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John Podliska, President
JOHN PODLISKA has been a member of the TWSF Board of Trustees and a TWS Active since 2013. He has been president of TWSF since 2014. John graduated from Studios I and II in 2018 and 2019, respectively, and made his stage debut as Porter Milgrim in the 90th Season production of “Deathtrap” in October 2018. He has worked set construction for several mainstage productions and has been an assistant to the director for two Directors’ Workshop productions. John is a longtime resident of Hinsdale and a member of the Hinsdale Zoning Board of Appeals since 2014. He retired in 2014 from the United States Attorney’s Office in Chicago where he was a prosecutor for thirty-six years.
Peggy Carlson, Vice President
PEGGY CARLSON has lived in LaGrange for 43 years and since her retirement from Ameritech/AT&T has served as a LaGrange Village Commissioner on the Economic & Development Commission for 16 years; 20 years as a Volunteer for the Brookfield Zoo; and 22 years as an Active Member of TWS. She just became a member of the Board for the Magdalene House Chicago. This is an organization that provides housing & rehabilitation for women trafficked in sex. Peggy has served on numerous set painting, lighting, and property crews at TWS. She has chaired crews virtually every year since joining TWS and has directed several Directors’ Workshop plays. Peggy has been a member of the TWS Budget and Finance Committee since 2017 and a TWSF Trustee since 2013.
Brian Whitlock, Treasurer
Brian T. Whitlock is President of Brian T. Whitlock, P.C., and previously served as a senior tax partner for 30 years with a Midwest regional certified public accounting firm in October 2016, as a Senior Tax Partner. He received his B.A. from Northwestern University in 1976 and his J.D.
with honors from IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1979, and his L.L.M. (Taxation) with high honors from IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law in
1989. He is licensed to practice in Illinois as both an attorney and a Certified Public Accountant.
Brian currently teaches Income Taxation of Estates and Trusts at the Northwestern University
Pritzker School of Law, and he writes a bimonthly column under the by-line “Untaxingly yours” for Taxes – The Tax Magazine, published by the CCH division of Wolters Kluwers. Brian has
served as the Treasurer of the TWS Foundation since its inception in 2007. Brian and his wife, Nancy, have been actives in the Theatre for over 30 years. Their children: Mallory, Brad and Paige were all students in CTWS during grade school and High School
Linda Bugielski, Secretary
Linda has been a member of the TWS Foundation first as a representative as VP of the TWS BOG in 2010 and as an active member since 2012 and Secretary since 2014.
In my “other life” I worked for over 20 years in local municipal government as both a Treasurer and an Office Manager. I have been a past member and president of the Rotary Club of Countryside, a past and active member of the Illinois Municipal Treasurers Association, the Association of Public Treasurers of the US and Canada, and LaGrange Business & Professional Women’s Association. I love to read, travel, movies, and I love to cook. I am presently retired and working part time at Drury Lane as their Accounts Payable Clerk and am happy to be able to share time with grandchildren, friends, and the theater.
Lori D'Asta, Trustee
Lori D’Asta has been part of the Theatre of Western Springs for 30 years, since her daughter (Nicole) attended her first Children’s Theatre summer workshop in 1994. As a CTWS parent, Lori came to appreciate this creative, accepting learning environment, and found her place as a costumer and mentor. She worked on countless Children’s Theatre shows, co-chairing and crewing with her daughter and many other talented students and their parents.
Lori became an Active in 1999. With her daughter graduating from High School Rep, Lori realized that she wanted to continue to “play” at TWS. She took studio and started performing, and designing and building costumes and makeup for the “Adult Side” of our theatre (with occasional fun, fantastic forays into Children’s Theatre shows). She has taken part in almost all areas of production and worked on fundraisers and other special projects of the theatre. Lori was a member of the Children’s Theatre Advisory Committee, and chaired CTAC for 18 months. She was also part of selection committees for Children’s Theatre Director and Artistic Director. Her husband is Nick D’Asta, who served on the Board of Governors from 2009 to 2012 (Chair 2011-2012). Lori is a clinical psychologist.
She supports the TWS Foundation as a means of ensuring the continuation of this special community, where adults and children have the opportunity to work and play and develop the best aspects of our selves.
Tim Gannon, Trustee
Tim Gannon grew up in Western Springs. The child of longtime TWS patrons, but he did not get involved in the theater himself until 2012. Since then he has been busy both onstage and offstage with many different productions. Some favorite onstage roles include an oblivious patrician in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, a corrupt mayor in The Government Inspector, and the murderous protagonist of Deathtrap. In real life Tim strives to be a good guy.
Offstage Tim has chaired set construction for many productions including The Other Place, Now and Then, The Great Gatsby, Shakespeare in Hollywood, Radium Girls, Rumors, The Dinner Party, and Unnecessary Farce. He has also worked on most of the set construction crews over the last several years, worked as house manager, and worked hospitality. Tim is fortunate that his wonderful wife, Shannon, and their four great kids allow him to spend so much time at TWS.
Tim would be honored to serve once again on the TWS Foundation as he believes that TWS will provide many others with great opportunities to experience the joy of theater, just as it has for him.
Karla Hudson, Trustee
Karla Hudson, a 2nd generation TWS Active, grew up in Western Springs and, literally, at TWS. Besides attending Sandwich Sundays over the years to see her father onstage, she was also a member of Children’s Theatre. She performed in CTWS productions and has been an Adult Active since 2003. Today she prefers the drama and camaraderie offstage, taking the role as Stage Manager, ASM, crew member for costumes and props, and Set Dresser. In 2009 she Co-chaired TWS’ TOTA, supporting the effort in the subsequent years by creating raffle and auction baskets.
Karla has been a member of church boards, including acting as the Chairman for a three-church single adult ministry in Virginia, and is a current Trustee on the Western Springs Historical Society Board. She served a three-year term on the TWS Board of Governors.
Outside of the theatre Karla has been practicing as an Occupational Therapist since 1988. She acquired her advanced Masters in Health Sciences in 2006 and specialized her skills further by becoming a Certified Hand Therapist in 2012. Karla loves live theatre and views TWS as a great opportunity to interact with people from all walks of life, as well as promote story-telling, a unique human trait that can provide meaning to life. She is committed to supporting the fiscal well-being of TWS and would be honored to serve on the Foundation.
Walter Knake,
Trustee
Walt is presently the Executive Director of the Western Springs Park District and has enjoyed successful roles in marketing, sales, distribution and strategic planning as well as leading/implementing business start-ups. Before accepting the Executive Director role at Western Springs Park District, he was VP Sales at CRE Cloud Solutions a software company for commercial real estate. Previously Walt was VP Fleet Development at NGV Repower Solutions providing CNG conversion solutions to the transportation industry in North America. He has provided consulting services at Fountainhead Development and deployed feasibility, business development and strategic planning for environmental energy, traditional oil and gas sectors and international business development in Eastern Europe and Middle-Latin America. Walt’s leadership roles include; CEO for Caribbean Petroleum Corporation in Puerto Rico, Director of Business Development at Green Mountain Energy in Austin, CEO for Amoxxo Convenience Retail in Mexico City and General Manager for Inserv West an environmental company in the Chicago area. His experience includes a distinguished 33 year career with BP/Amoco. A resident of Western Springs for 16 years, Walt also served as President, Park Board Commissioner for 2 terms. He has also served as Illinois Solar Energy Association Board Vice President for 3 years.
Sara Torrey, Trustee
Sara Torrey, Trustee
SARA TORREY is a life member and Active Laureate of TWS. She joined the Theatre in 1970 after joining Children’s Theatre in 1963. Among her extensive contributions to TWS, Sara has served on the TWS BOG; was a member of the PSCC for 35 years, including five years as chair; chaired and participated in numerous committees and crews; and has been assistant stage manager for several productions. Outside TWS, Sara has had extensive civic involvement, including four years as a Western Springs Village Trustee. Professionally, Sara has managed several large retail establishments and is the founder and current president of Vaughan Plantscapes, Inc.
Benton Bullwinkle, Theatre Trustee, VP, Board of Governors, The Theatre of Western Springs
Laura Ciresi Starr, Theatre Trustee, President, Board of Governors, The Theatre of Western Springs
Ed Wavak, Theatre Trustee, Treasurer, The Theatre of Western Springs
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