Board Of Directors

Don Jensen

Chair

Don Jensen was appointed Chair by Gov. Jay Inslee in August 2013. Previously he served as treasurer of Washington Filmworks. He is the owner of Alpha Cine Labs in Seattle, Washington. Jensen has 40 years experience in film and video production and post production. Jensen worked with a group of Washington companies to develop and pass the Motion Picture Competitiveness legislation in 2006.

Shellea Allen

Shellea Allen is the Executive Director of SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild- American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) in the Pacific Northwest. SAG-AFTRA is the labor union that represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. SAG-AFTRA member’s work together to secure the strongest protections for media artists into the 21st century and beyond. Shellea enjoys spending time in the great outdoors of the Pacific Northwest skiing, scuba diving, and surfing.

Rebecca Cook

Rebecca Cook is from Spokane and is an active member of the Washington film community. She has worked as an actress, director, costumer, make-up artist, accountant, and producer throughout the state. For the last several years, she has worked on over 25 feature films, various commercial productions, many short films, a few documentaries, and worked all 5 seasons on Syfy Channel’s Z Nation.

Rebecca serves as Vice President for IATSE Local 488, President of Spokane Film Project, as well as running her own small company, Thundering Kitten Productions and the group Spokane Women in Film & Television (SWIFT). She also has served as the Spokane Community Coordinator for Washington Filmworks, as well as serving on the Film Leadership Council. Along with her film work, she also has narrated over 80 audiobooks, produces and directs local theatre productions, is a living history actor, teaches various classes, and loves speaking to students and aspiring storytellers about her journey creating a life in the arts.

John Cooper

John Cooper is President & CEO of Yakima Valley Tourism where he oversees a multi-faceted tourism promotion organization for the region that manages the Yakima Convention Center, Sports Commission, Visitor Information Center, plus working with the film and video industry. Prior to that he was the CEO of Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism. Throughout his tenure in Washington state he has been actively involved in destination advocacy and marketing, including serving on state and multi-state tourism boards and associations.

Jolene DiSalvo

Jolene DiSalvo brings over 25 years of experience in hospitality sales, marketing and operations. Before joining Columbia Hospitality as Senior Vice President, Jolene spent 11 years with Starwood Hotels & Resorts as part of the Luxury Brands Group including W Hotels Worldwide, St. Regis Hotels and Resorts and The Luxury Collection. Jolene was instrumental in the launch of W Hotels, starting with opening the fourth W Hotel in Seattle as Director of Sales & Marketing where she worked closely with the Seattle International Film Festival and promoted filming in Washington state at events like the Sundance Film Festival.

Jannat Gargi

Jannat is the Head of Documentary Films for Paul G. Allen’s Vulcan Productions, producing and managing a suite of films and series including Academy Award-nominated Body Team 12, Sundance Award-winning STEP, Naledi: A Baby Elephant’s Tale, Ballet Now, Ghost Fleet, and the award-winning digital series WeTheEconomy. In her work as an independent producer, Jannat Co-Executive Produced Academy Award-nominated Knife Skills, and Produced Emmy nominated feature documentary CIRCO.

Alan Nay

After graduating college with degrees in music and communications, Alan moved to Settle in the mid-90s where he began a career as a commercial editor. In 2005 Alan started World Famous; then a small 3-person editorial company. With amazing storytelling at its root, World Famous grew from a full-service production company to a creative agency, crafting national advertising campaigns for AWS, FireTV, REI and more. Along the way World Famous has been featured in Communication Arts, Vice, The Today Show, has won some Gold Pencils and National Addy’s for its work, and been recognized for its unique creative culture. A strong believer in supporting the creative community, Alan served on the Mayor’s Economic Development Commission advocating for the arts and overall creative economy. Alan also grills a mean salmon, is a pretty ok DJ and has been known to throw an amazing party once in a while. 🙂

Andrea A. Stuart-Lehalle

Andrea has been a creative her whole life, focusing on music and filmmaking. She spent 10 years as Creative Director of a boutique video creative agency in Paris, France, where she focused on leading the creative process. A graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, she currently leads video strategy and creative for Sound Transit, directs the Seattle Black Film Festival, and remains active as a filmmaker, musician, and a mom.

Sherrye Wyatt

Sherrye Wyatt serves as the Film Liaison for Island County, as well as Public Relations and Marketing Manager at Whidbey and Camano Islands Tourism. Previously, she spent several years directing communications programs within the Northwest cider and wine industries. Before that, she helped create, and then managed for several years, a charitable foundation serving Washington’s tree fruit industry. Prior to that she lived in Washington, D.C. where she was director of public affairs for an international trade association representing North American export grain companies (NAEGA).