Board of Directors


2012 Board Member Profiles



Virtual Stage President: Jonathan FriedrichsJonathan Friedrichs, MEd

President
board member since 2010

Jonathan Friedrichs is a film teacher and producer of Killarney Films, a vibrant filmmaking program for high school students in Vancouver. He has produced award-winning student-directed films for the Racism. Stop It! National Video Competition hosted by the Canadian Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration as well as the Teens Against Gangs Video Contest hosted by The Vancouver Sun and CBC. Jonathan also makes stop motion movies and has produced and written several short films. Outside of the film world, Jonathan is a member of the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre's "Shafran Teacher Committee." He has given several presentations on Holocaust education in and around Vancouver, as well as in Toronto. In his spare time Jonathan likes taking wildlife photos and drawing twisted cartoons.

Virtual Stage Vice-President: Michael BrooksMichael Brooks

Vice-President
board member since 2001

A Stage Manager by profession, Michael also spends his time appearing in the background of various movies and television shows, and even some acting in and helping out with community shows. Born and raised in Fredericton N.B. where he fell in love with theatre, Michael moved to Vancouver in 1994 to pursue acting, but quickly found an innate ability to stage manage. Michael joined the board of The Virtual Stage Arts Society in 2001 and was the Treasurer until taking on the role of Vice-President. Michael is also the President of Theatre Terrific Society and looks forward to more interesting challenges in the future.

Virtual Stage Vice-President: Sanja Boskovic, PhDSanja Boskovic, PhD

Vice-President
board member since 2006

Sanja is Department Head and the lead VClass Thermodynamics and Applied Mechanics instructor for BCIT's Power Engineering innovative distance education methodologies. She launches successful on site programs and ensures successful completion for all students. She has been pivotal in establishing quality instruction for clients like Norske Canada and Celgar Pulp Mill. She is also the WebCT administrator for all Power Engineering projects and support instructors during multiple internal and industry specific projects. Sanja arranges and conducts effective on site plant tours for day students to various plants, and seamlessly integrates the tours into applied learning for her lessons. Sanja is extremely effective with all students, and particularly with new inexperienced students or those long from school.

Virtual Stage Secretary-Treasurer: Alysha KothlowAlysha Kothlow, BA, BEd

Secretary-Treasurer
board member since 2011

Alysha currently teaches Drama and English to the enthusiastic and unique middle schoolers of Tsawwassen. In exchange, they teacher her to be as organized as possible at all times, to take good notes, and to approach everything with a sense of humour; these skills she brings with her to The Virtual Stage. After living and studying in Germany and Trinidad while completing her BA and BEd through Simon Fraser University, her passion for travel propelled her to teach secondary English and Drama in Switzerland, Ghana, China and Mongolia before returning home to Vancouver where she now resides. Alysha is currently completing her MEd in Educational Administration at UBC, while finding quite a bit of time to enjoy beautiful Vancouver.

Virtual Stage Member-At-Large: Scott Bruce Scott Bruce, FCSI, CFP, CFA

Member-at-Large
board member since 2000

Since graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary, Scott has achieved over fifteen years of experience in the financial/investment industry. Scott has also filled many roles in various not for profit organizations ranging from miscellaneous volunteer to President of the Board, including a decade as President of The Virtual Stage Arts Society. He brings with him hands-on knowledge in such fields as project management, human resources, finance, and fund raising. Though an ardent admirer of all artistic disciplines, Scott has a keen interest in visual arts.

Virtual Stage Member-At-Large: Stasa AndricStasa Andric, BBA

Member-at-Large
board member since 2004

Devoted to living simply and being kind to the Earth, yet deeply fascinated by all things urban, Stasa is a tour de force paradox. She loves music, yoga, dancing, live theatre, film, traveling. Stasa brings with her rich marketing communications experience to The Virtual Stage. Stasa is currently involved with the Playhouse Theatre Company as their sales manager. Previously, she worked as an advertising and graphic design consultant with SharedVISION Magazine and on pan-European management consulting projects with Theron Business Consulting in Germany. Over the years, she's been involved in event management, public relations and fundraising, especially through her active involvement with AIESEC at Simon Fraser University, where she also obtained a Bachelor in Business and Administration. Stasa immigrated to Canada from former Yugoslavia in 1994. She plays and lives in Vancouver, BC with her partner, writer/photographer Roman Korec, and their children Maya and Marcus, with whom life is simply amazing.