Board of Trustees
Michelle Maida, President
Theater, development, fundraising
Michelle is an award-winning principal broker for John L. Scott Real Estate, specializing in residential sales. A graduate of The National Shakespeare Conservatory in New York City, she has been involved in Portland theater as an actor for 20 years, serving on the boards of Tygres Heart Shakespeare Company and The Really Big Dance Company, and as literary manager for the original Stark Raving Theatre. She is vice president of Eastmoreland II Garden Club; a member of the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors, the National Association of Realtors, the Oregon Association of Realtors, and the Million Dollar Club; and a SMART volunteer at Buckman Elementary School.
Doug Zeh, Vice President
Disability rights, minority populations
Doug has worked for Disability Rights Oregon (DRO), a nonprofit disability advocacy organization, for nine years. He coordinates a group of disability benefits planners who help people receiving federal disability benefits return to work without eliminating their cash and medical benefits. Doug served on the DRO Board for several years before leaving to apply for an open staff position. Prior to joining DRO, he worked at Cascade AIDS Project, providing advocacy and support for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Jeffrey S. Tarr, Secretary
Law, nonprofit management
A partner at the law firm of Sussman Shank LLP located in downtown Portland, Jeffrey is an attorney specializing in the areas of corporate and business law, real estate law, tax law, estate planning and administration, and commercial and real estate lending. He is a member of the Oregon and California State Bars, as well as the American and Multnomah Bar Associations. He received a B.A. in Political Science from UCLA, a J.D. from Loyola Marymount University Law School, and an M.S. in Taxation from Golden Gate University. Prior to joining Blue Monkey’s board, Jeffrey served for several years on the Board of Directors for Tin Pan Alley Theatre Company.
Shari Anderson, Treasurer
Finance, fundraising
Shari is the Treasurer of Clackamas County (1999-present) and sole proprietor of Shari Anderson, CPA (1991-present). She holds a B.S. in Economics from Portland State University, where she also did post-graduate work in accounting. Shari is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Internal Auditor (Institute of Internal Auditors), and a Certified Fraud Examiner (Association of Certified Fraud Examiners). She previously served on the Board of Trustees for the YMCA of the Columbia Willamette, on the Boards of Directors for Fill A Stocking Fill a Heart and the Oregon City Chamber of Commerce, and as the Vocational Committee Chair and a board member for the Oregon City Rotary. She was also treasurer for the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Oregon and the Holcomb Elementary School PTA. Shari’s daughter Rebecca was a Blue Monkey Intern in 08/09 and her daughter Malea is a Blue Monkey Intern this year.
David Ruben, Member
Theater management, music
A recent graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University with a BFA in Music Theater, David is also founding artistic director of Tin Pan Alley Theatre Company in Portland. His passion is staging lost and rare musicals, such as his recent production of Tenderloin. Favorite acting credits include Hubie Cram in a concert production of the lost musical Do Re Mi and Alexander Throttlebottom in Of Thee I Sing. He has worked in concerts, workshops, world premiers and adaptations in Oregon, Illinois and Georgia for the past 10 years.
Kerry Dugan, Member
Marketing, communication
Owner and president of Dugan Strategic Marketing, Kerry’s background includes work as senior public information and outreach officer to the City of Portland Office of Emergency Management, account supervisor with Pacific/West Communications Group, regional marketing director with Walt Disney On Ice/Ringling Bros. Circus, manager of marketing and advertising for Evergreen International Aviation, and press secretary to the Oregon House minority leader and caucus. His son Sean has performed on stage with Blue Monkey.
Tali Avni
Youth representative 2009/10
Taii is a second-year intern with Blue Monkey and was last seen as Barbara in our production of Night of the Living Dead. Currently a senior at The Northwest Academy, Tali worked as an Oregon Children’s Theater Young Professional for several years and as assistant stage manager for two of their shows at the Keller Auditorium. She has been performing with various local companies since she was 8 years old. She plans to continue to study theater, hopefully at Sarah Lawrence College.
Jonathan Vogt
Youth representative 2009/10
Jonathan was recently seen in Blue Monkey’s The Tempest and Night of the Living Dead, and has represented Blue Monkey at several marketing outreach events. He is a 2008 graduate of Tigard High School, where he won ITS Best Thespian and Rotary Best Actor awards. Favorite roles include Borachio in Much Ado About Nothing and the Gander in Charlotte’s Web at Tigard High School and the Beast in Beauty and the Beast and the Nutcracker in The Nutcracker with Fired Up Dance Company. He worked backstage on Les Mis and Dames at Sea for Broadway Rose Theater Company and contributed musical talent to Tin Pan Alley Theatre’s Wonderful Town and Triumph of Love. Jonathan plans to attend Western Oregon University and major in musical theater and English.