Our Team
Meet the People that Pull the Strings
Our team is comprised of executives, historians, educators, marketing professionals, stagehands, artists and more, but one thing unites us all — our love of puppets.
Executive Director and Board President
Beth Schiavo
Beth Schiavo is the Executive Director of the Center for Puppetry Arts, the largest nonprofit in the United States dedicated to the art of puppetry. Since taking on the role in 2020, she has guided the organization through a period of renewal and growth, expanding its artistic programming, deepening its community partnerships, and ensuring broad access to the transformative power of the arts and the power of puppetry.
Beth brings more than 30 years of leadership experience, blending a successful corporate career with a deep commitment to the nonprofit arts and education sector. Before joining the Center, she was a Partner at EY LLP, served as Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of North Highland Consulting, and later launched her own consulting practice. She now leverages this expertise to strengthen the sustainability and reach of arts organizations.
Her dedication to community impact extends beyond her work at the Center. Beth is an active philanthropic leader, having held many nonprofit Board leadership positions: Fund Development Chair and Audit Committee Chair on the board of the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, member of the Woodruff Arts Center’s Audit Committee, Finance Committee and Chairperson of Young Audiences at the Woodruff Arts Center, and Audit Committee Chair of the Fulton Education Foundation. Outside of the arts and education sectors, Beth served as Audit Committee Chair on the Board of Techbridge and served on the Artemis Board of Fernbank Museum. She currently serves on the Midtown Alliance Board.
Beth was recognized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as a Woman of Excellence in 2021 and and one of “50 Influential Atlanta Women You Should Know” in 2021 by Metro Atlanta CEO.
Beth is a Certified Public Accountant, an executive coach, and holds certification in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. She is passionate about helping arts organizations thrive, championing inclusive leadership, and ensuring that the arts education remain a vital priority of community life. In her empty-nesting free time, Beth enjoys weekend jaunts with husband Ross and their fur baby, Nellie, and frequent visits with their children, daughter Alex (Auburn) and son Thomas (Georgia Tech).
Beth brings more than 30 years of leadership experience, blending a successful corporate career with a deep commitment to the nonprofit arts and education sector. Before joining the Center, she was a Partner at EY LLP, served as Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of North Highland Consulting, and later launched her own consulting practice. She now leverages this expertise to strengthen the sustainability and reach of arts organizations.
Her dedication to community impact extends beyond her work at the Center. Beth is an active philanthropic leader, having held many nonprofit Board leadership positions: Fund Development Chair and Audit Committee Chair on the board of the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, member of the Woodruff Arts Center’s Audit Committee, Finance Committee and Chairperson of Young Audiences at the Woodruff Arts Center, and Audit Committee Chair of the Fulton Education Foundation. Outside of the arts and education sectors, Beth served as Audit Committee Chair on the Board of Techbridge and served on the Artemis Board of Fernbank Museum. She currently serves on the Midtown Alliance Board.
Beth was recognized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as a Woman of Excellence in 2021 and and one of “50 Influential Atlanta Women You Should Know” in 2021 by Metro Atlanta CEO.
Beth is a Certified Public Accountant, an executive coach, and holds certification in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. She is passionate about helping arts organizations thrive, championing inclusive leadership, and ensuring that the arts education remain a vital priority of community life. In her empty-nesting free time, Beth enjoys weekend jaunts with husband Ross and their fur baby, Nellie, and frequent visits with their children, daughter Alex (Auburn) and son Thomas (Georgia Tech).
Vincent Anthony
Founder and Strategic Advisor
After serving as the Center’s Executive Director for 41 years, founder Vincent Anthony stepped down at the beginning of 2020 and now serves as the Center’s Strategic Advisor. Under Anthony’s leadership, the Center has received a record 13 Citations of Excellence from UNIMA-USA, the US division of Union Internationale de la Marionnette, the international organization for the art of puppetry. He has received the Puppeteers of America President’s Award (1989); the Lexus Leader of the Arts Award (2001); the Georgia Arts & Entertainment Legacy Award (2007); and ARTS ATL’s Luminary Award for Outstanding Leadership (2019). He has served on review panels for the National Endowment for the Arts, Georgia Council for the Arts, and Theatre Communications Group. He has been a member of the Delta Airlines Global Diversity Alliance and member of the White House Disability Group. Since 1992, he has served as General Secretary for UNIMA-USA, and has served as an Executive Committee Member (1996-2004) and Vice President (2000-2004) of UNIMA International, representing puppeteers in over 65 countries. In 2016 he was inducted into the Atlanta Convention and Visitor’s Bureau’s Hospitality Hall of Fame.
Sara Burmenko
Education Director
Sara started her career at the Center in 2000, after receiving her degree in Education. Her first position was in the Education department, where she was able to combine her passion for the arts, as well as her love for teaching. Throughout her time at the Center, Sara took on many different roles, settling in the Digital Learning Department. In 2024, she became the department’s director and has continued to expand its award-winning programming.
Digital Learning is currently in all 50 states and 88 countries.
Digital Learning is currently in all 50 states and 88 countries.
Sarah Dylla
Chief Operating Officer
Sarah is a self-described public humanist and creative strategist who has worked heavily in museums, libraries, and arts organizations for nearly 15 years. Her personal mission is to encourage public interaction with the arts and humanities and shed light on lesser-known narratives. She knows firsthand how the arts can help us understand our world and inspire us to make changes in it. Whether leading endeavors on the content or administration side of organizations, her work has supported organizations to grow responsibly, optimize the unique opportunities they hold, and expand the impact of their mission. Sarah has also served as the Curator for an exhibition about the history and impact of the 1996 Olympic and Paralympic Games at the Atlanta History Center. Prior to moving to Atlanta, Sarah held positions in the special collections libraries at Rhode Island School of Design and Brown University, the Savannah Music Festival, and Virgin Islands National Park. Sarah holds degrees from the University of Virginia (B.A., Art and Art History, ’09) and Brown University (M.A., Public Humanities, ’16).
Jason Hines
Artistic Director
Jason Hines joined the Center for Puppetry Arts’ as the Resident Puppet Builder in 2002. Since joining the team Jason has designed and built puppets for many Center productions such as; Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat, Stellaluna, Harold and the Purple Crayon, Pete the Cat, Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, Charlotte’s Web, Peter Pan, Anne Frank: Within and Without, Ruth and the Green Book, Duke Ellington’s Cat, The Little Pirate Mermaid, Cinderella Della Circus, Old MacDonald’s Farm, The Tortoise and the Hare, The Ugly Duckling. Jason is also the co-developer and performer in the Center’s acclaimed productions The Ghastly Dreadfuls and Avanti, Da Vinci! The Secret Adventures of Leonardo da Vinci.
Most recently, Jason wrote, designed, and directed the award-winning show Tesla vs. Edison.
In addition to his work at the Center, Jason has worked on several TV shows and films. He was a puppet captain on the BBC’s puppet TV series Moon and Me. He had the opportunity to be a robot puppeteer in the motion picture Escape Plan 2: Hades. He has designed and built puppets for Alton Brown’s Good Eats Reloaded and Adult Swim.
Around the Atlanta area, Jason recently designed and built puppets for The Atlanta Opera’s production of The Three Penny Opera. Regional theatres: Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre including The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella and Fella, Shrek the Musical, Tuck Everlasting, James and the Giant Peach, and Knuffle Bunny, a Cautionary Tale. Kentucky’s Actors Theater production of Louisville Shipwrecked! Jason directed Clash Titan Clash, Scarlet’s Web and created the Super Villain Monologues in conjunction with Atlanta’s Dad’s Garage Theatre Company.In his spare time Jason is an avid puppet slam performer, is continually exploring 3D Printing and CNC routing, is a collector of movies, CD’s, Vinyl and books, loves soldering and electronics for modular synthesizers and building robots, building and collecting musical instruments. Recently, Jason has started flying lessons and is building an airplane of his own.
Most recently, Jason wrote, designed, and directed the award-winning show Tesla vs. Edison.
In addition to his work at the Center, Jason has worked on several TV shows and films. He was a puppet captain on the BBC’s puppet TV series Moon and Me. He had the opportunity to be a robot puppeteer in the motion picture Escape Plan 2: Hades. He has designed and built puppets for Alton Brown’s Good Eats Reloaded and Adult Swim.
Around the Atlanta area, Jason recently designed and built puppets for The Atlanta Opera’s production of The Three Penny Opera. Regional theatres: Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre including The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella and Fella, Shrek the Musical, Tuck Everlasting, James and the Giant Peach, and Knuffle Bunny, a Cautionary Tale. Kentucky’s Actors Theater production of Louisville Shipwrecked! Jason directed Clash Titan Clash, Scarlet’s Web and created the Super Villain Monologues in conjunction with Atlanta’s Dad’s Garage Theatre Company.In his spare time Jason is an avid puppet slam performer, is continually exploring 3D Printing and CNC routing, is a collector of movies, CD’s, Vinyl and books, loves soldering and electronics for modular synthesizers and building robots, building and collecting musical instruments. Recently, Jason has started flying lessons and is building an airplane of his own.
Alyssa James
Accounting Director
Alyssa James currently serves as the Accounting Director for the Center for Puppetry Arts. Prior to joining the Center in 2012, Alyssa worked at the Georgia Divisional Headquarters of The Salvation Army. Alyssa holds a BBA in Accounting from the University of Georgia, and an MBA from Georgia State University. She also currently serves as board treasurer for Neighbors of Gresham Park and McNair Discovery Learning Academy PTA. Raised in metro Atlanta, Alyssa went on field trips to the Center for Puppetry Arts as a child – and is grateful to be a part of the organization today, as it continues to share the joy of puppetry with new generations!
Ben Linton
HR Director
Ben currently serves as Human Resources Director for the Center for Puppetry Arts. Ben joined the Center in December of 2021 after serving over 13 years in Credit, Bankruptcy and Housing Education with Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta (CCCS) and over ten years in Human Resources in industries including industrial fire prevention equipment, airport parking and addiction recovery. While at CCCS, he won the CCCS Award of Excellence for Bankruptcy Education classes that his team developed to deliver in-person, on the internet and over the phone. He received two awards of Excellence from Jefferson Place Transitional Services and a Certificate of Merit from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for financial literacy classes he developed to teach the unemployed and those in temporary homelessness on how to manage their income, save for future goals and work with creditors to get out debt. He received his BA from Armstrong State College in Savannah. He is also an Eagle Scout.
Jon Ludwig
Emeritus Artistic Director
As the Artistic Director at the Center for Puppetry Arts, Jon Ludwig has overseen the creation of dozens of awe-inspiring puppet shows for all ages. Ludwig’s innovative, immersive, educational, and unique productions have engaged millions of children and adults since he joined the Center’s staff in 1978. He has brought to life beloved characters such as Cinderella, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™, and Pete the Cat in addition to creating original characters and worlds.
Nine of Ludwig’s productions have received Citations of Excellence from UNIMA-USA, and he was one of the first individual artists to be honored with the Charles Loridans Foundation’s Arts Medal in 2007. Ludwig was the recipient of the Puppeteers of America President’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Art of Puppetry in 2013, and Newsweek Magazine said his adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was one of the highlights of the 1996 Olympic Arts Festival. In addition to his work with the Center for Puppetry Arts, Ludwig wrote, designed, and puppeteered the shadow puppet portions of The Jim Henson Company’s Bear in the Big Blue House.
He has also received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Directing in a Children’s Series for his work on Disney Channel’s The Book of Pooh. He has served as a Theatre Artist-in-Residence with Atlanta Public Schools, an Artist-in-Residence at Emory University’s Department of Theatre, and participated in an exhibition of puppets at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Ludwig has co-presented workshops with Georgia State University’s arts and education department to develop concepts, scripts, and designs for mainstage productions by engaging children from pre-school to 3rd grade in the creative process of making a full-length puppet play. Projects have included award-winning books “Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type” and the “Pete the Cat” series.
Nine of Ludwig’s productions have received Citations of Excellence from UNIMA-USA, and he was one of the first individual artists to be honored with the Charles Loridans Foundation’s Arts Medal in 2007. Ludwig was the recipient of the Puppeteers of America President’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Art of Puppetry in 2013, and Newsweek Magazine said his adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was one of the highlights of the 1996 Olympic Arts Festival. In addition to his work with the Center for Puppetry Arts, Ludwig wrote, designed, and puppeteered the shadow puppet portions of The Jim Henson Company’s Bear in the Big Blue House.
He has also received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Directing in a Children’s Series for his work on Disney Channel’s The Book of Pooh. He has served as a Theatre Artist-in-Residence with Atlanta Public Schools, an Artist-in-Residence at Emory University’s Department of Theatre, and participated in an exhibition of puppets at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Ludwig has co-presented workshops with Georgia State University’s arts and education department to develop concepts, scripts, and designs for mainstage productions by engaging children from pre-school to 3rd grade in the creative process of making a full-length puppet play. Projects have included award-winning books “Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type” and the “Pete the Cat” series.
Jill Nash Malool
Museum Director
Jill Nash Malool leads exhibitions, collections, preservation, and public programming for the Worlds of Puppetry Galleries. With over 20 years of experience in cultural institutions, Jill brings a deep passion for the arts, a strategic vision for storytelling through objects, and a strong commitment to engaging audiences of all ages. She has held a variety of leadership positions at museums across the Southeast, including the Art & History Museums – Maitland and Historic Spanish Point. Her exhibition work includes Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: World of Myth and Magic, an award-winning show recognized by the Southeastern Museums Conference and the Georgia Association of Museums, as well as Affectionate Anarchy: Creating with Jim Henson, which explores the joyful disorder and imaginative teamwork that shaped the Muppets. Jill also has a strong background in nonprofit fundraising, having secured millions in institutional support for organizations such as WABE Atlanta, Thinkery Austin, and The Learning Experience. She holds a Master of Arts in Museum Science from Texas Tech University and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Kansas State University. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, exploring other museums, eating her way around Atlanta, and spoiling her cat.
Tim Sweeney
Executive Producer
Tim Sweeney began at the Center as a puppeteer in 1999. Over the years he has appeared on stage at the Center in over 50 productions. He served as the Program Director for Xperimental Puppetry Theatre from 2014-2019, overseeing and coordinating six productions. He has also directed 12 productions at the Center, including 9 productions of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (2015-2024), Peter Pan (2018), and two productions of Charlotte’s Web (2017, 2023). He also served as Assistant Director on Ruth and the Green Book (2024), Duke Ellington’s Cat (2023), Old MacDonald’s Farm (2016), and Mother Goose (2014). In addition to his work at the Center he has appeared in several touring productions for the company Swazzle in the Los Angeles area and puppeteered in independent films such as Raymond Carr’s Wild is the Wind.
He is excited to be starting a new chapter in his Center career and is honored to serve in a position of senior leadership as head of the Production Department. He would like to thank the mentors that have guided him over the years, especially Jon Ludwig, Bobby Box, Lorna Howley, Liz Lee, Therese Aun, Kristen Haverty, and Vince Anthony. He would especially like to thank his wonderful and talented wife Amy for her support and our amazing girls, Elora and Stella for inspiring him to always be his best self.
He is excited to be starting a new chapter in his Center career and is honored to serve in a position of senior leadership as head of the Production Department. He would like to thank the mentors that have guided him over the years, especially Jon Ludwig, Bobby Box, Lorna Howley, Liz Lee, Therese Aun, Kristen Haverty, and Vince Anthony. He would especially like to thank his wonderful and talented wife Amy for her support and our amazing girls, Elora and Stella for inspiring him to always be his best self.
Carol Van Leer
Ticket Sales Director
Carol Van Leer is the Ticket Sales Director at the Center for Puppetry Arts and a graduate of Washington University in St Louis with a BA in Business Administration. After graduating Carol worked at the Center for Puppetry Arts as the Box Office Manager for a number of years. Then, Carol pursued her career in ticketing and worked with Ticketmaster, as Marketing Manager, providing her with experience across many events and venues in Atlanta, working with ticketing professionals across the city. She has worked with Ticketmaster, Audience View, and Tessitura ticketing systems. Carol returned to the Center in 2009 and managed the ticketing software conversion to the Tessitura ticketing system in 2012 to help the Center have access to the latest ticketing technology. Carol enjoys reading, hiking, and tasting wine with her husband Rob who is Wine Director at Vino Venue.
Administration
Mandisa Surpris, Office Coordinator
Kristin Haverty, Director of Membership Services for UNIMA-USA
Lisa Rhodes, UNIMA-USA Controller
Property
Antwone Monforte, Director of Buildings and Grounds
Bill Jones, Assistant Property Manager
Property Services Staff
- Michael Francis – Lead
- Chuck Porterfield – Coordinator
- Jay Smith – Coordinator
Development
Stephanie Carter, Development Manager
Bradley Hartman, Grants Manager
Stephanie Bowling, Membership and Development Associate
Operations
Ian McCarthy, Director of Operations
Dani Herd, Volunteer and Community Partners Manager
Natalie McSwain, Gift Shop Coordinator
Museum Services Coordinators
- Olivia Leslie
- Liz Vitale
- Daniel Silva
Education & Digital Learning
Reay Maxwell, Education Initiatives Manager
Damon Young, Lead Teaching Artist
Ottilie Murray, Special Projects
Workshop Instructors
- Jenny Min
- Cameron Smith
- Vanessa Zelasko
- Judah Norman
- Angela Forte
Marketing
Daniel Amrhein, Marketing Director
Sarah Augsburger, Associate Marketing Director
Shannon Thrift, Lead Graphic Designer
Grace Callaway, Graphic Designer
Antavious Lewis, Marketing Assistant
Museum
Jill Nash Malool, Museum Director
Bill Jones, Museum Preparator
Micah Walsh, Collections Manager
Museum Conservators
- Russ Vick
- Vito Leanza
Production
Jeremy Villines, Technical Director
Chris Moneymaker, Associate Technical Director
Danielle Bergman, Production Manager
Ari Jerome, Company Manager
Brandon McGrue, Resident Stage Manager
Jennifer Schottstaedt, Puppet Shop Manager
Sam Carter, Puppet Shop Foreman
Resident Artists
- Dolph Amick
- Evan Hill Phillips
- Sarah Beth Hester
Ticket Sales
Cliff Jackson, Ticket Sales Lead Supervisor
Rykie Belles, Ticket Sales Assistant Supervisor
Guest Services Coordinators
- Kimberly Allely
- Antavious Lewis
- Claire Mattera
- Bobby Ogletree
- Anh Tong
- Emma Zamoscinski