erik burns
photo credit // aft
Chicago, IL -
Chicago's About Face Theatre (AFT) welcomes four new members to its Board of Directors: Erik Burns, Managing Director of Technology for the Tribune Company, Becky Huinker, commercial litigation attorney at Bryan Cave, LLP., Aubrey J. Parlet, associate attorney within the Family Law department at Beermann Pritikin Mirabelli Swerdlove, LLP. and Anthony Ruth, Director of UChicago Creative.
AFT's vision is to be the city's celebrated center for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and ally (LGBTQA) arts and showcase the nation's leading voices to spark social change while advancing artistic exchange and cultural dialogue.
Bill Michel, About Face Theatre Board President, commented "we are thrilled to welcome these four talented individuals as board members. Together they bring new and diverse experiences and expertise from their work in the business and higher education sectors. It is an honor to add such outstanding leadership to the nation's premiere LGBTQA theatre."
The new members will be in attendance at the Friday's Wonka Ball, AFT's annual benefit gala. This year the event will be honoring Patricia Ewert, Vernita Gray and Chicago House's TransLife Center with the Leppen Leadership Award. Tickets are still available for purchase online for the event.
PHOTOS: Throwback Thursday with the Wonka Ball (photos from Wonka Balls 2004+)
New Board of Director biographies
Erik Burns currently serves as Managing Director of Technology for the Tribune Company, where he has been for 13 years. Prior to that he was an organizational change consultant for PwC. He's enjoyed using his talents in business and technology to drive a transformation of the media industry.
Erik has been actively involved with the Chicago theatre community and an avid supporter of About Face Theatre for the past eight years. He is especially passionate about advancing LGBTQA dialogue and helping struggling youth. Erik graduated from the University of Notre Dame.
Becky Huinker is a commercial litigation attorney at Bryan Cave, LLP. She has been a theater enthusiast all her life and is currently enrolled in The Second City Training Center's improv program.
Becky has contributed significant pro bono time to the award-winning Legal Response Initiative (LRI), an organization supporting the most climate vulnerable developing countries, by providing free legal assistance at U.N. climate negotiations. She attended U.N. summits in Copenhagen, Cancun and South Africa as a liaison officer to facilitate legal support to country delegates and environmental NGOs. She currently serves on the AFT Board's real estate and audience development committees. Becky graduated from Yale University.
Aubrey J. Parlet serves as an associate attorney within the Family Law department at Beermann Pritikin Mirabelli Swerdlove, LLP. She clerked for the firm of Nadler, Pritikin & Mirabelli, LLC for nearly two years while attending law school, and subsequently joined the firm as an associate attorney. Aubrey received her Juris Doctorate and Certification in Child and Family Law from Loyola University of Chicago, School of Law.
While in law school, Aubrey further broadened her exposure to family law through her representation of children in domestic relations cases through Loyola University's Civitas Child Law Clinic, where she served as a court-appointed Children's Representative after being licensed pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 711. Aubrey received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Creighton University.
Anthony Ruth serves as Director of UChicago Creative, the creative agency within the University of Chicago where he oversees design, editorial and multimedia creation and provides marketing and communications strategy and support throughout the organization. His work has received international recognition, earning a Webby and a Council for the Advancement and Support of Education award. His prior experience includes writing and marketing roles at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Newcity magazine and the Chicago International Film Festival.
As a playwright, he has participated in the Victory Gardens Playwrights Workshop and his work has been presented by the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre New Play Festival, the Hyde Park Community Players and the Parlor reading series and podcast. Anthony holds a BA in English, an MA in the humanities and certificates in leadership and marketing strategy, all from the University of Chicago, where he is also an active alumni volunteer.
AFT's vision is to be the city's celebrated center for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and ally (LGBTQA) arts and showcase the nation's leading voices to spark social change while advancing artistic exchange and cultural dialogue.
Bill Michel, About Face Theatre Board President, commented "we are thrilled to welcome these four talented individuals as board members. Together they bring new and diverse experiences and expertise from their work in the business and higher education sectors. It is an honor to add such outstanding leadership to the nation's premiere LGBTQA theatre."
The new members will be in attendance at the Friday's Wonka Ball, AFT's annual benefit gala. This year the event will be honoring Patricia Ewert, Vernita Gray and Chicago House's TransLife Center with the Leppen Leadership Award. Tickets are still available for purchase online for the event.
PHOTOS: Throwback Thursday with the Wonka Ball (photos from Wonka Balls 2004+)
New Board of Director biographies
Erik Burns currently serves as Managing Director of Technology for the Tribune Company, where he has been for 13 years. Prior to that he was an organizational change consultant for PwC. He's enjoyed using his talents in business and technology to drive a transformation of the media industry.
Erik has been actively involved with the Chicago theatre community and an avid supporter of About Face Theatre for the past eight years. He is especially passionate about advancing LGBTQA dialogue and helping struggling youth. Erik graduated from the University of Notre Dame.
Becky Huinker is a commercial litigation attorney at Bryan Cave, LLP. She has been a theater enthusiast all her life and is currently enrolled in The Second City Training Center's improv program.
Becky has contributed significant pro bono time to the award-winning Legal Response Initiative (LRI), an organization supporting the most climate vulnerable developing countries, by providing free legal assistance at U.N. climate negotiations. She attended U.N. summits in Copenhagen, Cancun and South Africa as a liaison officer to facilitate legal support to country delegates and environmental NGOs. She currently serves on the AFT Board's real estate and audience development committees. Becky graduated from Yale University.
Aubrey J. Parlet serves as an associate attorney within the Family Law department at Beermann Pritikin Mirabelli Swerdlove, LLP. She clerked for the firm of Nadler, Pritikin & Mirabelli, LLC for nearly two years while attending law school, and subsequently joined the firm as an associate attorney. Aubrey received her Juris Doctorate and Certification in Child and Family Law from Loyola University of Chicago, School of Law.
While in law school, Aubrey further broadened her exposure to family law through her representation of children in domestic relations cases through Loyola University's Civitas Child Law Clinic, where she served as a court-appointed Children's Representative after being licensed pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 711. Aubrey received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Creighton University.
Anthony Ruth serves as Director of UChicago Creative, the creative agency within the University of Chicago where he oversees design, editorial and multimedia creation and provides marketing and communications strategy and support throughout the organization. His work has received international recognition, earning a Webby and a Council for the Advancement and Support of Education award. His prior experience includes writing and marketing roles at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Newcity magazine and the Chicago International Film Festival.
As a playwright, he has participated in the Victory Gardens Playwrights Workshop and his work has been presented by the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre New Play Festival, the Hyde Park Community Players and the Parlor reading series and podcast. Anthony holds a BA in English, an MA in the humanities and certificates in leadership and marketing strategy, all from the University of Chicago, where he is also an active alumni volunteer.
