Executive Biography

Reesa Ryder

Founder & CEO

Reesa Ryder is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Holiday Channel. Reesa brings 30 years of business management and leadership experience in PR, government affairs, event planning, and human resources. She earned an MBA from Chapman University, a BA from UCLA and graduated from Georgetown University’s International Business Executive Program. Her multicultural experience includes traveling to 30+ countries on 5 continents and working for Coca-Cola in Barcelona, Spain. Reesa also holds an accreditation from Public Relations Society of America and a certification for CORO Foundation’s Public Affairs Leadership Program.

 

Favorite Holiday Movie:Valentine’s Day

Favorite Holiday Food:Thanksgiving Dinner — all of it!

Favorite Holiday Drink:Hot Spiced Cider

Executive Biography

Romell Foster-Owens

Chief Content Officer

Romell Foster-Owens is the Chief Content Officer for Holiday Channel. She is responsible for content strategy, original programming, and the creative teams. She is an Emmy-award winning producer, director and writer for motion pictures and TV. Romell is the recipient of numerous honors and awards including being selected for Robert De Niro’s Tribeca All Access Program in 2004 and Producers Guild of America’s Diversity Master Workshop in 2009. Romell received an MFA from American Film Institute and a BA from San Diego State University.

 

Favorite Holiday Movie:A Christmas Story

Favorite Holiday Food:Peach Cobbler

Favorite Holiday Drink:Margarita

Executive Biography

Tamilyn Bonney

Film Festival Coordinator

Tamilyn Bonney is the Vice President of Retail Partnerships for Holiday Channel. In this role, she leads affiliate sales, retail and partnership marketing. Tamiyn’s professional career in entertainment spans from global retail and partnership marketing to consumer products and digital marketing. She has led major promotions for both film and TV properties for 20th Century Fox, NBC Universal, DreamWorks, Paramount, Warner Bros. and Sony Pictures. Tamilyn has managed licensing and merchandising strategies for mass retail accounts like Walmart, Target, and Amazon. Tamilyn holds MA and BA degrees in Behavioral Science.

 

Favorite Holiday Movie:Christmas in the City

Favorite Holiday Food:Macaroni & Cheese

Favorite Holiday Drink:Red Velvet Ice Blended Mocha

Executive Biography

Kripa Koshy

Content director

Kripa Koshy is the Content Director for Holiday Channel. With more than 10 years of global experience developing and producing multi-platform content, Kripa has led creative teams for premium news shows, docu-series, food reality, lifestyle TV and digital media networks with up to 55 million reach. Kripa has held director, producer, show runner and executive producer positions at AETN’s History Channel, Times Network, CNBC, Ping, and Food Food. Kripa earned an MBA-MFA in Producing for Film and TV from Chapman University, an MA in Broadcast Journalism, and a BA in English Literature.

 

Favorite Holiday Movie:Home Alone

Favorite Holiday Food:Appam & Chicken Stew

Favorite Holiday Drink:Bailey’s Irish Cream

Executive Biography

Euan Beith

Film Festival Team Lead

Euan Beith is a lead film festival intern helping coordinate the inaugural Holidays 365 International Film Festival and assisting in community outreach.

 

Favorite Holiday:Christmas

Favorite Holiday Movie:The Polar Express

Favorite Holiday Drink:Irish Cream Coffee

Executive Biography

Jessica Johnson

Film Festival Team Lead

I'm a project lead intern helping coordinate and screen submissions, which feels like the perfect blend of my love for film festivals and my passion for holidays!

 

Favorite Holiday: Christmas/Thanksgiving

Favorite Holiday Movie:Christmas Vacation

Favorite Holiday Drink:Starbucks' Holiday Caramel Brulee Latte

Executive Biography

Gavin Cook

Film Festival Coordinator

I'm an accounting undergrad in my final year at Chapman University.

 

Favorite Holiday:Christmas

Favorite Holiday Movie:How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Favorite Holiday Drink:Eggnog

Executive Biography

Jazmine Morales

Film Festival Coordinator

I am currently a Sociology major at UCLA. I love cooking, going on hikes, and spending time with my friends. One of things in my busket list is to travel and visit as many countries as I can!

 

Favorite Holiday:Halloween

Favorite Holiday Movie:Monster House

Favorite Holiday Drink:Hot Chocolate

Executive Biography

Kevin Salazar

Film Festival Coordinator

 

Favorite Holiday:Halloween

Favorite Holiday Movie:It's A Wonderful Life

Favorite Holiday Drink:Eggnog

Executive Biography

Joseph Gonzalez

Film Festival Coordinator

As a Film Festival Coordinater, I have had the opportunity to gain insight on how to conduct a festival efficently as well as experince within the industry. The festival has not only motivated me to pursue creating productions but as well as how to navigate the undusty to help other creators and increase diversity!

 

Favorite Holiday:Halloween

Favorite Holiday Movie:Die Hard

Favorite Holiday Drink:Champurrado