Chesley founded and serves as Executive Director and Board Chair of the Chesley Initiative, spearheading impact campaigns. She has worked extensively as an international producer and screenwriter on music videos, commercials, film and events. She founded and serves as the Executive Director of the Louisiana International Film Festival & Mentorship Program since 2011. 

Avi is a world–renowned VFX supervisor and artist. After working in pioneering VFX at Digital Domain, Avi founded Barbedwire FX working with some of the most legendary visual effects artists. Avi Das is known for The Manchurian Candidate (2004), Spider-Man 2 (2004) and The Midnight Meat Train (2008).

Ben is a Co-Founder and CEO of ReStalk, Inc. a company that implements regenerative solutions by transforming agricultural waste into valuable products. Initiatives adopted by ReStalk puts the world, its environment, and the customers that live in it first. Benjamin is motivated to new technologies with responsible manufacturing practice s to market with a focus on implementing regenerative solutions in traditional industries. Ben started Caduceus Media, a Chicago based company, that is pioneering new ways to interface digital video technologies inside hospitals.

As former president and CEO of Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation, Louisiana’s largest private family foundation, and Co-Chair of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP), Bertman is a global force in the global philanthropic community. A hockey enthusiast, Bertman is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame 2021 Fundraising Strategy Cabinet.

Laurie B. Kirby, Esq. co-produces FestForums  NYC and Santa Barbara and Best of the Fests, a B2B conference and awards event for music, film, food and wine festival organizers. The conference addresses how to improve the fan/attendee/talent experience at festivals.

In 1982, Lesa Ukman founded IEG (sponsorship.com) and built a company that spawned a new industry, one currently worth more than $85 billion. She created the processes to measure what was deemed immeasurable: the fair market value of sports, arts, entertainment and nonprofit sponsorships, now used by the worldwide marketplace.

Cassie Jaye is a filmmaker based in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Founder & CEO of Jaye Bird Productions. She has directed and produced over a dozen films and commercials, but is best known for her feature documentary The Red Pill (2017). Her films combined have screened at over 40 film festivals, winning 15 awards. Cassie directed the highly acclaimed Xfinity Comcast documentary advert Emily’s Oz, narrated by Robert Redford (ad agency: Goodby Silvertstein & Partners). Cassie’s feature documentaries have been reviewed by the NY Times, LA Times, LA Weekly, Variety, Huffington Post, New York Post, BBC, ABC News, Global News, VICE, Sky News, Yahoo News, The Guardian, Fox News, Inc. Magazine, The Daily Telegraph, The Australian, Mashable, Upworthy, Daily Mail, Psychology Today, and the Hollywood Reporter, among others. Cassie appeared as a guest expert on Dr. Phil Show and been interviewed on The Rubin Report, The Glenn Beck Podcast, The Project, Weekend Sunrise, Rebel Wisdom, The Fallen State, Louder with Crowder, The Daily Wire, The Marilu Henner Show, BBC Radio 5, the CBC, Maiden Mother Matriarch Podcast, The Tom Woods Show, The Andrew Klavan Show, and many others. Her latest feature documentary film The Red Pill was the top-selling movie on multiple VOD platforms in 2017, ahead of Disney’s Moana, Star Wars’ Rogue One and Marvel’s Logan. The success of The Red Pill led to Cassie delivering her TEDx Talk called Meeting The Enemy, which now has over 12 million views on YouTube making it one of the most-watched TEDx Talks in recent years.

Founded in 1997, VFRFILMS has been the home of producer, director, editor Jeff Consiglio for over 25 years. Jeff’s documentary film editing work has earned one Academy Award win: INOCENTE (Best Documentary Short Subject 2013) a second Academy Award nomination: WARDANCE (Best Documentary Feature 2008) two Emmy awards, one Peabody award and numerous film festival awards including Special Jury Prize for Documentary Editing at SXSW (TWINSTERS.) Jeff edited the Grammy winning music video PORK AND BEANS for Weezer and music videos for Beck, David Gray and Katy Perry.In 2022 VFRFilms proudly welcomed producer, director, editor CHRYSTIE MARTINEZ GOUZ to its roster. Chrystie joins VFRFilms after serving as Co-Editor on the documentary feature ON THESE GROUNDS which premiered at SXSW in 2021 and had its broadcast debut on STARZ. Chrystie brings a powerful storytelling sensibility, exceptional organizational skill and broad filmmaking knowledge to VFRFilms and its projects. Working as a team, Chrystie and Jeff edited the A24 / Change Content documentary feature THE SIXTH about the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol, directed by Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine. Premiering on Amazon Prime soon. Other recent VFRFilms projects include the documentary feature NEVER TOO LATE: THE DOC SEVERINSEN STORY co-directed by Jeff Consiglio and Kevin S. Bright about the extraordinary life and legacy of the legendary bandleader for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Jeff recently edited the HBOMax documentary feature LFG about the US Women's Soccer Team's fight for equal pay, directed by Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine. Jeff also creates film and digital art as mihu, a collaboration with director of photography Alexandre Naufel.

Founded in 1997, VFRFILMS has been the home of producer, director, editor Jeff Consiglio for over 25 years. Jeff’s documentary film editing work has earned one Academy Award win: INOCENTE (Best Documentary Short Subject 2013) a second Academy Award nomination: WARDANCE (Best Documentary Feature 2008) two Emmy awards, one Peabody award and numerous film festival awards including Special Jury Prize for Documentary Editing at SXSW (TWINSTERS.) Jeff edited the Grammy winning music video PORK AND BEANS for Weezer and music videos for Beck, David Gray and Katy Perry.In 2022 VFRFilms proudly welcomed producer, director, editor CHRYSTIE MARTINEZ GOUZ to its roster. Chrystie joins VFRFilms after serving as Co-Editor on the documentary feature ON THESE GROUNDS which premiered at SXSW in 2021 and had its broadcast debut on STARZ. Chrystie brings a powerful storytelling sensibility, exceptional organizational skill and broad filmmaking knowledge to VFRFilms and its projects. Working as a team, Chrystie and Jeff edited the A24 / Change Content documentary feature THE SIXTH about the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol, directed by Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine. Premiering on Amazon Prime soon. Other recent VFRFilms projects include the documentary feature NEVER TOO LATE: THE DOC SEVERINSEN STORY co-directed by Jeff Consiglio and Kevin S. Bright about the extraordinary life and legacy of the legendary bandleader for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Jeff recently edited the HBOMax documentary feature LFG about the US Women's Soccer Team's fight for equal pay, directed by Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine. Jeff also creates film and digital art as mihu, a collaboration with director of photography Alexandre Naufel.

David Lotwin is probably one of the most influential people in the history of urban music and marketing. David was co-founder of the most influential studio in hip-hop history called D&D studios. David along with his Partner Lou B runs the Electronic Kingdom Records and management. He also continues to be a freelance A&R guy for major labels.  As the 1980’s turned into the 1990’s, hip-hop royalty continued to come through the doors of D&D including Notorious B.I.G., Nas, Jay-Z, DJ Premiere and Gangstarr all recorded some of their greatest songs at D&D Studios. Trojan condoms, Iceberg Vodka, South Pole clothing, Schwinn Bicycles, Ecko Clothing, Burlington Coat Factory, Made Records, Ultra records which are just a few of the brands that have helped morph his reputation from Hip Hop legend to an “Urban Marketing Legend”.

Debbie Goodwin is a highly experienced organizer and motivator, whether it be volunteers on site for disaster relief following floods and tornados or evacuation of horses and livestock from fires and floods. She finds nothing more rewarding than startling results with nominal resources in high pressure environments. 

Her career has spanned several industries including several start-ups which were always inspired by her ability to put people with similar ideas and objectives together. She is frequently told that among her inspirational talents is her ability to enthuse people about possibilities from inception of a project to completion by focusing on the joy of success each step of the way. 

Her life’s passions have included forming a non-profit program dedicated to autistic children and their families. The program supported children with disabilities, families and recovering veterans in problem solving settings outside classrooms and clinical environments; enabling them to confront obstacles in their lives through interaction with horses. Her mission included integrating programs with family counselors, physical therapy organizations, state social service agencies, and local mental health centers.

Debbie also has wide-ranging experience in real estate management and development having worked with a family owned realty in Dallas and has always had a gifted ability to spot unseen value and opportunity. 

If you are looking for something, she can find it. If you’re waiting for something to find you, she can speed the process.