Menu
Log in

Puppeteers of America

Log in

About PofA

Puppeteers of America is a national non-profit organization founded in 1937 to provide information, encourage performances, and build a community of people who celebrate puppet theatre. We support puppeteers and advance the art of puppetry by presenting knowledge, providing inspiration and promoting preservation. Knowledge. Inspiration. Preservation.

The specific purpose of Puppeteers of America, Inc. is educational. To instruct the public and raise awareness about puppetry as a means of communication, an extension of human expression, and as a performing art. This includes teaching the community about the importance of puppetry as well as enhancing the proficiency of the Art of Puppetry, both professional and amateur, by publications, educational materials, workshops, forums, conventions, festivals, panels, lectures, advisory services, and all other means and methods.

Puppeteers of America has produced over 160 national and regional festivals to celebrate and share the art of puppetry. The organization publishes the quarterly magazine, The Puppetry Journal. Founded in 1949, The Puppetry Journal provides a continuing chronicle of contemporary puppetry.

We are proud that so many greats in the field like Jim Henson, Bil Baird, and Burr Tillstrom were active members providing leadership, advice and inspiration. We invite you to explore our website, learn more about this incredible art form, check out the benefits of membership, and join Puppeteers of America today.

Board of Directors

Every year members of Puppeteers of America have the opportunity to vote for three Board Members. Nine Board of Directors have the responsibility, along with Appointed Officers, to direct all policies and business of Puppeteers of America Inc. Every year after the new Board Members are elected, the nine Board of Directors choose one member to be President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary. The Board of Directors meet during the summer at a festival for the annual membership meeting, and they meet during the year by telephone/video conference call. Each year the Board of Directors approve a projected budget for the organization and approve budgets and staff for all national and regional festivals. The Board of Directors also approve the choice of all Appointed Officers. In 2020 and during 2021, the board was temporarily expanded to eleven Directors to support the organization in its COVID-19 response and related member support initiatives.

PRESIDENT

Dustin Curtis
Seattle, WA
Pacific Northwest Region

TERM
2017-2020
2020-2023

VICE-PRESIDENT

Liz Joyce
Sag Harbor, NY
Northeast Region

TERM
2020-2023
may run again

SECRETARY

Edna Bland
Sanford, FL
Southeast Region

TERM
2020-2023
may run again

TREASURER

Katrin Blucker Ludwig
San Antonio, TX
Southwest Region

TERM
2022-2025
may run again

BOARD MEMBER

Chris Heady
Ellicott City, MD
Mid-Atlantic Region

TERM
2021-2024
may run again

BOARD MEMBER

Brandon Kirkham
Nashville, IN
Great Lakes Region

TERM
2021-2024
may run again

BOARD MEMBER

Adam Kreutinger
Buffalo, NY
Northeast Region

TERM
2022-2025
may run again

BOARD MEMBER

Kalob Martinez
Santa Fe, NM
Southwest Region

TERM
2022-2025
may run again

BOARD MEMBER

Katy Williams
Denver, CO
Great Plains Region

TERM
2021-2024
may run again

Appointed Officers

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
Lindsey Ball
operations@puppeteers.org

FRONT DESK COORDINATOR
Kallie Melvin
office@puppeteers.org

PUPPETRY JOURNAL, EDITOR
Steve Abrams
journal@puppeteers.org

BUDGET & FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR
Anna Vargas
budgetchair@puppeteers.org

ENDOWMENT FUND CHAIR
Aretta Baumgartner

endowment@puppeteers.org

INSURANCE
Randy Scheive

Carm Maschio (Customer Service)

Carm@piaigroup.com
Paczolt Insurance Alliance

MEMBERSHIP OFFICER
Kat Pleviak
membership@puppeteers.org

Commitees/Task Forces

  • Archives (Chair: Seth Shaffer)
  • Audiovisual (Chair: Adam Kreutinger)
  • Awards (Chair: Nate Puppets)
  • Communications (Chair: Open)
  • Development (Chair: Shannon Reagan)
  • Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee (Chair: Edna Bland)
  • Festivals (Chair: Dustin Curtis)
  • Nominations (Chair: Open)
  • Puppetry in Education and Therapy (Chair: Conni Mulligan)
  • Scholarships (Chair: Mike Horner)
  • UNIMA-USA Alliance (PofA Kalob Martinez, UNIMA-USA Geoffrey Cormier)

For more information on how to become involved in any of these committees/task forces, please contact office@puppeteers.org.

Puppeteers of America
310 East 38th St, Suite 127
Minneapolis, MN 55409

612-821-2382
office@puppeteers.org