The Pasadena Playhouse Announces Three New Members to its Board of Directors

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Elizabeth Doran Executive Director) announced today that three new members have been elected to its Board of Directors. Abel R. Ramirez, CEO of Ramirez-Bianchi Corporation; Teena Hostovich, Executive Vice President and Executive Committee Member for Lockton Insurance; and Darrell G.Brooke.

We are thrilled to welcome three terrific new members to our Board,” added Sheila Grether-Marion, Chair of the Board for The Pasadena Playhouse. “Abel Ramirez, a long-time supporter and friend of The Pasadena Playhouse, rejoins us after a brief hiatus. His elegant catering helps make our events successful and his great nearby restaurant, El Portal, makes evenings out to our theatre complete. Teena Hostovich comes to us as a long-time supporter of our Diversity Project. A senior executive at Lockton Insurance, she brings a wealth of business experience and a broad background in philanthropic work. Darrell Brooke, a prominent estate planning attorney and philanthropist, assists clients who wish to create a legacy by designating the Pasadena Playhouse as a beneficiary of their estates. We are pleased and excited to have these multi-talented, generous donors join our ranks and support our mission to bring diverse and high quality performing arts entertainment to the greater San Gabriel Valley.”

Abel R. Ramirez was born in Yucatan, Mexico and came to Pasadena as a young adult. He started his long career in Food Service at The Huntington Hotel (currently The Langham) and The Athenaeum at CalTech. He has been the CEO of Ramirez-Bianchi Corp., which includes El Portal Restaurant, Yahaira’s Café and Vanessa’s Coffee House for over 18 years. He has been involved with and served on the Boards for Hillsides Home for Children, Playhouse District Association, Foothill Vocational Services, Latino Heritage and L.A. Food Bank. He was also just recently the President of the Board at Pasadena Senior Center. Abel has been married to Rosalia for over 40 years and has three sons and six grandchildren. Abel returns to the Board of The Pasadena Playhouse after a two-and-a half-year absence willing to continue his service to the organization and to the community.

Teena Hostovich is Executive Vice President/Executive Committee member for Lockton Insurance. Recognized as a leading global authority on professional liability and complex risk. Teena was named one of 50 “Women to Watch” in 2007 by Business Insurance and was an honoree for “Woman Making a Difference” by Los Angeles Business Journal. Named Power Broker/Responsibility Leader in 2011, she also has been recognized by the California State Legislature as “Outstanding Corporate Woman” for her contributions to the community. Recently, she was named one of the Fifty Fabulous Women of Pasadena by Pasadena Magazine (May 2012) and Women of Influence of Pasadena in (April 2012). Her positive leadership, intellectual creativity, integrity and strong work ethic serve as an inspiration to young women she mentors. Actively involved in politics, Teena is Presidential Partner/Advisor to President Obama, a member of the Democratic National Finance Committee, and a member of the 2013 Presidential Inauguration Committee. Deeply committed to organizations that make a difference in the world, her list includes: Board of Trustees – William J. Clinton Foundation; Huntington Hospital Strategic Planning Committee; St. Anne’s Board of Directors; Los Angeles Philharmonic Board of Overseers; Hollywood Bowl Opening Night Committee; Pasadena Arts Council Board; Pasadena Playhouse Diversity Committee; Opportunity International Board of Governors, Levitt Pavilions National Board and Flintridge Prep Board of Trustees. She is a CAP Mentor/Advisor, teaching career planning and development to USC Marshall School of Business students. She is honored to be named to The Pasadena Playhouse Board of Directors.

Darrell G. Brooke, a partner in the Pasadena and Monrovia offices of an established law firm with over 80 years of tradition, is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning Probate and Trust Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Darrell’s ties to The Pasadena Playhouse began with the creation of a scholarship fund by one of his clients for The Pasadena Playhouse Alumni and Associates over 20 years ago. Voted as a Southern California Super Lawyer and a Top Attorney by Pasadena Magazine, Darrell has dedicated his practice to estate planning for high net worth individuals and to serve the Pasadena probate court as a probate volunteer panel attorney in disputed elder law matters. Prior to joining The Pasadena Playhouse, Darrell served as President of the Levitt Pavilion Pasadena for 4 consecutive years, President of the Pasadena Quarterbacks for 2 years (including serving as host of the first Rose Bowl Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony) and President of the Estate Planning Council of the San Gabriel Valley. He is a licensed Zumba instructor, teaching classes in Zumba Gold throughout the San Gabriel Valley. Darrell is the very proud father of Grayson Brooke, a nationally acclaimed television producer for the Bravo and HGTV networks.

The Pasadena Playhouse Board of Directors, as of March 26, 2013 include:
• Sheila Grether-Marion, Chair of the Board
• David DiCristofaro, Vice-Chair of the Board
• C. Anthony Phillips, Treasurer
• Linda Boyd Griffey, Secretary
• Brad King, Long-Range Planning Committee Chair
• Lenore Almanzar
• Valerie Amidon
• Sheri Ball
• Darrell G. Brooke
• Elizabeth Doran
• Peggy Ebright
• Michele Dedeaux Engemann
• Sheldon Epps
• George A. Henning
• Teena Hostovich
• Darrell Miller
• Abel Ramirez
• Bingo Roncelli
• Lilah Stangeland
• Corky Hale Stoller
• Mike Stoller
• Martha Williamson

For more information on The Pasadena Playhouse, visit www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.