Women in Film/Chicago has elected a new president, who is a partner in a new post house, and five new board members to guide the organization over the next two years.
The new president is Carrie Hunter, a partner and director of client relations at Conspiracy, a production, editorial and design company recently formed and headed by post veteran John McGrath and seven partners, with offices in the West Loop.
Hunter, who replaces former WIF president Megan Maples, Dictionary Films’ EP, joined Conspiracy from 10 years at Cutters Studios, where she held the dual titles of director of client services and intern manager. She is also a SAG-AFTRA actress with a strong background in theatre and improv.
Joy Holbrook, WIF VP and Conspiracy managing partner/EP, who had worked with Hunter for at Cutters, calls her “simply one of those people who gets things done. She is a tour de force and an amazing woman who sets a high standard for herself and helps those around her achieve their goals.”
McGrath, whose Conspiracy partners include four women (Hunter, Holbrook, director/editor Ky Dickens and sales director Amy McIntyre) says their company will offer whatever assistance it can to Hunter, “in her efforts to champion the women of this industry, which has been a ‘boys’ club’ for as long as the film business has been in existence.
“Female directors such as Ky Dickens, and editors such as Deb Schimmel, Katherine Pryor and Kathryn Hempel, have broken the celluloid ceiling in many ways — but there is a long, long way to go before there is equality in this business.”
New on WIF’s 11 person board are: Hunter;
Creative Director Robin Hellmann, director of The Cast Station;
Treasurer, Stephanie Rabiola, producer;
Event Chair, Lejla Ceric, career services advisor, the Illinois Institute of Art;
PR/Marketing Chair, Nicki Bartnicki, national project manager at IHeartMedia.
Communications Chair, Kelsey Day, grad student at Loyola School of Communications.
They join board members Secretary Nancy Keres, scheduler, Bib Shoulders Digital Video Productions;
Membership Co-chairs, Brittany Wagner, producer, Big Teeth Productions and Adina Kwasigrooch, editor;
Student Relations Chair, Carissa Kacmerek, Columbia College student.
