How many years have you been a judge?

This is my first year!

What excited you about judging for the Telly Awards?

I am excited to be a judge this year beacuse I have been on the other side. I have submitted my work and have won a few awards. My dedication to supporting local artist pushes me to continue to create myself and work with artist to create the best work and showcase it. Being a judge is a full circle moment for me!

What was your first job in the industry? What did it teach you?

What was your first job in the industry? In my upcoming book, I actually share the story of one of my very first productions where I was simultaneously the Production Assistant, the Gaffer, and the on-set babysitter! I wore every hat imaginable just to get the job done. Contrast that with where I am today—producing content for networks like Hulu, BET+, TLC, Lifetime, and other major streaming services—and it really puts the journey into perspective.

What did it teach you? That experience was my ultimate bootcamp. It taught me grit and resilience, but more importantly, it taught me the absolute necessity of setting boundaries and developing true leadership skills. Experiencing the sheer exhaustion of that “hustle” is exactly what made me realize that to survive in this industry, I needed to build an actual business that could provide year-round sustainability, rather than just jumping from gig to gig.

What project are you most proud to have worked on?

As an Impact Producer, the core of what I do revolves around social change, making the documentary ESL the project I am most proud of. The impact campaign for this film deeply resonated with me on a personal level, inspiring me to engage more meaningfully with my own community and share stories of my friends from Guatemala and Africa. Guiding this project from production all the way through its festival run allowed me to witness firsthand how powerful storytelling can bridge cultural gaps and build lasting connections.

What’s the most challenging part about your job and/or the industry?

Navigating the seasons of slow or nonexistent work is definitely the hardest part of the industry. In the Midwest, the winter months can bring production to a grinding halt, and waiting for the phone to ring as a freelancer is incredibly stressful. However, overcoming that challenge is exactly why I structured my business the way I did. Today, I am so grateful that I can dive into heavy on-set production when the season is right, and shift my focus to supporting and developing our amazing creative community when production is quiet.

What do you look for to determine excellence in video?

I know every artist that submits will come in with a quaility video. I am looking for a story that I want to sit and listen to from start to end without my attention breaking. Excellence to me in this moment is using audio and visuals to bring me in and take me on a short journey.

What are your current roles and responsibilities and what do you love most about your job?

My Responsibilities: In my role, I serve as the bridge between creative vision and sustainable execution. I am responsible for guiding our clients through the entire lifecycle of a project—from early development and production all the way to distribution and impact campaigns. A huge part of my focus is sourcing funding for these projects, while also consulting with arts organizations to streamline their internal systems, boost their visibility, and ensure their programs are perfectly aligned with their goals.

What I Love Most: I love being the catalyst for longevity. The media market is always shifting, and I am deeply passionate about helping artists and cultural organizations not just survive those shifts, but actually thrive in them. Seeing the direct impact of a well-funded project or a newly streamlined organization on the broader community is incredibly fulfilling.

What initiatives or projects are you working on now that excite you?

I am currently balancing two major projects that I am deeply passionate about. On the thought-leadership side, I am working on my new book, which serves as a blueprint for filmmakers looking to create long-term, sustainable careers. On the business side, my team and I are actively gearing up for the major global film markets this year—AFM, MIPCOM, Berlin Market, and TIFF. Getting on the ground at these events to pitch, sell films, and negotiate distribution deals for independent filmmakers is always an exhilarating process and a core part of how we create true visibility for our artists.

Do you have any specific practices you lean on to spark creativity?

Meditation and nature walks are my absolute go-tos. Whenever I hit a creative block or just need to spark some inspiration, my first step is rolling out my yoga mat. I’ve intentionally created a very calm space in my home, complete with candles and sage, specifically for this practice to reset my mind. Beyond that, being outdoors is incredibly healing for me. I always take walks with a little pocket notebook, jotting down every single thought. Eventually, that stream of consciousness untangles whatever has been stuck in my head and leads me straight to the core idea I need.

What inspired you to pursue your career path?

It actually traces back to my roots in theater. I had incredible teachers who invested in my creativity, which led me to act throughout college and my early career. But the more time I spent in productions, the more fascinated I became with the chain of command—I wanted to know who was really in charge of bringing the whole vision to life. That curiosity made me a Producer. Now, I know exactly how an idea turns into a movie or commercial: it happens because the Producer brings everyone together. We are the “secret tool” of the industry. Whether our work is highly visible or completely unseen, we are the invisible glue assembling the talent, crew, and funding to make the magic happen.

In your experience, what is a significant change you are seeing happen in the video, television, and/or film industry, and what insight can you share about how to navigate it?

The most significant change I am seeing right now is the fracturing of the traditional studio and streaming models—we are watching legacy giants like Paramount truly struggle to maintain their footing. In contrast, we are witnessing a massive rise of the independent filmmaker. Audiences are shifting; they want to own their content again, and they want to directly support individual artists rather than faceless organizations. Because of this, the distribution market is completely transforming. The days of easily securing a Minimum Guarantee (MG) are largely behind us, which means we have to find alternative, innovative ways to fund projects. I spend a massive amount of time studying these market shifts—it’s honestly my secret weapon. My biggest insight for navigating this new landscape? Stop working in a silo. Since audiences want to support you, you have to be visible. Build a strong social media presence, cultivate your community, and let people in on your process