RCT Board
Johnathan Baines - President
Dr. Johnathan Baines is a Family Medicine physician at Green Clinic in Ruston, La. He has been a member of the RCT Board of Directors since 2013. He has won several RusTony Awards for minor and lead roles in plays and musicals over the years. Johnathan's main focus while serving on the board has been improving publicity for RCT and strengthening the organization's presence on social media. He has also been a strong advocate for moving RCT to reserved seating and is thrilled to see the implementation of this happening. Johnathan has a passionate desire to see RCT thrive. He is thankful that his wife Anna and children Elena, Caed, and Jace share his love for theatre!
Marc Graham - Vice President
Mark's introduction to theatre came while building sets with Satish. Mark and his wife, Julie, have two daughters, Zoë and Mia. Mark works in commercial real estate and development, and he enjoys hunting and playing golf.
Steele Moegle - Secretary
Steele Moegle is an Associate Professor of Music at Louisiana Tech University. In the Department of Music, she serves as the head of piano studies and music history. She is very active in Music Teachers National Association and the Louisiana Federation of Music Clubs. In addition to her work as a musician, she enjoys spending time with her two children, Alma and Riley, and her husband, Forrest. Steele also serves as a Cub Scout den leader and a children's choir director.
Jim Moore - Treasurer
Jim is a Ruston native and holds a degree in Accounting from La. Tech. Following his completion of a 42 year career with Shell Oil Company and residing in Houston for 40 of those years, Jim and his wife Jean recently returned to their home town. Jim's career with Shell spanned a wide range of accounting and financial management assignments, with the last six years of his career serving as Accounting Advisor for Shell's North American operations. Jim is delighted to be a part of RCT and serving as its Treasurer.
Saul Zalesch - Parliamentarian
Saul is Curator of ephemerastudies.org of Louisiana Tech University, Ruston Louisiana, and a Professor at LA Tech. He has a Ph.D. Art History, University of Delaware, M.A. Art History, University of Delaware, and J.D. University of Maryland School of Law. Saul says, “Art is all about communicating with and touching the viewer. It must engage people and a society, and reflect the concerns of its creator, era, and locale for it to have any chance of continuing to speak meaningfully to later generations.
MaryBelle Tuten - Board Member at Large
Mary Belle is a retired faculty member in the School of Human Ecology at LA Tech and currently presents a program each summer to orientation parents called, “Home Alone.” She is a member of P.E.O, The Garden Study Club, and Trinity United Methodist Church. Married to Allen Tuten, they both like to volunteer in the community, do mission work, travel, and spend time with their two daughters, Maribel Childress and Maradith Boone, their husbands Dan and Ryan and the seven grandchildren.
Satish Bharadvaj
Satish is a retired Mechanical Engineer. Now Satish enjoys his time exploring various parts of US and world with his family, playing with dirt in his garden, and playing with talented artists in RCT's productions in various capacities. He is an RCT board member, an actor, and a set designer, and he has served in numerous positions backstage. We have also seen his directorial talent in RCT’s Same Time Next Year, ’Til Beth Do Us Part, The Foreigner, Monday Always Leads To Murder, and The Mousetrap. Our theatre loving community has awarded Satish with several Rustonys for acting, set design, and production stage management. Satish certainly appreciates Devi, his wife for 42 years for her continuous inspiration, encouragement and the sacrifice she makes for him to be able to enjoy his passion.
Neal Breeding
Neal Breeding is thankful and excited to to be a part of the RCT Board. Neal has been in a number of RCT productions including Commander William Harbison in South Pacific, Office Brogan in Murder's Bad But Monday Can Kill You! and Harry (waiter) in Hello Dolly! He usually works on the sets and sometimes backstage when not on the stage. Neal is a web developer for Donnie Bell Design and is married to Jennifer and has two sons, Caden and Caleb that are also involved in RCT.
Joseph Brown
Joe has performed with the Mississippi Opera Association, Univ. of Southern Miss. Chorale, Masterworks Chorus of NE Louisiana; RCT’s South Pacific and Arsenic & Old Lace as well as various FB Church Ruston Musicals. He is married to Shannon and they have two children, McKenna and Mitchell.
Diana Grigsby
Diana Grigsby is a speech pathologist in the Choudrant schools. Diana has been a long-time RCT member, and she serves on RCT's board of directors. She has been involved in several productions.
Heather Hampton
Dr. Latoya Pierce
Dr. Latoya Pierce is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology & Behavioral Sciences at Louisiana Tech University. She teaches in the Counseling and Guidance Master’s Program. She is a member of the university’s Institutional Review Board, the Graduate Council, and has held officer positions in the University Senate. Dr. Pierce is a subject matter expert on diversity for the UL System and she previously served as the Cultural Competence Specialist for the Office of Behavioral Research and Education at Arkansas State University. Her research interests include gender issues, diversity, and wellness.
Doug Postel
Doug Postel is an RCT veteran who has appeared in numerous productions over the past 20 years, and he has a collection of RusTonys celebrating his work. Although Doug loves the stage, he also enjoys reading, travel, and spending time with his family.
Norm Pumphrey
Norm Bio
Sylvia Shultz
Sylvia is the Executive Office Manager in the Dean's Office in the College of Engineering at Tech. Her husband is Jeff Shultz and they have two daughters, Carina and Rosie. Sylvia is a multi-talented woman, speaking three languages (understanding 5), sings in Trinity's choir, Indian dancing, and acting. Sylvia has been in several productions with RCT - Annie, Heaven Can Wait, Kringle's Window, Annie Get Your Gun, King & I and 'Til Beth Do Us Part.
Mary Watkins
Mary has been in several RCT productions, Annie, Annie Get Your Gun, The King & I, Angel in the Pawnshop and The Sound of Music. She has also enjoyed stage managing the RCT production of ‘Til Beth Do Us Part. Mary has directed several productions for RCT.
Stephen Vessel
STEPHEN BIO