Valley Youth Theatre Announces its 2025-26 Executive Committee and Board of Directors
(PHOENIX – Aug. 18, 2025) – Valley Youth Theatre (VYT) has announced its 2025-26 Executive Committee and Board of Directors.
Abbie S. Fink, President of HMA Public Relations, has been elected board chair. A long-time lover of performing arts and live theatre, Fink will guide the organization’s volunteer board of directors tasked with providing strategic direction, oversight, and support in such areas as governance, financial stewardship, and advocacy/support.
“Valley Youth Theatre has long been recognized as a place where young people from diverse backgrounds can learn and grow as individuals, performers, and leaders,” said Fink. “This transformational performing arts experience has impacted thousands of Valley youth since 1989.”
One of the organization’s hallmarks is its commitment to diversity and inclusivity in its programs. By embracing all walks of life, VYT fosters lifelong relationships with children and their families through programs that encourage them to dream and grow in ways they never imagined.
“Our primary goal is to make sure that everyone that participates in a Valley Youth Theatre production has a positive experience. And whether they are on-stage or working behind-the-scenes, these young people learn what it means to take risks, manage their time, communicate with each other and work cooperatively to produce a wonderful theatre experience for all our guests.”
Serving with Fink on the executive committee are Mario Romero, Designated Broker, The Melcher Agency as vice chair; Brian Etheridge, Director, G&A Business Architecture at Freeport McMoRan as treasurer; Laura Stover, Partner at Nearhood Law Offices and Kiana Cacchione, Corporate Communications at Intel, as co-secretaries; and Bill Ottinger, CEO of Bright Orange Ideas, as immediate past chair. Also serving on the executive committee is Hope Ozer, Valley Youth Theatre founding chair.
The enduring legacy of VYT is the impact it has on the lives of its participants. For many young people, VYT is not just a theatre; it’s a home away from home, a safe place where they can express themselves freely and pursue their passions without fear or judgment. Other dedicated volunteers serving on the board of directors include:
- Alison Bates, Executive Director, Arizona Chamber Foundation
- Joe Chandler, Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson
- Travis Chester, CFO, Cubic Corporation
- Tom Evans, Senior Vice President, Lumen Strategies Arizona
- Emily Flint, Associate Attorney, Snell & Wilmer, LLP
- Pamela Georgelos, Member, Gammage & Burnham
- Joshua Symons, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones
- Suzanne Trevino, Manager, Construction Support, APS
- Ryan Tubbs, Director, ERP Technology Assurance Audit, KPMG, LLP
Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide to School kicked off the 2025-26 season, running through August 31, 2025 at Valley Youth Theatre. Other VYT Productions include Little Shop of Horrors, November 1 – 16, 2025 at the Herberger Theater Center; A Winnie-The-Pooh Christmas Tail, December 5-23, 2025 at Valley Youth Theatre; PUFFS, Or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic for Young Wizards, February 13 – March 1, 2026, at Valley Youth Theatre; Diary of a Wimpy Kid The Musical, April 10 – 26, 2026 at Valley Youth Theatre; and Shrek-The Musical, June 12 – 28, 2026 at the Herberger Theater Center.
Performance tickets can be purchased at vyt.com/tickets or by calling the VYT Box Office at 602.253.8188 x1. Group rates are available for parties of 20 or more.
“This board of directors and other volunteers have an unwavering dedication to enriching the lives of these young people and inspiring the next generation of artists, leaders, and changemakers as a result of their participation with Valley Youth Theatre,” Fink said. “It is an honor to be a part of such a dynamic organization.”
About Valley Youth Theatre
Valley Youth Theatre’s mission is to inspire young people to be the best they can be through a variety of performing arts opportunities. Along with mainstage performances, VYT offers eight-week Fall, Winter, and Spring performing arts classes, as well as Spring Break and Summer Camps. VYT’s ongoing community programs include Literacy and the Arts, Sponsor-a-Seat, and The Nigel Ross Scholarship Fund. For more information, visit www.vyt.com.
