MEET OUR STAFF

House Managers

Amy Coletta
Amy is a Front of House Manager at the PAC at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.  She joined our team in 2017 and brings with her over 10 years of theater experience.  While working with the dedicated team of volunteer ushers and PAC staff, it’s her ultimate goal to provide a positive memorable experience to the PAC theater patrons. Amy and her family are 14-year residents of San Luis Obispo county where she enjoys hiking, travel, and entertaining with family and friends.

Taffy Gonzalez

In addition to her House Manager responsibilities, Taffy is the event manager for the Paso Robles Inn and is the proud owner of All Traditions, an event planning company. She holds a degree in Journalism from Cal Poly SLO, with a concentration in public relations. Prior to establishing All Traditions in 2001, Taffy worked as a print production manager at an advertising agency and as a public relations account executive. . Taffy has taught wedding planning for the San Luis Obispo Coastal Unified School District Adult Education Program and Cuesta Junior College.  She also served as Chair of the American Heart Association Heart Walk and on their Executive Board. She enjoys living in San Luis Obispo, along with her husband, daughter and dog, and has a son attending college in Montana.

Nan Hamilton

Barbara became a House Manager in the summer of 2008, after volunteering as a PAC Friend back in November 2001.  She has enjoyed assisting patrons, cheering graduates, watching many fantastic dances, plays and events, and building friendships with Ushers, staff and techs. Being a grandma and keeps her busy with my family, but her stress releases are long walks, browsing bookstores and libraries, and Zumba classes!

Cindy Mills

Cindy is a Cal Poly graduate that has been self-employed with her husband for over 39 years.  As one of the original group of Ushers at the PAC, she has enjoyed volunteering as an Usher and Floor Captain since 1996 and is very proud to have been part of such an amazing group of friends.  She is our most-recently-hired House Manager and is looking forward to working with everyone at the PAC.  

Jerry Shapazian
Jerry has been with the Performing Arts Center since the opening in 1996, starting as an Usher, then Floor Captain, and then House Manager. He served on the Steering Committee for eight years, six of those years as chairman. He has thoroughly enjoyed these years with such a tremendous group of Ushers and administration personnel. During these years, he has continued his day job as a pharmacist. He grew up in Dinuba, California and went to the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy and graduated with a Doctor in Pharmacy Degree in 1973. He has been a practicing pharmacist for 46 years. and currently works in Paso Robles. He moved to the central coast in 1990.  He has two children and two grandchildren.

Performing Arts Center Administrators

Ryan Gruss, Director of Patron Services and Campus Ticketing
Ryan is originally from Santa Clarita, CA and came to the PAC in 2013 after being the Assistant Venue Manager of the Felix Event Center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University. An alum of Azusa Pacific, Ryan's first role at the PAC was Box Office Manager. After 1.5 years at Cal Poly, the decision was made to unify the PAC and Athletic ticket offices to create the Cal Poly Ticket Office. Ryan served as the Manager of the Cal Poly Ticket Office until 2017. Upon Nancy Cochran's retirement, the decision was made for Ryan to oversee Patron Services and he began his current role of Director of Patron Services and Campus Ticketing. Ryan lives in Arroyo Grande with his wife Courtney and 6 year old daughter Ellie. They are expecting another girl in August.

Milly Barizo, Manager of Guest and Volunteer Services
Milly joined the Performing Arts Center in September of 2017. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Cal Poly and stayed on the Central Coast after graduating. After earning her degree, she knew that she wanted to stay committed to the arts, but felt more at home backstage than on-stage. Instead of pursuing performance, she decided to work in production and administration. She had worked for the San Luis Obispo Symphony, and various departments at Cal Poly (University Housing, Cal Poly Conference and Event Planning, and Cal Poly Arts) before joining the PAC team. When she's not at the PAC, Milly can be found crocheting, crafting, doing makeup, or re-watching mid-90s/early-00s sitcoms.