OUR TEAM

and produce in-depth, compelling, meaningful and memorable documentaries and long-form online journalism.

Between 1987 and 2013, Mark reported and produced for ABC, FOX and CBS affiliates in Madison (Wisconsin), Hartford (Connecticut), Sacramento (California), Minneapolis (Minnesota) and, for 17 years, Chicago (Illinois).

Yet aside from his television news career, Mark’s resume is extremely diverse: He’s mentored more than 100 college journalism interns, he’s the author of a chapter in two editions of the University of Illinois textbook Race/Gender/Class/Media, he’s produced home improvement programs for the DIY cable television network, he’s served as a Big Brother with both the Chicago and Sacramento chapters of Big Brothers of America, he’s coached a high school speech team in the Minneapolis suburbs, he’s a graduate of the FBI’s Citizens’ Academy in Chicago, and he’s studied and lived abroad in both Spain and Paraguay.

Mark is the recipient of the Leadership in Journalism Education award from Loyola University Chicago, he was presented with the Young Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievement And Distinguished Service from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (his alma mater), and he was an inaugural inductee into his high school’s (Thomas Jefferson in Bloomington, Minnesota) Hall of Fame.

Mark’s broadcast journalism, community service, documentary, and factual entertainment projects have been honored with numerous national awards, including an Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and an Edward R. Murrow from the Radio Television Digital News Association. He’s also won national prizes from the Scripps Howard Foundation, the National Association of Black Journalists, the American Women in Radio and Television, and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, among others. (Additionally, his work has garnered 32 regional Emmy awards, 17 regional Associated Press awards, and 17 regional Society of Professional Journalists awards.)

Mark and his partner currently reside in the Minneapolis area with their handsome, brilliant and talented Havanese pup, Desi.

Chris is proud to be a charter member of The Reporters Inc.’s Board of Directors and is one of the principal cinematographers for the organization’s upcoming documentaries involving wrongful convictions. He also served as one of the lead videographers for The Reporters’ previously released film, The Queens. When Chris is in the field he helps craft and mold the visual elements that create honest, effective and memorable storytelling. Chris and his wife have seven kids between them, and they reside in the Chicago suburbs.

She draws on her background in communications and law to identify the human stories and universal themes within complex legal disputes. Carol specializes in assessing juror attitudes and jury decision-making and assists attorneys with jury selection, mock trials, and witness preparation. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. Carol is the proud mother of one, her now grown son Neil.

advocacy issues, particularly in underserved communities across Chicago. Previously, Rashanah was a senior advisor for AVOQ (formerly Kivvit), where she excelled in messaging, communication strategy, media relations, crisis communication, and community engagement. She spent three years as a project manager at Bloomberg Associates, overseeing a portfolio of projects across nine government focus areas. In this role, she managed risk mitigation, tracked progress, and ensured successful implementation. She also built strong relationships with local project partners and senior City of Chicago staff while serving as the direct liaison between Bloomberg Associates, the Mayor’s Office, and city agencies. Earlier roles included communications coordinator for Illinois Lieutenant Governor Julianna Stratton, where she led efforts for the Justice Equity Opportunity (J.E.O.) initiative, and a strategist at Rudd Resources, focusing on media campaigns and community outreach. Rashanah’s commitment to community revitalization and access to quality housing is reflected in her service as chair of Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago’s Metro Board. She is also a neighborhood strategy advisor with NHS Chicago, and her ability to establish partnerships and leverage her extensive network has allowed her to make a meaningful impact on Chicago communities.

including Wedge Community Co-op, Linden Hills Co-op, and a wholesale distribution business that delivers fresh organic produce throughout the midwest. Adam was previously an HR manager with the renowned restaurant group Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises in Chicago, and an employee relations representative at Walgreen’s corporate headquarters in Deerfield, Illinois. From 1998 to 2005 he was the fiscal officer and employee relations generalist for Lee County Government in Fort Myers, Florida. Adam majored in HR at the University of Central Florida, and currently holds the SHRM-SCP — the highest level of certification with the Society for Human Resources Management. He and his partner live in Minneapolis.

and television reporting. The school attracts the largest LGBTQ+ population in the nine-district college system and many of the students she instructs are from marginalized communities. Rhonda also advises the student publications at L.A. City College in East Hollywood. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Rhonda reported for the Associated Press, the nationally syndicated newsmagazine American Journal, and for WFLD-TV (FOX) in Chicago. Rhonda has an M.A. degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Cal State Northridge.

California governors as a media consultant. Stephanie came out as transgender in 2019; her main focus today is to support and give comfort to struggling transgender teens, and to combat the neglect and marginalization of transgender people with bold and competent media coverage. Stephanie is a major contributor to the online discussion site Quora; her posts have amassed some 503,000 page views. Stephanie also writes “The Transchick Chronicles” for The Reporters Inc., describing her ongoing transition. She resides in Sacramento.

the upcoming film, What Really Happened to Natalie Beard. Madison graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in journalism. She has a soft spot for both seniors and children, having worked as both a Montessori school teacher and a home health caretaker. Madison grew up in a military family and has lived in Nevada, California, Washington, Hawaii and Wisconsin, where she currently resides.

He went on to serve as the upstart paper’s city editor. After graduation, he became a newspaper beat reporter in Phoenix, working for four different weekly and daily publications. He’s most proud of a series of stories about animal abuse that led to laws that criminalized cockfighting in Arizona. After a 16-year career in real estate, Jim now manages several residential properties. In his spare time, he’s writing two books, one about some of his favorite musical artists and another about life after the Great Recession of the early 2010s. Jim resides in Los Angeles.

He went on to serve as the upstart paper’s city editor. After graduation, he became a newspaper beat reporter in Phoenix, working for four different weekly and daily publications. He’s most proud of a series of stories about animal abuse that led to laws that criminalized cockfighting in Arizona. After a 16-year career in real estate, Jim now manages several residential properties. In his spare time, he’s writing two books, one about some of his favorite musical artists and another about life after the Great Recession of the early 2010s. Jim resides in Los Angeles.

Kathy held senior creative roles at Microsoft for more than a decade, most recently as Director of Storytelling for Microsoft Viva, an employee experience platform powered by next-generation AI. She helped shape the company’s ethical AI design guidelines and contributed to the launch of the Xbox One console.

Before Microsoft, Kathy led the film and video department for advertising agency GLG, producing award-winning short films and ad campaigns for major national brands. Earlier in her career, she worked as a producer with Screaming Flea Productions and Flying Spot Productions in Seattle, creating documentaries and television series for national and international audiences. She began her career as a journalist with WFLD-TV in Chicago—earning multiple Emmy Awards for her work.

Passionate about truth and transparency, Kathy believes unbiased, accurate information is essential to a thriving democracy. She joined The Reporters Inc. to support its mission of fostering informed, engaged communities. She shares her island home with her husband and their dog, Bailey.

in the state-regulated adult family care system that, she believes, prevents parents or guardians with adult disabled children from receiving complete and transparent accountability from homes licensed by the state. As a result, Alice has discovered that some agencies continue to be legally licensed and paid with taxpayer dollars but are providing mediocre, inferior and sometimes even abusive care. She plans a book on the subject, and hopes to instigate changes in existing laws. Alice is also continuing to work to get qualified candidates elected to state office.

She’s an accomplished commercial actress and has served as an on-camera spokesperson for companies such as United Health Group, Bank of America, Best Buy, and Target. Jen’s hair and makeup stylings have been featured in magazines like People, Hallmark, Mpls/St. Paul, Spaces Design, Metro, The Knot, and she’s the recipient of a Judge’s Diamond Award from Mpls/St. Paul Bridal magazine for Outstanding Wedding Hair and Makeup. Jen has a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; she’s married with two grown daughters, and she resides in Burnsville, Minnesota.

reporting requirements, community outreach, volunteer engagement, and fundraising experience. Aaron holds a B.A. in Intercultural Communications from California State University, Sacramento, and has lived and worked in Venezuela, Zimbabwe, and Peru where he founded Under One Sun, a non-governmental organization that empowered Afro-Peruvian communities to access potable water and sanitation systems. In the U.S., he’s worked in grants administration for health and housing projects for farm laborers, and as a trainer of specialized telecommunications equipment for people with impairments to help them stay connected with their families and communities. Aaron is currently the Western Regional Manager for Wish of a Lifetime, a nonprofit with a mission to shift the way society views and values our oldest generations by granting wishes to older adults and sharing their stories to inspire people of all ages.

her two (now grown) daughters, creating an interior design company, writing and editing for a lifestyles magazine, and serving for several years on the Executive Board of the Phoenix-area chapter of National Charity League. She’s presently a member of the philanthropy 100+ Women Who Care, an organization that supports nonprofits, and she serves as a media consultant for political candidates running for office. Stephanie has degrees in political science and communications from California State University, Sacramento.

such as the Pacific Coast Branch of the American Historical Association, the Society of French Historical Studies, and the Western Society for French History. Richard is the author of Planning the Greenspaces of Nineteenth-Century Paris which explores the creation of Parisian public parks and the wide-ranging implications for residents, the city, and park development more broadly. He also co-edited a volume of essays entitled Practiced Citizenship: Women, Gender, and the State in Modern France that examines how gender normativity and the resulting constraints placed on women nevertheless created opportunities for a renegotiation of the social and sexual contract. His current book project considers French greenspace administration, design, and implementation in various urban, social, and political in several contexts outside of France between 1860–1910.

She became involved with The Reporters Inc. upon learning of the organization’s upcoming documentaries about wrongful convictions. A victim of a wrongful conviction herself, Lynn is now devoted to helping others who find themselves in similar predicaments. In 2017, she authored a book about her experience, Injustice is Served. Lynn currently works as a paralegal and resides in Madison, Wisconsin.

She became involved with The Reporters Inc. upon learning of the organization’s upcoming documentaries about wrongful convictions. A victim of a wrongful conviction herself, Lynn is now devoted to helping others who find themselves in similar predicaments. In 2017, she authored a book about her experience, Injustice is Served. Lynn currently works as a paralegal and resides in Madison, Wisconsin.

Best Buy, Nordstrom and the Home Shopping Network. In these roles, Steve not only developed advanced retail software solutions but also led large-scale development teams, guiding complex projects from concept to execution. Before entering the technology sector, Steve began his career in finance. He worked as a trader and market maker before becoming Vice President of Heiner Financial Services, where he gained firsthand knowledge of the fast-paced financial industry and the systems that support it. This dual background in finance and software development has given him a unique perspective on building systems that balance precision, reliability, and innovation. Steve graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Saint Thomas in Minnesota with a degree in Computer Science. He now lives in Cedar Falls, Iowa with his wife, Jenn, and their blended family. Steve is deeply committed to civic engagement and community service; he’s an active member of Black Hawk County Indivisible, advocating for equity, justice, and equality. At The Reporters Inc., Steve worked on the organization’s documentary Railing at the Rally, and he’s excited to continue supporting projects that shine a light on issues of social justice.

media relations and video production services. Nancy helps clients develop content that resonates with key audiences, understand the rules of engagement when working with journalists, navigate a crisis, and control their message/image with strategically produced videos. Nancy was previously a television anchor and reporter for stations in Chicago and California, the Vice President of media relations with the strategic communications firm Culloton Strategies, a facilitator for the executive communications consultancy Exec-Comm, and Deputy Press Secretary to Willie Brown, former Speaker of the California State Assembly. Nancy resides in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood with her husband and two sons.

He specializes in examining the impact of poverty, conflict and climate change on community life. He grew up in Milwaukee and trained as a journalist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the 1980s.

and On the Red Carpet at the Oscars. John also serves as curator of the station’s Instagram account and leads its brand loyalty and rewards campaigns. John previously worked in graphics and production at ABC, NBC and FOX affiliates in Chicago, Indianapolis and his hometown of Sacramento, where he graduated from California State University-Sacramento with a degree in communications. John worked on the campaign against California’s Proposition 8, and participates yearly in AIDS Walk Los Angeles, consistently ranking among the top fundraisers. John lives in West Hollywood with his partner.

Before that, Cela was Manager of Development and Production at ARRAY Filmworks and as an assistant at Creative Artists Agency. Cela began her career at Harpo Studios, working on The Oprah Winfrey Show and as associate producer for the OWN network. Cela serves as the Executive Sponsor for Warner Bros. Discovery’s business resource group, IndigeNext, which unites Indigenous employees and allies to celebrate, learn and promote authentic representation globally. She previously served as the president of Colour Associates, the junior organization of Colour Entertainment that supports executives, coordinators and assistants of color within entertainment. She also founded WOC Hikes, a wellness series for womxn of color looking to connect with each other outside of traditional networking spaces. In 2019, Sutton received the Impact Award from the Los Angeles Urban League Young Professionals group. Cela hails from Los Angeles, where she also currently resides, and she holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from The University of Chicago.

He also assists in clinical trials research. In addition, Walter is a consultant with Chicago’s Morten Group, LLC, conducting training, research, and executive job placement. As a graduate of Chicago’s Second City Improv Conservatory, Walter combines his experience in theatre and social science research to address complex issues with a focus on the LGBTQ+ community. Walter previously served as a news writer/producer for the NBC affiliate in Detroit, and the CBS and FOX affiliates in Chicago. He’s a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago where he received a Master of Public Health degree with a specialization in Community Health Sciences. As an undergraduate, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.