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Leadership

The SLFW team has worked in the creative industry, TV and feature films for major studios and networks and brings a wealth of experience and mentorship in all aspects of production from writing, business development and distribution. 

Board of Directors
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Shad Schoenke Co-Founder/Creative Director

 

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Mary Kay Sheets Co-Founder/Business Development

 

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David Weaver Officer/Legal


Business attorney and owner of Transitions law firm with over 25 years of experience. He has represented primarily privately held businesses and tech start-ups, helping them find strategic solutions, from start-up through financing and growth through to succession or sale, as well as resolve complex ERISA, tax, and employee benefits matters. David has represented or consulted with over 500 businesses and guided M&A and succession transactions from small business to over $500 million in value. David experience and love of film and impact filmmaking can have on St. Louis attracted him to became part of, and help advice SLFW.

Task Force Advisors
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Jessica Ambuehl Producer/Owner Under the Tree Productions

Jessica Ambuehl is a professional storytelling with decades of experience on both sides of the camera. She has countless projects under her belt involving producing, directing, and casting for film, television, and nonprofit needs. As an actor/model, Jessica has representation in six states across the Midwest with over 100 jobs on her resume. But, one of her favorite story forms and passions is photojournalism which she does pro bono for nonprofits around the world, giving her the honor of visiting countless countries and experiencing diverse cultures. Jessica believes “the difference you make for one can impact the future for many.” She was born and raised in the Midwest and lives with her husband of over twenty years raising their two boys in the St. Louis area.

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Bart Baker Screenwriter

 

playwright and novelist, Bart Baker has been a fixture in the entertainment industry for over 35 years. With 13 movies produced, including the Pierce Brosnan action flick, Live Wire, Supercross,the CBS Television Bride Trilogy (Children Of The Bride, Baby Of The Bride and Mother Of The Bride) and most recently the Hallmark Channel hit, Love And Sunshine. Baker has written on four series, including DIRT, on the FX Network. Presently writing two more network movies, Summer House and Destined for Love, Baker recently set up a television pilot, Faith, with Zero Gravity Entertainment. The author of five novels, his first, Honeymoon With Harry, is in development as a feature film at New Line Cinema. His next novel, The Wedding Gift, will be published later this year. Baker also co-wrote his first graphic novel, The Sacred Band Of Thebes, is also scheduled to be published in 2020 as well.

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Monica Butler Owner Echelon Studios

 

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Michael D. Francis Founder Michael D. Francis Presents (MDFP)

 

St. Louis based TV/content development and packaging company MDFP focuses on finding unique and diverse talent and stories to package for sale to production companies, networks, studios, and streaming platforms. Michael has worked for networks such as A&E, MTV, CBS, NBC, BET, TLC, Lifetime, PBS, ESPN, and Animal Planet. Michael is very active and passionate about creating opportunities to bring more film and television production to the Midwest region using local talent and crew.

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Alison Niermann Actress/Producer/Business Development

Alison Niermann has over twenty years of experience partnering with business owners, and C-suite leaders, translating business vision into scalable strategies. Alison launched the area's first digital parenting publication directing all staff, editorial, sales, and media partnerships. She grew up acting and had multiple albums recorded by her teen years. As an adult, she has worked with productions including Gone Girl and NBC's America's Got Talent. Blending her success in business operations and passion for storytelling, Alison believes in its impact on people's lives, economy, and communities. 

 

Alison holds a bachelor's with continued education from Cambridge University.  She and her husband spend time volunteering, coaching, and working with her three children to create fundraising events benefiting other kids.

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Dan Parris Filmmaker

 

Dan Parris is an award-winning filmmaker, speaker and entrepreneur. He’s the founder of Speak Up Productions and the director of the feature length documentaries When the Saints, Show Me Democracy and the award-winning film What Matters? His "day job" is directing videos for nonprofits with his company Speak Up Studios. Dan was awarded Biola University's 2012 Distinguished Young Alumni of the Year Award for his work in film and activism and is a regular speaker at universities and community venues across the country including a closing speaker at TEDx in St. Louis. Most recently, Dan co-founded the non-profit, Continuity, whose mission is to expand diversity in media production as well as the In Motion Conference, the midwest's premiere filmmaking conference. Dan lives in South St. Louis with his wife and 4 kids. 

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Michael Francis Founder Michael D. Francis Presents (MDFP)

 

St. Louis based TV/content development and packaging company MDFP focuses on finding unique and diverse talent and stories to package for sale to production companies, networks, studios, and streaming platforms. Michael has worked for networks such as A&E, MTV, CBS, NBC, BET, TLC, Lifetime, PBS, ESPN, and Animal Planet. Michael is very active and passionate about creating opportunities to bring more film and television production to the Midwest region using local talent and crew.

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