About Us

President

ARMANDO ALMANZA

Armando Almanza, a native Texan, began his professional career as a photographer and editor in Austin, Texas. His work covering the 1984 Mexico City earthquake brought critical acclaim. Since then, he has won many awards for his work as a photographer, editor and producer, including numerous Emmy and Telly awards. Over the course of a career that has spanned twenty-five years he has covered international events including the Clinton-Yeltsin summit, Presidents Reagan, Bush, and Clinton, as well as other heads of state. His work has taken him all over the world including locations such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and Indonesia.

In 1994 Mr. Almanza founded Ventana Productions. Armando has assembled a talented, creative and experienced staff of photographers, editors, graphic artists, and producers. The company offers services in all areas of video production including videography, producing, writing, editing and graphic design.

Vice-President / Director of Photography

TIM MURRAY

Tim Murray is the Vice President of Ventana Productions. He has been a Director of Photography for over 27 years and is a two time National Emmy Award Nominee. Tim has traveled extensively as a DP throughout Central and South America, Europe and Asia. And he has shot interviews with Presidents H. W. Bush, Clinton, Obama and Trump and has covered seven Presidential inaugurations. In 1994 Tim was chosen as Nelson Mandela’s personal cameraman for his visit to Washington and White House meetings with then president Bill Clinton.

Originally from the Seattle area, he is personable, patient, and has a unique talent for capturing the true essence of a project. He is constantly researching and implementing new techniques in cinematography. The visual results are both modern and timeless.

Director of Photography

RICH JOY

Rich joined Ventana Productions as a Director of Photography in June, 1997. Three week later, he was on assignment twelve miles into the Atlantic Ocean – filming amemorial ceremony for the victims who perished on TWA flight 800 – and he was hooked. At one point his crew had to transfer gear from one bobbing ship to another in the middle of the ocean, and he felt like a miniature player in a giant Donkey Kong game. But it was the significance of the ceremony and the importance to the people involved that really struck him. “What we photograph can really make a difference – bringing viewers to a place they would otherwise never go”. The journey has taken Rich all over the globe as a cinematographer – from Nicaraugua to Haiti to Mexico to all over the U.S.

Director of Photography

ED NESCOT

Ed joined Ventana Productions in New York as a Director of Photography in 2005, and took the reins as Director of Operations in 2010. After more than a decade of shooting and producing video, his skill and creativity behind the lens, tireless work ethic and positive outlook continue to exceed client expectations. His work can be seen nationally on the Dr. Oz Show, the Meredith Viera Show, and HGTV among others, and has earned him numerous industry accolades, including multiple Telly, Aurora, and New York Festivals Awards. Ed keeps fit for the rigors of field work by playing in 3 soccer leagues and running in trail and adventure races.

Audio Engineer

JUAN ROCHA

Juan has over a decade of field audio engineering experience and has been a key member of Ventana’s field production team since 2001. Notable productions include a recent trip to Peru with Kelly Clarkson for Free Trade Coffee and a 2010 trip to Angola for “Idol Gives Back”. He has a passion for all things audio and lives by the motto “just in case”, backing up his gear and his audio files so that everything goes smoothly. As an audio technician, Juan believes in capturing the very best audio he can in each situation while also having a great time on the set. Juan’s positive vibe is contagious and he is a huge plus for any production!

Audio Engineer

TONY STEWART

Tony has been a field audio engineer for 15 years, starting his career at Ventana Productions in 1998 as an audio technician and camera operator. He has been a valued member of countless productions, from live multi-cam shows with the President of the United States, to television, documentary and award winning corporate projects. In addition to his value as an audio technician, our clients love Tony for his sense of humor, his sense of direction, and his ability to find a great lunch spot anywhere in DC in a pinch! His past experience includes work as a firefighter and a schoolteacher. Tony is a fun and professional addition to any crew.

Post - Production Coordinator

CHARLIE BUNCE

Charlie Bunce has over 17 years of film and television experience. He has helped to guide many endeavors from pre-production, through the shoot, and into post. Whether he’s producing or editing, Charlie provides multiple layers of action to any video endeavor.
Charlie’s menu of accomplishments range from music video and studio talk shows to managing live events like the annual “Top Cop” awards or the Mark Twain Prize at the Kennedy Center and associate producing for television standouts like FOX (America’s Most Wanted), True TV, and MSNBC.

Director of Photography / Editor

TOM KNIER

Tom Knier is a two-time Emmy® award winning editor and director of photography. Beginning his career in television news at the end of the last millennium, he spent close to fifteen years with NBC as a photojournalist in his home state of Pennsylvania. High profile events like Super Bowls, World Series, and presidential interviews were routine, and today he brings that big-picture knowledge to every project on which he works. As a passionate storyteller, Tom works hand-in-hand with clients to craft messages which connect well with audiences. Outside of his life in the edit suite and on set, he is an accomplished still photographer with a passion for traditional film photography and a love for all things analog.

Editor

MARK CASALE

Mark is an award-winning and highly experienced video editor with over 25 years of expertise in the Washington DC area. As a valued member of the Ventana Productions team, he brings exceptional skills in visual storytelling to every project. His proficiency in industry-standard editing software allows him to transform raw footage into captivating and compelling stories. With a background in television broadcasting, film production, corporate communications, and digital media, Mark’s commitment to excellence and ability to consistently deliver outstanding results make him an invaluable asset to Ventana Productions’ success.

Beyond his video production work, Mark is a multi-instrumentalist performer and composer whose interests span a wide range of genres, from Americana to electronica.

Operations Coordinator

TRACI JENKINS

An Emmy award winning broadcast professional , Traci began her career as a line producer at CNN in Atlanta; producing a daily news/news-feature program for which she oversaw its taping, post-production, and supervising a staff of writers, editors, anchors, and graphic artists.
After moving to the DC area, she landed at the Retirement Living Network working as an associate producer and post supervisor. Later, Traci came on board at Ventana as the Post-Production Coordinator. Currently, Traci is our Operations Coordinator, managing Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable, and payroll.

Operations Manager

JACKIE GABELA

Jackie brings ten years of production experience in project, personnel, & organizational management to Ventana Productions. She most recently served as a Technical Director at the U.S. Department of State where she produced live virtual programs to advance foreign policy objectives. The position brought her all over the globe, from Kenya to Nepal, and gave her the opportunity to work with a diverse group of clients and audiences.

Operations Assistant and Social Media Coordinator

SOFIA SILVA-GONZALEZ

Sofia is a multifaceted individual with a passion for the beauty industry and a drive for success. With a background as a certified makeup artist, business major, and accomplished retail manager, Sofia possesses a unique blend of artistic talent and managerial expertise. Transitioning seamlessly into the world of freelancing, Sofia honed her skills as a Makeup Artist and Personal Assistant, leaving a trail of satisfied clients in her wake. Her ability to understand and cater to individual preferences has earned her a reputation for delivering exceptional results. Presently, Sofia thrives as our dedicated Operations Assistant and Social Media Coordinator, juggling multiple responsibilities and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations. With her meticulous attention to detail and creative flair, she has played a pivotal role in shaping our brand’s online presence and fostering meaningful connections with our audience.

Beyond her professional achievements, Sofia’s warm and approachable nature make her a joy to work with. She consistently goes above and beyond to exceed expectations, bringing positivity and enthusiasm to every project she undertakes.

Director of Business Development

RICH FEATHER

Rich Feather brings great energy and attention to detail as Ventana’s Director of Business Development – managing and expanding upon our corporate accounts and government staffing contracts. Rich was our Director of Operations for 13 years before moving to Malaysia in July of 2011. While in Malaysia, he was a stay at home dad but also found time to be Chairman of the Board for the American Employees Welfare Association at the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Ventana Productions is fortunate to have Rich Feather back – helping us to grow into new areas of video and multimedia.

Chief Engineer

MARK BRADEN

As Chief Engineer of Ventana Productions, Mark takes care of all our internet, server, equipment and electronic needs. He builds studios and edit suites from scratch for our clients – with a keen sense of functionality and ROI. Mark became a video engineer in 1998 – installing switchers, edit boxes and computers for Henneger Post. In 2001, Mark was featured in ICOM Magazine as Chief Engineer of Commonwealth Film Lab. He joined Ventana Productions in September of 2012. On a daily basis, Mark applies his technical expertise in many ways – assuring our remote and live multimedia systems are working like a charm! We are so fortunate to have Mark Braden as our Chief Engineer!

Webcast Producer

FRANK RACHAL

Frank began his professional career as an Audio Engineer at GVI, a video production company specializing in corporate, government, and organizational video production. During his 16 year tenure, he eventually became the Operations Manager, all while continuing his work on independent films, working on more than 30 projects as the Director of Photography, Gaffer, or Sound Recordist.

With the advent of Webcasting, he became an expert in the field, overseeing several productions. In 2014, he joined Ventana Productions as Webcast Producer. He has overseen a variety of webcasts from press conferences, forums, special events, as well as multi-day conferences. With his additional experience in Operations, he’s been an invaluable asset in assisting and coordinating every type of production.

Studio Manager

LIZ BUBES

Liz is a dynamic addition to the Ventana Productions team, hired as a freelancer for bringing her expertise to a weekly news show broadcasted in Dubai. With a background in Media Production, Liz’s journey began as a passionate student, immersing herself in all aspects of production. Since then, she has seamlessly transitioned into the professional world, leaving a trail of successful projects in her wake.

Liz’s exceptional organizational skills have quickly made her a valuable asset to the team. She has fulfilled client needs & guaranteed that all studio shoots are set for each weekly production in- studio, all while bringing her unique blend of positivity and professionalism. Her radiant smile and unwavering optimism uplift those around her, turning even the most challenging situations into opportunities for growth and success.