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Board of Directors

Chris Alexander – General Counsel
Chris Alexander is General Counsel at SEH and a risk management leader. He is a champion for profitable risk management in the professional-services industries.

Dan Schneidkraut – Independent Filmmaker
Dan Schneidkraut is an award-winning independent filmmaker, a 2010 and 2016 McKnight Fellowship for Media Arts recipient, and a 2015 Creative Capital Grant for Moving Images awardee.

George Reese – Ex Officio, Festival Director: Minnesota WebFest
George Reese is the co-founder and Vice President of Programming at Seeka TV. He was also the co-founder of enStratus/Enstratius, which was acquired by Dell Computers in 2013. A film producer, writer, and director, George is the founder and Director of Minnesota WebFest.

James Pikala – Legal Advisor
James Pikala is a Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Attorney with over 30 years of experience. He is a partner at the Minneapolis law firm Arthur Chapman Kettering Smetak & Pikala, P.A.

Mike Gonzalez – Ex Officio, Director: EDU Film Festival
Mike Gonzalez combines creativity, empathy, and strategic leadership to empower the next generation of storytellers through the EDU Film Festival. With over 20 years of experience in production and a passion for supporting overlooked voices, he creates spaces where young people can build confidence, connect with their communities, and pursue their dreams.

Vijay Dixit – Community Advocate
Vijay Dixit is the founder and chairman of the Shreya Dixit Memorial Foundation and the author of One Split Second - The Distracted Driving Epidemic, How It Kills and How We Can Fix It. He also serves as a board member of Eden Prairie Local News and is a member of its Development Committee and journalism team.

Key Roles

Mike Gonzalez – Executive Director, Northern Film Alliance
As Executive Director of the Northern Film Alliance, Mike Gonzalez combines strategic leadership and creative passion to oversee the Duluth Superior Film Festival, EDU Film Festival, and Minnesota WebFest. With a focus on supporting filmmakers of all ages—from teens at the Horror High Film Camp to seasoned professionals—Mike is dedicated to fostering inclusive platforms that celebrate storytelling and strengthen the creative community.

Trey Wodele – Consultant, Former Board Chair
Trey Wodele is the Executive Director of the nonprofit Hearts and Hammers. A co-founder of the Northern Film Alliance and a seasoned educator with over 20 years in media education, Trey remains a trusted consultant and advocate for youth in digital arts.

 

Operating support for the Northern Film Alliance and its programming is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Northern Film Alliance and its programming is funded in part by the Wirtanen Family Fund of the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation.

Northern Film Alliance and its programming is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.