Our Team
Since opening in 2019 GiGi's Playhouse Little Rock has been providing educational and therapeutic programs while spreading our mission throughout the local community, and you have an opportunity to be a part of this incredible mission. We are currently recruiting people in our community looking for a way to give back while growing personally & professionally. Submit an application by clicking the button below or send an email of interest with a Board of Managers application.
Suzanne Heutter, President
Suzanne Huetter is the President for GiGi’s Playhouse Little Rock Board of Managers. She and her husband, Tom, have three children Sam, Matt, and Sarah. Suzanne has worked for Arkansas Children’s Hospital since 1997 as a registered nurse and since 2008 as a pediatric nurse practitioner. For almost ten years she worked in the Genetics department and provided care and treatment for infants, children, and adolescents diagnosed with Down syndrome throughout the state. Currently she works in the Plastic Surgery and Neurosurgery department at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Suzanne plans to continue advocating and providing support for people with Down syndrome as well as their families. She is honored and beyond excited to be a part of GiGi’s Playhouse because it allows her to continue using her passion for Down syndrome awareness, education, and inclusivity. She is excited not only for all that GiGi’s Playhouse offers to the Down syndrome community, but also the ways it will benefit the city of Little Rock as well as our state as a whole.
Tricia Ambeau, Treasurer
Tricia Ambeau is the founder and Treasurer of GiGi's Playhouse Little Rock. Tricia and her husband Chad have 3 children Grant, Olivia, and Emmalin (who has Down syndrome). Tricia has a background in accounting and finance as a comptroller for over 20 years. She became interested in GiGi's Playhouse following Emmalin’s birth and her passion to change the language from “I’m sorry” to “congratulations”. Tricia is devoted to sharing the most up to date medical and therapeutic options for Down syndrome. Tricia believes that everyone, no matter their diagnosis or age, deserves to live in a world that helps them achieve their best.
Jenine Stafford, Secretary
Jenine Stafford is a member of our founding startup team and currently serves as Secretary of the Board. Among the many hats Jenine wears, she is most proud to be Mom to her son Michael who rocks an extra chromosome. By day, Jenine is a financial advisor for Thrivent Financial where she is dedicated to helping all families prepare for their financial futures. She also devotes her time to speaking engagements around the state for families with a loved one with a disability to educate about financial options for the family and preparing for their loved one’s future. Jenine also runs a program called Buddy Boxes which provides a free cooler of food and drinks to families when their loved one with Down syndrome is in the hospital.
Dennis Dixon, Self Advocate / Board of Managers
Dennis Dixon is a loving husband and fierce advocate for individuals with Down syndrome. As a native of Beebe, Arkansas, he uses his voice and life’s story of courage and overcoming obstacles as a way to inspire Arkansans with disabilities to be always be working for a new #BestOfAll. Dennis is committed to the mission of GiGi’s Playhouse in changing the way the world sees a diagnosis of Down syndrome. Dennis is currently enjoying his retirement from a career as an auto-mechanic and renaissance man. He lives independently with his wife, Cecelia, in Beebe. Dennis loves to visit his family on weekends and watch his favorite football team, the LSU tigers. As a board member for GiGi’s Playhouse, Dennis acts as a Community Engagement Ambassador doing public speaking and media outreach activities.
Brittany Boccher, Managing Board
Brittany is a proud mom to a sweet and sassy little girl and a loving and joyful little boy who was diagnosed at birth with Down syndrome. She is an advocate and philanthropist at heart who has managed to maintain a career, be an active and supportive stay at home parent, an advocate for families with special needs, and a caregiver to her now retired wounded warrior husband.
Brittany founded the Down Syndrome Advancement Coalition as a way to establish a unified group of organizations that meets the needs of the Down syndrome community. She believed not ONE organization alone could meet every need of our community, but realized by working together and utilizing the strengths of many, we can meet the needs of individuals diagnosed with Down syndrome and their families.
Brittany is a community leader, entrepreneur, and military community engagement consultant who has been involved in community leadership since 2005. Over the course of her career, she has presented to, advised, and shared ideas with community leaders throughout the nation.