In his role as President and CEO, Paul Siefken ensures that Fred Rogers Productions (FRP) presents the very best in educational children’s media on broadcast and digital platforms—and beyond. Under his direction, the company has experienced tremendous growth, earning a national reputation for both innovation and storytelling. Paul has assembled a world-class, mission-driven leadership team that is committed to building on Fred Rogers’ legacy by introducing new productions and expanding the reach of their impact by collaborating with like-minded partners in both production and distribution.

He has also spearheaded major engagement initiatives for FRP’s award-winning series, which include Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, and Odd Squad, as well as the newly launched Donkey Hodie and Alma’s Way, which premiered to critical acclaim in 2021. These efforts have taken the series into communities around the country, working with public television stations, museums, science centers, libraries, volunteer organizations, and early childhood groups to provide meaningful content that supports the aims and priorities of the respective institutions.

Before joining Fred Rogers Productions in 2013, Paul spent nearly ten years at PBS, most recently as Director of Children’s Programming, where he managed the development of numerous PBS KIDS series, including The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That, Sid the Science Kid, WordGirl, Wild Kratts, Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman, and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. Prior to that, he managed sponsored promotions and media relations as well as produced interactive content for Cartoon Network. Before entering children’s media, Paul worked as a high school English teacher in both Georgia and North Carolina. He holds a B.A. in English from Duke University.

As COO, Chris Arnold oversees both internal and external operations for Fred Rogers Productions to implement the company’s strategic plan and facilitate processes and approaches to achieve it. He leads and manages the organization’s Legal & Business Affairs, Licensing & Merchandising, Finance, Technology, and Human Resources.

Prior to joining Fred Rogers Productions, Chris served as General Counsel and Vice President of Human Resources for Schell Games, a full-service education and entertainment game development firm based in Pittsburgh, where he was responsible for developing relationships with partners such as The Walt Disney Company, ILMxLAB, The LEGO Group, Yale University, Google, and Facebook. Previously, he served as Operations Counsel at Mylan, a leading generics and specialty pharmaceutical company; General Counsel and Director of Human Resources at Guru.com, a global talent marketplace; and Corporate Associate at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, one of the nation's leading law firms.

Chris is a graduate of Allegheny College and earned his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh. A volunteer and board member of 412 Food Rescue, he lives in Allison Park with his wife Stephanie and his two daughters, Carmella and Charlotte.

Lisa Moss joined Fred Rogers Productions in 2012, bringing with her many years of nonprofit accounting and management experience. She also serves as the Treasurer of the company’s Board of Directors. Lisa actively improves her neighborhood by volunteering her time and talents with community organizations and charity events. She holds a Masters of Business Administration degree and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Ellen Doherty is Chief Creative Officer for Fred Rogers Productions, overseeing the development and production of content for all platforms. She serves as executive producer for the company’s current series on PBS KIDS—Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Odd Squad, Donkey Hodie, and Alma’s Way. She also developed Donkey Hodie and Alma’s Way and is the creator, head writer, and executive producer of the award-winning Through the Woods, a shortform series about nature also available on PBS KIDS. In 2023, Ellen was named to The Hollywood Reporter’s first-ever list of The 75 Most Powerful People in Kids’ Entertainment. She was also spotlighted in Variety’s 2022 Family Entertainment Impact Report as one of the year’s top content creators, producers, directors, and executives.

A Webby^® and three-time Emmy^® Award-winning producer and writer with more than 20 years’ experience in children's media, Ellen was previously executive producer and story editor of the PBS KIDS series Cyberchase. She oversaw production of television and digital content for the series for six seasons, including creating several shortform video series. Ellen began her career as an associate producer on the beloved PBS KIDS series Reading Rainbow. She has a B.A. in Communications from Boston College and will show you on her hand where she grew up in Michigan.

Suzanne Masri oversees marketing, branding, engagement, and publicity efforts for Fred Rogers Productions and its catalogue of children’s series. Since coming to FRP in 2015, she has spearheaded the company’s rebrand and implementation of its new creative direction, led the 50th anniversary celebration of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood (2018), delivered impactful experiential campaigns for the company’s award-winning series, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, and Odd Squad, and oversaw the launch campaigns for FRP’s newest series, Donkey Hodie and Alma’s Way.

Previously Suzanne directed station relations marketing initiatives for national programming produced by WETA, the flagship PBS station in Washington, DC, where her diverse portfolio included films by documentarian Ken Burns, cooking shows from Martha Stewart and Sara Moulton, and children’s series Clifford The Big Red Dog, Super WHY!, and Maya & Miguel. She received a B.A. in History from Smith College. In her spare time, Suzanne performs with and serves on the board of Belle Voci, a multi-generational women’s choir that blends community with service and song.

Matthew Shiels provides advice on general corporate matters and is responsible for agreements covering program development, production and distribution, merchandise licensing, intellectual property, copyright and trademarks, and the administration of an extensive music library. Prior to joining Fred Rogers Productions, he handled a broad range of legal services such as patent and trademark counseling and litigation services for the Pittsburgh-based law firm Reed Smith LLP, and before that was a partner at Kirkland & Ellis, LLC in Chicago. Matthew holds a J.D. from Boston University School of Law and a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Pennsylvania State University/Eberly College of Science.

As the Interactive Production Coordinator for Fred Rogers Productions, Ana Acosta Ruiz supports the development of new games and maintenance of current projects, keeps the Interactive Production group apprised of analytics and industry trends, and will assist with the conceptualization of a new playtest program. Prior to joining FRP, she worked as a game producer for her junior and senior undergraduate projects, “Growing” and “Cow-Duction,” which was a finalist in the 2020 Intel® University Games Showcase. Ana holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Game Design and Production and is currently at work on her Master’s degree in Digital Media, both from Drexel University.

As Associate Producer for Donkey Hodie, Margaret Cavalier supports all aspects of series production — from managing schedules and creative feedback to organizing delivery of final assets.

Before joining the organization, Margaret served as a coordinating producer at Ideastream Public Media in Cleveland. She led the production of NewsDepth, an interactive news show for 4th to 6th graders that airs on multiple Ohio PBS channels and is distributed on PBS LearningMedia. She handled all aspects of production, including story sourcing, scriptwriting, video editing, creating motion graphics, and more. The series has won several awards, including Parents’ Choice Gold Awards^® and multiple regional Emmy^® Awards. Margaret also spent several years as a print journalist writing about education and local news in Northeast Ohio.

Margaret holds a Master’s degree in Public Media from Ohio University, where her studies focused on narrative nonfiction and documentary storytelling. She also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Kent State University.

As Co-Executive Producer of Donkey Hodie, Kristin DiQuollo provides leadership and creative vision to Fred Rogers Productions’ newest preschool series, which is inspired by characters from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Prior to joining the company, she led production of broadcast and digital content for the PBS KIDS series Cyberchase as executive producer and story editor at WNET New York, helping to spearhead its expansion on digital platforms, including strategies for accessibility, as well as its evolution as a series focusing on math and environmental themes for 6-8-year-olds. A nominee for multiple Daytime Emmy^® awards and honored with Parents’ Choice and Kidscreen awards, Kristin also oversaw Cyberchase’s national family and educator engagement efforts, broadening the series’ reach to new public media audiences.

Experienced in using research to inform development and design of content, she has worked on several projects that investigate learning outcomes from educational media. Kristin previously worked in educational outreach and marketing for the IMAX Corporation and as an associate editor and projects coordinator for Merlyn’s Pen, a magazine and website showcasing the works of teenage writers. She received her B.A. in English from Providence College.

Erin Dodson oversees post-production for all Fred Rogers Productions’ series. Prior to returning to Pittsburgh and joining the FRP team, she worked at a number of prominent marketing agencies in Los Angeles for over 15 years. Erin served as director of post-production at Bond where she was responsible for communicating technical requirements, executing deliverables, and more for clients including Netflix, HBO, Warner Brothers, and other notable media entities. She also worked as director of post-production at Trailer Park Group where she oversaw quality control and delivery for TV and digital spots, commercial campaigns, behind-the-scenes documentaries, branded content, and more in addition to managing the day-to-day operations for the finishing team. Erin enjoys spending time with her husband and their two daughters as they explore the parks in and around Pittsburgh and work on DIY projects in their new home. She holds a B.A. in Communications from Ohio University.

Kathie Duso is the Office Manager for Fred Rogers Productions. She joined the company in March 2020 as the Executive Assistant to the President and CEO and the Chief Operating Officer.  Prior to joining Fred Rogers Productions, Kathie was executive assistant to senior management at PHOENIX Rehabilitation & Health Services; and has worked for Siemens in multiple divisions, including Rail Automation & Industry.

Kathie is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the office, facilities management, inventory control, travel coordination, facilitation of meetings, office supply administration, and shipping and receiving, among other duties.

She enjoyed watching Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood while she was growing up and is excited to help support Fred Rogers’ timeless legacy. Kathie is active in her local Lions Club and volunteers her sewing talents to many worthwhile causes organized by her local quilt club. She enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and their two dogs along with baking, reading, quilting, sewing, and scouring garage sales/flea markets. Kathie holds an associate’s degree in Secretarial Science.

Sina Eiden is delighted to serve as Revenue Analyst on the finance team at Fred Rogers Productions, where she specializes in Royalties and Payables. Prior to joining the company, she worked as an accountant with Httprint and coached Beginning Acting at the Shari Carlson Studio in San Francisco. Sina holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business and Accounting from Washington & Jefferson College.

As Director of Institutional Giving, Alan Friedman manages Fred Rogers Productions’ relationships with national foundations. His successes in expanding FRP’s circle of supporters include winning the company’s first-ever NSF grants and helping secure its first underwriting agreements in decades. In addition to garnering support for production of FRP’s series, Alan has won funding to extend them into kids’ summer camps, resources for parents, professional development programs for early childhood educators, and research on the impact of educational media. He also has launched and funded projects to support children with autism and families experiencing homelessness.

Before joining Fred Rogers Productions, Alan spent several years at Carnegie Mellon University, first as a member of its corporate and foundation fundraising team, then as director of its Institute for Social Innovation. He holds a Master’s of Public Management from Carnegie Mellon and a B.A. in English from the University of California, Berkeley. He and his wife, Jennifer, are the parents of two daughters, Ally and Emma, and one fun-loving dog, Milo.

Tim Friez is the Director of Technology at Fred Rogers Productions where he keeps computers, projects, and servers running smoothly. Previously, Tim served as senior vice president and director of Information Technology and Cyber Security at a Pittsburgh-based advertising agency, leading cybersecurity training for employees. As a member of InfraGard, he collaborated with the FBI on cybersecurity projects that affected national infrastructure. Tim maintained over 50 commercial websites and coordinated the maintenance, management, and administration of multiple off-site servers utilized by high-volume, high-visibility client websites. He also holds a number of certifications. Tim is a graduate of Pittsburgh Technical College.

As Director of Communications, Christina Gorski manages the publicity and promotion of all series across the Fred Rogers Productions portfolio in addition to the corporate communications efforts for the organization. Prior to joining the company, Christina spearheaded publicity campaigns for primetime programming at both Fox Broadcasting Company and NBC Entertainment in New York. She built and executed successful strategies for acclaimed series such as New Amsterdam, Blindspot, and Bob’s Burgers, and worked on fan-favorite, unscripted programming, including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Red Nose Day Special, and Christmas in Rockefeller Center. Christina holds a B.A. in History and Theatre from Denison University.

Melanie Harke is director of interactive for Fred Rogers Productions, working on brands including the hit preschool series, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and Donkey Hodie. Prior to joining FRP, she was a senior game design manager at Schell Games, where she worked on content including Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, Hero Elementary, and more. With 17 years of professional experience in game design, Melanie has served as a designer and director for projects ranging from interactive connected toys, MMOs, VR experiences, theme park rides, and many early childhood educational games and has managed game design teams, helping to guide and support them through their work. She is a passionate advocate for the power of games to inspire, educate, and encourage a kinder and more thoughtful world. Melanie holds both a B.S. in Computer Science and a Masters in Entertainment Technology from Carnegie Mellon University.

As Creative Development Manager, Gabrielle Howard oversees the company’s development slate, seeking new projects and collaborators and guiding them through production. With deep roots in New York City's children's programming community, she has served as a media consultant who advised on podcast development, social media strategy, and original concepts for the web and television.

Gabrielle began her career at Sesame Workshop, where she headed the children's casting department for the Emmy® Award-winning program Sesame Street and home videos. She also co-managed celebrity bookings and landed guests like Jodie Foster, Laurence Fishburne, Garth Brooks, and Julia Roberts. After selling her first show idea to Sesame Workshop, Gabrielle served as Development Assistant at J.P. Kids, and was soon promoted to Associate Director of Development. Four years later, she accepted a development executive position at The N Network, which was rebranded as TeenNick, a nighttime network for teens and a programming arm of MTV Networks. While there, she developed live-action and animated properties with production giants such as Endemol and Klasky Csupo. Gabrielle was also assigned to find unscripted properties for the network and discovered the successful competition series Queen Bees, which aired on TeenNick and MTV.

Gabrielle received a Podcast Certificate from The Made in N.Y. Media Center by IFP as part of the first fellowship program sponsored by The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment. She holds a B.A. from the University of South Carolina.

As Senior Director of Licensing, Katie Huber develops and executes comprehensive brand licensing strategies that align with Fred Rogers Productions’ mission and core values. Katie’s professional career entails over 20 years of experience leading strategic initiatives to drive brand growth through collaboration, partnerships, product activation, and business analytics, and has a proven track record of innovation across diverse and complex businesses. Before joining FRP, she held key roles at Palace Entertainment, The Walt Disney Company, and Gap, where she managed product portfolios across multiple brand properties.

Katie loves helping people and teams achieve their goals and brings a “Jane of all trades” approach to her work. She has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Arizona and is a dog lover and kid at heart.

Michelle Janco serves as a Production Coordinator at Fred Rogers Productions, providing support on the animated series, Alma’s Way. She has a passion for creating playfully poignant stories and images and has extensive experience working with kids as a camp counselor. An accomplished children’s illustrator, Michelle was the recipient of the 2019 Student Illustrator Scholarship from the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI). The scholarship afforded her the opportunity to display her work at the SCBWI Conference in Los Angeles.

A recent graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, Michelle worked there as a Research Fellow, where she discovered ways in which automation can be used to produce stop-motion animations. She was also honored with an award for Artistic Excellence, an undergraduate research grant, for co-creating the stop-motion animated film, Rolling Sheep. Michelle holds a B.F.A. in Art with a focus in Electronic and Time-Based Media.

Aleya Crable Jennings is Director of Corporate Sponsorships and Individual Giving at Fred Rogers Productions, where she is responsible for both corporate sponsorships and individual giving programs.

Prior to joining FRP, Aleya has been a noteworthy leader in the advertising space, most recently as Associate Vice President, Group Account Director at Gatesman, a fully integrated, independent marketing communications agency. Her expertise is deeply rooted in the development and execution of large-scale, multi-channel advertising campaigns for both national and international clients across a broad spectrum of industries.

Aleya has been recognized for her professional achievements by the 2021 40 Under 40 list from Pittsburgh Magazine and the Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project (PUMP), an organization that aims to make Pittsburgh a dynamic and diverse community, and the 2019 40 Under 40 Who’s Next: Communicators class by Pittsburgh newsletter The Incline. She has also been awarded the Young Professional Strong Award in 2018 and the 2018 Barbara McNees Spirit of Athena Scholarship to attend the Carnegie Mellon Leadership and Negotiation Academy for Women at the Tepper School of Business.

Aleya holds a Master of Arts in Women and Gender Studies from DePaul University, a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communication from Roosevelt University, and a Bachelor of Science in Communications Media from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Brittany Jovenall joined Fred Rogers Productions in February 2018. She began her career as a forensic accountant in Erie, PA after graduating from Gannon University with a B.S. in Accounting and a minor in Finance. In 2016, Brittany became a Certified Public Accountant and relocated to Pittsburgh, where she specialized in auditing non-profit organizations. Originally from Rochester, NY, Brittany marched with the Empire Statesmen Drum and Bugle Corps and is excited to combine her love for the arts with her accounting skills as a member of the FRP team.

As Producer on Alma’s Way, Erika Knox facilitates projects in development by overseeing production schedules, organizing development materials, and facilitating communication with partners and collaborators. She also acted as coordinator for the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood legacy website, which launched in 2018. Before joining Fred Rogers Productions, Erika worked for Steeltown Entertainment Project, where she managed independent film initiatives designed to foster filmmakers and stimulate creative projects in Pittsburgh. She graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Communications Media and a double minor in Theater and English.

As Director of Business Intelligence, Chris Kosty leverages his business acumen, financial background, and passion for technology to create efficiencies in business processes and enable the utilization of data for analysis and strategy. He works collaboratively throughout the organization to develop and implement innovative reporting and data visualization solutions designed to provide confidence and clarity in strategic decision making.

Before joining Fred Rogers Productions, Chris was a senior manager at Schneider Downs & Co., Inc., a top-60 public accounting firm, located in their Pittsburgh, PA office. He began his career in the external audit department before co-founding the Automation & Data Analytics Process Team (ADAPT) and leading the Digital Transformation Solutions (DTS) practices within the technology consulting group. During his tenure, Chris served both public and privately held companies across a variety of industries, listening intently to their needs and helping them to align people, process, and technology to operate more efficiently and achieve their strategic objectives.

Chris is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and has multiple data analytic certifications. He has authored articles on data analytics and digital transformation and regularly speaks at industry conferences sharing his passion for both topics. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) and was the recipient of the PICPA Young Leader Award in 2022. Chris is a graduate of Washington & Jefferson College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting with a philosophy minor. He lives in Pittsburgh with his wife, Emily, and their two daughters, Kora and Sienna.

Andy Danyo Kubis is the Engagement Specialist for Fred Rogers Productions, assisting with the organization and implementation of a wide range of public outreach initiatives while supporting all FRP series and content partners.

Prior to joining FRP, she worked as a freelance producer, content creator, and journalist for clients including NPR, The Allegheny Front/WESA, the World Food Programme, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, and more. Before that, Andy was a producer for "The Bob Edwards Show" and "Bob Edwards Weekend" where she researched, wrote, and edited in-depth interviews and award-wining documentaries and coordinated live performances, broadcasts, and events.

Andy's career started in public broadcasting. She was the Publicity & Events Manager in NPR's Communications office, which involved the planning of NPR events, communications strategy, and building relationships between member stations and the network.

Andy holds a B.A. in Classics from the University of Georgia. In her spare time, she likes to go camping, volunteer at her kids' school, and explore the 90 neighborhoods of Pittsburgh.

Chris Loggins is Supervising Producer for Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, overseeing all aspects of television production, working closely with partners on everything from scripting through final episode delivery and beyond, and directing live-action segments for the series. An Emmy® Award-winning producer, Chris also serves as production manager for Peg + Cat and Odd Squad, which both air on PBS KIDS. Before joining Fred Rogers Productions, he served as the development coordinator at WQED, the PBS station in Pittsburgh. Chris has previous experience working with children in his roles as host of “Baby and Me Storytime” at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and driving the Storymobile for Beginning with Books Center for Early Literacy. He holds a B.A. in American Studies with a focus on African-American History from Kenyon College.

Beth Lowery assists with licensing agreements, database management, and requests regarding the use of intellectual property. She began her career as an audiologist after obtaining a B.S. in Speech Pathology/Audiology from East Stroudsburg University and an M.A. in Audiology from Temple University. After obtaining a paralegal certificate from Duquesne University’s Paralegal Institute, she focused on telecommunication real estate contracts. In her spare time, Beth enjoys spending time outdoors rowing, horseback riding, skiing, and golfing.

As Director of Learning and Education at Fred Rogers Productions, Mallory Mbalia advises and collaborates with colleagues to further realize the organization’s educational mission for children and families. She previously served as Director of Education at PBS North Carolina in Education and Innovation where she created and delivered educational initiatives statewide for infants to 12th grade and beyond. Mallory has also worked as an education outreach trainer for PBS North Carolina and was named a PBS Digital Innovator All Star in 2018. She has served as a kindergarten teacher as well as an elementary assistant principal.

Mallory has a passion for equity work, media integration, joy integration, social-emotional learning, and early childhood education. Equitable access and awareness are her driving forces for educator, parent/caregiver, family, and community outreach with joy and inclusivity as essential elements. She holds a Master’s of School Administration from North Carolina State University and a B.S. in Human Development with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Development from Howard University. Mallory is a proud wife and mother and resides in North Carolina with her family.

Javier Navarro is Production Coordinator for the preschool series Donkey Hodie, organizing development materials and facilitating communication with educational advisors as well as production partners. Prior to joining the company and entering the world television production, he served as an AmeriCorps VISTA Leader at Global Game Changers, a nonprofit in Louisville, KY where he produced videos, led community service projects, and taught in their K-1 afterschool classroom.

Javier holds a B.A. in Anthropology with a minor in Entrepreneurship from the University of Washington. Upon graduating, he pursued documentary filmmaking, but quickly discovered a passion for children’s media and cognitive development while teaching kindergarten and first grade at the Global Game Changers’ afterschool program. Working at Fred Rogers Productions is Javier’s first role within the realm of children’s media, and he is excited to combine his new-found passion with his lifelong loves of writing, acting, and cartoons.

Olubunmi Mia Olufemi is Supervising Producer of Alma’s Way, the new PBS KIDS series created by Sonia Manzano and produced by Fred Rogers Productions. Mia is responsible for overseeing all phases of production, serving as the company’s liaison with the animation studio and broadcaster. Additionally, she coordinates the creation of series assets for marketing and licensing efforts, among other duties. Mia started her career in children’s television at WGBH (now known as GBH) Educational Foundation, where she worked on acclaimed children’s properties including Arthur, Curious George, Martha Speaks, and Design Squad Global. Most recently, she was the producer of Molly of Denali, the Peabody Award-winning PBS KIDS show. Her work is devoted to building inclusive productions, on screen and behind the scenes, that authentically celebrate and highlight under-represented populations, particularly minorities and immigrant cultures. For Alma’s Way, she has worked to create spaces to uplift these new voices in children’s media. Mia received her M.A. in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College.

As Creative Development Coordinator & Production Coordinator at Fred Rogers Productions, Kennedy Randall provides support on series including Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. She has previously worked as a freelance video editor, production assistant, designer, and editor. Kennedy has also served as an assistant to rapper, activist, and entrepreneur Kellee Maize for whom she has completed research, website editing, social media design, and much more. With a background in digital media production and television as well as childcare, she has become interested in understanding the ways in which children consume media, and in turn, how that content can aid in their development. In her free time, she enjoys writing poetry and is at work on two novels. Kennedy holds a B.A. in Communications from Slippery Rock University.

As Producer for Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Odd Squad, Arielle supports the series’ creative vision and all aspects of the production: facilitating communication between teams, onboarding and managing advisors, and providing feedback on everything from scripts, designs, and music to leica and animation items. In addition to working with the Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood team for several years, Arielle has worked on each of Fred Rogers Productions’ current series including Alma’s Way, Donkey Hodie, and Odd Squad. Before joining FRP, she worked as a children’s art assistant at Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and as an editorial intern at Upstart Crow Literary Agency. 

A lifelong lover of all things writing and art, Arielle graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2017 with a B.A. in English Fiction Writing, a minor in Studio Arts, and certificates in Children’s Literature and Public and Professional Writing. Ever-writing, Arielle aspires to one day publish a novel.

As Accounts Payable Specialist at Fred Rogers Productions, Lucie Roberts manages the organization’s accounts payable system and supports the financial team in reconciliation, budgets, and more. Prior to her role at FRP, Lucie served as an accounting specialist for Pittsburgh Water and Sewage Authority as well as the Chief Executive Secretary of Finance for Pittsburgh Public Schools. She has extensive experience in many areas of finance, including payroll management, invoice processing, and vendor setup. 

Lucie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Marketing with a minor in Art History from Seton Hill University, along with a Paralegal Certificate from Duquesne University. She is passionate about traveling, the arts, and volunteering, and enjoys spending time with her family. Lucie lives in Pittsburgh with her husband, daughter, and rescue dog, Greta Lynn.

Jack Rowley is responsible for managing all aspects of the implementation and workflow of the digital asset management system used by Fred Rogers Productions. In addition to his work in digital asset management, Jack is one of the original writers for Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, having written four episodes to date. He has also been a Story and Curriculum Consultant for all episodes since the series premiered in 2012. Jack has an MFA in Playwriting from Carnegie Mellon University. He is a father of four and enjoys writing, composing music, and spending time with his wife, Alice.

As Associate Director of Marketing, Brooke Sakowski manages the design and implementation of the organization’s marketing, interactive, and social media strategies. Prior to joining FRP, she led the video strategy at “Highlights for Children.” Brooke’s work at “Highlights” included overseeing content creation for marketing, editorial, and social media; reimagining creative treatments; and bringing children and child caregivers closer to the brand.

Brooke is passionate about working in her community and has spent time as a volunteer with the 934 Art Gallery in Columbus, OH. She also works with children regularly and has taught horseback riding lessons to all ages for over 10 years.

She is a certified Project Management Professional by the Project Management Institute and holds a B.A. in Telecommunications with a concentration in Film & Production from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN.

Brittany Smith oversees outreach and engagement efforts for Fred Rogers Productions. Working closely with PBS stations and community groups, she develops resources and events that are designed to ignite curiosity in young learners. Brittany fosters partnerships with like-minded organizations to build and facilitate impactful engagement opportunities that utilize content inspired by the company’s series. Before joining FRP, she worked in early childhood education and media. Brittany holds a B.A. in Communications from Temple University.

Rubin Soodak leads interactive production and development for the preschool series Alma’s Way and other brands across multiple digital platforms. Rubin has dedicated his career to the empowerment of children through media and digital literacy. Before joining Fred Rogers Productions, he worked as a producer for Paramount, Nick Jr./Noggin, Encantos, and Fablevision, and also taught students at the high-school and undergraduate level. Rubin earned a Master of Education in Technology, Innovation, and Education (TIE) from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a B.A. in Physics with a minor in Cinema and Media Studies from The University of Chicago. Outside of his role at FRP, Rubin is an aspiring photographer and self-proclaimed “Banana Bread Connoisseur.”

Micah Southwood is the Director of Product Development at Fred Rogers Productions. In this role, she ensures the integrity and growth of the organization’s brands within the licensing sphere, monitors brand representation, and manages relationships with licensees. Since joining the organization, she has worked on consumer products for all series and has also reinvigorated the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood licensing and merchandising portfolio to include over 30 partners such as Funko, Steel City, and Primitive, the popular skateboard brand. The Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood consumer products program earned a nomination in 2019 from Licensing International for Best Brand: Entertainment/Character —Live Action.

Prior to joining Fred Rogers Productions, Micah lived in Chicago for six years working in corporate sponsorship at Allstate. Before her move to the Windy City, she spent five years in the marketing department at Dick’s Sporting Goods Corporate Headquarters. Prior to that, she worked on athlete-endorsed food products at PLB Sports. As the Marketing Manager, Micah was responsible for the launch and community engagement for David Ortiz (Big Papi Black Bean and Corn Salsa), Ben Roethlisberger (Big Ben Beef Jerky), and Dan Marino (MarinO’s Cereal).

A graduate of Bethany College, Micah serves on the board of the Sewickley YMCA and sits on the Children's Theater Programming Advisory Board for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. An active member of her community, she lives in Sewickley, PA with her husband, Andrew, and their three kids.

Anna Trier is the Outreach & Partnerships Manager for Fred Rogers Production. Prior to joining FRP, she spent three years at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she served as an Assistant Director of Admissions, and 10 years at Links Hall where she was the organization’s Associate Director. At Links Hall, she created and ran the organization's artistic residencies, fellowships, touring programs, and curatorial residency, and co-produced its presenting season. Additionally, she has curated programming for ACRE, The Chicago Artists Coalition, Columbia College Chicago, Rapid Pulse International Performance Festival, The Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Chicago Cultural Center. Anna served on the National Performance Network’s Asian Exchange Curatorial team from 2014-2017. She holds a B.F.A. in Studio Art and Art History from Columbia College and graduated from the Institute for Curatorial Practice in Performance at Wesleyan University (CT).

Brandea Turner is the Program Director for Fred Rogers Productions, overseeing FRP Writers’ Neighborhood, the pilot writers’ development program. Her professional career began in Nashville, TN working in digital production for Warner Music Group. She loves the performing arts and has managed teams at various performing arts centers, including the Berklee Performance Center in Boston, the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville, the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, and the Hopkins Center for the Arts at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. During her tenure in academia, Brandea developed a passion for mentoring young adults and program management. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Business/Management from Berklee College of Music and earned a Master of Arts Management from Columbia College Chicago in Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management. Brandea is a native of Pittsburgh, PA.