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GI Film Festival San Diego

Advisory Committee

Advisory Committee members. Top row (from left to right): Tiana Caylor Babcock, Joan Putnam, Aaron J. Brooks, Bob Lawrence. Bottom row (from left to right): Todd Kennedy, Holly Shaffner, Jodi Cilley, Colleen Cordaro, Sheldon Margolis, John Decker.

Top row (from left to right): Tiana Caylor Babcock, Joan Putnam, Aaron J. Brooks, Bob Lawrence.
Bottom row (from left to right): Todd Kennedy, Holly Shaffner, Jodi Cilley, Colleen Cordaro, Sheldon Margolis, John Decker.


The Advisory Committee consists of community leaders and organizations who have a passion for public media, cinema, storytelling, the military, and veterans.

Committee members provide meaningful support during the planning of the festival, including promotions, speaker recommendations, media relations and film selection. They also judge submissions to the local film showcase and vote on the award finalists.

The 2016 Advisory Committee Members

  • Aaron J. Brooks, Operations & Supply Chain Officer, Aviation Logistics – Third Marine Aircraft Wing, U.S. Marine Corps
  • Tiana Caylor Babcock, Assistant Housing Manager, Fisher House San Diego
  • Jodi Cilley, Founder & President, Film Consortium San Diego
  • Colleen Cordaro, Social Media and Web Manager, USO San Diego
  • John Decker, Director of Programming, KPBS
  • Jay Jee, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.); Actor
  • Todd Kennedy,  First Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.); Veterans Coordinator, Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center at SDSU
  • Bob Lawrence, Staff Sergeant Air Force Reserves (former); broadcast military reporter (Ret.)
  • Sheldon Margolis, Captain, U.S. Navy (Ret.); Executive Director, The Veterans Museum at Balboa Park
  • Nico Marcolongo, Officer, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.); Senior Manager, Operation Rebound, Challenged Athletes Foundation
  • Lisa Marcolongo, Public Relations Manager, Elizabeth Hospice
  • RanDee McLain, U.S. Navy; MSW & Progam Manager, Courage to Call
  • Monica Medina, Director of Diversity, Engagement, and Grants, KPBS
  • Tim Ney, Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.); Executive Director, Armed Services YMCA San Diego
  • Joan Putnam, Director, Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center at SDSU
  • Phillip Sammuli, Director of Corporate Relations, Armed Services YMCA San Diego
  • Holly Shaffner, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.), Military Liaison Officer, Joan & Art Barron Veterans Center at SDSU
  • Nancy Worlie, Associate General Manager of Content and Communications, KPBS