BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mary Cullinane — Board President Mary Cullinane is a dynamic entrepreneur, author, and advocate for innovation. After serving as Chief Content Officer at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, where she oversaw product development and marketing for over a billion dollars in annual revenue, and before that leading global strategy and innovation for Microsoft's Education business, Mary co-founded Community Barn Ventures in downtown Middlebury. She has testified before Congress and is a recognized speaker on technology, education, and strategic planning. Mary is deeply committed to growing Vermont's creative and entrepreneurial communities.
Sarah Kearns — Vice President Sarah Kearns is a champion of entrepreneurship and small business in Vermont. As a Business Advisor of Strategic Projects at the Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC), she has spent over a decade helping entrepreneurs across the state — with a special passion for working with college-age innovators. She was recognized as the 2022 State Star of the VtSBDC, a national honor celebrating exceptional commitment to small business success. A Babson College MBA graduate with prior experience at Converse, Inc., Sarah is multilingual and a fixture of the Middlebury arts community.
Megan Brady — Secretary As owner of Two Brother’s Tavern, Megan Brady is a committed member of the Middlebury community and a passionate supporter of the arts. Her involvement with Town Hall Theater reflects a personal belief in the power of live performance to bring people together and enrich local life. She is a valued voice on the board, contributing thoughtful perspective and community-minded energy to THT's work.
Anne-Marie Magri — Treasurer Anne-Marie Magri is a Professor of the Practice at Middlebury College, where she teaches accounting and a first-year seminar exploring money, power, and economic equity. A CPA with over 20 years of accounting experience, her background spans international corporate tax work in private industry and at PwC as a corporate tax consultant. Her financial acumen and commitment to financial literacy make her an invaluable resource for the theater's fiscal health.
Bruce Baker — Director Bruce Baker is a Middlebury institution in every sense. A premier crafts business teacher, he has led over 500 workshops throughout the United States and Canada on topics ranging from marketing and sales to visual merchandising. He owned and operated Middlebury Jewelry and Design for nearly two decades and now runs Bruce Baker Studio, crafting sterling silver jewelry inspired by the natural world. A gardener, birdwatcher, and fisherman, Bruce's love of Vermont shines through everything he does. He has also served on the boards of the American Craft Council and the Addison County Chamber of Commerce.
Pieter Broucke — Director Pieter Broucke brings a global perspective on art, architecture, and culture to the THT board. A professor at Middlebury College since 1995, his areas of expertise span ancient art and architectural history, with a particular focus on Greek and Roman architecture. As Director of the Arts at Middlebury, he oversees seven academic departments, the college museum, and a performing arts center. A native of Belgium, he trained as an architect in Ghent before earning his PhD in art history from Yale University.
Brian Carpenter — Director Brian Carpenter is President of Champlain Valley Equipment and an accomplished business and civic leader with a demonstrated history of success in the machinery industry. Skilled in operations management, coaching, retail operations, operational planning, and team building, he brings extensive leadership experience to both the private and public sectors. Brian holds a Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He also served as Chair of the Middlebury Selectboard, where he helped lead major infrastructure investments and transformative community projects that strengthened the town's economic vitality and quality of life.
Pete DeGraff — Director Pete DeGraff is a founding partner of Otter Creek Engineering, Inc., serving as Vice President from 1998 to 2004 and President from 2005 to 2017. His professional career, since 1986, has focused on water supply and civil/site engineering. Peter currently provides his engineering expertise to special projects as a Managing Engineer at OCE. Pete is an engaged supporter of the performing arts and a valued member of the Town Hall Theater board, who continues to lend his engineering expertise to THT and it’s various projects. His dedication to the community and to THT's mission helps ensure the theater remains a vibrant, welcoming space for all of Addison County.
Benj Deppman — Director Benj Deppmann is one of Addison County's most dedicated civic leaders. A partner at Deppmann Law PLC in Middlebury, he represents clients across a wide range of areas including real estate, estate planning, and civil litigation. He currently serves as co-chair of the Real Estate Law Section of the Vermont Bar Association and as Vice President of the board of Addison County Fair and Field Days, Inc. A recognized Super Lawyer and a Middlebury Lions Club Melvin Jones Fellow, Benj lives in Cornwall with his family and is never happier than when he's out on his tractor.
Churchill Franklin — Director Churchill Franklin's career is a testament to the power of curiosity and community. A Middlebury College alumnus (Class of 1971) who majored in American Literature, he co-founded Acadian Asset Management LLC in 1986, eventually growing it into a $100 billion quantitative investment firm. He serves as Executive Board Chair of Intech Investments, is an Emeritus Trustee of Middlebury College, and — closer to home — is actively involved with the College Snow Bowl and the Town Hall Theater board. Churchill and his wife Janet live at Bread Loaf View Farm in Cornwall.
Mark Harris — Director Mark Harris just completed his tenure at Bread Loaf Corp as one of their leading superintendents. Mark is a dedicated community member whose involvement with Town Hall Theater speaks to his commitment to Middlebury's cultural life. His experience and insights contribute meaningfully to the board's work as THT continues to grow as a regional arts hub.
Jeremy Holm — Director Jeremy Holm is a professional actor with a remarkable career on stage and screen. He is best known for portraying Nathan Green on the Golden Globe-nominated Netflix series "House of Cards" and Mr. Sutherland on the Golden Globe-winning USA series "Mr. Robot." He holds a BA from Colorado State University and an MFA from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and has performed at esteemed venues from BAM in New York City to the Shanghai Theatre Center. A Vergennes resident, Jeremy has also performed at Town Hall Theater, including in a celebration of Robert Frost's poetry.
Linda Punderson — Director Linda Punderson is a longtime friend and supporter of Town Hall Theater, with deep roots in the Middlebury community. She has been involved with THT's fundraising efforts and is a familiar, welcoming presence to the theater's patrons and volunteers alike. Her dedication to the performing arts and to Middlebury's cultural life reflects the spirit that makes THT such a cherished community institution.
Jim Robinson — Director
Sean Flynn - Director Sean is co-founder and CEO of Silver Maple, the Vermont construction company he started in 2006 with three buddies and a pickup truck. Twenty years on, it's a multi-division firm building homes, hangars, and commercial spaces across New England. A carpenter by trade, Sean still spends as much time on job sites or flying himself to far flung sites as he does behind a desk. He lives in Weybridge with his wife and children, and believes a strong community needs good places to gather.