Advocate. Educate. Celebrate... the Power of Volunteers
Meet Our Board Members
Our Opera Volunteers International Board members bring their passion for the betterment and growth of our beloved artform with decades of valuable experience in opera administration, management, philanthropy, education, operatic performance and more.
Scroll Down to meet these vital and amazing people!
Board Members may be reached with questions at oviquestions@gmail.com
Board Members 2026-2027
Rhonda Catanzaro
President
Signal Mountain, TN
Danielle Di Stefano
Vice President, Communications
& Marketing;
Website Administration
& Brand Curation
Buffalo, NY
Mary Svela
Immediate Past President
Nominating
Gladstone, OR
Jerry Bohannon
Director
Member Services
Katy, TX
Julie Anne Benson
Director
Grants
Chicago, IL
Deanna Stevenson
Co-Regional Director
Southeast
St. Louis, MO
Julie Anne Benson
Vice President Administration
Chicago, IL
Marlene McAllister
Secretary
Tulsa, OK
Larry Cotton, Jr.
Director
Development & Fundraising
TBA
TBA
Director
Resources
TBA
TBA
Director
Awards
James (Jim) Jolly
Co-Regional Director
Southeast
Tuscaloosa, AL
Tyler McKenzie
Vice President
Membership & Outreach
Interim Director
Digital Media Marketing
St. Louis, MO
Dianne Schemm
Treasurer
Finance & Fundraising
Olathe, KS
Katelyn Gabler
Director
Membership Recruitment
Clarksville, TN
Anne Propokovych
Director
Database Management
Calabasas, CA
TBA
Director
Policies & Procedures
TBA
Regional Director
Northwest
Rhonda Sweeney
Nominating
Houston, TX
Israel Jimenez
Director
Partnership & Outreach
TBA
Rick Greenman
Director
Newsletter
Chicago, IL
Erika Erich
Regional Director,
Northeast
Chicago, IL
TBA
Regional Director
Southwest