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A native of Southern California, Lana Cho overcame her parents' best efforts to convince her to pursue medicine or law. Instead, Lana gravitated towards the arts at a young age and eventually set her sights on learning more about writing for television. Since graduating from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinema with a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema Production, Lana has worked as an assistant in television development at the Kennedy/Marshall Company, Warner Bros. Television, and The WB. Most recently, she was the assistant to the head of current programming at The CW Network. Lana also served on the Board of the Junior Hollywood Radio & Television Society (JHRTS). |
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Michael J. Cinquemani has had what he describes as a love affair with television ever since he was a young boy growing up in Massapequa, New York. He graduated magna cum laude/Phi Beta Kappa from Binghamton University in New York, with a major in Literature and Creative Writing, and a minor in Cinema. Now with a Daytime Emmy® Award nomination for his work on ABC’s General Hospital, and several produced daytime television scripts on his résumé, Michael is excited to make the transition into primetime television. His credits include staff positions on General Hospital, and the cable series First Wave. Additionally, he has written freelance scripts for series such as ABC’s All My Children and SOAPnet’s General Hospital: Night Shift. An active WGA member, Michael currently serves on the Guild’s Gay and Lesbian Writers’ Committee. |
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While growing up, Lourdes Diaz was drawn to television because the medium’s storytelling exposed her to a world of possibilities she thought unobtainable. After high school, she held down a full-time job during the day and spent her evenings at California State University, Northridge, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature. Shortly after graduating, Lourdes landed a production assistant position at The Walt Disney Company working on the animated sequel Lilo and Stitch2: Stitch Had a Glitch. Her additional experience includes assistant for a Touchstone Television joint venture with the Slamdance Film Festival, and an agent assistant at Creative Artists Agency (CAA). |
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Shalisha Francis was raised in Berrien Springs, Michigan, a quaint village on the southwest corner of the state with a population of a little over 2,000. With education being a top priority in the Francis household, Shalisha excelled in many disciplines and ultimately was accepted to Princeton University when she was only 16-years-old. While at the university, she studied comparative literature and pre-law. After completing her undergraduate work, Shalisha earned her Juris Doctorate from Duke Law School. She has worked in law-oriented positions at such companies as Lucas Film LTD, Buena Vista, and Warner Bros. Records before pursuing her dream of being a television writer. |
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As a child, Marqui Jackson often retreated to the family’s television set where he immersed himself in what was portrayed as the ideal American family. He was drawn to such classic comedy series as The Donna Reed Show and Make Room for Daddy as the traditional family dynamics and characters deeply resonated with him. These shows also enticed the Fort Worth native to learn more about the art of television writing. As he got older and became more aware of social issues, he turned his interest towards television dramas that explored such issues as race and class. After high school, Marqui attended DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and later, a Master’s degree in Media Arts from Texas Christian University. After graduation, Marqui relocated to Los Angeles, and ironically, landed one of his first jobs in television on a family comedy called Happy Family. Most recently, Marqui held the position of assistant to the executive producer of ABC’s Ugly Betty. |
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Dan Richter was raised in the antique-and-arts community of Greene, New York. Starting as a voice major at Fredonia State University, Dan realized he was more interested in studying the human condition and switched his major to Sociology. Outgoing and personable, Dan worked as a traveling leadership consultant for his fraternity and earned a Master’s degree in Education from Indiana University. Most recently, Dan was Assistant Director of Sorority and Fraternity Life at Emory University in Atlanta, where he coordinated leadership education and risk management programming for Emory's 26 chapters. |
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Mark Valadez was born and raised in the cultural melting pot of Chicago. The son of a steelworker who later became a police officer, Mark flirted with the idea of a career in law enforcement, going so far as to interview with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms before deciding to pursue a writing career. Mark studied Communications at Northern Illinois University where he adapted Stephen King’s short story “Popsy” for a graphic novel/horror anthology titled Masques. Since then, Mark has scripted three, comic-book series and published four children’s horror-suspense novels. He recently completed the National Hispanic Media Coalition’s 2008 Fall Latino Television Writers Program. |
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A native of Denver, Thomas Wong disappointed his strict, traditional parents at an early age when he told them he would never become a doctor because he did not wish to be in school for so long. After making the Dean’s List and earning a degree in English, cum laude, at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, Thomas earned his Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law. However, following two-and-a-half years of employment, labor, and commercial litigation at top New York law firms, Thomas left his legal practice and transitioned into the competitive, fast-paced world of Manhattan real estate. After several years as one of Manhattan's top sales agents, Thomas finally decided to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a television writer. He recently relocated to Los Angeles, where he promptly enrolled in writing courses at UCLA and landed an internship at Adelstein Productions. |
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