Our Team
Our team is comprised of a rich blend of full- and part-time staff, supplemented by specialized contractors. Reach any of our staff members by emailing info@openmediafoundation.org or use our Contact Form.
Tony Shawcross
Executive Director
Tony developed and launched the visionary model for community media that has evolved into the Open Media Foundation. Before founding Deproduction and Denver Open Media, Tony worked with Little Voice Productions, the Colorado State House of Representatives, the Pan African Arts Society and FreeSpeech TV, among others. Tony has presented over 100 media education courses with the Colorado Independent Media Center, Denver Community Television, the Alliance for Community Media and various local schools and universities. Tony graduated magna cum laude with a degree in marketing and business administration from the University of Colorado.
Fun Fact: If Tony were stuck on a deserted island, and had the choice to bring three items, he would choose: a laptop, solar-powered case, and a helicopter.
Ann Theis
Station Director
Ann has been working with the Open Media Foundation's online user-driven tools since they were first created for Denver Open Media. She has been involved with organizing and presenting at numerous conferences on the subject of community media, technology and the Open Media Project. She started her community media career at Manhattan Neighborhood Network as a Production Assistant and became the Director of Production and Education, managing a staff of twelve and a million-dollar budget. Youth Media has been a passion of hers and she has mentored many youth both at MNN and at DOM over the last ten years. Teaching youth both production skills and confidence have lead them to win numerous regional and national ACM media awards. She graduated from Antioch College, with a degree in communications and cultural anthropology.
Ann has also served as the Vice Chair of the ACM Western Region Board and appointed to the ACM National Board as the Western Representative since 2009.
Sharee Hiatt
Art Director
Sharee manages all design needs for the Open Media Foundation as the Creative Lead for the Web & IT department. Since 2006, she has designed and project managed over 65 websites for non-profits and small businesses clients. Sharee has experience from working at design firms serving local, national and international clients designing logos, print, environmental, and web materials. She graduating summa cum laude from Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design with a degree in Graphic Design and Multimedia.
Fun Fact: If Sharee had the power to give any animal the ability to talk to people she would choose an elephant because they are smart and have good memories and would use many beautiful words in the English language.
Brian Hiatt
Technology Director
Brian manages the Web & IT department and focuses on refining the organization's systems and developing collaboration between the Open Media Foundation and other like-minded organizations. Brian’s varied background reflects an ongoing effort to situate himself at the intersection of technology, mass media and localized community development. In 2006, Brian co-founded Civic Pixel, a web development firm dedicated to working with nonprofits and small businesses dedicated to positive change. In 2008, Civic Pixel merged with the Open Media Foundation, becoming the web development arm of the nonprofit organization. Brian is also on the board of directors for the Colorado Progressive Coalition.
Jeff Villano
Business & Finance Director
Jeff works with Open Media Foundation to provide daily finance operations and administrative support to both staff and members. His business background ranges from traditional corporate accounting & finance, to explosive-growth startups. He has helped develop and implement business plans up to $14M. Jeff has experience with business operations encompassing a broad range of industries, including legal, medical, automotive, and non-profits. Jeff graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in Finance.
Fun Fact: Jeff has hung out with Boy George and Dennis Rodman.
Leo Kacenjar
Web Developer
Leo is a web developer who was introduced to the Open Media Foundation through running DU's Digital Media Outreach Center. He spent a year learning all about Drupal and OMF, then was excited to stay on. He is currently finishing his Masters in Digital Media Studies at DU. Leo's interests lie in bridging digital media, art, and environment. His current project is the Digital Garden on Leetsdale.
Erin Yepis
Project Manager
Erin works with the Web & IT department managing web development projects and communicating with website clients. She has experience in marketing and communications from working with the Marketing Department of Gainesville Regional Utilities coordinating several energy efficiency programs including the Low-Income Energy Efficiency Program (LEEP), a 100K CFL push and the nation's first Solar Feed-in-Tarriff for Solar PV customers. She grew up in Gainesville, FL where she completed her Bachelors degree in English at the University of Florida.
Fun Fact: Erin's favorite children's book is "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster.
Lynne Sprague
Participatory Media Coordinator
Lynne Sprague, a long-time community organizer, fell in love with media work when she realized that a part of strengthening communities is the ability to tell stories of resistance and liberation. As the Participatory Media Coordinator, Lynne coordinates the educational efforts of the Open Media Foundation. Lynne also produces the Colorado State House Representative meetings each weekday morning when the legislative body is in session.
Fun fact: Lynne managed to make it out south Texas without a southern accident, but occasionally uses one on TV.
Rad Anzulovic
Drupal Themer/Developer
Rad Anzulovic designed and hand coded his first website in 1997 and hasn't stopped learning since. Theming in Drupal makes him almost as happy as riding his bike, but gets frustrated when his non-tech friends don't even understand what Drupal theming is. In addition to his strong skills in Drupal and standards based front end development, he has an extensive background in image editing spanning over two decades. He occasionally gets off his mountain bike to teach Photoshop, Illustrator, and broadcast video design with the Final Cut Studio.
John Montgomery
Director of the Senate, Colorado Channel and Station Associate, Denver Open Media
John joined our team nearly three years ago as an AmeriCorps VISTA, serving as a full-time project manager for our Open Media Project, an open-source beta-test program we were conducting with support from the Knight Foundation. John currently works with a large community of producers at DOM to ensure they have access to equipment/facilities and also troubleshoots issues that arise in their productions.
In addition, John volunteers outside of his work hours for Denver Open Media and other local nonprofits. He is a mentor for a local at-risk youth, and also produces or directs a number of live cable TV shows each week outside of his work hours, including "the Key of D", which he directs independently. On top of this, John manages a full course load at University of Colorado at Denver.
Fun Fact: If John could pick a soundtrack for his life, it would be Christopher R'riley playing Radiohead in True Love Waits plus the latest Kylie Minogue track for the dance breaks.
Chris Haugen
Nonprofit Productions Director
Chris manages video production projects for our nonprofit and public sector clients as well as teaches classes through OMF's education department. His past years of work in commercial photography and videography reinforced his belief that images can tell compelling stories. It also left him wanting to do something that had a chance of making a positive impact in the community he lives in. His time as an AmeriCorps NCCC volunteer and days working with Habitat for Humanity encouraged him to pursue work with the nonprofit sector. One of the changes he wishes to see in the world is the power of the media being put in the hands of the people - and conveniently that happens everyday at Open Media Foundation.
He received his B.A. in Literary Studies from the University of Denver, took coursework at the Art Institute of Colorado, and enjoys enrollment in the school of everyday learning.
Fun fact: Chris loves technology, but not as much as you, you see...but he STILL loves technology...always and forever.
Joe Meersman
Web Developer
Joe Meersman is a web developer who started working at the Open Media Foundation as an intern. He began learning computer programming to create interactive stories and games, but found a passion for web development and community work at OMF.
He is currently attending the University of Denver pursuing a degree in Computer Science. Outside of computer science, he enjoys making music, urban gardening, and camping and skiing in the mountains.
Daniel Ramos
Community Technology Administrator
Daniel joined the Open Media Foundation's IT department in January 2012. His combined passion for technology and technical background on information systems will serve to expand OMF's IT infrastructure. Daniel grew up in Brazil and before he started his IT career he was a certified language teacher. He speaks fluent Spanish and Portuguese.
OMF is a community-driven organization, and as the Community Technology Administrator, Daniel helps troubleshoot both system and user-errors and assisting technology use for community producers.
An avid sports fan,he enjoys playing basketball and soccer regularly.
