Puppeteers of America The Puppeteers of America is , as defined in their handbook , " a national nonprofit corporation founded in 1937 . Its purpose is to encourage and promote puppetry as a means of communication , an extension of human expression , and as a performing Art ; to enhance the proficiency of the Art of Puppetry , both professional and amateur , by publications , workshops , conventions or festivals , lectures , advisory services and any and all of other means and methods . " The organization publishes " The Puppetry Journal " . Jim Henson served as President of the organization in 1962 - 1963 . Frank Oz ' s father , Mike Oznowicz , also served as President . His term lasted from 1974 to 1976 . The Puppeteers of America also has a large audio / visual library , from which members may borrow . The library contains several videos and DVDs featuring Jim Henson and the Muppets , including such rare finds as " An Evening with Jim Henson and Frank Oz " . Jim and Jane Henson attended their first Puppeteers of America festival in Detroit , Michigan in 1960 where he became friends with Burr Tillstrom of " Kukla , Fran and Ollie " fame . Burr Tillstrom introduced Jim Henson to puppet builder Don Sahlin who designed and built Rowlf the Dog . At the Puppeteers of America Festival in 1961 Jim Henson met Jerry Juhl and Frank Oz . Jane Henson has often said that Jim found the core group of the Muppets ( Don Sahlin , Jerry Juhl , and Frank Oz ) at Puppeteers of America festivals . At the end of his term as President of Puppeteers of America , Jim was also the director of the 1963 national festival in Hurleyville , New York . Caroll Spinney performed at a " PofA " festival in Utah in 1969 , and Jim Henson immediately asked him to join the Muppets . In 1980 , the Puppeteers of America and UNIMA - USA produced the World Puppetry Festival in Washington DC . The opening gala at the Kennedy Center featured segments by Burr Tillstrom , Bil Baird , Shari Lewis , and the Muppets all on the same stage . In the summer of 1989 at the Puppeteers of America festival at MIT , Jim Henson and Frank Oz spoke to the festival audience . " An Evening with Jim Henson and Frank Oz " is one of the most popular titles in the Puppeteers of America audio - visual library . Since Jim Henson ' s passing , the Henson family has sustained its interest in Puppeteers of America . Jane Henson served on the board from 1999 to 2000 . At the Puppeteers of America National Festival in Atlanta , 2009 " Sesame Street " puppeteers John Tartaglia and Leslie Carrara - Rudolph both presented programs . On July 15th , 2011 , Steve Whitmire and Kermit the Frog attended the 75th annual National Puppetry Festival , which was also held in Atlanta ( Whitmire ' s hometown ) . Highlights of the evening included a particular focus on the evolution of Kermit ( aided with a clip montage ) , and Q & A with Steve and Kermit . The Doc Bullfrog and Yancey Woodchuck puppets from the Emmet Otter musical made an appearance at the opening ceremony for the 2013 festival held at Swarthmore College , with Tyler Bunch and David Stephens reprising their roles from the original production . Several Emmet Otter puppets , as well as an original Cookie Monster , were on display at the 2015 festival held at the University of Connecticut . A screening of was held on August 11 , 2015 , with an audience talkback afterwards with Caroll Spinney , his wife Debra Jean , and Oscar the Grouch . Sonia Manzano co - hosted the final event of the festival , " Late Night with Eugene O ' Neill , " and received a standing ovation upon her entrance . Awards . The Puppeteers of America bestows special honors . The first award was The President ' s Award , established in 1968 , for outstanding contributions to the Art of Puppetry . Several Muppet performers / designers have been recipients . Since 1997 , the organization has also bestowed The Jim Henson Award for Innovation , recognizing innovation in puppetry that is technological , dramaturgical or collaborative in nature .