Rich Underwood, 2014 Silver Circle Inductee
Rich Underwood began his television career while in college working at WSIU as cinematographer on the syndicated PBS program “Outdoors with Art Reed”. Upon graduation, Rich moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to join the news staff at KOTV.
Underwood then took a position in the highly acclaimed photographic news organization KUSA-TV Denver where he and the station won numerous Emmy and NPPA awards including three coveted NPPA News Station of the Year awards.
While at KUSA, Rich became the documentary cameraman for the 1/2 hour program “Assignment Colorado”. From there he took a position as director/cameraman in the Promotions Department creating 35mm filmed promos.
Underwood moved to San Diego to work with A&G Productions as director cameraman, then on to Mincey Productions and finally combining forces with Sales Rep Marti Ski and Executive Producer Ann Hawkins to launch Companion Pictures.
Companion Pictures was a television commercial production company specializing solely in 35mm filmed advertisements. Upon dissolving Companion Pictures in 1991, Underwood began freelancing under the FilmSpot moniker.
In 2005, Rich Underwood became an Adjunct Professor at San Diego State University teaching Cinematography, Intermediate Production and Advanced Filmmaking in the TFM department. Rich continues to teach at SDSU as well as The Maine Media Workshops.
While Rich Underwood had lensed assignments around the globe, his favorite backdrop remains San Diego, California.
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Donna M. Stewart’s 30 year career in broadcast was completely accidental. She grew up in suburban New York watching the Channel 7 Eyewitness News with Roger Grimsby and Bill Beutel. She listened to Cousin Brucie and Dan Ingram on her red Toot-a-Loop radio™. She developed a love for jazz and big band music listening to William B Williams and Jonathan Schwartz on WNEW-AM with her dad. Scott Muni and Alison Steele “The Nightbird” taught her how having passion for music can lead to success in broadcasting. She was inspired to major in Communication but because of her varied academic experience it took her over 30 years to get a four year degree. After so many years in the industry, a Journalism or Communication degree didn’t make much sense so in 2009 she acquired her BS in Information Technology from University of Phoenix.
After earning a Master of Education degree in Instructional Technology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Telecommunications, Lee Solonche embarked on a broadcast production and educational technology career covering over 30 years. Mr. Solonche has been involved in virtually all areas of television production including: directing, producing, project management, writing, editing, field and studio cameras, audio production, graphics, distribution, online products and strategies. Programs produced have ranged from live presidential and Miss America remotes, hurricane disaster relief programming, sports events, commercial news, and educational programming ranging from hundreds of live broadcasts in math and science to packages on such topics as Disney World Living Seas Aquarium, Aircraft Carrier Combat Operations, Plight of the Manatees, Underwater Cave Diving and many more.
Rose Pfanner began her career in TV answering phones at KNSD (at that time KCST) in 1983; a different time, a different world. In 1984, Rose moved into the newsroom where she answered phones again, this time for the news director, who also needed filing, typing (yes, typewriters!) and expense reports done. By 1985 Rose was anxious to do something, anything else… so she became a “feed roomer”…. taking in news satellite feeds from NBC (C-band, anyone?) and logging them for the producers and editors. Later that year Rose moved into producing and writing. During the next 15 years she worked all different shows, all different times, all different days, through several different station owners, GMs and many, many news directors.
During her 40 years as a broadcast and print journalist, Andrea Naversen has served as a television anchor and reporter, network television correspondent, newspaper reporter, magazine editor, and author, as well as a community leader and volunteer. She is the longtime Editor-at-Large of Ranch & Coast Magazine, covering the personalities, places and events that make San Diego such a vibrant place in which to live.
Marianne Gerdes established Gerdes Creative with Michael Gerdes in 1989 with a singular focus: to create short and long form productions in the documentary genre. This passion grew directly from their interest in the arts, architecture, design, gardens, and history.
An award-winning journalist for more than 25-years in the San Diego area, Susan Farrell has built a reputation for being a knowledgeable, thorough reporter tackling a host of regional issues including the area’s large military presence, U.S.-Mexico border issues, law, regional and state politics and the city’s burgeoning growth.
Craig Bentley is president of Imageworks.tv, a video production company he co-founded in San Diego in 1986. He received a film and television degree from San Diego State University, where he graduated with distinction in the major field. While at SDSU, he was chosen by the American Cinema Editors as one of the top three student editors in the nation.