Theatre Centre Appoints 4 to Executive Committee

The Chattanooga Theatre Centre has appointed new officers of its board of directors who bring broad expertise and diverse perspectives to the leadership of the non-profit organization’s governing board.

Hamilton County educator and community leader LaFrederick Thirkill has been named president of the board of directors. Also appointed to the board’s executive committee are Angie Griffin, past president; Amy Meller, secretary, and Roger Cass, treasurer.

Thirkill is principal of Washington Alternative Learning Center. He has worked in the Hamilton County school system since 1998 and previously served as principal of Orchard Knob Elementary School, where he was recognized by the Hamilton County PTA as Elementary Principal of the Year in 2013 and Distinguished Administrator by the Hamilton County Education Association the same year.

The first teacher to earned National Board Certification while working in Hamilton County schools, Thirkill is also a community activist, historian, musician, composer, actor, playwright, and public speaker. He has appeared in Theatre Centre productions for more than 20 years, also serving as music director, and joined the board in 2019.

Griffin is a capital administrator at Tennessee American Water. She has earned several IT industry certifications, including Project+ and Security+, and is a certified Cisco Networking Associate. She also serves on the board of the Orchard Knob Community PTA and teaches theatre at Bethel Christian Academy. Griffin is an active volunteer at the Theatre Centre and has served on the board since 2018.

Meller is a preschool director in the Signal Mountain community and a foundation member of the Signal Mountain Playhouse Board of Directors. She helped establish and served as president of the Signal Mountain Middle-High School Theatre Arts Boosters. An active Theatre Centre volunteer, Amy and her husband, Steve, have three grown children who participated in numerous CTC shows. Meller joined the theatre board in 2020.

Cass is chief architect and vice president at Unum Group. He earned a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Purdue University. He has served in executive leadership roles in engineering, healthcare, insurance, research, and logistics and was previously an independent financial advisor. After moving to Chattanooga two years ago, he now serves as treasurer for his North Shore HOA and participates in local theatre productions, choirs, and ensembles. Cass joined the CTC board in 2020.

Founded in 1923, the Chattanooga Theatre Centre is one of the oldest and largest community theatres in the Southeast. The Theatre Centre produces high-caliber theatrical productions and provides volunteer and educational opportunities for people of all ages.

Posted November 14, 2022