Luisa Handem Piette comes from a background in non-profit management, broadcast journalism, human rights law and a strong track record as a corporate communications executive for Information Technology firms. She is also known for her philanthropic work and love of the arts.
Luisa briefly served as Director of UPI Next, United Press International’s former media development division, after nearly two years of overseas work as a Knight International Journalism Fellow with the International Center for Journalists. She began her career with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World Service, in London. Luisa later joined Radio France International (RFI) in Paris before being recruited as an international radio broadcaster for the Voice of America (VOA) in Washington, D.C. She has minimal experience acting, but she enjoyed appearances in school performances while growing up in Portugal, and in radio performances dramatizing Mia Couto’s books live on air through the Portuguese programs of the BBC World Service in London. Luisa holds a Master’s degree (LLM) in International Law, and a BA in French & Government from Essex University.
Matthew Piette has a long history of supporting the arts and theater and acting in productions at the Loft Theater in Leamington Spa, England, and appearing in a variety of shows including the London premiere of “A Dog in a Manger” by Lope de Vega, Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”, Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” and Tom Stoppard’s “The Real Inspector Hound.” Matthew has since accumulated over 20 years of global and high-tech experience in executive-level management for Fortune 500 companies and startups in the United States, as well as playing key roles in non-profit organizations, including a bi-partisan Think Tank in Washington DC. He is currently Head of Brand Marketing at Exact Sciences Corporation, working on multi-cancer early detection solutions. Matthew holds a Master’s Degree in English Literature from the University of Cambridge, U.K.
Born in Australia, Michael received a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from Sydney University and later an MBA from Rutgers in New Jersey. Recently retired from a career in electronic product development, he has worked for large and small companies developing various types of equipment including radio station automation equipment, commercial security and fire alarm systems, point of sale systems and most recently home automation systems specializing in automated lighting systems. His career moved him around the world from Sydney, to the greater New York area and lastly Northern California with a short stint early on in Illinois where he met his wife. His work frequently took him to Europe as well as to Asian manufacturing locations. When not working, Michael has been involved with community theatre and has received several commendations from SARTA (Sacramento Area Regional Theater Alliance) for set design. He co-won an Ellie for set design of Hand To God with Sierra Stages in Nevada City. Michael has also been active in the art scene around Placer County and Sacramento and has shown some of his large acrylics in local art shows. He now plays around with concrete casting for sculpture and supports his wife with her ceramics. He enjoys helping other artists and makers learn about these technologies and how they can incorporate them in their own projects. He is particularly excited and interested in the intersection of art and technology.
You can see some of his set design portfolio here ……
Yolla is a theatre director and educator. Born in Cyprus and raised in East Sacramento, she attended University of Pacific, CSU Sacramento and earned her Master’s in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Theatre History and Stage Direction from CSU Long Beach.
She was one of the original company members with the notable Inner City Cultural Center in Los Angeles and eventually became Performing Arts Manager in the Cultural Services Division of the Long Beach City Parks and Recreation Department. In Long Beach she founded a successful equity-waiver company named the Long Beach Theatre Festival, presenting raw, edgy dramas and original scripts, along with the Long Beach Actor’s ‘Dessert Theatre,’ a small and well attended community theatre presenting lighthearted comedies and musicals within City Arts.
Upon returning to the USA, after a long hiatus in the United Kingdom, she re-trained with Los Rios Community College District teaching at the community college level and tutoring periodically. As a SARTA member, Yolla served as an Elly Awards judge for nearly 8 years. She has also served for several years as a Review Panelist for the California Arts Council, ranking and evaluating artists’ grants applications.
