Joan BetrosExecutive Producer and Creatorthenashvilleconnection.comWith over 35 years of experience in the fields of media and entertainment, Joan’s resume includes every aspect of production. Her expertise covers a wide range of mediums, including television, radio, network news, live production, documentaries, family television programming and motion picture; however Joan’s main area of expertise is producing and directing family television programming. She is the founder and chairman of FUTURE (Families United Toward Universal Respect). One aspect of FUTURE’s program was to facilitate “Hugs for Healing” flights to Iraq for Gold Star Moms and Wives, with the inaugural flight set for late September 2010. In 2003-2004, Joan was the Director of Women and Children Family Television programming for the Iraq Media Network. She also created, wrote, and produced a family oriented television talk show in Saudi Arabia that emphasized education and building the family unit. Formerly, Joan was a producer for CNN-CNN International. She has also been a producer and correspondent for NBC and ABC television. She has directed and hosted two, thirty-minute live shows that aired daily for a period of three years for a CBS affiliate. During which time, she also covered the Masters Golf Tournament for CBS, was the executive Director of Fairfax Community Television Channel 10, Channel 30 International, WEBR Radio, Channel 37.Joan is President and Owner of JB Productions, and the creator and Executive Producer of “Light Journey” a full-length motion picture that is currently under development. Joan has received many awards during her career. Among them include the prestigious “Georgia Pioneer Award” for outstanding Female Radio Morning Personality;” “Outstanding Young Women Of America” from the state of Maryland; Cable News Network Media Salute for “Personality of The Year;” Cable News Media Salute for the “Number One Talk Show Host;” and also National cable “Telly Awards” for outstanding Executive Producer and Host. She lives in Greenville, SC with her husband. She has 3 children, 10 grandchildren, and 2 poodles.
Chrysta JohnsonEvent CoordinatorWith over six years of event planning and coordinating experience, Chrysta is passionate to be serving as Nashville Connection’s Event Coordinator again for 2012. Chrysta serves full-time at North Greenville University as the Assistant Director of the Christian Worldview Center and Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of Student Services. She graduated from North Greenville Suma cum Laude and as an honors graduate in 2009 and in December 2011 with a Masters in Business Administration. With multi-faceted interests and gifts, Chrysta enjoys being able to use her God-given abilities in various avenues to serve Him and others as a “bricoleur.” In her spare time, she enjoys singing, shopping, spending time with friends, and traveling. Chrysta lives in Greenville, SC and has a Pomeranian-Papillion named Captain.
Laura PassalacquaEvent AssistantLaura has been involved with The Nashville Connection since its first year, assisting Event Coordinator Chrysta Johnson. After graduating from college in 2009, she moved from Upstate New York to Greenville, SC where she currently resides. In addition to her work with The Nashville Connection, Laura works at A Child’s Haven, a therapeutic child care center. In her free time, she likes to cook, travel and spend time with friends and her cat Felicity.
Ariel SeppalaExecutive Assistant to Joan BetrosAriel Seppala graduated from North Greenville University with a degree in Mass Communications and Economics. She is currently the Executive Assistant to Joan Betros and FUTURE along with J.B. Productions. Ariel has worked with Premier Productions assisting with event coordinating and planning for over 3 years. She also has worked in public relations and marketing throughout college both with the WNGR radio station and with the North Greenville University Student Marketing Association. Ariel resides in Greenville, South Carolina.
Tim PecoraroP.R. & Marketing Directorpeculiar.coPECULIAR is a marketing, interactive and design company. Our purpose is helping clients realize and achieve their goals in the marketplace with passion and excellence. Excellence inspires people; that’s why we talk about it here all the time. As a team of creative people, we get excited each day to deliver work to our clients that makes a difference in their world. And we don’t “think outside the box” around here, because we don’t even acknowledge “the box” or any other limits on our creativity. We enjoy meeting new people, building relationships, and making the connections to get the job done right.
Craig EdwardsTechnical DirectorCraig majored in theatre/communication at Anderson University, where he began as student technical director and moved on to resident technical director of the Fine Arts Center. In 1994, he joined the United States Marine Corps. His experience includes time in Iraq, peacekeeping missions in Kosovo, and assisting with the overthrow of the leader in Liberia. In 2004, Craig and his wife Tammy moved to Marine Corps Base in Quantico, VA where he oversaw sound equipment for all major events for the Marines in the Northern VA and the DC area, including ceremonies for Secretary of Navy and Marine Corps Marathon. After 12 years of service in the Marine Corps, Craig, Tammy, and their son Caden returned to South Carolina. Craig looks forward to working with Nashville Connection for their second year, as it holds a very special place in his heart.
Daniel HowellProduction ManagerYou could say Daniel was raised in the Audiovisual industry. In the late 90s as a student, he was asked to do lighting for church productions and was introduced to the world of AV. In college, he was asked to lead production for the youth events in his local community and has since then acquired extensive experience in live audio and radio production. As an operations manager for LPFM station and a reporter for an award winning campus television news station, he acquired extensive experience in video production and graphics creation while simultaneously managing AV events on the side. Since college he has worked with events ranging from several hundred to several thousand including the Nashville Connection Heroes Salute. His motto is “excellence is a habit” and he seeks to bring that excellence to every event he works on.
Andrew StevensProductionAndrew Stevens has taught public speaking and communication courses on the corporate and university level for over 12 years. Andrew has an MA in Speech Communication from Marquette University and PhD course work in organizational communication and interpersonal communication from University of Missouri in Columbia. As a Training Facilitator in the Houston/Galveston area, Andrew designed and implemented a curriculum to meet the needs of the Houston Branch of AVW Audio Visual. Andrew was General Manager for WCQT-LP in Cullman, AL where his station was recognized as Low-Power Station of the Year by the National Religious Broadcasters in 2003. Currently Andrew lives in Greenville, SC and is a Media Instructor at North Greenville University. He has spoken for area civic organizations and specializes in communication and persuasion. Andrew also has a passion for music and has performed with various companies, including The Nashville Pipes and Drums, the City of Greenville Pipes and Drums, and as the Queen’s Piper for Dickens on the Strand in Galveston, TX. He also sings and performs with the guitar and lap dulcimer.
Henry WilliamsonProductionHank “Henry” Williamson is a graduate of Watkins Film School and has since served as producer, director, actor, editor, and screenwriter. Making a home in Nashville, TN has allowed Henry the experience of working on short films and commercials. Henry has forged a great relationship with Graham Entertainment, as well as Treadwell Productions. Hank has a feature film in preproduction and another one in the making so there is a good chance his work will be popping up soon. He also serves as a stagehand for many shows throughout Music City and is grateful for the opportunity to help out with the Nashville Connection.
Angel JenningsProduction CoordinatorOriginally from Clarksville, TN, Angel moved to Greenville, SC at a young age and was bitten by the modeling bug. She then studied arts and fashion at the American College of Applied Arts. Angel’s love of music brought her back to Tennessee, where she worked for Graham Entertainment as actress, model, and talent scout. She currently manages musical acts in the Nashville area and has also stepped into the Public Relations field. Angel heard about the Nashville Connection last year and wanted to get involved with a great cause. This year, she has been in it since the beginning and is ready to bring Nashville to Greenville.
Lindsey SipeProduction AssistantLindsey’s passion for creativity and the arts earned her a BA in Theatre from Winthrop University. Following college, she performed and stage managed at Carowinds and also worked with a children’s educational theatre company, both in Charlotte, NC. Lindsey’s first two loves of singing and writing have prompted her to write over 300 lyrics to date. At the suggestion of a friend, she attended the Nashville Connection last year and it prompted her to seriously consider a career in the music business. This year, she is ecstatic to be working all levels, making contacts, and learning from the best! She also currently works as a Promotions Rep for Entercom Communications, which houses 5 Greenville-based radio stations. Lindsey is hoping to pursue a career in media (radio/TV host), concert/tour production, or artist management.
Brent AlexanderWebmasterbfa.meBrent Alexander graduated from North Greenville University in May 2011, where he studied Print Media and Visual Communication. Upon graduation, he accepted the full-time position of Lead Graphic Designer at Red Hype Ad Agency. A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Brent is an experienced graphic and web designer. He has a passion not only for making websites look beautiful but also making them work properly. When not designing stunning graphics or coding his life away, you could find Brent browsing a riveting blog, listening to a euphonious folk tune, or watching UNC Tarheel basketball.
Dawn WoodPhotographerDawn was involved with the Nashville Connection last year, and is excited and ready to assist this year with photography. Dawn thoroughly enjoys photography, and is well rounded with her love and knowledge of cars! Dawn has a passion for photography and loves enjoying her life with her husband Shannon in Greenville, South Carolina. Dawn has been the CEO of Gentry Wood & Associates since January of 2010. She also enjoys cheering on her favorite teams, the New York Yankees and the Dallas Cowboys!
Jeremy WashingtonPromotion AssistantGrowing up Jeremy was heavily involved with various art projects, at the fine arts center. He really learned to appreciate how the area in which people live can support your ability to generate creation. This is the reason he believes in what we are doing by expanding and producing the Nashville Connection right in the heart of Greenville, South Carolina. Jeremy is so excited to be involved in the Nashville Connection this year again because we are providing the opportunity for aspiring musicians, singers, songwriters and bands, to grow in their artistic ability. Because of his love for the arts, Jeremy appreciates this opportunity and is geared up to promote this fantastic event!
Melvin CunninghamMarketing AssistantMelvin grew up in Pendleton SC and left high school for Paris Island in 1989. After boot camp, he was stationed at Camp Lejune, NC for years during which he served his first Iraqi tour in 1991. He left the Marines in 1993 to pursue a career in Law Enforcement. Melvin completed a second Iraqi tour in 2005 after which he attend Southern Wesleyan University where he obtained a degree in Business Administration. Now pursuing a second degree at Southern Wesleyan as a Music Major, Melvin is driven with the passion to achieve greater things. He has been with the Nashville Connection as a Promotion’s Assistant since last year and has a passion for the cause.