Doug Hahn has been part of Springfield Arts since 1967. He served as Choir Director for Laurel Methodist Church for the past 32 years. Doug has directed, accompanied, and designed over 80 shows for MUNI, STC, HCFTA, and TIP. Among his many awards and recognitions are the Mayors Award for the Arts, and State Journal-Register Award for Most Interesting Citizen.
Dr. Amy Arai is a neuroscientist and professor at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. She is a board member of the Tokyo International Dance Company in Japan. She is also a lecturer and consultant at International Ballet High School in Tokyo. She educates pre-professional dancers about the principles of nutritional & health management to assist the growth of the body while building a strong, lean, and healthy body for the ballerina. She works closely with a conditioning coach and ballet instructors to support performances and international competitions throughout the year.
Marj Berchtold has been a lifelong dancer and choreographer in the Springfield Area and danced in the original Copper Coin Ballet Company. Marj works as a nurse at St. John’s Hospital. She has stayed involved in the theatrical world by performing and choreographing at several venues. She also serves on the Springfield Muni Opera Board of Trustees.
Jim Leach is News/Program Director at WMAY Radio. Leach grew up in Springfield, and his knowledge of local politics and history is invaluable. For 40 years he has kept us informed and connected by delivering news and asking the right questions. He has appeared in dozens of area productions and has served nearly every area arts organization.
Jamie Nichols is a licensed CPA through the state of IL. She graduated from Bradley University with a BA in English and the University of Illinois with a BA in Accounting. Jamie is a partner at Pehlman & Dold, P.C. where she has worked for over 18 years in both tax and audit services, including working with many local non-profit and government organizations. She is a member of both the AICPA and IL CPA Society and previously served on the Springfield Theatre Center’s Board of directors. Jamie lives in Rochester with her husband Aaron and their four children. Her children are active in the local arts community and she is excited to help expand the opportunities available for local dancers.
Jim Reed has a passion for community service having served on dozens of boards over the past decade. Professionally, James “Jim” Reed, Jr. became the Illinois Community College Trustees Association’s sixth Executive Director in 2019. Prior to joining ICCTA, Reed served as Director of Government Relations for the Illinois Education Association, representing 131,000 teachers and education support professionals across the state of Illinois. He also served as Deputy Legislative Director for Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan from 2002-2006 and as Legislative Director for Citizen Action/Illinois. Reed attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, where he received a B.S. degree. He received a Juris Doctor from the Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. Upon completion of his studies, Reed worked as a judicial clerk for the Michigan Supreme Court under Dennis Archer and Conrad Mallett, Jr. He resides in Springfield and has three children..
Lauren Staab, a Springfield native, grew up dancing right here in Springfield. She started dancing at the age of three at Dance Arts Studio when it was owned by Grace Nanavati where she later taught there Gina DeCroix Russell became owner of DAS. Lauren was a member of the Springfield Ballet Company under the direction of Julie Ratz (Artistic Director) and Gina DeCroix Russell (ballet Mistress). She started out as a trainee and later, a company member. She has also trained with Kansas City and Boston Ballet Schools. She has always had a passion for the performing arts, especially ballet. Lauren has her 200 yoga teacher training, yoga sculpt and barre certifications and teaches at Ahh Yoga in Springfield. Since 2009, she has worked at her family’s funeral home, Staab Funeral Home, and is currently a funeral director trainee. She has her associate’s degree in psychology (LLCC) and will be receiving her bachelor’s in science in spring 2024 (SIU-C).
Leigh Steiner studied speech communications, theatre, and psychology at Southern Illinois University where she earned her Ph.D. She served as Commissioner of Mental Health in Illinois for over a decade and currently is a Behavioral Health Consultant for Relias. Leigh serves as the President of the Board of Directors for Memorial Behavioral Health and has directed many stage productions with Springfield area organizations.