ENTERTAIN U

Mychael G. Chinn is the Manager of Original Movies for Lifetime Television, based out of Los Angeles, CA. He graduated with a BFA in Acting from the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University. He started his career working under casting director Tracy “Twinkie” Byrd on the casting of films such as Notorious, The Blind Side, and Secret Life of Bees among others. He also was an original member of The Movement Theatre Company in New York City. He then left theatre, film and television to work as the Assistant Company Manager for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for 4 seasons. Upon leaving Alvin Ailey, Mychael went to work as a Producer and Production Manager for BET Digital and BET Her and then landed at Lifetime Television, where he has been for almost 4 years, working first on the Acquired Content team, then segued onto the Original Movies front, where he has helped shepherd over 55 movies to broadcast.

Christmas credits include: Jingle Belle, Staging Christmas, Christmas Hotel, Christmas in Mississippi, No Time Like Christmas, Four Christmases and a Wedding, My Christmas Prince, Christmas Around the Corner, Christmas Pen Pals, My Christmas Inn, Santa’s Boots, Christmas in Tennessee, and Radio Christmas

Producer Paul Sirmons has worked 40 years in film and television, from starting as an assistant director for the family classic THE WALTONS, to his most recent dramatic Native American movie about MONTFORT: CHICKASAW RANCHER, an 1800’s cowboy western shot in Oklahoma based on the true story of Montford Johnson. Paul had previously produced the award-winning feature TE ATA for the Chickasaw Nation, also based on the true story of their female storyteller.

He’s a producer, a director, and much more, focusing on movies that can make a difference in our world. Paul directed and produced the award-winning family movie THE FIRST OF MAY starting Julie Harris, Mickey Rooney, and Dan Byrd and featuring baseball legend Joe DiMaggio. He line-produced the faith-based features HOME RUN, LETTERS TO GOD, TO WRITE LOVE ON HER ARMS, and produced THE WAY BACK HOME starring Julie Harris and Ruby Dee. In addition to The Waltons, television credits include being a DGA assistant director on numerous TV series, pilots and MOWs, including QUANTUM LEAP, FALCON CREST, SEAQUEST and OUR HOUSE. Paul serves on the board for the National Religious Broadcasters and International Christian Visual Media Association, where he’s created and runs Distributor Pitch-a-Thons. Paul was appointed Florida’ State Film Commissioner by Governor Jeb Bush and served from 2005 to 2008, during which time he wrote Florida’s successful film incentive program. He continues to serve as co-chair on the statewide Film Florida trade association’s Legislative Committee.

Dick Miller has enjoyed careers hosting radio programs in NYC, New Jersey, Aruba and St. Maarten/St. Martin, as well as a NYC television entertainment commentator, nationally syndicated newspaper columnist, and theatre and nightlife columnist for NYC magazines. A creative businessman, Dick owned a NYC and Hollywood Talent Agency; being the youngest SAG/AFTRA, Actors' Equity owner in history in the 1960's. Dick's varied careers include; publicist, photo journalist, media relations & marketing consultant for the travel; and entertainment industries, Personal Manager for Broadway, TV, film and commercial talent, Casting Director, Associate Producer on Broadway, owner of several phone answering services for actors, and hiw "Broadway Baby," the Opening Night Garrettgram; which rivaled Western Union, delivering accurate, reliable and dependable hand-delivered telegrams for 18 years in NYC. Qfter 25 years of hosting radio shows Dick retired from radio in 2007. "Retired" is not in Miller's vocabulary! Dick joined his wife, Deborah, in real estate and the couple became a top Realtor® Team focusing on customer service .

Bradley Battersby is an American film director and screenwriter. He is the chair of the Film Department at the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. He was named "Mentor of the Year" by Variety magazine in 2017. When designing Ringling’s film program curriculum, Battersby, who’s sold projects to HBO and Universal, implemented an experimental hands-on approach, something he endorsed at the other film schools at which he’s taught, including AFI, Chapman U. and the Maine Workshops, where in 2001 he created a pre-professional film program for high school students at the Idyllwild Arts Academy. He says, “I am never very far from my 18-year-old self and what I wanted in film school way back when,” says Battersby. “And I really wanted Sydney Pollack, for example, to get up with a room of actors and actually stage a scene. I wanted to see Peter Weir put his music to his movies. I wanted to get everyone in the move and in the groove.” To this end, with the support of Ringling’s president, Larry Thompson, Battersby and David Shapiro of Semkhor Productions launched the Ringling College Studio Lab program, in which entertainment professionals would visit campus and engage in conversation and filmmaking exercises with students. First guest: Werner Herzog.

Galway and a team of five other local independent filmmakers plan on traveling 1,000 miles through Europe this spring, retracing the steps of her grandfather, George G. Blackburn, who served as an observation officer in the Canadian military, and producing a documentary about what promises to be an emotional excursion. The reason for the project is twofold: The group hopes to distribute the film to schools and educate a new generation of students who are taught little, if anything, about World War II, and it’s also a way for the filmmakers to experience firsthand the emotion and gratitude felt by European people liberated from the clutches of evil by the Allied troops. The project is being called Victory Journey, and it will take the group through Belgium, Holland, Germany and France. They will start in March and end on May 8, the 75th anniversary of V-E Day, with Galway standing on the exact same spot as her grandfather did at Juno Beach, one of the five beaches in German-occupied France during the Normandy landing.

Les McCurdy was in his 30s when he began chasing a career in comedy. He was soon headlining around the country, but in 1988, he and his wife Pam, an FSU/Asolo Conservatory grad, decided to start a club in Sarasota. They started out in a hotel banquet room, then moved to an old theater on the North Trail. Last year they made the leap into a spacious downtown building that includes a bar and kitchen. An “A” club with a national reputation, McCurdy’s now presents more than 400 shows a year, from charity events to big-name comics. The ever-enthusiastic McCurdy says he’s “excited that at 60, when many people are slowing down,” he’s in full creative mode, planning new projects from corporate seminars to an Internet comedy channel. Les McCurdy started a totally unique program in 2005 called Special O'Laughics. He created a workshop that teaches mentally challenged adults the art of stand-up and sketch comedy. The program is the only one of its kind in the world and has been the subject of a PBS Special and the largest article of its kind featured in The St. Petersburg Times. It is chronicled in a documentary film produced by Les and Ken and featured in a TED Talk presented by Les McCurdy

Bernadette A. DiPino is a fourth-generation Law Enforcement Officer who began her career as a Police Officer with the Baltimore County Police in September of 1985. In April of 1988 she joined the Police Department for the Town of Ocean City, Maryland where she rose through the ranks from Narcotics Detective to Chief of Police; a position she held for nearly ten years. She served ten years on the SWAT Team in Ocean City, with 4 years as the Commander. She was also a Defensive Tactics, Firearms, and Community Oriented Police Instructor.
On December 31, 2012 Chief DiPino was selected to serve as Chief of Police for the Sarasota, Florida Police Department. Chief DiPino has served on the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Executive Committee and Board of Directors and represented the State of Florida and State of Maryland for the IACP State Associations of Chiefs of Police (SACOP) and served as Secretary and Treasurer of the SACOP Executive Committee. Chief DiPino is an active member of the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE), the Florida Police Chiefs Association (FPCA) and has presented law enforcement best practices to IACP, SACOP, WLI, FPCA and numerous other professional and civic organizations and government panels. During her distinguished career, she received numerous Departmental awards and citations; and has been recognized as Police Officer of the Year in 1987, 1993 and 1997.
Chief DiPino earned a BA Degree in Liberal Arts from Salisbury University. She graduated from the F.B.I.’s National Academy, Session 204, in 2001.
Chief DiPino lives in the city of Sarasota with her poodle, Sea-Sea. She enjoys playing tennis and loves the beach. Chief DiPino has a daughter, Tabitha, who is a Baltimore County Police Officer and the fifth-generation law enforcement officer to carry on the family tradition

Mary Bensel (Executive Director) came to the Van Wezel in December of 2007 and is entering her twelfth season at the theatre. Under her leadership, the Hall went from a projected City subsidy of $1,800,000 to earning a surplus that has reached over $1,250,000 and operates on an unrivaled 94 to 6% earned / non-earned income ratio. She credits this to her hardworking staff, creative and diverse booking, target marketing for each production and tighter fiscal controls.

Prior to that, she was Director of Touring and Sales for Troika Entertainment, a Broadway touring company, where she directed the booking of such Broadway tours as: CATS, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, MOVIN’ OUT, CHICAGO and EVITA. Before that, Mary spent ten years as General Manager of the Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall in Ft. Myers, FL. Prior to coming to Florida, Mary spent fifteen years in Philadelphia as General Manager for the Walnut Street Theatre and the Merriam (former Shubert) Theatre.

She received her BA from Mansfield University in Speech, Theatre and English and her MA from the University of Pittsburgh in Acting and Directing. Mary was a founding member of the Pittsburgh Public Theatre and served as Marketing Director/Press Agent for the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, the Arizona Theatre Company and Stage West.

Mary was a member of Leadership Lee County, served on the Steering Committee and was a member of their Foundation Board of Directors. She received the award for Arts Management from the Cultural Alliance of Sarasota, the Horizon Council Award for Tourism, the Video Archive Award and Business Partner of the Year from the Lee County Foundation for Public Schools. Mary was President of the Florida Facilities Managers, is a member of their Board of Directors and is a member of the Florida Presenters. Mary is a Tony Voter and is a member of the Broadway League, the Van Wezel Foundation Board of Directors and the Sarasota Woman’s Alliance. Bensel accepted a Congressional Proclamation from Congressman Vern Buchanan for the Hall’s dedication to the Arts and Arts Education. The Van Wezel has been voted the number one tourist attraction in Sarasota County in the recent past.

Under her leadership, the Hall has made a number of capital improvements including the Van Wezel Sunset Terrace, all new seating for the Hall, a new Sound System, the Hearing Loop, a new orchestra pit lift and has renovated its restrooms, installing a new orchestra shell and new carpet. Continuing community programs include Total Access, Family Nights at the Theatre, Senior Access and Military Access.

Since Mary has been here, she has booked the following stars for the Gala and Anniversary shows: Ringo Starr, Sheryl Crow, Barry Manilow, Il Divo, Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, Tony Bennett, Sarah McLachlan, Josh Groban, Steve Martin and Martin Short and Diana Ross among others!

Susan Weller’s passion is finding the right people, qualified for the right job. She is the President and Senior Executive Recruiter of SWELLER JOBS, and absolutely loves what she does. That entails helping others to find the career of their dreams, representing superior companies who entrust her to identify qualified candidates for their review, she considers is a valuable honor.
Taking pride in the candidates she selects and the companies she represents. Susan is proud of the work she does and the joy it brings when all things come together for good- it's very gratifying to her!
She specializes in the industries of Automotive, Flooring and Technical recruiting. No job is too small or too big says Susan, “Let me know what your company needs to be more efficient and prosper. If you are looking for a new position, contact me and let's talk.” She strives to exceed clients’ expectations by knowing their business needs, being detailed in her quest and providing speedy service.
In addition to her dedicated work ethic helping recruit and place people in the right positions, Susan has a diverse lifetime background in various businesses including chemicals and manufacturing in the industrial industries of North Mississippi, and also has helped with design of products.
She’s an Alumni of Cornell University and Mississippi State University where she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and teaching. She’s also been recognized for her brains as well as her beauty and grace in the pageant world.

Audrey Landers is an accomplished actress, singer, writer, composer and producer. She is best known to fans all over the world for her memorable role as Afton Cooper for eight years on Dallas (1978), her controversial Playboy pictorial (with her clothes on) and hundreds of television gigs in the 1980s and 1990s. However, she has been somewhat under the radar in the United States over the past few years, raising her teenage twin boys, managing and producing her son Daniel Landers' music career and continuing to be a record-breaking singer/songwriter in Europe (recording and performing in several languages). Now she is back in the United States spotlight, successfully building a fashion business. Keeping it all in the family (her mother Ruth Landers has managed and produced Audrey's career for over 30 years) and continuing their long-standing business partnership they have co-created Landers STAR Collection, a line of glamorous fashion and accessories. As a teen, Audrey studied music at the Juilliard School in New York while majoring in psychology at Columbia University and starring in the daytime drama Somerset (1970). She literally grew up in front of the camera and on stage.

Throughout her career, she has continued to perform live shows in Europe, Las Vegas and Atlantic City, headlining with Billy Crystal and Rich Little, among many others. While working in the United States, she was breaking records in Europe as a singer and composer. She has earned 10 gold singles, four gold albums and two platinum albums. Her most recent album was released in Europe in September 2010.