued his theatre avocation by attending plays, taking acting workshops, and appearing in community theatre. In 1987, Michael began nine years as principal of Baywood Elementary School in Los Osos. He spent the following 12 years directing federal and state educational technology projects in Silicon Valley. In semi-retirement, he has been a Cal Poly lecturer, community college instructor, and consultant to various organizations including the Federal Communications Commission. Currently, he serves as CEO of Spokes, San Luis Obispo County’s nonprofit support center.

Deborah Stewart

Treasurer

Debbie has held a lifetime love of theatre that began with her first steps into the footlights at the age of four. Theatre and music was her continued focus throughout her youth and through college where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from the University of California, Riverside.

Life took its own twists and turns which let her to San Luis Obispo nearly 30 years ago with her husband, Robert, who is a local physician. She went back to school 20 years ago and became a CPA. Debbie is currently a Senior Tax Manager at the local firm, Glenn Burdette.

Debbie has continued to stay active in her love of music as a soloist, member of a small vocal ensemble and choir member of Mission San Luis Obispo. She has previously served on the board of the San Luis Obispo Youth Symphony. Debbie is thrilled to share both her financial and theatrical experience as a board member of SLO REP.

Jay Beck

Director

Jay is a 6th generation resident of San Luis Obispo county and was born and raised here on the Central Coast. After leaving for college and living in Seattle and San Francisco, Jay moved with his wife back to San Luis Obispo to raise their family.

Jay works for a local community bank and brings a broad and diverse background in finance and business operations to the table. He currently sits on the following boards as part of his efforts to support the community. Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo (Chairman), SLO Non Profit Housing Corporation, The Sandlot Group of San Luis Obispo (Founding Treasurer), Leadership SLO. In addition to these boards, Jay also currently serves on the Downtown Association’s Economic Development Committee and The SLO Chamber’s Business and Economic Council (Current Chairman)

Casan Callaway

Director

Casan Callaway and his family relocated from the Bay Area to San Luis Obispo in 2018, drawn by the welcoming community, vibrant arts scene, and beautiful natural surroundings. After retiring early from a career in digital promotions, where he helped grow a start-up into a public company, Casan now dedicates his time to local organizations, including the SLO REP Board, the YMCA Board of Directors, and delivering weekly meals to seniors through Meals that Connect.

In addition to his community involvement, Casan is passionate about enjoying every moment with his wife Debbie and daughters Ridley and Pacey. He leads a healthy, balanced life and is committed to making arts and athletics accessible to all, believing in their power to enrich lives and strengthen communities. His leadership experience, particularly in managing hypergrowth organizations, will be invaluable as SLO REP embarks on its upcoming development projects. Casan is excited to help SLO REP thrive, ensuring that storytelling and creativity continue to flourish in San Luis Obispo.

Jerry Chirpich

Director

Jerry Chirpich was born in Minnesota and after attending college at Mankato State, moved to California in 1958 to start a career with Deluxe Check Printers (now Deluxe Corp.) Jerry was Plant Manager for two of the company’s largest operations for 20 years and retired after 35 years of service in 1992. He and wife Sharynn moved to San Luis Obispo in 1994 from the San Fernando Valley. Jerry has been active in San Luis Obispo Country Club serving on the board for four years—two years as president—and continues to serve on the finance committee. Jerry and his wife Sharynn are also active in the community by volunteering for Hospice Hope Chest, Womenaide, Prado Day Care, Festival Mozaic and the Performing Arts Center. They have one daughter and three grandchildren who live in Southern California.

Keith George

Director

Keith is a retired trust and estates lawyer and active supporter of the arts having served previously on the boards of the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre (now SLO REP), the Foundation for the Performing Arts Center, and the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival (now Festival Mozaic). He graduated from Stanford University and earned law degrees from the University of San Francisco and New York University. Keith and his wife, Wendy have lived in San Luis Obispo County since 1973 and currently live in Morro Bay.

Richard Luckett

Director

Richard Luckett has been a resident of San Luis Obispo since 1980. A retired PG&E engineer, and an ardent supporter of the arts, he has also served on the board of the Foundation for the Performing Arts Center and has been a longtime patron of the arts in San Luis Obispo. Richard and his wife Catherine (a retired Speech Pathologist in the San Luis Unified School District) are world travelers, arts supporters and theatre lovers. Richard is pleased to be a member of SLO REP’s Board of Directors.

Kevin Magon

Director

Kevin Magon has been lucky enough to call San Luis Obispo home since 2000. He met his wife Jamie while attending Cal Poly, where they both graduated with degrees in Business Administration. His two daughters are both very involved with ACT, and other SLO REP productions.

Kevin owns a food brokerage and trading company that supplies dry commodity food items to major distributors, restaurant chains, and feeding agencies across the country.

In his spare time, Kevin loves spending time with his family, watching movies, working out, and enjoying everything the Central Coast has to offer.

Susan Minker

Director

Originally from New York, Susan has gradually (and gratefully) moved West, first to Tucson, Arizona where she was the only female partner in a group of 27 diagnostic radiologists, and then to the central coast, when she and her (now late) husband retired. Since moving here, Susan has served on the boards of the SLO Health Commission, the SLO Symphony, the SLO International Film Festival, and the Hearst Cancer Resource Center.

Susan saw her first play, the original Broadway production of West Side Story, when she was thirteen years old and was instantly in thrall. She acted (poorly) in college and has had minor roles in a couple of local productions (Oklahoma! with Chameleon Productions and The Royal Family with the Little Theatre). One of her only regrets in life is that she isn’t a better actress. Had she been, she would have pursued acting instead of medicine as a career. Susan is thrilled that as a SLO REP board member, she is able to serve in some way to promote and support our wonderful local repertory theatre.

Susan lives in Los Osos with her two beloved standard poodles.

Jeff Olds

Director

Jeff and his wife Linda own the local Jamba stores. They have lived here since 2000 and sponsored several shows with SLO REP. Prior to moving here, Jeff was a lawyer in the Bay Area and specialized in business and estate planning law. He graduated from the University of San Francisco School of Law and from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in English Literature. He has been a fan of theatre since performing in high school plays. Jeff has served on several boards of directors and is presently on the Economic Activities Committee of Downtown SLO.

Chip Visci

Director

Live theatre has commanded Chip’s respect since elementary school when, as an unsuspecting understudy, he was suddenly the lead in a play mercifully forgotten. He soon realized his talents lay elsewhere. His three-plus decades in newspaper journalism included several years as arts and entertainment editor for the Detroit Free Press, and led to positions in newspaper management and on the corporate staff of Knight Ridder. He was publisher of the San Luis Obispo Tribune from 2005 to 2008. From 2009 to 2014, Chip served in various communications and marketing roles at Cal Poly including Director of Communications for the Office of the President. He also served as senior strategist for AMF Media Group.

Since moving to the Central Coast, Chip has served on a variety of nonprofit boards, including the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce, the Housing Trust Fund of San Luis Obispo County, Visit San Luis Obispo County, and the Governing Board of the Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center.

Chip and his wife Marty Claus live in Shell Beach.

Ellie Washington

Director

Ellie managed marketing and PR campaigns for over 100 musicals and plays in the professional theatre industry in Sacramento, including box office-breaking national tour engagements of Wicked and The Lion King, working on shows starring Broadway legends Carol Channing and Tommy Tune, and many Tony Award™-nominated actors. A Cal Poly journalism alum, she couldn’t resist when the opportunity arose to return to the SLO life, where she is a Realtor® with COMPASS. It brings her joy to utilize her experience and passion to support SLO REP’s mission.

Jonathan L. York

Director

Jonathan York is Professor Emeritus of Entrepreneurship at Cal Poly. He moved to SLO in 2009 to launch the entrepreneurship programs at Cal Poly. He co-founded the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship and the SLO Hothouse, helping to foster a vibrant entrepreneurial community both on campus and in the community.

Before his academic career at Cal Poly, Jon held various leadership roles. He served as CEO of major mental health and substance abuse systems in Detroit and Ohio, led the Chamber of Commerce in Columbus, and moved into the tech industry as a company founder and venture investor. Jon’s non-profit board experience spans the arts, housing, healthcare, and human services sectors. He completed his undergraduate studies at Yale University and earned a PhD in Psychology from Michigan State. He and his wife Kathleen are enthusiastic supporters of San Luis Obispo and particularly the arts.

In Memory of Wilda Rosene - 1938-2024

32 years of Service and Support

“It all started in a parking lot in SLO one June day in 1992 when a friend said they needed board members at the Little Theatre. It is a joy to see how far we have come!” – Wilda Rosene

On Sunday morning, July 14, 2024, our dear friend and longtime board member Wilda Rosene passed away quite suddenly. To say we will miss this wonderful woman is an understatement.

Wilda was a dedicated volunteer, generous supporter, longtime board member and cheerleader-in-chief for more than 30 years. Since 1992 she made it her mission to help this organization thrive. In the early days of SLO Little Theatre, she managed our finances, ran the box office, served on the board and served drinks at the bar. She was a tremendous friend-raiser inviting someone new to each and every show. She played a key role in establishing our Academy of Creative Theatre (ACT) in 1997 and was justly proud of ACT’s exponential growth over the years. She was the first to pledge her support as an ACT Show Sponsor every year and rarely missed an opening night for more than 30 years

Wilda’s love for SLO REP was unconditional. Our love for her, the same. We laughed together, cried together, celebrated our successes together and planned for an exciting future…together.

Thank you, Wilda. We’re still saving a seat for you in the new theatre, and we know you’ll be with us in spirit every single Opening Night.