Board of Directors
2026-2027
Paul Speaker
A lifelong photographer, beginning with a Brownie camera in Portland, Oregon, Paul earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brooks Institute of Photography with majors in Industrial Photography and Color Technology. His career spans industrial photography, school photography, portrait retouching, and ongoing Photoshop work for photographers.
A Lifetime member and Certified Professional Photographer through Professional Photographers of America, he has earned multiple master-level distinctions and industry awards. He has served in leadership roles with the International Association of Panoramic Photographers and Photographic Society of America, while continuing active involvement in photographic education, competition, and mentorship.
APSA, PPSA, GPSA, M.Photog., M.Artist, Cr. AFIAP
President
David Berg is a lifelong Minnesotan with a degree in Wildlife Management from the University of Minnesota. He spent 25 years with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as a Ranger/Naturalist, presenting educational programs for schools and the public.
He later worked 13 years for the Minnesota Historical Society at Mill City Museum, portraying engineer William de la Barre. Since retiring in 2016, David and his wife Linda volunteer with church and civic groups. David specializes in fine art color and black-and-white panoramic photography of landscapes, architecture, and historic landmarks.
David Alan Berg
Past President
D.John McCarthy
Treasurer/President Elect
Dennis “D. John” McCarthy, a Massachusetts native, is a lifelong photographer and resident of Wilbraham with his wife, Mary. A graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, he earned degrees in professional photography, education, and business.
He holds Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman degrees from the Professional Photographers of America. John worked for UMass and Fujifilm in varying capacities and served more than 23 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and Naval Reserves. In retirement, he enjoys pet photography, sailing, skiing, and volunteering as Director of The Valley Photo Center in Springfield.
International award-winning photographer Michelle Ranee Johnson draws on her backgrounds in Geology and Anthropology to create images that connect land, people, and viewer. She aims to transport viewers into her images and invite them to feel the peace and wonder she experiences in wild places. Through her art, Michelle hopes to offer a sanctuary from the chaos dominating the headlines.
​
Her honors include Honorable Mention at the IPA Awards, Bronze at the Fine Art Photo Awards, Silver at the 2025 Black and White reFocus Awards, and selection of "The Parched Earth" for Photofest 2019 by National Geographic Yourshot in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
Michelle Ranee Johnson
Secretary
Dave Kutz
Dave has been an IAPP member since 1993 and has served on its board since 2012, including roles as Director, Secretary, Past President, and two terms as President. A graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree in Professional Photography, he spent 47 years working in motion pictures and television, specializing in Steadicam, crane, and specialty camera operations.
His passion for panoramic photography began in the 1980s and evolved through the use of Art Panorama, XPan, Roundshot, and Hulcherama cameras. Today, he continues working with both digital and film-based panoramic imaging and large-scale photographic productions.
Lancaster, PA
Director
Jacky Lee is a distinguished visual artist recognized by the Australian Government and an ambassador of the International Association of Art Photographers. A self‑taught Hong Kong–born photographer now based in Canberra, he won the National Geographic Photo Contest, and his award‑winning work has been exhibited internationally.
A qualified photo judge with APJA, VAPS and PSA, he mentors photographers through PSA and RPS and serves on the APS Management Committee, chairing its AI & Authorship Standards Subcommittee. He also contributes to CAPA’s AI Advisory Committee. Beyond his creative practice, he is a Chartered Building Surveyor and Chartered Building Engineer with over two decades of experience.
Jacky Lee
Director
Chris Gjevre
Director
Christopher Gjevre was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Chris acquired a degree in audio video technology, including still photography, and worked in the photo industry for 8 years at a lab.
After a short stint with the FAA as an air traffic controller, he joined forces with James Blakeway in 1991 and has worked for Blakeway Worldwide Panoramas, Inc. ever since. Chris has traveled the far reaches of the globe hunting photographs of the world’s most popular cities, sites and some of the best known sporting events in the world.
In addition to photography, Chris is an avid scuba diver and has put much of his passion into building a North woods lake cabin getaway for his family in Northern Wisconsin.
Minnetonka, MN
Bob Rose, Associate Professor Emeritus at RIT’s School of Photographic Arts and Sciences, has made global contributions that helped companies improve products, strengthen brand awareness, and advance photographic technology. Throughout his career, he developed new devices and techniques, guided the adoption of emerging technologies, and influenced key product‑launch decisions as Editor‑at‑Large for Photo District News and Rangefinder for 17 years.
He has photographed on six continents, published extensively, and holds two patents. Bob earned degrees from RIT and the American Intercontinental University and received the 2019 Chuck Westfall Technical Education Award for his impact on the photographic industry.
Bob Rose
Director