Tom Walrath - President
Tom Walrath has practiced law in Tioga County for over 40 years and has appeared in many Hamilton-Gibson productions. Tom and his lovely wife Brenda and their three cats live happily on Main Street in Wellsboro.
Tom Walrath has practiced law in Tioga County for over 40 years and has appeared in many Hamilton-Gibson productions. Tom and his lovely wife Brenda and their three cats live happily on Main Street in Wellsboro.
Jean Cummings - Vice President
Jean lives in Wellsboro and has been a member of the BOD since 2019. She works part-time for both Mountain Graphics and Xtreme Enterprises creating graphics, maintaining websites, and performing other marketing tasks. In 2023, she opened Build A Site, a website development and graphic design business to help small businesses and non-profits improve their web presence. When not being creative, she enjoys hiking with her husband and shopping with her daughter.
Jean lives in Wellsboro and has been a member of the BOD since 2019. She works part-time for both Mountain Graphics and Xtreme Enterprises creating graphics, maintaining websites, and performing other marketing tasks. In 2023, she opened Build A Site, a website development and graphic design business to help small businesses and non-profits improve their web presence. When not being creative, she enjoys hiking with her husband and shopping with her daughter.
Dawn Kennedy McLelland - Treasurer
Dawn is the current Treasurer of Hamilton-Gibson’s Board of Directors and resides in Mansfield with her two children. She manages finances for various local businesses and is a former owner of First Position Dance Studio in Wellsboro, PA where she continues to instruct students. Dawn is also the cheerleading coach at Mansfield University. She has been involved with Hamilton-Gibson since 2019 playing roles such as Nelly Bly in Woodpecker Lips, Sir Isaac Newton in The Moons of Jupiter, and multiple roles in the annual production A Christmas Carol. Dawn also directs plays for Hamilton-Gibson’s Women’s Project.
Dawn is the current Treasurer of Hamilton-Gibson’s Board of Directors and resides in Mansfield with her two children. She manages finances for various local businesses and is a former owner of First Position Dance Studio in Wellsboro, PA where she continues to instruct students. Dawn is also the cheerleading coach at Mansfield University. She has been involved with Hamilton-Gibson since 2019 playing roles such as Nelly Bly in Woodpecker Lips, Sir Isaac Newton in The Moons of Jupiter, and multiple roles in the annual production A Christmas Carol. Dawn also directs plays for Hamilton-Gibson’s Women’s Project.
Nikki York - Secretary
Nicole (Nikki) York began performing for Hamilton-Gibson in 2016 and has appeared in several productions including Mame, James and the Giant Peach, The Crucible, Miss Holmes and several Women’s Projects. Nikki has recently retired from being the franchisee of Dunkin’ in Wellsboro for the past 20 years. Prior to that she was the Assistant Administrator of the Tioga County Department of Human Services. Nikki is proud to be a part of the Hamilton-Gibson family providing cultural opportunities in Tioga County.
Nicole (Nikki) York began performing for Hamilton-Gibson in 2016 and has appeared in several productions including Mame, James and the Giant Peach, The Crucible, Miss Holmes and several Women’s Projects. Nikki has recently retired from being the franchisee of Dunkin’ in Wellsboro for the past 20 years. Prior to that she was the Assistant Administrator of the Tioga County Department of Human Services. Nikki is proud to be a part of the Hamilton-Gibson family providing cultural opportunities in Tioga County.
Debbie Calkins
Debbie lives in Mansfield with her husband Greg. She recently retired after 44 years of Debbie's Day Care. Her love of the arts started in high school in the cast of Hillbilly Wedding and continued by seeing many Broadway shows in NYC. She helped for many years with the summer theatre at MU, along with many productions with her Girl Scouts and Day Care children. Debbie was instrumental in bringing UNBEATABLE to HG, mainly because her sister, Laurie, was the inspiration for the show. She is blessed to join the BOD of Hamilton-Gibson Productions.
Debbie lives in Mansfield with her husband Greg. She recently retired after 44 years of Debbie's Day Care. Her love of the arts started in high school in the cast of Hillbilly Wedding and continued by seeing many Broadway shows in NYC. She helped for many years with the summer theatre at MU, along with many productions with her Girl Scouts and Day Care children. Debbie was instrumental in bringing UNBEATABLE to HG, mainly because her sister, Laurie, was the inspiration for the show. She is blessed to join the BOD of Hamilton-Gibson Productions.
Linda Galeone
Linda lives in Wellsboro with her husband Chuck. Her career in the financial services industry spans over three decades. As an HG volunteer, she not only serves on the BOD, but also the Finance Committee and often works in the box office. She is delighted with each performance and feels blessed to live in an area with such an abundance of quality talent. She joined the Board in 2012.
Lilace Guignard
Lilace first stepped onto the HG stage as Masha in Vanya, Sonia, Masha + Spike in February 2016. She joined the organizers of the Women's Project and got involved in the marketing committee. She has produced, directed, and written for the HG stage and loves the collaborative aspects of community theater. Lilace's day job is Associate Editor and Publisher of Mountain Home magazine. She is a published poet, and her adventure memoir, When Everything Beyond the Walls Is Wild: Being a Woman Outdoors in America, was published in 2019 by Texas A&M University Press.
Lilace first stepped onto the HG stage as Masha in Vanya, Sonia, Masha + Spike in February 2016. She joined the organizers of the Women's Project and got involved in the marketing committee. She has produced, directed, and written for the HG stage and loves the collaborative aspects of community theater. Lilace's day job is Associate Editor and Publisher of Mountain Home magazine. She is a published poet, and her adventure memoir, When Everything Beyond the Walls Is Wild: Being a Woman Outdoors in America, was published in 2019 by Texas A&M University Press.
Gabe Hakvaag
Gabe has been an HG volunteer since 2009, when he appeared in OF MICE AND MEN. He has directed numerous HG productions including DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE, MISS HOLMES, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, FOOLS IN LOVE, and many others. Hakvaag also produces the annual Warehouse edition of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. More recently, he has helped the board organize and launch the Steve Worthington Memorial Tech Fund, which has now begun Phase 1 of updating and expanding HG's equipment and capabilities in the Warehouse Theatre. He joined the BOD in 2022.
Gabe has been an HG volunteer since 2009, when he appeared in OF MICE AND MEN. He has directed numerous HG productions including DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE, MISS HOLMES, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, FOOLS IN LOVE, and many others. Hakvaag also produces the annual Warehouse edition of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. More recently, he has helped the board organize and launch the Steve Worthington Memorial Tech Fund, which has now begun Phase 1 of updating and expanding HG's equipment and capabilities in the Warehouse Theatre. He joined the BOD in 2022.
Cody Losinger
Cody Losinger has been with Hamilton Gibson since he was 8 years old, starting off his career in theatre. He is going on his 20th year of working in the theatre world and has held many positions. Cody graduated from Lycoming College in 2018 with a degree in Theatre/Music, and has worked with numerous theaters around the state of PA. Having lasted a long time as an actor, Cody is happy to start taking on more leadership roles in the community theatre that started it all.
Cody Losinger has been with Hamilton Gibson since he was 8 years old, starting off his career in theatre. He is going on his 20th year of working in the theatre world and has held many positions. Cody graduated from Lycoming College in 2018 with a degree in Theatre/Music, and has worked with numerous theaters around the state of PA. Having lasted a long time as an actor, Cody is happy to start taking on more leadership roles in the community theatre that started it all.
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Jessie Thompson
Jessie is a graduate of the Syracuse University Theatre Arts Department and for many years lived throughout the US and abroad studying and performing. She is now the business owner of Well Crafted Labs in Wellsboro, and, in addition to serving on the board of directors, enjoys directing plays and musicals with HG. |
Phil Waber
A burning desire to continue supporting and participating in community theater arts led Phil to Hamilton-Gibson in 2005 upon his family's arrival from the Oregon coast. He, his wife, and their daughter all have contributed to HG over the years through numerous volunteer opportunities including performing, back stage help and governance. Joining in 2022, this is Phil's second experience serving on the BOD.
A burning desire to continue supporting and participating in community theater arts led Phil to Hamilton-Gibson in 2005 upon his family's arrival from the Oregon coast. He, his wife, and their daughter all have contributed to HG over the years through numerous volunteer opportunities including performing, back stage help and governance. Joining in 2022, this is Phil's second experience serving on the BOD.
Board Members Emeritus
Larry Biddison
A retired English Professor from Mansfield University and resident of Wellsboro since 1969, Larry has served on Hamilton-Gibson’s board since 1999. His involvement with community theatre ranges from conducting annual theatre excursions to Canada’s Shaw and Stratford Festivals to co-coordinating (with his wife, Barbara) Hamilton-Gibson’s Acting Up and Acting Out programs for seniors. Between 2007 and 2010 he also taught a playwriting course and conducted HG’s first playwriting contest and festival, which showcased the talent of local writers and performers in two dozen ten-minute plays. He enjoys directing and performing when the opportunity arises.
A retired English Professor from Mansfield University and resident of Wellsboro since 1969, Larry has served on Hamilton-Gibson’s board since 1999. His involvement with community theatre ranges from conducting annual theatre excursions to Canada’s Shaw and Stratford Festivals to co-coordinating (with his wife, Barbara) Hamilton-Gibson’s Acting Up and Acting Out programs for seniors. Between 2007 and 2010 he also taught a playwriting course and conducted HG’s first playwriting contest and festival, which showcased the talent of local writers and performers in two dozen ten-minute plays. He enjoys directing and performing when the opportunity arises.
Dr. Donna Mettler
Most recently, Dr. Mettler served as Regional Coordinator for the PA Inspired Leadership (PIL) Program, a premier professional development program for school principals, district superintendents, and IU executive directors in PA. Her career in public education spans 41 years: 14 years as a special education teacher and reading specialist, 14 years as an elementary principal, 6 years as Superintendent of the Wellsboro Area School District and 7 years as PIL Regional Coordinator. She served on the Stamp Camp U.S.A. BOD for 4 years. She is a member and past president of the Wellsboro Business & Professional Women's Club and a member of the Mary Wells Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. Dr. Mettler lives in Middlebury Center with her husband, Ken. She enjoys traveling, spending time with family, and reading all types of books and literature.
Most recently, Dr. Mettler served as Regional Coordinator for the PA Inspired Leadership (PIL) Program, a premier professional development program for school principals, district superintendents, and IU executive directors in PA. Her career in public education spans 41 years: 14 years as a special education teacher and reading specialist, 14 years as an elementary principal, 6 years as Superintendent of the Wellsboro Area School District and 7 years as PIL Regional Coordinator. She served on the Stamp Camp U.S.A. BOD for 4 years. She is a member and past president of the Wellsboro Business & Professional Women's Club and a member of the Mary Wells Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. Dr. Mettler lives in Middlebury Center with her husband, Ken. She enjoys traveling, spending time with family, and reading all types of books and literature.