Executive Board

President

Jolene McMaster
Writer/Producer

Jolene served as Vice President for five and one-half years, before assuming the role of President upon Cynthia Neely’s resignation in June 2008. She represented the chapter at the WIFT International Summit in October 2005. She is co-founder of Pure Horror Films, with partner Rob McKinnon. PHF is a corporate member of WIFT Houston. As producer, she completed her first feature film for an Austin production company, the SAG low budget horror movie MR HELL, shot on 35mm in 2004, premiering atMFAH in 2005, with DVD release nationwide in April of 2006.

Jolene is also a member of Mayor Bill White’s task force on film. The group of 15, led by Franci Crane, met regularly for over a year to organize Houston Cinema Arts Society to enrich Houston’s film culture. HCAS presents its Cinema Media Arts Festival on November 20-23, 2008. This year’s preview festival will be a hint of things to come beginning in November 2009, when the festival has its grand opening. Jolene serves on the board of Houston Cinema Arts Society.

Jolene is also a member of New York 's WIFT Chapter, and an Affiliate member of Horror Writers of America. Jolene and partner Rob McKinnon are recipients of multiple Telly awards for their earlier work in video production. She served on the Board of Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts from 2002 through 2006, and as an Alternate to the Board of Texas Motion Picture Alliance from 2006 to 2008. She was editor of the TXMPA e-newsletter from 2007-2008. Jolene serves on the board of Houston Cinema Arts Society, and was recently elected Treasurer. She can be reached at jolene_mcmaster@sbcglobal.net

Vice President

Marc Isaacs
Actor/Writer/Producer

Marc Isaacs is a producer, writer, actor and voice-over talent with credits on a wide variety of broadcast and video projects. Marc's background includes stints as a journalist and weather anchor for TV stations in Houston and his native Upstate New York. Marc is also the creative mind behind a successful children's series in the Houston market. Houston ZooperStars Challenge airs on KHOU-TV and earned him two Lone Star Emmy nominations. He's represented locally by Pastorini-Bosby Talent (a WIFT member) and he's currently serving as Vice President of Women in Film & Television-Houston. He's the proud father of three year-old Aidan Kate, who is already showing an interest in performing. He can be reached at wordmasseur@comcast.net

Secretary

Melannie O'Connor
Writer/Producer/Voice Talent/On-Camera Talent

After graduating summa cum laude from Northern Arizona University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Spanish, Melannie worked for 15 years as an award winning broadcast news anchor, reporter and producer at network affiliates in Arizona, Florida and Texas. After anchoring at News 24 Houston, Melannie decided to remain in the Bayou City and found Melannie O’Connor Media. She now does extensive on-camera spokesperson and voice talent work for a diversity of clients and is represented by Pastorini-Bosby Talent. Her work as a writer/producer also engages a wide range of clients—broadcast, commercial, governmental and institutional. Melannie also enjoys her work as a media coach/trainer for individuals and organizations. Melannie has served WIFT as a speaker, moderator and frequent volunteer and represented the organization at the 2005 WIFT International Summit in Los Angeles. This is Melannie’s second term as Secretary. She can be reached at seesapphire@yahoo.com

Treasurer

Karron Wardwell
Production Accountant/Business Owner

Accountant and owner of Wardwell Tax and Business Services, Karron will be serving her third term as Treasurer for the organization. Early in her professional career she was employed by Metzdorf Advertising Agency. Her career accomplishments were expanded in 2004 when she signed on as Production Accountant for two feature-length 35mm films shot in Houston. Karron is Chair of the WIFT Golf Tournament, now in development, which she is patterning after the Los Angeles chapter’s annual Malibu Golf Tournament. She played that tournament last summer and also represented the Houston chapter in Los Angeles last year at the WIF/GM Alliance announcement program. Karron can be reached at She can be reached at wardwell.tax@comcast.net

2009-2010 Directors At Large

Yankie Grant
Actress, Casting, Script Supervision and Wardrobe Continuity

Yankie Grant is a comedy/drama actress and charter member of WIFT/Houston. Her acting career began in a Dallas High School Drama class, where she won the role of Goldie Hawn in her class spoof of the television series "Laugh In." She fell in love with the laughter and applause and the rest, as they say, is history. Yankie has performed in Houston theatres off-off-Alley, such as the Skyline Theatre, Actors Workshop and the Country Playhouse Black Box. She is co-owner of a Murder Mystery Party Company. Recently, she has been working in various capacities with Walker Cable Productions as a Pre & Post Production Coordinator and Script Supervisor in addition to casting for the company.. She also has had roles in independent films. Yankie believes Houston has the potential to become a leader in the entertainment industry. Represented by Pastorini-Bosby Talent. You can reach her at Yankiegrant@sbcglobal.net

Maureen Herzog
Publisher, Producer, Writer/Editor

Torn between academic training in the methods of left-brain logic and a deep-seated love for the creative and performing arts, Maureen feels fortunate to in striking a balance as Editor in Chief and Co-Publisher of Indie Slate magazine, a well-known niche publication covering independent film and TV production/distribution that is found on newsstands across North America and in the offices of key industry execs. In her role at Indie Slate, she continually draws upon her education, a BS in Psychology, an MBA, and Practitioner Certification in NLP (NeuroLinguistic Programming), along with experience in the performance world as a dancer, writer, actor and professional vocalist.

In 1997, after a successful career in human resource management and development with Fortune 100 organizations, she left the corporate world to work full-time with producer-publisher-entrepreneur Dave Walker on transforming his 10-page production industry newsletter into Indie Slate Magazine. Together they also created Indie-U: Continuing Education in Moviemaking, a program through which they produce or sponsor a variety of events and top-quality weekend classes, including Hollywood Film Institute’s 2-Day Film School, the 35mm Hands-On Shoot, and the Indie Way Workshop conducted by successful L.A.-based producer/writer/director Darin Scott.

In 2000, Maureen co-wrote and produced the 35mm short, “The Martini Shot,” and in 2004 produced the 35mm short, “God Thinks You’re a Loser.” She’s also served as secretary and vice-president for the Houston chapter of Women in Film & Television. Through production company Fresh Squeezed Entertainment, Maureen and Dave continue development of a full slate of other projects. With an enduring curiosity about human behavior and how we manage to communicate and miscommunicate — especially in light of today’s diverse media choices — she feels blessed to have the opportunity to create messages and learning experiences that encourage others to make their dreams come true.

Sabrina Miskelly
News Producer, Talk Show Producer, PR, Marketing, Advertising

Upon graduation from University of North Carolina's School of Journalism and Mass Communication Sabrina’s career began in television, on the editorial side as a news producer, court television producer, and talk show producer. She is currently on the public information side in public relations, marketing and advertising. Before starting a career in public relations, she was a founding member of Channel 11's “Great Day Houston” team, and for several years scoured the Houston scene, magazines, papers and internet to find the most interesting new trends, stories and people to bring to the show. In addition to segment producing and line producing, she was also “Great Day's” main web producer. In 2008, she was nominated for a Lone Star Emmy for a show she produced on Autism.

Prior to starting “Great Day Houston,” she was one of the producers who launched and created entertaining court cases for the nationally syndicated court television show "Judge Alex." Previous to that she was a Senior Producer for News 24 Houston's morning news. While at News 24, she produced specials such as a half-hour tribute to the first anniversary of the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy.

Sabrina’s television career began at WCBI in Columbus, MS, where she produced and reported. Her degree is in Broadcast Journalism, with a history minor from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Melody “Rusty” Moss
Founding President and Lifetime Member of Women in Film & Television Houston

Melody has been actively involved in the performing arts since childhood. With the diversity of experience that four decades provides and versatility in front of the camera and behind the scenes, she’s developed an acclaimed career that has kept her integrally connected to the industry.

Most recently she has worked as a producer, script supervisor, production coordinator, a location scout, in casting, an assistant to the director for New Line Cinema, an associate producer for United Paramount Network, and production accountant for MGM. The independent feature film “Cook County” — in which she served as Associate Producer — won 2008 Hollywood Film Festival’s “Best Feature Film.”

Formal training in modern dance led her to Broadway, Off-Broadway, national touring companies, and comedy theatre productions. Her tenure in theatre included a three-year run of “Whatever Happened to Black Love?” and the breast cancer drama “Before Time Runs Out,” with Thomas Meloncon. She has had the opportunity as an actor to play hundreds of diversified roles, including Nita Love in the new television pilot “Suspect to Superstar” and Sheryl in the feature film “7 Kilos,” available on DVD.

She is a charter member (since 1995) and Founding President of WIFT Houston.

Page Parkes-Eveleth
Talent Agency Owner, Modeling School Owner

Page Parkes-Eveleth is co-owner of the largest modeling and acting agency group in the Southwestern United States. Page is known worldwide for her “eye” in scouting and developing talent for the fashion and commercial industry’s most renowned agencies. Her efforts over the past 28 years have earned her an outstanding reputation, successful agencies, the National Businesswoman of the Year award from the National Association of Women Business Owners, National Leadership Award, Honorary Co-Chair of National Republican Congressional Committee Business Advisory Council, the 2004 Fashion Forum Award, honoree at the Child Advocates Angels of Hope event in 2005 and her company was recently, named a Winner of Distinction for 2006, 2007 and 2008 by the Better Business Bureau. Page sits on the board of the Better Business Bureau, Women in Film and is also very active within the community - taking special pride in her long time involvement with Child Advocates as an advocate and also as a Board member.

Using her well-developed “pattern”, Page has produced success stories including Brooke Burns, Alexis Bledel, Channing Tatum and many others. Page Parkes talent can be seen also in national print campaigns for Target, Polo, Guess, Gap, Kenneth Cole, Old Navy and Abercrombie. Since its inception in 1981, the Page Parkes Corporation has grown to include Page Parkes Management in Dallas , and Page 305 in Miami, which was sold in 2003 to FORD/ NY.

In addition, Page and her husband Bob are now the proud parents to 3 siblings and they raise her nephew who is now 10 yrs old. She was recently honored by Houston Family magazine as one of their outstanding Moms and as named as honorary chair of La Rosa Family Services Yellow Rose of Texas Celebration 2007. pageparkeshdm@aol.com

Patricia Torres-Burd
General Manager, Locke Bryan Productions

Patricia currently has the privilege of serving as General Manager of Locke Bryan Productions, a company whose leadership has always supported WIFT and many, many local industry organizations. She is proud to be part of their incredible team and to work alongside Camille and Locke Bryan.

Her career began in television, right here, in Houston at KHOU-CH11. In 1987, she joined Telemundo to work on the development and launch of KTMD as well as the first Spanish language Newscast in Houston. She later led a team at CH 8 – Houston PBS, working in all areas of live broadcast, town meetings and local news and public affairs programs. In 1995, she was asked to join CME to work on the launch project of POP-TV in Slovenia and work on similar projects in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, and Ukraine. This incredible opportunity led her to other projects in Serbia, Bosnia, and other Eastern European regions. Patricia returned to Houston 2005, to launch LatinAmerica Broadcasting Inc. (LAT TV™), which launched May of 2006, to serve Spanish-speaking audiences in Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Phoenix.

Heather Tucker
Writer / Producer

After completing a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of St. Thomas, Heather began a second degree in creative writing at the University of Houston. Writing is her passion. And, the performing arts has always been a part of her life from working as a dramaturge and actress in my high school theatre to more recently a production assistant and production manager on an array of video and film projects. She has also been involved with various writing projects such as the HBO series Project Greenlight where she read and critiqued over 200 screenplays and the Cosmic Comics which she developed comic book writing into animation shorts. Currently, she's a participant in the Pro Series writing class and anticipate being an alumnus in the spring of 2009.

Volunteer commitment is also extremely important to her. She's served as a member on several Houston Boards including the Alley Theatre Guild as well as a contributing member to Bayou City Concert Musicals and the Center for Aids. She's an active volunteer with several animal rescue organizations and environmental advocacy groups. Her volunteer work includes developing and coordinating fund-raising events, structuring and advising sub-committees, creating publicity literature, and managing membership.

Over the last 18 years, Heather has worked for a Fortune 100 company which has provided her extensive experience developing and managing large projects. Her current position has taken her to five of the seven continents and granted her the opportunity to work with a diverse group of individuals and cultures.

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