Team

Amy Lillard (she/her)

Executive Director

Amy Lillard is the Executive Director of Washington Filmworks and has been with the program since it launched in 2007. Under her leadership, WF has helped over 90 film projects complete principal photography, which have brought an estimated 242 Million dollars to the statewide economy.

Amy Lillard started her career as an independent film publicist out of New York and Los Angeles designing the release campaigns for groundbreaking films such at “The Blair Witch Project,” “American Psycho” and “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.” Amy retired from publicity in 2000 and took a trip around the world. Two years and 42 countries later, she settled in Seattle where she has worked in various capacities including, director of publicity and promotion at SIFF, festival director of the Reel Cinerama Film Festival, and producer of the Fly Filmmaking Challenge.

Julie Daman (she/her)

Director of Finance & Operations

After graduating with honors from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Julie began her career in New York working on the sitcom “Spin City,” starring Michael J Fox. When the production moved to Los Angeles, Julie followed. Julie continued to work in production accounting for both NY and LA based shows such as “Scrubs,” “Hope & Faith” and HBO’s “Entourage,” until 2005 when she became involved in LA’s burgeoning New Media community. Julie began her own New Media production company where she created a weekly podcast, an award winning mini-sitcom web series, as well as produced work for clients such as TBS.com, and promotional web videos for independent music artists. In 2008, eager to learn more about various state film incentives, she worked as a lead accountant on an independently produced feature, “Ms January.” Shortly after she moved to Seattle and joined Washington Filmworks.

Vicky Berglund-Davenport (she/her)

Production Services Manager

Vicky Berglund-Davenport is an artist, filmmaker, and native Washingtonian. While at Western Washington University she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in visual communications, concentrating in film, TV, and photography. She has been a filmmaker for over 25 years and worked on award winning shows like “Northern Exposure” as a supervising location manager. Vicky is a proud member of the Location
Managers Guild International. She also served for over 5 years at Seattle Center as an arts program manager.

Vicky’s screen credits include feature films, TV series and commercials. A few of those credit include “Singles,” “My Own Private Idaho,” “War of the Roses,” “Say Anything,” “Past Midnight,” “Ten Things I Hate About You,” “The Vanishing,” “Language Arts,” “East of the Mountains,” “Outside In,” and “Three Busy Debras.” Vicky is also a producer of everything from short films and VR to corporate and commercials.

Julie Borden (she/her)

Operations + Administration

Julie Borden is a lifelong film enthusiast, a creative problem solver, and an administrative whiz. After nearly a decade working in the City of Seattle’s Office of Film + Music, she was delighted to join the team at Washington Filmworks to continue her career supporting the creative industries in Washington State. Previously, Julie was a non-profit fundraiser, securing millions of dollars for vital services in the Seattle community. She has a passion for public service and strengthening infrastructure in organizations.

Aaron Deonte (he/him)

Workforce Development Coordinator

Kenneth Hagen (he/him)

Director of Funding Assistance

Ken is a proud Washingtonian with deep connections to the Pacific Northwest way of life.  He is a member of a local tribe, The Suquamish Tribe.  You can describe him as a hometown fan through and through, from sports to the local economy.  He’s such a hometown fan, in fact, that he earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Washington Foster School of Business.  Ken previously worked for Washington Filmworks, though ventured out to develop financial analysis and data storytelling skills both through formal education and professional experience.  Ken brings with him compliance experience from integrating international financial resources for The Boeing Company for the past several years.  With a young family of 4 at home, Ken fills his time with family activities but also finds time for personal pursuits such as baseball and fishing.

Audra Laymon (she/her)

Director of Workforce Development

Audra has been leading workforce development programming and teams in the nonprofit sector in Washington for over a decade. Her focus has largely been in serving youth and immigrant communities, and she is committed to equitable and collaborative service and decision-making. Prior to joining Washington Filmworks, Audra led engagement and workforce development services in Seattle focused on helping young people experiencing homelessness stabilize and move toward financial stability. Before moving to Washington in 2006, Audra studied film and theatre in the Bay Area, and graduated summa cum laude from San Jose State University. When she’s not working, you can find Audra carving prints, rollerskating, watching movies, or camping with her husband and son.

Alex Michael (he/him)

Communications Coordinator

Alex Michael is a creative communicator from Tri-Cities, Washington. He attended Washington State University and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Production with a minor in Music Technology and a certificate in Graphic Design. While at WSU, he worked on multiple video production crews and was a sound designer for the Cable 8 student film “Mimesis.” He is passionate about the arts and is proud to help support Washington’s creative community. In his free time, he loves attending concerts, working on creative projects, and hiking around the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Kayleigh Ochs (she/her)

Executive Assistant

Kayleigh Ochs graduated from Washington State University with a degree in Broadcast Production and a Film Studies minor. After graduating with honors, she began working at a forensic video lab as a forensic video technician. She moved to Seattle in 2015 and joined the public sector, providing administrative support to various departments at the City of Seattle. Kayleigh has a passion for serving the community she lives in and, as a lifelong Washington resident, she is honored to be part of showcasing the creative industries in her home state.

Jess Schwab (she/her)

Senior Communications Manager

Jess is a proud Washingtonian with a deep appreciation for all things Pacific Northwest. She holds a degree in Creative Writing from Western Washington University and a certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Washington. Jess spent the last decade and a half managing all marketing and communications for a vibrant youth arts organization in Seattle. Her extensive background in the arts and culture sector has helped her prioritize equity in storytelling, cultivate authentic relationships within the community, and inspire action through impactful narratives. Jess is forever carrying around a camera and loves finding creativity in the most unsuspecting pockets of life.

Zinnia Su (she/her)

Program Transaction Analyst

Zinnia fell in love with Seattle in the mid-late 90s. She lived in various other places over the years, but Seattle kept calling her back. In 2014, after ten years in Los Angeles, she returned to the Pacific Northwest for good.

She brings a deep curiosity and eclectic range of interests to everything she does. Besides acting, she has worked in several capacities in the entertainment industry — in film & TV, and in music. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology from the University of California, San Diego, and has been a licensed massage therapist since 2001. Zinnia plays drums and sings with her partner in their band, Trash Panda Go Kart. Zinnia earned her SAG card in 2006. Her acting experience thus far has primarily been in voiceover, but she is presently most excited and inspired by on-camera work.

Megan Sullivan (she/her)

Financial Controller

Megan has grown up in the NW corner of Washington and can’t imagine living anywhere else. She graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in Accounting and minors in Business Administration and Spanish. She started her career in Public Accounting practicing both US & International Tax and has over a decade of accounting experience working in a number of different industries from agriculture to real estate development. Megan loves to use creative thinking for process and system improvements to make work more efficient and more enjoyable for everyone.

Sherrye Wyatt (she/her)

Rural Economic Development Manager (contractor)

Sherrye Wyatt is a native Washingtonian who was raised on a farm in the Columbia Basin. She has extensive experience working primarily in agriculture-related industries, including grain, apples, grapes, wine and cider. This has included advocacy work with various organizations ranging from the Northwest Agriculture Business Center in Mount Vernon, Washington to the North American Export Grain Association in Washington, D.C.  Over the years, she has either lived or worked within 16 of the state’s 30 rural counties. Her film background includes establishing the film liaison position for Island County, and then filling the role for more than 10 years. Recent film experience includes The Hour After Westerly and Midday Black Midnight Blue. Sherrye also served two terms on the Washington Filmworks board of directors. She’s a graduate of Washington State University’s Edward R. Murrow School of Communications.