Board of Directors
Sharlene O’Keefe
Sharlene O'Keefe
Executive Director, Poway OnStage
Sharlene’s career has evolved over the years from being a participant and student of the arts, to becoming an Arts Educator and Administrator. After graduating from Poway High School, she earned a BFA in Dance Performance from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She continued her studies at the University of California, Irvine with a Master’s Degree in Dance with emphasis in Education and Curriculum Development. Prior to joining Poway OnStage in 2013, Sharlene owned a studio that specialized in multi-disciplinary arts training in Dance, Drama, Music and Art and she designed and taught a Visual Art and Art History curriculum at Tierra Bonita Elementary School.
Sharlene began as Poway OnStage’s Operations Manager and then transitioned into the role of Director of Education, where she acted as the primary architect of the organization’s Arts in Education Initiative. She accepted the position of Executive Director in July of 2022 and has assumed directorship of both the Professional Performance Series and the Arts in Education Initiative. Sharlene currently serves on the Board of Directors of NCAN (North County Arts Network) and is an active member of California Presenters and AERO (Arts Education Resource Organization).
Sharlene continues to live in Poway with her husband, Tom and their three children, Evan, Brady and Carolyn. When not attending the kid’s sporting events and performances, the family enjoys spending time at the river and exploring in their RV.
Rachel McCarthy Henneforth
Chairman
Dressed 2 Dance, McCarthy Family Foundation
Rachel and her family moved to Poway in 1979 and she graduated from Poway High School in 1991. After graduation Rachel attended UC Irvine, earning her Bachelors of Science in Social Sciences with a minor in Psychology. She then returned to Poway to raise her own family.
Rachel’s philanthropic career started early on with the mentorship of her parents, Tim and Jane McCarthy, who founded the McCarthy Family Foundation in 1989. Past philanthropic participation has included the San Diego Youth & Community Services Auxiliary Board, the San Diego HIV Funding Collaborative, Funders Together to End Homelessness, and multiple PTSA boards.
Rachel is married and has six children/step-children. Rachel and her husband Jeff started two local businesses in the last six years. Rachel is a partner of Dressed 2 Dance in Rancho Bernardo, a local dance wear store offering the latest in dance apparel. Jeff is the owner of Triton Water Renewal, specializing in reverse osmosis for pool water purification and whole house/business systems for clean, pure water.
Rachel is proud to serve on the Poway OnStage board and continue her family’s 32 year tradition of supporting the local performing arts community.
Elaine Cofrancesco, Ph.D.
Vice Chairman/Outgoing Chairman
Poway Unified School District, Retired
Elaine’s career has evolved from early work in the mental health field, and included Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling at Poway Counseling Services; Mercy Mental Health; and the Escondido Youth Center. She recently retired from the Poway Unified School District after 36 years, serving as teacher, counselor, and administrator.
Her passion has always been working with students and families to provide a variety of services to support the health, safety, and welfare of students.
Qualifications include a B.A./Music; M.A./Music Education; M.A./Counseling Psychology; and Ph.D./Psychology. She has always been a supporter of the arts and is Nationally Board Certified in Music Therapy. In her elementary years, she started playing the string bass and has a long history of playing in orchestras and jazz ensembles.
She and her husband, Roger Nedrow, reside in Rancho Bernardo.
Wayne Hamburger
Treasurer
Computer Software Consultants, Inc., Retired
Wayne was born and raised in New York City, where a common school trip was to go “into the City” to watch live musical or theatrical performances at Lincoln Center or the multitude of Broadway theaters.
Wayne left New York to attend college at MIT in Cambridge, MA where he graduated with a degree in Math & Computer Science. During his time in Boston, Wayne maintained his love for live theater and the arts, attending concerts at Copley Hall and enjoying Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops outdoor concerts during the summer.
After graduation, Wayne worked on Magnetic Fusion research at the MIT National Magnet Lab as a scientific programmer. Two years later, after experiencing the Blizzard of ’78, he decided it was time to head to balmier climes and he headed to the Left Coast to San Diego. Wayne has spent the last 43+ years developing software for a variety of different disciplines and businesses.
After moving to Poway in 1995, Wayne created Computer Software Consultants, Inc. (CSC), to provide professional computer support and guidance to small businesses. Wayne has sold CSC to a local IT support business and is now enjoying retirement.
Wayne’s interests include baseball – Go Padres! Live theater and music – he has been an avid fan of Poway OnStage for many years and also attends many classic rock concerts; traveling – with his amazingly supportive significant other, Sharon – having been to such diverse locales as the Amazon, Pantanal, Mt. Everest and the Serengeti; hiking, golfing and spending time with his two wonderful adult children, Kyle and Ariel.
Wayne joined the Poway OnStage board in February 2016 and is working with the local community to create an exciting future for world-class live performances in Poway!
Kathlyn Roberts
Kathlyn Roberts
Poway Unified School District, Retired
Kathlyn spent 36+ years as an educator in administration, and at college and university levels. She worked 20+ years as an administrator in Poway Unified School District. She has held leadership and advisory positions locally, statewide and nationally in service and professional organizations, including the Kiwanis Club of Poway, the First 5 Commission, and Departments of Education. She has been a long-term volunteer with Friends of Poway Library.
Kathlyn has supported the arts throughout her life with experience in choral, band, symphony, and professional productions. She has been a passionate contributor and supporter of the local arts and Poway OnStage, and has worked extensively with corporate sponsors to help expand access to quality arts and education experiences in the community.
Kathlyn has a BA in Speech Pathology and Audiology, MEd in Counseling, and an EdS in Education Administration. She is a long-time resident of North County San Diego, in Poway, Rancho Bernardo, and Fallbrook. Her children and grandchildren are PUSD graduates and continue to live and work in the Poway community. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, and attending theater and musical productions throughout San Diego County.
Leah McBride
Secretary
American Pacific Mortgage
Leah was born and raised in San Diego and graduated from Poway High. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, in Business Administration with a double concentration in Finance and International Business. She then went on to receive her Master’s Degree in Commerce from the University of Adelaide in South Australia, where she lived with her husband for three years.
Leah is a Senior Loan Officer and Mortgage Advisor at American Pacific Mortgage. American Pacific Mortgage is a direct mortgage banking company, offering a wide variety of products for both purchases and refinances, including Jumbo options, 30/15 Year Fixed, FHA, VA, USDA, Hybrid ARMs, and Reverse Mortgages. Leah finds fulfilment in the unique combination of personal connections and financial strategy with her role as a mortgage advisor.
Leah now lives in Poway with her husband, Ben, their daughter, Bailey, and their son, Miles. She is the unit Chair for the Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary, Poway Unit and involved in local business and real estate groups. She enjoys hiking, water and snow sports, and spending time with her family.
Audrey Denham
City of Poway
Audrey grew up in San Diego dancing and performing on stage to her favorite dance styles – jazz and contemporary. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree in business management from National University, Audrey began her career working for a non-profit teaching and managing after-school aerobic dance programs all over San Diego County. This sparked her love for recreation programs and her passion for public service.
Audrey has more than 17 years in the parks and recreation field. Prior to “coming home” to the City of Poway as the Director of Community Services, she served as the Recreation Superintendent for the City of National City. From 2007 to 2014, Audrey held supervisory roles in the City of Poway specifically at Old Poway Park, Lake Poway, Community Park, and the Poway Center for the Performing Arts. When given the chance to manage the Poway Center for the Performing Arts on two different occasions, she jumped at the opportunity and loved working behind the scenes.
Audrey believes in the mission of the Community Services Department: to enrich the community through an exceptional blend of recreation, arts, leisure, and cultural programs. She is especially committed to bringing the arts to Poway residents and seeing the Poway Center for the Performing Arts succeed.
Kayla Hawkins
Poway Unified School District
Kayla Warren currently serves as the Visual and Performing Arts Specialist for Poway Unified School District and provides oversight and support for the implementation of the District’s Strategic Arts Plan. She develops, directs, monitors, and promotes Visual and Performing Arts programs and serves as a liaison between the District and community partners to maximize participation in the Arts. Previously, her 15 year career with the San Diego Unified School District included such roles as Video Production Teacher at Creative Performing Media Arts Middle School and Manager of their Performing Arts Center. She was a member of the Instructional Leadership Team and worked with the SWFIT Grant and Integrated Multi-Tiered System of Support Department of SDUSD to define equity on campus and break down barriers for all students.
She loves to go mountain biking and hiking with her boyfriend, Andrew, and their two shepherd mix dogs, Lady and Abby. She loves to cook, bake and attend as many musicals as she can!
Kayla is excited to serve on the Board of Poway OnStage to continue supporting the Arts in Education Initiative. She believes Arts Education is critical to student’s development and every student should have access to arts instruction and the opportunity to see live performances. Poway OnStage is doing an amazing job of bringing the arts to students all over San Diego and she’s excited to be a part of the amazing work happening!