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BAGOP
(Boston Area Guild
of Puppetry)

Board of Directors

Sherry Blanchette, President

Boston, MA Sherry Blanchette's interest in puppetry started when she was a youngster attending puppet shows at her elementary school in Cranston, RI. She is dedicated to helping children gain exposure to the art of puppetry and is happy to share her marketing and communications expertise with PST. Professionally, Sherry is a director of program development at the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, a donor advised fund and the fourth largest public charity in the United States. She holds an MBA, an M.S. in Public Relations, and a B.S. in Journalism—all from Boston University. Sherry resides in Boston and is active in various professional and social organizations in the city.

Paul Vincent Davis, Trustee

Brookline, MA. Paul Vincent Davis is widely recognized as one of the foremost hand puppeteers in the country. In 1977, Paul joined the Puppet Showplace Theatre as its Artistic Director. He has received numerous awards, including four "Citations of Excellence in the Art of Puppetry" from UNIMA-USA (the highest award given in puppetry) and the distinguished President's Award from Puppeteers of America. In addition to performing, Paul has taught puppetry at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Boston Museum of Fine Arts. And for seven years he served as a faculty member and on the Board of Overseers for the Institute of Professional Puppetry Arts at the Eugene O'Neill Center.

Raymond Estes, Clerk

Hingham, MA. Raymond C. Estes is an attorney in the Real Estate Department of the Boston law firm of Rubin and Rudman LLP.  He maintains a broad transactional practice with a particular focus on commercial real estate acquisition, disposition, leasing, financing and development.  Ray is a graduate of Saint John’s University and Suffolk University Law School and is admitted to practice in both Massachusetts and New York.  Ray coaches youth soccer and little league baseball in Hingham where he resides with his wife, Jennifer, and their four children.

Len Gerwick, Trustee

Marlborough, MA  -  Len is a professional puppeteer with The Gerwick Puppets that has performed throughout New England since its founding in 1974.  Previously, Len performed solo for a decade and a half in New York City as a student through junior high and college.  He has a BFA from Pratt Institute where he studied painting and graphics, and holds an MA from The University of Toronto in Art History.  Following art school he worked in publishing.  In 1971 he switched careers and taught art at Holliston High School for nine years.  In the 1980s and 90s Len was active in the Boston Area Guild of Puppetry (BAGOP) organizing four annual puppetry showcases.  He served as BAGOP’s Treasurer for three years and President for five.  Since 1996 he has been Treasurer of The Northeast Region of Puppeteers of America (P of A) and from 2001 to 2008 he was Chair of the P of A Endowment Fund.  He has a twenty-six year old daughter and today continues performing and painting. 

Su Joun, Trustee

Arlington, MA  - Su Joun has 17 years of corporate experience in business development, operations, marketing, staff management, and customer service in both Fortune 500 companies and start-ups.   She also owned a parenting magazine publishing company.  She has her MBA from Suffolk University and is currently working on a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management at Northeastern University.   She enjoys playing pretend with her two boys, and watching movies and debating politics with her husband.

Alice Schaefer, Trustee

Newton, MA. Alice Schaefer has been with the Puppet Showplace Theatre since 1990, when she became a member of the administrative staff. As Schaefer Shenanigans, she and her husband, Tom, presented puppetry performances. Prior to moving to New England, Alice spent 15 years as a high school science teacher. In addition to past volunteer work for Newton Public Schools, the Citizens Advisory Committee for Community Block Grants, and her local Neighborhood Association, Alice currently serves on the boards of the Boston Area Guild of Puppeteers (BAGOP) and the New England Friends Home, an assisted living facility. She also participates in networks for peer counseling and support for families and friends of the mentally ill.

Brad Shur, Artist-in-Residence

Allan Telio, Trustee

Watertown, MA. Allan Telio attended puppet shows at the PST while growing up in Newton, sparking a lifelong interest in the arts. Today, he is a member of the improv comedy troupe, Kitsch In Sync. Professionally, Allan works for EnerNOC, an alternative energy company located in Boston, and recently received his MBA from Babson College. While not working or improving, he spends his free time rooting for the Red Sox with his wife Katie at home in Watertown.

Alden Zecha, Treasurer

Somerville, MA  -  Alden Zecha is a principal at the strategy and operations consulting firm Adz Group, LLC where he helps clients stimulate profits including occasionally serving as an interim executive. In addition he currently serves as the president of the Princeton Entrepreneurs’ Network of Boston and a director for various businesses in the United States, Europe and Asia. Alden received his MSE and BSE with honors from Princeton University. He is active in the local arts community and also teaches business classes designed for artists and performers.