Russell Taylor, President
Russ is appointed by the Dracut School Committee and currently serves as the DATV Board President.
Joanna Harris, Vice President
Joanna Harris is the DATV Board Vice President. Joanna recently retired from a 32-year teaching career. She began teaching in California after graduating cum laude from the University of the Pacific in Stockton. She moved to Massachusetts in 1993 and taught 21 years in the Lawrence Public Schools, including nine years in Special Education.
As a child, Joanna lived in Mexico with her family and learned Spanish. She also studied in Spain for a college semester. Her travels have taken her to several foreign countries as well as frequent trips to California to see family and meet up with old friends.
The theater has always been a large part of Joanna’s life, but only as a spectator. When a local theater group opened in Dracut in 2012, she jumped at the chance to get involved. She participated as an actor, singer, and assistant producer. Joanna performed in 8 shows, including Our Town, Steel Magnolias, Mary Poppins and Beauty and the Beast.
Joanna serves in the Christian Education program at Christ Church United, Dracut. She is trained in piano, guitar, and voice. Her hobbies include completing crossword puzzles, reading magazines, and learning to crochet.
After retiring in 2016, Joanna started volunteering with DATV and the Dracut Senior Center. She also treated herself to a 10-day tour of Italy, fulfilling a lifelong dream.
Joanna is elected by the DATV Membership and currently serves as the DATV Board Vice President. Joanna serves as Producer of the series “For the Young at Heart”.
Matthew Sheehan, Treasurer
Matt is appointed by the Dracut Town Manager and currently serves as the DATV Board Treasurer.
Brian Genest, Clerk
Brian Genest joined the DATV Board of Directors in 2020 and serves as the DATV Board Clerk. He is the producer and host of Eye on Dracut, a monthly news magazine show covering town happenings. Genest was a broadcast journalism major at Emerson College, where he earned a degree in mass communication, and has experience in every aspect of television production. A marketing and communications expert with more than 20 years of success driving growth, maximizing ROI and boosting profits for consumer and high tech-brands, he has developed and executed strategic initiatives for a range of disruptive technologies, including robots, mobile commerce solutions and SaaS products. Earlier in his career, Genest worked as a newspaper reporter and editor. He is chairman of the Dracut Republican Town Committee and a member of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee representing the Second Essex & Middlesex district of Dracut, Andover, Lawrence and Tewksbury.
Tami Dristiliaris, Board Member
Tami is elected by the DATV Membership.
Philippe Thibault, Board Member
Philippe Thibault is a local architect with strong ties to the community. A licensed professional with over 27 years of experience, he brings a strong design and planning background to the Board of Directors. Philippe has dedicated his time to DATV with two terms on the Board of Directors serving as a past President. Phil has also been involved as a host and producer of several DATV productions. Apart from his time in Architecture and with DATV, Philippe has served on many Town of Dracut Boards and Commissions: including the Permanent Building Committee, Planning Board, Master Plan Committee, Capitol Planning, Community Preservation Committee, and Northern Middlesex Council of Governments.
John Zimini, Board Member
John is elected by the DATV Membership and currently serves as Producer and co-host of the series “What’s Happening Dracut”.