President

Ross Brown’s lengthy career in film and media education includes a tenured faculty position at Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts and 6 years at program director of the MFA in Writing; Contemporary Media at Antioch University, Santa Barbara. His writing and producing credits include Step By Step, The Facts of Life, Who’s the Boss?, and The Cosby Show, with assistant director credits including National Lampoon’s Vacation and Private Benjamin.

Vice President

Rebecca Anderson is a nonprofit executive with a passion for learning and development and advancement.  A versatile, positive, and creative leader, Rebecca is dedicated to making a meaningful impact at MAD as an engaged community member and parent of a MAD student.

Treasurer

Dawn Fitzgerald is a writer/director/executive producer with more than twenty years of experience in nonfiction television, creating content for networks including History, Discovery, BBC, and HGTV. She is currently the executive director of History Channel’s longest-running series, Mountain Men, and the founder and creative director of Marmalade Arts, a film and television company dedicated to telling important stories that inspire and educate.

Secretary

Dana Zurzolo is an artist, designer and educator serving many years as a digital arts and design professor at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA. She oversaw and helped create the Multi- media Design program and brings expertise in building curriculum, design software, and program management.

Board Member

Mark Kenneth Flores, Esq., is an attorney that has been practicing in Santa Barbara County and Ventura County for over 30 years. Besides his litigation practice, he has consulted with numerous entities regarding their litigation and strategies when needed. He has a daughter currently in the MAD Academy and another that has graduated from MAD and is currently entering her senior year in college.

Board Member

Erin Finnegan is the Director of Outdoor Education at Santa Barbara Middle School.  Working at SBMS for over 2 decades she has seen how the MAD Academy has inspired, supported and sparked creative passion inso many of our local youth.  As the parent of a passionate young filmmaker who graduated from the MAD Academy in 2024, Erin is honored to continue to serve on the board.

Board Member

KT Thayer serves as Chief Creative Officer at Evans Hardy and Young, an advertising agency in Santa Barbara California. Over the last two decades KT has collaborated with some of the world’s most well-known brands and developed content across the entire continuum of media platforms. His work has been recognized by some of the industry’s most prestigious entities including the Cannes Lions.

Board Member

Holly Becker is a filmmaker who recently directed the documentaries ARRESTING SCIENCE and GREAT POWER, and produced Bring Your Own Brigade, City of Gold, The Source Family, and Original Child Bomb. Previously, Holly was SVP of production for Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, and VP of production for IFC Entertainment. Holly has been a production consultant for UK- based Film4; a programmer for the Los Angeles and Seattle International Film Festivals; and a creative consultant for the Sundance Institute, Lincoln Center, and Mass MOCA.

Board Member

As a professional bookkeeper, Suzy Hoke brings experience and expertise with Non-Profit financials and operations to the Board, as well as being a big fan of the MAD Academy. She is a parent of a MAD student.

Board Member

In addition to being the proud father of MAD Academy sophomore, Jim Fabio is an award-winning producer-director with a distinctive visual style and a keen sense of story, for which he has garnered numerous accolades, to include Emmy, Cine Golden Eagle, New York Festival, Voice and Telly Awards. His varied body of work includes documentaries for Sesame Street, ESPN, NFL and the Oprah Winfrey Network and live broadcasts of Broadway’s Tony Awards, NBC’s American Ninja Warrior, five Super Bowls and two Olympic Games.

Board Member

Clayton has worked at Merrill Lynch since 1998 and specializes in financial strategy. He earned a bachelor's degree in business finance from Oregon State University and holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst®, CIMA® designation from the Wharton School Executive Education. Clayton and his wife Adrienne moved to Santa Barbara in 2014 from Pasadena, CA. They have two children.

Board Member

Deann Zampelli is a Health Coach and is the Health Columnist for The Montecito Journal. Her background includes feature film development, being Director of International Expansion for The Starlight Children’s Foundation, owning a pet handbag business, and getting her Masters in Clinical Psychology when her children were in preschool. Her past experience in film, passion for photography, and love of all things creative, inspired her to join the board. She brings with her over 25 years of fundraising experience which she hopes will benefit this inspiring program.

Board Member

Marla is the founder of The Ethical Sales Institute and creator of the Ethical Sales Process. With a background in neuroscience, mathematics, and relationship-based sales, she champions a human-centered, consent-driven approach that aligns with the values of service-oriented professionals. Marla has impacted high-profile clients, including Academy Award winners, NBA coaches, and millionaire entrepreneurs.