Overview

Waltham, MA Campus

Washington, DC Campus

Modules

Faculty

Overview

CDIA at Boston University is committed to providing you with a world-class education. Our instructors have spent years working in their fields and are passionate about teaching; the majority of our instructors continue to be professionally active. They are up-to-date on the technologies and methods being used in their professions to provide real-world, relevant instruction.

When you meet our faculty, you can count on having valuable interactions with people who want to share their experiences and knowledge. They are always ready to offer the guidance you need.

We’ve shaped the CDIA curriculum to reflect the real-world needs of our students’ chosen professions. Through intensive, hands-on training, we’re committed to transforming the way students learn about filmmaking, photography, animation, graphic design and audio production, just as digital technology has transformed what’s possible in these media. With these new digital tools, students can explode the boundaries of creative expression, finding new and exciting ways of telling stories, expressing dreams and sharing passions.

• Digital Photography
• Digital Filmmaking
• 3D Animation
• Graphic & Web Design
• Audio Production
• Web Development

Photography

Consulting Director
Cary Wolinsky

Cary Wolinsky began as a news and magazine photographer for The Boston Globe in 1968 while completing a degree in journalism at Boston University’s College of Communication. By 1972 he was freelancing for Natural History, National Geographic, Smithsonian, Newsweek, and International Wildlife.

As a contract photographer with National Geographic in the mid-1980s, Cary specialized in historical and cultural assignments that required in-depth research and well-managed global coverage. His numerous stories published by National Geographic include Silk, The Queen of Textiles; Sichuan: Where China Changes Course; Inside the Kremlin; Sir Joseph Banks; The Greening of the Empire; The Quest for Color; The Power of Writing; Australia: A Harsh Awakening; New Eyes on the Oceans; Diamonds: The Real Story; and Dreamweavers, a high-tech look at high-tech textiles.

Cary has taken a leading role in introducing quality photography to electronic publishing. He co-founded Picture Network International, an on-line photography database system. In 1997 PNI was sold to Kodak and now markets photography under the name PictureQuest. Cary’s photographs have been licensed for advertising and editorial use in hundreds of publications throughout the world. His photographic prints have been exhibited and acquired by museums and private collections in the United States, Europe, Australia and Asia.

Program Director: Foundation
Rick Ashley

Rick Ashley graduated from Trinity College in 1976 and moved to the Boston area. To pursue his interest in photography, he enrolled in a professional school and worked as an assistant to many of Boston’s leading photographers. In 1979 Rick opened his studio, working primarily as a corporate/industrial photographer. His work soon expanded to include video production, shooting and producing sports marketing videos and television commercials. His work garnered several local advertising awards as well as a Golden Pencil from New York’s One Club. Clients included such diverse organizations as Women’s Olympic Cycling Team, IBM, and Ann and Hope Department stores.

Rick’s still photography clients included IBM, Digital Equipment Corp., Xerox Canada, Avatar Technologies, GM, Sperry, Video Express, Raleigh Bicycles, ISI Corporation, Franklin Sporting Goods, Dogz Togz, Boston University, Massachusetts Communications College, Moussy Beer, E. M. Parker Medical, GoodWives, Glass America, Coldwell Banker, and Town and Country magazine. In addition to commercial work, he has written and received several arts grants to pursue particular projects of interest.

While on an extended sabbatical in Italy, Rick explored digital image capture and manipulation, including its electronic and print distribution. During this period, Rick contributed to trade and textbooks on digital photography.

Program Director: Commercial & Advertising
Rob Van Petten

Rob Van Petten shoots fashionable photographs for advertising. His current portfolio, Near Future, is a colorful collection of fantasy illustrations; cosmic comixs that tell a very short story of whimsical future fiction.

Rob grew up in a Navy family and began documenting his family’s travels in Japan at age 10. He received a degree in photojournalism from Boston University’s then-School of Public Communication and was photo editor of the BU News. He was introduced to the digital world while developing marketing images for Data General, Digital Equipment and NEC and helped build brand identities for Reebok, Timberland, Solomon Skis, Tommy Hilfiger, Etonic, Robert Mondavi, American Optical, RayBan, Rockport, Levis, Converse, Bose, Polaroid and Kodak.

Rob has shot fashion catalogs for Talbots, Carroll Reed, Johnny Appleseed, Bob’s Stores, Foot Locker and Federated. He has won numerous awards for his work and has been featured in Photo District News, American Photo, Petersen’s Photographic and Studio Photography and Design. He is a member of the Mentor Series for American Photo and Popular Photo magazines. His articles have appeared in Nikon World, Nikon Pro, Kodak Pro Pass and Popular Photo.

Program Director: Wedding & Portraits
Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson is the founder of Perry Aslyn Photography, now residing in Boston, MA. She is a rising star in the PPA ranks, achieving sufficient merits for her Masters and Craftsman in just three years, along with a host of trophies and awards in every category. She is in constant demand to teach her unique brand of Vintage and Haute Couture imagery. In 2007 she wowed with her innovative approach to Fine Art Portraiture at Texas School, West Coast School and Image Explorations in Victoria, Canada. Jennifer is the owner and principal photographer of Olive Avonlea Couture Photography.

Associate Director,
Waltham, MA Campus:
Tom O’Brien

Tom has over 20 years experience in high-end printing, pre-press, digital imaging and color management environments. He is an expert in color management systems and the integration of color systems in digital photographic workflows. Tom served as Director of Marketing and Technical Services for Kodak Professional’s Systems and Solutions group and focused on digital workflow integration, software and training services worldwide. He individually contributed to new color management product introductions for Kodak’s digital camera, monitor and output software products including high-fidelity large format printing solutions. Recently, Tom teamed up with Apple to provide technical expertise for their book, Apple Pro Training Series: Color Management in Mac OS X.

Associate Director, Washington, DC Campus: Morgan Howarth

During the past 25 years, Morgan has owned and operated a full service commercial photography studio specializing in state-of-the-art digital and film-based photography for the catalog, stock, editorial and advertising industries. The studio has expert status in all formats of film and digital photography, Photoshop and computer systems related to the photography industry.

Morgan recently moved to the Washington, DC, area to shoot the beautiful homes of DC, Maryland and Virginia; food from new restaurants; and portraits of movers and shakers in the city.

Assistant Director of Education, Photography:
Brian Tetrault

Brian started his freelance photography career in California working for high-end residential real estate agencies and corporate architectural firms. While in Los Angeles, he also co-founded a cooperative offering photography, web design and graphic design services to small business owners. In LA, he also received certified training in the Leaf Digital systems and software. In late 2005, Brian relocated to the Boston area to perform contract work for Jupiter Images Stock Corporation. Currently, he specializes in Photoshop postproduction work, photo illustration, stock imaging and multimedia for web marketing.

Director,
Artist in Residence:
Lou Jones

Lou is one of Boston’s most diverse photographers. He specializes in photo illustration and location photography for corporate, advertising and collateral projects. His clients include Nike, FedEx, KLM, Met Life and Fortune magazine. He spent much time in the 1980s on CODELs (Congressional Delegations), photographing government, military and guerrilla leaders in Central America. The end of the decade brought a photo essay on Perestroika and the fall of the Berlin Wall. In 1990, Lou was commissioned by the Museum of Afro-American History to document women of success and influence. The resulting exhibition, Sojourner’s Daughters, was highly acclaimed by the fine art community. His images have been exhibited in galleries throughout the country, including the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, DC; the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; the Cooper Hewitt Museum in New York; and the Museum of Afro-American History in Boston. Among his personal photographic projects is a five-year odyssey documenting men and women on death row in the US.

Chris Alvanas

Chris is a digital photographer, Photoshop maven and a sought-after postproduction artist for high-end beauty retouching. As a photographer, Chris is known for his commercial quirky kids’ images. His fine art delves into the worlds of jazz and dance by illustrating the musician’s relationship with the instrument, as well as the motion of dance. Chris’s images have appeared in Nikon World, Popular Photography, Nikon Product Guide, the Nikon Pro website, and in the 2007 and 2008 Nikon calendars. His clients include Nikon, Kodak, Procter & Gamble, Safilo Eyewear-Italy, Armadani Jewelers, Bob’s Store, Samsonite, Newport International Polo, American Photo, Popular Photography, Rubberball and Getty Images. As a retoucher, Chris is a regular contributor to Layers Magazine and is included in the 2008 Layers Magazine best of the year compilation DVD. He is currently working with Katrin Eismann on the second edition of her book Compositing and Masking.

Chris is a member of the Nikon Mentor Series and has taught photo treks in New York City, Boston, Newport, Arches National Park and China (2008). He has presented at Photo Plus Expo, New York and PMA 2008 for Nikon.

Randall Armor

Randall began his pursuit of a career in photography in the mid-70s by memorizing all 17 volumes of the Time-Life Library of Photography by day and driving a subway train in Philadelphia by night. Over the next 30 years, his career developed along several tracks: shooting society weddings and high school senior portraits in Newport and servicing corporate and technology clients like Charrette, Fidelity Investments, Graphique de France and Lotus Development Corp. From 1995 until 2006, he shot for Filene’s Boston digital advertising studio. Randall has been teaching photography for over 20 years, starting at the Swinburne School and the Newport Art Museum, and most recently at New England School of Photography. His thought-provoking street and travel photographs are shown regularly in the Boston area, including solo exhibits at NESOP’s Gallery One, Out-Of-The-Blue Gallery in Cambridge and Harvard’s Holyoke Center.

Robert Caputo

Robert worked as a cine cameraman in Tanzania for the TV series Jane Goodall and the World of Animal Behavior. Living in Kenya from 1976–1979, he shot wildlife photography and worked as a stringer for Time, Life and other magazines. Since 1980 Robert has been a regular contributor to National Geographic. He has won awards from NPPA Pictures of the Year, Communications Arts and the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation. His photographs were displayed in the exhibition Odyssey: The Art of Photography at National Geographic. Solo shows include The Horn of Africa, in Perpignan, France, and Recent Works in Birmingham, AL.

Robert’s photos have appeared in Geo, Natural History, Life, Time, Outside, Audubon, New York Times Sunday Magazine, Scientific American and many other publications. He has published two children’s photographic books, Hyena Day (1978) and More Than Just Pets (1980), and two photographic essay books, Journey Up The Nile (1988) and Kenya Journal (1992). Robert co-founded Aurora & Quanta Productions, a photo stock agency and new-media production house based in Portland, ME. He wrote the story for and was associate producer of the TNT Original film Glory & Honor. Robert is co-author of The National Geographic Photographers’ Field Guide and wrote National Geographic field guides on landscape and people and portrait photography.

Lynne Damianos

As principal of Damianos Photography, Lynne has been providing distinctive award-winning photography along with photographic and digital consulting services for over 30 years. Specialties include architectural, product and people photography for business. Lynne is an active educator, presenting a wide variety of photography seminars to professionals, students and companies. She is a faculty member of the Boston Architectural College and Keefe Tech in Framingham. In 2004 she was a photographer- in-residence at Holliston and Framingham High Schools as part of a grant project titled Capturing Architecture Past and Present.

Lynne earned her BS with Honors in Professional Photography from the College of Graphic Arts & Photography at Rochester Institute of Technology. She is a national board member of the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP), past president of the Commercial Industrial Photographers of New England (CIPNE), and a Corporate Affiliate Member of the Boston Society of Architects. Lynne has received numerous image awards from Kodak, Fujifilm, ASMP, PPA, PPANE and CIPNE.

Judy Davis

As a partner of Hoachlander Davis Photo-graphy, Judy brings an award-winning eye to the architectural and design photography environment. For almost 20 years, she has mastered all camera format types, from 35mm to 4x5 view camera. Her extensive understanding of perspective, natural lighting and shadow-light play have brought her awards from prominent associations, competitions and magazines. Judy’s work has been published in Interior Design, Hearth & Home, Washingtonian, Washington Spaces, Custom Home, Waterfront Home & Design and Contract Magazine. As chairperson of the Washington, DC chapter of the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) from 2000–2004, Judy worked hard to advance the profile and professionalism of photographers. She also maintains membership in the professional organizations of ASMP, the National Building Museum, the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) and American Institute of Architects (Affiliate Member).

Jon Feingersh

Jon is one of the world’s best-known and most successful stock photographers. With a studio and staff located in suburban Washington, DC, his work is distributed by numerous agencies including Getty, Blend, Corbis/Zefa, Iconica, Masterfile, Image Source and their sub-agents. Every business day, the license rights to more than 20 of his images are sold somewhere around the world. Jon has taught and given seminars about stock production for over 15 years. He is a past president of ASMP Mid-Atlantic Chapter and one of the founding members of Blend Images.

Jim Fitts

Jim has had an award-winning career in advertising, design and corporate identity. He has been a fine arts photographer for over 30 years and has exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions. Jim currently holds the position of Executive Director of the Photographic Resource Center at Boston University. Recently, he held the position of Creative Director at Euro RSCG 4D in Boston. Prior to that, he was Creative Director for Monster.com. Jim has received numerous regional and national advertising and design awards, including Hatch awards, Clios, One Show awards, ADDYs and New York Art Directors Club awards. His work has been featured in both Communication Arts and Art Direction magazines. He is also a recipient of the William Gunn Humanitarian Award and the Morton Godine Medal.

Patrice Gilbert

Patrice’s photography has taken her to many places and fascinating situations. She does editorial and corporate photography mostly on location, focusing on executive portraits and music and travel portraits. Her clients include The Wall Street Journal, NovoNordisk, Washington Lawyer Magazine, Washingtonian, Fleischman-Hillard, Greenfield Belser Ltd, Versar, Inc., National Journal, Government Executive, American Lawyer Media, Duke University, Human Rights Campaign and Washington, DC-area law firms. Patrice also teaches an Editorial Portrait class at the Smithsonian Residents Associates Program and is a member of ASMP.

Kevin Goggin

Kevin is a photographer and retoucher with a BS in Studio Art from Skidmore College and an MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He started his photography career in Boston as an assistant for some of the city’s leading photographers. At the same time Kevin was exploring digital imaging and began to teach courses and seminars in Photoshop. His knowledge of Photoshop led to a variety of retouching work from high fashion to automotive retouch, and he worked on more than a dozen car campaigns.

Kevin is now based in New York where he does fashion and editorial photography as well as retouching work. Kevin has traveled and taught photography in India, spending four months there in 2007 at the Light and Life Academy in Ooty.

Dave Henderson

Dave has been a freelance photographer in Boston for the past 17 years, working primarily for national and regional editorial publications and shooting everything from food to fashion. He got his first real claim to fame while working as a freelance photo assistant shooting a cover for The Boston Globe Magazine. Dave currently specializes in photography of and for the home. He has worked with clients such as L.L. Bean, Sears, The Meredith Corp., Fidelity, The Boston Globe Magazine, Boston Common Press and WGBH. Dave has images in the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum and the Puerto Rico Rain Forest Museum.

Tim Lynch

Tim is a Boston-based photographer who has been shooting commercial assignments on location and in studio for over 20 years. His clients include Coca-Cola USA, Reebok, Boston Acoustics, Bose, Eastpak Backpacks, Cornell University, Gillette, Fidelity Investments, Index Stock and AgeFotostock. After graduating from the New England School of Photography, he gained invaluable experience as a photo assistant with great photographers including Clint Clemens and Nadav Kander. Tim’s work has taken him across the US and around the world to 27 countries. As a digital consultant, he has assisted clients in the design, build-out, staffing and implementation of digital studios and workflow. But his real passion is his art. Tim transforms his photographs through the process of Polaroid emulsion lifts: delicately removing images from their substrate and transferring them to other surfaces. He also brings his images to life as 40”x60” prints. A recent adventure took Tim to Cape Cod as a still photographer on the set of American Primitive.

Matt Mendelsohn

Matt has been a photographer for 21 years. After receiving a BA in English Literature from State University of New York – Binghamton, he began his career at the Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin. He quickly moved on to USA Today then United Press International as photo editor and photographer. While at UPI, Matt covered the White House, the Gulf War, the invasion of Panama and countless professional sporting events. He returned to DC after a brief stint in LA, becoming photo editor of the news section of USA Today and eventually director of photography for USA Weekend. Outside of the hard news business, Matt is known as one of the hardest working wedding and portrait photographers in the country. Photo District News included Matt in its “15 Hottest Wedding Portfolios in America” issue.

Louise Michaud

Louise is the co-founder of Derby Studios Photography, Inc., specializing in wedding photography, including photojournalistic and classic styles. In recent years, she has moved the business from film and medium-format cameras to digital photography. Louise has received the Wedding and Portrait Photo-graphers International Photojournalism Award, two Kodak Gallery Awards, four Fuji Masterpiece Awards and many competition awards. Her work has been shown in many wedding publications, including Atlanta Bride, Boston Bride, Colorado Bride, Southern California Bride, Washington Bride, Elegant Wedding, Studio Photography & Design, Album 2001/2002 Award-Winning Wedding & Portrait Photography Professional Photographers of America Loan Collection, Volume 4, 2001 Professional Photographers of America, 1997. Louise received a BFA in Visual Design from Southeastern Mass-achusetts University. She was awarded the Master of Photography Degree in 2002 and the Photographic Craftsmen Degree in 2001, both from Professional Photographers of America. She became a Certified Professional Photographer in 2002.

Robert Rathe

After receiving a BFA from George Washington University, Robert jumped right into freelancing instead of grad school when, by chance, he was asked to photograph a presidential gala at the Wolftrap Performing Arts Center. With two years of performance/theatrical photography as additional education, he began focusing on corporate and advertising markets. He traveled extensively for clients including AT&T, Computer Sciences, Dell Computer, DynCorp, ExxonMobil, General Electric, GTE, IBM, NASDAQ, PEPCO, Unisys and Verizon. Robert has been active in the industry, serving on the boards of American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) and StockArtists Alliance (SAA). He is the co-author of the ASMP publication On Buying Photography and has spoken about both the creative and business aspects of photography at colleges, universities and trade shows.

Doug Sanford

An award-winning ex-military/combat intelligence photographer, Doug’s work has been seen in Rolling Stone, People, Cosmopolitan and InStyle as well as in national ads for clients including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Coca-Cola, Hershey’s, and Discovery. An honors graduate of the Brooks Institute and recipient of numerous ADDY and Art Director awards for his work, Doug has recently completed a powerful piece entitled I.Hate.You. Letters to a Cheating Boyfriend.

John Spaulding

John has loved photography since he was a teenager. He worked as an assistant at age 16 and has been working around beautiful images ever since. He spent some time on the client side, working in the art department of the Chronicle of Higher Education and running promotional photography for Discovery Communications. In 2003 he left Discovery to focus on his freelance business. His clients include Mid-Atlantic Homebuilders, KSI, Toll Brothers Homebuilders, Chesapeake Life Magazine, Vectronix and Getty Images.

John Still

John has worked for 22 years as a freelance photographer/illustrator/graphics and motion designer. He began his career as a commercial still-life photographer in Boston’s Chinatown, where he developed a highly textural and layered multiple media approach to image making. This approach has enabled him to assimilate and integrate digital imaging tools. Since the early 1990s, his work, though still informed by traditional photography, has been assembled and processed using digital image capture, 2D and 3D CG, video and motion graphics tools. His projects require flexible, dynamic imagery and designs that must be multipurposed from web to print to video applications.

John’s clients include 3M, AT&T, Advance PCS/CareMark, AutoDesk, Ball Corp, Bank of America, Canon, Geotel/Cisco, CitiBank, Dean Witter, Fidelity Investments, SC Johnson Wax, IBM, Intel, MIT MediaLab and Time. Awards include AR100, Adobe Digital Video Sampler Reels, Print’s Regional Design Annual, HOW magazine, Art Direction/Creativity, ADCB Design Show, Connecticut AD Show, Hatch Awards and ASMP Big Picture Show.

Lauren Stockbower

After graduating with a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri, Lauren worked for a decade both as a staff newspaper photographer and freelancer throughout Asia. For 20 years she has worked as a picture editor for various publications, such as The New York Times, Forbes, BusinessWeek, and US News & World Report. She now freelances as a picture editor for clients such as National Geographic Traveler and USA Today.

Matt Teuten

Matt is a Boston-based photographer with extensive experience in event and documentary photography, newspapers and commercial projects. Some of his event and documentary clients include Diesel Clothing, the Boston Red Sox Foundation, Rafanelli Events, the Democratic National Committee, The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, The Boston Globe, The Patriot Ledger, Boston Phoenix, Tivoli (Henry Kloss) Audio and First Act Musical Instruments. He has also photographed hundreds of live music performances by many of the music industry’s leading acts, ranging from BB King to Aerosmith. Matt has also received Alternative Press’ Music Photos of the Year award.

Alan Thornton

Alan has been an editorial, advertising and fine art photographer for eight years, working with a variety of clients such as John Deere, Land Rover, Nike, Hewlett Packard, Santa Fe Reporter, Apple, TV Guide and the North Carolina Department of Tourism. His professional work revolves around editorial portraiture and portrait illustrations in the studio but focuses on photographing on location. In his recent fine art and travel documentary work, Alan has been exploring the mountainous regions bordering Iran and Iraq, making large-format black-and-white portraits of the Kurdish nomads there.

Sharon White

Sharon has been a photographer in Boston for 20 years. Along with Bob Packert, she formed the commercial photography business White/Packert and has had the opportunity to work for many advertising agencies and companies including Bose, Canon, Boston Magazine, Citibank/Mastercard, Cole Haan, Sinar Bron, Putnam Investments, Boston Globe Magazine, Reebok, Shure Microphones, TDK Electronics, and Fidelity Investments. Sharon’s stock photography is represented by Getty Images. Her work has been highlighted in PDN and View Camera magazines and has won awards from the NY Art Directors Club, Studio Magazine (Toronto), CA Design Annual, PDN Digital, One Show and Graphis Photography Annual. Sharon has always been interested in the intersection of two- and three-dimensional planes and incorporated layering into the photographic process before the digital era and continues to do so today.

Evan Wilder

Evan earned his master’s degree in photojournalism at the University of Missouri– Columbia. In 2003–04 he was a co-coordinator of the College Photographer of the Year and Pictures of the Year International photography competitions where he jumped into the world of high volume photo management. In 2004 Evan interned in the photo editing division of National Geographic magazine where he helped setup a system for digital photography submissions to the magazine. He continues to work on the conversion from film to digital photography at the National Geographic Society in Washington, DC.

Yari Wolinsky

Yari is a freelance editor and filmmaker. His editing experience includes work on feature narratives, television documentaries, corporate videos and numerous shorts. Recent long-form work includes editing for the feature The Aristocrat, as well as assisting on two WGBH documentaries, Ape Intelligence and American Eagle. Other clients include the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, AARP, Aurora Photos, Life is Good and National Geographic.

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Digital Filmmaking

Robin Mudge
Program Co-Director

Robin Mudge is an internationally-based producer and consultant specializing in the conceptual development, origination and production of TV and interactive media projects for alternative distribution networks and mobile viewing devices.

Robin has had a distinguished 20-year career at the BBC as an award-winning documentary filmmaker, producer of new media projects and teacher. His extensive experience in traditional television production and deep understanding of network media also gave him a special insight into new service opportunities: Robin was the chief architect and creative director for the BBC Learning Station, a suite of sophisticated online TV and interactive learning services for children, parents and teachers.

Since leaving the BBC, Robin has produced many industry-leading, award-winning projects. These include a nationwide, online-distributed educational TV project for the UK Government and envisioning a global broadband television service for Pearson PLC. Robin was invited to the US as a consultant to develop new kinds of IP/TV services for PBS and to build a new IP/ TV-based music TV station in Washington, DC.

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Federico Muchnik
Program Co-Director

Federico Muchnik has spent most of his career as a producer, director, actor and educator; his work has been screened at the Sundance, New York and Toronto Film Festivals. His first short film, You’re Not Telling Me Everything, Mrs. Malloy (1982), was licensed and aired on HBO. As producer of Destinos (1990) at PBS/WGBH-TV, Federico traveled throughout Europe and South America filming this acclaimed television series. He co-wrote and played the male lead in Raul Ruiz’s cult film comedy The Golden Boat (1992), which won the Audience Award at the Rotterdam Film Festival and was shown at the Sundance and New York Film Festivals.

Federico also directed Secret Courage: The Walter Suskind Story (2004), a documentary about the Jewish resistance movement in Holland during World War II. His other films include Touching History: Harvard Square, The Bank and The Tasty Diner (2005) and One Brick At A Time: Building People At An Inner City Youth Center (2007). Most recently he created a trio of shorts for Enterprise Media destined for the business community and led CDIA’s first filmmaking workshop abroad in Prague in 2007. Federico earned a BFA in Film and Television from the Tisch School of the Arts, NYU and speaks four languages.

Associate Director, Washington, DC Campus: Ralph Fasano

Ralph is a film and video producer, editor and digital media instructor. With more than 10 years in broadcast television, his experience encompasses all aspects of production, from story development to final edit. Specializing in postproduction, his editing experience includes long form documentary, short form, reality, independent film, corporate, advertising, promo and large format multimedia projects. Ralph’s broadcast television credits include postproducer and editor on projects for networks including The Discovery Channel, National Geographic, HGTV, Court TV, PBS, The History Channel and Lifetime Television. He has an MA in Producing Film and Video from American University and BA in Film from Emerson College.

Associate Director,
Waltham, MA Campus: Howard Phillips

Howard has been involved in film and video work for over 20 years. His first venture was a business specializing in corporate and music video productions, earning a slot on MTV’s Basement Tapes with his production of Fools for Fashion by The Talk. In 1988, after working as a freelance cameraperson in the US and in Europe, he moved to Boston and founded The Edit House, Avid’s first dedicated 24fps beta site which provided film editorial and postproduction services to over 80 feature films. Over an eight-year period, Howard made significant contributions to Avid’s Film Composer quality assurance team and was invited to share in Avid’s second Technical Oscar® (SciTech Award) in 1998. Howard currently teaches and provides testing/ consulting services to companies such as Aaton, Arriflex, Avid and Panasonic. He studied film and television at Montana State University and is fluent in French. Recent projects include assistant editing, camera and translation for the Jon Fauer ASC’s Cinematographer Style, and postproduction manager on independent and CDIA film and digital video projects.

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Assistant Director of Education, Filmmaking:
Greg Croteau

Greg has directed for clients including Dunkin Donuts, Saucony/Hind, Washington Mutual, Life is Good and Grand Slam Tennis Tours. In 2007 his boutique production company, Three Times, moved into broadcast commercials and created their first feature film, The Aristocrat. Greg is a graduate of Boston University’s College of Communication.

Artist in Residence:
Franco Sacchi

Franco is an independent director/editor/producer and senior Avid-certified instructor. He directed, produced and edited American Eunuchs, a feature length documentary that aired on the Sundance Channel in 2004 and was an official selection at several national and international film festivals, including the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam. In collaboration with CDIA he co-produced and directed the feature length documentary This is Nollywood about the Nigerian film industry. Franco has collaborated with two news magazines of RAI International as a broadcast journalist/producer/editor. In 2007 he was the recipient of a grant from the Sundance Documentary Institute to co-direct Waiting for Armageddon, a feature length documentary about the growing number of evangelical Christians in the US who believe the Apocalypse is imminent. Franco graduated from the University of Bologna with a degree in political science and holds an MA in Mass Communication from Emerson College.

Pruitt Allen

Pruitt began his professional life in the non-profit world managing homeless shelters and after-school care programs. He began selling computer networking equipment, eventually ending up in a top-tier sales position in New York City. After deciding to make a career change, the independent film community in New York provided an ideal training ground for a new start. Originally Pruitt came up as a field audio engineer, lighting grip, gaffer and lighting designer for CBS/Viacom, Fox, ABC, PBS and a variety of corporate and non-profit clients. He soon began working as a cameraman and then Director of Photography with occasional forays into directing and producing work. He has served as DP on two low-budget independent features (Come What May and another still-untitled drama), several documentaries, many short films, corporate and non-profit videos and music videos.

Christopher Bowen

Christopher is a freelance editor and cinematographer currently based in Boston. As an Avid Certified Instructor and Avid Certified User, he brings years of editing experience to the classroom. He has also been teaching film production, cinematography and digital non-linear editing at Boston University’s College of Communication for the past eight years.

Nikki Bramley

Nikki has a passion for telling compelling stories with vivid imagery. As technical director at Uncommon Productions, she was associate producer on the PBS documentary A Life Among Whales and assistant editor on the award-winning films Racing Against the Clock and The Price of Sugar. Nikki was a videographer/editor/producer for Syracuse University and Coffey Productions. In Boston, she freelanced for Red Tree Productions, WGBH Greater Boston Arts, Nick Kauffman Productions, MHT productions, Grazioso Pictures, Conservatory Lab Charter School, and The Freedom to Marry Coalition. She is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University.

Mark Chesak

Mark is an editor specializing in long format documentaries, with more than 24 years of experience in broadcast, promo production, independent film and experimental television. His credits include Crash of Flight 11 for NOVA, Drugs on Trial for Frontline, Surviving Mars for the Discovery Channel and Hitler’s Lost Plan for the History Channel. Clients include Providence Pictures, Resolute Films, Pinball Productions, Smash Advertising, Northern Light Productions and Context Media. He is an Avid Certified Instructor and has worked with various groups including the CNN Middle East office, members of the US military and members of the White House Communications staff. Mark graduated cum laude with a BA in Mass Media from UMass-Amherst.

Frank DeAngelis

Frank has been in the film industry for over 20 years. He started his journey as evening production manager for WBUR-FM radio, moved to Hollywood and worked on sound for projects such as Big Brother, Celebrity Mole, ESPN’s Sports Century and many other documentaries, reality shows and sporting events. He returned to Boston where he is currently working on various projects. Frank holds both a BA and MA from Emerson College.

Tim Cothren

Tim began as a cameraman for PBS and became an associate producer for 20/20 where he covered a variety subjects from war in Beirut to exploitation of children divers as indentured servants to nomadic fishing companies in Southeast Asia. Tim’s underwater expertise brought him to the attention of French filmmaker Jacques Cousteau; together they worked on TV documentaries covering deforestation and reef destruction in Haiti, aqua-culture in Cuba and whales in the Sea of Cortez. On 9/11, he was the first broadcast cameraman brought into the wreckage of the twin towers by the NYFD and provided ABC News with exclusive footage for broadcast; the effort garnered a second Emmy nomination. In 2003 he was an embedded cameraman with the US Army during the coalition forces’ push to Baghdad in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Tim currently freelances as a documentary and news feature cameraman for clients such as ABC Nightline, 20/20, Dateline NBC, PBS Frontline, Discovery Channel and BBC.

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Frank DeAngelis

Ted Duvall

Ted is an award-winning independent producer, writer and director, based in the Washington, DC area for nearly 20 years. His work has been featured on the Discovery Channel, TLC, History Channel, ESPN and National Geographic. Ted is a creative storyteller and a strong manager, skilled at crafting compelling programs in various genres including long form documentary, reality and hosted infotainment.

Maureen Foley

Maureen is a director, writer and producer. Her debut feature, Home Before Dark, was named Best American Independent Film at the 1997 Hamptons International Film Festival, winning the Grand Jury Prize. It also appeared at Vancouver, The International Festival of Women’s Cinema and the Nantucket Film Festival. In the US, it was exhibited theatrically and aired on Showtime, Lifetime and PBS. Her second feature film, American Wake, had its world premiere at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. She is the author of four other screenplays: The Mentor, based on the novel by Sebastian Stuart; The Silence in the Garden, based on the novel by William Trevor; Criminals, based on the novel by Margot Livesey; and The Code Breakers, based on the lives and work of John and Elizabeth Friedman. Maureen also wrote and directed the award-winning short film For the Cure for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Justin Francese

Justin is a Boston-based documentary filmmaker and instructor. His work has appeared on Oregon Public Broadcasting, NECN, Forbes.com, Bloomberg Television, HGTV, as well as in film festivals and video installations. He is currently working on three non-fiction projects: a long-form documentary about gender that follows the all-female performance troupe All the Kings Men, a social-issue documentary about the human ecology of New Hampshire, and a poetic biography of the minimalist composer Richard Crandell. He holds an MS in media studies from the University of Oregon and has been teaching production for five years.

Jack Harris

Jack is a television producer and editor based in Annapolis, MD. After receiving a history degree from Virginia Tech, he found himself in the multimedia department of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Within a few years he was covering Capitol Hill as a writer/producer for PBS. Jack has worked as a producer, editor (Final Cut and Avid) and shooter for Voice of America, Bloomberg TV, Speed TV, Court TV, HGTV HD, Discovery HD Theater and others. He is currently shooting the high-definition feature Fighting Words for PBS.

Phil Healy

Phil has been in the film and television industry for the past five years working in Boston, New York and Los Angeles. He found his niche authoring DVDs professionally for Quattro Media, a production, marketing and representation company in LA. At Quattro he produced various DVDs for creators and executives for clients such as Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Marvel Comics and Miramax Films. Phil studied Communications with a concentration in Film at Fitchburg State College.

Gary Henoch

Gary is an award-winning documentary and feature film cinematographer and producer whose documentary credits include NOVA, National Geographic, Frontline and many PBS series, Discovery Channel series and independent documentary projects. Recent documentary credits include Forgotten Genius, a two-hour NOVA about Dr. Percy Julian featuring Ruben Santiago Hudson; NOVA Ape Intelligence; Raptor Force; and Time Warp, a Discovery Channel series using the new Phantom HD high speed camera. He is most proud of producing, directing and filming the award-winning independent documentary, The Puppeteer. Recent feature film projects include The Legend of Lucy Keyes, starring Julie Delpy and Justin Theroux; Made-Up, the directorial debut of actor Tony Shalhoub, starring Shalhoub, Brooke Adams, Gary Sinise and Eva Amurri; and Bluebeard, based on the ancient folk-tale. Gary is a continuing guest teacher at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and also teaches dramatic and documentary filmmaking at CDIA. He is a member and manager of the Carter/Thor Studio, a Los Angeles-based acting studio founded by Cameron Thor, now in Boston.

Eric Hunsaker

Eric is a TV director with a background in feature film art direction and production design. Specializing in recreations and re-enactments, Eric has directed 32 episodes of a dramatic series television, as well as a dozen music videos, commercials and PSAs. Eric combines the visual and aesthetic sensibilities of cinematic style with the production ethos and budgets of independent digital filmmaking.

Chi-Ho Lee

Chi-Ho is a freelance editor and an Apple Certified Final Cut Pro trainer. His editing experience includes feature films and documentaries. His previous documentary, The Diary of Sacco and Vanzetti, aired on WGBH in 2004. His recent projects include editing The Bat Women of Panama and The Busker, an HD independent film shot locally in Boston. He has been teaching at various training centers such as Future Media Concepts, Boston Film and Video Foundation, the International Film & Television Workshops at Rockport, ME, Milton Academy and other training and educational institutions. Recent corporate clients include Oxygen Design, the government of Dubai, IBM, Schering-Plough, Springfield College and Center for Advanced Special Technologies.

Steve Maler

Steve’s first feature film, The Autumn Heart, starring Tyne Daly and Ally Sheedy and released in September 2000, was in the Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival and won the Audience Choice award at The Nantucket Film Festival. He is Artistic Director of the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (CSC), which presents free productions of Shakespeare on the Boston Common. His CSC production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream won the Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Director, Small Resident Theatre Company. His production of Suburbia for the SpeakEasy Stage Company also won Best Production, Fringe Theatre Company. Other productions include Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, Macbeth, Henry V, Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It, Julius Caesar and The Tempest for CSC; Turn of the Screw for New Repertory Theatre; Santaland Diaries and Porcelain for the SpeakEasy; Top Girls and Weldon Rising for Coyote Theatre; and The LA Plays by Han Ong for the American Repertory Theatre. Steve is a graduate of the Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University.

Lisa Mozden

Lisa is a film editor who spent the past 11 years in Los Angeles working in postproduction on a variety of feature films. She worked mainly for Miramax Films and Wes Craven as assistant editor on Scream 2 and Scream 3. She also worked on projects with the Coen brothers, Wachowski brothers, David Zucker and John Frankenheimer. She has experience in editing on both film and Avid and was nominated for Best Editing for Hellraiser: Hellseeker. Lisa is currently editing at Powderhouse Productions in Boston, MA. She graduated from Boston University with a BA in Communications.

Theresa Murzyn

Theresa is a freelance film/video editor, graphic designer, writer and artist living in Washington, DC. Prior to her four plus years as a freelancer, she worked at Avid Technology headquarters where she gained her certification as an Avid technical representative and Avid instructor. Theresa also represented Avid for several years as a speaker at events including the annual NAB trade show in Las Vegas and MacWorld. She has a passion for documentary filmmaking and will soon expand her repertoire by providing voiceover for the US version of several international films.

Bob Nesson

Bob is an independent filmmaker and educator whose films cover war and politics, economics, urban issues, culture, history and the environment. His films on cities include Building Boston (PBS), which examines the impact and meaning of the built environment; Waterworks (PBS), a look at the history and features of Boston’s water system; and Off Track, which follows a grassroots effort to improve public transportation. His work as an educator includes development and production of the Jason Project, an effort to bring remote, ecologically sensitive locations such as rainforest canopies, lava fields and underwater cliffs to students in classrooms around the world with real-time, interactive video. Bob teaches documentary filmmaking at Emerson College and is active in grassroots groups working to improve sustainability and livability in local urban areas.

JP Ouellette

JP began filmmaking at the age of 14 and pursued it professionally after completing undergraduate studies in English and Graphic Design when he moved to LA, apprenticing first to filmmaker Russ Meyer, then director Orson Welles, and was also mentored by television directing legend Don Richardson. JP worked in independent films for such companies as Cannon Pictures, New Line Cinema, Orion Pictures and Roger Corman’s New World Cinema. He learned all of the aspects of filmmaking hands-on, including camera from Jan de Bont and Corman DP Gary Graver, lighting from award-winner Bill Klages, and stunt directing from Glenn Wilder. JP directed the second-unit action sequences for the Hemdale/Orion film The Terminator, directed by James Cameron and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. He directed the cult hits H.P. Lovecraft’s The Unnameable and its sequel, writes feature screenplays and produces and directs documentaries and industrial projects.

Douglas Plante

Doug is a picture/sound editor, broadcast designer and multimedia developer specializing in educational and documentary film. Experience as lead rep for Avid’s Nitris support team gave him a unique technical background in high-definition workflows, which has allowed him to educate and inform through video, interactive and museum exhibit projects. He has put these skills to use as online editor, colorist and consultant for over 50 programs for the Discovery HD Theater channel, an episode of NOVA (The Deadliest Plane Crash) and several prime-time History Channel specials (Bible Battle, Aftershock, and Last Stand of the 300). With fluency in Final Cut Pro HD, Douglas has spent the past few years at the Harvard-Smithsonian Science Media Group editing an award-winning educational television series for the Annenberg Channel and serving as lead multimedia developer for several exhibits at the Harvard Museum of Natural History.

Tom Robotham

A Director of Photography in the International Cinematographers Guild, Tom has worked on feature films, commercials, music videos, documentaries and corporate projects. He has also written, produced, directed and edited commercials, PSAs and narrative shorts. His work has been seen in numerous festivals and has won awards for filmmaking, cinematography and editing. Prior to film and video, Tom was a sculptor; his work is in private and corporate collections and has been commissioned for large scale floating installations in the Charles River.

Mark Scalia

As a comedian and actor, Mark has been entertaining for over 17 years. He has been featured in many commercials for companies such as Nike and Verizon. His resume includes films, documentaries and television, including Law & Order and the Science Channel. His expertise includes emceeing corporate and private events for clients such as Verizon, IBM, Fidelity, Liberty Mutual and Boston Works. Mark also teaches acting, comedy and directing for Boston University, Toastmasters, John Robert Powers and several private clients.

Wendy Smith

Wendy trained in Europe with French New Wave ethnographic filmmaker Jean Rouch and received her PhD in his program. Her films were shown at the Cannes Film Market, the Cinema du Reel and numerous other national and international festivals. She currently teaches at several colleges and is in production on the final part of a three-part trilogy about home, memory and identity, Dwelling in Displacement.

Judith Snyderman

Judith is a Washington, DC-based independent producer, writer and researcher for television and web. She is a frequent contributor to nationally syndicated TV shows and has shot segments on location from Colorado to Capitol Hill. Her work can be seen overseas on Voice of America (VOA) television. She provides archival footage for PBS documentaries, corporate and non-profit clients. Judith gained Internet content development skills while working at National Public Radio and now trains VOA radio reporters to manage web content. As a veteran freelancer, Judith believes a broad range of hands-on experience is invaluable to building a sustainable career in digital media. Judith earned her MS in Radio/TV Broadcasting from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University.

Hillary Spera

Hillary works in New York City as a cinematographer and camera operator on documentaries, music videos, feature films and commercials. Her work has screened at film festivals including South by Southwest, Tribeca, Slamdance, SilverDocs, HotDocs, Los Angeles International and Doku.Arts in Berlin. Her television and commercial work includes content for the Independent Film Channel, Delta Airlines and Getty Images. Hillary’s recent work includes the award-winning documentaries Darkon (2006) and Alice Neel (2007), currently in distribution, and the dramatic feature, The Aristocrat.

Richard Stack

Richard spent 12 years in banking and financial services before finding his way onto sets for The History Channel, the BBC, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and the feature film Gone Baby Gone. He has done on-location sound recording for clients such as AARP, Project Joy and Grand Slam Tennis Tours and various short films. Most recently he co-wrote and recorded sound for the feature film The Aristocrat.

Macaela Vandermost

Macaela earned her BS in Digital Media Production from The New England Institute of Art. A storyteller at heart, she prides herself on her ability to bring tone and aesthetic while staying on brand. As a freelance video editor in the Boston area, Macaela’s clients range from international advertising agencies to major network stations.

3D Animation

Mark Thompson
Program Director

Mark Thompson is an Art Director with 14 years of experience as a digital artist preceded by 14 years in electrical engineering. After graduating in 1982 with a BSEE from the University of Illinois, Mark started his career in computer vision research at Manan Manufacturing where he designed and built high-speed visual inspection systems. He then went to RCA where he worked with the Princeton R&D Labs to develop autonomous robotic systems that were guided through computer vision. Mark moved into 3D graphics as a systems architect, designing high-end 3D graphics rendering engines, including designing and developing the single chip graphics engine for the F22 Raptor at Lockheed/Sanders.

Mark founded and successfully ran three different visual effects studios. As an independent digital artist and animation consultant, he provided services for projects such as Robocop, The Series. He then co-founded Fusion Films, a full-service digital production facility, and The Big Machines Studios, a 3D animation and visual effects company with clients in film, broadcast, game and new media. His work continues to be broadcast both nationally and abroad.

Throughout his career, Mark has been a teacher, mentor and motivator to his staff and other aspiring artists. He has served as business, art and technical consultant on various startup ventures, and has published dozens of articles and videos on 3D animation and visual effects.

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Howard Kaplan
Program Director

Howard Kaplan has 10 years of experience in digital arts and animation and has been teaching computer graphics for over five years. He has worked as Lead Animator and Art Director on numerous animated movies, websites and commercials and was a freelance Technical Artist for Wacky World Studios’ animated film, The Roach Approach. Most recently, Howard has worked with the MA State Police Department on 3D models. He also often utilizes his fine art skills, having illustrated the children’s book, The Boy Without a Throne.

Howard is a member of IGDA-International Game Developers Association and AMC Siggraph. His work has been featured at The Siggraph Conference, Animation Theater, Layers Magazine, Boston Herald, Fox News and in the Sarasota Herald Tribune. He is a graduate of the Ringling School of Art & Design, where he earned his BFA in Computer Animation and later returned as an Instructor. Howard co-owns a production company where he brings 3D characters to life.

Associate Director:
Blake Metzler

Blake specializes in Maya technology and 3D animation, and has a strong background in image manipulation. While in the undergraduate cinema program at Binghamton University, he learned the art of filmmaking and composition from Ken Jacobs and Vincent Grenier. He has been a director, producer, actor, writer and editor, working on the campus cult Professor trilogy, Marc Dworkin’s Armageddon for Andy and The Collector.

Blake was lead animator on various animation projects including S.A.M V5.0, Virtual Horoscope, The Highlighter and Episode 604: The Final Project, for which he received the prestigious EVVY award for Best 3D animation in 2004. He has also created several animations, including pieces for the Thoreau Society’s educational film Life Without Principle, Ken Niblock’s feature Let’s Jack Jimmy and many others. Blake received his MA in New Media Production at Emerson College with a focus in 3D animation.

Peter Anderson

Peter is a character artist with Turbine Entertainment in Westwood, MA, working on the critically acclaimed massive multiplayer online video game, Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar. Prior to Turbine, Peter worked as a freelance contract artist for Electronic Arts, Sony Interactive and Vivendi Universal on such titles as Bulletproof, Everquest II and From Russia with Love.

Prior to the gaming industry, Peter worked as a 3D generalist and illustrator for the Program Simulation Training and Instrumentation Command of the US Army in Orlando, FL. His illustration work has been published in newspapers such as The Boston Globe, The Miami Herald and The Chicago Tribune. Peter holds two degrees: a BFA in Illustration from the Ringling School of Art and Design and an AS in Digital Animation and Visual Effects from the Digital Animation and Visual Effects School.

Andrew Britton

Andrew is an accomplished computer graphics educator. Prior to joining CDIA, Andrew was a graduate Maya instructor at The DAVE School in Orlando, FL, where he taught Maya and Photoshop and also published Advanced Photoshop Texturing, a Photoshop tutorial DVD, through KURV Studios LLC.

Before joining the DAVE team, Andrew worked as a 2D and 3D artist for EA Sports, working on various NASCAR Thunder and NCAA Football titles. He keeps up-to-date with his craft and art by running a personal business specializing in fine art travel photography and contract graphic work. His ventures have included game art development for an independent studio, private instruction and graphic design. Andrew has been certified by Alias to be a Maya instructor.

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Peter Eastwood

Peter has refined his skills as a multimedia production artist over the past eight years, working both for American Power Conversion (APC) and as a freelance 3D artist. Beginning his professional career in film editing and audio production, he moved quickly to 3D Industrial Modeling, prototyping and creating interactive videos and web-based tours from engineering schematics at APC. From product demonstrations and inter-active tours, to simulations, page layout and package design, Peter was responsible for introducing and maintaining the entire 3D asset library for APC. He was also their chief technology director and internal Maya instructor, training the creative services staff in 3D content creation. Using Maya, After Effects, Photoshop, Final Cut Pro and Pro Tools, Peter has created animations for video presentations, corporate videos, movie theater ads, online product tours and product renderings for magazine ads and retail packaging.

Peter works on a freelance basis with APC and numerous production houses, including Sonalysts, Johnny Animation and Three-Headed Monster, working on TV commercials and online animations. He has an AS in Information Technology from the New England Institute of Technology and majored in English and Communications at the University of Rhode Island.

Brian Rooney

Brian is a 3D animation instructor with a concentration in Maya software. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Multimedia Design from the University of Advancing Technology. He has 10 years of experience in 3D, working for various 3D firms and consulting companies. He was previously a Senior Digital Artist at an architectural firm where he oversaw the development, design and completion of all 3D renderings and animation.

In 2006, his rendering of a suburban development was featured on the cover of Builder Architect magazine for the unique utilization of photorealistic rendering and animation. Brian developed a fresh and innovative approach to 3D rendering, including incorporating the use of green screen technologies and other film techniques into his productions. In his spare time, Brian ventures into freelance projects involving 3D, website development, interior design visualization and architectural animations.

Harry Teasley

Harry is an artist and game designer who has been developing games professionally for over 17 years. A graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art, he had never touched a computer before getting a job at MicroProse Software working on the original Civilization by Sid Meier. Working with Meier and other game design gurus at MPS Harry quickly became addicted to games, game design and the issues of problem solving in both creating and playing games.

From the strategy of Civ and the adventure of Pirates! Gold, to first-person shooters like Half-Life and Counterstrike, Harry’s involvement in the game industry has been wide ranging. Currently Art Director at Turbine for the MMO Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar, he is most interested in exploring the limits of design as it relates to player perception, social networks and user interface interaction.

Graphic & Web Design

Program Director
Bob Gray

Bob Gray, owner of Bob Gray Graphic Design, became design director of AARP Web Publications in 2007. Before this position, he was a design editor at National Geographic magazine for seven years and the art director of National Geographic Traveler for five years. He came to National Geographic from a Washington, DC, studio, The Magazine Group, where he art directed five publications about travel, education, business and marketing. Bob also spent a year as art director of the Washington Journalism Review.

In 1989–1990 Bob was creative director at Clarke/Thompson, an editorial and advertising design studio in New York. There he directed design for magazine startups, packaging for the wine and spirits industry, and editorial promotion for M magazine, Barnes and Noble Booksellers, New York Life and McGraw-Hill. He spent seven years at Sports Afield (Hearst) magazine in New York as senior associate art director for this National Magazine Award-winner.

Bob has been a guest lecturer at the School of Visual Arts in New York and an adjunct professor at The Corcoran School of Art and Design in Washington, DC. His work has won awards from the New York Art Directors Club, Print Regional Design, Communications Arts and the Society of Publication Designers.

Joe Comeau

Joe has more than 10 years of experience in graphic design, illustration and education. Prior to joining CDIA he was senior designer for the Globus Family of Brands and worked for organizations ranging from Fortune 1000 companies to small non-profits. Joe is a member of AIGA and has a background in fine art and illustration, where he blends traditional materials and practices with the latest technology. His client list includes McGraw-Hill, APC and US Sailing. Joe is also a frequent contributor to several monthly magazines.

Associate Director,
Waltham, MA Campus:
Al Lemieux

Al has over 10 years experience in web and graphic design, video editing, Flash and motion graphics. He has been teaching Photoshop, Flash, Illustrator and various other software application programs and topics in the corporate environment and private sector since 1996. He has developed original learning activities and materials for New Horizons Computer Learning Center, Harvard Business School and Northern Essex Community College. Al is a certified Adobe Photoshop expert and a member of the Adobe Flash and InDesign Users Groups in Boston. He hosts four technology blogs focusing on current trends in web design and technology, Flash, Photoshop and Illustrator. Al received his MFA from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

Associate Director, Washington, DC Campus:
Beth Rakouskas

For the past seven years, Beth worked for National Geographic magazine. She was the design editor for the Departments section and, in 2005, played a major role in the re-design of the magazine. Since 2000, Beth has also run a freelance design business working with small businesses and non-profits on everything from branding campaigns to web sites. Prior to that role, she worked as an in-house designer for ICF Consulting, where her clients included the United Nations, the US Environmental Protection Agency, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and Department of Housing and Urban Development. Beth graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Graphic Design from North Carolina State University’s School of Design.

Technical Advisor:
Jeremy Osborn

Jeremy has over 15 years of experience in web and graphic design, filmmaking, writing and publication development for print and digital media. He has authored, co-authored and been technical editor for several titles in the Adobe Classroom in a Book series. Jeremy has also provided in-depth training and consulting for student and corporate clients including Sony, Canon, Staples and Harvard Business Review, and has taught at universities around the US. Jeremy holds an MS from the Graduate Center of Marlboro College and a BFA in Film/TV from the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU.

Associate Director,
Waltham, MA Campus:
Tim Rice

Tim has spent over 20 years working in the advertising and web design fields providing print design, logos and web design services. With degrees in Advertising Design and Education he spent several years as a designer and production artist. He moved into web design and became an instructor of computer graphics and web design for various institutions. Tim founded Coastal Graphics in 1998, which provided freelance design services as well as instructional services. Clients included Fleet Bank, John Hancock Insurance, Tufts Health Plan as well as several well known universities and schools. His design skills have been utilized by local and international companies as well as non-profit organizations.

Associate Director, Washington, DC Campus:
Jim Webb

Jim works as a Technical Design Manager for National Geographic Digital Media. His team oversees visual branding, user interface, and interactive multimedia design, as well as technical implementation using X/HTML, CSS, JavaScript, AJAX, and Flash. During his tenure at National Geographic, he has directed three site-wide redesigns, designed or redesigned dozens of site sections, shot and edited news videos, directed a usability testing lab, and built multimedia interactives. Before National Geographic, Jim designed infographics for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Jim’s commercial photography is represented by the National Geographic Image Collection and Getty Images. He also shoots documentary style family portraits and teaches photography with National Geographic Photo Camp, giving inner-city teenagers digital cameras so they can tell their own stories, with the help of professional photographers and editors. Jim studied photojournalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His speaking engagements include the Society for News Design, for NPR and PBS, and UNITY: Journalists of Color.

Gene Babon

As a web technology communications specialist, Gene helps businesses grow and professionals prosper. His customer-focused teaching style led to the creation of two services to help students transition from classroom to workplace: Beantown Web, a blog designed to monitor career and training opportunities for web designers and developers in the greater Boston area; and Web Apprentices, a service offering apprenticeship projects to designers and developers looking to practice skills while giving small businesses an opportunity to afford web-based design, programming and database services. Gene’s technology focus includes XHTML, JavaScript, PHP, SQL, MySQL, ASP.NET, SQL Server, CSS and XML.

Kimberly Brainerd

Kimberly has been building websites since 1995. Just as the Internet was burgeoning, she picked up Laura Lemay’s Teach Yourself Web Publishing with HTML in a Week, read it in a weekend and since then has combined this interest in technology and visual design with her lifelong passion for the arts. Kimberly’s work has included a wide range of experiences and places: from backstage at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall as production manager for the American Symphony Orchestra, to a yurt in Uzbekistan with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble; from the marble-lobbied international Sony Corporation in Manhattan as Sony Classical’s website producer, to a small non-profit Internet start-up building the world’s first searchable cultural events database.

As a recent career highlight, Kimberly presented a paper at the Archives and Museum Informatics’ Museums and the Web conference about a collaboration between the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, the Freer & Sackler Galleries and the Silk Road Project. In her work, she regularly uses Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Illustrator, Fireworks, BBEdit, HTML/XHTML, CSS and Flash. Originally trained as a classical musician, Kimberly especially enjoys working with musicians and projects for the arts. In addition to teaching and advising her students, she freelances and consults on a wide range of design projects for various clients.

Justin Gagne

Justin is a designer and educator. He is the co-founder and creative director of velle magazine.com, an online space exhibiting established and emerging talent in fashion, design, art, literature and music from around the world. Justin has extensive experience in prepress, web design and has served as an adjunct instructor at Montserrat College of Art teaching web and technology-based courses.

Peter R. Kery

Peter recently moved to the Boston area from Philadelphia. His teaching assignments have taken him to the Rhode Island School of Design, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, the Art Institute of Boston, Middlesex Community College and The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. He has also guest lectured at Northeastern University and UMass-Dartmouth. Client projects include Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, transportation graphics and vehicle identities; the City of Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin Park environmental signage; Olin Partnership Architects, revitalization plan of the University of Pennsylvania reports and manuals; corporate identity for Greater Philadelphia First and Corlears School in New York City; CD and video cover designs for QVC, Helen Reddy, Bobby Rydell and Paul Sorvino; and print collateral for The Philadelphia Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. Peter received his BFA in Graphic Design from The University of the Arts (formerly Philadelphia College of Art). He is principal of McSorley Kery Design, a graphic design studio.

Joshua Korenblat

Joshua worked for six years in the art department at National Geographic, where he helped create graphics and art-based layouts. He has freelanced for Smithsonian Magazine and the Consortium for Ocean Leadership as well as many other organizations. He has an MA in Writing from Johns Hopkins University and is currently pursuing an MFA in Studio Art at the Maryland Institute College of Art.

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Harun Razith

Harun is a designer, educator and creative enthusiast. He is the senior interface designer at Soliloquy Learning Inc., an educational software company committed to helping children learn to read and improve fluency and comprehension. He has served as a consultant to various companies and institutions in the field of education, video game design, publishing, medicine, theatre and the arts. His client list includes AT&T, Dover Publishing, Massachusetts College of Art + Design, Courier Corporation, the University of New Hampshire and Cecropia Inc. Some of his experimental work has been exhibited at the Boston State House and The Revolving Museum in Lowell. Harun has an MFA in Interactive Design from Massachusetts College of Art + Design.

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Izabela Riano

Originally from Lodz, Poland, Izabela received her MFA in Graphics at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design and established a freelance graphic design practice she continues from abroad. She came to the United States to continue her studies and received her MFA in Studio Art from the School of Art and Art History at the University of Florida. Izabela’s teaching experience includes Drawing and Printmaking at UF and Monoprinting/Intermedia at the College of Santa Fe. As a professional artist she has taken part in residencies at the Vermont Studio Center and Santa Fe Art Institute, exhibited in various countries and received numerous awards. Izabela is also a founding member of the Polish Artist Society, Koncept. Her artwork is represented by Farrell Fischoff Gallery in Santa Fe.

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John Scott Thorburn

Scott has 25 years experience in the graphic arts industry. He has held various positions in commercial prepress, customer education, marketing management and electronic prepress consulting. His client list includes commercial printing companies, Scitex America Corp., Time-Life, Fortune and Sports Illustrated. Scott has worked as a senior curriculum developer at Electronics For Imaging, Inc., designing materials and courses in color theory, color science and digital color management. He has delivered training in North America, Europe and to online audiences around the world.

Dan Trachtman

Dan has been focused on interactive design since starting his career at the National Museum of American History in 1995. While working as a freelance designer in San Francisco, his clients included Macromedia, Excite and Interbrand. After moving to Washington, DC, he became an art director at America Online, leading the design team for the new broadband division. He also worked at the National Gallery of Art where he designed online exhibitions to accompany their real-world counterparts, including Dada, Dan Flavin, Gilbert Stuart, and Small French Paintings. As an art director at OmniStudio, Dan worked for non-profit clients including the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Africare and the National Wildlife Federation. As a freelance designer, he has worked with a number of organizations in the DC-area including NPR. Dan has an MFA in graphic design from California College of the Arts and has received a handful of awards for his work.

Marie-Anne Verougstraete

Marie-Anne is a graphic designer and illustrator whose projects include work for the Boston Cyberarts Festival and a series of digital illustrations for the Houghton-Mifflin Company. Before moving from France to Boston, she was primarily a colorist of graphic novels and a museum guide and art workshop leader, but also made backdrops for an animated commercial and taught art classes. In the US, she has worked as a designer and an illustrator in publishing, advertising and the arts, has taught courses in typography and computer graphics at Suffolk University’s New England School of Art and Design and at Endicott College. Her work emphasizes color and simplicity, and she often introduces hand-created elements into her work. Marie-Anne is fluent in English, Dutch and French, studied art and design in Belgium, France and the US, and earned an MFA in Graphic Design from Boston University.

Mary Wiseman

Mary’s design journey began in the Midwest and spans all the way to the Far East. In the classroom she challenges her students to excel in their design abilities and more importantly, to be inspired, creative and inquisitive. She encourages them to analyze, research and organize information to creatively solve complex communication problems in both the print and digital realms. Mary received her MA from the New School for Social Research, completing her studies online while living and working in Beijing, China.

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Elaine Bradley

As senior design editor of National Geographic magazine, Elaine has been a magazine art director and designer for the past 23 years. Before joining the magazine eight years ago, she was senior art director at the Magazine Group studio.

Elaine began her publication design career at the award-winning Outside magazine in 1985 where she worked as associate art director for four years, after which she became founding art director of Vermont Magazine. After five years she moved onto Harvard Magazine where she was responsible for a complete redesign as well as ushering the magazine into the digital era.

Elaine has been adjunct professor at the University of Baltimore’s Masters in Publication Design program, and professor at the University of Vermont’s continuing education program. She holds a BA in art history from Loyola College in Maryland, as well as an MA in Publication Design from the University of Baltimore. She has been recipient of design awards from the Society of Publication Designers, the Washington DC Art Directors Club, Print Books and Regional Design Annual, and Communication Arts.

Edward Burke

Ed is an Adobe Certified Expert in Photoshop has been designing and developing websites and print collateral for 12 years. Ed has a BA in Information Systems and an Advanced Certificate in Human Computer Interaction; combined with his graphic design skills and foundation in painting Ed bridges the gap between design and technology. Ed’s skills include Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, BBEdit, HTML/XHTML, CSS, Flash and InDesign. Ed is a member of NAPP and has a background in graphic design, website design and development, direct marketing, and software instruction.

Michael Connors

Michael has worked for almost 20 years as a professional graphic designer and web developer. Trained as a fine artist, he holds an MFA in Painting from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Educated also at Harvard University and California Institute of the Arts, he holds a Certificate of Special Studies in Administration and Management from Harvard.

Michael has served as lead designer on projects for organizations as diverse as EMC Corporation, ABB, Emerson Electric, Textron and the Harvard University Forest. For three years he designed Massachusetts Benchmarks, the quarterly journal of economics published by the President’s Office at the University of Massachusetts. His areas of expertise include art direction, graphic design, digital imaging, publication design, technical illustration, website design and development, strategic communications and strategic planning.

Michael understands the importance of developing a comprehensive strategic communications plan, the role it plays in influencing design, and how both ultimately affect an organization’s ability to achieve its goals. Throughout his career Michael has assisted large corporations, small business and major universities alike develop effective design, marketing and communication solutions. Michael thus brings a unique combination of design expertise and business knowledge to every project.

Sibyl Edwards

Sibyl is an interactive designer based in Washington, DC. She has over four years demonstrated experience in the areas of interactive design and identity branding for businesses and non-profits. Before settling down at GMMB as an interactive designer, Sibyl freelanced in and around Washington, DC and Dallas, TX at companies such as MSHC Partners Inc., Goddard-Claussen and Adworks. Her work can be seen for such clients as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, United Nations Foundation (UNF) and the Communication Workers of America (CWA).

Sibyl also volunteers for organizations such as DC Web Women where she is a steering committee member and Idealist DC where she is an organizer and a moderator. She is also co-chair for the Technology Network of the Women’s Information Network (WIN). Her interest is in helping non-profits and activist groups with their grassroots/netroots organizing, utilizing Web 2.0 tools. Sibyl received her Associates Degree from the Art Institute of Dallas and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Corcoran College of Art and Design.

Charles Floyd

Charles is a designer and illustrator, and works also as a professor and visual journalist. With a love of learning, and a focus on science and technology, he strives for a consistent emphasis on clear communication and problem solving in all of his projects. After obtaining undergraduate degrees in fine arts and biology, and a masters in industrial design, he worked on a wide range of projects, gaining experience in medical labs, manufacturing facilities, NASA design studies, engineering, publications and art director at National Geographic Magazine. His story assignments were in energy, medicine, aerospace and biology. His work has been utilized in print and on the web for advertising, trade shows, promotional brochures, annual reports, educational kiosks, informational graphics, magazines and books.

George Hamp

George is art director and a partner at MSHC Partners, one of the nation’s leading political advertising firms. He is a leading voice in an award-winning creative team widely recognized for innovation and excellence in political media. Over the past six years he has worked on hundreds of political campaigns from the local to the federal level, producing direct mail, print collateral and interactive campaigns. In addition, he has directed work for dozens of national membership groups, working on issue advocacy and raising public awareness. His most recent client work includes projects for the United Nations Foundation, Sierra Club, American Cancer Society, Greenpeace, EMILY’s List and AFL-CIO. Prior to joining MSHC, he was art director at a boutique design firm in Central Florida. George also has a background in fine arts and spends his free time moonlighting as a painter and photographer.

Karol A. Keane

Karol has been a graphic designer for over 25 years. In that time she has worked with magazines including Mid-Atlantic Country, Regardies and National Journal. In 2002 she opened her own business. Since then, she has redesigned several publications including China Business Review, Passagemaker, Focus and Chimera. She received a grant from the Federal Highway Administration to design a series of signs for walking tours in Historic DC neighborhoods, this project will take place over a 5 to 10 year period. She recently designed a series of text books for the State of California Department of Education with National Geographic. Other clients have included Georgetown University Press, American Society of Transplant Surgeons, George Soros, the DNC and Move-on.Org. She was an interim Chair of Graphic Design for the Corcoran College of Art and Design as well as adjunct professor.

Janel Kiley

Janel worked at National Geographic for almost five years, beginning as a proofreader and working her way up to designer. After earning an MA in Communication Design from the University of Baltimore, she embarked on a freelance design career. Clients included SAIL Magazine, Johns Hopkins, Villanova, The Baltimore Sun and Discovery. Most recently she was Assistant Dean for Public Relations at UMass Boston, where she created print collateral and managed the website for the College of Liberal Arts.

Joshua Korenblat

Keith McWilliams

Keith worked as a freelance photographer while studying the techniques of printing and processing of color and black and white film at the Art Institute of Boston. While setting his career aside, in 1995 he joined the Army. Throughout those nine devoted years, he earned the rank of Sergeant First Class. While serving our country Keith finished his college education, earning an AAS degree in Business Management. After leaving the army he reestablished his photographic career to further explore his passion.

Keith is a graduate of CDIA’s professional photography program, where he studied the many facets of digital photography. He is currently working as a freelance photographer, providing digital imaging services for professionals, and is a Photoshop instructor. He is also the digital manager for commercial photographer Lou Jones.

Irene Ramirez

Irene has been a digital artist for over 10 years. She is a freelance designer, illustrator, motivator and educator. Prior to graphic and web design her background focused on issues of social justice through human and civil rights work. Her current focus is helping DIY artists and craftspeople, green builders, social service organizations and small businesses establish a presence on the web. Her clients include The Theater Offensive, Partners Health Care, FirstGiving, The Professional Center for Child Development as well as numerous local artists and musicians.

Chrissy Rey-Drapeau

Chrissy has been working on the Web since 1995. A Maryland native, she graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in zoology. After a brief stint as a zookeeper, and then an animal technician in a genetics lab, Chrissy discovered HTML, and then later Flash. She now creates applications using various combinations of Flash (mainly with AS 2.0 and 3.0), XML, PHP, CSS, JavaScript, HTML and other technologies. When she’s not busy working on projects, Chrissy teaches as an adjunct instructor at several local colleges and as a corporate trainer. Chrissy has also been an author, contributing author and technical editor for several books about Flash.

Debra J. Tanen

Debra comes to CDIA with over 20 years of Advertising/Marketing and Graphic Design experience working with diversified Fortune 1000 companies. As a creative consultant, she has worked extensively with the Boston advertising agency community. In 1988, she founded Communication Graphics-Boston, a graphic design firm where, as Creative Director/Graphic Designer, she designed and developed strategic advertising, branding and corporate identity campaigns for financial investment, consulting/management service, real estate, travel and tourism, durable goods and publishing industries.

Debra has been recognized with regional and national design awards and brings her creative expertise and vision to the next level of print, Internet, interactive communications and advertising design and development at CDIA. Her clear grasp of interactive design and function, client perspective and strategic concept approach supports the relationships between client, content/communications and technology groups while maintaining a seamlessly integrated project design and delivery.

Debra earned a BFA from UMass–Amherst. She also engaged in post-graduate studies at Northeastern University, The Boston Museum School and Tripp Technology Center. Before coming to CDIA, Debra spent 13 years teaching advertising, communications and graphic design in the liberal arts program at Northeastern University.

Audio Production

Program Director
Alison L. Plante

Alison Plante started her music career at Romeo Music International, rising to Senior Vice President. In 1999 she founded Treble Cove Music, a music composition and production company. She has scored six educational television series for the Annenberg Channel; two History Channel specials: Bible Battles and Aftershock: Beyond the Civil War; the PBS special A Life Among Whales; national television ads for clients including GMAC, Animal Planet, the National Geographic Channel, Brown & Company, and Spaulding Sports; multimedia exhibits for Kodak, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Harvard Museum of Natural History; and several short films.

An avid musician and composer from a young age, Alison was also an early adopter of music technology; she was one of the first to use the MIDI music notation program, Finale. She studied music at the University of Chicago and the University of Cambridge. Her skill in concert composition has been recognized with the Janet Gates Peckham International Award for Excellence in the Arts and the Menn Foundation Prize for an original literary or musical work.

Alison was also senior web developer for the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics’ Science Education Department. Her time there working closely with filmmakers, designers, and animators confirmed her interest in the convergence of digital media.

Associate Director:
Gabe Herman

A formally-trained musician and audio engineer, Gabe has engineered and produced numerous groups in genres ranging from classical string quartets to modern rock to contemporary world beat music. His work has been featured on national television (NBC), radio (NPR’s Fresh Air and Australian National Public Radio), the Internet (AOL), and The New York Times. His film scores and sound designs have won awards at film festivals around the world including The Black Mariah Film Festival, The Rhode Island International Film Festival, ION International and the Chicago International Film Festival. Gabe is heavily involved with the local music scene in Boston and is a member of AES (Audio Engineering Society). He owns and operates the recording facilities at JamSpot in Somerville, MA, where he has recorded performing acts ranging from Dresden Dolls drummer Brian Vigliano to Blackground/ Universal Records pop star JoJo.

Associate Director:
Liz Teutsch

Liz has over 10 years of experience in audio production and multimedia. As an audio systems engineer, she specializes in system commission and integration, premises wiring and custom fabrication. She has served as a project technical coordinator and lead system technician for clients including the New England Aquarium, Sprint Communications, Verité Music, Boston University, Converse and Tewksbury Hospital. Liz also works as a freelance recording engineer, mix engineer, producer and musician; projects range from music production for records to audio postproduction for film to sound reinforcement for concerts where she has worked with acts such as Herbie Hancock, A Perfect Circle and Jonathan Brooke. Liz graduated from Dartmouth College and Berklee College of Music.

James Auburn

James is a lauded keyboardist and arranger. A Berklee Professional Music alumnus, James has served as musical director in many ensemble settings. He has performed at numerous high-profile venues across the Eastern seaboard and in events with Amel Larrieux, Vertical Horizon, Big D and the Kids Table, Missing Joe, Dick Clark, Milton Wright, Sandy Duncan and others. A sought after hip-hop historian, James’ lecture credits include Suffolk University School of Government, Berklee College of Music, Fisher College, Critical Breakdown and more. He has written for Okayplayer.com, The Mississippi Sun Herald, The Noise, ThaHipHop.com, Gedup.com and MusicBiz Advice.com. He has interviewed Jay Graydon and Clayton Savage, hosted a Limelight Records marathon on WHRB and interviewed Limelight CEO Robin McBride and 60s psychedelic artist Cork Marcheschi from Fifty Foot Hose. James also heads the Hip-Hop Department at the Vuk School of Groove, works as hip-hop appraiser and ad writer for In Your Ear Records and is a Boston Hip-Hop Alliance co-founder.

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Dan Cardinal

Dan is a freelance recording and live sound engineer in the Boston area. He has done work for Warner Records, Rounder Records, FSN television network and Kufala/Live Archive, and has engineered and produced many independent releases. Dan specializes in front-of-house and live multitrack recording, wiring and acoustic treatment, and guerrilla recording techniques.

Steve Cerilli

Steve is a freelance audio postproduction sound engineer with a focus in sound design. He has been working independently at numerous postproduction houses on national TV and radio commercials, documentaries and 3D bumpers for the video gaming industry. Steve created and contributed as sound designer and independent producer to sound effects collections for Sound-Ideas including Radioactive. He was also a contributing sound designer for The Big Drone and the Sci Fi Series 8000 Warp Three collections. Steve’s sound effects are included in Bias Inc’s Peak audio software (versions 3–5). He also developed preset templates for Waves audio plug-ins.

Matthew Girard

Matthew is a freelance engineer, producer and bassist. A graduate of the University of Hartford’s Hartt School with a degree in Music Production & Technology, he has affiliations with local companies Jamspot Studios, Bopnique Musique and Digital Bear Productions. Recent projects, clients and artists include the Museum of Fine Arts, Will Dailey, Monique Ortiz, the Daughters of St. Paul in Jamaica Plain and NYC-based filmmaker, Danica Mills. Matthew is also a member of the much-lauded indie band The Motion Sick. Accolades include Grammy Entry #60 in Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal, and Grammy Entry #127 in Best Pop Vocal Album, 49th Grammy Awards.

Ralph Kinscheck

Ralph studied the newest technological advancements in MIDI and sampling at Berklee College of Music. He then took his education in music and cutting-edge technologies on the road and into the studio as a performer. Ralph later attended UMass-Lowell to study engineering while working at Berklee in the Music Synthesis Department. He currently runs KIP (Kinscheck International Productions), producing local music and various video projects. Ralph is an Apple-certified trainer in Logic and Final Cut Pro.

Matt Malikowski

Matt is chief engineer for Curbside Recording, New England’s leading mobile recording provider, as well as a freelance engineer and bassist. He is a specialist in live recording and has spent time on many studio and broadcast projects. Recent clients include Dar Williams, Train, Gov’t Mule, Session Americana, Monster Mike Welch, Lydia Warren and Martin Sexton.

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Kate McDonnell

Kate interned at Starc Studios in Dublin where she worked with Johnny McEvoy, members of the Dubliners and the Chieftains. Next she went to Powerplay Studios in Zurich, where she worked with the group Wet Wet Wet as a sound assistant, recording two songs, including their hit UK single, Goodnight Girl. She then won a scholarship for voice at Berklee College of Music and studied Music Production and Engineering, later graduating from Tufts University with a BA in Sociology. In 2002 she organized a 20-day American tour for the Irish band Charis, appearing as their opening act as Katie McD. Other recent accolades include the score for Marina Carr’s play, The Bog of Cats, and Music Supervisor to director Stephen Croke’s film The Busker (2007). DVD film production credits include Reservoir Dogs, Rambo, The Graduate and Angel Heart.

Jason Petrin

Jason is a producer, engineer, composer and multi-instrumentalist. He graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2004 with a dual degree in Music Production and Engineering and Music Synthesis. Since graduating, Jason has worked as an engineer on the records of singer/songwriter Lindsay Mac, harpist/singer Maeve Gilchrist, folk singer Watson Reid, and singer/guitarist Chris McDermott, as well as the PBS Kids show, Postcards from Buster. In addition to his work as an engineer, Jason produced the debut records of artist Charlie Christos and singer/songwriter Liz Stahler. Jason has recently worked with DJ Jefr Tale producing dance mixes for a weekly satellite radio show and partnering to form Talespin Records, a dance music label featuring his original music and remixes.

Robert A. Rosati

Robert is a studio designer, acoustician and systems engineer. As the founder and principal of Rosati Acoustics + Multimedia, Inc., he provides design and engineering expertise, integrating architectural acoustics, sound reproduction, audiovisual systems, electro-acoustics and cutting-edge technology. He has designed professional recording studios, high-tech theaters, auditoriums, museums, conference facilities and houses of worship. Rob has engineered numerous albums and toured as a chief sound engineer for a famed rock group, engineering a Platinum album with over eight million copies sold.

Corey Schreppel

A Berklee Music Production and Engineering alum, Corey is currently a staff engineer at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA, specializing in jazz and classical recordings. His credits include Dave Holland, Steve Reich, the Borromeo String Quartet and many renowned resident and NEC-sponsored ensembles. Corey also works around Boston as a freelance engineer/producer, mixing and mastering projects by pop and rock artists.

Dave Shacter

Dave is a recording engineer, music scoring mixer, music editor and producer, working with film composers to complete the music underscore for film and television projects. He has worked extensively with composer Mason Daring; his credits include numerous films by John Sayles including Honeydripper, The Secret Of Roan Inish, Lone Star, The Opposite Of Sex and Music Of The Heart, as well as the prime-time TV series State of Mind on Lifetime; many television movies; and several episodes of Frontline, American Experience and Nova. He has also recorded many jazz and folk album projects for Daring Records. Dave holds an AB in Music and Government Studies from Bowdoin College and completed the Audio Recording and Production program at the Institute Of Audio Research.

Darcie-Nicole Wicknick

A commended publicist, journalist and songwriter, Darcie is the owner of ...Ask Darcie and co-founder/managing director of The Boston Hip-Hop Alliance. She teaches a contractual issues course for songwriters on SongU.com and regularly writes for MusicBizAdvice.com and others. Darcie is a sought after lecturer and panelist for college and events such as NEMO, Boston mayor Tom Menino’s Hip-Hop Reconstruction, The Berklee Hip-Hop Summit, Boston Cares and more. She has provided publicity and/or support to high profile events including The National Hip-Hop Political Convention’s Sudanese Relief Concert Las Vegas, BRIX, The Harlem Book Fair of Roxbury, Red K Records, The Numark Milestones show, The MIC Hip-Hop Awards, The Boston Beat Battle and Peace Boston. She is a celebrated vocalist who leads Velvet Stylus, and has served as house lyricist, A&R rep, and administrator for TKO Sound and I-POP Records. Darcie teaches voice for both singers and MCs, privately and for Vuk School of Groove, and serves as a Berklee Alumni Chapter Representative and City Music voice mentor.

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Abe Stein

Abe is lead sound designer, recordist and mix engineer at Clambake Animation in Watertown, MA. His sound design work can be heard on the Cartoon Network series Assy McGee and in various national television and web-based ads. Prior to working in animation, Abe was a sound designer and mix engineer on The Habitable Planet, a series of educational documentaries focused on current issues in environmental sciences. Some of his other credits include Aqua Teen Hunger Force (dialog recordist), Hit or Miss (sound designer, mix engineer), This is Nollywood (mix engineer), and FSN’s International Fight League Broadcasts (dialog editor). Abe cut his teeth as an audio engineer in Philadelphia, working with engineer Scott Herzog at Third Story Recording Studios.

Daniel Goldfine

Daniel has worked in several facets of the music industry including technical support for Cambridge-based music technology company MOTU and Framingham-based BOSE Corporation. Recording projects have included the Boston bands Lifestyle and Freezepop, and projects both here and in the UK with members of internationally-known bands The Cure, Psychedelic Furs and Morrissey. Daniel has also taught audio recording at institutions of higher learning in the Boston area.

Web Development

Program Director
Joel McNamee

Joel McNamee brings ten years of experience in development to CDIA. After graduating from UMass–Dartmouth with a BS in Computer Engineering and a minor in Mat