Founders

Marissa Ghavami
(she / they)Founding Executive + Artistic Director
Marissa Ghavami is an Iranian-American, queer artist, advocate and creator based in New York City. …
Marissa Ghavami
Marissa Ghavami is an Iranian-American, queer artist, advocate and creator based in New York City. She founded Healing TREE in 2014 and serves as the nonprofit’s Executive + Artistic Director. Her advocacy work has led her to giving educational and inspirational public speaking engagements on abuse, trauma and healing across the country. These engagements span post show talk-backs, workshops, breakout speeches, keynotes and Continuing Education Units (to doctors, nurses, psychologists, therapists and social workers). She led a virtual event for The Mighty, a popular mental health community with a Facebook following of nearly 1.5 million. She is also a healing trauma-focused coach and consultant for individuals and organizations (specializing in artists and artistic organizations and projects).
As an actor, Marissa’s film and television highlights include starring in the feature film The Gift of Christmas alongside Academy Award Nominee Bruce Davison and Dee Wallace (E.T.), as well as roles in Paramount’s theatrically released feature film Not Fade Away, directed by David Chase and starring James Gandolfini, and on CBS’s Without A Trace. She first gained national attention singing on NBC’s legendary It’s Showtime at the Apollo. She was seen on stage as the lead in the Off-Broadway staged reading of They Told Me To Use It at the Broadway Bound Theatre Festival directed by Ren Dara Santiago. Regionally, she has played Belle in Beauty and the Beast opposite Ross Lekites. She has sung at NYC hotspots Joe’s Pub, Birdland (alongside Academy Award Winner and Tony Nominee Ariana DeBose) and 54 Below. She has done voice over, commercial and print for such widely known brands as Audible (narrating Dr. Jamie Marich’s Trauma and the 12 Steps and Transforming Trauma with Jiu-Jitsu), McDonald’s, Ford, JCPenney, Belvedere, PepsiCo’s AMP Energy Drink, Girl Scout Cookies and Kentucky Fried Chicken. Marissa trained as an actor at the William Esper Studio under the renowned, late Bill Esper, has studied Advanced On Camera with Bob Krakower and takes ongoing acting classes with Karl Bury. She trained as a singer with the acclaimed Seth Riggs, Liz Caplan and, currently with Mike Ruckles.
Marissa co-produced the Healing TREE partner feature film Mass (by Fran Kranz, starring Emmy Award winner Ann Dowd, Jason Isaacs, Emmy and Tony Nominee Martha Plimpton and Tony Award Winner Reed Birney) which premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, was acquired by Bleecker Street Films, hit theatres October of 2021 and is currently streaming. Mass is the Winner of the Robert Altman Award and is a Gotham, Critics Choice and BAFTA nominee.
Marissa co-wrote and was the lead producer on the short film Silk, which was directed by John Magaro (Carol, The Big Short) and is an Official Selection at the Academy Award qualifying Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture series, among others. She also developed and leads a workshop on the most insidious red flags of abuse and trauma built around Silk for Healing TREE.
Marissa was a Director’s Pick for a 2020 (postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19) Queer Writer Fellowship at the Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing. She is a 2015/2016 ASTEP (Artists Striving To End Poverty) Fellow and participant in the 2015 Artist As Citizen Conference at Juilliard. She is passionate about meditating, reading, veganism and fitness, and is a cat mom to her two rescue Bengal mixes, Sebastian and Viola.
www.marissaghavami.com | @marissaghavami

Debbie Ghavami
(she / her)Co-Founder
As a co-founder of Healing TREE and the mother to the Founder, whose experience with …
Debbie Ghavami
As a co-founder of Healing TREE and the mother to the Founder, whose experience with trauma and subsequent healing was the catalyst for this organization, Debbie knows firsthand the nightmare and devastation trauma can cause. Having witnessed the destruction her daughter was left to heal from, Debbie was not only determined to get her daughter the proper help she needed in order to fully heal but was also determined to make a difference. Debbie’s constant plea became, “Help me to help my daughter!”
Debbie heavily immersed herself in researching and talking with experts across the United States in order to understand how to heal from such trauma and to identify the best treatment for her daughter’s healing. Many of these contacts have contributed to the wealth of knowledge that can be found on Healing TREE’s website.
Prior to the family’s devastation, ensuing healing and her interest in advocacy, Debbie’s professional career has included being a Buyer and Manager for an upscale woman’s shoe and clothing store, a Cosmetic Manager, and a Director of Event Planning at a four star restaurant. Currently, Debbie holds a Kentucky Real Estate license, on occasion assists her restaurateur husband, Majid, during special events at his restaurant, and started working part time in cosmetics again.
Debbie is so grateful and proud of her daughter’s fortitude, in not only healing, but in starting Healing TREE. Today mother and daughter continue to work together to help all those whose plea is, “Help me to help………!”

Bruce Hardy, PH.D.
Co-founderDr. Bruce Hardy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, approved as a Marriage and …
Bruce Hardy, PH.D.
Dr. Bruce Hardy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, approved as a Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor and certified as a Sexual Addiction Therapist and Multiple Addictions Therapist. He has been practicing since 1986. Prior to his work in the mental health field, Dr. Hardy worked as a police officer, EMS responder and pastor. He also holds a Master of Divinity and Master of Theology. Since 2000, he has been the Director and Owner of Hardy Associates, LLC where he specializes in treating people who have experienced trauma. He treats people with a history of physical, emotional, verbal, and religious abuse, people who have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and dissociative disorders and people with sexual compulsive disorders and addictions. He also offers Marriage and Family Therapy. He is certified in EMDR therapy and holds a certificate from the International Institute For Trauma and Addiction as well as the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.
Board of Directors

Julie Stackhouse
(she / her)President
Julie Stackhouse currently works as a passionate artist and a devoted advocate for the Mental …
Julie Stackhouse
Julie Stackhouse currently works as a passionate artist and a devoted advocate for the Mental Health Community. She also has a background in Business Development, with over 15 years experience in Sales, Management, and Training, where she demonstrated her ability to provide results-oriented leadership for organizations, including other 501(c)(3)s. Her success was attributed to the ability to optimize marketing strategies, develop training curriculum, and identify structural changes needed for the continuation of a profitable organization. While her artistic passion pulled her away from the corporate world, the experience remained invaluable for future endeavors.
An active member of SAG-AFTRA, Julie has been acting on film and stage since the age of ten. While her love of the arts began (and remains) in front of the camera, industry opportunities led her to also excel behind it. Julie has built her work around promoting the belief that vulnerability is not a weakness, but a superpower. She founded Patchwork Productions (formally Bufad Cinema), in 2015 with that mission in mind. Undeniably motivated by creating art in all its forms, she is particularly drawn to those that simultaneously educate and entertain. Julie continues to act and produce films in the Philadelphia and New York markets.
Additionally, Julie serves as a Mental Health Advocate for a number of local organizations, as well as organizations on national and global scales. She is a Certified Peer Support Specialist, and holds additional certifications in several areas: Trauma, Crisis Intervention, Suicide Prevention, WRAP, and more. She thrives on making a positive impact on those around her; leading by example, motivating others with her actions, and living in the moment. Her lived experience of Mental Health, Trauma, and Recovery journeys brings a unique perspective. For Julie, Healing TREE is truly a marriage of her two passions: The Arts, and advocacy for all things Mental Health.

Jacob (Jake) Venet
(he / him)Treasurer
Jake was born and raised in the Boston area. Jake has always been interested in …
Jacob (Jake) Venet

Navya Malapanagudi
(she / her)Secretary
Navya Malapanagudi is a senior at Monroe Township Highschool who aspires to be a Neuro …
Navya Malapanagudi
Navya Malapanagudi is a senior at Monroe Township Highschool who aspires to be a Neuro or Cardiothoracic Surgeon in the future. She is an intelligent, passionate and persevering premedical student, as she is working towards not only helping the underprivileged, but is also soon hosting her own medical program for students that are interested in becoming a doctor themselves.
In the medical field, she has experience working as a medical scribe and an optometric technician, which has given her insight on the structure and function of the human brain, nerves and the body as a whole. Working as an intern for the healthcare company, Lyftly, she has contributed to the redesigning of the app, with the intention of making it more efficient and user friendly. She has also participated in medical programs to learn all aspects of the medical field and the opportunities that it has to offer.
She is also the president of a crisis prevention advocacy club, in which she and many other members fight against modern day dilemmas, such as world hunger and poverty. Minoring in business, Navya aspires to hold her own surgery business in the future. Therefore, she has held an executive board position for the Monroe FBLA organization for the last two years, which has given her various leadership and communication skills.
Navya wants to learn, spread knowledge and help others around her by providing the education and support for their personal growth and development.

Andrew Aebersold
(he / him)VP of Marketing / Communications
Andrew brings over 25 years of professional experience in advertising and technology. Starting at the …
Andrew Aebersold
Andrew brings over 25 years of professional experience in advertising and technology. Starting at the age of 10 he taught himself computer programming, and he went on to get degrees in business administration and a bachelor of arts from Indiana University. Prior to founding Mediaura 16 years ago, Andrew launched two successful digital departments for other agencies. His vast knowledge of technology and experience in advertising steers the Mediaura ship in the right direction, creatively helping clients by using technology to enhance traditional advertising techniques.
The proprietary software solution known as ADBuilder (aka Pro Builder PDF) platform was created by Andrew and subsequently licensed to Community Health Systems. This system managed all marketing materials for hundreds of hospitals, assisting in multiple mergers and acquisitions to ensure all messaging was branded correctly and delivered in the appropriate format to the proper publications. This system was licensed to other brands, including LongHorn Steakhouse, Olive Garden, Kentucky Community and Technical College System, and Einstein Brother’s Bagels.
Andrew innovated and patented a unique digital menu board software system that streamlined in-store messaging for over 1,000 displays in KFC restaurants nationwide, reducing operating costs and increasing revenue by showing the right message to consumers at the right time of day. This system was also licensed to other companies, such as Long John Silver’s and Back Yard Burgers.
Andrew also built an online ad approval software package to streamline ad approvals from hundreds of local agencies creating and advertising on behalf of franchisees for KFC. The corporate office wanted to reduce liability by having all appropriate parties sign off on correct materials in a digital format. This system aggregated content, assigned it to the appropriate people for approval, tracked revisions and feedback, and organized it all in an easy to use online portal. This system is still in use today for all advertising nationally and reduces the total time required to seek approval and has improved branding consistency.
Andrew developed an online coupon software platform and licensed it to KFC and Long John Silver’s to help with distributing offers to the appropriate geographically targeted areas. This portal has served millions of users annually and allows the brands to track their consumers, create additional touch points, improve lead generation, and ultimately increase revenue by driving sales with a system controlled and operated by Mediaura. This system is still in use today by Long John Silver’s.
In addition to these larger software projects, Andrew has personally developed and overseen hundreds of websites on a variety of platforms over the years. He was an original developer for the Joomla CMS and has developed custom plugins and software on the WordPress platform as well. Integrating various platforms and utilizing them in the most efficient and effective way is a hallmark of Andrew’s technical methodology. Being a developer first and an advertiser second, he has the vision to create a solid foundation that can be fine-tuned to maximize results.

Marlow Bull
(they / them)VP of Development
Marlow is a queer and trans marketer, actor and educator. A lifelong storyteller, they are …
Marlow Bull
Marlow is a queer and trans marketer, actor and educator. A lifelong storyteller, they are now applying their storytelling skills to a career in marketing. They are passionate about telling brand stories that foreground marginalized voices. They use their own voice and lived experience to advocate for LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities.
In 2021, Marlow earned their MBA from Yale School of Management, where they were a ROMBA Fellow, a Yale Center for Consumer Insights Fellow, and a leader of the LGBTQ+ student group. They also taught applied theater and public speaking workshops to other MBAs.
Marlow has spent much of their life in theaters, and was carried onstage before they could walk. They earned an MFA in Acting from Columbia University, then served as a lecturer on the UMass Amherst Theater Department’s performance faculty for six years. They taught courses including acting, voice and public speaking, movement, dialects, and musical theater. Marlow spearheaded interdisciplinary collaborations with non-arts departments at UMass, bringing actors’ skills like creative collaboration, public speaking, storytelling, deep listening and empathy to other fields. At the intersection of theater and healthcare, they co-created the curriculum for a new course, ‘Acting for Healthcare Professionals’, with faculty from the UMass College of Nursing. They also worked as a ghostwriter of personal & company memoirs and a fine wine salesperson after earning their AB from the University of Chicago in Humanities with focus on Ancient Greek, Linguistics & Shakespeare.
Marlow is the parent of a rad 8-year-old, a long-time yoga & strength training enthusiast & practitioner, an inveterate jokester, an incurable believer in people, and a seeker on their healing journey from both group and 1:1 cultic and narcissistic abuse. They live with C-PTSD and are passionate about transforming their trauma into understanding that can help others heal from, prevent and identify abuse. Marlow is thrilled to join the Healing TREE board as VP of Development, and to merge their skills to improve access to information about and resources for those healing from trauma and abuse.

Sarah Himadeh
(she / her)VP of Theatre Production
Born in Lebanon, grew up in Canada, Sarah Himadeh now lives in New York. Himadeh …
Sarah Himadeh
Born in Lebanon, grew up in Canada, Sarah Himadeh now lives in New York. Himadeh moved to the states to pursue an acting career, after having majored in Biotechnology at McGill University, worked as a Private Banker at Merrill Lynch in London, and as a Public Relations Executive at Edelman in Canada. She completed a degree in Acting for Theater and Film at William Esper Studios in New York. She was always called to embody the storyteller she was born to be, to raise awareness where needed, to give voice to the voiceless, and to explore the nuanced spectrum humanity has to offer.
In 2019, Himadeh joined the Lebanese revolution, spent months on the streets demanding basic human rights and the fall of the government, and faced brutal opposition. She has been an international Lebanese advocate, shedding light on the situation on various media networks, fundraising for relief efforts, and is heavily involved in a movement to replace the current Lebanese political class.

Stephanie Mangan
(she / her)VP of Clinical Programming
Stephanie has 10+ years of experience as a mental health therapist in the state of …
Stephanie Mangan
Stephanie has 10+ years of experience as a mental health therapist in the state of Kentucky as Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. Stephanie is also a Board approved Clinical Supervisor for the licensing board.
Stephanie has worked in a variety of settings as a mental health therapist over the past decade and enjoys providing services to individuals who have a variety of needs to obtain overall wellness. These include, but are not limited to, substance abuse, mood disorders, attachment disorders, bereavement, adjustment disorders, chronic mental illness, personality disorders, depression & anxiety, PTSD, trauma, foster care and adoptive children and their caregivers and ADHD. Stephanie focuses on the resolution and healing of the impact life circumstances present. Stephanie believes life was never meant to be a struggle and overcoming and healing those struggles can be the beginning of a new life.
Stephanie has certifications and training in interventions and treatment approaches that include, but are not limited to, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Parent/Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Ego-State Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Dissociative Disorders, Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Crisis Intervention, Trauma Systems Therapy and Nurturing Parenting.
Stephanie also has a passion to provide mental health services to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals and is certified and trained in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies.

Jessica Mastro
(she / her)VP of Film Production
Jessica Mastro is a story teller. She explores the human experience through a wide array …
Jessica Mastro
Jessica Mastro is a story teller. She explores the human experience through a wide array of lenses, ranging from absurdist to realist. She experiments with many different mediums, including: film production, screenwriting, playwriting, photography, songwriting and painting. She often uses her own life experience as inspiration, touching on feminist issues, childhood trauma, and romantic relationships. Jessica’s primary goal is to use art to create a more empathetic world.

Michelle Smoke
(she / her)Michelle is a Akwesasne Mohawk woman from the Territory of Akwesasne. Her Mohawk name is …
Michelle Smoke
Michelle is a Akwesasne Mohawk woman from the Territory of Akwesasne. Her Mohawk name is Kawennake which translates to “on the words”. She currently holds a BS in Psychology, M.Ed/CAS in School Counseling and a MS in Mental Health Counseling. She is also fully licensed as a mental health counselor in New York State and has opened a private practiceintegrating culture, trauma-informed care, and spirituality into her therapeutic approach.
Prior to working as a therapist, Michelle has 15 years of work experience across a variety of settings including education, where she worked in early childhood and provided programming for grades Pre-K-12. She worked in the social services field as a youth worker in an urban and rural setting and as a preventive/foster care caseworker. She also worked in the criminal justice field advocating for indigenous people and victims of crimes, facilitating restorative justice circles, and providing support for preventive programming. She was also a family specialist supporting families at risk for foster care placement/ truancy issues. During these work experiences she learned more about implementing trauma informed care and strived to make more of an impact on her community.
Michelle has trainings that are focused on Brainspotting, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Restorative Justice Facilitation and Crisis Intervention. She continues to seek ongoing updates to her skills and knowledge base that will focus on resiliency building. Michelle is invested in an approach emphasizing a more integrative, dynamic, and holistic approach to mental health. She is particularly concerned with the impact of intergenerational trauma, domestic violence, grief and loss and improving interventions to support trauma recovery for better mental, emotional, physical, spiritual and relationship health. It is her hope to help improve the integration of culture into a therapeutic approach. Michelle is passionate about helping others become more resilient.
Staff

Marissa Ghavami
(she / they)Founding Executive + Artistic Director
Marissa Ghavami is an Iranian-American, queer artist, advocate and creator based in New York City. …
Marissa Ghavami
Marissa Ghavami is an Iranian-American, queer artist, advocate and creator based in New York City. She founded Healing TREE in 2014 and serves as the nonprofit’s Executive + Artistic Director. Her advocacy work has led her to giving educational and inspirational public speaking engagements on abuse, trauma and healing across the country. These engagements span post show talk-backs, workshops, breakout speeches, keynotes and Continuing Education Units (to doctors, nurses, psychologists, therapists and social workers). She led a virtual event for The Mighty, a popular mental health community with a Facebook following of nearly 1.5 million. She is also a healing trauma-focused coach and consultant for individuals and organizations (specializing in artists and artistic organizations and projects).
As an actor, Marissa’s film and television highlights include starring in the feature film The Gift of Christmas alongside Academy Award Nominee Bruce Davison and Dee Wallace (E.T.), as well as roles in Paramount’s theatrically released feature film Not Fade Away, directed by David Chase and starring James Gandolfini, and on CBS’s Without A Trace. She first gained national attention singing on NBC’s legendary It’s Showtime at the Apollo. She was seen on stage as the lead in the Off-Broadway staged reading of They Told Me To Use It at the Broadway Bound Theatre Festival directed by Ren Dara Santiago. Regionally, she has played Belle in Beauty and the Beast opposite Ross Lekites. She has sung at NYC hotspots Joe’s Pub, Birdland (alongside Academy Award Winner and Tony Nominee Ariana DeBose) and 54 Below. She has done voice over, commercial and print for such widely known brands as Audible (narrating Dr. Jamie Marich’s Trauma and the 12 Steps and Transforming Trauma with Jiu-Jitsu), McDonald’s, Ford, JCPenney, Belvedere, PepsiCo’s AMP Energy Drink, Girl Scout Cookies and Kentucky Fried Chicken. Marissa trained as an actor at the William Esper Studio under the renowned, late Bill Esper, has studied Advanced On Camera with Bob Krakower and takes ongoing acting classes with Karl Bury. She trained as a singer with the acclaimed Seth Riggs, Liz Caplan and, currently with Mike Ruckles.
Marissa co-produced the Healing TREE partner feature film Mass (by Fran Kranz, starring Emmy Award winner Ann Dowd, Jason Isaacs, Emmy and Tony Nominee Martha Plimpton and Tony Award Winner Reed Birney) which premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, was acquired by Bleecker Street Films, hit theatres October of 2021 and is currently streaming. Mass is the Winner of the Robert Altman Award and is a Gotham, Critics Choice and BAFTA nominee.
Marissa co-wrote and was the lead producer on the short film Silk, which was directed by John Magaro (Carol, The Big Short) and is an Official Selection at the Academy Award qualifying Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture series, among others. She also developed and leads a workshop on the most insidious red flags of abuse and trauma built around Silk for Healing TREE.
Marissa was a Director’s Pick for a 2020 (postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19) Queer Writer Fellowship at the Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing. She is a 2015/2016 ASTEP (Artists Striving To End Poverty) Fellow and participant in the 2015 Artist As Citizen Conference at Juilliard. She is passionate about meditating, reading, veganism and fitness, and is a cat mom to her two rescue Bengal mixes, Sebastian and Viola.
www.marissaghavami.com | @marissaghavami

Amanda (Mandy) Kelly
(she / her)Director of Programming + Associate Artistic Director
Amanda is re-joining the team at Healing TREE, after formerly performing duties as a volunteer …
Amanda (Mandy) Kelly
Amanda is re-joining the team at Healing TREE, after formerly performing duties as a volunteer in 2016. A graduate of Miami University (of Ohio), her subsequent professional background is varied, and includes 8+ years executive assistant experience (including 3 years as a Registered Service Associate at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management), and 6+ years (and counting) in the entertainment industry as a professional actor.
For the past 5 years, Amanda was working as an executive assistant for a talent management company in her home base of Los Angeles. Having experienced her own medical trauma in mid-2021, Amanda was inspired to revisit her passion for the Healing TREE organization, and to rejoin the team that is making such a difference in the world.
Amanda is excited to bring her combined experience in the arts and the corporate world to this role. She is grateful to be in a position where she can utilize both her creative and practical skillsets, and to be part of the team that facilitates further growth at Healing TREE as we bring this exceptional organization to new heights.
Additional Support Team Members

DMLO
Accounting FirmAt DMLO we are focused on being the best accounting firm in ways that matter, …
DMLO
At DMLO we are focused on being the best accounting firm in ways that matter, not just size or bottom line. We embrace a culture where people feel valued, heard, have fun – and we make a real difference in the lives of our clients in Kentuckiana and beyond. We hope you choose us not only for our depth of experience and expertise, but because you share our vision for “good business” and social impact
FOUNDED Joel Deming, Bill Malone, John Livesay and Armand Ostroff founded the firm in 1975 and chose the name order using the method Derby horses are matched with gate numbers; the four were relieved when it resulted in the initials DMLO instead of MOLD.
PRESENCE DMLO merged with Rodefer Moss of Southern Indiana in October 2020 – it is the ideal blend of two firms with award-winning cultures that care about social impact. We are now the 2nd largest accounting firm in the area with 20 Directors, 60 CPAs and over 150 employees. We have offices in Louisville, Kentucky and New Albany and Corydon, Indiana. We are also among the Top 20 Regional Accounting Firm Leaders as ranked by Accounting Today. We are an Accredited Member of the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating.
SERVICES Our services include business and personal tax planning and preparation, monthly accounting services, payroll processing, startup ventures and emerging business guidance, estates and trusts, wealth advisory services, assurance (audits/reviews/compilations/agreed-upon-procedures/employee benefit plan audits/Medicaid cost reports), cost segregation analysis, business valuations, litigation support, forensic accounting, and a broad scope of other business consulting services.
INDUSTRIES We work with companies of all sizes in the construction, real estate, manufacturing and distribution, hospitality, retail, and long-term care industries, as well as not-for-profit organizations, medical/dental practices, financial institutions/credit unions, and more.
LOCAL & INDEPENDENT As a 3rd generation local independent business, we are keenly aware of the blood, sweat and tears that goes into every entrepreneurial success story. We are fully committed to investing in and supporting the success of other local businesses. Whether that is brainstorming business ideas, assisting with business plans and projections, new company setup and software selection, monthly bookkeeping/payroll services, tax planning, or just making valuable introductions, we are here to help you meet your goals.
AWARD-WINNING CULTURE We have been recognized repeatedly both nationally and locally for our workplace culture and practices. Over 55% of our senior leadership team are women and we actively seek professionals with diverse backgrounds, belief systems, identities, and experiences. We believe that “good business” cannot exist without intentional focus on ensuring equitable policies and practices in our workplace and the communities we serve.
GLOBAL RESOURCES As an independent member of the BDO Alliance USA, we have access to the resources of the global BDO network, the 5th largest accounting and consulting network in the world with 1,600+ offices in 167 countries and territories representing almost $10 billion in revenues.
LEADERSHIP Our firm is the source of leaders in the profession and in our community; our CPAs serve as board or committee members for many not-for-profit organizations in our region, as well as for national professional organizations.
COMMUNITY IMPACT We have been honored by Louisville Business First multiple times as a Top 10 Corporate Partner in Philanthropy. Compassion and giving back are priorities for us, and our staff dedicate thousands of hours each year to volunteering in our community. #DMLOCares is more than just a hashtag – it is something we live out daily.

Julia Thomas
(she / her)Approved Care Network Coordinator
Julia expresses her enthusiasm about Healing TREE and their goals, and she believes that the …
Julia Thomas
Julia expresses her enthusiasm about Healing TREE and their goals, and she believes that the individualistic approach to providing people with the best resources is essential in helping them to heal. She is passionate that mental health care and resources, particularly for widely misunderstood issues such as trauma, should be readily accessible to everyone, with no exception. She loves that Healing TREE is an organization that shares that same passion.
Outside of school and her involvement in the community, Julia loves to spend time with her dog and cat, write, and make art!

Front Porch Social
Social Media Content CreationFront Porch Social is a social media marketing agency based out of Tampa, FL with …
Front Porch Social
Front Porch Social is a social media marketing agency based out of Tampa, FL with clients all over the U.S. We have helped grow small businesses through social media strategies. Front Porch Social specializes in content creation, organic social media strategies, paid social, and email marketing. From creating content to grow brand awareness, to increasing sales, we have helped businesses achieve success.

Mediaura
Digital AgencyFounded in 2003, Mediaura has built a solid reputation in the community through our integrity, …
Mediaura
Founded in 2003, Mediaura has built a solid reputation in the community through our integrity, expertise, and client satisfaction. We are a company that strives to achieve the best possible results for a fair price. Mediaura takes pride in all the work we do, and our staff is available to explain and educate along the way.
Privately-owned, the company has experienced consistent annual growth over the past 14 years. We service clients that are local, regional, national, and international; as well as companies that are both from the for-profit and non-profit sectors.
Our company began as the “Interactive Partner” for several traditional advertising firms, most notably Creative Alliance (now known as Scoppechio). Mediaura team members were at the forefront of the digital media revolution, and that has given us not only the edge when implementing new technologies, but combined with our experience with traditional advertising agencies, we can thoroughly assess and speak to our client’s needs. We are a company that knows how to be innovative and push boundaries, while also remaining accessible enough to an audience that may prefer more traditional methods. This allows our clients to maintain their core base demographic while increasing their market reach.
Board of Advisors

Lia Amakawa, Ph.D.
(she / her)Board of Advisors
Lia Amakawa is a trauma therapist and founder of Transformative Psychotherapy, a group practice dedicated …
Lia Amakawa, Ph.D.
Lia Amakawa is a trauma therapist and founder of Transformative Psychotherapy, a group practice dedicated to the compassionate and comprehensive treatment of traumatic stress. Her pursuit of expedited healing has brought her to schools (The Rebecca School, Mount Sinai St. Luke’s therapeutic high school), hospitals (Memorial Sloan Kettering, Bronx Lebanon), clinics (Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Child and Family Institute, Fort Hamilton’s adult outpatient division) and group private practices (Behavior Therapy of NY, Rennicke & Associates) throughout NYC. It has inspired training in many empirically supported and innovative treatments (e.g., IFS, AEDP, DBT, ARC, DDP, CBT, Theraplay®) and certification in EMDR. For over 15 years, she has had the unique experience of treating traumatic stress in all ages, using a variety of treatment models and modalities, gathering clinical and practical wisdom from her colleagues and clients. She is in the process of developing and teaching integrative therapy for trauma that flexibly adapts to the individual’s evolving needs. She is passionate about Healing TREE and her own shared mission to provide trauma survivors with specialized, effective care.

Jessica Blank
(she / her)Board of Advisors
Jessica Blank is an actor, writer, director, speaker, and coach. With her husband Erik Jensen, …
Jessica Blank
Jessica Blank is an actor, writer, director, speaker, and coach. With her husband Erik Jensen, she is author of THE EXONERATED, a play based on interviews they conducted with over 40 wrongfully convicted death row inmates across the United States. THE EXONERATED won Lucille Lortel, Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk, Ovation, Fringe First and Herald Angel Awards; it has also received awards from Amnesty International, the American Bar Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Death Penalty Focus, and Court TV, and was listed by the New York Times as “the number 1 play of the year.” It was made into an award-winning movie adapted by Jessica and Erik, starring Susan Sarandon, Danny Glover, Brian Dennehy, Aidan Quinn and Delroy Lindo, has received hundreds of productions across the United States and internationally, read into the Senate record, and translated into Mandarin, French, Spanish and Japanese. LIVING JUSTICE, their book about the making of THE EXONERATED, was published by Simon and Schuster. Their documentary play AFTERMATH, based on interviews they conducted with Iraqi civilian refugees in Jordan, directed by Jessica, was a New York Times Critics’ Pick, toured internationally for two years and was nominated for two Drama League Awards. Their latest play, HOW TO BE A ROCK CRITIC (based on the writings of Lester Bangs), recently completed sold-out runs at the Kirk Douglas Theater, South Coast Rep, ArtsEmerson, Steppenwolf, and Off-Broadway at the Public Theater, with Erik starring and Jessica directing, and is in development for feature film with Likely Story. They are at work on a new documentary play under commission from the Public Theater, about the 2010 Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster, with original music by the Grammy-Award winning musician Steve Earle.
Jessica is also active as a writer, director and actor for film and television; she and Erik recently completed their first feature, ALMOST HOME, which they directed and adapted from Jessica’s first novel (Hyperion, 2008), and which premieres in fall of 2018. Their second feature, HOW TO BE A ROCK CRITIC, is in development with Likely Story. They wrote the pilot THE NEGOTIATOR for Gaumont TV (Tom Fontana, EP) and have developed for TV with Fox TV Studios, 20th Century TV, Avenue Pictures, Sunswept Entertainment, Virgin Produced, and Radical Media.
As an actor, Jessica appeared regularly as the lead’s loudmouthed big sister in CBS’ MADE IN JERSEY. Additional TV credits include BLUE BLOODS, ELEMENTARY, THE FOLLOWING, THE MENTALIST, HBO’s HIGH MAINTENANCE, BORED TO DEATH, RESCUE ME, LAW AND ORDER: CI, THE BRONX IS BURNING, and several more. Film acting credits include THE NAMESAKE (dir. Mira Nair), YOU’RE NOBODY TILL SOMEBODY KILLS YOU (prod. Spike Lee), SLENDER MAN, and over a dozen indies including CREATIVE CONTROL (Grand Jury Prize, SXSW) and ON THE ROAD WITH JUDAS (Sundance).
As a story consultant and narrative coach, Jessica works with TV showrunners, Sundance-supported filmmakers, Off-Broadway playwrights, published novelists, Broadway actors and series regulars. She also works with thought leaders, changemakers, and progressive candidates to harness the power of story, including national and state level progressive candidates and numerous national and international NGOs. She was a founding mentor for the Writers Guild Initiative’s Veterans’ Writing Project and, has taught writing to vets, wounded veterans’ caregivers, formerly incarcerated individuals, and death row exonerees for eight years. Jessica is a resident teacher at several New York acting schools, a mentor for the Firelight Documentary Lab, and has guest-taught at numerous colleges and universities including Brown, Stanford, Vanderbilt, NYU, The New School, Northwestern, Indiana University, Macalester College, and Hamline University. She is a frequent speaker and panelist on the arts and social justice, and has a thriving private practice in New York and Los Angeles as a story consultant and performance coach for professional writers and actors.

David Grand, Ph.D.
Board of AdvisorsDavid Grand, Ph.D is the founder and developer of groundbreaking brain-body based Brainspotting method. Through …
David Grand, Ph.D.
David Grand, Ph.D is the founder and developer of groundbreaking brain-body based Brainspotting method. Through his Brainspotting Trainings, Inc he has trained over 8,000 therapists internationally and has developed 22 trainers worldwide. Dr. Grand is the author of the acclaimed book, Brainspotting: The Revolutionary New Therapy for Rapid and Effective Chance and the Co-author of This is Your Brain on Sports. Dr. Grand is in demand as a lecturer on a variety of topics. He has accomplished breakthroughs in performance and creativity with his Brainspotting Sports Work and Brainspotting Acting and Singing Coaching. Dr. Grand has been widely featured in the media including The NY Times, NBC National News, The Discovery Channel, CNN, MSNBC, Sports Illustrated and Sirius Radio.
Dr. Grand still finds time for a full-time private psychotherapy and performance practice in Manhattan, NY.

Jamie Marich, Ph.D.
(she / they)Board of Advisors
Jamie Marich’s friends and colleagues describe her as a renaissance woman. A dancer, musician, performer, …
Jamie Marich, Ph.D.
Jamie Marich’s friends and colleagues describe her as a renaissance woman. A dancer, musician, performer, writer, clinical counselor, and registered expressive arts therapist, Marich unites these elements of her experience to achieve an ultimate mission: bringing the art and joy of healing to others. Marich’s career in counseling and human services began while she worked in Bosnia-Hercegovina from 2000-2003. While in Bosnia, Marich served as an English and music teacher, in addition to working freelance for other humanitarian aid projects.
Marich, currently working in private practice after obtaining many years of experience in inpatient mental health, inpatient chemical dependency, and outpatient dual diagnosis treatment, travels the country for several professional continuing education providers, offering instruction on a variety of clinical topics. Jamie is the author of five books: EMDR Made Simple (2011), Trauma and the Twelve Steps (2012), Creative Mindfulness (2013), and Trauma Made Simple (2014), and her latest book, Dancing Mindfulness: A Creative Path to Healing and Transformation, which was released in the Fall of 2015 (SkylightPaths Publishing). Jamie was interviewed as a master clinician in the DVD, Trauma Treatment: Psychotherapy for the 21st Century (2012) alongside icons like Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, Dr. Peter Levine, Dr. Robert Scaer, and Belleruth Naparstek. Jamie had the privilege of offering trauma recovery retreats at the Kripalu School for Yoga & Health in the Fall of 2012, at the Esalen Institute in the Spring of 2013 and Winter of 2014, and at Amrit Yoga Institute in Salt Springs, Florida in the Fall of 2015 and 2016. In 2015, Marich launched her own EMDRIA-Approved EMDR Therapy training curriculum and now enjoys training a new generation of EMDR clinicians alongside her collaborative faculty members (and friends) Amber Stiles-Bodnar and Dr. Stephen Dansiger. Marich and Dansiger are working collaboratively on a book EMDR Therapy & Mindfulness for Trauma Focused Care, due out with Springer Publishing later in 2016.
Jamie strives to incorporate music and other forms of creative expression into her practice. As her career developed, Marich’s love for experience-oriented methods of healing and trauma resolution intensified, prompting her to explore the conscious dance scene and various ways of applying these wonderful, “come as you are” practices into the healing process. Having completed several trainings and experiencing other conscious dance practices at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Massachusetts, Marich was encouraged and inspired to develop her own, unique practice, which now exists in the form of Dancing Mindfulness. To date, Marich has taught conscious dance seminars at various conferences nationally and internationally and has trained more than 170 facilitators in the Dancing Mindfulness practice. She completed her Reiki Master teacher training in the Usui Shiki Ryoho system of Reiki under Master Valerie Spitaler. Marich is a Registered Expressive Arts Therapist (REAT) through the International Association of Expressive Arts Therapists and offers a full certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy through her Institute for Creative Mindfulness. Trained in several modalities of recovery and trauma-informed yoga, Marich recently launched the Yoga Unchained method of trauma-informed yoga with Jessica Sowers.

Carlos Hernandez Ocampo
(he / him)Board of Advisors
A U.S. Navy veteran and licensed KY attorney. In law school, he excelled in Trial …
Carlos Hernandez Ocampo
A U.S. Navy veteran and licensed KY attorney. In law school, he excelled in Trial Practice and distinguished himself working with MBA Entrepreneur Track students at the Entrepreneurship Clinic. Before that, he received his Bachelor in Studio Art from the Hite Art Institute with a concentration on painting.
Carlos is a native Spanish speaker born in Cuba, and he has devoted his life to making meaningful connections with the people he meets. His passion for communication and open dialogue has led him to learn several languages to better communicate and understand the cultures he works with. He speaks fluent English, Spanish, Bosnian, and Italian.
Tough And Universal: Law School Graduate Carlos Hernandez Remembers Journey From Cuba To Louisville

Shannon Moody
(she / her)Board of Advisors
Shannon Moody joined Kentucky Youth Advocates in July 2013. In her role as a Policy …
Shannon Moody
Shannon Moody joined Kentucky Youth Advocates in July 2013. In her role as a Policy Director she conducts policy advocacy and research, coordinates the Kosair Charities’ Face It® Campaign, and staffs the Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky. Shannon chairs the Jefferson County Citizen’s Review Panel and is a member of both state and national coalitions focused on child welfare work. Shannon has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Michigan State University, a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, and is currently pursuing at PhD at the University of Kentucky College of Social Work. Shannon began her career working with adults with traumatic brain injury or severe autism followed by years of direct service work for adjudicated youth in a psychiatric residential treatment facility, and then mental health case management at a transitional high school

Peng Wang
(he / him)Board of Advisors
Peng was born and grew up in China and came to the States for his …
Peng Wang
Peng was born and grew up in China and came to the States for his graduate study in accounting at University of California, Irvine in 2018. Peng is a licensed CPA in California, having worked in banking and public accounting for years. He mainly serviced industries of financial services and nonprofits. During a year of his career, he worked exclusively with nonprofits of all sizes and provided services of audit, review, and complication. He helped his nonprofit clients build better reporting frameworks and provide education to meet their short and long-term goals. Peng believes it is important to use his analytical skills and accounting knowledge to give back to the community and help organizations that make a positive impact.
Artist Advocates

Emily Althaus
(she / her)Orange Is The New Black
Emily Althaus is a proud Louisville native, an alumni of duPont Manual High School / YPAS …
Emily Althaus
Emily Althaus is a proud Louisville native, an alumni of duPont Manual High School / YPAS (Youth Performing Arts School), and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performing Arts from Western Kentucky University. She recurs on both Orange Is The New Black (NETFLIX) as ‘Maureen Kukudio,’ inmate and love interest to Emmy Award Winner Uzo Aduba’s ‘Crazy Eyes,’ as well as Togetherness (HBO) as ‘Natalie’ opposite Mark Duplass. She has also guest starred on Law & Order: SVU (NBC), Blue Bloods (CBS), Adam Ruins Everything (TRU), You’re The Worst (FX) and The Resident (FOX). On film, Emily will next be seen in the independent feature film The Strange Ones scheduled for theatrical release January 5th, 2018. Her theater background includes significant stage performances in Harvey (Broadway), Assistance (The Wilma Theatre), Three Sisters (Classic Stage Company), as well as The Torchbearers and Stop Possuming, Mommy all at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.
In addition to her work with Healing TREE, Emily works alongside organizations focused on prison reform (#CLOSErikers) as well as organizations that aid the formerly incarcerated (#WPA: Women’s Prison Association), giving public speaking engagements and marching. Follow Emily on social media and join her on the next march!
Twitter and Instagram: @emilyalthaus

Natalie Andrews
(she / her)Songbird Studios
Natalie is a teaching artist, musician, actress, and producer and in recent years has become …
Natalie Andrews
Natalie is a teaching artist, musician, actress, and producer and in recent years has become an advocate for creativity as an effective mental health management tool. She owns and operates Songbird Studios, offering voice and piano lessons to learners of all ages. She also serves as Vice President of the Board for The Bridge Initiative, a theatre nonprofit promoting gender parity in leadership roles in the arts. While earning her B.F.A. at the University of Oklahoma she worked for the Office of Recruitment, gaining extensive experience in conducting interviews, database management and team building. She has also been a presenter at the Berklee City Music Summit hosted at Columbia College, where she spoke about her ongoing research collaboration Original Music Programming: Nurturing the Human Artist.
Natalie’s knowledge and personal practice of treatment modalities developed out of necessity when she began her own healing process in 2014 and includes yoga, Somatic Experiencing (SE), theatre and music, movement, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and mindfulness. Having been through the therapist search both for herself and others, Natalie understands how difficult and important it is for vulnerable individuals to find good care. Natalie resides in Phoenix, AZ with her husband Brian, and her two cats, Ophelia and Pierre.

Charles Baker
(he / him)Breaking Bad
Charles Baker left his mark in Hollywood and the homes of fans across the world …
Charles Baker
Charles Baker left his mark in Hollywood and the homes of fans across the world as ‘Skinny Pete,’ on the hit AMC show Breaking Bad, which has been nominated for 151 awards and has won 48. Before stepping on Hollywood soil, Baker already had 37 credits to his name and now has moved to Los Angeles permanently with his wife and three children to pursue his craft, which he has been studying for over 20 years. Notable film projects for Baker include To The Wonder, a Terrence Malick film, opposite Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, and Javier Bardem, Ain’t Them Bodies Saints opposite Rooney Mara, Casey Affleck and Ben Foster, Wild opposite Reese Witherspoon, and Nicholas Winding Refn’s Neon Demon with Elle Fanning and Keanu Reeves.
IMDB

Jordan Baker
(she / her)The New Adventures of Old Christine
View Jordan Baker’s resume on IMDB
Jordan Baker

Christina Bianco
(she / her)2x Drama Desk Nom; Funny Girl
From stage to screen, Christina Bianco’s singular voice and comedic charm have brought audiences around …
Christina Bianco
From stage to screen, Christina Bianco’s singular voice and comedic charm have brought audiences around the world to their feet. Bianco captured international acclaim as a YouTube sensation with her ‘diva’ impression videos, gaining over 25 million views. Dubbed ‘the girl of a thousand voices,’ Christina has performed on major television programs such as The Ellen Degeneres Show and The Today Show, in the US, and The Paul O’Grady Show and This Morning, in the UK.
A Two-Time Drama Desk Award nominee, Christina made her West End debut starring in The Menier Chocolate Factory’s hailed production of Forbidden Broadway at the Vaudeville Theatre in London. Most recently, Christina played the iconic role of Fanny Brice at the Theatre Marigny’s celebrated production of Funny Girl in Paris, earning unanimous rave reviews. Christina was awarded the Trophee De Le Comedie Musicale for her performance. Beginning March 2022, Christina will play LV in the new UK tour of The Rise And Fall of Little Voice.
New York credits include Forbidden Broadway; Goes To Rehab (Drama Desk Award Nomination), the one-woman, multi-character comedy, Application Pending (Drama Desk Award Nomination), The Marvelous Wonderettes (Missy), and Newsical the Musical. Other theatre credits include: Hello Dolly (Minnie Fay/Indianapolis Symphony), Rent (Maureen/Weston Playhouse), Beehive (Riverside Theatre) and Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Narrator/Drury Lane Theatre).
Television credits include the iTV’s The Imitation Game, POP TV sitcom Impress Me, Hallmark’s, Signed, Sealed, Delivered and frequent voice work for RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Christina has performed her critically acclaimed concerts to sold out crowds in NYC and across the U.S. In the UK, she’s enjoyed extended runs headlining at London’s Hippodrome, Royal Albert Hall’s Elgar Room, Live at Zedel’s, The Charing Cross Theatre, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and completed her second UK tour, titled, First Impressions in 2019. She recently made concert debuts in Switzerland, Spain and South Africa and in Australia, at The Sydney Opera House. Christina frequently performs with major US and Canadian symphonies and performs her solo symphony show under the direction of Maestro Jack Everly. Her debut live album, Life Of The Party, is available on iTunes and other major music platforms.

Tonya Canady
(she / her)I Know This Much Is True
Tonya Canady is an actor, singer, writer, producer, voiceover artist, acting coach and caregiver. Tonya’s recent TV credits in …
Tonya Canady
Tonya Canady is an actor, singer, writer, producer, voiceover artist, acting coach and caregiver. Tonya’s recent TV credits in 2020 include I Know This Much Is True on HBO and The Politician on Netflix. You can watch her past TV appearances on NBC’s New Amsterdam, Bull on CBS, Seven Seconds on Netflix and First Wives Club on BET. Syracuse University and William Esper Studio alumni. www.tonyacanady.com

Mahalet Dejene
(she / her)New Amsterdam
Mahalet Dejene was born in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. She moved to Baltimore, MD when …
Mahalet Dejene
Mahalet Dejene was born in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. She moved to Baltimore, MD when she was 6 years old. Although she was active in the performing arts from a young age, she matriculated from New York University with both a Journalism and Spanish degree. After pursuing a short career in television news, she switched gears to focus on acting. Her first major television role was as a reporter and new pundit on the critically-acclaimed hit HBO series “The Undoing” directed by Susanne Bier. She then booked a recurring role on NBC’s “New Amsterdam” as an anesthesiologist, Dr. Nyala Abebe.

Hollis Duggans
(she / her)Tiktok: @HollisQueenss
Hollis Duggans is an equity stage manager in New York City, New Jersey area. She …
Hollis Duggans
Hollis Duggans is an equity stage manager in New York City, New Jersey area. She has worked on large productions like The Producers, Spamalot and You Can’t Take it With You. She rehearsal stage managed A Chorus Line Tour and Legally Blonde Tour for Big League productions. When she isn’t managing shows, She’s a headshot makeup artist and makeup content creator, having over 20k followers on Tiktok @HollisQueenss.

Jeremy Fury
(he / him)Jeremy and the Harlequins
Jeremy Fury aka Jeremy Lublin is the singer/ songwriter of Brooklyn based rock ‘n’ roll …
Jeremy Fury
Jeremy Fury aka Jeremy Lublin is the singer/ songwriter of Brooklyn based rock ‘n’ roll band, Jeremy & The Harlequins. The band have released three LP’s, Remember This (2018, Yep Roc Records), Into the Night (2016, Yep Roc Records), and American Dreamer (2015, Harlequin Music). The band has had their music featured in numerous commercials, television shows, and films, such as Edge of Tomorrow: Live. Die. Repeat (Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt), Heavy (Sophie Turner), Shameless, Vampire Diaries, In the Dark, Graceland, and more. The band have also had a number of singles featured on SiriusXM’s Little Steven’s Underground Garage.
Prior to starting Jeremy & The Harlequins, Jeremy was the singer of Ohio based band, We Are The Fury (Warner Music Group/ILG). The band released their debut album Venus (2007) with critical praise. Following the the release, the band spent years on tour, opening for such acts as the New York Dolls, Silverchair, Jack’s Mannequin, Head Automatica, and Vans Warped Tour.
Independently, Jeremy has created music for a number of commercials for brands such as Miller High Life, Smirnoff, Royal Caribbean, and Nestle. He is also the co-founder/CEO of Fury Bros. and has designed album covers for artists on Rhino, ORG Music, and Sun Records.

Ava Geyer
(she / her)Playwright
Ava Geyer is a playwright and screenwriter based in NY. She is a current member …
Ava Geyer
Ava Geyer is a playwright and screenwriter based in NY. She is a current member of EST/Youngblood and under commission by La Jolla Playhouse. She was a 2020 recipient of Theater Masters’ Visionary Award and a Shank Resident Playwright at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater (’19-’20). Plays include Monster (finalist, Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition), B-Storm (pub. by Samuel French; winner, National MFA Playwrights Festival), Fruit Snacks (“Hopeful Decade” event, Williamsburg, BK), SERE (Wagner New Play Festival, ’18) and Baby Teeth (WNPF ’17). MFA: UC San Diego ’19. BA: Princeton University ’15.

Rodney Hicks
(he / they)Come From Away (OBC)
Ford’s: KUDZU. Broadway: The Scottsboro Boys; RENT (Closing Cast, DVD); Jesus Christ Superstar; RENT (Original Cast …
Rodney Hicks
Ford’s: KUDZU. Broadway: The Scottsboro Boys; RENT (Closing Cast, DVD); Jesus Christ Superstar; RENT (Original Cast -OBC Recording). Off-Broadway: Jacques Brel is Alive… (New Cast Recording) ; RENT (Closing Cast/DVD -Benny); Bring in the Morning. Regional: The 5th: Paint Your Wagon; HAIR. La Jolla Playhouse: Come From Away (Outstanding Ensemble); Seattle Repertory Theatre: Come From Away; PCS: The Mountaintop; Dreamgirls; Oklahoma. Seattle Rep/La Jolla: Come from Away. DTC: King Lear. Geva: Lobby Hero. Philadelphia Theatre Company: The Scottsboro Boys (Barrymore Award Leading Actor); Royal George: White Noise. CenterStage: Two Gentlemen of Verona. TV: Leverage; GRIMM; Law & Order: Criminal Intent; NYPD Blue. Film: Bad Decisions; Django. Playwright: NC-17.

Crista Marie Jackson
(she / her)The Greatest Showman
Crista Marie is an accomplished aerialist, actress, stunt woman and choreographer. She believes in using her …
Crista Marie Jackson
Crista Marie is an accomplished aerialist, actress, stunt woman and choreographer. She believes in using her art to inspire activism and change. She holds a BFA from Hofstra University. She started her career working with Words of Choice, touring nationally to advocate for women’s rights and is honored to have been able to utilize her skills as an actress, aerialist and choreographer in SILK. She recently finished touring as the Assistant Artistic Director of Alegria by Cirque du Soleil. Her work has been featured in major motion pictures (THE GREATEST SHOWMAN – ENDERS GAME), off-Broadway houses (The Lynn Redgrave, The Pearl, The Sheen Center), television shows (LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER) national and international tours, cruise ships and corporate venues. Her work has been featured in The Metropolitan Opera House, LA Opera, Beyonce’s FORMATION World Tour, TIFF, NYC summer-stage, Broadway Bares, Cirque de la Mer, Radio City Music Hall, KCD Worldwide and the CFDA Awards. www.cristamariejackson.com @crista_marie

Kevin Kilner
(he / him)Theatre World Award (Best Broadway Debut); Acapulco
Kevin has most recently appeared on television in The Blacklist, The Good Wife, Happyish, Person of Interest, Madam Secretary, Castle, Blue Bloods, Royal Pains and …
Kevin Kilner
Kevin has most recently appeared on television in The Blacklist, The Good Wife, Happyish, Person of Interest, Madam Secretary, Castle, Blue Bloods, Royal Pains and the hit Netflix series House of Cards with Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright. Kevin co-starred with Nancy Travis on the CBS sitcom Almost Perfect, and was the star of Gene Roddenberry’s EARTH: Final Conflict, as “Boone,” which was syndicated worldwide. He has also been on such shows as Greek, Whit Collar, CSI: NY, Damages, Ugly Betty, Cashmere Mafia, Ghost Whisperer, The Closer, The New Adventures of Old Christine, One Tree Hill, Monk, Crossing Jordan, Judging Amy, Malcolm in the Middle, CSI: Miami, Touched by an Angel, Frasier, and Murder, She Wrote.
His film credits include the upcoming The Unattainable Story (with Irina Björklund) as well as Paranoia (with Liam Hemsworth, Harrison Ford), Julia with Tilda Swinton, Raising Helen (with Joan Cusack, Kate Hudson) A Cinderella Story, (with Hillary Duff, Chad Michael Murray), American Pie II and Home Alone III.
He starred on Broadway in the 50th anniversary production of The Glass Menagerie with Julie Harris, Calista Flockhart and Zeljko Ivanek, directed by Frank Galati for which he won a Theatre World Award and was nominated for the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards. Off-Broadway credits include Dinner With Friends(2000 Pulitzer Prize), directed by Daniel Sullivan and Lemon Sky, directed by Jonathan Silverstein. Regional theatre credits include Bucks County Playhouse’s Other Desert Cities, Adobe Rose Theatre’s Time Stands Still, Denver Center For the Performing Arts’ The Christians, Baltimore Centerstage’s An Enemy Of The People, NY Stage & Film’s Ninetyand Pasadena Playhouse’s Defiance.

Fran Kranz
(he / him)The Cabin in the Woods
Fran Kranz wanted to be an actor ever since he landed a leading role in …
Fran Kranz
Fran Kranz wanted to be an actor ever since he landed a leading role in his 9th grade play. He has worked consistently as a professional actor ever since. Fran can next be seen in the HBO Max series, JULIA, created by Chris Keyser and starring Sarah Lancashire as Julia Child.
Kranz recently turned his creative attention to writing and directing with his debut feature film MASS, starring Jason Isaacs, Martha Plimpton, Ann Dowd and Reed Birney. The film premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews and was released by Bleecker Street Films on October 8, 2021. MASS received the prestigious Robert Altman Award from the 2022 Spirit Independent Film Awards. Previously, Kranz produced and starred opposite Lily Rabe and Finn Wittrock in an adaptation of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, which premiered at the 2017 Los Angeles Film Festival.
Kranz stars in the upcoming independent thriller HALF LIVES. He also co-stars in another upcoming thriller, THEY WHISPER, as well as in the Mary Pickford biopic WHY NOT CHOOSE LOVE: A MARY PICKFORD MANIFESTO, opposite Cary Elwes and Sophie Kennedy Clark. His other feature credits include THE DARK TOWER, opposite Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey, the Netflix film REBIRTH, MOJAVE, opposite Garrett Hedlund and Oscar Isaac, THE TRUTH ABOUT LIES, the horror comedy BLOODSUCKING BASTARDS, THE LIVING, LAST WEEKEND, opposite Patricia Clarkson, MURDER OF A CAT, opposite J.K. Simmons and Greg Kinnear, Joss Whedon’s adaptation of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, directed by Drew Goddard and produced by Whedon, M. Night Shyamalan’s THE VILLAGE, Ridley Scott’s MATCHSTICK MEN, THE TV SET, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID 2, ORANGE COUNTY, Antoine Fuqua’s TRAINING DAY and DONNIE DARKO.
On television, Kranz most recently recurred in Showtime’s Roger Ailes series THE LOUDEST VOICE starring Russell Crowe and Amazon’s HOMECOMING created by Sam Esmail and starring Julia Roberts. Kranz is also well-known for playing the role of ‘Topher,’ the sarcastic, tech wunderkind, on Joss Whedon’s FOX sci-fi series DOLLHOUSE, alongside Eliza Dushku. He also played the lead role in the CBS comedy series WELCOME TO THE CAPTAIN, created and directed by John Hamburg. Other television credits include BALLERS, MAJOR CRIMES, ELEMENTARY, THE GOOD WIFE, DALLAS, IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA, PRIVATE PRACTICE and FRASIER.
Kranz starred on Broadway opposite Rose Byrne and James Earl Jones in the much-praised revival of YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU. He made his Broadway debut in director Mike Nichols’ DEATH OF A SALESMEN, opposite Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Andrew Garfield, which won the 2012 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. In 2017, Fran starred as ‘Merle Debuskey’ in the world premiere of ILLYRIA, written and directed by Richard Nelson, at the Public Theater. He also starred in the critically acclaimed staging of BACHELORETTE at the Second Stage Theatre Off-Broadway.
Kranz attended high school at the Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles, where he was active in theater, and also studied at the prestigious Oxford Tradition program, where he won a Best Actor Award for his portrayal of ‘Petruchio’ in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. Fran went on to Yale University, where he was a member of the improv troupe “The Ex!t Players”, and performed in such plays as ANGELS IN AMERICA, A BRIGHT ROOM CALLED DAY, HENRY IV, ANTONY & CLEOPATRA, and TWELFTH NIGHT.

Dana Aliya Levinson
(they / she)American Gods
Dana Aliya Levinson (they/she) is an actor, writer, and musician. Favorite acting credits, television: Toni Rykener in American Gods (Starz), …
Dana Aliya Levinson
Dana Aliya Levinson (they/she) is an actor, writer, and musician. Favorite acting credits, television: Toni Rykener in American Gods (Starz), Sadie Lipton in The Good Fight (CBS All Access), film: Hazel in Adam (dir. Rhys Ernst, Sundance, 2019), Jess in The Dress You Have On (dir. Courtney Hope Thérond, OutFest 2018), theatre: Grace in the world premiere of Ballast. Dana’s visual album, FALLING, directed by Zen Pace and supported by Eve Ensler and One Billion Rising, premiered with PAPER magazine. Dana was a Dramatists Guild Fellow and their TV pilot script FRAUD was a finalist for the Sundance Episodic Lab. Dana is a proud member of the Buchwald Family where she is represented across the board.
www.danaaliyalevinson.com

Andy Lucien
(he / him)The Blacklist
Andy Lucien is an artist and advocate originally from New York City, New York. He …
Andy Lucien
Andy Lucien is an artist and advocate originally from New York City, New York. He received both his bachelors and masters in theater. He has been featured in several tv shows including The Blacklist and Netflix’s Daredevil and has been a part of various theatrical productions all over the United States working at such venues as Playwrights Horizons, The Rattlestick Theater, Berkley Rep, La Jolla Playhouse and Studio Theater. In addition to this he also took part in the Grahamstown Theater Festival in Grahamstown, South Africa where he participated in a hip hop adaptation of Hamlet. He is a new Artist Advocate with Healing TREE and is very excited to be working with such an amazing organization dedicated to such fulfilling work.

Taylor Miller
(he / him)FBI
Taylor was born into a film family. Born in Los Angeles, he grew up …
Taylor Miller
Taylor was born into a film family. Born in Los Angeles, he grew up in South Florida, and now calls New York City home. Taylor has appeared on “Magic City”, “Chicago Fire”, and “Burn Notice”, to name a few. He currently plays Kelly Moran on CBS’s “FBI”. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Rachel, and their dog Harry.

Pooya Mohseni
(she / her)Outfest Best Performance Award, See You Then
Pooya is an Iranian-American actor, writer, filmmaker & Transgender activist. She’s co-producer/star/writer of “Transit “, …
Pooya Mohseni
Pooya is an Iranian-American actor, writer, filmmaker & Transgender activist. She’s co-producer/star/writer of “Transit “, a short film about love between a trans woman and a cis man, coming out in 2021. Her stage performances include “She,He,Me” for National Queer Theater, dir Sivan Battat, “Our Town” in Pride Plays, dir Jenna Worsham, “Hamlet” in Play On Shakespeare festival, dir Ellen McLaughlin, an award winning one woman show “One Woman”, in United Solo at The Theatre Row, dir Joan Kane, “Galatea”, dir Mo Zhou for the WP Pipeline festival, “The Good Muslim” dir William Carden at EST. She has guest starred on the latest season of “Law & Order: SVU “ dir Mariska Hargitay, “Falling Water” on USA, “Madam Secretary” and a recurring guest star on the crime drama “Big Dogs” on Amazon Prime. She is a member of the advisory council for Ackerman Institute’s Gender and Family Project.
Represented by Headline Talent Agency

Laith Nakli
(he / him)Ms. Marvel, Ramy
Laith Nakli is a Syrian actor/writer. He graduated from the prestigious William Esper Studio Professional …
Laith Nakli
Laith Nakli is a Syrian actor/writer. He graduated from the prestigious William Esper Studio Professional Actor Training Program.
Laith made his stage debut in War at the Rattlestick Playwrights Theater Company. Other credits include Cry of the Reed –Huntington, Inana – Denver Center, Aftermath – NYTW, Lidless – Page 73, Food & Fadwa – NYTW and Cyrano – Goodspeed.
Laith had the world premiere of his first play, Shesh Yak, at the award-winning Off-Broadway Rattlestick Playwrights Theater in NYC.
Laith is one of the regular characters in the HULU series Ramy.
Film credits: Swallow, 12 Strong, The Wall, The Visitor, Arranged, Sam & Amira…. TV credits include: The Long Road Home, 24-Legacy, Inside Amy Schumer, Blindspot, The Blacklist, Third Watch, The Sopranos, among others.

N’Kenge
(she / her)Emmy Nom; Broadway’s Caroline, or Change
Heralded by the New York Times as “a classically trained diva that can stretch from …
N’Kenge
Heralded by the New York Times as “a classically trained diva that can stretch from Broadway, Pop, Soul to Opera”, this Emmy nominated songstress N’Kenge slayed the game on Broadway originating the role of Mary Wells in Motown: The Musical which garnered a Grammy Nomination for Best Musical Theater Album. Motown Founder Berry Gordy describes N’Kenge as “the most versatile artist I know” and NY Post called her performance of Mary Wells “ELECTRIFYING.” N’Kenge’s unique, genre-crossing vocal stylings and five-octave range have wowed audiences from New York to Paris to Monte Carlo. This international award winning singer has sung for Presidents and Dignitaries around the globe including President Obama’s historical Commander-in-Chief Inaugural Ball.
N’Kenge is currently in Broadway’s Caroline, or Change Musical and is slated to star in the role of Jazz in Broadway bound musical DANGEROUS written by John Introcaso and Michael Colby. N’Kenge is the writer and creator of “Forever Summer- a Tribute to Donna Summer” that she will perform at Carnegie Hall in 2022. N’Kenge is thrilled to have TV producer Gina Goff helming her TV musical series BLACK BUTTERFLY that she created as well as co-wrote with award winning writer Mary McCallum.

Andrew Pirozzi
(he / him)Disney’s Frozen on Broadway (OBC)
Andrew Pirozzi became an Artist Advocate for Healing TREE after meeting Healing TREE Founder Marissa …
Andrew Pirozzi
Andrew Pirozzi became an Artist Advocate for Healing TREE after meeting Healing TREE Founder Marissa and recognizing how important the work is that she dedicates herself to. Andrew’s been working in both the theater and film and television for his entire career. Some credits include: Movin’ Out, Dirty Dancing, Follies, Silence the Musical and most recently OBC Sven, in Disney’s Frozen on Broadway. TV and Film credits include Films such as I Know Where Lizzie Is, A Million Ways To Die In the West and Rock of Ages. He has danced with artists like Taylor Swift, Seth McFarlane, Neil Patrick Harris and James Corden. Andrew’s work choreographing and collaborating with multiple YouTube artists and live production events can be found at his website: www.andrewpirozzi.com. As an artist and teacher Andrew believes in the power of healing and encourages everyone to recognize the things that make us human. Breathe deeply, feel, and never let fear take over your courage. All the love, all the power. IG: afpirozzi

Taylor A. Purdee
(he / him)Killian & the Comeback Kids
Taylor is an a director, actor, and writer. He has appeared on popular series like Gotham and Marvel’s …
Taylor A. Purdee
Taylor is an a director, actor, and writer. He has appeared on popular series like Gotham and Marvel’s Ironfist. He recently served as the curator of the first virtual repertory series, 20th Century Woman: The Documentary Films of Lee Grant. He is the writer, director, and composer of the film Killian & the Comeback Kids, now in theatres.

David and Paul Rigano
(he / him ; he / him)The Rigano Songbook
David and Paul Rigano (The Rigano Songbook) are thrilled to be Artist Advocates with Healing …
David and Paul Rigano
David and Paul Rigano (The Rigano Songbook) are thrilled to be Artist Advocates with Healing TREE. They learned of Healing TREE by collaborating with Founder Marissa Ghavami, featuring her in their web concert series Broadway On Deck and their award winning viral music video “Screen to Screen.” Paul’s musical arrangements could be heard during Healing TREE’s virtual UnGala and David’s apartment can be seen in Healing TREE’s short film Silk. Their musicals include The Holy Cows of Credence South Dakota, You Heard it Here, Facing East, We Were Wild, and Awaken: a Sleeping Beauty musical. They created the hit cabaret series The Ides of March Extravaganza and “I Ought to Behave” and Other Naughty Songs. Paul is the Music Assistant on the Broadway revivals of West Side Story and The Music Man. David co-directed the hit Off-Broadway musical satire Me the People: Fire and Fury Edition. To hear more from them check out RiganoSongbook.com and follow @RiganoSongbook on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Tyrone L Robinson
(he / him)Disney’s Frozen on Broadway
Tyrone is a passionate artist who loves collaboration and utilizing the arts to lead social …
Tyrone L Robinson
Tyrone is a passionate artist who loves collaboration and utilizing the arts to lead social change.
Most recently he performed on Broadway in Disney’s Frozen and prior to that was in The Book of Mormon and Disney’s The Lion King. He acts to show the fullness of African-American male humanity through his work.
Tyrone will appear on the new HBO series Lovecraft Country.
Also an award-winning writer and director, Tyrone’s short film Un{H}armed is currently streaming on RoleCall Watch and will soon be available on Roku.
Tyrone was selected from a nationwide search to be a part of Chris Rock’s Comedy Central Network Writer’s Program during which time he worked with the writing teams at The Daily Show starring Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report.
Tyrone’s awards include The ASCAP Frederick Loewe Award, Evelyn Russell Layton Award, Joseph Jefferson Award (Chicago), and an Off-Broadway Alliance Award nomination for his musical Show Way.
ACTING WEBSITE
https://www.tyronelrobinson.
WRITING/DIRECTING WEBSITE
http://gurmanagency.com/
UN{H}ARMED SHORT FILM

Ren Dara Santiago
(she / her)Let The Right One In (Showtime) Staff-Writer
Ren Dara Santiago is a Fila-Rican playwright from Harlem. She is the TOW Foundation 2020 playwright-in-residence …
Ren Dara Santiago
Ren Dara Santiago is a Fila-Rican playwright from Harlem. She is the TOW Foundation 2020 playwright-in-residence at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, who produced the World Premiere of The Siblings Play. The Gods Play was presented as part of the Bushwick Starr Reading Series in March 2020. Something in the Balete Tree, a 2019 Finalist in the National Playwrights Conference, was written with the support of The Lark’s Playwrights Week 2020, Gingold Theatrical Group, Clubbed Thumb, and SPACE on Ryder Farm. The Siblings Play was development with support from The Cherry Lane Theatre (Mentor Project), LAByrinth Theater, MCC Theater, and Ojai Playwrights Conference. She is a teaching artist for NTI at The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, The Young Women’s Leadership School, and the Playwriting Lab at MCC Youth Company. She is a member of Rising Phoenix Rep, founding member & former Artistic Producer of Middle Voice at Rattlestick, and an eternal member of The Baldwin Project by Lucy Thurber. Ren is the recipient of the 2019 MCC Alumni Award and inaugural Rising Phoenix Rep’s Cornelia Street American Playwriting Award.

Samantha Scaffidi
(she / her)Best New Director, AICP
Samantha Scaffidi is a Manhattan based actress, independent film producer, and filmmaker. With a Bachelor’s …
Samantha Scaffidi
Samantha Scaffidi is a Manhattan based actress, independent film producer, and filmmaker. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Salve Regina University and a Certificate in Acting from the William Esper Studio, Samantha is deft in both the production and creative sides of the craft. Samantha has worked with top commercial clients such as Google, Deeplocal, Dior, and Netflix. She was a freelance producer for the Emmy Awarding winning interactive media company Skin Deep, working on “The And 2.0” and “Senior Orientation”. Her main passion as a producer is creating narrative content. In this realm she has produced a feature film, six short films, as well as a music video. As an actress she has worked on over 40 productions. In January of 2017, Samantha attended the Women’s March on Washington where she directed her first project, the short film Documentary: This is America: The Women’s March on Washington, solidifying her move into directing.

Lauren Sowa
(she / her)The Plot Against America
Lauren Sowa is an independent filmmaker. In 2016, she co-founded Form & Pressure Films to …
Lauren Sowa
Lauren Sowa is an independent filmmaker. In 2016, she co-founded Form & Pressure Films to tell stories that inspire and provoke thought, while encouraging diversity and equality on set and on screen. Producing credits include: Marisol, directed by Zoé Salicrup Junco which is now on HBO, Shield, written and directed by Danielle Eliska Lyle, Stray, directed by Nora Unkel, and Show & Tell, directed by Sakshi Gurnani, among others. Directing credits include: Midsummer 3.2, In Development, LinkedOut, and To Be in America. As an actor, Lauren has been featured in the films 42 Seconds of Happiness (now available on Amazon Prime), Café Artist, The Rainbow Experiment (Slamdance 2018), and The Devil’s Well. Upcoming: Paris is in Harlem. She received her BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Proud member of SAG-AFTRA.