BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tracy Schott, MS, MSW - President
Tracy Schott is a producer/director and founder of Schott Productions. She has created hundreds of film and video projects, including television commercials, web-content, corporate communications, theatrical and event content. Tracy produced ReadingFilm’s LOCATION! LOCATION!, directed the Emmy-nominated DREAM WEDDINGS and is the producer/director of the award-winning documentary film examining intimate partner violence, FINDING JENN’S VOICE. She is currently in development on two documentary films, BLACKOUT GIRL and FROM THE RIVER and LE BON CHEF – a feature length “dramedy” about food, women and patriarchy.
Chris Woodward, MD - Treasurer
Chris Woodward has spent his career in Medicine but has been a movie critic since childhood. At age 3, during a showing of Disney’s “The Shaggy Dog”, he told his Mom that dogs don’t talk implying the movie’s premise was absurd. This was his first lesson in the willing suspension of disbelief. He loves to find modest budget, independent movie gems to recommend to his adult children.Chris badgers, corralls and nudges our jurors to ensure that every film is seen and fairly judged.
Lizette Epps, MBA, CUDE - DEI Officer
Lizette Epps is the Director of Impact & Engagement for Visions Federal Credit Union as well as the Founder of Breadth of Hope LLC, a Career Services Consultancy firm located in Berks County, Pennsylvania. She is a proud MBA graduate of University of Phoenix. She is an experienced, award-winning businesswoman with decades of success under her belt in creating process improvements, being an agent of change, and building a fulfilling career in both the public and private sector. She is an influential community advocate with an unwavering commitment to ensuring positive change and standing for social justice for all.
Carol Toomey - Secretary
Carol Toomey is currently an active volunteer since retiring from teaching public speaking at Penn State Berks. Involved in the community as a Berks History Center docent, BCTV Octoberfest volunteer, church lector, and RFF volunteer and board secretary, Carol, as past President of the Reading Branch of AAUW, brought LUNAFEST to Berks County 3 years ago. She is currently in a group of AAUW women writing plays about the Suffragists and famous STEM women. Having speech and theatre degrees, she founded and has directed Rainbow Theatre (for kids 8-18 years) for the past 30 years. She also performed locally in community theatres, commercials, videos and training films. Children’s and family theatre continues to give her the most joy—after all, don’t we all want to be young at heart!
Heather Adams
Heather Adams is the Executive Director of Berks Community Television (BCTV). The organization’s mission is to empower people and engage community through media, and in her position, she is leading the development and growth of community media in Berks County.
Adams held roles previously with Santander Arena & Performing Arts Center, Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce, and Clear Channel Radio. She is actively involved as a volunteer with a variety of projects and organizations throughout the community.
Cammie Harris, MBA
Cammie brings over 20 years of project management and entrepreneurial experience. She spent the early part of her career leading telecommunications projects for companies like Merrill Lynch, Allied Signal, and Realink Systems. Cammie embarked on an entrepreneurial journey after moving to the mid-west where she owned and operated three small restaurant businesses. Upon her return east, Cammie was executive director of the WCR Center for the Arts, a non-profit performing arts organization set within a historic building in the city or Reading, PA.
Santo D. Marabella, MBA, DSW
Santo D. Marabella, MBA, DSW, The Practical Prof® and the 2018 Reading Eagle Entertainment Newsmaker of the Year, is an author, playwright, filmmaker, speaker and educator with writing, directing and/or producing credits that include books, television pilots, a musical, short films and plays. He was a producer of This Is Reading by Lynn Nottage. He co-founded and executive produced ReadingFilmFEST (2015 through 2017), as well as co-founded and served as Film Commissioner, ReadingFilm (2006 to 2018).
Current projects include: director/producer, “This Machine” (video/audio play); producer, “Flashlight” (feature); producer, “Le Bon Chef” (feature) writer/producer, “The Caregiver” (short); writer, “Barbara Saves Herself” (screenplay) and writer/creator, “Raising the ‘Rents” (TV pilot). He is a member of The Lambs®, The Dramatists Guild of America and Theatre Communications Group. More information can be found on his IMDB profile.
Rodney S. Ridley, Sr., MS, Ph.D
Dr. Rodney S. Ridley, Sr. is Vice-President, Associate Provost and Full Professor at Alvernia University (AU) as well as the Chief Operating Officer of the O’Pake Institute for Economic Development & Entrepreneurship at Alvernia University. As a member of the AU Senior leadership team, he is intricately involved in launching and implementing the Reading CollegeTowne initiative, which is designed to transform both the university (i.e. implement a new model for how a regional institution of higher education will operate) and revitalize downtown Reading. The O’Pake Institute was redesigned in 2019 under his leadership and serves as a catalyst for experiential education, entrepreneurship, business expansion and regional economic development. He is the founder of the O’Pake Student Fellows Program, O’Pake Business Incubator, the AU Technology Transfer Office, O’Pake Professional Mentor Program and the AU Micro-Grant Fund, as well as oversee the AU Industry & Economic Development Outreach activity.