- Principal, Creative Director
617.789.4344 ext. 202
akukura@nlprod.comAndrew Kukura is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and Principal/Creative Director of Northern Light Productions, where he has been producing both short and long-form films and interactive media for over twenty-five years. His recent documentary credits include producing and directing Revealed: The Hunt of Bin Laden, a two-hour History Channel special featuring interviews with Presidents Obama and Bush, Secretaries Clinton and Gates, and members of Seal Team Six, produced with the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. Other notable credits include The Dhamma Brothers, a theatrically released feature about the profound effect of Vipassana meditation on inmates in a maximum-security prison in Alabama, which won numerous awards and was featured as part of Oprah's Soul Series. Andrew has been Creative Director on multimillion-dollar media projects at museums and visitor centers including the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Tennessee State Museum, and the Canadian Museum of History, among others. His work has been featured on NPR, PBS, The New York Times, OWN, History Channel, Hulu, and Netflix. - Principal, Creative Director
617.789.4344 ext. 212
tlay@nlprod.comTim is Principal of Northern Light and Producer and Project Manager of many of the company’s award-winning signature films for museums, visitor centers and broadcast television. Many of his past projects have focused on interpreting science, technology, and natural history. Tim's credits include Message from the Mountain, a cinematic experience about the eruption of Mount St. Helens for the U.S. Forest Service Johnston Ridge Observatory, and Land to Life, the orientation film for the main visitor center at Yellowstone National Park, and the Mammals Hall at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
- Senior Editor
617.789.4344
adegonzalez@nlprod.comAlexandra is an award-winning Editor and Filmmaker with more than two decades of experience in both production and post production. As an independent Editor, she creates engaging, compelling stories about art, theater, history, social justice, and our shared human experience. Her work has been featured on PBS, WGBH, at the MFA, and multiple film festivals around the world. Alexandra is fluent in German, proficient in Spanish and French. She has an MS in Philanthropy and Media from Suffolk, and an MA in Cultural Studies from McGill. - Senior Producer
617.789.4344 ext. 228
bseidl@nlprod.comBarbara is an award-winning Producer with over 25 years of production experience. Her career includes eight years of international field production for a PBS documentary series, five years creating engaging online stories for PBS Learning Media, and the production of large-scale museum projects. Barbara's particularly well-versed in documentaries about the natural world, having produced nationally broadcast PBS documentaries about the preservation of wild tigers in India, the preservation of wild cranes in China, and the development of safe water resources in some of the planet’s most isolated communities. She joined Northern Light in 2016 and has produced media for museums, including the First Division Museum and the Mob Museum. She holds an MA in Communication from Cornell University and a BA in Education from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. - Director of Media Production
617.789.4344 ext. 203
bavishai@nlprod.comBen has been working with Northern Light for over two decades as a Senior Writer, Producer and Project Manager. He's written and produced numerous permanent museum installations and documentaries for television during this time. His extensive past experience includes writing for the Mob Museum, the Mystic Seaport Museum, and the Mississippi Museum of History. He also co-wrote the script for Confessions of the Boston Strangler and wrote the script for Whitey Bulger: The Making of A Monster, two riveting stories of nationwide interest with a local, Boston-based focus. In addition to his producing and writing credits, Ben is also a skilled audio engineer. He holds a BA in English, History, and Political Science from the University of Toronto. - Founder
617.789.4344 ext. 210
bcram@nlprod.comBestor is an award-winning Director, Producer and Cinematographer. Since founding Northern Light in 1982, he's directed innumerable media elements for museum installations, documentaries for broadcast, and multi-screen presentations. Many of his projects include media produced for nationally recognized museums including the National World War II Museum, Ford’s Theatre for Education & Leadership, and the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. Bestor's produced work for federal and state institutions such as the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As an acclaimed independent filmmaker, Bestor’s documentaries have premiered at festivals including Sundance Film Festival, AFI’s Silverdocs Film Festival, and the Independent Film Festival of Boston and been broadcast on PBS, Discovery Channel, Sundance Channel, and more. Prior to his filmmaking career, Bestor served in the Vietnam War as an engineer in the U.S. Marine Corps. - Senior Producer
617.789.4344
bwaltch@nlprod.comBonnie is a Producer and Writer for museum exhibit media, television documentaries, and corporate videos. At Northern Light, she's worked on projects for the National World War II Museum,the American Writers Museum, the Western Reserve Historical Society, the Mob Museum, the Tennessee State Museum, and the University of Nebraska State Museum. She loves making complex historical and scientific subjects accessible and compelling for viewers, bringing stories to life with engaging narratives and creative visuals. Also a fiction writer, Bonnie brings a passion for drama and story structure to her work. She holds a BA in Semiotics from Brown University. - Associate Producer
617.789.4344
cbenoit@nlprod.comCharlotte Benoit joined Northern Light in 2023 as an Associate Producer after having earned a Certificate in Collaborative Filmmaking from Maine Media College + Workshops. Before that, Charlotte went to Vassar College, where she was captain of the women's rugby team and graduated with a BA in History. Her background in history, special education, and film has inspired her to help others learn through the power of storytelling. In her free time, Charlotte enjoys writing, directing, and acting in narrative projects, as well as playing softball and snowboarding. - Marketing Associate
617.789.4344 ext. 240
erippel@nlprod.comElena joined Northern Light in 2017 as a Marketing Associate. She comes from a public history background, having collaborated on several public history projects and worked at museums and National Park Service sites. Passionate about audience-centered interpretation, she enjoys how audiovisual media presents creative opportunities to interpret time and place. Elena holds an MA in History from Indiana University and a BA in History and German Studies from Oberlin College. Outside of work, she enjoys playing flute and piano, dancing, and spending as much time as possible outdoors. - Lead Animator
617.789.4344 ext. 221
ecarlsen@nlprod.comEric joined Northern Light in 2010 and has brought a range of skills and experience to the team. In his role as Lead Animator, he's worked on numerous permanent museum installations and documentaries for television. Some highlights of his work include the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, the San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico, the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, New York, and the Canadian History Hall in Quebec, Canada. Eric holds a BA in New Media from the University of Maine and a Certificate in 3D Animation from the Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts. - Senior Interactive Developer
617.789.4344 ext. 237
eschipellite@nlprod.comBlending technical expertise with creative vision, Evan has been involved in Interactive and Game Development for several years. While studying Game Programming at Champlain College, he acted as the Lead Developer at the Champlain Emergent Media Center, a local studio building innovative applications and media for the state of Vermont. After relocating to Massachusetts, Evan began work as an Interactive Developer at surrounding media firms, assisting in building and optimizing development teams by incorporating methods for code collaboration, build deployment, and project management. He now provides a large range of technical design skills to Northern Light, building on his unique background in creating engaging user experiences on a variety of hardware devices. - Senior Editor
617.789.4344 ext. 219
gfukushima@nlprod.comGlenn has worked on a multitude of interesting live and post-production projects for more than twenty years. In 2016, he joined the Northern Light editorial team. Prior to that, he was an Editor at American Experience at WGBH Boston, where he worked on programs like the Emmy award-winning "JFK." His projects with Northern Light include telling the heartbreaking stories of First Nation Canadians, celebrating the contributions of U.S. military members, and The Last Speech, a documentary film centered around the last major speech John F. Kennedy gave before his assassination. - Animator
617.789.4344 ext. 214
hcincotta@nlprod.comHanah began working at Northern Light Productions as an animation intern in the fall of 2020 as part of her college curriculum, during which she worked on motion graphics for the Canadian Museum of History and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. She recently joined Northern Light Productions after graduating from Lesley University with a BFA in Animation & Motion Media and a minor in biology in 2022. With a deep fascination and enthusiasm for both animated storytelling and the natural world, Hanah loves to create unique pieces of animation that entertain and educate her audience. - Senior Animator
617.789.4344 ext. 235
jcarlsen@nlprod.comJames has been working at Northern Light since 2012, during which time his work in character animation and motion graphics have been featured in numerous museum exhibits in the U.S. and Canada. His most recent work includes motion graphics for the American Writers Museum, the First Division Museum, and the Canadian Museum of History. James is passionate about fictional storytelling and is working on an animated series for the web called Z-Boy with his partner Zoë. A graduate of Massachusetts College of Art and Design, he holds a BFA in Animation. - Senior Interactive Producer
617.789.4344 ext. 227
jdoherty@nlprod.comJennifer has been producing and managing interactive projects for museums, media companies, corporations, and government agencies over 20 years. She has extensive management experience in all phases of interactive production including concept development, interactive design, media production, software development, installation, and testing. At Northern Light, she's worked on projects such as the Mob Museum and the Museum of Mississippi History. Before coming to Northern Light, Jennifer was the Digital Projects Manager for PBS’s NOVA, the long-running science series. At NOVA, Jennifer managed a team of digital content producers, designers, and software developers in the design and creation of award-winning educational websites, web applications, and mobile apps. She holds a BA in Mass Communication from Emerson College. - Senior Producer
617.789.4344 ext. 244
jalexander@nlprod.comJenny has been a Producer with Northern Light since 2007. She has produced several historical media elements for permanent museum installations, documentaries for broadcast, and multi-screen presentations. Her credits include the National Toy Hall of Fame at the Strong National Museum of Play, the Hyperion Environmental Learning Center, the Maritime Museum of San Diego, and several projects produced for the National Park Service. Prior to joining Northern Light, Jenny worked as a community organizer and educator, including producing film projects with high schoolers. She has an MA in Film from Boston University and a BA in Biology from Oberlin College. - Cinematographer, Editor
617.789.4344 ext. 209
jbeecher@nlprod.comThe beauty of many of Northern Light’s films can be attributed to Jesse Beecher, Northern Light’s staff Director of Photography since 2007. Jesse has extensive experience in large sensor HD shooting, 4K shooting, aerial shooting, knowledge of chip settings, lenses/vintage lenses, and dramatic/scenic lighting skills. Jesse’s work can be seen at various museums, visitor centers, and institutions both near and far. Recently, he shot Northern Light’s feature documentary, Birth of A Movement: The Battle Against America’s First Blockbuster, which aired on PBS. He also filmed various media elements for the First Division Museum, including a complex virtual reality program. In addition to being a Cinematographer, Jesse is a talented graphic artist. He holds a BA in Documentary Film Production from Emerson College. - Associate Producer
617.789.4344
jmackler@nlprod.comAfter graduating from Bennington College in 2022, with concentrations in Film, Linguistics, Chinese, and Japanese, Joey joined Northern Light Productions in fall of the same year. Their previous work includes a number of short narrative and documentary-style films that they wrote, directed, shot, and edited. During college, Joey gained skills and experience in research and animation, as well as a TV credit on a PBS documentary series. Their two great passions are storytelling linked to culture in a variety of media, and languages. In leisure time, Joey likes watching good narrative content from all over the world in addition to studying and creating languages. - Accounting Assistant
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kpierre@nlprod.comKarene Pierre is Northern Light’s Assistant Bookkepper and helps the finance department run smoothly by taking care of accounts payable. She has over twenty years of experience in finance, mainly with small non-profit companies. Karene has a BA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and an MA from Cambridge College. In her free time, she loves to travel and go on pilgrimages, especially to the Holy Land, Italy, Africa, and Asia. - Senior Graphic Designer
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kshah@nlprod.comKunjal is a graphic designer, typographer with 18+ years of experience in strategic brand design, iconic graphics, interactive design, print, packaging and digital media. A dynamic collaborator with multi-discipline creators, she has an inventive approach to bringing stories to life, from concept to execution. After 15 years in Advertising and Corporate Design, Kunjal now designs for forward-thinking clients with a shared belief in education and social change at Northern Light Production. Passionate about design thinking, she believes that meaningful communication requires a deep understanding of the purpose and the audience. Some of her recent and on-going work includes designing digital interactive exhibits for Museum of Mississippi History, American Writers Museum, Dana-Farber, and the Tennessee State Museum. - Senior Producer
617.789.4344 ext. 206
lrotman@nlprod.comOn staff at Northern Light since 1985, Lenny Rotman has played a significant role in numerous major Northern Light museum contracts as Producer, Director, and Project Manager. Much of his work has centered around the National Park Service, including contracts throughout the continental United States, Puerto Rico, and Guam at military parks, historic parks, battlefields, and national monuments. In addition, Lenny has produced media for public broadcast, The Library of Congress, and many nationally recognized state and private museums including the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, the National Navy SEAL Museum, the International Spy Museum, the Louisiana State Museum, the Western Reserve Historical Society, and the Woodstock Museum. - Senior Interactive Producer
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mdorgan@nlprod.comMark has over two decades of experience leading multidisciplinary creative teams in the design and development of compelling interactive media for museums, zoos, aquariums, and sports venues. Mark specializes in using meaningful play and rich storytelling to create powerful learning experiences. Leveraging a variety of technologies, his unique projects have seamlessly blended digital media with tactile multimodal interfaces to engage visitors in surprising ways. Through reliable communication, Mark cultivates collaborative partnerships with clients and team members to deliver exceptional projects that center around a robust visitor experience. He holds a BA in Film Studies and Mass Communications from Rhode Island College. - Producer
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mmaclean@nlprod.comMatthew came to Northern Light with 10 years of experience as a journalist, where he honed his tight writing style and meticulous editing skills. While continuing a freelance career in print, he's since concentrated on writing for the screen while also utilizing his reporting skills for interviews and research, first as an Associate Producer and today as a Writer and Producer at Northern Light. He holds an MA in Journalism from the University of California, Berkeley, and a BA in Journalism and International Relations from Brigham Young University. - Associate Producer
617.789.4344 ext. 207
msandberg@nlprod.comMichela studied Sociology, Film Studies, and Linguistics at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and cut her teeth in the film industry working as an archival assistant on a Hulu-released true crime series and as a production assistant on-set of an HBO Max series. Since joining NLP as an Associate Producer in 2021, she has used her research and analytical skills working on projects including the Mark Twain Center for Transatlantic Relations in Germany and a film about Frederick Douglass for the National Parks Foundation. She especially enjoys the creative process of finding archival imagery and collaborating with a team to develop a project to the final edit. - Associate Producer
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mli@nlprod.comMichelle joined Northern Light Productions in 2022 shortly after graduating from Tufts University. With an academic background in film and social and environmental issues, she is eager to combine her interests by using media to highlight important stories that incite meaningful change and inspire, educate, and entertain audiences. Michelle is passionate about film, sustainable development, breakfast, photography, cats, and making the perfect playlist. - Senior Producer
617.789.4344 ext. 213
mobrien@nlprod.comMolly specializes in the design and production of video programs and interactives at Northern Light. She researches, writes, and produces non-fiction, short-format media and interactive exhibits for permanent museum installations. She works with clients from various museums and visitor centers across the country to guide a project from its conceptual phase to the creation of a fully installed audiovisual exhibit. Recently, she produced the award-winning exhibit media about the enslaved community who lived and worked at James Madison’s Montpelier. Molly feels that every project is a chance to learn something new and engage diverse audiences; she holds a BA in English from Wesleyan University. - Associate Producer
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mwynkoop@nlprod.comMorgan's first time at Northern Light Productions was as a spring intern prior to her completion of her Bachelor's in Communications Media from Fitchburg State University. With her previous experience in student leadership roles like President of Black Student Union and earning "Video Student of the Year Award" her hard work and determination to be a leader for others and do her best has never stopped. Her most recent documentary "Black Lives Matter: Voices of the Past and Present" has also been featured at many festivals such as Middlesex Film Festival, Film FWD Festival, and Newburyport Documentary Film Festival in 2021. Through her work, during college, she has honed in on her interests in documentaries and creating films that focus on educating and bringing awareness to others. In her personal time, Morgan enjoys taking care of her plants, watching anime, and hiking with her family. - Production Accountant
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nkronenberg@nlprod.comNicky has been Northern Light's Bookkeeper since 2001. She's worked in financial administration with various small businesses—both private and public companies—including ten years in law and several years in real estate investment. Adept at bringing her accounting and related business administration skills to multi-faceted small business environments, Nicky especially appreciates the challenges of working with a staff of creative, collaborative professionals in Northern Light's always-changing production environment. - Editor
617.789.4344 ext. 204
norsini@nlprod.comNicole joined Northern Light Productions in 2020, after graduating from Boston University’s film program. Her work at NLP has spanned across several different productions; she is always on her toes for whatever comes next. Nicole is passionate about storytelling and seeks to use editing as a means through which powerful messages can be cultivated and shared, spanning from untold histories to important conversations about social injustice, inequity, and more. At home, she enjoys taking care of her hundreds of houseplants, joined by a freshly brewed cup of coffee. - Animator
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palmonte@nlprod.comPaola Almonte is a talented animator and motion media artist with a BFA in Animation and Motion Media from Lesley University. She has honed her skills in 2D and 3D animation through internships and projects, showcasing her work on platforms like the Boston Marquee, asset creation for mobile app development and the recent virtual/hybrid shows with White Snake Projects. Beyond her animation career, in her leisure time, she enjoys watching videos, animated films, documentaries, and engaging in online learning like coding to develop her tech skills, making 3D projects on her personal computer, reading about new tech, and playing various video game genres. Paola is driven to inspire others from diverse backgrounds, serving as a role model for people of color, women, and individuals with disabilities. Currently working as an animator at Northern Light Productions, she brings a unique perspective and unwavering dedication to every project. - Editor
617.789.4344
tmccoy@nlprod.comFor over a decade, Tim has been managing the analog and digital media archives of film and video production studios, large and small. Once one of Northern Light's acclaimed and award-winning projects is completed, Tim meticulously cataloges and archives the assets in Northern Light's state-of-the-art, secure data storage system. When he’s not knee-deep in metadata, Tim can also be found in an editing suite. He's contributed to Northern Light programs such as Watkins Glen State Park, the Tennessee State Museum, and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. Outside of work, he enjoys badminton, windsurfing, and long walks in the park. - Interactive Developer
617.789.4344
vdemarco@nlprod.comViolet joined Northern Light Productions in 2022 after completing her game development studies at Southern New Hampshire University. She is passionate about technology, software, media, and learning, and is excited to combine these passions in her work at NLP.
