GRAND CINEMA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- GRANTS OFFICER, MULTICARE HEALTH
I moved to Tacoma in 1999, and my partner and I lived in an apartment in the Wedge Historic District just a few blocks from The Grand. With only one income, movies at the Grand were one of the few forms of entertainment we could afford while she was in school, and I have many good memories of films we have seen there. I have spent most of my career in nonprofit philanthropy as a grant writer and Development Director for organizations in Tacoma, and I am currently the Senior Grants Officer for MultiCare Foundations. I'm a ceramic artist, a gardener, and I love cooking. I also spend an inordinate amount of time playing pinball and repairing/restoring the two pinball machines I own. I am excited about the community engagement opportunities that the Grand is exploring, and the growing diversity of films and festivals and educational opportunities that The Grand brings to the community. There are so many exciting opportunities for The Grand to grow and I am grateful to be part of helping the theater continue to thrive in Tacoma.
Filmmaker Masahiro Sugano and performance artist Anida Yoeu Ali run Studio Revolt, an artist-run independent media lab that produces films, videos, installations and performance projects around the world. While still residing in Chicago in 2010, they established their media lab after winning their first major award for their collaboration on 1700% Project: Mistaken for Muslim, a short film and community response to Islamophobia. Based in Cambodia from 2011-2015 they became a prominent presence in the contemporary arts scene showcasing their works in screenings, exhibitions, and public art projects all over Asia. In 2016, they relocated to Tacoma after falling in love with the city's promising art scene, waterfront location and diverse working-class neighborhoods. They both make the long commute to Bothell, where each serve as Senior Artist-in-Residence at the University of Washington teaching art and influencing a new generation of creative thinkers and agitators.
Your friendly local barkeep and master of ceremonies with a passion for storytelling in all its forms, Bonne put his roots down at The Grand Cinema in 2018 after years of patronage and volunteering. Bonne also works as a local performer, though will never admit to being a good actor, not unlike bartending, but will wholeheartedly agree that he's such a delight to work with and is constantly grateful for the never-ending opportunities to behold, share and create a good story. Unless you want your beer warm, don't get him started on director Giuseppe Tornatore or maestro Ennio Morricone!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Treasurer, GLOBAL HEALTH CONSULTANT
Chase joined the Grand Board in 2020, in the middle of the COVID - 19 pandemic. Originally from Dallas, he spent a while in Washington, DC before meeting his wife and moving to the West Coast in 2017. Chase has been in global health for the past decade, working with government and non - governmental organizations to help improve healthcare systems in low-income areas. He plays music, bowls, and likes old film noir.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Returning to Tacoma after 15 years in the film & entertainment industry, Derek began working as a story consultant for various TV and film projects, script-doctoring and ghostwriting, whilst simultaneously grinding on film sets as a boom operator and working many of the most prestigious film festivals around the world. He later assimilated to the corporate side of entertainment, traveling the world as an assistant for ViacomCBS. With each opportunity, his proficiency for story and unique perspective has centered him in rooms with executives and personnel from Warner Brothers, MTV, Paramount Pictures, Vh1, Nickelodeon, Sony Pictures, BET, Comedy Central and 20th Century Fox.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Worker and Artist from Seattle
Ellen is a long time arts lover and supporter, with particular affinity for theatre and film. Moving to Tacoma a decade ago, membership at the Grand was one of her first orders of business. Ellen is active in local theatre, having served on stage and off with Tacoma Little Theatre, empathos, Dukesbay, Found Space and Toy Boat. She has also worked as a film actor, though that was many years ago! She believes in the power of film to challenge, entertain, and find humanity - especially in a movie theatre where audiences have shared experiences. When she isn't baking, knitting, reading, or (of course) watching movies, Ellen is the Associate Provost, Institutional Research, Planning and Student Success at the University of Puget Sound.
Ellen Ito is a culture worker and artist from Seattle, WA currently living and working in Tacoma, where she manages a museum collection and programs the art space SLIP. Interested in the intersection of foodways, culture and identity. In a committed relationship with ceramics and paint, with a wandering eye for glass.
For more than a decade, Gini has helped support the work of The Grand through a variety of administrative roles like keeping track of finances and accounting, and providing customer service to our members. Previous to that, she served as a Grand volunteer - if anyone knows their way around The Grand and its history, Gini does!
Born and raised in the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma, Jamika Scott is a writer, filmmaker, and advocate. As a founding member of the Tacoma Action Collective, she works toward building an equitable Tacoma and often incorporates her love of film into her social justice work.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Jess Lanzillo began her creative journey with the still-unpublished tabletop game entitled "Summer Camp", based on her pre-teen love of slasher films. She has since built her career and life around fandom, craft, a DIY ethos, and a dedication to accessible storytelling that everyone can see themselves in. Jess is currently the Chief of Staff for Wizards of the Coast, having previously served as the Vice President / Creative Director for the game Magic: The Gathering. She is excited for the opportunity to join a group passionate about growing the thriving community that the Grand Cinema serves here in Tacoma.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Secretary, Retired Pacific Lutheran University
Joanne taught journalism and communication at Pacific Lutheran University for nearly a quarter of a century. She advised student media and was a co-founder of PLU's MediaLab. During her sabbaticals, she served three Fulbright awards teaching in journalism in Uganda, Azerbaijan and Trinidad. She also taught several PLU courses abroad in Australia, Uganda and Geneva. She co-wrote "War on Words: Who Should Protect Journalists?" and contributed several other articles focused on media literacy. She was executive producer for several award-winning student productions and even wrote/produced several documentaries herself, including "Pieces of the Frame: What Made Springfield Grow," and "Namibia Nine." She was awarded a Northwest Emmy in 2020 for producing, "Peace Queen" starring Melannie Denise Cunningham. She calls Tacoma's Stadium District home and appreciates a brisk walk to the Grand. She is an active member of the League of Women Voters and regularly audits classes at UWT in Spanish and Art.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- VICE - PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR of MAJOR and PLANNED GIVING at KNKX PUBLIC RADIO
Kaarin joined the Grand board in 2022. She has worked in philanthropy for over a decade, and currently serves as the Director of Major and Planned Giving at KNKX. Kaarin graduated from PLU and Gonzaga School of Law. After law school, she focused on planned giving and proceeded to make her career in philanthropy. She now identifies as a "recovering attorney." Kaarin, her husband, and their two young children live in Central Tacoma. They love traveling and adventuring, and in pandemic times have especially loved rediscovering the Pacific Northwest.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President, Washington State Attorney General 's Office
Kari is serving her second term on The Grand's board. She works for the Washington State Attorney General's Office, as the Senior Communications Consultant for the Public Affairs team.
Kari spent years fostering community connections in Tacoma and Pierce County as an award-winning reporter for KNKX Public Radio and The News Tribune. She's also worked in higher education, as an editor at Pacific Lutheran University and a student newspaper advisor and adjunct instructor at the University of Puget Sound.
Job Titles:
- House Manager & Bartender
After volunteering with The Grand for several years, Kegan started working as a bartender in 2019 and then a House Manager in 2021. Having long been a fan of the 253 Film Competition, he finally competed himself with a group of his friends earlier that same year (creating the short "How Not to Make a Short Film") and looks forward to participating again. In addition to learning more about filmmaking, he enjoys writing and listening to music in his downtime.
Ken volunteered here for two years before being hired as a House Manager in 2017 and then took on the volunteer coordinating role in 2019. An engineer in his previous work, Ken uses his eye for order to ensure that you have a great experience from the time you enter our doors to when the credits roll. Away from work, you might find Ken at the gym (he used to own a fitness center!) or wrangling his spirited golden retriever, Scout.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Nurse
A nurse by education and experience, Linda's been a resident of University Place for 32 years; has been involved with many non-profits here and nationally, in a variety of roles, from the Red Cross to the Washington Center for Nursing (the nursing workforce center for the state). Most of her career was spent in healthcare leadership in San Diego, Columbus Ohio and here in Washington. A movie fan all of her life and Grand member for many years, preferring small neighborhood theaters. She wants the Grand to thrive! She's a hopelessly smitten grandmother to a 2-year-old who lives with her parents in Marysville; Mom graduated from Curtis and Dad from Kent. She's traveled a lot in her life, solo and with her husband. She's an avid mystery reader. Recently widowed, she's grateful for a cadre of long term friends across the US and locally. Her favorite movie? "Compulsion" about the Leopold-Loeb murders.
Job Titles:
- Membership and Events Manager
Marlee first joined the team as a volunteer in 2013, was hired as a part-time house manager in 2014 and has held several different positions within the organization since then, currently serving as our Membership Manager. Her favorite part of her job is interacting with volunteers and patrons and ensuring everyone has a fantastic theater experience.
She believes The Grand is a fantastic place for meeting interesting people and relishes being able to interact with such vibrant members of the community. She also has a passion for film festivals and visits several throughout the year including Sundance! When not watching movies, you can probably find her trying to keep up with her toddlers.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- CHIEF of STAFF to the WASHINGTON STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL's OFFICE
Naarah has been watching films at The Grand for the last 20 years and joined our team as a House Manager in February 2018. She loves that her job helps showcase exceptional independent films and community activities that further the creative spirit of the local film industry. A part of the local industry herself, Naarah does theatrical costuming work for local theater companies, and when she is not at The Grand, you can visit her at the boutique and textile maker space she runs in downtown Tacoma!
Job Titles:
- Director of Education
- Writer
Paul Richter is a writer, improviser, actor and filmmaker who has lived in- and loved- the city of Tacoma for 17 years. He is a local filmmaker, writer and improviser, a frequent participant in the Grand's 253 Film Competition, and a true believer in the power and beauty of telling stories on film. He has worked in youth development his entire career, specializing in arts education and programming. He is thrilled to be a part of the Grand Cinema Family and to develop programming to support people of all ages in our community to learn, grow and tell their stories.
Born in Dallas, Philip has lived in Tacoma since 1998. After working in minor league baseball for ten years, the last eight of those for the Tacoma Rainiers, Philip was named Executive Director of the Grand Cinema late in 2006. Prior to his job at the Grand, Philip served as a volunteer and board member for the cinema. His favorite part of the job is watching and picking films for the Grand. When not at work, you may find him traveling to new places or watching movies with his teenage daughter!
Job Titles:
- Chief Development Officer
Rachel joined The Grand in 2007 from the sports entertainment industry, bringing her expertise in team sponsorship and corporate relations to the art house and festival. Working in partnership and sponsorship development for more than a decade, Rachel loves to build collaborative partnerships in service to the community.
Rachel works with businesses at a local and national level to find creative and successful sponsorship and marketing strategies in support of Grand Cinema programs and projects. She enjoys working with a small, passionate, dedicated team and sees The Grand Cinema is an invaluable, trusted community resource.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Executive Director
Wade is the Assistant Executive Director at The Grand Cinema and TFF. He is an intellectual property and entertainment attorney, a professional musician with 10+ years of experience in the music industry, and an advocate for nonprofit causes. Wade served on the board of The Grand Cinema for four years before working for the organization and is a former treasurer and director serving the board of the Tacoma Community College Foundation. He is also a Tacoma Arts Commisioner.
At The Grand, Wade oversees theater operations and marketing and runs events and programs throughout the year, including Weird Elephant and The Silver Screen Society. He manages grant proposals and program development in connection with Tacoma Creates. Wade also leads the collective work of the TFF festival team and provides short and long-term planning and vision for the event.
Job Titles:
- Marketing and Sponsorship Manager
Wendell brought their background in audio production with them when they joined the Grand in 2016 and has done just about every role at The Grand, from projection, to box office, to marketing. You've also probably heard their music before every film!
Wendell loves that disoriented feeling stumbling out of the theater and back into reality after a really good film.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Audio Producer / Editor / Sound & Production Designer
Whitney once got a C in a documentary film class because she spent too much time interviewing subway musicians and not enough time in class. She has been working with documentaries ever since. Whitney is an audio producer and editor. Her editing credits include a doc short nominated for an Oscar (Rehearsing a Dream), a podcast nominated for a Peabody (How to Be a Girl), and a 2022 duPont-Columbia award winner (According to Need). She has taught audio to high school football players, non-traditional college students and public radio newbies. And she hosted an audio artist residency in Lima, Peru. Whitney is originally from the Catskill Mountains, and Tacoma is her home base.