WHO WE ARE

Kevin Meehan, treasurer
Kevin Meehan, an attorney with a lengthy career helping organizations in all areas of human capital strategy and program implementation. Kevin served as an Executive Officer and a Member of the Board of Directors of Watson Wyatt (now Towers Watson) where he was the Region Manager for North America operations. Kevin has also served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Management Consulting Firms. Kevin has a history of supporting innovative organizations in the film industry.

Greg Epler Wood, secretary
Greg recently retired after forty years in motion media. Following a post-college four-year stint in the air force, he began his filmmaking career apprenticing in Washington, DC. He left to pursue his MA from Iowa State University, then returned to teach at American University. After moving to Vermont, he helped start Catamount Access TV, where he was executive director for seven years. Following their relocation to Burlington, he spent the next twenty years as a consultant for the Vermont Access Network.

Chris Acosta
Christian Acosta has a great passion for film, photography, and theater. Currently, he is an adjunct professor for Champlain College and also manages the Media Rental House at the college. A filmmaker himself, Chris has made a number of award winning short films both in the USA and abroad in Ireland and Saudi Arabia. In his free time, you can find him behind a 35mm film camera, writing, or pursuing an opportunity in community theater in and around the Burlington area.

Larry Crist
Larry has resided in Vermont since 1986, first living in Jericho, then Underhill and now downtown Burlington for the past 7 years.  He originates from south Louisiana where he lived until 1974, when he moved to Boston.  With a professional history including work in prisons, hospitals, government and the non-profit sector, in addition to consulting in the for-profit arena, Larry brings a wide range of experiences and education to the Board.

Ian Doerner
Ian owns and operates a business (Burlington Records) in downtown Burlington, focused on providing the music community with a steady supply of vinyl records. He purchased Burlington Records in 2014 while in his last semester at UVM. Having lived in Burlington since graduating high school in 2006, Ian has developed a deep love for Vermont and established connections within the arts and retail communities. After moving into an apartment building directly next to a video rental store in 2007, he made a habit of watching one film per evening. That habit has mostly stuck with Ian, and film has become a vital passion in his life.

Lechelle-Antonia Gray
Raised in a family of artists, it was only natural for Lechelle-Antonia to find the magic of film at an early age. Lechelle-Antonia currently works for Hunger Free Vermont and is a Consultant with The Creative Discourse. She serves on the Board of Directors for Outright Vermont, is on the Farm to Plate Network’s Steering Committee, and she has served on the Pride Center’s Board of Directors as Board Co-Chair. Lechelle-Antonia attended Kennesaw State University studying Theatre and Performance Studies. In her free time she engages in community building, traveling, and spending time outdoors.

Monika Jaeckle
Before moving to Vermont in 2012 Monika worked in education and leadership in the visual arts as a teacher, administrator and gallery director. In her various roles she placed great importance on community engagement and collaboration. She has a deep appreciation for independent film and for all the arts as a way to broaden our minds, ignite inspiration and bring us into the present moment. She is the founder and lead practitioner of a wellness business serving the local and broader community through Ayurveda and Yoga.

Deborah Schapiro
Deborah is a culinary enthusiast and entrepreneur whose career has included roles in publishing, communications, education and philanthropy. As the founding and former editor and publisher of Edible Green Mountains, Deborah had the pleasure and privilege of working with talented members of Vermont’s food and artisan community, and sharing their stories. Her company, Full Circle Communications, provides consulting, coaching and leadership guidance to individuals and organizations eager to achieve their full potential.

Parker Silver
Parker Silver, has been an active part of the Burlington arts scene over eight years. They bring a dynamic perspective and an unwavering commitment to fostering global cultural connections through cinematic, visual, and performing arts. Beyond the cinematic realm, Parker actively engages in local politics, striving to make a positive impact on their community. Parker also dedicates time to volunteering at and organizing community art events. With a passion for both the fantastical and the tangible, Parker Silver continues to shape and elevate the arts on local and international stages alike.

Steve MacQueen, executive director
VTIFF Executive Director since June 2023. Steve was Executive Artistic Director of Circus Smirkus, out of Greensboro, VT. Before this, he served for a decade as the Artistic Director of both the Flynn Center and the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival in Burlington VT. He has also been a programmer/director at Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL and the Porter Center in Brevard, NC, as well as the jazz curator for Spivey Hall in Atlanta, GA. Prior to his performing-arts career, Steve was a cops reporter, film/drama critic and rhythm guitarist. He graduated from Florida State University as an English major and Film Studies minor. His indie short film “Slap” (1996) has been seen by more than a dozen people in three states.

Gail Clook, associate director
Gail has been the associate director at VTIFF since 2020 and has been involved with VTIFF in various seasonal/part-time roles since 2009. Her previous experience includes being a box office supervisor at a performing arts center, and a general manager at a multiplex cinema. As sssociate director, her primary focus has been on operations, membership, ticketing, and development. 

Kim Janson
Kim has been the VTIFF Volunteer Coordinator since 2018. She is responsible for recruiting and training volunteers , and organizing work schedules throughout the year. Kim began volunteering at the Vermont International Film Festival in 2006 and has been a part of every Festival since.

Olivia “Muffie” Milens
For several years, until 2019, Olivia worked for First Night Burlington, first as manager then as Executive Director. She then began working at the Flynn Center in the box office. Olivia assists VTIFF staff part time, focusing primarly on the online ticketing system and online viewing platform and also serves as box office supervisor during the annual Vermont International Film Festival.

Oliver O’Sullivan
Oliver started as marketing manager for VTIFF in 2024, but he has helped VTIFF year-round since moving to Vermont in 2015, first as a volunteer then as a box office supervisor then as a marketing consultant. Before joining VTIFF full-time, Oliver worked at the Flynn in Downtown Burlington as marketing content manager for nearly five years. He has an MFA in Film and TV Studies from Boston University and writes about movies, especially horror movies, in his free time.

Olivia “Muffie” Milens
For several years, until 2019, Olivia worked for First Night Burlington, first as manager then as Executive Director. She then began working at the Flynn Center in the box office. Olivia assists VTIFF staff part time, focusing primarly on the online ticketing system and online viewing platform and also serves as box office supervisor during the annual Vermont International Film Festival.

Cary Benjamin Portway
Ben balances volunteering with his staff work as an on-site coordinator at the Screening Room and VTIFF festivals. A NYLONer at heart, Ben loves British telly, cinema, and, yes, Marmite.

Joe Wehry
Joe started as a volunteer and currently works as website support, event photographer, and on-site coordinator. A fan of Hitchcock and German expressionist cinema, Joe is thrilled that VTIFF has further expanded his awareness of global films.

Anne Linton
Anne is a freelance graphic designer. She creates all VTIFF graphics and the festival program guides.

Orly Yadin
Yadin is the Program Director for VTIFF festivals. She served as the Executive Director of VTIFF from Jan 2012 until June 2023. She stepped down from this role in June 2023 to focus on specific festivals and to pursue her work as a filmmaker. Yadin is a filmmaker and producer of both documentaries and animation films and series. Prior to making films, she was a film researcher on historical programs and was also founder and Managing Director of Footage Farm – an archival footage collection.  Orly has taught documentary film history and theory in Universities in England and at Burlington College.  In 1995 she co-founded and ran Halo Productions specializing in animation films. Many of Halo’s short films won international awards at festivals, and one, Silence, was short-listed for the Academy Awards. 

Theresa Hyland
Theresa is VTIFF’s volunteer CFO. She has many years of experience of volunteering her financial services at Shelburne Farms and at All Souls Gathering Place. From 2017 – 2020 Theresa also served on the Board of Wake Robin.