CreativeBridge Coalition

Advisory Board Members

J. Georgia Backus

J. Georgia Backus, Director of The Paula and Anthony Rich Center for the Study and Treatment of Autism and is responsible for the total operation of The Center, including the coordination of the Summer of Growth Program, Early Intervention Program, classroom instruction to adults and children, outreach programming, community awareness. She was recently appointed by Ohio's Governor to the prestigious statewide Ohio Autism Taskforce.

Barbara Bentree

Barb currently serves as the Director of Admissions and Music Director at the Rio Grande School in Santa Fe, NM. As a music educator, she has taught all grades, K-12. She was also the Musical Director of the Mickey Mouse Club during the years when Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake appeared as "mousekateers". A nominee and recipient of numerous awards, she founded the children's media company, Turtle Creek Productions (www.turtlecreekproductions.com) and recently served on the Emmy Awards for Children's Television Programming judging panel.

Jacob Easley II

Jacob is associate professor and Chair of the Education Division, University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown. Dr. Easley (Ph.D.), a former K-12 Spanish teacher, has worked as an expert consultant with schools in several states. He is a former Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. fellow with the U.S. Department of Education as well as a highly regarded leader within the profession. In addition to national and international presentations at professional conferences, he has numerous publications that draw attention to issues of educational equity. Dr. Easley is an advocate for quality education that benefits children and youth.

Michael Geller

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Michael Geller has always had a passion for music, though his business success has revolved around fashion. In 1986 he co-founded the Rags for Riches organization (www.ragsforriches.org), in Los Angeles, CA, dedicated to raising funds for children's charities. As its president, he has helped to provide nearly $8 million for children in need. In business, Michael has become a reputable force in the fashion industry. Most recently, he and his wife, Paige Adams-Geller, have built a phenomenal brand in the premium denim world, Paige Premium Denim (www.paigeusa.com).

Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini

Ray Mancini is a former World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight champion, holding that title for two years in the 1980's. He's the son of veteran boxer Lenny "Boom Boom" Mancini and nephew of award-winning composer Henry Mancini. His boxing life has been chronicled in music (Warren Zevon's, Boom Boom Mancini) and on film (Heart of a Champion: The Ray Mancini Story). Ray currently resides in Los Angeles, CA, where he oversees his El Campeon Cigar Company and two movie production companies. (www.mancini-smith.com) He recently appeared in David Mamet's Redbelt and wrapped production on Youngstown: Still Standing, a documentary based on the post-steel plight of his hometown of Youngstown, Ohio.

Colleen O'Connell

A long time resident of Nashville, Colleen O'Connell currently works with a firm that helps non-profits acquire funding. Over the years she has applied her liberal arts degree in multiple fields. As an educator, she enjoyed trying to convince seventh graders of the finer points of grammar. Her subsequent years in film & video production for The Nashville Network found her immersed in the works of all the country music performers who appeared there. While working at the Nashville Business Journal, a weekly publication, she learned the true meaning of "deadline" and during her tenure at the Tennessee Bar Association she administered membership benefits for over 10,000 Tennessee attorneys.

Bob Williamson

A native South Carolinian, Bob is Executive Vice President of Product Management and Business Development for SteelEye Technology/SIOS Technology Corporation (www.steeleye.com) a company that he helped to build over the last decade and where he is currently responsible for product development, delivery and support. Bob came to SteelEye from the NCR Corporation, where he served as Director of the Windows Program and Microsoft Technical Relationship Manager. He has written about and presented his work on various technology issues, including "High Availability", Linux, and "Cloud Services". Bob is also a Founding Board Member and Treasurer of the highly successful Charleston, SC non-profit Park Circle Film Society. (www.parkcirclefilms.org)