IFC Board Members-2008-2009

Officers

David Winger, President

Kansas City native David Winger has been involved with photography for over 30 years. After eight years as a staff photographer for The Kansas City Star & Times, editorial and advertising freelance work and operating an animal photography business, he enthusiastically embraced digital video about seven years ago. David has been a frequent contributor to local film festivals and has provided production assistance to other local filmmakers. David served as the IFC Vice President from 2005-07.

Claudia Copping, Vice-President

A professional actor and singer with years of stage experience and more recently, film and television, Claudia also handles producing, fundraising, and on-camera duties for a local nonprofit documentary film company, Visual Inspiration. She has partnered with her husband in entrepreneurial businesses over the past 25yrs. A transplant from Ohio/Michigan area (and a stint in New Jersey), Claudia has a degree in music from Michigan State University, worked as a music therapist in psychiatric settings, and has taught preschool music. In addition to her activities with the IFC, she is also a volunteer with the Kansas City Filmmakers Jubilee.

Aaron Gnirk, Treasurer

Co-founder and GM of All Comedy Radio AM 1340 KCKN (2004-05), Aaron moved from Los Angeles to Kansas City in 2001. Aaron began working inside the entertainment industry as a Runner/Second Assistant to Jerry Bruckheimer. He has done work for The Walt Disney Company in Feature Animation, Theatrical Publicity, Consumer Products and served as the first Digital Coordinator for Buena Vista Home Entertainment mastering video packaging for distribution. In 2000 Aaron moved into the information technology field working as a IT Consultant for The Hollywood Reporter and Oxygen Media. Aaron served as the IFC Treasurer from 2004-06 and IFC President from 2006-07.

Stephanie Reed, Corporate Secretary,

Stephanie was an international flight service manager for Trans World Airlines and traveled all over the world before settling in Kansas City. Her real love is movies and theater. She has been in plays at Just Off Broadway and The Unicorn as well as over 20 feature films and many short films. She is also on the boards of the Junior Women’s Symphony Alliance and distinguished volunteer with the Kansas City Filmmakers Jubilee and Women in Film KC. Stephanie has served on the IFC board from 2005-07.

At-Large Board Members

Timothy Harvey

Timothy Harvey is a Kansas City based actor, writer, artist and director. Aside from appearing in The Initiation, he is currently doing post-production work on his film Darkness of Night, and is the Production Designer for the feature film The Stalker, currently in production. He is the writer for the upcoming feature film The Devil's Fork, and directed two short films before the end of 2007. He is currently the Membership Coordinator for the Independent Filmmaker's Coalition of Kansas City. He loves coffee and is constantly in awe of his daughter.

Bobby Thompson

An accomplished digital still photographer, Bobby has shot for clients like NBC, Hawaiian Tropic, LL Bean, Outside Magazine, the Harlem Globetrotters, and ESPN. He has photographed Martina McBride, Willie Nelson, Anna Kournikova, Uncle Kracker, and more. While working as a technical rescue instructor, he directed and shot over 80 training videos. Bobby's video work includes shoots for the Kansas City American Royal, NBC, ESPN, US Coast Guard, and more. He is the founder of Visual Inspiration, a non-profit documentary production company focusing on social and environmental issues. He sits on the Board of Directors of the Kansas City Jubilee Film Festival and was the festival coordinator in 2006 and 2007. He has lectured at the Maine Photographic Workshops, Rockport College, and Central Missouri State University. In 2008 he was a guest panelist at the Slamdance film festival.

Other Board Members :

Heather Clenin

Brian Boye

A native of small-town Nebraska, Brian didn’t even know people made short films until that fateful night he went to an IFC meeting. That night, talking to two veterans of the IFC he discovered that the scripts he’d been working on that fizzled after five pages would be great shorts! Since then, his production company, Best Boye Productions has created a number of award-winning shorts, including “New Jersey: The Musical” and “Vs.” A former IFC Vice-President, Brian is proud to be returning to the IFC for a fourth term, with some time off in the middle to help change diapers on his beautiful children.

Maia Brown

Maia first joined the IFC in August of 1993. She was previously on the board in 1999-2000. She holds a B.A. in Theatre specializing in performance and a minor in Radio, TV, and Film. She has worked as a professional actor, taught children's drama classes, worked in media departments in post secondary educational settings. She currently volunteers for both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and leads a drama club at Trailridge Middle School and is a free lance artist. Maia directed and produced her first short written by Ron Middleton, "The Other Woman" that premiered at the Jubilee. However her primary role is that of Executive Producer of her household which features two teenagers, a husband and several critters. Maia is currently working on a documentary
featuring her husband's first season of cyclocross.

2007 - 2008 Board