Tony is an internationally exhibited visual artist and an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Film and Media Studies Program at the University of Pittsburgh. A dedicated supporter of the arts and artist-run spaces, he served as a longtime volunteer at the ACRE artist residency program in Chicago, IL and founded a free-to-the-public microcinema in Milwaukee, WI. He’s a member of Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, and co-founder/curator of the gallery series Open Concept. A living organ donor, husband, and father, he currently resides in the verdant forests of Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood.

Rachel is the historian and archivist at the Duquesne Club of Pittsburgh. She holds a graduate degree in history, archives, and museum studies from Duquesne University and spent nearly twenty years at the Heinz History Center as an archivist and curator. Her passion for storytelling later drew her to filmmaking as Managing Director of Film Pittsburgh, where she oversaw significant growth through innovative programming and partnerships. Today, Rachel also consults as a historian and archivist for organizations across Pittsburgh, dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of our past. 

Russell Howard has a passion for public programming, media and the arts. While at Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, he produced and curated Light Up Night, launched Picklesburgh, and co-chaired the Pittsburgh Music Ecosystem Project. Working within the television industry, Russell held a senior communications role at National Geographic Channels and developed pay-per-view marketing campaigns for Universal Studios, Paramount Studios, and New Line Cinema. He previously was Chairman of The Three Rivers Film Festival while on the Board of Directors for Pittsburgh Filmmakers.

Tim is a former Film Projectionist turned Transformation Consultant at Highmark. His day job is focused on enterprise-wide transformation initiatives to drive innovation and efficiencies throughout the organization. Tim has spent most of his career working in and supporting various finance functions for different banking institutions and Highmark. He holds an undergraduate degree in Finance from Duquesne University, a master's degree in Operational Excellence from St. Vincent College, a certification in Organizational Design from Cornell University and is a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. Tim is a self-proclaimed cinephile, spending most of his free time filling up his Letterboxd diary and visiting different theaters around the greater Pittsburgh area.

Laura is a Managing Director and Relationship Manager within PNC’s Capital Markets Group, where she advises leadership teams at U.S. financial institutions to align strategic vision with execution. Laura is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, holding a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degrees in Finance and Accounting. She believes creative expression and organizational success are mutually reinforcing, and that bold artistic voices thrive when supported by strong governance, financial stewardship, and thoughtful audience engagement. She is particularly passionate about funding independent films and preserving the communal experience of filmgoing and live performance.

David has more than 20 years of experience in financial and operations management. His supervisory experience includes positions of CFO and Controller in high-growth organizations. A Pittsburgh native, David has served as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, corporate executive, trainer, and consultant. Much of his focus has been on equitable development in disinvested neighborhoods and making positive sustainable impact. David is a graduate of Arizona's Thunderbird MBA Program. Currently, David is a licensed Real Estate Agent in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and holds an Asset Management Professional Certificate issued by the Consortium for Housing and Asset Management (CHAM).

Elaine serves as Project Manager of Strategic Initiatives at VisitPITTSBURGH, where she brings deep expertise in tourism strategy and destination development. A lifelong creative, Elaine is especially interested in the ways food culture, arts, and storytelling intersect to shape authentic placemaking and community identity. She holds a graduate degree in Food Studies from Chatham University, grounding her work in both cultural analysis and practical application. Having lived in Western Pennsylvania her entire life and in the Pittsburgh region for more than a decade, she is passionate about community network building and highlighting northern Appalachian culture.