The DGA’s Women’s Steering Committee (WSC) has announced the 2022 class of its WSC Squad Mentorship Program. The program began in September and pairs 12 mid-career directors with well-established director mentors.
This year’s mentors and mentees are:
- Jennifer Arnold mentoring Pat Santana
- Neema Barnette mentoring Shari Lynette Carpenter
- Stacey K. Black mentoring Drew Ann Rosenberg
- Kelly Freeman Craig mentoring Ashley Eakin
- Hanelle Culpepper mentoring Jean E. Lee
- Roxann Dawson mentoring Tamika Miller
- Tamra Davis mentoring Jeannette Godoy
- Karen Gaviola mentoring Bertha Bay-Sa Pan
- Rachel Lee Goldenberg mentoring Sara Zandieh
- Maggie Kiley mentoring Anne Renton
- Gail Mancuso mentoring Juanesta “Winnie” Holmes
- Reed Morano mentoring Alfa Serena Nathaniel
“The DGA’s Women’s Steering Committee is so proud of the amazing group of mentors and mentees announced for the 2022 class, said Tara Miele, WSC co-chair and one of the founders of the program. “The WSC Squad believes peer-to-peer support is crucial, thus this program provides frank discussion around the unique issues that female directors face while giving guidance and support.”
The nine-month WSC Squad Mentorship Program is unique in that every effort is made to pair mentees with the mentor of their choice. The objective is to cultivate a community of directors with the tools and knowledge that will lead all members towards success together.
The DGA Women’s Steering Committee was created in 1979 to advance the professional interests of its members and to heighten their visibility and career opportunities in the entertainment industry. The WSC fosters relationships between members to provide support, mentoring and networking opportunities. The WSC is continually evolving new concepts to elevate awareness of the strengths of its members.
The WSC Squad Mentorship Program is coordinated by directors DeMane Davis, Morenike Joela Evans, Jen McGowan and Rachel Raimist. The Women’s Steering Committee is co-chaired by Miele, Shawn Pipkin-West and Liz Ryan
Mike Pierantozzi joins Movers+Shakers as exec creative director
Creative agency Movers+Shakers has appointed Mike Pierantozzi as executive creative director. In this new role, he will help guide the creative direction of Movers+Shakers’ socially-native campaigns. Pierantozzi will report to co-founder and chief creative officer Geoffrey Goldberg.
With nearly two decades of experience as a copywriter, creative director, and multi-platform storyteller, Pierantozzi brings a wealth of knowledge from his work with major brands including Kraft, Unilever, IBM, and Walmart. He has led the creation of award-winning campaigns for agencies like Red Tettemer, Ogilvy, The Brooklyn Brothers, TAXI, Saatchi & Saatchi, and most recently, Vayner, where he spearheaded culturally iconic work for Planters including “Death of Mr. Peanut.” He led the National Down Syndrome Society and Luvs account, whose “First Kid. Second Kid” campaign was awarded by the Effies, ADC, Clios and LIAs.
Outside of the office, Pierantozzi practices what he teaches brands. He’s gone viral multiple times on his own TikTok account, featuring comedic interactions with his son and a trombone. He’s accumulated 15K followers on TikTok.
“Mike brings a rare and awesome combination of deep social and platform experience, a keen eye for excellent storytelling, and a humble and kind approach to leadership,” said Goldberg. “Mike’s got a knack for turning brand stories into cultural movements, making him the perfect fit for Movers+Shakers. He’s got the kind of bold vision and attention to culture that fits perfectly with our mission to push creative boundaries and drive industry firsts. Plus, as a creator himself he has the innate ability to make people stop, laugh, and share--which is exactly what we’re about.”
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