Dallas FilmDallas FilmMeet our Board of Directors leading DIFF forward. Made up of leaders across industries, each member brings their unique experience and expertise to create a community connected through film.
Mike Mayberry is a Creative Strategist for the Financial Services Division of Capital One in Plano, TX. He helps develop internal messaging, content design, video production, and communications. Mike also spearheads the creative strategy for sponsored events like SXSW, NADA, Dallas StartUp Week, Tech Week, and multiple DSO Events, like Questlove's Hip Hop Brunch. He spent his time before Capital One as the Marketing/Creative Director for several startups, and for Clear Channel Radio. He also spent 14 years performing with Dallas-based improv troupe, Ad-Libs, where he learned the value of facing your fears and making it up as you go along.
J. Damany Daniel (the J is silent) hails from Brooklyn, NY and merges all the style of the big city with the charm, warmth, and humour (yes, with a “u”-he secretly wants to be Australian) of one of your best friends. An experienced and award-winning event producer, Damany (AKA “The Event Nerd”) has produced experiences for clients across the globe and always brings a unique flair to everything he touches. An avid student of emerging trends in technology and storytelling and the impact of community and culture, this lifelong nerd firmly believes that technology can do more than just amaze people at events. If used properly, technology can and does provide opportunities to connect people, extend the reach of events far past the closing curtain, and create immersive experiences that have guests and clients alike connected with the cause and experience in ways they never thought possible. Listed as one of Special Events Magazine's 30 under 40 to watch, Damany's passion for technology is matched only by his love of the arts and culture.
A humorous and engaging presenter, Damany brings his passion for experiences and his love of people to everything he is a part of. An avid lover of music and dancing, Damany’s been known to tear up more than a few dance floors in his time. When he’s not dancing, producing events or “nerding out” over the study of creativity, Damany’s indulging in his love for great food, delicious brews, and scintillating conversation.
In addition to his work leading the badassery that is The Event Nerd team, Damany's commitment to culture is shown through his work as co-host of the Casually Creative podcast- a series of honest conversations with unexpectedly creative people, as a founding member of Dallas’ Mayor’s Star Council, a Trustee of the Deep Ellum Foundation, and as the city of Dallas’ District 6 Arts and Culture Commissioner.
By working and celebrating its successes, Damany continues to stand as a creative leader within the community and the city.
Mary currently serves as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer for GlendonTodd Capital LLC, a Dallas based private equity firm and recently served as the Chief Financial Officer of a publicly traded medical device company. Additionally, Mary serves as Managing Partner of MBH Partners, LLC, a firm she formed in 2010 to provide services to private equity firms and companies to support growth initiatives, manage transactions, raise capital and improve financial results.
Previously, Mary served as a Mergers and Acquisitions Consultant from January 2010 through April 2010 where she was responsible for the sale process for certain Blockbuster international markets. Previously, Mary served as Senior Vice President of Finance and Treasurer for Blockbuster Inc., from 2007 until 2009 where she maintained responsibility for the Company’s Investor Relations, Treasury, Risk Management, Finance and Planning functions.
Mary joined Blockbuster in 2000 as Vice President, Investor Relations, and in 2002 she was promoted to Senior Vice President of Investor Relations. In 2003, she also assumed the role of Corporate Treasurer responsible for Blockbuster’s global Treasury and Risk Management functions prior to Blockbuster’s split off from Viacom. She expanded her responsibility from 2005 until 2007 to include the Accounting, Finance and Share Financial Services functions.
Prior to joining Blockbuster, Mary held investor relations positions with several large Dallas-based companies, including 7-Eleven, Inc. and Excel Communications.
Mary has extensive experience and knowledge in debt restructuring, financial planning and analysis, operations finance, mergers and acquisitions, cost management and analysis, capital structure solutions and cash flow analysis.
A resident of Dallas, Mary received her MBA in Corporate Finance from the University of Dallas and an undergraduate degree in Business from Mississippi State University. She has been an active member of the National Investor Relations Institute, the Association for Financial Professionals and the Junior League of Dallas. Mary also serves as a Member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer of the Dallas Film Society. Mary has previously served as a Board member, the Chair of the Finance Committee and as the Chair and a member of the Investment Advisory Committee of the Texas Women’s Foundation. Also, Mary has served as a board member for the Association for Corporate Growth and the North Texas Chapter of After School All Stars. Mary is an avid equestrian who enjoys showing and caring for her horses.
Senior-level Finance Executive with broad, practical experience in diverse industries including retail and telecommunications. Proven ability to impact business growth and manage through changing and challenging situations. Gained significant experience with leading financial transactions, debt restructuring, strategic negotiations and cost reduction.
Adam Hilkemann has significant experience with private equity funds, hedge funds and hybrid funds pursuing a variety of investment strategies, including real estate, venture capital, emerging markets, litigation finance, buyout, distressed debt, energy, macro and funds of funds (FOF).
Adam has particular experience with cryptocurrency fund launches and related transactions. He works as part of a multidisciplinary team that applies Akin Gump’s wide-ranging experience in the digital asset space to meet client needs and drive industry best practices.
He advises management companies in connection with:
Adam has represented equity providers in connection with dozens of real estate joint ventures. He also advises purchasers and sellers in corporate and real estate acquisitions/dispositions, and he has provided guidance to borrowers in commercial finance transactions, including secured and unsecured corporate and real estate and preferred equity financings.
Additionally, he advises management companies on internal structuring issues such as profit-sharing arrangements and seeding transactions.
Adam also regularly advises private equity funds, companies, sponsors and institutional investors in connection with transactional activities, including fund investments, managed account arrangements, co-investments and other strategic transactions.
Tom joined the Texas Real Estate Research Center in 2023. He specializes in high impact communication strategies for innovative outreach. Before joining the Center, Tom directed global marketing and communications teams in the real estate, banking, entertainment, and professional services industries. He introduced an innovative loyalty and rewards program for municipalities focused on local economies. Tom earned his journalism degree from Texas A&M University.
INDIE
Mark creates and drives the overall Commerce House vision. He’s fiercely entrepreneurial—one has to be to open his own agency—and incredibly passionate about the ideas created inside our walls. Having worked in large holding company environments for most of his career, Mark’s goal is to ensure brands have a world-class independent option when it comes to agency partners.
“Combine one part entrepreneur with one part business acumen and one part rogue explorer. Mix thoroughly.”
SOUTHWEST BY NORTHEAST
When it came time to launch his own agency, Mark left a position as EVP/Operating Board Member of McCann/New York. There he oversaw the Kohl’s Department Stores and Clearasil business and led the start-up of TAG, dedicated to young adult marketing. Prior to that, he served as GM of McCann’s four Southwest region offices. And when McCann acquired Temerlin McClain, Mark became the Dallas agency’s COO — overseeing such accounts as Texas Instruments, i2 Technologies, La Quinta Inns and Suites, 7-Eleven, Federated Department Stores, SCI Corporation, Green Mountain Energy and Toshiba Computers. He came to McCann by way of O&M, where he was a Senior Partner and Group Management Supervisor for PepsiCo International and GTE. Mark cut his teeth in New York at Grey, Young & Rubicam and Deutsch.
MAD DRIVE
Fueled by a genuine passion for his clients’ businesses, Mark relentlessly pursues new ideas and ways of looking at existing businesses, elevating his involvement to a higher, more emotional plane. This is what drove him to quit his successful career in NY and start an agency in Dallas without a single client. Only a dream and the drive to make it happen.
OFF THE CLOCK
Mark and his wife, Pam, live in Dallas and have two children. He’s active in community affairs, serving on the boards of the Thanksgiving Square Foundation and Dallas Film Society. He’s also worked with Boys and Girls Clubs, Dallas Symphony, Junior League, March of Dimes and Cattle Baron’s Ball. He loves to travel and combines that with a passion for food, planning trips around great restaurants. To offset his food love, Mark runs. He’s completed 10 marathons.
Experienced Chief of Staff/COO with a demonstrated history of working in the management consulting industry.Skilled in banking, commercial aviation, organizational design, business transformation, and strategy. Strongprofessional with an MBA from Texas A&M University.
As General Counsel for Epsilon, I’m responsible for all legal matters. I serve as the primary advisor to our senior management team and oversee legal affairs for Epsilon.
My story
For nearly twenty years, I was a Partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. During this time, I advised Alliance Data and Epsilon on various legal matters, including M&A transactions. I’ve been named to The Best Lawyers in America in Commercial Litigation annually since 2013, and I am a Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (IAPP). Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my four children and two dogs, following college sports and NHL hockey and attending film festivals.
My philosophy
Embrace challenge and change, work collaboratively and do the right thing, the right way, at the right time.
My qualifications
BA, English Literature, University of Dallas
JD, Dedman School of Law, Southern Methodist University
I love sharing the magic of going to the movies. Being taken on a journey from the mind of the screenwriter, to the vision of the director, the hard work of the crew, and putting it all together in the editing suite.
As the Head of Marketing, Brandon’s purpose is to connect Studio Movie Grill’s experience and films with audiences. It starts with building a communication strategy that makes it easy for the audience to engage with films they enjoy and stories that appeal to them. Brandon’s journey with Studio Movie Grill has several sub-plots and did not start in a traditional way.
From 2000-2003, Brandon was Director of Operations and Marketing for Nova Cinemas in Chicago at which time he launched his film marketing company, FilmFrog Productions, LLC. This experience led to developing a network of independent filmmakers seeking help with marketing and distributing their films. In 2003, Brandon co-founded the Mid-Coast Film & Arts Festival in the Quad-Cities and later founded the Dallas Film Series and Fort Worth Film Series. In 2004, the Dallas Film Series began weekly independent film screenings at the Studio Movie Grill, Addison. Brandon was Film Marketing Manager at Blockbuster from 2004-2005 while operating the two film series in Dallas and Fort Worth and continuing to nurture deep roots in the local film community. In 2005, Brandon became an official member of the Studio Movie Grill as Director of Sales. At the time, Studio Movie Grill had two locations in north Dallas, but plans were already in the works to start taking the concept of in-theatre dining to another level. Over the next five years, Studio Movie Grill expanded to ten locations including sites beyond Texas. During this same period, FilmFrog Productions distributed numerous films including SHTICKMEN, NICE GUYS SLEEP ALONE, LOADED, SHUT UP & SHOOT ME, LOVELY BY SURPRISE, FISSURE, and DIRTY COUNTRY, executive produced KARMA POLICE and SPILT MILK, and marketed countless other films.
Brandon served as Vice President, Product Development for Community Choice Financial from 2010-2013, Sr. Director, Product for Think Finance from 2013-2014, Vice President, Business Development for Solutions by Text from 2013-2016, and launched FinanceFrog, LLC in 2014 to further consulting and advisory opportunities.
Brandon rejoined Studio Movie Grill as Sr. Director, Marketing in September 2016, a Board Member of the Dallas Film Society, and CMO of the Dallas International Film Festival.
It is incredible when you look at the full scope of what it takes to bring a movie to life. I enjoy being part of sharing that journey.
Lynn Lewis has 37 years’ experience in the financial service industry, the last 25 years focusing on firms that specialize in US REITs and European Property Companies. For 17 years as a Managing Director and Member of the Board of Green Street Advisors (an independent, premier provider of REIT research known for its proprietary data and analytics), she formulated policy, developed strategy and guided the firm’s revenue growth. She opened the firm’s offices in Dallas and London and built successful teams and businesses serving the US REIT and European Property Companies, respectively.
Lewis is expert in issues surrounding volatility in the US stock market in general and REIT stocks in particular. She recently participated as one of five industry leaders in a Special Task Force of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), which documented the correlation between REIT stock volatility and the formation of levered Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and presented its findings to the SEC, playing an instrumental role in eliminating proposed new levered ETFs. An experienced public speaker, Lewis is a guest lecturer at Rice University’s MBA program on the volatility of the US stock market and the legislation responsible for it, and speaks at Rice University’s Economic Conference on the relationship between High Frequency Trading (HFT) and ETFs and stock market volatility. Lewis, is also on Rice University Advisory Board.
A serious student of global economics with focus on Russia and the Middle East, Lewis aggressively pursues international learning and active adventure travel with recent immersions in China, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Bulgaria, Namibia, Siberia, Iran, Dubai, Oman and India. She is also a dive master who has dived in all of the world’s major seas and is certified to drive high-performance racing cars.
Lewis earned her BFA in Drama and English from the University of Houston.
Lewis expresses her ongoing passion for the theater, film and the performing arts through board service at the Dallas Film Society and membership on the British Film Institute’s London Film Festival annual fundraising Gala Committee. In addition, she lends her time, expertise and leadership to The Holy Trinity Catholic Church (Dallas), and Volunteers of America regarding prison reform.
Rachel Salinas is Lead Compliance Analyst for AT&T and is National President of the Inter-Tribal Council of AT&T Employees. She serves on the Board of Trustees for Texas Native Health. Rachel is also the creator of the award winning "Did You Know" video educational series and the showrunner for Tribal Talks, a webinar series at AT&T. She is an enrolled member of the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas and Mexican American.
Named in September 2022 as CEO of Dallas Film Society, Inc. | Dallas International Film Festival, Beth Wilbins was drawn to film at an early age. (In her first newspaper interview at the age of five, she told the reporter she and her little brother were "at the movies".)
Wilbins has a multifaceted portfolio that includes business management, executive consulting, marketing communications, and public relations.
She founded and owned Forte Group, Inc., a national senior lifestyles marketing and PR firm, which was acquired by The Point Group in 2015. She remained as president of The Point Group Senior Lifestyle Division until 2019, when she went on to serve as president of Wilbins Group, Inc., a consultancy with four practice areas: W/G Senior Lifestyles (senior living marketing and PR), W/G Film Studios (film production), W/G Talent (talent booking and special events), and The Wilbins Group (executive consulting).
Wilbins is the former editor-in-chief of D Magazine and former publisher and editor-in-chief of Philanthropy World magazine.
A native of Winston-Salem, NC, Wilbins was graduated cum laude from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and did her graduate studies in mass communication at Wake Forest University.