**John C. Williams,** *Co-Founder & CEO,* is an award-winning film and television writer, producer and director whose credits include independent shorts, features, documentaries, television programming and corporate communications. Prior to founding Reel Works, John created original television for WNET/Thirteen, Oxygen, WE: Women’s Television and Metro Channels. John has produced numerous major market television commercials and independent films. John holds an MFA in Film & Television from New York University and a BA in English from Boston University. Email John.

Devon Mercurius, Senior Director of Programs, is an accomplished nonprofit leader with over a decade of experience educating and empowering young people. He has led youth-focused education initiatives nationwide by securing funding, managing programs, and forging partnerships to help under-resourced students. Devon's dedication to guiding young people toward financial literacy, educational attainment, and career readiness reflects his journey from Guyana to Brooklyn, which shaped his approach by bringing a deep understanding of how education can transform lives.

Outside of work, Devon is a huge fan of basketball and soccer, interested in technology and international relations, and a bit of a foodie. Lastly, he's a proud graduate of Ramapo College of New Jersey. Go, Roadrunners.

**Cameron Amstater**, *Senior Manager of Career Development,* is a seasoned Production Coordinator that has been working in TV and Film Production in New York for over 10 years. She enjoys the fast-paced environment and satisfaction that comes with working in the field, but feels most passionate about developing relationships with her co-workers and mentoring individuals new to the industry as they pursue their careers in production. She is thrilled to bring that enthusiasm and drive to Reel Works. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Social Policy and Education from Northwestern University and spends her free time volunteering with child-centered non-profits and being with her family. Email Cameron.

**Siobhan Cavanagh**, *Career Exploration Program Manager*, Siobhan Cavanagh, is honored to be serving as the Career Exploration Program Manager with MediaMKRS. She has always had a passion for media and is proud to help foster new diverse talent here in NYC. She believes that we all benefit from a media industry that is inclusive and diverse. Originally beginning her career on set, Siobhan has worked as a Production Assistant for various productions including TV, Commercials, Web Content, and Documentaries. She studied Film Production and Theater at Ithaca College and received her Master’s in Screen Studies as part of the inaugural class of the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema. This has shaped Siobhan’s approach to film education, which incorporates both process and theory. She has worked with a variety of organizations including the New York International Children’s Film Festival, Museum of the Moving Image, BRIC, The Little Animation Studio, Teachers College of Columbia and Marquis Studios. She is happy to lend her experiences in media production and film education to help students get their start in the Media and Entertainment Industry. Email Siobhan.

**Zakiya Muhammad**, *Career Exploration Program Coordinator*, has a background in media production and creative writing. After graduating from the illustrious Howard University, Zakiya began working alongside non-profit organizations to provide resources and mentorship to support young storytellers. Zakiya is now focused on creating opportunities that will encourage the diversity of the media field. They plan to accomplish this by working with young storytellers of marginalized communities throughout their career paths as well as working with other members of their community to provide safe environments and spaces for folx to comfortably create in.

**Lenisha Sisnett, LMSW,** *Social Worker,* is a Licensed Master Social Worker from Brooklyn, NY who specializes in work with children, youth and families. Lenisha currently serves as the Social Worker for the MediaMKRS Career Pathways program and plans to bring her passion for underserved communities and unrepresented folks to this space by lending her expertise to show the intersections between media & entertainment and human services. Her other pursuits include Lecturer at the Columbia School of Social Work and founder of Future Professionals Inc., a youth centered nonprofit that prepares students for life after high school. With over 12 years of experience within the field of social work, her commitment and work within educational justice has spanned schools and nonprofits in the New York City region. Lenisha’s entrepreneurial pursuits involve serving school communities through instruction and facilitation of workshops that support BIPOC students and the individuals responsible for their learning. She is a wife, mom of two beautiful children and an island girl at heart.

**Roslyn Richardson***, Finance & Operations Coordinator,* is a creative writer and a lover of the arts. Roslyn is passionate about supporting ethnically diverse voices in the arts. Her past experiences include editing for the Black Girl Nerds website and writing/directing skits for the youth in her community. She received her BFA degree in Creative Writing and she holds an AA degree in Writing and Literature. Roslyn actively lives by the Toni Morrison quote: “If there’s a book you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”

**Tyler Cino Maradiaga** (they/he), *Career Development Program Manager*, is a filmmaker and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) professional based in Brooklyn, NY. After graduating from UC Berkeley, and almost a decade of working in DEI in the arts, higher education, and law, their passions for social change led them to a Masters of Arts in Film Directing at Brooklyn College’s Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema. At Reel Works, Tyler manages programs focused on advancing the careers of underrepresented identities in the media workforce, particularly in entry-level to mid-level professions through partnerships with employers and unions. Outside of Reel Works, Tyler loves to direct and produce narrative films and music videos exploring identity across genres. While not at work, they could be found biking around NYC, cooking, or catching up on a never ending watchlist at a local movie theater.

**Stephanie Walter**, *Co-Founder & Chief Program Officer*, is an award-winning writer, producer and director whose credits include television, radio and theater. Stephanie’s television credits include documentaries for Lifetime, MSNBC, CBS, and Viacom, as well as her own independent work. Stephanie has created original programming for a variety of broadcasters, and spent a chunk of her career documenting roots music across the U.S. Stephanie holds an MFA in Dramaturgy from Stony Brook University, where she created a series of lectures that examined Race and Justice, working with students using Socratic methodologies. She also staged and produced, Race Riot, a series of pop up protests revolving around racial issues in the United States. She is currently the Executive Producer and Director of The Studio at Reel Works, training students to enter the film and television Work Force. The production company recently produced their first feature film, 72 Hours a Brooklyn Love Story, a jury selection at The New York Film Festival, and their first feature documentary, National Park Diaries, which is making the 2017 documentary festival circuit. A second feature documentary is in the works, to be released in 2023, as well as a short narrative film, that will be developed and filmed this summer for festival consideration. Email Stephanie.

Charles Reynoso, Director of Education, has been an educator, musician, and multimedia artist for over two decades. As a teacher with the Department of Education, he and his history students created short films with historical narratives in order to connect modern day injustices and inequalities to American history. As a media producer, he collaborates with several non-profit organizations to bring awareness to issues surrounding the AfroLatino community. He has a B.S. in Multimedia Journalism from CUNY Lehman College, and a Masters of Science in Education with a concentration in Special Education within Urban Settings from Long Island University. He has recently discovered that his love language is coffee. Email Charles.

Stephen Czaja, Supervising Producer, started collaborating with Reel Works in 2019 as the editing instructor in the Fellows program. Before becoming Reel Works’ Studio Producer, Stephen was an elementary and middle school film teacher in Astoria, Queens. During his 4.5 years as a public school teacher, Stephen developed a robust film curriculum spanning grades 3-8 that involved students in the creation of projects like traditional cel animations, stop-motion films, music videos, and narrative short films. He has been editing professionally since 2015 and his work includes The Short Goodbye, which was screened at the 2019 New York Shorts International Film Festival. In 2017, Stephen co-founded the nonprofit REÍR, with the aim of bringing extracurricular opportunities to underserved youth both domestically and abroad - in particular, children in Guatemala. Stephen graduated with a B.A. in Philosophy with a minor in Ethics from Emory University and he received an M.A. in Media Studies from The New School. Email Stephen.

**Aliyah Grant**, *Career Development Program Coordinator*, is passionate about using film and television to change dominant narratives about society. In May 2021 she graduated from Long Island University: Global, a four-year study abroad program where she studied in 12+ countries, graduating with a B.A. in Global Studies and minors in International Relations and Arts & Communications. Through her studies, she was able to focus on her passion for decolonial film, writing her thesis on how Black and Indigenous film is used as a method of decolonization in settler- colonial nations. She’s worked within many different organizations — film festivals in Australia, an Indigenous focused documentary NGO in Indonesia, and a black TV and film Collective based in America. Her passion for conservation has also led her to working in an environmental journalism company on their communications team. Excited to finally be working behind the scenes, Aliyah hopes to uplift marginalized and minority voices by getting them careers within the entertainment industry. In her free time she likes to research early 2000s pop culture, watch movies, and add to her never-ending list of places she wants to travel to. Email Aliyah.

**Mikel Butler**, *Career Success Manager,* believes in the power of filmmaking as a transformative art form that can educate, inspire and entertain. She’s worked in film and media production as a production coordinator and independent producer. Her PC work has mainly been in the world of unscripted television and film, working on projects for Hulu, Disney+ and the History Channel, while her independent producing work leans towards the narrative space. She’s most interested in exploring themes of identity, media representation, and family through her filmmaking. Her film work has been seen at the Queens World Film Festival, HBO Women in Comedy Film Festival, Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, Dances with Films–LA and more. Mikel is also a documentary filmmaking teaching artist for various non-profits around NYC and loves working to share knowledge and foster growth in individuals. She’s based out of Brooklyn, but a west coast gal at heart.

**Joshua Stone**, *Program Coordinator, Reel Works in Schools,* has worked in the youth development sphere since high school. While completing his undergraduate degree at Northeastern University, Joshua held a variety of roles, including teaching sexual health to high schoolers, coordinating Boston’s Mayor’s Youth Council, and working at a queer summer camp in western Massachusetts. Throughout their life, Joshua has explored a variety of creative hobbies such as writing, music, and visual art. These combined experiences formed Joshua’s passion for empowering youth through skill development, community building, and encouraging creativity in all facets of life.

**Christine Pluviose**, *Education Senior Coordinator*, coordinates all workshops for after-school programs and manages Film School Friday Tutoring and the Mentorship Program. A Brooklyn College graduate in Film Production, she thrives behind the camera, specializing in screenwriting and directing. Christine also honed her documentary filmmaking skills with organizations such as the Maysles Documentary Center and DCTV. As a Teen Producers Academy (TPA) alum, she transitioned into the role of TPA Assistant, simultaneously earning an associate's degree in Liberal Arts from Hostos Community College. Christine has contributed to diverse projects, including short documentaries, experimental films, and narratives exploring themes like the Black Caribbean experience, comedy, drama, mental health, and interpersonal dynamics.

**Emily Freire** (she/her), *Events Coordinator* at Reel Works, is a dedicated professional with a passion for bringing creative visions to life. A Brooklyn native and first-generation college graduate, she holds a BA in Film Production and Television/Radio/Emerging Media from CUNY Brooklyn College and a Careers in Technical Education certificate from the Academy for Careers in Television and Film.

Emily has been part of the Reel Works community since 2019, starting with the inaugural class of MediaMKRS Career Exploration. Throughout her journey, she has evolved through multiple roles, including Youth Ambassador, Producing Fellow, Producing Instructor, Narrative Lab Production Coordinator, and MediaMKRS Career Development On-Site Coordinator, before stepping into her current position as Events Coordinator. Emily coordinates signature events such as the Reel Works Film Festival, MediaMKRS Summit, and Reel Works ChangeMakers Gala, as well as screenings, mixers, cultivations, and other events throughout the year. Her work spans every aspect of event planning and execution, from venue selection and vendor management to coordinating technology needs and supporting program teams. She also recruits and trains volunteers, develops marketing materials, and conducts post-event evaluations to ensure success.

With extensive experience in independent film production across the tri-state area and Los Angeles, Emily has worked in roles from Production Coordinator to Producer. Her portfolio includes three award-winning feature films, and she has collaborated with top companies like Netflix, Adidas, VFiles, and the Academy of Motion Pictures, showcasing her ability to plan and execute creative projects with intention and precision.

Outside of work, Emily enjoys exploring diverse music and cuisines, practicing jiujitsu, playing board games, and spending time with her French bulldog, Bibi. She is also known for her signature blue hair and commitment to creating impactful experiences where diverse stories can thrive.

Regan Hales (she/her), Senior Director of Operations at Reel Works, is a native New Yorker and first generation college graduate having obtained her M.S and B.S degrees from University at Albany, SUNY and her CPA license in NYS. Her cumulative experience in the for-profit and nonprofit industries has granted her the privilege to partner with leadership and across the organization to create and execute on organizational strategy and to strengthen financial health to promote sound business decisions that align with the strategic vision.

Regan's professional experience includes time at Ernst & Young, one of the top, global professional services firms, as an auditor for media and entertainment clients; HBO, one of the most critically acclaimed, premium cable and satellite television networks working on finance for HBO International; and DoSomething.org where she ended her tenure as COO supporting the org in its efforts to fuel young people to change the world through various cause programs and campaigns. Personally, Regan is passionate about media & entertainment and storytelling through all mediums (including film, scripted TV, anime, books, + action, sci-fi and fantasy genres), fitness (daily HIIT/strength training), and language learning (currently Japanese).