WIT | Board Member Bios

MEET WIT'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Amanda Shafer President
Amanda Shafer is an associate at the law firm of Shearman & Sterling, LLP, where she is a litigator involved with the Guantanamo Bay litigation. She has been actively involved in the Washington Arts community since her arrival in the area five years ago. She studies ballet and English riding and is involved in a newly formed theatrical venture. Amanda joined the board in 2004 and has greatly enjoyed working with WIT's exciting group of players, staff and community members as the company continues to expand in new directions.


Melissa Williams Vice President
Melissa Williams is a tax lawyer in Washington, DC who also devotes significant pro bono time to serving as a court-appointed guardian ad litem to children in the District. Prior to being elected President of the WIT Board, Melissa applied her finance, tax and legal knowledge as WIT's Treasurer. A native of New York, Melissa worked as an actuarial analyst and a derivatives broker prior to relocating to Washington, DC to attend Georgetown Law. She is an avid runner and is training for her fourth marathon this fall.


Rick Webb Treasurer
Rick Webb is an executive director for Operational Research Consultants, Inc., responsible for designing the overall technical strategy for the company's continued growth. He is currently tasked with helping the DoD maintain the largest digital signature infrastructure deployed in the world. Rick brings to the board a BA in Physics from West Virginia University and certifications from George Washington University in Advanced Information Assurance technologies. Rick joined the board in May 2005. He recognizes that improvisation is fundamental to how we interact with one another and that this fundamental ability is missing almost every place we look. He firmly believes that you cannot have a good conversation, unless you know how to improvise.


Samantha Salcedo Secretary
Samantha Salcedo is a Communications Outreach Specialist for Supply Chain Management System (SCMS). She previously worked as Brand Analyst on the agency-wide branding initiative to ensure that Save the Children speaks with one voice, while building strong public awareness and understanding of the organization's work. Previously Samantha worked for seven years for some of the top advertising agencies in NYC. Samantha loves the vibrancy of improv and is proud to have the opportunity to contribute to the growth of WIT.


John Mason
John Mason is an art and entertainment lawyer in Washington, DC. Mr. Mason received his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University of New Orleans School of Law in 1996. Following graduation, Mr. Mason entered private practice as an associate with a boutique intellectual property law firm in Washington, DC. His practice focuses on art and entertainment and intellectual property issues, including litigation and transactional matters. He works with artists and companies of all types in protecting and enforcing their intellectual rights.


Michael Gemm
A huge fan of "the funny", Michael Gemm first became involved with Improv by taking WIT's Foundations class. After attending several shows and taking three more WIT classes, he joined the WIT board bringing a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame and several years of experience in business. He currently works as the Manager of Finance and Accounting at College Summit, an organization striving to implement lasting social change by increasing the college enrollment rate for low-income students.


Michael Kitces
Michael Kitces is the Director of Financial Planning for Pinnacle Advisory Group, Inc., a private wealth management firm located in Columbia, Maryland. Prior to joining WIT's board, he served as WIT's Managing Director. Michael holds the honor of being the organization's longest-running continuously supportive non-performing volunteer, after finding WIT approximately five years ago in an (ig)noble attempt to cling to his college theater days. In fact, Michael used to serve as a volunteer for numerous small theater organizations around Washington DC, but he has stayed with WIT in lieu of the others "because they make me laugh."


Vilma E. Alejandro
Vilma E. Alejandro provides consulting services focusing on organizational and image development for non-profits. A lover of the arts and advocate of workplace justice, social justice and environmental issues, Vilma holds a M.S. in Industrial Organizational Psychology from Christopher Newport University and a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Economics from the University of Rochester. Vilma's areas of skills include: recruitment, selection, statistical analyses, test construction and validation, assessment strategies and tools, job analysis, coalition building, grant writing, cultural diversity and ethnic identity subject matters. She is a skilled trainer in and developer of cultural diversity and leadership programs and understands the application of organization development theories, practices and tools. She is also fluent in Spanish and has volunteered and worked in the non-profit arena with strong emphasis in youth development, cultural arts, housing development and substance abuse.


William Hancock
With no prior performance experience (aside from being named "wittiest" in his high school yearbook), William Hancock decided almost two years ago to seek out an improv class for fun. He soon found his way to WIT, where he has taken several classes. He enjoys the mental challenges of improv as well as the aspects of play, and he also makes improvisational films in his free time. William brings a B.S. in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia. Professionally, he has extensive project management experience and has worked for several large IT consulting firms. William now works at the IRS, responsible for portfolio management processes and standards to make sure the IRS is managing its IT funding appropriately.


Mark Chalfant Artistic and Executive Director
A re-founding member of WIT since 1997, Mark is passionately dedicated to sharing the creative power of improvisation with everyone in Washington. He has been a lead instructor in WIT's training program since 1999, and has taught every level in the company's regular curriculum, also teaching with Imagination Stage in Bethesda and at national and local improv festivals since 2002. A frequent director of WIT's productions, he has studied improv nationwide (in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Portland) and has trained all over DC (Studio Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, Shakespeare Theatre, Theatre Lab). An 8-year career at the International Monetary Fund rooted Mark in the management and budgeting skills required of the executive director. His greatest thrill and challenge is harnessing the creativity and industry of WIT's wide network of improvisers and fans to support the company's continued growth.