Becky Bogard, (Chair)
Becky Bogard owns a government relations consulting business that specializes in state and local issues. Her clients include tourism and health care interests, broadcasters, and high tech companies. Before starting her business, she worked for Governor Booth Gardner. She graduated from Duke University and American University School of Law.
Abby Dylan
Abby Dylan has acted in over 25 productions with artists such as Tony Award-winning director Joe Mantello and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lanford Wilson. Abby has also appeared in numerous TV commercials, industrials, and films, including the award-winning "Blues in Greenpoint" and has been featured on the soap operas "Another World" and "One Life to Live." Abby holds a BFA in Theatre from the Professional Actors Training Program at Southern Methodist University and is currently serving on the Tacoma Committee of the Seattle International Children's Theatre Festival and the Tacoma Youth Chorus Board. In addition, she serves on the national board of the Screen Actors Guild, where she is co-chair of both the low budget and legislative committees.
Donna James, (Vice Chair)
From 1994 through 2005, Donna James served as the director of the Mayor's Film Office and as city liaison to the tourism industry. Her duties as the Seattle Film Commissioner included serving as the liaison between production companies, city departments, neighborhoods and local businesses. In 2003 Mayor Greg Nickels added music to the Film Office agenda creating the Mayor's Office of Film and Music. James continues to work as a leader in the efforts to promote Seattle as film friendly in order to increase production here. She is consulting on special events and film-related projects, which currently include development work with the Seattle International Film Festival.
Don Jensen
Don Jensen is the owner of Alpha Cine Labs in Seattle, Washington. He has over 25 years experience in film and video production and post production. For the past two years Jensen has worked with a group of Washington companies to develop and pass the Motion Picture Competitiveness legislation. He currently serves as president of WEIPA, the trade organization that formed to pass the legislation and improve the business environment for the entertainment industry. He also serves on the board of IFP/Seattle.
David Robinson
David Robinson is a former business manager with IATSE Local 488, where he served on the executive board for 11 years. He has worked in the film industry in Washington since 1992 and currently represents the entertainment trades on the executive board of the M.L. King Jr. County Labor Council.
Craig Schafer
Craig Schafer is the owner of Hotel Andra in Seattle. A Tacoma native, Schafer graduated from Washington State University with a degree in hotel and restaurant administration and started his career at Westin Hotels in Southern California. He returned to the Pacific Northwest and earned his MBA from the University of Puget Sound and went on to become the founder and president of Colliers International Hotels. He currently serves as vice chairman of the board of directors for Seattle's Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Pike Place Market Foundation.
Harry Sladich
Harry Sladich is the president & CEO of the Spokane Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau, a region that saw $668.9M in tourism spending in 2005. Prior to working for the CVB, Sladich worked for Sterling Hospitality Management where he was responsible for growth and development of sales at nine hotel properties in four western states. In addition to serving on WF board of directors, he also serves on the board of directors for the Washington State Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus (WACVB) and the Boy & Girls Clubs of Spokane County.
Norma Jean Straw
Norma Jean Straw is a Seattle based TV and Film producer. Her
credits include the indie feature EVERGREEN and close to 100 episodes
of nationally broadcast TV. She was nominated for a National Daytime
Emmy Award for the children’s show HIP HOP HARRY, and worked as
line-producer on the Emmy winning PBS series BizKid$. In additional to
her producing career, Norma has worked as a leader in the public
sector, serving as a public engagement specialist for the State
Superintendent of Public Instruction and a program director at the YMCA
of Greater Seattle. Norma earned her BA from The Evergreen State
College and is a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.