The Commercial Directors Diversity Program was created during contract talks between the AICP (Association of Independent Commercial Producers) and the DGA (Directors Guild of America). The CDDP reflects the commitment of both organizations to effect change and increase the representation of minority and women directors specializing in commercials and marketing communications.
Tamika is a Virginia native who graduated from The American University with a BA in Performing Arts & Theatre. She currently works at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the Education Department. While living in New York she wrote her first screenplay, THE JAR BY THE DOOR, which was a Sundance Finalist and won several awards including the Gordon Parks Indie Film Award. She then attended the New York Film Academy to learn filmmaking and graduated having made her first short film...
In his position as president and chief executive officer of the Association of Independent Commercial Producers, Matt Miller presides over an organization whose members account for 80 to 85 percent of all nationally televised commercials in the United States. He is the spokesman for more than 350 production companies which, along with another 200 affiliated firms, comprise the AICP membership.
Founded in 1972, the AICP represents, exclusively, the interests of commercial production companies in the United States, and serves as a strong collective voice for this $5.5 billion industry, addressing its many audiences within the advertising community, business circles and government offices.
A lifelong New Yorker, Roxanne grew up in the Bronx attending The High School of Performing Arts and was a scholarship recipient at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. After graduating from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and Gallatin School of Individualized Study, she translated her passion for the arts into an aptitude for recognizing and championing creative talent. She sincerely believes in everyone she represents with a personal investment in their success. Roxanne is proud to be a MAIP Coach for the 2017, 2018 summer program. She sits on the Advisory Board for the CDDP Program.
ROXANNEandco represents creative talent. They believe in the power of storytelling to affect change; and helping clients produce thought provoking, socially relevant work that can generate or join conversations that matter. Her team follows these guiding tenets: stay tenacious, integrity rules, be open minded, and always believe in your talent.
Ned is an LA native with a Minnesota upbringing. He worked his way up the production ladder of music videos and commercials in New York City, starting with summer P.A. gigs while in college. His first Executive Producer job was with The Director’s Bureau at the end of the 90s. He then went on to form Rock Fight, an award winning company that later merged with HKM.
After launching other successful ventures in LA, he joined forces with Native Content in 2014 as Partner/Executive Producer. As a gay dad and member of a bi-racial family, Ned strives to make inclusion a core value of the production community and to create pathways for all who wish to excel in the industry.
Byron Fitts, Executive Producer of The Department, has been a fixture in production in the southwest with a career that spans over two decades. Byron has produced projects for various production companies, in addition to those as an agency producer at The Richards Group and agency freelance producer.
With his experience in advertising and production, Byron founded The Department in 2013. Having just completed serving two terms as AICP Southwest President, and on the AICP National Board, Byron is both Vice President and Chairman of the Education Committee of AICP Southwest.
Ever since his babysitter took him to “Midnight Express” when he was 4 years old, filmmaking has captivated Caleb. Before the internet killed the record business, Caleb produced and executive produced hundreds of music videos for artists like Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani, The Black Eyed Peas, Metallica, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Green Day and Madonna.
Caleb has spent the last decade plus producing television commercials for brands ranging from Microsoft, Kraft, Nike, Comcast and Toyota to the NFL, AT&T, Starburst, Verizon, Apple and Sony. In 2016, Caleb became an executive producer at Hungry Man.
Caleb’s family has a long history of activism that started with his grandfather, an episcopal minister who committed his life to racial equality and who marched with Dr. King in Selma in 1965.
As an Executive Producer since 2007, Rich has led campaigns for major brands including Apple, Nike, Target, GE, NBA, ESPN, Nintendo, Miu Miu, Honda, Beats by Dre, Amazon, & the US Army to name a few.
In 2019, Rich co-founded Reverie Content with the desire to cultivate a diverse family of filmmakers, collaborators and artists who have a distinct voice and create with an ever-changing mindset. From traditional spot makers to feature film directors, writers, producers, animators and designers inside the Reverie studio.
Jason Wolk is a natural born leader, and he does it with his heart and ethics. Currently, he is a member of the AICP Board of Directors and member of the Television Academy, as well as a member of the Director’s Guild of America. He had spent sixteen years line producing commercials and overseeing the launch and management of advertising production companies. Preceding that, Jason was a producer of motion pictures. With a vast client list, and a history of delivering A-list work for almost every major agency in the USA, Spears & Arrows has the foundation of his 16 year old production service company, Riverdale Productions, and Wolk’s illustrious career of having produced hundreds of commercials all over the globe.
As Executive Producer at UNIT9 Films, Emily manages a roster of Global, multi-skilled and diverse talent. She engages bold, innovative and creatively challenging commercial projects that often live at the intersection of film, experience and technology. A natural relationship builder, Emily fosters exciting and confident partnerships with creatives, ad agencies and clients that push the traditional boundaries of filmmaking while never losing the art of storytelling.
A New York native living in LA, Emily has 20 years experience in television and commercial production spanning both coasts. She is an avid traveler and foodie with a significant global footprint, managing projects across Europe, Africa and South America.
Born and raised in London, Shauna Seresin, related to the industry renowned Seresin family, started in the advertising business at post- production house, The Mill. Became a agency producer at CHI & Partners in London, (now known as The & Partnership) where she produced content for clients such as Toyota, Lexus, the Royal Bank of Scotland, and the Sunday Times.
She launched Minerva 2015 which is a business development and management consulting company working with ad agencies and brands sourcing and representing talents.
With a long history of opening doors, starting conversations, and promoting opportunities for minorities and women in Advertising, Marketing and Media, her deep commitment to expand diversity grows through her role as an Advisory Board Member of The Commercial Directors Diversity Program (CDDP) and the
international organization, People of Color Creative, (POCC).
Jessica Sanders is an Academy Award – nominated, Sundance, SXSW and Cannes Award – winning director and producer of narrative and documentary films and commercials. Jessica’s commercial career was launched when Steve Jobs handpicked her to direct Apple’s iPad launch campaign. Jessica won the coveted Cannes Young Director’s Award for her “Sony Make.Believe” film which also won an AICP award. As an award-winning commercial director, Jessica has directed campaigns for Lindt, Apple, Amazon, Samsung, Honda, Toyota, TJMaxx, Procter & Gamble and many others.
