Officers/Directors

Officers

Craig Yaussi, President
David Potter, Vice President
Belinda Howell, Secretary
Tom Camp, Treasurer/CFO

Board of Directors

Tom Camp

Tom has been an attorney focusing on the entertainment industry for over 25 years representing writers, directors, producers, actors, and recording artists. He received a BS degree from the University of Nebraska and a JD degree from Stanford Law School. He has been involved with a number of theater groups as an actor, writer or producer and previously served on the Board of Directors of the Back Alley Theatre in Van Nuys, CA.

Ernie Gilbert

Ernie graduated with a BA in Theatre from The University of Michigan-Flint, and has performed throughout Michigan in various summer stock and repertory companies. He was a founding member of Flint’s original Buckham Alley Theatre, and has toured with New York’s Prince Street Players. Ernie has worked in the animation industry since moving to California to attend the California Institute of the Arts in 1992. His studio credits include shows for Cartoon Network, Sony, Warner Bros., and Nickelodeon. In 2005 Ernie won the prestigious Animation Industry Award (The "Annie") for outstanding character design work on the Nick show "The Fairly Oddparents". Ernie volunteers at Mark Keppel Elementary, leading art classes, and is also a familiar face at Burbank's George Washington Elementary, where he takes part in their Read-And-Draw program, sponsored by Nickelodeon. You can find Ernie on any given Tuesday morning playing ukulele and leading music at Glendale's Grandview Children's Center.

Dave Guerrie

Dave is a United States Coast Guard veteran who has spent the last decade working in children’s television production. Most recently focusing on educational programming, he was Production Manager on the Discovery Channel series “Tutenstein,” which garnered the 2007 Emmy award for Outstanding Special Class Animated Program. He is a regular performer with both the Stepping Stone Players and Southern California Lyric Theater, appearing in A Christmas Carol, Peter Pan, West Side Story and Annie, to name a few. Additionally, he is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and is an experienced voiceover artist who brought the characters of Machinedramon and Phantomon to life in the animated series “Digimon”.

Belinda Howell

Belinda was a founding member of The Theatre of Light and Shadow in New Haven, Connecticut and has performed in Equity-Waiver theatre throughout New England and Southern California. She received her MFA in Acting from California Institute of the Arts, an MA from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA and a BS degree from California State University, Long Beach. She is a founding member of The Stepping Stone Players and has secured grants for the company from the California Arts Council, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, American Express, City of Glendale Arts & Culture Commission and the Glendale Community Foundation.

Dave Huber

Dave received his Bachelor’s Degree in Theater at The University of Utah and currently teaches a full program of acting and technical theater at Hoover High School in Glendale. He has been teaching high school theater for 16 years and has directed and designed over 60 full-length shows in that time. Dave is also a published playwright and an award-winning professional actor with experience in film, television, radio and live theater.

Susan Kussman

Susan has over thirty years experience in the theatre as an award-winning actress, director, producer, designer and teacher. She was a founding member of two 99-seat theatres, Scorpio Rising Theatre and Company of Friends, and was a member of the Victory Bare Bones Ensemble and the Company of Angels. While her roots are in live theatre, Susan has also had the privilege of being directed in motion pictures by Mike Nichols, Peter Bogdanovich, Peter Weir, Buzz Kulik, Paul Sylbert, Bryan Singer, and other talented directors. Professional affiliations include Screen Actors Guild, Actors Equity Association, and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Susan has directed six plays for The Stepping Stone Players.

David Potter

David has been a professional freelance designer in the arts and entertainment industry since 1975, involved in commercial theater, ballet, commercials, feature films and television. He has worked in over 400 theater productions as lighting designer, set designer, production stage manager, art director, technical director, master electrician, master carpenter and rigger. While working in New Orleans, David received two “Big Easy” Awards for Set Design and one for Lighting Design. David recently received the “Silver Beaver” award for his volunteer work with the Boy Scouts of America. The “Silver Beaver” is the highest award a volunteer in scouting can receive in this area.

Kurt Sawitskas

Kurt is currently a Control Systems Engineer in the entertainment industry and has previously held positions as Senior Member of Technical Staff, Technical Manager, and Director of Production. Kurt has designed and managed electronic control systems for roller coasters, railroads and themed entertainment. Kurt received his BA degree in Business Administration from the University of Redlands. He previously served on the Board of Directors and as News Editor for the Los Angeles chapter of Resolve, providing education and support for couples struggling to become parents.

Bill Schnobrich

Bill is currently a teacher and coach at Village Christian High School in Sun Valley and has been teaching and coaching volleyball and soccer in the area for the past 22 years. He has his Masters degree is Sports Management from the United States Sports Academy, and a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Mt. St. Mary’s College. Bill was first introduced to Stepping Stone Players when his daughter Selby played “Dorothy” in The Wizard of Oz and his son played a 'Munchkin' and a 'Flying Monkey'. He has enjoyed watching both of them perform in many theater productions.

Craig Yaussi

Craig recently retired as the Director of Properties at the YMCA of Glendale and has previously held positions as Senior Program Director and Director of Development. Craig received his BA degree in History from Cal-Western University, with a minor in Drama and Art History. He has been a Kiwanian for the last 15 years, acting as Program Director, Vice President and on the Board of Directors. Craig has been an Ambassador to the Glendale Chamber of Commerce, serving twice as Chair and also chairing its “Leadership Glendale” program. He has been a board member of the Alex Film Society and has been involved with local theater for a number of years.