A graduate of Harvard, UCLA, University of Florida, and other institutions, Dr. Penn is an Emmy Award-winning producer who holds advanced credentials in digital film, television and film production, marketing, business. He has led many artists, scientists, actors, and educators. His career spans being a producer, director, and VP of The Digital Animation and Visual Effects School at Universal Studios, CEO of children’s and science museums, executive producer of a children’s television show and various films, and as a Fortune 500 exec. He has worked in theater, IMAX film programs, and is a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. He is an advocate for foster care and adoption and produced a film that debuted in Hollywood, CA, that went on to be qualified by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as one of the officially submitted films for Academy Award consideration in 2019.

An early career in theatre led to recognitions and several state-level awards, sparking a lifelong passion for storytelling. Exploring beyond live production, Edward received a formal education in Meisner and Stanislavski acting disciplines, making a few independent films along the way. From there, he managed a talent agency and acting school in Tampa, Florida. Working alongside major talent (Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Joey Paul Jensen, Caitlin Stacy, James Franco…). Penird’s passion for entertainment evolved into a driven career, leading to his first Emmy ® credit in 2016.

With a B.A.S. in Software Development, a formal education in Game Design as well as 10 years of film/marketing experience he seeks to reform the industry with radical re-design, meaningful collaboration, and supporting the development of talented individuals taking their first steps in the industry.

Gabriel “Gabe” Garcés, is a native New Yorker, and has a true passion for Sales and Marketing. He has held several roles in the sales and marketing realm to include marketing both nationally and internationally. He looks forward to teaching students how Marketing can help you promote your talents in the Film Industry.

Altogether, Gabe holds 27 years of extensive experience in higher education including promoting the Delta Connection Academy, one of the largest flight training schools in the country. He has served the community as a non-profit board member for Hispanic Health Initiatives and as board chair for the Hispanic Business Council of the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce. He holds an MBA in Digital Marketing.

Four-time Emmy Award winner and 12-time nominee as producer, writer, and journalist. Former News Director, NBCUniversal Telemundo, former Executive Producer, Writer, Anchor, Reporter, Univision, Bachelor degree, Film, Television and Digital Production.

Emmy Nominated Cinematographer Jeremiah Baumbach has refined creativity throughout his 20-year career. An Award Winning Producer & three-time Emmy Award Nominated Cinematographer, he is a graduate of the University of Central Florida’s Bachelor degree in Film Program. He has worked various freelance and full-time positions within the entertainment industry for over 20 years in addition to teaching film and television techniques at the college level for over 15 years. His ability to “sculpt with light,” reveals emotion and shapes the atmosphere fitting in each frame. Clients who work with Jeremiah benefit from his innate ability to find solutions to the array of issues that can arise on location.

An Australia native, Krystal was born profoundly deaf and at the age of 2, she received cochlear implants. While in college, she was already working on a few Feature Films and a TV show for the AMC Network. She recently won the Emmy Award as Best Director and was nominated for an Emmy Award as Best Editor for We Kept America Great, a documentary about diverse contributors. She has won various Best Editing awards and worked on various commercials including those for Johnson & Johnson, Walt Disney World, Walgreen’s, Cheerios, and on A House Divided Season 2, Bronx SIU Season 1 & 2, Ladies of the Law Season 1 and Gold Rush Season 11.

Melissa has over twenty-five years in the graphic design industry. She has over 17 years’ experience teaching with 8 of those years online. Melissa holds a BFA in Theatre, BFA in Visual Communications and an MFA in Graphic Design. She has also served as chair of a private college’s Design and IT programs. Prior to teaching, Melissa worked in the Entertainment Industry; she has over thirty years of experience designing sets to being a production manager on events. The last 10 years in the industry saw her designing laser shows and traveling around the world.

A member of Women in Film, Ms. Lewis has held various executive level corporate positions for General Motors, Citicorp, and the Aveda Corporation. She has started up and owned several business ventures and has served as a professor, College Dean and founder of a private college online division that included marketing and design degrees. She holds an MBA degree and a Master's in Psychology. Her passion and life work has been helping others learn, grow, and develop. As a mentor, she applies her broad, diverse experience and talent into her most loved project of all which is to offer the support and expertise others need to become the best version of themselves.

Former Associate Director, The Digital Animation and Visual Effects School at Universal Studios, 16 years; The Disney Company Entertainment Coordinator; Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, Film and Video Production

former president, The Digital Animation and Visual Effects (DAVE) School and Florida Technical Institute and, David Ruggieri, former college president and senior executive of marketing and sales for 40 years; best-selling author, The Soul of Success with Jack Canfield, U.S. Ambassador for Human Rights for Noble Order for Human Excellence, United Nations Charter. Bachelor degree, Marketing and Management

Ph.D., Business, MBA, Marketing and Management, Senior Advisor of Business and Digital Transformation, Canon, Senior Director of Change Management, Communications Strategies, Product Management, and Storytelling, Time Warner Cable/Charter Communications, Children’s Author, Elliott’s Adventures, former professor of marketing, New York University.

Professor, Dean and Faculty Manager, 20 years, Parent of University-educated Filmmaker and Film Editor, Bachelor Degree, Business, MBA, Ph.D. Computer Technology, Volunteer Leader, Angel of God Equine Sanctuary, rescued horses

Southern California Virtual Business Center Director, Business Owner, Professor of Entrepreneurship, University of Southern California, MS, Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Lecturer, University of Central Florida, Bachelor degree, Art and Film

Project Management Professional, Senior MS Project System Administrator/MS Power BI Developer, Advent Health; College Director of Educational Technology, College Chair, IT Instructor, IT Partner, Gaming Company, Project Manager, Bachelor degree, Computer Science.