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PRODUCTION INITIATIVEs ASSOCIATION
Investing in our industry and community.
Mission statement
The Production Initiatives Association (PIA) advocates for businesses and stakeholders in New York State's film, television and commercial production industry via enduring and focused lobbying efforts for a competitive tax incentive.
BOARD of DIRECTORS
Rudy Callegari
Co-Founder
Edge Auto Rental
Edge Auto Rental
Andrew Stern
Founder / CEO
Be Electric Studios
Be Electric Studios is a hub for the photo and film production community in NYC that he founded in 2014. Recent clients include Netflix, Food Network, Spotify, HBO Max, ViacomCBS and hundreds of other brands, production companies, photographers, directors, producers and agencies from New York, Los Angeles, Europe and beyond. Be Electric has a diverse array of creative spaces, all certified as New York Level 2 Qualified Production Facility soundstages, and an equipment rental house for in-studio or location shoots.
Andrew is also a photographer, videographer and film producer whose work has taken him to the planet's farthest reaches on countless projects. His primary areas of concentration are on the social and political issues of our times, but he has also photographed campaigns for many titans of industry and technology. His work has won numerous awards and has appeared in Harpers, The New York Times, The Guardian, PBS and many other publications & platforms both domestically and internationally.
Be Electric Studios
Be Electric Studios is a hub for the photo and film production community in NYC that he founded in 2014. Recent clients include Netflix, Food Network, Spotify, HBO Max, ViacomCBS and hundreds of other brands, production companies, photographers, directors, producers and agencies from New York, Los Angeles, Europe and beyond. Be Electric has a diverse array of creative spaces, all certified as New York Level 2 Qualified Production Facility soundstages, and an equipment rental house for in-studio or location shoots.
Andrew is also a photographer, videographer and film producer whose work has taken him to the planet's farthest reaches on countless projects. His primary areas of concentration are on the social and political issues of our times, but he has also photographed campaigns for many titans of industry and technology. His work has won numerous awards and has appeared in Harpers, The New York Times, The Guardian, PBS and many other publications & platforms both domestically and internationally.
Emellie O'Brien
Founder / CEO
Earth Angel
Earth Angel is the leading sustainable production service provider currently operating out of New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta. A pioneer of the sustainable filmmaking movement, she has worked with over 50 major films and TV series to reduce their environmental impact since 2011.
Her leadership on The Amazing Spider-Man 2 contributed to it being acclaimed as “the most eco-friendly blockbuster in Sony Pictures’ history.”
EOB holds a BFA in Film & Television from NYU, is a Climate Reality Corps Leader, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses alum, and 2018 Inc. Magazine 30 Under 30 Rising Star.
Earth Angel
Earth Angel is the leading sustainable production service provider currently operating out of New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta. A pioneer of the sustainable filmmaking movement, she has worked with over 50 major films and TV series to reduce their environmental impact since 2011.
Her leadership on The Amazing Spider-Man 2 contributed to it being acclaimed as “the most eco-friendly blockbuster in Sony Pictures’ history.”
EOB holds a BFA in Film & Television from NYU, is a Climate Reality Corps Leader, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses alum, and 2018 Inc. Magazine 30 Under 30 Rising Star.
Matt Dienstag
Vice President / Owner
LeNoble Lumber
Matt joined the LeNoble family business in 1990. LeNoble Lumber has been the principal supplier of set construction material to the New York Metropolitan Area film and TV industries since 1965.
Matt has spearheaded the company’s commitment to providing sustainable building materials and promoting “green” productions.
Raised on Long Island, Matt graduated from Hofstra University and continued on to Georgetown University Law School where he earned his law degree. He worked as a prosecutor for the State of New York and then was a litigator at Rosenman and Colin, a New York City Law Firm.
Matt is married to Carolyn and they have 2 children, Rachel and Hannah.
LeNoble Lumber
Matt joined the LeNoble family business in 1990. LeNoble Lumber has been the principal supplier of set construction material to the New York Metropolitan Area film and TV industries since 1965.
Matt has spearheaded the company’s commitment to providing sustainable building materials and promoting “green” productions.
Raised on Long Island, Matt graduated from Hofstra University and continued on to Georgetown University Law School where he earned his law degree. He worked as a prosecutor for the State of New York and then was a litigator at Rosenman and Colin, a New York City Law Firm.
Matt is married to Carolyn and they have 2 children, Rachel and Hannah.
Mikel Elliott
Founder / CEO
Quixote Studios
Elliott, Founder and CEO of Quixote Studios LLC, is a fun-loving, creative risk-taker, who describes building his company as a big adventure.
No, Quixote isn’t a wind farm or a donkey sanctuary. It’s actually the market leader in top-notch studio and production services, including Stages, Production Vehicles and Equipment.
Why ‘Quixote’? Elliott likes to dream big – like Don Quixote and his ‘relentless optimism and dogged refusal to accept the limits of reality’.
2020 marks the 25th Anniversary of Quixote Studios. Over the 25 years Quixote has become synonymous with innovative service offerings to the Entertainment Industry. Highly branded, with a dynamic culture of passionate service leaders, Mikel has positioned Quixote to take full advantage of the “Stream Dream".
Quixote Studios
Elliott, Founder and CEO of Quixote Studios LLC, is a fun-loving, creative risk-taker, who describes building his company as a big adventure.
No, Quixote isn’t a wind farm or a donkey sanctuary. It’s actually the market leader in top-notch studio and production services, including Stages, Production Vehicles and Equipment.
Why ‘Quixote’? Elliott likes to dream big – like Don Quixote and his ‘relentless optimism and dogged refusal to accept the limits of reality’.
2020 marks the 25th Anniversary of Quixote Studios. Over the 25 years Quixote has become synonymous with innovative service offerings to the Entertainment Industry. Highly branded, with a dynamic culture of passionate service leaders, Mikel has positioned Quixote to take full advantage of the “Stream Dream".
Diane Wheeler-Nicholson
CEO
Upriver Studios
Co-Founder Second Line Stages, New Orleans. Feasibility consultant for the San Francisco Office of Film and Television. Co-Founder, Friends of the Climate Action Plan
Diane Wheeler has worked in film and television as a producer and entrepreneur for more than 20 years. In 2007, Diane moved to New Orleans to help revitalize the city post-Katrina, building Second Line Stages, the first LEED gold purpose-built media production studio in the country, which positively impacted community building initiatives, economic development, job training and employment and the expansion of the film industry in Louisiana. She is an avid climate change advocate.
Upriver Studios
Co-Founder Second Line Stages, New Orleans. Feasibility consultant for the San Francisco Office of Film and Television. Co-Founder, Friends of the Climate Action Plan
Diane Wheeler has worked in film and television as a producer and entrepreneur for more than 20 years. In 2007, Diane moved to New Orleans to help revitalize the city post-Katrina, building Second Line Stages, the first LEED gold purpose-built media production studio in the country, which positively impacted community building initiatives, economic development, job training and employment and the expansion of the film industry in Louisiana. She is an avid climate change advocate.
William Lindsay III
Principal
Safe Guard Insurance Agency
Bill Lindsay III was first elected County Legislator of the 8th District on November 2013 and then re-elected November 2015 and 2017, representing 80,000 residents.
Upon being elected, Bill fought to end automatic pay increases for elected officials, increased government transparency by strengthening the Legislature’s reporting requirements for lobbyists, and finally put an end to a decades-long political debate by putting forward legislation to consolidate the Treasurer’s office and the Comptroller’s office, saving over $1.29 million.
Additionally, Bill created regional planning alliances, that have facilitated coordination between municipalities as they work to implement the County’s master plan and support regionally significant development projects.
Bill worked on multiple issues concerning organized Labor during his tenure. He worked to implement additional training and continuing education credits for licensed electricians in order for them to maintain their licenses. Strengthened apprenticeship language in County contracts for construction. Co-Chaired the Long Island Manufacturer’s Task Force and worked with LI Federation of Labor to seek an apprenticeship training facility for Long Island. He worked closely with the SC IDA to help retain and attract business and development, partnering with organized labor.
Since leaving elected office Bill became a principal of Safe Guard Insurance Agency and heads up their specialty programs department. Specialty programs focuses on creating customized insurance solutions for specific niche industries. Utilizing his 20 + years of experience in specialty products these programs offer the participants better pricing and enhanced coverage’s to better protect their unique needs.
From 2007 to 2013, Bill served as the Vice President of the Melville Chamber of Commerce. During that time, he chaired their Government Relations Committee and advocated on behalf of the business community.
Bill has also been involved with the Salvation Army in many capacities since 1995. He served on their board for over 15 years - acting as their Chairman from 2005 to 2008. Since 1998, Bill has Co-Chaired their golf committee; which has raised over $750,000 in proceeds to fund summer youth programs for local kids in need. Since 2009, Bill has volunteered his time as a little league coach for Sunrise Little League and he is also a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.
Safe Guard Insurance Agency
Bill Lindsay III was first elected County Legislator of the 8th District on November 2013 and then re-elected November 2015 and 2017, representing 80,000 residents.
Upon being elected, Bill fought to end automatic pay increases for elected officials, increased government transparency by strengthening the Legislature’s reporting requirements for lobbyists, and finally put an end to a decades-long political debate by putting forward legislation to consolidate the Treasurer’s office and the Comptroller’s office, saving over $1.29 million.
Additionally, Bill created regional planning alliances, that have facilitated coordination between municipalities as they work to implement the County’s master plan and support regionally significant development projects.
Bill worked on multiple issues concerning organized Labor during his tenure. He worked to implement additional training and continuing education credits for licensed electricians in order for them to maintain their licenses. Strengthened apprenticeship language in County contracts for construction. Co-Chaired the Long Island Manufacturer’s Task Force and worked with LI Federation of Labor to seek an apprenticeship training facility for Long Island. He worked closely with the SC IDA to help retain and attract business and development, partnering with organized labor.
Since leaving elected office Bill became a principal of Safe Guard Insurance Agency and heads up their specialty programs department. Specialty programs focuses on creating customized insurance solutions for specific niche industries. Utilizing his 20 + years of experience in specialty products these programs offer the participants better pricing and enhanced coverage’s to better protect their unique needs.
From 2007 to 2013, Bill served as the Vice President of the Melville Chamber of Commerce. During that time, he chaired their Government Relations Committee and advocated on behalf of the business community.
Bill has also been involved with the Salvation Army in many capacities since 1995. He served on their board for over 15 years - acting as their Chairman from 2005 to 2008. Since 1998, Bill has Co-Chaired their golf committee; which has raised over $750,000 in proceeds to fund summer youth programs for local kids in need. Since 2009, Bill has volunteered his time as a little league coach for Sunrise Little League and he is also a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.
initiatives committee
Emellie O'Brien
Chair
Shattered Prism