Emmy Award Winners Teya Ryan & Lisa Mae Fincannon To Speak At WIFTA's 40th Anniversary Celebration

ATLANTA - Oct. 24, 2014 - PRLog -- Women in Film & Television Atlanta (WIFTA), Georgia’s foremost entertainment association in support of women, announced today that the guest speakers for its 40th anniversary celebration and fundraiser will include key players within the Georgia’s TV / film production industry. Teya Ryan and Lisa Mae Fincannon will be featured as part of the celebration. Here’s more about WIFTA’s guest speakers:

Teya Ryan, President & Executive Director of GPB Media
Teya Ryan is a 30-year broadcast media veteran whose passion for storytelling, curiosity for the world around her and innovative ideas have earned her leadership roles at venerable broadcast operations including PBS, CNN and TBS. Currently, with a career that includes broadcast management, production and content creation, Ms. Ryan brings a wealth of experience to her role as President and Executive Director of GPB Media. She was appointed in March 2009.

In 2012, under her leadership, GPB Media received the Southeast Regional Emmy for Station Excellence. She also received a Womenetics 2012 POW! Award for business innovation. Additionally, Ms. Ryan has won seven Emmys, four Cable Ace Awards and she was named one of the ten most powerful women in media by Crain Media in 2002.

Lisa Mae Fincannon, Fincannon & Associates Casting Agent
She is an Emmy Award winning casting agent and is certainly a name to know if you're keeping tabs on who the top casting agents are in the Southeast. With dozens of projects under her belt, she is most often recognized for her work on Homeland, The Walking Dead, Looper, One Tree Hill and The Conjuring. She is Lisa Mae Fincannon, Casting Agent at Fincannon & Associates.

Born and raised in the Carolinas, Lisa Mae is a definite Southern Belle. Since childhood her dream has been to travel extensively, and to date she has cast projects and worked in 13 countries. Her early work in documentary film proved an ability to discover and bring performances out of non-actors which has been one of the trademarks of her career.

(Read the full bios: http://wifta.org/annual-gala/)


WIFTA’S 40th anniversary celebration & fundraiser will be held November 8, 2014 at 6:30p at The Wimbish House, which is located at 1150 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30309. The high-brow event will include an elegant reception featuring heavy passed hors d’oeuvres, drinks, music and dancing. The event is open to the public. Tickets ($74 early bird / $94 regular) are available online. Visit http://wifta.org/annual-gala/ for full details and tickets.

Media interested in interviewing our guest speakers or WIFTA president Cheryl Jenkins should contact PR Director BJ Arnett at PublicRelations@wifta.org.

About WIFTA
Women in Film & Television Atlanta (WIFTA), a 501c-3 Georgia non-profit, is a member-based professional organization affiliated with other Women in Film chapters around the world. Since our inception in 1974, the Atlanta chapter has proudly had a membership community of multi-generational and culturally diverse professionals, which include producers, directors. Actors, entertainment attorneys, camera and sound technicians, film editors, graphic design artists, make-up artists, wardrobe specialists, screenwriters. Talent agents and casting directors. WIFTA is dedicated to improving the status and portrayal of women in film, television, video, and other screen based media by offering opportunities for media makers to connect, create, champion, and inspire.