Meet the Staff — Reel Works

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

**Abby Verbosky,** *Program Director* for Reel Works, leads and organizes programs that inspire and empower students to share their stories through filmmaking while maintaining her own professional practice in photography and videography. Abby has designed curricula for schools and partnerships throughout New York City, California, and New Zealand and is a contributor and Steering Committee member for the NYC DOE’s Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Moving Image: Grades K–12—the first sequential and comprehensive guide to media education programs. Based in Brooklyn, New York, since 2011, Abby's roots are in photojournalism, street photography, experimental video, and exhibition management. Email Abby.

**Anna Wang**, *Grants Manager,* writes and oversees a growing portfolio of foundation, corporate, and government grants to support Reel Works' robust programming. She engages funders and seeks to build new and lasting relationships with the ultimate intention of expanding access to quality arts education and media career readiness for young artists, especially those in under-resourced communities. Anna is a film/video artist with an academic background in labor.

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

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

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

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

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

**Christiamilda Correa** (she/her/ella), *Director of Development and Communications* at Reel Works, is an impact strategist with a passion for entertainment, media, and education. She is an award-winning and seasoned fundraiser, event marketer, and professional actress. With over fifteen years in the corporate and non-profit sectors, she has conceptualized, directed and promoted clients for over 250 high profile celebrity parties, intimate dinners, brand launches, gala receptions, community convenings, and signature programs in the NYC metro area, the Hamptons, and Houston, TX. Christiamilda is invested in improving equity, access, social and economic mobility for all, especially the next generation of leaders. She serves as the inaugural President of NYU Latinx Alumni Network, recipient of the NYUAA Innovation of the Year and 2020 Prospanica Top Latinx Leader Award. Ms. Correa is a Founder of The Movement Theatre Company (TMTC) and has performed at The Met Museum’s World Culture Festival: Journeys. She co-facilitates Advancing Arts Forward’s Strategic Planning Institute hosted by Mayday Space, volunteers with Teatro SEA, The VECINOS Collective, Latinx Theater Commons Advisory Board, and is an alumna of National Association of Latino Arts & Cultures (NALAC) Leadership Institute. Christiamilda is a first-generation graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts (B.F.A. Drama). Email Christiamilda.

**Ebony Hatchett**, *Manager of School Partnerships*, joined Reel Works in 2019 as a Teaching Artist. Since then, Ebony has led courses in Reel Works' Documentary Lab, Media Makers' Workforce Training, Paramount's "Take Action" Social Justice documentary course, and several In-School programs. Ebony studied at Ball State University, as a Theatre and Acting major, and has also received an AS in Engineering Science at The City College of New York- earning her a Paraprofessional license from the New York State Department of Education. As a performer- Ebony toured Europe and the Americas, for several years, as a member of the contemporary theatre company - Big Art Group. As a filmmaker, Ebony has received several film festival official selections and awards for her 2020 directorial debut "House of Yes" - a documentary about NYC's premiere circus venue and its performers; and, “Gray’s Bike Shop”- another NYC profile documentary. Ebony enjoys working within the Reel Works Community, not only as a Teaching Artist but also, as liaison between school partners and the Reel Works’ Education Team. Ebony looks forward to inspiring a future generation of filmmakers and storytellers! Email Ebony.

**Kayla Scott,** *Recruitment Coordinator*, is a native Brooklynite and Alumni of Reel Works Summer Lab 2013 and Master Lab. She studied Animation at the School of Visual Arts and is currently studying Project Management online. As an INTJ, she always lets her curiosity lead in hopes it guides her in connecting the right candidate to the right opportunity. Before recruiting with Reel Works, she played matchmaker for puppy playdates at a vet practice.

**Jenni Loo,** *Producer of Internal Productions*, is a native New Yorker and filmmaker. She worked in post-production for commercials and short branded documentaries before heading internal productions at The Studio @ Reel Works. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Culture and Politics from Georgetown University.

**Keisha Katz**, *Director of Workforce and External Partnerships,* is an advocate and leader in diversity & inclusion initiatives in the media industry. As the Director of Workforce and External Partnerships at the Brooklyn-based nonprofit Reel Works, her primary role is overseeing MediaMKRS, a workforce program in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and the City University of New York. Keisha engages stakeholders to create equitable solutions and source talented individuals from marginalized communities to provide them with access to careers in media. She has also produced award-winning documentaries for leading television networks including her most recent credit on a film that addresses discrimination by employers based on the texture of a person’s hair. Keisha also sits on the board of the New York Production Alliance. She resides in Queens, NY with her husband and 3-year old daughter. Email Keisha.

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