Leadership

UPAF is led by experienced and dedicated professionals

The UPAF Board and staff bring years of experience across the private and nonprofit sectors together with a passion for ensuring performing arts excellence and accessibility in Southeastern Wisconsin.


UPAF Board

The community leaders who make up UPAF’s Board of Directors generously contribute their time, skills and resources to engage the community in support of UPAF’s mission and ensure strong, transparent and accountable organizational operations. 

Board Officers

2024 UPAF Board of Directors

Scott Beightol*
Board Chair
Partner
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

Brent Tischler*
Treasurer
Community Banking CEO
Old National Bank

Steve Johnson*
President
BMO Private Bank

Ryan L. Barbieri — Executive Vice President, M3 Insurance
Steve Booth — Chairman, President and CEO, Robert W. Baird
Jim Borris* — President & CEO, Zilber, LTD
Jeff Cady — Wealth Management Advisor, US Bancorp Investments
David Caruso — President & Creative Director, Dynamic Events by David Caruso
Heather Dunn — Chief Financial Officer, West Bend Mutual Insurance Company
Dustin Godsey — Milwaukee Bucks & Fiserv Forum, Chief Marketing Officer
Chris Goller* — Regional President, PNC Bank
Bill Guc — Vice President & Controller, WEC Energy Group, Inc.
Katy Hook — Partner, PricewaterHouse Coopers
Juliet Kersten — Community Volunteer
Dr. Phyllis King — Vice Provost, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
David Lubar — President & CEO, Lubar & Co.
Stephanie Lyons* — Chief Audit Executive, Enterprise Risk Assurance, Northwestern Mutual
Melanie Brown Maddux — Regional Vice President, ManpowerGroup US Inc.
Greg Marcus — President & CEO, Marcus Corporation
Tim Mattke* — CEO, MGIC
Skip McConeghy — VP, Chief Accounting & Tax Officer, Johnson Controls
George Meyer — Retired CEO, Kahler Slater
Rebecca Mitich — Office Managing Partner, Husch Blackwell
Heather Ramirez* — Community Volunteer
Joe Rock* ** — Managing Partner, KPMG
Deb Spanic — VP, Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, Clarios
Tim Stewart — President & Managing Partner, DeWitt, LLP
Natacha Velez — Director, Supplier Quality and Market Quality Excellence, Molson Coors
Gary Witt — CEO, Co-Owner & President, The Pabst Theater Group
Anne Zizzo — President & CEO, Zizzo Group

*Denotes Executive Committee
**Denotes Audit Committee Compliance Officer


Staff

The United Performing Arts Fund is powered by an experienced and dedicated ensemble of fundraisers and professionals committed to performing arts excellence and inclusion. We take our role as stewards of your gifts very seriously and make the most of every donation, ensuring that the funds are used in the best way possible.

Executive Team

Patrick Rath — President & CEO
Bruce Osgood — Chief Administrative Officer

Administration

Jaime Due — IT Specialist
Hanna Mueller (Walsh) — Donor Support Specialist
Katrina Reigh Rider — Operations Specialist
Lisa Rulf — Data Systems Director
Tina Sternitzky — Integrated Fundraising Director
Kathy Taylor — Gift Entry Specialist

Advancement

Karyn Bechtel — Fundraising Manager
Ana Cook — Director of Events and Communications
Sarah Giovannetti — Development Director
Colleen Hider — Development Director
Katie Korek — Public Relations & Communications Manager
Eric Reichelt — Advancement Specialist
Angela Topetzes Strelka — Development Director
Jennifer Wareham — Development Director, Corporate Leadership

Office of the President

Sue Connor, CPA — Finance Director
Isabelle Koenig — Senior Director of Community Partnerships
Dani Kuepper — Community Partnerships Specialist
Jane Reardon, CPA — Finance Director