2023 SWIFT Summit Speakers & Panelists

Founder and Production Designer Elise Lacret Zensen curates a hard-working team comprised of skilled, creative and enthusiastic problem-solvers including art directors, carpenters, scenic painters, food stylists, prop masters and art assistants.

Tony Caudill is a multi-faceted film maker from Knoxville, Tennessee, who started his career as an actor in 2011. He began producing in 2017 for a studio in the Smoky Mountains.

Mary McCallum (B.S./M.B.A. Vanderbilt University) is the founder of SistaStyle Productions. “SingleVille” won Best Feature at the Twin Cities Black Film festival and IBFF. “Chasing Jeremy” was a screenplay winner at the British Urban Film Festival and a finalist at the Urban World Film Festival.

Sister Carla Jackson is the founder of Red Letter Awards, a producer/director, author and storyteller, singer, and podcaster. Through humor and the Holy Spirit, Carla is a gifted inspirational speaker on overcoming the trials and tragedies that Satan uses against us.

Dawn Brasher moved to Morristown, TN 4 years ago with her family. She is in love with Art, the Smokey Mountains, and her faith. Dawn danced & acted as a kid. After traveling throughout the US raising her kids . . .

Felicia Andes is an actress, model, vocalist, and writer. Felicia has credits in numerous television commercials, true crime shows, and was recently blessed to film a principal role in a faith-based feature film.

Nise Davies is on a mission to change culture through films and media. After a successful personal career (Miss TN, Miss USA semi-finalist, 300 TV commercials, magazine covers) Nise established Advantage Models & Talent.

Shantell is an award-winning artist and songwriter. Her music has been featured in television shows, news programs and feature films.
Shantell’s music licensing and supervision company, SOsync, was founded in 2011.

L.A. Gray is a multi-award winning director, screenwriter, actor, and public speaker. She is a former Broadway performer who answered the call on her life to make Christian films . . .

Meet Taiisha Bradley, MA, an accomplished Publicist and Creative Strategist transforming the media landscape. With a stellar record, Taiisha has garnered media coverage for clients and herself in Forbes . . .

Rebekah Iliff is a career entrepreneur and award-winning writer/producer based in Tennessee. Her work has been featured in publications ranging from Fast Company, Entrepreneur, and Forbes to Weekly Humorist . . .

David Smith is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, and professor. His most recent narrative short script, The Acolyte, won Best Screenplay at the Southern Horror Film Festival.

Ken Carpenter most recently produced romance/drama “Surprised by Oxford” in the UK and Nashville, followed by sci-fi thriller “The Shift” in Birmingham, which will be released theatrically by Angel Studios in December.

Movie Reviews and More is one of the best outlets in the world having ended up on The Top 60 most Entertaining Television, Radio and Podcasts Hosts on the planet 2022 . . .

Sue was a highly successful business leader as a National Sales Director with an International Cosmetics Company during which she led hundreds of women to business and personal success.

Kim Crabill is an award-winning TV talk-show host, award-winning author, a Board Certified Christian Counselor, and the Founder and Director of Roses and Rainbows Ministry, Inc.,

Lauren has been in franchising since 2008. Since 2012, she’s been using her creative vision and insight into
franchising and management to enhance operations as VP of
Operations at LABikini Franchising. She’s played an integral role in developing the brand.

As an accomplished writer, producer, director, and TV host, Marion MacKenzie Pyle has
dedicated her life to the art of storytelling. With a career spanning several continents (U.S., Australia, and Latin America) she’s worked in . . .

Beverly Keel is dean of MTSU’s College of Media and Entertainment and a music industry activist who works for gender and racial equality in the music industry. She was recently named a national “Change Agent” by Billboard for her efforts . . .

Terrance A. Hurd is founder and director of The Hurd Modeling & Talent Agency, based in Nashville, TN. He has served on the Tennessee Film Commission Advisory Council, the Nashville Film Festival Board, the Nashville Mayor’s Office of Film Advisory Board,. . .

He’s a Nashville-based producer/engineer and musician with Gold and Platinum credits having worked with Dolly Parton, Lonestar, Michael W Smith, Gaither Vocal Band, Ricky Scaggs, and many other artists.

Best known for being the Founder of Bloom In The Dark, Inc., Paula Mosher Wallace is an Ex-Victim determined to use her story of complex trauma, CPTSD, and addiction recovery to help the hurting around the world.

A veteran in the entertainment industry, Lisa is an award-winning director, writer, content developer, and producer with over twenty years’ experience in
Film, Television, and Stage.

Benita Bellamy Kelley is a multiple award-winning Marketing and Public Relations executive with 25 years of experience.

Dale Smith Thomas is an International motivational speaker and best selling author. Dale is a sought-after keynote speaker for large events, major corporations and associations.

Danielle Bloom is not your average rock singer and performer; she possesses a multitude of talents that make her truly exceptional. With a captivating voice that can mesmerize any audience . . .

Carla Christina Contreras is a professional Actress, Singer, Director, Producer, Writer, and Intimacy Coordinator for Film & TV.

Kendall is an executive producer, producer and/or production manager for many projects including music videos, a 30-episode television series Bloom Today,

Edie Hand is a businesswoman, speaker, media personality, filmmaker, international author, and Mom. She has authored or been a part of authoring over twenty-five books.

Ayoka Billions, CSA, began her casting career in Los Angeles and moved it to the Southeast after relocating with her family. She has over 15 years of experience casting feature films . . .

She’s a fixture throughout the southeast where she has delighted fans with her true country voice. She has been featured by Forbes, Jesus Calling, Taste of Country, RFD-TV, Country Rebel, Center Stage Magazine . . .

She is an author and a professional speaker. Tahiera is in the final phase of producing a documentary called; “The Prayer” (Working title). She’s a survivor who has traveled the country . . .

Vanessa Durocher is a full-time model in runway and print. She is also an actor who’s currently working with a studio on the development of a feature film.

Pip Wynans has worked in entertainment for the past 8 years. Starting as a songwriter and independent artist before receiving her Masters in Global Entertainment and Music Business from Berklee College of Music in Valencia, Spain,

Kelly Garner grew up singing gospel music from a young age, attending “Good Ole Gospel Sings” at her grandparents’ church in Alabama. With this God-given love for singing and songwriting,

After starting a Charter Schools in Palm Beach County, she started a new venture as a producer of Faith Based Films with her family and is so excited to be in leadership with Women World Leaders. Her production efforts include Spotlight and the TV Mini Series, The Glitch.