Tello Team - Management
Tello LLC, headquartered in Chicago Illinois, is a web based video distribution company for films made for/by/or about lesbians. Internet surfers from around the globe can go to tellofilms.com and have the ability to view completely original content. Tello LLC will also produce original programming to air on the website.
The tello LLC Mission Statement: a virtual forum devoted to provoking thought, empowering people and fostering connectivity through original film projects essential to the lesbian experience.
Our desire to start tello LLC grew out of a passion and belief that there are not enough venues for films made by for/by/or about lesbians.
Founders
Christin Baker, CEO, and co-founder has been both a successful film producer and non-profit fundraiser. Among the many video projects Christin has produced and directed two are award-winning videos, the documentary “Mr. Karaoke in Albania” and a fundraising video “YMCA, We Build People”. In 2003, Christin added a Masters of Science in non-profit management from Springfield (Mass.) College to her Bachelor of Fine Arts in mass communication from Middle Tennessee State University.
Christin is the Founder and Executive Director of the theater Stage 33 (stage33chicago.org)-a small an unique store front theater in Chicago. In her 3-years working in the fundraising sector Christin has negotiated partnerships with companies such as McNeil Pharmaceuticals (the makers of Tylenol), Disney Channel, Nautilus, Daiichi Sankyo Pharmaceuticals and Champion/Hanes. These partnerships have resulted in over 10-million dollars in cash and in-kind donations.
Nicole Valentine, CMO, co-founder comes to tello after working in the sales and Public Relations industry. Nicole started out working in Los Angeles for an international comedian and then came to Chicago to work in PR and Marketing for the Arts. Nicole secured corporate sponsorships, lead PR efforts and collaboration on various art projects. She honed her festival skills by spending her time producing, networking and handling press efforts.. Nicole has a BA in both English and Women Studies from the University of Missouri- Columbia. She also took theatre-writing classes while at MU and then at the Second City Training Facility in Chicago. Her interests include interivewing, writing and socializing. 9-5 enjoyments include; studying market research, assisting in design concepts and launching the site. She is also in charge of creating media budgets, maintaining client relations and creating/executing promotional ideas that would grow the client’s endemic and non-endemic audience. Nicole is now immersing herself in the media ad sales world. There she has had the amazing chance to gain great insight on integrated marketing plans, media budgets and negotiating rates and space values as well as good selling practices. She is looking forward to bringing all of this experience and more to the tello team.
Sabrina Harper, Creative Director, has over ten years of Management and Administrative experience, and a huge love for the creative arts. Her current position as Box Office Manager at the world famous, Chicago based Second City Theatre Company is a fast-paced environment which requires the marriage of good communication, technical and organizational skills. Sabrina came to Chicago after a successful run as part owner of an Ann Arbor, Michigan improv theatre space called Improv Inferno. She has broad experience including bartending, box office management, stand-up, improvisation, writing and directing.
Sabrina was born in New Orleans and is a graduate of Pine Manor College in Boston with a BA in English. During her time in Boston, she was part of the stand-up community and box office manager for DuckSoup comedy club and A&E’s Improvisation until 1992.
In the past twelve years, Sabrina has consulted and been involved with various creative arts spaces in Boston, Chicago and now New York, all of which have added to her personal growth – creatively, administratively and technologically.