Michael Simkins

President
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Michael is a lifelong educator and theater buff. He was an elementary schoolteacher for 15 years in the Los Angeles area where he also taught drama and musical theater workshops for elementary and middle school students. He pursued his theater avocation by attending plays, taking acting workshops, and appearing in little theater. In 1987, Michael began nine years as principal of Baywood Elementary School in Los Osos. After spending the last twelve years in jobs that required constant travel, Michael retired from K-12 education. He now works as a consultant to educational foundations, professional organizations, and teaches college courses for school leaders.

Ron Burkhart

Vice President

Ron has spent over 30 years working in community service. He has served on numerous boards as director and president. Ron has worked on several productions helping with set design and construction; he played Pawnee Bill in Annie Get Your Gun. Ron currently serves as past-president and chair of the nominating committee. Ron enjoys spending time watching his granddaughters play sports, traveling with his wife Carol and watching sunsets from his home in Morro Bay.

Bryce Engstrom

Secretary
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Bryce has been a SLO county resident for 26 years. He has been a local businessman, first as a design/build contractor and currently as an architect since 1990. For 6 years in the late 90's, Bryce played in an all-original folk/rock band and performed all over San Luis Obispo County. He is a graduate of the Leadership SLO Program, Class XII. He and his wife have been enthusiastic fans of local theatre for over 15 years. Bryce is very honored and excited about participating on the board of such a time-tested and enthusiastic local community theatre group.

Jerry Chirpich

Treasurer

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 4 years, 2 years as President and continues on the finance committee.

Jerry and his wife Sharynn are also active in the community volunteering for Hospice Hope Chest, Womenaide, Prado Day Care, Festival Mosaic and the Performing Arts Center. They have one daughter and 3 Grandchildren who live in Southern California.

John Battalino

Member-at-Large

John is a retired Neurologist & Chief Medical Office for the State of California. He has served as president of the SLOLT in 1989 and was instrumental in securing the present downtown location for the Theatre. John has also served as President of the Centerpoint Theatre Group 1992-1996. John has acted, directed, and designed shows for most all the theater groups on the Central Coast over the last 25 years. John's PCPA Theatrefest credits; Professor Willard, Our Town / Leonato, Much Ado About Nothing/ Dr. Flushing, Imaginary Invalid/Adam, As You Like It/ Baptistin, A Flea In Her Ear/ Old Man Stone, Urinetown/Jim Jameson, Third - Other Theatre credits include ; Andrey Botvinick, Walk In The Woods/; Gloucster, King Lear/Friar Francis, Much Ado About Nothing/Feer, The Cherry Orchard/Beaudricourt, The Lark/Hector Nations, Foxfire/Horatio, Hamlet/Palonius, Hamlet/Don Armado, Loves Labor Lost/Elisha Whitney, Anything Goes/Herr Wexler, The Visit/Friar Lawrence, Romeo & Juliet - among many others. John was honored to have been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from SLOLT in 2007.

Megan Fox

Member-at-Large

Megan moved to San Luis Obispo last fall from her hometown of Phoenix, Arizona. She is a huge fan of the theatre and all of the performing arts. Megan gave up her "acting" career when she was 8 and was assigned the role of a barn animal in a Christmas pageant at church. But, she loves attending plays, concerts, and the ballet. Megan is an attorney practicing at Sullivan & Associates, in Los Osos. She is excited and honored to be involved in the Little Theatre!

Gina Kirk

Member-at-Large

Gina has been a long-time ticket holder and donor. She has been on the Board of Directors of the Mozart Festival and SLO Newcomers. She is currently a member of SLO County Health Commission. Gina recently retired from Caltrans District 5 where she was a Transportation Planner. Gina has also been a senior staff analyst for Fresno County Planning and Resource Management Department, a Financial Consultant and an Assistant Professor of Urban Planning. Gina enjoys theater, dance and musical performances.

Richard Luckett

Member-at-Large

Richard Luckett is a 30 year resident of San Luis Obispo, a retired PG&E engineer, and a supporter of the arts. He has been a long time patron of the San Luis Obispo Little Theater and pleased to be a member of the Board of Directors.

Bob Peterson

Member-at-Large

Bob Peterson was hooked on theater from his first drama class, an elective, at Orcutt Jr High in 1984. He then went on to do some plays at Righetti High School. His first "outside of school" play was Noel Coward's "Hay Fever" at the Santa Maria Civic Theatre. This experience further entrenched his love for theatre. He pursued and obtained a BA in Theatre/Communications from the University of Colorado @ Denver. Recently, he has appeared in several productions at San Luis Obispo Little Theatre including as Tom in Dinner with Friends. Bob works for Peak Electric in SLO and is really excited to be a board member!

Wilda Rosene

Member-at-Large

It all started in a parking lot in SLO one June day in 1992 when a friend said they needed board members at SLOLT. “Send your resume over right away,” I was told. I did and I have been an active member of the theatre group ever since serving as President of the Board three different times, actually being employed for about 18 months and generally doing whatever is necessary to make our theatre the best ever. It is a joy to see how far we have come in these 17 years and I look forward to serving this theatre for many years to come!

Ralph Slocum

Member-at-Large

Ralph was born and raised in Palo Alto, California, is a Cal Poly alumnus, and has lived on the central coast for over 25 years. Since 1987, Ralph has worked in the financial services industry including Dean Witter Reynolds, Morgan Stanley and UBS, where he served as Senior Vice President of Investments. He is now Branch Manager at Slocum Wealth Management in San Luis Obispo. Ralph and his wife, Anne, have been married 24 years and have four children. For over ten years, Ralph has been active in the American Youth Soccer Organization as referee, coach, and board member. He enjoys singing and performed for two seasons with the Vocal Arts Ensemble. Ralph also enjoys snow skiing, theater, wine tasting, travel, inspirational quotations, and our beautiful central coast.

Learn more

Click here to learn more about the Board of Directors, nomination process, and to express interest in serving on the board.