OUR TEAM
Becky Benavides: After working in high-profile advertising agencies in Austin and San Antonio, Becky opened her own writing, producing, and creative communications consultancy service in 2003. Best known for her award-winning tourism campaigns for San Antonio, which fully utilized Becky’s instinct and inclination for the art of storytelling. Her work for the SA Convention and Visitor's Bureau led her to massive collection of books, articles, brochures, and clippings on thousands of fascinating stories that make up the history of our city. Becky’s work has won multiple Gold and Silver awards from the New York One Show, multiple national Addys, and Gold and Silver awards from the New York Art Directors Show. She has also been named to Adweek Magazine’s Creative All-Star Team.
Michael Bowie: This award-winning cinematographer-director envisioned the idea of this project as a way to honor and give back to a city that has been so good to him. Michael’s love of telling historical stories began back in 1975 when he filmed over 250 segments on Texas history for broadcast called Reflections on Texas. Michael has worked with clients around the world for over 30 years. His commercials, documentaries and corporate films have received national CLIOS, awards from the National Advertising Federation of America, and Emmy nominations. A 30-year veteran of national and international film production, Michael has filmed over 20 hours of primetime documentary programming for History Channel, National Geographic and PBS, etc., including Wilderness Road, First Invasion—The War of 1812, The Lost Book of Nostradamus, Jurassic Fight Club, Nostradamus 2012, and Eclipse Chasers - Easter Island.
Randall Rudd: A fifth-generation Texan with over 20 years in the film biz, Rudd produced and directed thousands of broadcast projects. As a former Creative Director at Paramount Pictures, Abel Image Research, Energy Productions and Creative Alliance, Rudd has distinguished himself internationally in the fields of movies, animation/CGI, EFX and VR. Rudd collaborated on the world's first 4-D project, Disney’s “Captain EO” with producer George Lucas, director Frances Coppola and Michael Jackson, and has been awarded numerous local, regional, national and international awards from Cannes Lions, Clio’s, Monitor’s, Telly’s, and over 50 Addy awards.
Frank Faulkner: Author Frank Faulkner was a librarian with the San Antonio Public Library for thirty-seven years. The last nineteen years were in the Texana/Genealogy Department, and the last thirteen years of that were as the Department’s Manager. By nature, Frank is a researcher. His skills and experience in this arena led him to author Historic Photos of San Antonio for Turner Publishing. He and his wife co-authored San Antonio Cemeteries Historic District for Arcadia Publishing. Over the years, he has also assisted many writers with their personal and professional research projects. For his role in the Tricentennial TV project, Frank will help source historical visuals such as photos, drawings, paintings, and documents, and for researching and vetting the scripts for historical accuracy.
Michele Stanush: A fourth-generation San Antonian with 35 years of experience in research, writing, and print and video editing, Michele has won numerous awards, honors, and recognition for her work. As an editor in Princeton, N.J., she worked on documentary projects for the New York Times and Harvard University. Michele has been a reporter/journalist at the Austin American-Statesman and at the San Antonio Express-News, and she has continued her work in documentary filmmaking in San Antonio. Regarding the Tricentennial TV project, Michele will source historical visuals and deal with usages, permissions, copyright issues, and fee negotiation. She will also be involved in contributing story ideas for the scripts.
Deb Bolner: Deb's career has spanned the advertising, marketing, strategic planning, and statistical data arenas with entrepreneurship in new products, distribution and ecommerce. She has received many industry and community accolades including AdWeek Magazine Woman of the Year, Small Business Leader of the Year, "40 under 40," Outstanding Marketing Person of the Decade, Public Library "Champion", and nominated by NAWBO as Entrepreneur of the Year. Deb is active in the community currently serving on Past President Council of SA Library Foundation, on the Board of Los Compadres, and is an elected Councilwoman for the City of Olmos Park.