Skip to main content

GI Film Festival San Diego 2017

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 2017 Advisory Committee Members

  • Aaron J. Brooks, Operations & Supply Chain Officer, Aviation Logistics – Third Marine Aircraft Wing, USMC
  • Tiana Babcock, Assistant Housing Manager, Fisher House San Diego
  • Ashley Camac, Center Director, USO San Diego
  • Jodi Cilley, Founder & President, Film Consortium San Diego
  • Kevin Cortes, USMC (Ret.)
  • John Decker, Director of Programming, KPBS
  • Jay Jee, USMC (Ret.); Actor
  • Todd Kennedy,  First Sergeant, USMC (Ret.); Veterans Coordinator, Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center at SDSU
  • Bob Lawrence, Staff Sergeant Air Force Reserves (Ret.); former broadcast military reporter
  • Sheldon Margolis, Captain, USN (Ret.); Executive Director, The Veterans Museum at Balboa Park
  • Lisa Marcolongo, Public Relations Manager, Elizabeth Hospice
  • Nico Marcolongo, Officer, USMC (Ret.); Senior Manager, Operation Rebound, Challenged Athletes Foundation
  • RanDee McLain, USN (Ret.); MSW & Program Manager, Courage to Call; 2014 San Diego County Veteran of the Year
  • Joan Putnam, Director, Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center at SDSU
  • Staci Reidinger, USMC Communications Strategist; SDSU School of Journalism and Media Studies military liaison & student mentor
  • Trisha Richter, Grants & Corporate Giving Manager, KPBS
  • Daniel Romero, San Diego Military Family Collaborative Manager at SAY San Diego
  • Phillip Sammuli, Director of Corporate Relations, Armed Services YMCA San Diego
  • Holly Shaffner, Lieutenant Commander, USCG (Ret.), Military Liaison Officer, Joan & Art Barron Veterans Center at SDSU
  • Nancy Worlie, Associate General Manager of Content and Communications, KPBS