Board of Directors
Chris Ackerley
Chris Ackerley is a co-founder of Ackerley Partners, LLC. Prior to founding Ackerley Partners in 2002, he was the President of The Ackerley Group, Inc. and was also a member of its board of directors. He spearheaded the launch of Ackerley Ventures, a division of the company that focused on core media and entertainment operations. Chris has served on the board of directors of two of Ackerley Ventures' former investments, FastChannel Network and i5 Digital. He currently serves on the board of governors of the Business Alliance For Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the World Trade Center of Seattle, Pacific Science Center, Downtown Seattle Association and The First Tee of Seattle. In addition, he is a member of the Northwest Chapter of the Young President's Organization. In 2001, Chris was recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal as one of the region's most influential "40 Under 40" business leaders.
Chris Ackerley is a co-founder of Ackerley Partners, LLC. Prior to founding Ackerley Partners in 2002, he was the President of The Ackerley Group, Inc. and was also a member of its board of directors. He spearheaded the launch of Ackerley Ventures, a division of the company that focused on core media and entertainment operations. Chris has served on the board of directors of two of Ackerley Ventures' former investments, FastChannel Network and i5 Digital. He currently serves on the board of governors of the Business Alliance For Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the World Trade Center of Seattle, Pacific Science Center, Downtown Seattle Association and The First Tee of Seattle. In addition, he is a member of the Northwest Chapter of the Young President's Organization. In 2001, Chris was recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal as one of the region's most influential "40 Under 40" business leaders.
Patrice Auld
Patrice Auld and her husband, Kevin, are strong supporters of Conservation International, a nonprofit global organization dedicated to preserving the world’s most environmentally diverse areas, especially in the Seattle region. Patrice is a board member at the Seattle Art Museum, the Seattle Symphony and the Pacific Northwest Ballet, and she also chairs the annual fund for Lakeside School. An ardent fundraiser for education, the arts, the environment and social services in the Seattle area, Patrice has chaired several successful local capital campaigns. She is currently creative director of Pascaulina, Inc. and is also a documentary filmmaker and producer whose most recent films include Expiration Date and Multiple Sarcasms.
Patrice Auld and her husband, Kevin, are strong supporters of Conservation International, a nonprofit global organization dedicated to preserving the world’s most environmentally diverse areas, especially in the Seattle region. Patrice is a board member at the Seattle Art Museum, the Seattle Symphony and the Pacific Northwest Ballet, and she also chairs the annual fund for Lakeside School. An ardent fundraiser for education, the arts, the environment and social services in the Seattle area, Patrice has chaired several successful local capital campaigns. She is currently creative director of Pascaulina, Inc. and is also a documentary filmmaker and producer whose most recent films include Expiration Date and Multiple Sarcasms.
Max Clough
Max has more than 20 years of executive management and consulting experience, working primarily with start-ups and emerging businesses in a variety of industries. He is currently the CEO of MarketOrder and has served as president of Keystroke Technologies, president of the Thomas Kemper Soda Company and founder of CFI Incorporated and Ablor Associates. Max has served on the boards of a number of technology companies and has provided consulting services to numerous companies including McCaw Cellular, Egghead Software and Microsoft. He received his BA from The College of William and Mary and attended the University of Washington Graduate School of Business—Management Program.
Max has more than 20 years of executive management and consulting experience, working primarily with start-ups and emerging businesses in a variety of industries. He is currently the CEO of MarketOrder and has served as president of Keystroke Technologies, president of the Thomas Kemper Soda Company and founder of CFI Incorporated and Ablor Associates. Max has served on the boards of a number of technology companies and has provided consulting services to numerous companies including McCaw Cellular, Egghead Software and Microsoft. He received his BA from The College of William and Mary and attended the University of Washington Graduate School of Business—Management Program.
Petra Franklin
Petra Franklin is the Managing Partner of Vault Capital and Vault Capital II. She co-founded the venture capital company in 1998 with Irwin Treiger and William Justen. Ms. Franklin is responsible for Vault Capital's investments in Singingfish, Terabeam, HouseValues, Ramgen, eProject, the Clover and Seattle Biofuels.
Prior to Vault Capital, Ms. Franklin worked with start-ups in a management or director capacity and came to that from a background in the arts, production, journalism and wireless communications that included positions with IBM, AT&T, MFS/UUNET and as Associate Producer for CBS in New York City. Ms. Franklin also worked closely with artist Dale Chihuly building his support organization for upwards of 11 years.
Ms. Franklin is on the board of the National Science Foundation's Science Technology Center for Information Technology, The Film School, ACT Theatre, and WWFC. She is a member of the National Venture Capital Association, the Community Development Roundtable, the Alliance of Angels, The Washington Software Association, the Hilltop Group and WIT. She is a founding member of Innovation & Science, Agile, Alpha Arts, Seniors Making Art and the Women's Bioethics Project. Ms. Franklin attended Harvard University and Bennington College, where she received her undergraduate degrees. She also attended Stanford University and the University of Washington. She lives in Seattle with her husband and two daughters.
Petra Franklin is the Managing Partner of Vault Capital and Vault Capital II. She co-founded the venture capital company in 1998 with Irwin Treiger and William Justen. Ms. Franklin is responsible for Vault Capital's investments in Singingfish, Terabeam, HouseValues, Ramgen, eProject, the Clover and Seattle Biofuels.
Prior to Vault Capital, Ms. Franklin worked with start-ups in a management or director capacity and came to that from a background in the arts, production, journalism and wireless communications that included positions with IBM, AT&T, MFS/UUNET and as Associate Producer for CBS in New York City. Ms. Franklin also worked closely with artist Dale Chihuly building his support organization for upwards of 11 years.
Ms. Franklin is on the board of the National Science Foundation's Science Technology Center for Information Technology, The Film School, ACT Theatre, and WWFC. She is a member of the National Venture Capital Association, the Community Development Roundtable, the Alliance of Angels, The Washington Software Association, the Hilltop Group and WIT. She is a founding member of Innovation & Science, Agile, Alpha Arts, Seniors Making Art and the Women's Bioethics Project. Ms. Franklin attended Harvard University and Bennington College, where she received her undergraduate degrees. She also attended Stanford University and the University of Washington. She lives in Seattle with her husband and two daughters.
Heather Hughes
Heather Hughes is the president of Three Hole Punch Productions and an award winning screenwriter. She is a recipient of the Templeton Foundation Kairos Prize for Screenwriting. She was awarded a Hedgebrook Residency and was a Sundance Institute finalist. Heather studied playwriting with Sir Alan Ayckbourn at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough and is represented by International Creative Management. She is a graduate of the the University of Washington with a BA in History with honors, a member of Phi Beta Kappa and an alum of The Film School. She lives in Seattle with her husband Grady Hughes and their two children.
Heather Hughes is the president of Three Hole Punch Productions and an award winning screenwriter. She is a recipient of the Templeton Foundation Kairos Prize for Screenwriting. She was awarded a Hedgebrook Residency and was a Sundance Institute finalist. Heather studied playwriting with Sir Alan Ayckbourn at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough and is represented by International Creative Management. She is a graduate of the the University of Washington with a BA in History with honors, a member of Phi Beta Kappa and an alum of The Film School. She lives in Seattle with her husband Grady Hughes and their two children.
John Jacobsen | president
John Jacobsen is a writer, director and teacher who works in Seattle and Los Angeles. He is a former Vice President of the ACT Theatre, one of the country’s leading regional theatres, where he still serves as a Trustee, and current President and co-founder of TheFilmSchool. He is the host and producer of the national cable TV show, The Artist Toolbox. He has been involved in the film, theatre and television industry for over 30 years and teaches acting, directing and writing all around the world.
He directed the feature film, Around the Fire (starring Tara Reid and Devon Sawa), produced in part by The Shooting Gallery (Sling Blade), which premiered at The Seattle International Film Festival and was nominated for The Best Independent Filmmaker’s Award, and which won the Giffoni Film Festival in Italy. John has also produced several features, including the Columbia/Tri-Star picture Nervous Ticks starring Bill Pullman and Peter Boyle. His other production credits include the HBO movie of the week, Danger of Love, John Frankenheimer's 52 Pick Up with Roy Scheider and Ann Margaret, and The Assassin with Charles Bronson. Several short films he produced won awards including the Aspen Film Festival and the gold, silver, and bronze awards at the Houston international Film Festival and featured talent such as Sandra Bullock and Sally Kirkland.
He has directed over twenty stage productions regionally and in New York, working with such talents as Eli Wallach, Scott Bakula, Marcia Gay Harden, Yeardley Smith, and Jill Eikenberry. He has directed commercials, documentaries and corporate videos, and worked as an assistant on Broadway to the legendary director, Hal Prince. He directed and produced the Tribute to Katherine Dunham on CBS's Emmy Award-winning Kennedy Center Honors and worked with the Academy Award-winning documentary maker, Charles Guggenheim. He managed the Motion Picture and Television Department at UCLA Extension, and he still teaches writing, directing and acting at numerous schools around the country. He was a Directing Fellow at the American Film Institute (AFI) and has sold several screenplays.
Andrew Kwatinetz
Is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he majored in computer science but also managed a focus on theatre and film. After graduation, he became an intern at Microsoft on the first version of Windows Excel and went on to play a pivotal role in the development of Microsoft Office. In 2004, he left Microsoft to pursue his dream of screenwriting, and enrolled in the inaugural class of TheFilmSchool. He is married with three daughters and spends much of his time volunteering in children’s sports and public education. Andrew is a co-founder and Board member of Community & Parents for Public Schools of Seattle.
John Jacobsen is a writer, director and teacher who works in Seattle and Los Angeles. He is a former Vice President of the ACT Theatre, one of the country’s leading regional theatres, where he still serves as a Trustee, and current President and co-founder of TheFilmSchool. He is the host and producer of the national cable TV show, The Artist Toolbox. He has been involved in the film, theatre and television industry for over 30 years and teaches acting, directing and writing all around the world.
He directed the feature film, Around the Fire (starring Tara Reid and Devon Sawa), produced in part by The Shooting Gallery (Sling Blade), which premiered at The Seattle International Film Festival and was nominated for The Best Independent Filmmaker’s Award, and which won the Giffoni Film Festival in Italy. John has also produced several features, including the Columbia/Tri-Star picture Nervous Ticks starring Bill Pullman and Peter Boyle. His other production credits include the HBO movie of the week, Danger of Love, John Frankenheimer's 52 Pick Up with Roy Scheider and Ann Margaret, and The Assassin with Charles Bronson. Several short films he produced won awards including the Aspen Film Festival and the gold, silver, and bronze awards at the Houston international Film Festival and featured talent such as Sandra Bullock and Sally Kirkland.
He has directed over twenty stage productions regionally and in New York, working with such talents as Eli Wallach, Scott Bakula, Marcia Gay Harden, Yeardley Smith, and Jill Eikenberry. He has directed commercials, documentaries and corporate videos, and worked as an assistant on Broadway to the legendary director, Hal Prince. He directed and produced the Tribute to Katherine Dunham on CBS's Emmy Award-winning Kennedy Center Honors and worked with the Academy Award-winning documentary maker, Charles Guggenheim. He managed the Motion Picture and Television Department at UCLA Extension, and he still teaches writing, directing and acting at numerous schools around the country. He was a Directing Fellow at the American Film Institute (AFI) and has sold several screenplays.
Andrew Kwatinetz
Is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he majored in computer science but also managed a focus on theatre and film. After graduation, he became an intern at Microsoft on the first version of Windows Excel and went on to play a pivotal role in the development of Microsoft Office. In 2004, he left Microsoft to pursue his dream of screenwriting, and enrolled in the inaugural class of TheFilmSchool. He is married with three daughters and spends much of his time volunteering in children’s sports and public education. Andrew is a co-founder and Board member of Community & Parents for Public Schools of Seattle.
Carlo Scanduzzi
Gian-Carlo Scandiuzzi graduated from the Ecole Superieure D’Art Dramatique of Geneva where he worked in theater, film and television before moving to the United States in 1978. In 1979, Carlo started Modern Productions, a music production and promotion company, bringing to Seattle such legendary bands as The Police, Devo, Nina Hagen, Iggy Pop, The Ramones, John Cale, Robert Frip, James Brown, Muddy Waters and many more. In 1986, Carlo’s company Agate Films began producing feature films, among them, Prototype, Apex and Dark Drive. Carlo is CEO of Clear Pictures, a production company with offices in Seattle and Los Angeles, and is developing a new distribution company called IndieFlix. He lives in Seattle when not producing movies and enjoys the love and support of his wife, Lalie, and his children, Sebastien and Nathalie.
Tom Skerritt | vice president
While in his last year at UCLA, Tom Skerritt debuted as a film actor in War Hunt, an independent 1962 anti-war film that also featured New York theater actors Robert Redford and Sydney Pollack. Since then, Skerritt has appeared in more than 35 feature films, including Robert Altman’s MASH, A River Runs Through It, Harold and Maude, The Turning Point, Alien, Top Gun, Steel Magnolias and Contact. He is a winner of an Emmy Award for Best Actor for his role in CBS’s Picket Fences and has directed many episodic and long-form television productions.
Rick Stevenson | secretary
Rick Stevenson has produced or directed feature films starring actors such as Hugh Grant, Ned Beatty, Meg Ryan, Keifer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, Jennifer Jason-Leigh, Juliette Lewis and Christopher Plummer. Stevenson has also directed programs for television, including Ed for NBC, and his work as a director of television commercials has garnered many awards. In addition to his work in film and television, Stevenson is a scholar and 20th century history, author of The Rise and Fall of Détente, and holds a PhD from Oxford University.
Gian-Carlo Scandiuzzi graduated from the Ecole Superieure D’Art Dramatique of Geneva where he worked in theater, film and television before moving to the United States in 1978. In 1979, Carlo started Modern Productions, a music production and promotion company, bringing to Seattle such legendary bands as The Police, Devo, Nina Hagen, Iggy Pop, The Ramones, John Cale, Robert Frip, James Brown, Muddy Waters and many more. In 1986, Carlo’s company Agate Films began producing feature films, among them, Prototype, Apex and Dark Drive. Carlo is CEO of Clear Pictures, a production company with offices in Seattle and Los Angeles, and is developing a new distribution company called IndieFlix. He lives in Seattle when not producing movies and enjoys the love and support of his wife, Lalie, and his children, Sebastien and Nathalie.
Tom Skerritt | vice president
While in his last year at UCLA, Tom Skerritt debuted as a film actor in War Hunt, an independent 1962 anti-war film that also featured New York theater actors Robert Redford and Sydney Pollack. Since then, Skerritt has appeared in more than 35 feature films, including Robert Altman’s MASH, A River Runs Through It, Harold and Maude, The Turning Point, Alien, Top Gun, Steel Magnolias and Contact. He is a winner of an Emmy Award for Best Actor for his role in CBS’s Picket Fences and has directed many episodic and long-form television productions.
Rick Stevenson | secretary
Rick Stevenson has produced or directed feature films starring actors such as Hugh Grant, Ned Beatty, Meg Ryan, Keifer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, Jennifer Jason-Leigh, Juliette Lewis and Christopher Plummer. Stevenson has also directed programs for television, including Ed for NBC, and his work as a director of television commercials has garnered many awards. In addition to his work in film and television, Stevenson is a scholar and 20th century history, author of The Rise and Fall of Détente, and holds a PhD from Oxford University.
Aron Michael Thompson
Aron Michael Thompson was born in Seattle, where he lives and works to this day. He is a financial advisor to a select group of Seattle area families, assisting them with wealth management, estate planning, and philanthropy. Aron is also a writer, actor, and executive producer for independent films, working not only on his own projects but supporting those of other artists as well. He has served on a variety of nonprofit organization boards, which currently include The Seattle Aquarium Society and The Film School.
Aron Michael Thompson was born in Seattle, where he lives and works to this day. He is a financial advisor to a select group of Seattle area families, assisting them with wealth management, estate planning, and philanthropy. Aron is also a writer, actor, and executive producer for independent films, working not only on his own projects but supporting those of other artists as well. He has served on a variety of nonprofit organization boards, which currently include The Seattle Aquarium Society and The Film School.
