Vent Haven Museum--Personnel

Personnel

Board of Directors

John S "Brook" Brooking

Museum President

Brook has been connected to Vent Haven Museum in one capacity or another for most of his life. In 2006, when prior Vent Haven President John R.S. Brooking passed away, Brook took over as president, and has since served in the dual capacity of president and legal counsel. Brook is a practicing attorney in Ft. Wright, KY.

Anne Roberts

Director

Anne's involvement with Vent Haven Museum is also nearly lifelong. At age 10 she dusted dummies for then curator Dorothy Millure. Annie became curator in 1994 and served in that position for seven years during which time she created the first complete digital inventory & catalog of figures. In 2001, Anne was invited to serve on the Board of Directors; she also works as the Media Coordinator for the Vent Haven ConVENTion each summer.

Lisa Sweasy

Director/Curator

curator@venthaven.org

Lisa was curator of Vent Haven Museum from 2000-2008. In 2009 she joined the Board of Directors and became curator again in 2013. Lisa wrote a complete biography of founder W.S. Berger in 2015. She also organized the elements of the collection into several databases. She and her husband Bryan are working to digitize the massive archives.

Bob Wylly

Director

Bob has lived in Cincinnati since 1978, retiring from Procter & Gamble in 2002. He attended his first ConVENTion in that year, first out of curiosity but later out of appreciation for what it takes to be a ventriloquist. He has volunteered in many capacities at Vent Haven Museum, and agreed to join the Board of Directors in 2017. Bob is active in many other local organizations, including the Boy Scouts of America and the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Al Getler

Executive Director,

Vent Haven ConVENTion

Al Getler is a ventriloquist and comedian performing for audiences nationwide at resorts, festivals, fairs, and corporate events. As a nonprofit executive, he is Vice President of Community Heart & Soul, recognized for strengthening small towns. Previously, Al was an award-winning media executive publishing websites, magazines, and newspapers. He is a community leader in Vermont where he was named one of the top influencers in the state by VermontBIZ newspaper. Al recently retired as a volunteer firefighter and EMT. He and his wife Nancy have three well above average adult children and three wicked smart grandkids.

Mark Wade

Executive Director Emeritus,

Vent Haven ConVENTion

Mark Wade served as the Executive Director of the Vent Haven ConVENTion from 2000 through 2023, and he has served on the Board of Advisors to the Vent Haven Museum for nearly five decades. He is a past “International Ventriloquist of The Year,” an author, lecturer, and presenter who has traveled around the globe promoting ventriloquism. Mark is noted for being “America’s Foremost Children’s Ventriloquist,” a title that he greatly cherishes. He has even written the textbook on how to perform vent for children, Kidshow Ventriloquism. In 2024, at a Vent Haven ConVENTion honoring Mark, he was name Executive Director Emeritus of the convention.