meet the team

COMMUNICATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS ADVISOR / SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY LEARNING

Leslie Daniels is a writer, director, and producer for Obsidian Creative Studio. She also serves as the Communications and External Affairs Advisor for the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning. Leslie's previous roles include Communications Lead and Legislative Aide to former Seattle City Councilmember Mike O'Brien, and Seattle Youth Commission Coordinator for the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, where she facilitated opportunities for commissioners to engage the youth community and advise on hiring Seattle's Chief of Police, the Family Education, Early Learning Levy, and the Seattle Public Schools Skills Center. She helped launch the UW Communication Leaders for Equity, Access, and Representation student group. She co-led the strategy and implementation of student and faculty engagement for the graduate program. She earned a MA in Communications Leadership from the University of Washington. Leslie has committed to arts, civic and social justice advocacy.

OBSIDIAN CREATIVE STUDIOS - TACOMA

Winfield Ezell, Jr. serves as the Chair for the Wheelhouse Foundation. He's the founder and CEO of Obsidian Creative Studios, has over 20 years of experience in film and TV Production. As a filmmaker, Winfield has produced, directed, and written projects featured at the Langston Hughes African American Film Festival in Seattle, Urbanworld Film Festival in New York, and the American Black Film Festival in Los Angeles, as well as TV networks BET and Centric. Moving back to the South, the I-20 corridor became his route, traveling between Tuscaloosa, Ala. and Atlanta, Ga. This was his introduction and immersion into the digital arena. As Executive Producer and the production power behind the Urban News Network, Winfield and his team garnered over 20 million views with urban content and creative projects for some of the hottest veteran and up-and-coming artists. As a musician, Winfield has been the singer and frontman of Seattle soul/funk bands Altered States of Funk, The Soul Pistols, and Groovology, performing at Bumbershoot and Hempfest.

FOUNDER, MIGHTY TIETON

Ed Marquand began his design and publishing business in Seattle in 1978. At Lucia|Marquand, he and his staff have produced thoughtful, beautifully designed high-end art books on art and art history for over 300 museums. In 2006 he founded Mighty Tieton, an incubator for artisan businesses in Central Washington. Some of the businesses in Tieton include: Marquand Editions, Paper Hammer, Tieton Mosaic, Nomad Mercantile, Boxx Gallery, Tieton Farm & Creamery, and El Nido Cabins. He also owns Paper Hammer, a small gift shop in downtown Seattle that features merchandise produced in Tieton. It has recently become a showroom for Tieton Mosaic.

GLOBAL CREDIT UNION - SPOKANE

Mary Starkey is the Executive Vice President and COO of Global Credit Union in Spokane. She holds an undergraduate degree in theatre and has worked as an actress, director, and voice talent at the same time as building her 42-year credit union career. She served on the board of Spokane Civic Theatre and Terrain and currently serves as Chair of the Spokane Public Library Board of Trustees and the Endowment Board of Spokane Civic Theatre, and as an Honorary Commander at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington.

FORWARD PRINCIPLE CONSULTING - SPOKANE

Ben Stuckart was born and raised in Spokane and went to Gonzaga University. Following college, Ben worked for the Oakland Raiders, the Sydney Olympics and spent time running a non-profit. After spending 8 years as the City Council President in Spokane he now is the executive director of the Spokane Low Income Housing Consortium and owns Forward Principle Consulting.

OLYMPIA ARTSPACE ALLIANCE - OLYMPIA

Kris Tucker serves as the Treasurer of the Whipsmart Foundation. She served as Executive Director of the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) 1999-2014. She is a leader in the state and national arts community and a tenacious advocate for the arts. At ArtsWA, Kris led a staff of 12 to provide programs and services including Art in Public places, Arts in Education, grants to organizations, and community partnerships. Kris was previously Executive Director of the Boise City Arts Commission; Arts & Entertainment Editor of the Boise Weekly; and a freelance writer. She served for 14 years as a Trustee of the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF). Kris earned her MA in Whole Systems Design from Antioch University Seattle, and her BA from Oregon State University. She chairs the Board of the Olympia Artspace Alliance, and is an arts consultant for Fort Worden Public Development Authority in Port Townsend WA.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

I started my career as an independent film publicist out of New York and Los Angeles designing the release campaigns for groundbreaking films such at “The Blair Witch Project,” “American Psycho” and “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.” I retired from publicity in 2000 and took a trip around the world! Two years and 42 countries later, I settled in Seattle where I've worked in various capacities including: director of publicity and promotion at SIFF, festival director of the Reel Cinerama Film Festival, and producer of the Fly Filmmaking Challenge. I am also the Executive Director of Washington Filmworks.

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & OPERATIONS

I’m the weirdo who loves both art and math. I grew up in an artist studio drawing, tap dancing, and playing the organ. I studied painting in Paris, writing in Italy, and got my BFA in Film, Television and Radio Production at Tisch School of the Arts. I love art history and a good excel formula. I started my career working in the art department of television shows and transitioned into production accounting. I’ve run my own production company and hosted podcasts before joining Washington Filmworks to work on behalf of the statewide film industry. At Wheelhouse, I endeavor to expand that work to provide resources and opportunities for Washington’s creative community.

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

Rachelle Nesta has been fundraising for more than 18 years and is an active member in the community having served on numerous nonprofit Boards and Development Committees. Growing up, she started playing the violin at age 8 and continued through college. You will often find Rachelle crocheting, making greeting cards, cross stitching, or trying her hand at another craft a friend is into and she wants to try. Rachelle is a life-long learner, deeply passionate about women’s and children’s issues, and loves to talk about her home state of Wyoming.

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

I am a creative communicator from Tri-Cities, Washington. I attended Washington State University and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Production with a minor in Music Technology and a certificate in Graphic Design. While at WSU, I worked on multiple video production crews and was a sound designer for the Cable 8 student film “Mimesis.” I am passionate about the arts and proud to help support Washington’s creative community. In my free time, I love attending concerts, working on creative projects, and hiking around the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

I graduated from Washington State University with a degree in Broadcast Production and a Film Studies minor. After graduating with honors, I began working at a forensic video lab as a forensic video technician. I moved to Seattle in 2015 and joined the public sector, providing administrative support to various departments at the City of Seattle. I have a passion for serving the community I live in and, as a lifelong Washington resident, I am honored to be part of showcasing the creative industries in my home state.

SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

I am a proud Washingtonian with a deep appreciation for all things Pacific Northwest. I have a degree in Creative Writing from Western Washington University and a certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Washington. Prior to joining the team, I spent the last decade and a half managing all marketing and communications for a vibrant youth arts organization in Seattle. My background in the arts and culture sector has helped me prioritize equity in storytelling, cultivate authentic relationships within the community, and inspire action through impactful narratives. I am forever carrying around a camera (read: hiding behind one!) and I love finding creativity in the most unsuspecting pockets of life.

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

Jasmine is deeply grateful for the state she’s called home for the past decade. As a University of Washington graduate with a degree in Interaction Design, she incorporates storytelling into every aspect of her work. Jasmine holds a lifelong passion for creative mediums and values the opportunity to contribute to Washington’s vibrant creative industries. In her free time, she enjoys listening to podcasts and is on a continuous mission to learn something new every day.