CREATE BIRMINGHAM STAFF

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MEGHANN BRIDGEMAN
Chief Advisory Officer

meghann@createbirmingham.org

With over fifteen years of nonprofit leadership experience, Meghann excels in developing community partnerships and building organizational capacity through program management, fundraising, and strategic planning. Prior to joining Create in 2021, she served as Vice President of Social Ventures at Per Scholas, a national organization advancing economic equity through training under-represented talent for high-growth tech careers. Meghann spent a decade as Artistic Director & Chief Operating Officer of the San Angelo Civic Ballet in San Angelo, Texas, where she was also a founding board member of the San Angelo Performing Arts Center. As a performing artist herself, Meghann was a dancer with the Alabama Ballet and Ballet Austin and studied dance at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. She holds an MBA from SMU’s Cox School of Business and a Master’s in Arts Administration from SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts.

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JESSICA MOODY
Interim President & CEO

jessica@createbirmingham.org

Jessica Moody, Interim President & CEO, has worked in the nonprofit sector for 13 years, joining Create as Communications Specialist in 2011 after serving as Customer Service Manager for the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. She now oversees the services Create offers in support of the city’s creative industries, including Creative Entrepreneurship programs, Film Birmingham, Birmingham365, and Office Hours. She serves as a valuable resource to visiting filmmakers and incoming productions and plays a critical role in mentoring local small businesses and entrepreneurs. In addition to weekly meetings with CO.STARTERS participants, she consults with artists and entrepreneurs regularly to help them set actionable tasks and achievable goals and take full advantage of the support services Create Birmingham has to offer. Jessica plays an essential part in our communications strategies and strategic outreach. Jessica stepped into the role of Interim President and CEO in November 2024.

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DESEAN MOTLEY
Film Office Specialist

film@createbirmingham.org

In partnership with Birmingham Corps, DeSean joined Create Birmingham in February 2023 as our Film Office Specialist. He plays an important role in serving as the liaison between film productions, municipalities, and the community. Born and raised in Birmingham, DeSean is now a film student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, currently studying cinematography and narrative filmmaking with aspirations of directing in the future. He loves Birmingham and film and is thrilled to join the team. 

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VIOLA RATCLIFFE
Director of Community Engagement

viola@createbirmingham.org

Viola Ratcliffe is an arts administrator and educator, whose work explores the intersection of art and activism. A native of Montgomery, Alabama; she earned her undergraduate degree in Art History from the University of Alabama and her master’s degree in Art History from Bowling Green State University. Viola’s career in the nonprofit sector spans over ten years and she has worked for several arts and culture institutions including the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, the Troy University Rosa Parks Museum and Minnetrista Museum and Gardens. In 2022 Viola was named interim director of the Birmingham non-profit Bib & Tucker Sew-Op, a position that she held until 2023. In addition to being Create Birmingham’s Community Engagement Manager, Viola is also a facilitator for the CO.STARTERS program. 

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IMANI RICHARDSON
Grants and Development Specialist

imani@createbirmingham.org

Imani Richardson joined Create Birmingham in November 2023 as Grants and Development Specialist. Hailing from Birmingham, she is a graduate of Yale University with degrees in African Studies and Political Science. She brings three years of experience working in the nonprofit sector, having previously served as a Law and Policy Advocate at the Tulane Women’s Prison Project. Imani is passionate about using her skills and experience to support the arts and cultural community in her hometown. In her free time, Imani enjoys listening to live music, reading short stories, and exploring art exhibitions.

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LEE SHOOK
Jefferson County Film Strategist

lee@createbirmingham.org

Lee Shook joined Create Birmingham in September 2024 as Jefferson County Film Strategist. A well-known member of the arts, music, and film community around Birmingham, with over two decades of experience advocating on behalf of the Magic City’s creative endeavors, Lee Shook has a proven track record for both getting results as well as thinking outside the box when it comes to tackling big projects. Having worked in almost every facet of film production, he has seen the workings of the industry from the inside out. Whether it’s making documentary films about legendary Southern artists, pioneering multi-media content for local radio, producing groundbreaking online music festivals, putting together internationally recognized arts events, or capturing historical interviews and live performances around the city of Birmingham, he has repeatedly committed his time, talent and resources to making sure the Magic City’s voice is heard well beyond the confines of our home state.

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MADI VORDENBAUM
Programs Specialist

madi@createbirmingham.org

Madi Vordenbaum, Programs Specialist at Create Birmingham since 2023, brings a dedicated community-first approach to programming. An alumna of Huntingdon College with a degree in Communication Studies and a minor in English Literature, she has cultivated her commitment to education and community building through roles on the Experience team at Shipt and in the Office of Public Relations at Lawson State Community College. Madi’s passion and expertise actively contribute to Create Birmingham’s mission, enriching the city’s vibrant creative landscape.