Our Board of Directors

Who’s Who in 2012

Fran Spechts President	Mark J. Wilcox Vice President
Mark K. Forsyth Treasurer	Michael O. Severance Clerk/Secretary

Cathy J. Brown	Stephen R. Eberle
Kristine Cuzzi	Jim Morgan
Glenn Deletetsky	John M. Rhoades
Eileen Eberhart	Pamela P. Sawyer

Henry J. Weller, Emeritus

Biographies

	Fran Spechts, President Fran graduated Magna Cum Laude from Northeastern University with a BS in Personnel and Industrial Relations. She spent the majority of her career as the Corporate Director of Human Resources for Parlex Corporation in Methuen, Massachusetts. Fran and her husband, Lee, have been long time subscribers to the Ogunquit Playhouse. Being extremely impressed and pleased with the depth of professionalism, talent, and quality performances being produced at the Playhouse over the last several years, Fran found it both a pleasure and an honor to join the Board and be given the opportunity to work with the Directors, Brad Kenney and all the other talented people who are responsible for making this amazing theatre thrive.
	Mark J. Wilcox, Vice President Mark is the Publisher/Editor of The Weekly Sentinel. Mark has over 40 years experience in the newspaper business, beginning his career with the Boston Globe. After close to 20 years he moved on to Harte-Hanks Communications, a multi-media corporation which includes a number of daily newspapers, TV stations (including cable), and Direct Marketing facilities throughout the United States, where he rose to the position of Vice-President. Mark holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Boston College as well as a Doctorate of Law from New England Law School, and is active in many business organizations throughout Southern Maine. Mark has maintained a home in Wells for over 20 years while traveling extensively in his previous newspaper career.
	Mark K. Forsyth, Treasurer Mark works for Wells Fargo Equipment Finance in Portsmouth, NH. His background includes six years on the Rye, NH School Board and six years on the Rye Education Foundation Board. He graduated from Middlebury College and has an MBA from the University of Rochester. He and his family are longtime residents of Rye, NH. Mark’s love of theater began at childhood when his parents took him to live theater. Mark and his wife Diane have continued to be patrons of the theater. They are long time season subscribers of the Ogunquit Playhouse.
	Michael O. Severance, Clerk/Secretary Michael is from Kennebunkport, was born and raised on his Gooch family’s seaside innkeeping property at the mouth of the Kennebunk River. A graduate of the University of Maine, Orono, he married Sandra Willis (of Gorham, Maine). They have two daughters and sons-in-laws and three grandchildren.    Mike has been on the Board of Directors and was President of the Kennebunk- Kennebunkport Chamber of Commerce and of the Kennebunkport Business Association, is retired as a Colonel from thirty-five years active and reserve US Army duty, and is a retired twenty-seven year volunteer Kennebunk Fire Fighter. Mike is also retired from co-managing with his wife their family innkeeping business, The Seaside Motor Inn and Cottages on Goochs Beach. However, he is still active on the waterfront with his Bay of Maine Boats business (a small boat building company) and with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary as a volunteer. He is also President of the Maine Chapter of the Association for Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and President of S.O.S. Maine; and is a member of South Congregational Church, Reserve Officers Association (ROA), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Association of United States Army (AUSA) and the Arundel Yacht Club.
	Cathy J. Brown Biography coming soon.
	Kristine Cuzzi Kristine has lived in York, Maine, since 1977 and is now presently residing in Portsmouth, NH. She moved from Boston when she opened The Jewelry Mine in Kittery. She loves working with people, and is a firm believer in volunteering. She has participated in Old York Historical Society Showhouse for the past 10 years, partaking in the planning of the arrival of the Tall Ships in Portsmouth, and Club Finz, a Parrot Head Club of Seacoast New Hampshire and Southern Maine as President. In addition, she is constantly assisting at Special Olympics, Blood Drives, Hampton Seafood Festival, NH Public Auction, Penguin Plunge and whenever she may be contacted by an organization that needs help.
	Glenn Deletetsky Biography coming soon.
	Eileen Eberhart After graduating from U. VA. Law School, Eileen practiced law as a partner in the Boston firm, Choate Hall & Stewart. Later, she worked as in-house counsel and Real Estate Director for Apogent Technologies, an international holding company based in Portsmouth, NH. She and her family have lived in the Seacoast New Hampshire area for twenty-five years. She served on the Rye, New Hampshire School Board and on the boards of The Children’s Museum of Portsmouth and the Rye Education Foundation. She and her husband enjoy the high-quality performances provided by the Playhouse and eagerly look forward to each Playhouse season.
	Stephen R. Eberle Stephen was born in Teaneck, New Jersey and grew up in the suburban town of Upper Saddle River, a fitting background for his deep and diverse interest in outdoor sports and photography. Attending college in Maine proved to be a fortunate choice. While pursuing his B.A. in Business Administration at Nasson College, Steve was able to indulge his avocation of competitive skiing serving as Captain of the ski team. Upon graduation, Steve accepted a position with Hart Ski Company as Sales Representative and Eastern Technical Representative. During this time, Steve also worked in conjunction with Americana Ski Bindings, traveling with Skiing Magazine as an educator on the technology and safety of alpine ski bindings. Steve later held the position of National Sales Manager of Americana International and developed an international distribution company of downhill ski bindings and winter ski related products. In addition, he successfully assumed these same responsibilities for Cool-Ray Ski/Sport Glasses, Snow-Life Brakes and Sportitalia Fashion Ski and Tennis Apparel. Returning to New England, Steve became Sales Manager for Kemco Office Products of Portsmouth, New Hampshire successfully building sales volume through a variety of key company responsibilities. Steve also includes a successful real estate career among his credentials. He established Sun Harbor Realty. The agency specialized in commercial and residential high-end island waterfront properties. Sun Harbor became number one off-site sales broker for Isla Del Sol, General Electric’s top Florida development. Returning to the corporate sector, Steve became Senior Account Executive for Allegiant Management in New Hampshire making a major contribution to the growth of the company. Combining his extensive sales and marketing background with an entrepreneurial desire Steve founded Canvasworks, Inc. in Ogunquit in 1980 and today serves as owner and President of the company. Canvasworks is a leading marine canvas and full range awning company with ever expending design and fabricating expertise. Successful growth necessitated the move to its present, larger facility in Kennebunk, Maine in the ‘90’s. Steve served on the Board of Directors of the Marine Fabricators Association and presently sits on the Board of Directors of the Ogunquit Playhouse Foundation. He holds membership in the Kennebunk/Kennebunkport Chamber of Commerce, IFAI (Industrial Fabric Association International) and Marine Fabricators Association.
	Jim Morgan Jim is proprietor of a meetings and convention management company, Let's Meet, Inc. He grew up in Iowa, but always dreamed of living in New England. Jim was active in the 4-H Club throughout his childhood and his first job after college was with 4-H, training employees and volunteers to work directly with kids involved in the program. His many years with 4-H took him to Sweden, Dover, New Hampshire and Washington, D.C. While in D.C., Jim started his current business, and following his dream, recently opened a branch in Maine where he now resides and works. Jim’s relationship with the Playhouse began in the 1970s when he coordinated a theatre program for kids in the New Hampshire 4-H. The program culminated in a trip to the Playhouse to see a show. Ever since, whenever he found himself in New England, he came to see a show. Last summer Jim was recommended for a position on the Board of Directors by members of the OP governance committee and was invited to join the Board. He also hosted one of the dinner parties for My Fair Feast, a fundraiser to benefit the Education and Outreach programs of the Playhouse, and had such a positive experience he was delighted to accept the invitation. “I am excited to join this legendary cultural institution and to bring my experience in non-profit development and education to further benefit the Playhouse. Its survival is paramount to the foundation of our arts community and I am determined to contribute to its wellbeing so community members and visitors can benefit from the wonderful experience of live theatre for many years to come.” Former Board of Directors President, Jeffrey Troiano once shared, “All of us are honored to have someone with the experience and background that Jim brings to the table. OP is growing and thriving in these challenging times and welcoming Jim on our Board is an example of that growth.”
	John M. Rhoades Biography coming soon.
	Pamela Sawyer Pamela is the Principal of Sawyer Healthcare Consulting and the Managing Editor for the Visiting Nurse Association of America’s Nursing Procedure Manual. She formerly served for nine (9) years as Vice President of Operations and Business Development for the Visiting Nurse Association of America, the national association for VNAs. Prior to that, she was the Director of Operations, HealthSouth’s Home Health Division for 15 years. Pamela and her family have had a second home in Ogunquit for 23 years and have been long time season subscribers to the Playhouse. In 2011 they became year-round residents. Pamela has been an active volunteer at the Playhouse helping with Children’s Theatre, planning and co-coordinating Fairy House Weekends, special events, fundraising and most recently coordinating Marquee Nights. She is very excited about being a member of the Board and is looking forward to helping sustain this historic jewel. She is the Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Virginia Thurston Healing Garden, a center for women with breast cancer in Harvard, MA and is a Corporator for Emerson Hospital, Concord, MA. Her hobbies include photography and walking the beach.
	Henry J. Weller, Emeritus Henry’s long history with the Ogunquit Playhouse began in 1951 when he became John Lane’s business partner. Together, John and Henry ran the Playhouse until John’s retirement in 1994 (John serving as producer and Henry as business manager and in 1964 became general manager.) Henry continued with the business and in 1997 was instrumental in fulfilling John’s wish of insuring the transfer of the theatre to the Ogunquit Playhouse Foundation, a not-for-profit organization with a Board of Directors. Since the transfer, Henry has served as a Foundation Board Member, as the Treasurer from 1998- 2002 and currently as the Assistant Treasurer. He is a retired CPA, or “constant pain in the a..,” as he lovingly refers to it when overseeing the financials! Henry is an invaluable resource of information on the history of the Playhouse and often provides stories of the past with not only facts, but with much humor. He was instrumental in assisting the authors of the recent 75th Anniversary book on the history of the Ogunquit Playhouse, by sharing his many recollections of his years at the Playhouse.   Henry resides in New York City where he retains a few clients in his accounting practice and still maintains his home in Ogunquit.