Barron joined the Board of Directors in 2020 after seeing many performances at KCT by his oldest daughter, Lena. Barron is a CPA, with Pugh CPAs where he works with many companies in a variety of industries, including financial institutions, governmental and not-for-profit entities and closely-held companies. His expertise is in financial statement audits, internal audits, loan review and compliance services, review and compilation services. Barron is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a B.S. in Business Administration, Accounting (Magna Cum Laude) and a Master of Accountancy with a concentration in audit.
Barron is also involved in many professional and community organizations including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants (TSCPA) – Knoxville Chapter (Financial Institutions Committee Member & Collegiate Outreach Committee Chair), Tennessee Bankers Association, Institute of Internal Auditors, Risk Management Association, and the Middlebrook Pike United Methodist Church-past Finance Committee Chair. Barron and his wife, Liz, are parents to daughters Lena and Alyssa.
Sydney Beckman is a Professor of Law at Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law, where he teaches Evidence and other courses, and a proud supporter of the arts in Knoxville. His family’s connection to KCT began in 2022, when his daughter enrolled in the Academy and went on to land her first role that December. He joined the Board of Directors in 2025.
Professor Beckman is the author of numerous books and reference guides on Evidence law, including a project currently in the works that turns the subject into a set of interactive logic puzzles, proof that he believes learning should be fun no matter the audience. Before his career in legal education, he practiced family law in Texas and served as a Municipal Judge Pro Tem for the City of Fort Worth.
Outside of work, Professor Beckman is an award-winning magician who has performed in four countries and holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. He is honored to support an organization that gives young people a stage to discover their own kind of magic.
Daniel joined the board in 2024 and is new to KCT. He is a Commercial Credit Manager at Home Federal Bank and has worked for Home Federal for over 10 years. Daniel grew up in Powell and resides there with his wife and three children. Daniel graduated from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in Finance. He enjoys being active in the community and keeping up with his three children and their activities.
Shane Templeton joined the board in 2025. Shane is a Business Development Manager for Delta Controls in Vancouver, Canada. Shane is originally from Johnson City, TN and relocated back to East Tennessee after living in Atlanta, Chicago and Indianapolis. With his wife Anne, they have 2 daughters, Grace (14) and Layne (12). Both of Shane’s girls have been very active in KCT over the last 5 years. Shane is a graduate from East Tennessee State University with a bachelor’s degree in business. Shane enjoys Tennis, local music and anything Tennessee Vols. Shane and his family reside in Fountain City.
Janice joined the Board in 2023, but joined the KCT family in 2008 when her first grandchild declared she wanted to act on stage. Fortunately, when she went looking for opportunities, Zack Allen had just opened the theatre and the rest is history. She is the grandmother of KCT alumnus/part time Academy Instructor Jaden Lily Branson, alumnus Eason Bullard, and current KCT actor, Vivienne Bullard as well as 4 year old Lulu Bullard. She is delighted to take on another role with KCT after helping with theater photography since the Tyson Street location. Janice is a recently retired nurse practitioner/nurse educator after a nearly 50 year career. She holds a BSN from the University of Tennessee and a MSN from Vanderbilt. She is an East Tennessean and is honored to be a part of such a jewel as KCT.
Sterling joined the KCT Board of Directors in 2023. Sterling (Sterl the Pearl®) Henton became an entrepreneur at the age of 8 when he began to DJ his elementary school parties and local community events in his hometown of Passaic, New Jersey. Sterling is now a driven leader and CEO of Rev It uP, LLC., an entertainment event planning and marketing company that emphasizes motivational team building and good old fashion fun activities.
Realizing his natural talent for entertaining and motivating teams, Sterling took his leadership skills to the football field. He earned an athletic scholarship to the University of Tennessee and led the Volunteers down the field as starting quarterback. During Sterling’s collegiate career, he won four bowl games (Liberty, Peach, Cotton, and Sugar). With Sterling at the helm, TN also won back to back SEC Championships. Sterling exhibited leadership off the field as well. He served as various officers including President of Omega Psi Phi, Inc., Iota Beta chapter. He also created Club 90 on WUTK, the area’s only hip hop radio show that is still heard today on the station’s airwaves.
His passion for giving back as a student-athlete could be seen throughout the Knoxville community. As one of Knoxville’s adopted favorite son’s, Sterling spent countless hours developing his motivational speaking skills with the children in the local schools. He inspired youthful dreamers on how to plan for their passions and coached young minds to cultivate positive behaviors.
Upon graduation, Sterling continued to develop his team-building skills during four seasons in the Canadian Football League for the British Columbia Lions and a season in the Arena Football League for the Orlando Predators. Afterward Sterling was a VP of Marketing for Warner Brothers (Southeast Region) before becoming a Senior Business Analyst for International Profit Associates. Sterling further refined his coaching, communication, and cultivating skills while obtaining his MBA, Human Resource Management from Columbus University.
His appetite for radio and television has birthed a new career. Sterl the Pearl® co-hosted Pearl and the Girl sports radio show and is a television featured host for The Sports Source and 6 Sports Sunday. Sterling has ventured into acting with appearances on several national television shows including Survivor’s Remorse, Empire, Nashville, and Homicide Hunter just to name a few. The big screen has become just as appealing with a role in the film All Eyez on Me.
Sterl the Pearl® continuous love for music, the Vols, and entertaining the masses is heard in Neyland Stadium. He is the official DJ for the University of Tennessee football team. He is also the official DJ for Minority Business Entrepreneur Magazine as well as spinning for several large events, festivals, weddings, and celebrity galas. Sterling is an executive partner with Urban Hangover, a destination vacation company with team building and leadership exercises for the attendees. Sterl the Pearl® has been heard all over the US and in Canada, Mexico, Bahamas, and Indonesia.
Sterling still gives back to the community via his many board appointments, motivational speaking engagements, team building activities, entertainment hosting, as well as coaching our youth and young at heart.
Erica joined the board in 2025 after becoming involved with KCT when her daughter participated in academy classes and was cast in Elf Jr in 2023. As a Knox County Schools educator with more than 20 years of experience, Erica is passionate about creating supportive spaces where children can grow with confidence and creativity. A Powell native, she lives there with her husband, Lewis, and their daughter, Evie. At an early age, Erica developed a passion for music, singing with her family and continuing her musical pursuits throughout high school. She performed in musicals, participated in Concert Choir and the Singers ensemble, and earned selection to both the All-East and All-State choirs. Erica studied Secondary Math Education at Tennessee Tech University, where she also performed with the TTU Chorale, held leadership roles in her sorority, and volunteered many hours of service to the Children’s Miracle Network. Outside of teaching and theatre, she enjoys hiking, travel, and exploring new cultures.
Walter Stiffler has served on the Board of Directors of Knoxville Children’s Theatre since 2025. He is a Credit Manager with 21st Mortgage and has worked in the financial services industry for over 15 years. Walter graduated from Winthrop University in 2006 with a BA in Political Science and from Covenant Theological Seminary in 2011 with a Masters of Divinity. He and his wife, Laura, have four children, three of whom have been involved in the theatre. As a Knoxville-area
resident, Walter is passionate about supporting organizations that strengthen the local community and create meaningful opportunities for young people.
Kiley Compton joined the Knoxville Children’s Theatre Board of Directors in 2026 after becoming involved with KCT through her son, who has participated in performances, technical theatre, and Academy workshops. She has valued seeing KCT provide young people with opportunities to develop confidence, creativity, friendships, and a sense of belonging both onstage and behind the scenes.
Kiley is Assistant Director of the Engineering Research Office in the University of Tennessee’s Tickle College of Engineering, where she leads a team that supports faculty in developing research proposals and securing external funding. Her professional background includes research administration, program evaluation, grant development, and nonprofit community services. She holds a Ph.D. in Evaluation, Statistics, and Methodology, as well as master’s and bachelor’s degrees in anthropology, from the University of Tennessee.
A longtime Knoxville resident, Kiley is excited to support KCT’s mission and help ensure that children throughout the community have access to meaningful and high-quality theatre experiences.
