An 11- to 16-member board of directors oversees the CET program, focusing primarily on policy decisions, budget, communications and long-range planning. It’s a working board, and its members serve as volunteers in all aspects of the year-round and summer program. Board meetings take place the 2nd Tuesday of each month.
Are you ready to be a part of our working board?
Anyone with initiative and enthusiasm is encouraged to apply! We are especially looking for people with:
– knowledge in law or grant writing,
– passion for kids and theatre, or
– time to give during the day or during the summer,
but are open to anyone with the time and energy to put in some hard work.
Apply here!
Jana Avison is a Salem native and was a CET kid herself in the 80s. She spent eleven years working for the Salem Keizer School District as a middle school English teacher and a district project coordinator. Now a stay at home mom, Jana lives with her husband and two kids in South Salem. Her favorite ways to fill her days are with reading, walking her Goldendoodle and cheering on her kids at Blanchet games. She loves CET and watching the way a variety of kids thrive with the opportunities to be themselves and explore different interests.
Steve was born and raised in South Salem and graduated from Willamette University where he played football for the Bearcats. He has served on numerous non-profit boards and various other volunteer committees. Steve began his professional career with a small, local community bank as a commercial loan officer and after 12 years, made the switch to non-profit administration. He has spent the last 10 years with Catholic Community Services, most recently serving as Chief Financial Officer. Steve lives in South Salem with his wife and two daughters, enjoys golfing, skiing, camping, traveling and kitchen/bbq exploration. After five years of watching his oldest daughter fall in love with CET, he made the leap to do more for the theater community and joined the CET board in 2023.
Kate Snow joined the board in the fall of 2023. Kate’s been connected to the program since the 1980’s, when she was a CET student of Tom Hewitt and Tom Ulmer, under the direction of Phyllis Quanbeck “Q”. CET played a positive, formative role in her life, and she is grateful it continues to thrive, as her kids are current CET students who love the program as much as she does. Kate received a BA from Pitzer College in Claremont, CA, and an MBA from the University of Oregon, she owns a landscaping business with her husband that operates out of Eugene, and practices as a CPA in Salem. Kate is happy to support theater, art, music and dance in our community, and appreciates CET’s dedication to enriching and inspiring life-long creativity and appreciation for the arts.
Sarah joined the board in the fall of 2024. She has lived in the Salem area for most of her life and has spent the last 25 years finding any excuse to be in the theater. She is thrilled to give back to the program that changed her child’s life and to help ensure the success of the program for the next 50 years.
After spending nearly 10 years homeschooling her boys, she now spends her days working with the local refugee community as the Permanent Housing Coordinator at Salem For Refugees and the rest of her free time at North Salem’s theater, on the football field/basketball court/track or enjoying the finest of the granny arts: reading, knitting, and puzzling.
Gail Krumenauer moved to Salem in 2009. Over the years, she has volunteered in the Salem-Keizer school district, with students at Willamette University, and as a youth sports coach. She joined the CET board in 2024 to support and promote this inspiring and unique program that has made such a tremendous positive impact in the community, including for both of her children. Gail’s career includes experience includes work in private, nonprofit, and government organizations. She currently serves as Oregon’s state employment economist. In addition to supporting her kids on the field and onstage, Gail also enjoys running, traveling, cooking, music, and local and regional performing arts.
Gerard’s introduction to theater was playing a whale and a doctor in Really Rosie as a first grader. He developed a passion for performing around the campfires at several camps across the country. The amazing experience his children have had at CET inspired him to join the board.
Bio coming soon!
Bio coming soon!
Ashley Dueñas joined the board in the fall of 2022. While growing up, she experienced the performing arts as a ballet and tap dancer, and later minored in dance in college. She has volunteered with non-profit summer camps serving children impacted by HIV/AIDS and has years of experience in early childhood education, leading to her Master of Arts in Teaching. She has dedicated the past decade of her life to raising her own children and volunteering in their schools. During her time spent at CET through her son’s participation, Ashley has loved observing students’ enthusiasm, inclusivity, creativity, and overall positive energy as they walk the halls and engage in their classes. In her free time, Ashley enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and three children, traveling, camping, paddle boarding and skiing.
Claire is a lifelong resident of Salem, Oregon, and has been active in local theater, both onstage and off for over 15 years. Additionally, she brings with her experience as a costumer, teacher and mom of two at CET. Outside of theater work, Claire is an instructional assistant at a local charter school, and works to provide freelance IDEA training (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) in the Salem-Keizer area. She is looking forward to this opportunity to serve in a new way locally, and give back a small portion of the meaningful experience that CET provides for her children and local artists.
AJ has been a Salem resident for most of his life, spending 45 years in the community. He works as a Business Analyst for The State of Oregon. AJ joined the CET board after witnessing the tremendous impact the program has had on both of his children—his son now serves as a Teaching Assistant, and his daughter is currently in Level 7. Through CET, AJ has watched his kids develop confidence, assertiveness, a strong work ethic, and the ability to perform and speak in front of large groups. He is passionate about ensuring other families have access to these same transformative experiences. In his free time, AJ enjoys running, home improvement projects, and exploring technology.
Chris Forsythe, originally from Poway, California, has enjoyed living in Salem for over 30 years. He has worked as a computer technician for the Salem-Keizer school district for 19 years with a special focus on school safety and security. Chris lives with his wife, JoyAnna, and two teenagers in the South Salem area. Chris enjoys golfing, traveling, get-away weekends to the coast or Bend area, and just having time with the family. He joined the board because of the incredibly positive impact that CET has had in the lives of both of his children.
Dana Lyons moved to Salem in 2020. She’s originally from New Jersey. She’s super excited to serve on the CET board to help serve and support the community as well as to give back and say thank you to CET for being such a positive experience for her daughter the last few years.
Isabel Trevino joined the CET Board in 2024 and is proud to give back to her community through this amazing program. A longtime Salem resident, she was inspired by her son Ethan’s passion for theater and loves supporting opportunities for young performers. Isabel has worked as HR Manager at DeSantis Landscapes, Inc. for over 20 years and values family above all—she and her husband have three children and three granddaughters.
Feel free to reach out!
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