Producing Scout

I have worked in this industry from LA to NYC, pre IMDB starting in the late 90's (or as the new gen says, "back in the 1900's"). From PA to Art Director to Production Designer, to Actor, to Scout / Locations Manager, and now Producer at Rockhill Studios. HBO's True Detective was here to scout over 3000 locations, and I was the local scout in NWA. After wrap I began using these locations to help other features, shorts, docs, and ads. RHS needed some help- so they brought me onboard, and now I produce for their film studio.

Graphic Designer

Alejandra is the Graphic Designer for the Springdale Chamber of Commerce and the Membership Director for the Northwest Arkansas chapter of AIGA. She has called Springdale home since 1999 and loves witnessing the city's growth in population and diversity. Alejandra graduated from Northwest Arkansas Community College in 2015 and the University of Arkansas with a BFA in Graphic Design in 2019. She' an art enthusiast, she values creativity and innovation in community engagement, and is dedicated to fostering a vibrant, inclusive community.

Filmmaker

Justice of the Peace

Justice of the Peace Beth Coger has seen the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act from all sides. She has used the law to get information about local government, representing herself in court and winning. As an elected official, the law applies to her. She has advocated for improved transparency in government. She is co-founder of Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition and represents district nine on the Washington County Quorum Court.

Instructor

Brandon has been making photographs for over 18 years. He has been published in various magazines and received awards for his photographs. Brandon specializes in street photography and documenting life around Northwest Arkansas. Currently he is developing darkroom prints for an exhibition in the Fall.

Follow his work on Instagram @BRJ_PHOTOGRAPHER

CEO/Owner

Brian Pollari founded Pollari Production/Pollari Media, initially focusing on real estate photos and videos. The company has since evolved into a content creation and marketing firm, specializing in large-scale video production for brand vision and training. Serving numerous small businesses and real estate agents in Northwest Arkansas and beyond, Pollari Productions has quadrupled its business over the last four years, marketing over half a billion dollars in real estate across Arkansas and Missouri. In 2022, Brian worked with Surroundings Group and Nautical Network in Tampa, filming yacht shows and homes. A Springdale Chamber of Commerce member, Brian earned his commercial pilot’s license for unmanned aircraft in 2019. His accolades include a 2nd place national film short with Student Television Network in Los Angeles, 1st place for a PBS documentary on Smith Hospital in Arkansas, and 1st place for a short film at Ozark Media Arts Festival.

Student Programs Director

Caroline Chandler is a graphic designer, promoting life-changing, online education opportunities as part of the University of Arkansas Global Campus Marketing and Communications team. She’s also a founding member and current Student Programs Director for the Northwest Arkansas chapter of AIGA, the professional design association. Her 15-year career has spanned product development, packaging, and marketing. She works in both digital and analog mediums, making everything from animated GIFs to balloon arches. She volunteers with AIGA to help emerging designers develop and connect with their creative networks.

Director, Producer, Writer, Photographer

Chuck Bowman, born in Coffeyville, Kansas, trod an unlikely path to become a Hollywood director and producer. He began as an NBC page in Hollywood.. After traveling back to Kansas for college, he began his career working at Midwest television stations as an announcer/broadcaster. Bowman landed a job at KTLA-TV in Los Angeles as a sports producer and sportscaster. When the Watts riots hit, he moved to reporting, winning a local Emmy in 1969 for his worldwide coverage of the Bobby Kennedy assassination. In his late 30s Bowman broke into television as an Associate Producer on the series “Baa Baa Blacksheep.". He produced pilots and series such as “Hunter,” the original “V” miniseries and network Movies of the Week. Bowman has directed over 125 hours of television, including pilots and series such as “Murder, She Wrote,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” “Touched By an Angel,” “In the Heat of the Night,” “Baa Baa Blacksheep,” and “Jake and the Fatman.”

Producer

Dan Robinson has over 20 years experience in creative production. His resumé includes live events, studio recording, music composition, theater production, film festivals, television, radio, and film. He brings the unique perspective of someone who has seen first-hand the realities from backstage to center stage, and from behind the camera to in front of the camera.

Vice Chair

Dave Bostwick is the vice chair for the School of Journalism and Strategic Media at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He also coordinates the school’s online journalism courses. His regular job duties include designing online content, monitoring online course sections, and mentoring new faculty. He has published three interactive Open Educational Resource (OER) textbooks that are used in core journalism courses at the University of Arkansas. In 2024, he received the university's Paul Cronan Technology Teaching Excellence Award.

Managing Editor

Dave Perozek, a Massachusetts native, has spent the past 25 years working for newspapers in various newsroom positions, including reporter, editorial page editor, metro editor and now managing editor. He graduated with a degree in English from Vanderbilt University in 1999 and began his journalism career later that same year as a reporter with the Niles (Mich.) Daily Star. He worked for The Chronicle-Telegram in Elyria, Ohio, for several years before moving to Bentonville, Ark., in 2008 for a job with The Benton County Daily Record. In September 2023, he was promoted to managing editor of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Dave and his wife, Sara, have a son, George, who is in the eighth grade.

Filmmaker, Director, Writer and Actor

De Shunn T. Berry known as Shunn B.(he/his) is a writer, director, cinematographer, photographer, and actor in both film and theatre. He co-founded the annual "REEL Black" film showcase, providing a safe place for creatives of color to showcase their work in central Arkansas. Terrance is also the founder of B. Squad Media Group, a collective group of individuals in all aspects of media and film that provide community services. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas Little Rock. Terrance has a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications with a minor in Theatre Arts. Terrance started his film company Shunn B. Films in 2019. Since then he has filmed and produced short films, web series, and music videos. Several of his projects have led him to collect several awards in various film festivals, a Micheaux award recipient and being nominated best Filmmaker for URBANE magazine in 2023.

Photographer

Born in El Salvador, but raised in Springdale, AR, Diego is proud to call NWA home. Diego participated in TV/Film while in High School and was recognized in the state of Arkansas for his work by winning in ASPA, SkillsUSA, and various other competitions. Diego has specialized in Portrait Photography for 10 years now. He loves capturing seniors, couples and telling a story through a lens. Outside of photography Diego enjoys; running, music, TV bingeing, and trying out new restaurants.

Media Services Director

As a director and producer, Douglas Bankston has earned a NATAS Mid-America Chapter Emmy Award and five Emmy nominations for his commercial spot and program work, as well as 11 Gold, Silver, and Bronze Telly Awards. A long-time journalist, he has served as an editor for American Cinematographer and for Digital Video Magazine, and was a frequent contributor to Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and DirecTV: The Guide. Currently, he is the Director of Media Services for the City of Fayetteville and its Television Center.

Director

Gina Holland Shelton is a former national reporter for The Associated Press, where her 17-year career included five years covering the U.S. Supreme Court. Her first reporting experience with was in high school working as a breaking news photographer covering crime and accident scenes in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Director Shelton is a second-generation journalist and graduate of Mississippi State University. She joined the University of Arkansas in 2013 and has taught multiple courses including Media Law, honors Government and Media, News Reporting I and II, and Editing. Since 2015 she has directed the Lemke Journalism Project, a high school multicultural reporting program that teaches media literacy and ethics to teens from Northwest Arkansas. She has used the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act to compile thousands of records from state and local agencies. She serves as adviser to the University of Arkansas student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and is president of the Northwest Arkansas Pro SPJ chapter.

Associate Professor

Dr. Ginger Blackstone (Ph.D., University of Florida) is an Associate Professor at the University of Arkansas School of Journalism and Strategic Media, teaching in the broadcast and multimedia journalism concentrations and researching news media. Before the University of Arkansas, she served as an Instructor, Assistant Professor, and Associate Professor at Harding University. Prior to her career in academe, Dr. Blackstone spent nearly two decades in broadcast and cable news; and she continues to freelance in the industry. Her professional awards include two Peabody Awards, a Columbia duPont Award, an RTDNA Edward R. Murrow award for Best Newscast, a NATAS MidAmerica Emmy nomination for Best Newscast, and two 2022 Cablefax awards for Best Live Event and Best Weather Event. Dr. Blackstone also serves on the Education and Social Media Committees for the NATAS Mid-America Emmys.

Reporter

Jacob graduated from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in December 2023 with a master’s degree in sports journalism. During his time at Cronkite, he developed his skills as a broadcast journalist and became a weekly anchor and reporter for the school’s Cronkite News program. Before attending Cronkite, Jacob graduated from the University of California Riverside with a B.A. in political science. His favorite part about journalism is the ability to share unique and compelling stories about people, places, and events that often go unnoticed.

Sr. Designer and UX Practitioner

Jacob Meisenbacher is a designer and UX practitioner with experience in corporate in-house design. He is a problem solver who implements design as a tool for success. His focus is to create experiences that communicate clearly and keep the user at the forefront. He makes intentional design choices based on research and industry best practices. From concepts to final deliverables, he uses design thinking ideology throughout his process to achieve impactful business results.

Photographer

I am a product + fashion photographer based in NWA. I love creating fun, colorful, and eye catching product imagery for brands. I own a photography studio in downtown Springdale called Sol Nox + consider it my second home. You might frequently see me with a Dr. Pepper in hand, reading a good book, or walking my dog, Cowboy, in my free time.

Director

Jason Pitts is an independent writer, producer, and director out of Alma, Arkansas. He lives there with his wife Jennifer and 2 kids, Luke and Lindsey. Jason earned his degree in Radio, Television, and Film from the University of North Texas in 2006. Jason has written, produced, and directed several award winning short films, including ALONE, Masquerade, and When The Stairs Creak. Jason’s feature Friday the 13th fan film, Voorhees: Night of the Beast racked up over 600,000 views on YouTube in the first 5 months. Jason is currently in post-production on his next feature film, The Forest Through The Trees.

News Anchor/Executive Producer

Reporter

Before working at 5NEWS, Jose gained experience at several news stations. He is a proud Hog having graduated from the Walter J. Lemke Department of Journalism at the University of Arkansas with a Journalism Degree. Jose was raised in Springdale and is proud to call it home. He was born in Emporia, Kansas, but his family moved to Northwest Arkansas a few months after his birth. He loves to spend time with his partner, Ariana, and his daughter, Adelynn. As an avid outdoorsman, you may find him hiking Devil’s Den or swimming in Beaver Lake. Coming from a film background in the Springdale School District, Jose loves music, film, anime and movies.

Creative Director

Justin Roe has been a video production specialist for over 20 years, with an emphasis on promotional branding and product advertising. He began his career in a Fayetteville newsroom, where he quickly developed an interest in the multifaceted and ever-changing world of videography.

Since founding his company Maestro Multimedia in 2015, his work for clients has included videography and photography services, copywriting, graphic design, animation, and post-production. Over the last two years, he has worked on six feature films in the Northwest Arkansas area.

Founder / Director

Kressa is the founder of Krescent Studios LLC, a creative team serving Northwest Arkansas and beyond. As a filmmaker, photographer, and director, she oversees every aspect of production — from storyboarding, to camera work, to final delivery. With bachelor's degrees in public relations and Spanish, Kressa began her career in marketing before discovering her passion for the creative industry. In 2019, while working as a communications officer for an international nonprofit in Cambodia, she first experienced the power of storytelling through film. This pivotal moment inspired her to become an independent filmmaker and photographer, eventually leading to the creation of Krescent Studios. Kressa's mission is to craft your story into a cinematic masterpiece.

Photographer

Kyle Agee is a lifelong photography enthusiast and educator based in Northwest Arkansas who has worked for the last 20 years as a commercial and documentary photographer. Kyle has a deep love for analog and alternative process photography and routinely works in medium and large format film as well as lith, cyanotype, and wetplate collodion. For the past 12 years, Kyle has taught all aspects of photography at the university level and gains deep fulfillment from watching other photographers progress along their journey.

Producer

Morning show producer with Channel 5 news in Fayetteville, AR. Earned a bachelor's degree with a major in journalism and a minor in philosophy from San Diego State University.

Editor & Special Projects Reporter

Originally from Hot Springs, Lara Farrar has worked as a journalist for more than two decades. Farrar has worked for media outlets ranging from NPR and the Boston Globe to the New York Times, CNN and the Wall Street Journal. She was based in China as a foreign correspondent for almost a decade. Now back in her native Arkansas, Farrar is a daily editor for the Arkansas Times and also reports on special projects surrounding public health, climate change and agriculture. Farrar also worked as a journalism lecturer at two universities in China, including Fudan University, one of the top universities in the country. She holds a degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University and masters degrees in global media and communication from the London School of Economics and Fudan University in Shanghai.

Actress, Singer, Dancer and LA Radio Sports show personality

Lisa attended Occidental College and UCLA before becoming a professional performer. She performed nationally as an actress, singer, and dancer in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago, and Honolulu. Her many credits include Maggie in the First National Company of “A Chorus Line”, Sister Margaretta/understudy to Florence Henderson’s Maria in “The Sound of Music”, and a national tour with legendary songwriter Sammy Cahn, as his soprano. KABC Radio in Los Angeles hired her to co-anchor a three-hour drive time sports show, covering the LA Dodgers and the LA Rams. She’s been married to Chuck Bowman for 45 years. They have one son.

Marketing Director

Currently Marketing Director for KFSM 5 in the Ft. Smith - Fayetteville TV market, Lori comes with years of broadcast marketing, production and public relations experience. Coming full circle, her first paying job was at a TV station in Northwest Arkansas and from there she has worked in Little Rock, Memphis and the Quad Cities where she spent 27 years as Creative Director at WQAD. Lori returned to where it all began in Northwest Arkansas in late September 2021.

Film Maker

Marc Crandall has morphed through many iterations over the past seven decades. Pool Cleaner, Golf Caddy, Life Guard, Marine Ecologist, Federal Bureaucrat, Tropical Real Estate Developer and General Contractor. Retirement in 2020 has allowed the time to move on to what will hopefully be the most interesting part of the journey, Filmmaking.

Actor

Marilyn Knapp is an actress located in Fayetteville. She has been acting a number of years but formally began her career in 2020 when she was cast in a lead role in the short film ALONE, directed by Jason Pitts. Since then she has appeared in several short films and worked as a background actor in several feature films. Most recently she had a supporting role in The Forest Through The Trees, in post-production, and a principal role in Broken Trail, currently in production. Marilyn is excited to serve as judge for such an awesome event!

Filmmaker

Mark is the lead cinematographer at Krescent Studios LLC, where he ensures the highest picture quality for every project. He is responsible for lighting dynamics, shot composition, and closely collaborating with the director to bring the visual story to life. Mark plays a key role in managing camera equipment and setting up shots to achieve the desired visual aesthetic. His expertise translates the director's vision into stunning, cinematic visuals that elevate each project. Mark's filmmaking journey began as a hobby while working as a surgical nurse in Chicago, where he discovered his talent and passion for visual storytelling. Over time, he honed his skills to become the accomplished filmmaker he is today. Mark wields the power of perspective, using angles and composition not only to capture what is in front of the camera but to reveal the profound meaning hidden within the ordinary.

Casting Director

MARK LANDON SMITH is the owner and founder of Actors Casting Agency and Smith | Fox Casting. As casting director, (with co-casting director Victoria Fox) he has cast the films Sweet Inspirations (winner of the Jury Best Family, 2019 Bentonville Film Festival), Mindcage, Chariot, Freedom's Path, American Cherry, In Fortune's Shadow, Valley Inn, Parker's Anchor, The Man in the Trunk, Sovereign, Good Gorgeous Hell, Wildfire, Indian Territory, The Magician's Raincoat, God's Country Song, Call of the Clown Horn, Banana Triangle Six, Hazardous Duty, F.R.E.D.I. (winner Best of the Fest, 2018 Bentonville Film Festival), Max Winslow and the House of Secrets, Blood on the Risers, Door in the Woods, Neapolitan,The Tower and the TV series Saved by Grace. As actor he has appeared in Killers of the Flower Moon, Mindcage, The Tickle Monster, Wasted Time, Life of Crime, Broken Trail, Wonderland Cave, The Immigrant and others. Producing credits include Parker's Anchor (winner of the Audience Best Narrative 2017 Bentonville Film Festival) , The Man in the Trunk, Door in the Woods, Jan & Jann, Dupont Mississippi: F5 and Love Comes In Many Colors, (BFF winner).

Journalist and Podcast Host

Mary Jordan began her career as a military journalist and currently serves as a Public Relations Specialist and Springdale Today podcast host with Springdale Public Schools. She relocated to Northwest Arkansas from Alaska about six years ago and served as the Education and Creative Economy reporter for the NWA Democrat-Gazette prior to joining the Springdale Family. Jordan has had an exciting and varied career that led her to Alaska, where she lived for 26 years, working as a journalist, editor of the Alaska Star and Alaska Post newspapers and as the U.S. Army Alaska Community Relations Chief.

News Director

Michael Aaron is news director for KFSM 5NEWS, the CBS affiliate serving Fayetteville-Fort Smith. Michael has more than a decade of newsroom experience, including nine years with 5NEWS’ parent company, TEGNA, as an anchor and reporter at KTHV in Little Rock and KYTX in Tyler, Texas. Michael holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a proud golden retriever dad who enjoys live music, traveling, and spending time outdoors.

Photographer

Michael specializes in grip work, photography, and video assistance for Krescent Studios. In his role, he oversees the setup of studio equipment, both on-location and in-house. As the key grip and photographer, he's responsible for configuring lighting setups and camera rigs, handeling any indoor or outdoor scene presented to him. His journey into the creative field began in high school, where he first explored yearbook design, journalism, and the fundamentals of film and audio. Michael pursued secondary education studies in surgical procedures and in anatomy. In addition to his roles with Krescent Studios, he assists surgeons and supervises surgical practices, specifically in G.I. and pulmonary services. His desire and mission with photo and film is to craft stories with his team that become beacons of comfort and preserve memories in for years to come.

Photographer

I'm Natalie Zeta Jones: A 21 year-old, biracial photographer from Fort Worth, Texas. I've been taking photos for about 6 years, but professionally for 3. Now that we've got the boring stuff out of the way, let me actually tell you about myself and why I chose photography. Growing up, I always viewed everyday life through a cinematic lens. Each part of my day was either a filler scene, character development, or a crucial part of the plot. I was the kid who looked out the window while it was raining and pretended I was in a music video. Dramatic, I know. This perspective left me with a unique way to view life as an adult, and especially as a photographer. Part of this mindset forced me to recognize that other people are the main characters of their own stories. With their own feelings, thoughts, experiences, biases, annoyances, and all. I've been told that my photos can be very moody, bold, and nostalgic, and I truly believe it is because when I step into a shoot, I am looking to tell a story. To create a feeling that captures my subject's true energy and encapsulates all attitudes meant to be associated. My visuals are to tell.

Writer / Director

As the president of the NWA Screenwriters Collective, Raelyn Munneke leads the growing community of screenwriters, cultivating fellowship and education in the craft. With a career spanning both documentary and narrative film, Raelyn has produced series for ESPN and The Golf Channel and earned an Emmy nomination in the Mid-America Region for her documentary about Northwest Arkansas, HOG TOWN. Her sci-fi drama TV pilot, NUMBERED reached Second Round at Austin Film Festival in 2023 and CineStory Quarterfinalist in 2024, leading her to industry mentorship from professional writers, producers and managers. Her short comedy screenplay, MOM.ENT OF PEACE also received Second Rounder at AFF screenplay competition and was produced in 2022 with Raelyn directing and editing, and recently on a tour of festivals across the region. As a freelance filmmaker and owner of Munneke Productions, while writing daily, she manages a business that scales to serve clients from non-profits to Fortune 500's, including Disney, Johnson & Johnson, and Walmart International. Filming across the globe to documenting the neighbor next door, the real-life stories have inspired Raelyn in her narrative imagination.

Journalism Instructor and Ex. Dir. of ASPA

Renette McCargo began her journalism career in Memphis, Tennessee, after graduating from Arkansas State University. She initially wrote for a newspaper, transitioned to broadcast journalism, and returned to print in 1999. McCargo then became a marketing manager for a casino before completing a Master of Science in Mass Communication in December 2012. In January 2013, she joined Arkansas State University's College of Liberal Arts and Communication. In 2018, McCargo moved to the University of Arkansas School of Journalism and Strategic Media as assistant director of the Center for Ethics in Journalism. She served as Interim Director of Diversity at the SJSM from 2022 to 2023. Currently, she is a journalism instructor at UA and the executive director of the Arkansas Scholastic Press Association.

Filmmaker

Robert Babcock is a NWA Filmmaker, a writer, producer, production manager, actor, and owner of Zeit Films and COO of Flamingo Springs Studios a soon to be opened Virtual Production studio with Chuck and Laura Mere. Robert has worked with talent such as Michael Rooker, Theo Rossi, and John Malkovich. Robert specializes in short and feature films and leads the very best NW Arkansas film crew.

Sports Reporter/Anchor

Sports had been her passion for as long as she could remember. Growing up in a family that participated in anything from baseball to calf roping, Robyn was destined to end up in the sports world in some capacity. Robyn grew up just 30 minutes outside of the DFW metroplex. She went to Oklahoma State University (Go Pokes!) where she graduated with a B.S. in Sports Media with a focus in production in May 2020. During her time at OSU, she interned with the Frisco RoughRiders baseball team and at Fox Sports Southwest. Throughout the school year, she was involved in OState TV and interned in the OSU athletic communications department. After graduating from college, Robyn became a news reporter at WBNG in Binghamton, NY and eventually made her way to the sports department in 2021. At the beginning of 2022, she came back to the Lone Star State to be the sports director at KAUZ in Wichita.

Instructor of Multimedia Storytelling

Russell Jones is an Instructor of RTV/Multimedia Storytelling at the University of the Ozarks. With 17 years of award-winning experience in TV news, podcasting, and online reporting, Russell brings a wide array of skills and experiences to the classroom and studio.

At the University of the Ozarks, Russell teaches professional communication skills, entrepreneurial approaches to media, and applying criticism to better understand and navigate the current media environment. He and the rest of the Communication Department provide expertise in creating television, radio, video and audio forms of media, with an emphasis on iterating personal growth and maintaining high ethical and professional standards. Their students get hands-on experience running livestreams at university and community events, filming their own projects through classes and co-curricular studio programs, developing their own personal brands on multiple platforms, and making the successful transition from personal creation to a professional career.

Russell is a 2005 graduate of Arkansas Tech University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, emphasizing Broadcast Television and minoring in Theater.

Vice President | eCommerce & Digital Strategy

Sean Kaiser is a creative technologist with a deep passion for imaging. As the Vice President of eCommerce and Digital Strategy at Bedford Camera & Video, Sean leads the online sales and marketing teams for one of the top photo-specialty retailers in the United States. With a strong commitment to fostering a "shop local" mentality, Sean has successfully grown Bedford Camera & Video’s e-commerce platform, Bedfords.com, into a top contender among the nation’s leading camera stores. His 18 years of experience in retail marketing and e-commerce, combined with his keen understanding of digital advertising in an ever-evolving landscape, have enabled Bedford Camera & Video to build strong connections with photographers and videographers both locally and across the country. Sean holds a degree in Digital Media Arts from John Brown University, where his passion for photography and digital media took root. Beyond his professional achievements, Sean is dedicated to supporting educators in their mission to guide young creatives through the landscape of photography tools and equipment. He currently resides in Rogers, Arkansas.

Key Costumer

Stacey Stevens Bankston is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Certified ADHD Specialist, Certified Anger Management Specialist (CAMS-II), Certified Grief Specialist, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), Principal Partner/Co-Founder of Creative Counseling Center of NWA, and the Executive Director/Founder of a nonprofit called The Hit and Run Project. In addition to these hats, Stacey worked as the Key Costumer on a recently produced feature film “Inthralled”. Stacey was able to combine her love for design with a love for the psychology of color to create numerous wardrobe options and changes for a vibrant cast of actors/actresses. Having worked as a mental health therapist for over 25 years, Stacey used her knowledge of human behaviors, emotions and the psychological meaning of color to create a unique array of colorful clothing options that captured the inner essence of each character’s role within the film. Stacey worked closely with many talented cast and crew to create a vision and tell a story. Stacey aspires to continue her love and practice as a therapist, in combination with her love of the creativity within the film industry that continues to grown in Northwest Arkansas.

Graphic Designer

Stan Dark is a fine artist, illustrator, designer, gallery manager, and educator. He returned to Northwest Arkansas from Baton Rouge, LA after 45 years to follow his art career. Stan received a grant from the National Endowment for Humanities for “Voices from the Louisiana Prairie” exhibit, was a consultant to the Folklife Festival at the Louisiana World Exposition, and wrote/illustrated a book for the National Park Service for the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans. Stan continues to work as an illustrator/designer as well as working with arts organizations and commission artwork. Stan is a member of Fenix Arts Gallery, member and manager of the ANA Gallery, and president of Artists of Northwest Arkansas.

Professor

I currently live in Clarksville Arkansas, where I’ve been working at the University of the Ozarks for 27 years. I also serve as an alderwoman on the Clarksville City Council. My broadcast background includes work for KMAG/KWHN, The Point 104.7, and Fox 24. I continue to produce podcasts and videos because I love storytelling!

Yearbook Adviser

Taylor Bowers is a fifth-year yearbook adviser from Bentonville West High School. As a high school student, Taylor worked as editor of The Mountaineer yearbook at Rogers High School, then worked as editor-in-chief at the University of Central Arkansas for their student newspaper, The Echo. As a journalism graduate, Taylor encourages all of her students, both in journalism courses and English classes, to be critical consumers of media so they may grow into active, engaged members of society. In her free time, Taylor likes to read, build Legos, and game with her husband and son.

Senior Training Specialist

Tony Krup is a seasoned photographer and videographer with over 15 years of experience in the industry. With expert-level knowledge of cameras and photography equipment, Tony has mastered the technical and artistic aspects of both fields. He has worked extensively within the photo industry, contributing to various high-profile projects and publications. In addition to his hands-on experience, Tony is also a passionate educator, sharing his expertise through teaching and mentoring aspiring photographers and videographers. His deep understanding of the craft and dedication to the art form make him a respected figure in the photography and video community. With his recent move to DJI, he is taking this knowledge to new heights with drones!

President

Wendy Jordan is the President of the Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). With a strong journalism background, Wendy has held several key roles, including managing editor for the Trucker Media Group, where she led a national niche newspaper, and special sections manager at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Her career also includes reporting on education and crime for the Paragould Daily Press and has experience assisting with behind-the-scenes FOIA requests for true crime documentaries. Currently, she freelances for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and is a marketing manager for Crafton Tull, a multi-discipline engineering firm. Wendy holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s in strategic communications from Arkansas State University, where she also serves as an online adjunct instructor.

Owner/Photographer

Wesley Hitt seems to have always been in motion. For 40 years, he has been best known for his spectacular action photography, whether it’s the NFL, NBA, NCAA Sports, or the LPGA. This is where he has captured images of Lebron James, Stacy Lewis, Peyton Manning, Sidney Moncrief, and Darren McFadden in their purest of action. Wesley is also known to have captured the ambitious spirit of corporate, political, and celebrity icons such as Sam Walton, George Foreman, Bill Clinton, Dale Earnhardt, Drew Barrymore, and many others. Wesley became his own boss at the age of 22 soon after graduating Hallmark Institute of Photography. He gives much credit for his success to his mentors, Director of Hallmark Institute Paul Turnbull and Bill Parsons whom he worked as an assistant in Little Rock at the beginning of his career. He has stayed motivated throughout his career by his clients and having the opportunity to witness some glorious moments in history.