Yes, that's a sheep. Think of it as yarn on the hoof.
Cynthia Sharpe
Co-FOUNDER, HBIC
...ran screaming from academia and an intended career as a human geneticist, and fell headlong into the world of themed entertainment as a museum wonk. Starting with a stint at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, and now as a Principal at Thinkwell Group, she's had the opportunity to see the power and impact of cultural attractions and entertainment around the world.
She believes we have a responsibility to do better: to create workplaces where every voice is valued and entertainment where everyone has an opportunity to see themselves positively reflected. Winner of the Roy L Shafer Leading Edge Award for Leadership in the Field (non-CEO) from the Association of Science and Technology Centers and an inaugural Blooloop 50 Museum Influencer recipient, she holds tightly to a teaching from the Pirkei Avot: “You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.”
How she probably looks right now.
Nicola 'Nikky' Rossini
Co-Founder, HBIC
She got tired of watching her industries add infinite "Next Gen" programs only to abandon people at 30 and decided that rather than just Life Coach one person at a time, we'd build an army to help raise each other up in response to the attrition of talented, brilliant, creative women tired of slamming their heads against brick walls.
Falling down the rabbit hole of Immersive Entertainment from Live Shows and Festivals meant Nicola brought with her a passion for supporting artists and technical minds on accelerated timelines, tackling multi-level integration with a decoder ring of understanding from interests best described as "Yes, and..." Typically most often found in airport terminals but now trotting the globe via Zoom, she’s out Riding Chaos whether that's recovering projects, defending show, clearing the paths to action and delivery, or helping coach artists and creators to their deepest truth.
Trent: her eyes are always on the prize.
Trent Oliver
Advisory Board
Trent's storied career embodies the circuitous path so many of us take. After starting in theatrical production, migrating into film and digital creation, she said to hell with it and co-founded her own company, Blue Telescope. As Managing Director, she's overseen the company grow to be both respected and lauded, guiding an in-house team that's won more than 100 awards for creativity (including an AAM Muse Award) for their engaging, boundary-pushing interactives. She's executive produced projects for a constellation of big-name clients. And she is more than over having people she shocked that she is female and competent and technologically savvy and the head of the firm.
A rare moment when she's not wrangling projects like the boss she is
Fri Forjindam
Advisory Board
Hailing all the way from Cameroon, West Africa, by way of New Orleans with an MFA-layover at Columbia University, Fri has created distinctive guest experiences in film, theatre, publishing and live events. She has done it all, from waiting tables and acting in national commercials, to serving as creative director for Bollywood Parks in Dubai and PM for the Los Angeles Downtown Latin Museum Gala Opening and T-Mobile HTC’s corporate tours, while si. Simply put, when it comes to working the room, She's done it! As a featured consultant expert on national networks including KTLA, FOX and Huffington Post, Fri led an online movement to shed a more positive light on multi-cultural and interracial marriages, through Wedding Nouveau magazine, a premier online and print global lifestyle publication. When not multi-tasking like a beast, Fri can be found watching indie art house movies and contemplating her next hostile take-over.
The mug speaks truth.
Traci is also an international woman of mystery
Sarah Cole
Advisory Board
Sarah Cole stumbled into museums by way of leaving med school (thanks to some crap assumptions about her path as a female doctor and failings of the mental health system) and needing a job. She fell in love with not what museums are but what they could be, and has been stumbling in fits and starts to push rocks up hills. She started in the trenches at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, moved through a few other organizations, served as VP for Guest Experience at the Adler Planetarium, and is now the Executive Director of the Glazer Children’s Museum in Tampa.
Having spent the last decade telling other people “You’ve got to meet so and so…” she’s ready to join and help lead this army. As a queer, cis, white, privileged mom, she pushes for intersectionality and centering of underrepresented voices. Still learning, falling down, trying to do better every day. Fired Up. Ready to go.
Traci Klainer
Advisory Board
Traci's entertainment career started as a child actress/singer until as a teen she realized that she wasn't very good, and so she went to college to be a lawyer. However, her love for the entertainment world persisted and she ended up with a double major in Theatre and Government, and she fell (almost literally) into lighting design. After getting her MFA from NYU, Traci spent years designing theatre and then realized that "Telling Stories with Light" was her passion and that working in many different fields allowed her to reach more people...Broadway, museums, theme parks, and much more.
For over 18 years, in addition to her continuing theatre career, Traci led the team of Luce Group, a New York-based, woman-owned design firm that specializes in lighting design for museums, themed environments, and live entertainment. With many fulfilling and successful lighting projects under her belt, Traci expanded her reach and transitioned to leading teams as a Creative Director. She was honored when Blooloop recognized her as Top 50 Theme Park Influencer of 2019. Her adventure continues...