BOARD MEMBERS
Feel free to contact any of us with questions or comments.

OFFICERS

President
Aleshia Mueller, Reel Nomad Productions
president [at] mnwift.org

Aleshia Mueller has been editing and working on movie projects since 1997. She spent two years working in the Carleton College Media Services office managing equipment, assisting students, faculty, and staff with media inquiries and production, monitoring and troubleshooting in the labs, setting-up equipment demos, and offering iMovie and Final Cut Pro editing and DVD authoring workshops. Aleshia has worked on long and short media projects that range from podcasts, music videos, travel videos, archival DVDs, and scientific, social, and historical documentaries. A movie she produced and edited in 2001 about the Crustal Stress Community Awareness Network in the Philippines is used as a tool in community education initiatives for earthquake hazard mitigation. She edited Oberlin-Inanda: The Life and Times of John L. Dube which won special mention for Best Documentary in the 2005 PanAfrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO), screened at festivals worldwide, and is being distributed by the Film Resource Unit of Johannesburg. In 2006, she edited Bust!, a film about womens relationships with their breasts, which has screened in the United States and Europe. She also participated in the Minnesota Historical Society's MN's Greatest Generation Moving Pictures Initiative. A free-lance media producer and FCP editor in Saint Paul, MN, Aleshia is currently producing online video for the Science Education Resource Center and is in various stages of production on three feature-length documentaries.

Vice President
Jody Lichtor
vicepresident [at] mnwift.org

Jody Lichtor's experience in the film industry began in 1994 as a wardrobe assistant on a Sears Shoes commercial. She worked as a PA and wardrobe/prop stylist to production coordinator, manager on commercials, corporate videos, television series and feature films in an effort to find her own unique niche in the business. Eventually as a result of being hired as a food and prop stylist, that became her position for hire. She has served on the MN WIFT Board since 2008, and has co-chaired the Communications Committee. She is responsible for overseeing the MN WIFT newsletter and e-blasts. She looks forward to continuing her commitment to MN WIFT and its mission as a member of the Board of Directors.

Secretary
Carly Zuckweiler, Audio Engineer at HDMG
secretary [at] mnwift.org

Carly Zuckweiler is an audio engineer and sound designer. She has been with HDMG, a video post-production house in Eden Prairie, MN, since 2006. She has worked with a broad spectrum of clients including Cargill, Regis, Best Buy, Target, and Honeywell. Carly has also mixed audio for feature documentaries Green Green Water, The Red Tail, and Of Dolls and Murder. She has also been involved in creating various pieces for Motionpoems, a collaborative project bringing together poetry, audio, and video. Carly has served on the MN WIFT board of directors since 2008.

Treasurer
Amanda Lathrop
treasurer [at] mnwift.org

Amanda Lathrop is a Production Coordinator working in the business since 2004. She loves being part of MN WIFT because of the ability to collaborate with strong, creative women, the opportunity to build a valuable network, and access to continued education about the many facets of this business.

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Communications Committee Chair
Jody Lichtor
communications [at] mnwift.org

Short Film Showcase Committee Chair
Meighan McGuire

A twenty-five year victim of the film and television industry, Meighan McGuire got her start on the other side of the camera as a 'no talent talent.' After years of child stardom as ' Kid #2' and 'Kid Eating Cereal' she jumped ship to production. Today as Best Girl Friday, she freelances as a Producer and Production Manager of feature films, commercials, and new media; she also provides representation for Crash & Sue's Post, Echo Boys Music & Sound Design, and for some of the Mpls' most talented Directors and DPs.

Education Committee Chair
Masha Petrenko
education [at] mnwift.org

Masha Petrenko, the owner of Percolate Films, is a local writer, director, producer, actress, and a conference and court interpreter, with M.A. in linguistics. Her immersion into filmmaking started from winning the Best Acting award at the National Challenge competition a few years ago. Her narrative short Windows and Walls screened locally, at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival and at Cannes. It is now used at local Colleges to discuss communications and diversity issues. Her films also explore the nature of memories, and other brainy things. Masha chairs Education Committee at MN WIFT, where she enjoys attending educational events as much as organizing them. If you think you have a brilliant idea about an educational event, let her know.

Membership Committee Chair
Deborah Fiscus
membership [at] mnwift.org

Deborah has been costuming actors for nearly 20 years, a former clothing designer, she cut into the business the old fashioned way, by working on horror movies in Wisconsin. From there she has kept her foot in the Feature Film world as well as costuming and styling commercials, TV shows and music videos. She loves the collaboration with the Directors and the Art Department, scrambling for the perfect pieces to bring the project's look to fruition. Deborah was the Costume Designer for "Detective Fiction" a 2003 Sundance Film selection directed by Minneapolis's own Patrick Coyle. She recently finished Costume Designing Patrick's second film " Into Temptation".

BOARD MEMBERS

Cheri Anderson
In her role as Art Director Cheri Anderson brings creative visions to life.  Cheri has designed horror movies, thrillers, a 60's- based period piece, a rock band "road" film, and fantasy and reality-based films. She enjoys commercial work as well. To see some of Cheri's work, visit www.NailsAndSilk.com

Cheri says, "I love the energy of filmmaking and the immense amounts of technical and creative talent coming together to produce a work of art."

A lifelong Minneapolis resident, she appreciates the vibrant urban life here. While she is happy to call Minneapolis home, her travel for work and pleasure is a major factor in bringing vibrant multi-cultural influences to her projects.

Trina Koning
Trina is a screenwriter and producer, having written and produced short narrative and documentary films of her own, while working a full-time day job as a web content manager and project coordinator, among other things. Volunteer community work includes serving on the Board of Directors for both Screenwriters Workshop and Minnesota Women in Film & TV non-profit organizations. She’s also an active member of a weekly script group and crews on films here and there. In whatever free time she can find, she also writes scripts for narrative feature films and web series. Trina earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Creative Writing from the University of Wisconsin – River Falls and served as the editor of the campus literary magazine. Professional memberships include IFP, IFP-Minnesota, and IFP Phoenix.