Board of Directors
Nick Baker, President
Nick has been a long-time supporter of FAE. He joined the Friends Board in 2007 and was elected President in 2010. He also serves on the Athletic Board at the University of La Verne and is President of his homeowners association. Nick worked in the packaging field for thirty-five years, including ownership of a firm for twenty years. He sold his business in 2000 and is happily retired. He has been married for more than forty years to his lovely wife, Nancy. They have two married daughters and three grandchildren. He is a native Californian and resides in Glendora.
Gloria Kappe, V.P. Education/Scholarship
Gloria Kappe and her husband Sherman have lived in Cerritos for over 30 years and have been strong supporters of both the theater and the FAE programs. They have been active donors since FAE’s’ inception in 1993. Sherman was Mayor the year the CCPA was opened. Gloria also served on the Cerritos City Council from 1999 to 2007. Gloria is Chair of the FAE Education Committee. She also co-chairs the Creative Expressions, Performing Arts Scholarship, and Family Arts Festival Committees. She was Co-Chair of the Gala Committee and continues to be a part of the committee. She believes very strongly that the arts play a very important part in the lives of children and is committed to keep the FAE programs alive and well.
Edward Ho, V.P. Development
Edward is a litigation partner in the Cerritos office of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo. Ed is active in the local community and joins the FAE Board after serving two terms on the City of Cerritos Economic Development Commission. Ed is a graduate of Whitney High School, the University of California at Berkeley, Southern Methodist University School of Law, and the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. He is married to Esther, a graduate of Cerritos High School, and they have two young boys, Jacob and Alex. Ed was appointed to the Friends of Arts Education Board of Directors by City of Cerritos Mayor Laura Lee in 2007.
Bill Stephens, Chief Financial Officer
Bill Stephens joined the FAE Board of Directors in 2008 and currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Stephens is General Manager of Cerritos Infiniti and his knowledge of business and strong work ethics have been invaluable assets to FAE. He enjoys working closely with the staff to help ensure a bright and fiscally stable future for the organization. Having attended the very first FAE Gala in 1993, Mr. Stephens has followed in his uncle’s footsteps as a long time and regular supporter of FAE. He and his wife Kelly are strong believers in the transformative power of arts education. They have been married since 1988, have two sons and reside in Huntington Beach.
Marianne Hughlett, Secretary
Marianne retired from Norwalk-LaMirada USD in 2004 after 31 years of teaching science and special education. She is a founding member of the FAE Teacher Advisory Committee. Her most recent community service ranges from founding member of the Parks and Recreation Commission for the City of Cerritos (1986 - 1997) to board membership with both the Community Family Guidance Center (past president) and Pathways Volunteer Hospice. She and her husband Bob have been Arts Ambassadors for the theatre for many years. Marianne was appointed to the FAE Board by Councilman Jim Edwards.
Bev Ray, Past President
Bev Ray served as the FAE Board President from 2005 to 2007. She has been very active with FAE, serving on several committees for the Board. She co-chaired the Gala in 2006, has been a member of the Gala Committee for the last five years, and has served on the Family Arts Festival Committee for the last four. Bev and her husband George have lived and been active in the Cerritos Community for more than 30 years. They have two grown daughters and two beautiful granddaughters.
Mary Buell, Director
Mary has lived in the Cerritos area since 1966, and has been a supporter of FAE since its inception. Mary attended Wiggins Business School in Los Angeles and has worked doing accounting, billing, banking and payroll in a variety of companies since 1950. Mary served as an office manager and corporate officer for the businesses owned and operated by her husband Bob. Mary, Bob, and their two sons Bruce and Kevin developed B & B Stables in 1961. They still own and operate the stables here in Cerritos, where they raised and trained show horses for 26 years. Bob and Mary have eight grandchildren. Mary was appointed to the FAE Board of Directors by Councilman Bruce Barrows.
Joy Darling, Director
Joy serves as the FAE Chief Financial Officer from 2006 to 2009. She has served on the Board since 1999 and implemented the Albertsons Community Partner program as well as the New York and London theater fundraising tours. She has served as co-chair of the Family Arts Festival and co-chair of the Gala twice. She also served as the Secretary of the Community Family Guidance Center, has been an active member of Soroptimist International for 25 years, volunteers for the Salvation Army Training Center, and served on the Cerritos Prayer Breakfast Committee. She was previously on the Board of the Girl Scout Council of Greater Long Beach. She is a Wellesley College graduate and a resident of Cerritos for 30 years. Joy is married and has three adult children.
Robert Green, M.D., Director
Dr. Green has served on the FAE Board since 2005. He also serves on the FAE Performing Arts Scholarship and Family Arts Festival. He is a retired pathologist and spent 26 years on staff at Lakewood Regional Medical Center. He is active in a number of service organizations and activities, including Optimist International, the Boy Scouts, the Long Beach Police Department Reserves “Doc Squad,” and the Civil Air Patrol’s Search and Rescue Team. He is also involved with several other arts organizations including Musical Theater West. He is a licensed pilot and maintains his medical license in several states. Dr. Green’s wife Susan is a member of the FAE Teacher Advisory Committee, and they have two children.
Maynard Law, Director
Maynard Law is currently a member of the ABC Unified School District Board of Education, and he is a retired Special Education Teacher as well as a retired government administrator. Maynard and his wife Pat are 35-year residents of Cerritos. He has extensive involvement in the community, having been a youth sports coach, a Scout leader, a member of the Cerritos Regional Chamber of Commerce, and a long-time supporter of FAE. He is past Chairman of the City of Cerritos Parks and Recreation Commission, member of the Workforce Investment Board, and incoming President of the Cerritos Optimist Club. As FAE Board member, Maynard plays a vital role in the partnerships between local schools and FAE.
Diane M. Mendez-Padelford
Diane M. Mendez-Padelford summarizes her experience with FAE as follows: “FAE invites school age children to the CCPA for age appropriate level live performances. This is an invaluable experience that introduces to our children the sacred freedom of self expression through the arts. I am honored to be a FAE board member and to actively support and participate in FAE’s mission.” Mrs. Padelford is active on several FAE committees including the FAE Benefit Concert Committee, the FAE Performing Arts Scholarship Committee, and the Family Arts Festival Committee. In addition to her involvement with FAE, Mrs. Padelford has contributed her time and resources to many local ballet schools and professional ballet companies. She is also a supporter of the American Diabetes Association, Orangewood Children’s Foundation, Friendly House, L.A. Mission, USC Rossier School of Education, USC School of Engineering, and Susan Komen Foundation Race for the Cure. A native of California and a resident of Los Angeles County since 1955, Mrs. Padelford attended school within the ABC Unified School District before attending University of Southern California. She is married to Daniel R. Padelford, president of AJ Padelford & Son; they have one child.
LaVerne Tancill, Director
LaVerne has been actively involved with the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (CCPA) since its opening. She received the “Friend of the Year” award in 1996 for her contribution to the CCPA and the FAE. LaVerne joined the FAE Board of Directors in 2002, and has served as co-chair of the FAE Creative Expressions Committee since 2006. She has also served on the Fine Arts and Historical Commission for the City of Cerritos, and volunteered for a number of years at Su Casa Family Crisis and Support Center. LaVerne is active in the National Museum of Natural History at the patron level; the Smithsonian National Museum of the American-Indian at the charter level; belongs to an outreach program of the Episcopal Church known as Feed My Lambs, which she underwrote for years; and has active membership in Broadway Cares, Equity Fight Aids.. She has one adult son, Jamie Morris, who graduated from Whitney High School and Chapman University with a degree in Theatre Arts.