Board of Trustees

Alyse Baron, President

A board-certified pediatrician and Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Alyse brings more than 20 years of experience caring for children and families in Orange County. Originally from Southern California, Alyse earned her bachelor’s degree in Microbiology with a minor in Chemistry from the University of Arizona. She went on to earn her medical degree and complete her pediatric residency at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.

Her professional interests in early childhood development, child literacy, child safety, and child advocacy closely align with MTAOC’s mission of helping young performers build confidence, creativity, and connection through theater education and performance. Alyse is passionate about creating supportive environments where children can grow artistically, socially, and emotionally while developing a strong sense of community and belonging.

In her spare time, Alyse enjoys spending time with her husband, three children, and two Goldendoodles.

Jeff Bethard, Vice President

Jeff Bethard serves as Global Head of Transfer Pricing at Sandisk and has more than 25 years of experience in transfer pricing and economics. He has worked in economic consulting with a Big Four firm and in industry leadership roles. Jeff earned his bachelor’s degree in Quantitative Economics and his master’s degree in Economics from the University of California, San Diego, where he served as captain of the tennis team in his senior year.

Jeff is the parent of three children and became involved with MTAOC through them. His youngest studies Musical Theatre at the Orange County School of the Arts and continues to participate in MTAOC. His wife is from Tokyo, and their children grew up speaking Japanese as their first language. Outside of work, Jeff enjoys Brazilian jiu jitsu and remains passionate about supporting opportunities for young people in the arts.

Naomi Sognefest, Secretary

Naomi Ono Sognefest is a wife and a mother to two young women.  Naomi graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.S. in Business Administration, Pepperdine University School of Law with her J.D. and Loyola Chicago School of Law with her LL.M. in health law.  Naomi spent most of her career with a large private law firm specializing in private equity and mergers and acquisitions and is currently the general counsel of a life sciences company with offices in 11 different countries serving a worldwide clientele.  Naomi volunteers for various organizations, including youth organizations, Japanese-American community organizations and cancer support organizations.

Donna Mavros, Parliamentarian

Donna Mavros has served on the MTAOC board since 2020. Her Bachelor’s, Masters and Doctoral Degree studies were in Theatre. Donna taught all phases of high school theatre for 36 years.  Afterwards, and for 8 years, she was a labor negotiator for the Illinois Education Association.  Her work included teacher contracts as well as support personnel contracts in the school districts. She was responsible for 3000 school employees.  Currently, she is writing a Theatre Manual for new teachers.

Barbara Kuntz, Marketing Director

Barbara is the Marketing Communications Manager for AMADA WELD TECH, where she oversees corporate communications, branding, digital marketing, public relations, and community outreach initiatives for the global manufacturing company. She earned her B.A. in English with an emphasis in Business Administration from UCLA.

An active community volunteer, Barbara is an Honorary Life Member of the Tournament of Roses. In her free time, Barbara enjoys travel, gardening, reading, and spending time with her dog, whom she hopes to certify as a therapy dog.

Barbara has served on the MTAOC Board of Directors for more than four years. Her connection to MTAOC began as a parent, with her daughter participating in MTAOC programs and productions from ages 10 through 18. She is proud to support the organization’s mission of fostering creativity, confidence, and performance opportunities for young artists.

Gantry Wilson, Trustee

Gantry Wilson is a USC graduate with a BSEE degree and has spent more than two decades building a successful career as a real estate broker, business owner, and trainer for Tony Robbins. Based in Huntington Beach, he is known for his strategic thinking, client advocacy, and commitment to helping people make confident decisions during major life transitions.

Beyond his professional life, Gantry is a husband and father who values family, personal growth, and service. He joined the MTAOC Board of Directors in July 2014 after seeing the profound impact the academy had on his daughter, who performed with MTAOC from 2007 to 2018 and is now pursuing her Broadway dreams in New York. He continues to serve because he believes deeply in MTAOC’s lasting impact on young performers.

Tereza Sparks, Trustee

Tereza grew up in Czechoslovakia before moving to California at seventeen without speaking a word of English. Immersing herself in high school life, she quickly learned the language and went on to earn a degree in Communications from UCLA. Today, she works as an interior designer for both residential and commercial clients. When she’s not designing, she’s proudly serving as the unofficial Uber driver for her kids, shuttling them to and from MTAOC, where they discovered their passion for performing, singing, and dancing. Watching them grow creatively has become one of her greatest joys

Katherine Colcord, Trustee

Katherine Colcord is an epidemiologist and researcher at the University of California, Irvine, where her work focuses on aging and dementia. Katherine has loved watching her children develop a love of the arts at MTAOC. Outside of work and volunteering, Katherine enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and three daughters, camping, hiking, and exploring nature together.

Jessica Campbell, Trustee

Jessica earned her undergraduate degree in Event Planning through the Individualized Major Program at Indiana University and went on to receive her California Teaching Credential and Master’s degree in Elementary Education from University of Southern California. She is currently a stay-at-home mother of three young children and also serves as an event coordinator for a school in Irvine, where she combines creativity, organization, and a love for community-building. Outside of work life, Jessica is passionate about travel and has visited six continents and more than 75 countries. She also loves musical theater and enjoys being involved in the performing arts community.

• Lauren Hurwitz – CFO
• Phil Lisle – Advisor

“Without a doubt, MTAOC has changed the lives of each of the young stars who have become a part of our family.”

Margie was the guiding light behind MTAOC since its inception. The success of the company over its forty plus year life span was founded on her vision, creativity, talent, and joy in helping young performers find confidence and success through the vehicle of musical theater. Though she passed away in 2024, her legacy with MTAOC endures!

Margie earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music in vocal performance, with minors in theater and piano from the University of Denver. She appeared in many opera and musical theater productions including 122 performances of “The Sound of Music,” leading roles with both Denver’s and Irvine’s Saddleback Civic Light Orchestras. She was also a frequent church soloist. Her early career was as one of the famous Continental Airlines “Sky Goddesses” where she developed a passion for working with people.

Shortly thereafter she became a certified instructor with the Yamaha Music Education Center where she created the Rainbow Singers children’s musical theater program. When the franchise was sold, she rallied the involved parents and formed MTAOC as founding Artistic and General Manager, Producer, and in the early years, costumer, choreographer, musical director, accompanist, set designer/builder, and general jack-of-all-trades. The group’s first production of “The Sound of Music” featured a cast of eight children, seven girls and a last minute recruit of a young boy to play the Captain Von Trapp role. Within two years they were teaching over 100 children in three separate age groups, each performing their own major productions, complete with costumes, sets, sound, and lights. One of the group’s greatest recognitions was being selected as the chorus for the Broadway touring company of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” for a three-week run at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Margie also served as Assistant Director of Alumni Relations for Chapman University where she created and managed the prestigious Student Ambassadors Program for many years. For Margie, there was no reward greater than watching a shy newcomer to MTAOC blossom under our training as they experience success in the spotlight, regardless of the size or importance of their role.