The Board of Directors of the Baldwin-Whitehall Friends of the Theater Arts is a group diverse in both age and background. To get to know the board, please see their biographies below. The Board of Directors can be contacted via e-mail.
Jim Nowalk – President – Jim Nowalk has a long-time interest in government, public speaking and the performing arts. Since 1984, he has been an elected official in Whitehall Borough serving the first ten years as a Member of Council and the balance as Mayor of the Borough of Whitehall. Shortly after becoming Mayor, Jim was appointed to the Executive Board of the Pennsylvania State Mayors Association and has been its President since 2006. Jim developed a passion for teaching middle school students public speaking skills after becoming the moderator of the forensics program for a private school in Whitehall Borough in 1997, a position he held for 16 years. A founding member of the Baldwin-Whitehall Friends of the Theater Arts in 2004, Jim is proud and honored to be its President.
Renee Stockey – Vice President – Renee (Rona Miller) Stockey, BHS 1975, and her husband, Dave, BHS 1973, fondly love the Baldwin-Whitehall area. She and Dave are enjoying retirement life and living and sharing in the joys of their two children Doug, BHS 2003, (Sarah) and Danielle, BHS 2007, (Chuck). They are blessed with four wonderful grandchildren – Owen, Oliver, Zoey and Aiden. Renee’s life resume includes Director of Business and Administration in the Office of the Provost at Duquesne University, Communications Specialist for the Baldwin-Whitehall School District, and over 40 years as a dental hygienist. Through the years, Renee has been actively involved with the Baldwin High School marching band and the drama club. She has held a staff position for publicity for the high school musical. She is one of the founding members of BWFTA, recognizing the need for community involvement to help ease the burden of fundraising from the students and to help reach the goal of excellence in the performing arts for the students and the community in the Baldwin-Whitehall School.
Amy (Schuster) Smeal – Secretary – Amy is a 1992 BHS Graduate who is married to Devon Smeal (BHS Graduate 1991). Both are lifelong residents of Baldwin, currently residing in North Baldwin with their 2 children. Amy graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) with a business management degree and until recently ran the office/payroll/bookkeeping for her father’s company. Upon his retirement, Amy now works part time doing private accounting and bookkeeping and is a full-time mom to Morgan, graduating in 2023 from Baldwin High School, and Carter, graduating in 2026. She is an active PTA parent with involvement in many school activities throughout the years– elementary classroom representative, field trip chaperone, and 5th grade committee co-chairperson. Also, Amy volunteers with the HMS musical production by heading committees and helping to coordinate parent volunteers as well as volunteering to help with the high school musical. Local musical theater, voice lessons, instrumental lessons, ice and roller hockey, and lacrosse, as well as church activities and VBS participation round out her children’s involvement and make for a full family schedule.
Amy’s husband, Devon, is a music teacher and department head at the West Mifflin Area School District. He teaches middle school music and is the producer of the high school musical. He is also the Coordinator of Music and Kidz Praiz director at Hamilton Presbyterian church and leads (trumpet) his own musical group, Hot Metal Brass Band.
Anita Reck – Treasurer – Anita Reck, a 41 year resident of Baldwin Borough, is a retired legal administrative assistant. While her children were in school, she held several PTA chairmanships and offices in the Baldwin-Whitehall School District. Anita was the Special Education Chairman and Regional Vice President for the Pennsylvania PTA. Anita has been involved with the Girl Scouts as both a leader and Assistant Camp Director/Business Manager at GSWPA Camp Redwing. From 2000 through 2016, Anita assisted with the production of the musical at Baldwin High School in many ways: House Manager, Production Assistant, Assistant Director, and Program. Anita and her husband, Jack, an engineer at Westinghouse, have two children, Sarah and Dave, who both graduated from Baldwin High School. Dave and his wife, Carllie, have a son, Alex, and a daughter, Bailey who both attend school in Baldwin-Whitehall.
Cindy Arcuri
Greg Arcuri – A 2013 graduate of Baldwin High School, Greg participated in the Spring Musical, as well as Highlander Choir, Marching Band, and Baldwinairs. During his senior year, Greg was nominated for the 2013 Gene Kelly Award for Best Supporting Actor. Greg received his Bachelor’s Degree in Modern Languages (Spanish and French) with a minor in International Business from Grove City College and his MPS in Human Resources and Employee Relations from Pennsylvania State University. Currently, he resides in Baldwin Whitehall and is a Human Resources Manager for General Electric.
Amy Bower – Amy Bower, a pediatric nurse, has been involved in the BWSD music, band, and drama programs since her children were small. She is married to Jim and has two grown children, Caitlin and Michael, who both graduated from Baldwin High School.
David Depretis
Susan Knox Hawkins
Lynette Kelley – Lynnette Kelley and her husband Jack have lived in Whitehall since 2002. They co-own Calamityware.com, an online boutique gift store, where Lynnette serves as the CEO/CFO. Their daughter, Lila, will be a 2023 graduate of Baldwin High School, and has been heavily involved in the theater arts all through her high school years. As avid music lovers, for two years (2013 to 2015), Jack and Lynnette ran a free glee club (School of Glee) for local kids in the Baldwin area, rehearsing weekly at the Whitehall Borough Building, and performing recitals at the Ryan Arts Center in McKees Rocks. Lynnette also sings and plays guitar weekly for Sunday mass at St. Germaine Church in Bethel Park. In 2023, Lynnette volunteered to be the Front of House Manager for Baldwin’s annual play and musical. Lynnette joined the BWFTA board in 2022.
Bruce Marchetti – Although retired from the Whitehall Borough Police, Bruce Marchetti is still known as “Officer Bruce” to some BWSD students from his previous work with the DARE program in our school district. Bruce is still working with BWSD students as the owner of BMARC School of Driving.
John Palmiere – John Palmiere has a long history of serving his community. John is currently the District 6 representative of Allegheny County Council. He has served for over 23 years on the School Board of the Baldwin Whitehall School District where he oversaw the the school board through the recent $64-million dollar renovation of the high school. John is also an entrepreneur who began Palmiere’s Hair Center 40 years ago. John was an adjust instructor at the Pittsburgh Barber School and the Professional Barber and Beauty Supplier, Inc. He has also been a member of the UFCW, Local 23, Barber Division for over 40 years.
Sarah Reck – Sarah Reck is a 2002 graduate of Baldwin High School, where she participated in the drama club and theater productions all four years. Her most memorable and favorite role was Kim in BHS’s production of Noises Off!. Additionally, she student directed Crazy For You and designed and ran the lights for The Music Man. After attending Lycoming College for a BA in English-Creative Writing and Chapman University for an MA in English and MFA in Writing, Sarah worked for Hachette Book Group as an online marketing manager. Currently, she resides in Baldwin and is Senior Manager, Brand Marketing, with Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.
Doug Stockey – A 2003 graduate of Baldwin High School, Doug participated in the Spring Musical all four years. Doug received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (Marketing and Supply Chain Management) from Duquesne University and his MBA from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. Currently, Doug is a Customer Category Manager for the Kraft Heinz Company. Doug, his wife, Sarah, and his sons Owen and Oliver reside in South Park Township. Doug is active in the community singing in the St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin Adult Choir, and volunteering with the South Park PTO and Bethel Park Recreation Swim Team, and South Park Soccer Association.
Steve Young – Emeritus