Associate Professor Laura J. Boyd’s interest in travel, adventure and natural history steered her to the path of documentary filmmaking.

Laura spent nearly a decade traveling the globe while working for natural history and expedition travel companies. Serving in the roles of cruise director and expedition leader for the company Society Expeditions, Boyd traveled to Alaska and the Russian Far East, Polynesia, Chile, Argentina, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica.

A brief stint working for IMAX convinced her to pursue an M.F.A. in Science and Natural History Filmmaking at Montana State University. Her first week of class was spent filming bison in Yellowstone National Park – she had found her bliss.

In 2006, she was hired by National Geographic and produced content for the National Geographic Channel, National Geographic Mission Programs, National Geographic Explorer, Wild Chronicles for PBS and the award-winning children’s television series Wild Detectives.

In 2011, she joined Point Park University to begin the next phase of her career, as faculty in the cinema program, overseeing the producing concentration and teaching as many documentary classes as possible.

Caroline Collins is an actor, writer, producer and director. As an actor, she has appeared in films such as Adventureland and Since I Don’t Have You. Television roles include WGN America’s Outsiders, NBC Universal’s Gone, and Showtime’s American Rust. Caroline has written and produced short films including the award-winning romantic comedy Lightheaded, which she also acted in, and she’s directed several award-winning short films.

Caroline is president of the production company 13 Films. She is vice president of the board of Carnegie Screenwriters and a member of Women in Film and Media Pittsburgh. She is also associate director of Film Pittsburgh.

As Supervising Producer of Donkey Hodie, Kristin DiQuollo provides leadership and creative vision to Fred Rogers Productions’ preschool puppet series, which is inspired by characters from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Prior to joining the company, she led production of broadcast and digital content for the PBS KIDS series Cyberchase as executive producer and story editor at WNET New York, helping to spearhead its expansion on digital platforms, including strategies for accessibility. She also oversaw national family and educator engagement efforts. Experienced in using research to inform development and design of content, she has worked on several projects that investigate learning outcomes from educational media. Kristin previously worked in educational outreach and marketing for the IMAX Corporation and as an associate editor and projects coordinator a classroom magazine and website showcasing the works of teenage writers. She received her B.A. in English from Providence College.

Ellen Doherty is Chief Creative Officer for Fred Rogers Productions, overseeing the development and production of content for all platforms. She serves as executive producer for the company’s current series on PBS KIDS—Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Odd Squad, Donkey Hodie, and Alma’s Way. She also developed Donkey Hodie and Alma’s Way and is the creator, head writer, and executive producer of the award-winning Through the Woods, a shortform series about nature also available on PBS KIDS. In 2023, Ellen was inducted into the inaugural cohort of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ Silver Circle, which recognizes distinguished service within the industry for 25 years and was named to The Hollywood Reporter’s first-ever list of “The 75 Most Powerful People in Kids’ Entertainment.” She was also spotlighted in Variety’s 2022 Family Entertainment Impact Report as one of the year’s top content creators, producers, directors, and executives. In 2018, she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy^® Award for Mister Rogers: It’s You I Like, the retrospective tribute to the 50th anniversary of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

A Webby^® and three-time Emmy^® Award-winning producer and writer with more than 20 years’ experience in children’s media, Ellen was previously executive producer and story editor of the PBS KIDS series Cyberchase. She oversaw production of television and digital content for the series for six seasons, including creating several shortform video series.

Ellen began her career as an associate producer on the beloved PBS KIDS series Reading Rainbow. She has a B.A. in Communications from Boston College and will show you on her hand where she grew up in Michigan.

I started my career in 2009 in Pittsburgh, working as a Casting Assistant to Nancy Mosser at Mosser Casting, casting for feature films and scripted TV and commercials. In 2013 I moved back to New York and began working as a freelance Casting Producer on various unscripted TV shows. I slowly transitioned into working as a Reality TV producer in the field and the past few years I have been traveling the world as a Producer on The Bachelor.

Cara Friez is an educator, creative multimedia producer, and video editor with two decades of experience integrating artistic storytelling, education, and technical expertise to produce exceptional deliverables. Currently serving as the Senior Post-Production Manager for The Warhol Creative, an initiative of The Andy Warhol Museum, she oversees the seamless execution of post-production processes, ensuring high-quality outcomes. She also encourages emerging storytellers and fosters dynamic learning environments by mentoring post-production staff and fellows. Her production credits include CBS’s As the World Turns, VEX Robotics, WPXI-TV, Discovery Channel, and National Geographic.

Born and raised in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kelly Haddad has spent her whole life in the Film Industry. She started officially working for the family business, Haddad’s Inc., when she was 13 years old. Kelly graduated from Ohio University in 2009 with a degree in Math and Actuarial Science. After college, Kelly worked on two movies in Pittsburgh as an office PA and transportation dispatcher before moving to Los Angeles to explore more of the industry she had developed a passion for while growing up in the family business. In LA, Kelly worked in the finance and accounting department for a production company for several years before transitioning back to her transportation roots as a DOT admin on a few Disney TV shows. This experience gave her a well-rounded overview of the Film Industry.

After gaining valuable knowledge in LA, Kelly moved back to Pittsburgh in 2019 to rejoin the family at Haddad’s Inc. becoming Chief of Staff. Over the last five years, she has worked in multiple departments, getting to know the business inside and out. Kelly recently moved to the sales department for training and is thrilled to be working alongside her father David Haddad, mother Karen Haddad and brother DJ Haddad.

Since returning to Pittsburgh, Kelly has worked alongside her father to support the Pennsylvania Film Industry. She has been a part of lobbying in Harrisburg, as well as attending events across the state to support growing the Film Tax Credit. Kelly is also a large contributing factor in helping with the efforts to create a Film Tax Credit Program in Michigan. She coordinates meetings across the state with legislators and filmmakers to help communicate the positive effect a new program could offer in Michigan. She travels frequently to Lansing, Detroit and Grand Rapids to spread the message.

Kelly currently lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her partner of 15 years, Hank. When not at work, Kelly enjoys watching movies, TV, musicals as well as participating in yoga and outdoor biking.

For over 30 years Anita Harnish has worked as a freelance producer/director in video and film production, serving advertising agencies, universities, hospitals, corporations and philanthropic organizations.

Anita has traveled all over the United States for clients such as ATI and FedEx Ground. Regionally, she has produced videos for The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, The Great Allegheny Passage, Highmark, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden and WVU Medicine. She has produced videos for online educational programs on study abroad, alcohol abuse and sexual assault for colleges and high schools. She has been recognized with national Telly awards, a golden reel award from Media Communications Associations International and an Opal Award for Women in Film and Media, Pittsburgh.

Anita’s passion for production and desire to provide quality videos for the philanthropic sector have taken her to Haiti, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Vietnam. She has produced videos for Beyond Borders – promoting literacy in Haiti and the eradication of restaveks (domestic child servants); and Surgicorps International – documenting a Pittsburgh-based organization that travels internationally to repair cleft palettes on indigenous populations.

Sara Lindsey (she/her) is an actor and filmmaker originally from Ellicott City, Maryland. She’s currently recurring on Amazon’s AMERICAN RUST opposite Rob Yang. Select Film: CONCUSSION, PROMISED LAND, JACK REACHER, BLUE JAY, PLEASE COME WITH ME, FANATIC (Outfest, Palm Springs Shortfest), DEAR JANE (Santa Barbara Film Festival), DADDY ISN’T HERE RIGHT NOW (Montclair Film Festival). Additional Television: High Desert, NCIS: Nola. Sara is a proud graduate of Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama. She recently wrapped production on STICKS, adapted from George Saunders’ eponymous short story. Check out her 1-minute movies on Vimeo and IG @saralindseyfilm.