Sean O’Connell was asked to serve as a mentor on the music panels at the 2006 Bozeman Hatch festival. What he found when he traveled there was remarkable. In a four-day period, he met inspired and promising young artists who were learning from the best in the industry. He was seeing connections being made between mentors, groundbreakers and local professionals, as well as with visitors from all over the world.

Sean came back to Asheville and contacted Alison Watson, a media arts industry leader for WNC and active volunteer in the creative arts community and set out to launch the inaugural HATCHfest Asheville in April 2009. The two Hatch festivals have now formed a unique relationship based on the true spirit of collaboration, inspiration and innovation and an absolute admiration and respect for each other’s contributing strengths.

Sean O'Connell CO-CHAIR
Sean O'Connell is the President of Music Allies, Inc. Music Allies consults independent music companies on strategy, marketing, design, promotion and partnerships. His roster includes some of the most prestigious names in independent music including the Bonnaroo Music Festival, Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records, Righteous Babe Records, Aimee Mann, among others. Past partners include the Hard Rock Cafes and Relix Magazine. O'Connell has a keen understanding of the evolving music business. Companies that partner with Music Allies utilize a collective marketing staff, allowing them to keep their costs down. His company levels the playing field for independents by providing them access to opportunities usually reserved for major labels. Sean has been working in the music business for over 17 years. The company has offices in Asheville, Los Angeles, and Virginia.

Alison Watson CO-CHAIR
Alison Watson is the co-chair of the Asheville HATCHfest. She began her career directing and producing documentary films, which have won recognition and awards across the US. She spent several years shooting and producing outdoor films and television commercials. Watson started her own production company in 2001 and then began consulting with small businesses in marketing after receiving her first graduate degree. Watson began working with the with the Media Arts Project and has been instrumental in building the media arts industry in WNC by advocating and assisting artists on a daily basis. She currently works with the Applied Visualization Lab, working with artists and complex data and turning them into compelling narratives through 3D and other mediums. She is on the Asheville Film Commission and on the board of Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance. She has her Master of Business Administration (with a focus in Marketing) from Western Carolina University and a Master of Entrepreneurship. Her bachelor's degree is in Mass Communications from the University of North Carolina Asheville.

Christine LoweVice Chair
Christine Sykes Lowe owns Threat3, LLC a contract based company specializing in creative project management and consulting. With over 15 years past experience in agency marketing, TV/Film production, special events and public relations, her work has included brands such as The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa, The Discovery Channel, RJ Reynolds, Alexander Julian for Lowes, among others. She also currently serves on the board of directors for The Asheville City Schools Foundation, is a participant in the Leadership Asheville Program (Class of 2009) and in addition, has served as recent past chair of The Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau Media Tour Task Force.

Capi Wampler President
Capi Wampler is the General Manager for The Ellington www.theellington.info, a premier luxury boutique hotel planned in the heart of downtown Asheville. Scheduled to open in 2010 and is part of The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa www.groveparkinn.com group of branded properties, The Ellington will be the ultimate in appreciation of the arts and environmental consciousness. With plans to be the first LEED certified major building in Western North Carolina, it will also incorporate an arts program by working in conjunction with The Asheville Art Museum. The ground floor, interior and exterior (with lighted screens), will feature a rotating mixed-media exhibition and gallery display, focusing on local and regional artists. Having lived in Asheville for more than 18 years, Capi is a graduate of The Leadership Asheville Program www.leadershipasheville.org and currently serves on the board of Leadership Asheville Forum. She is presently appointed to the Historic Resources Commission www.ashevillenc.gov/business/development_services/DevBoardsComm/default.aspx?id=1112 and is excited to help shape the downtown arts initiative and promote the talent we have within the region, through HATCH.

Shon Norris Treasurer
Shon Norris is a principal with Gould Killian CPA Group, P.A., a local public accounting firm in Asheville, North Carolina. He received his bachelors degree in accounting from the University of North Carolina at Asheville and a masters degree in accounting from Western Carolina University. Shon has been with GK for over eight years and his practice focuses on income tax planning, preparation and consulting for small businesses and individuals. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Shon was offered a scholarship from UNCA to play baseball. He was drafted in the 19th round of the 1998 amateur baseball draft by the Boston Red Sox organization and spent three years with the Red Sox as a pitcher. Returning to North Carolina, Shon finished his degree and over the course of his career has been active with various community organizations, including the North Carolina Stage Company, the Western Carolina chapter of the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants, Downtown Rotary Club of Asheville and advisory boards for both the UNCA and WCU accounting departments.

Billy Roberts Secretary
Billy is co-founder and Managing Director of Better Ventures, a multidisciplinary performance art production company based in Asheville. Billy's background includes eight years with the North Carolina Outward Bound School as a field instructor, fundraiser and project manager. As a tour manager, he worked with music, dance and multimedia artists around the country, coordinating perfomances at South by Southwest, Burning Man, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music among others. Chicago-born but North Carolina raised and a graduate of Davidson College, he has lived and worked in Asheville for five years. In his free time Billy trains kung fu, spins fire and kayaks the beautiful rivers of the Appalachian region.

Matthew Gellert
Matthew Gellert is a film producer who in addition to documentary films has worked on some of the world’s most acclaimed commercials and music videos. A graduate of the renowned David Letterman School of Telecommunications at Ball State University, Gellert was a staff member at Propaganda and Satellite Films in Los Angeles before striking out on his own. As a freelancer, he coordinated productions for a diverse range of clients including: Weiden & Kennedy (Nike), Fallon (BMW), McCann Detroit (Buick), Jennifer Lopez, and The Red Hot Chili Peppers, just to name a few. Now living in Asheville, North Carolina, with his wife and cat, Stacey and Nacho, Gellert is the staff producer for Asheville's premiere film & video production house, Bonesteel Films.

Now living in Asheville, North Carolina, with his wife and cat, Stacey and Nacho, Gellert is the staff producer for Asheville's premiere film & video production house, Bonesteel Films.

Merideth Law
Meredith Law grew up in North Carolina gardening and exploring the woods. Covered with mud and her pockets full of rocks, acorns, and berries; not much has changed in 30 years.

Degrees in sculpture and botany facilitated a variety of Material explorations. Combine the disciplines with years of experience in service and sales, and the result is a creative, driven, eco-minded professional that requires nothing less than excellence.She uses her extensive knowledge of Materials to manifest events, and create both beautiful and practical objects. Including: sculpture, floral design, furniture, gardens, clothing, jewelry, and more.

Greg Lucas
Greg is an entrepreneur with extensive experience in marketing and sales, operations, strategy and the financial management of small high-tech and entertainment businesses. His professional knowledge spans satellite telecommunications, contemporary artist management, small business valuation, web-based product development and media art. He is a graduate of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and National Merit Scholar. Greg sold his telecommunications consulting firm in 2003, and moved to Asheville to promote global media art and local media artists. From 2004 until mid-2008, Greg worked for Asheville-based firm Music + Art Management and ran the company's New York office in 2006 and 2007. Together with Steve Cohen, Greg managed a roster of six internationally touring transmedia performers ranging from DJ Spooky to King Britt. Greg has attended the Burning Man festival in Nevada for the past nine years and is currently engaged in production and management of related arts groups such as the blacklight mask theater troupe Archedream for Humankind through his company Better Ventures.

Heather Smith
Heather Smith, Managing Director, was born and raised in Asheville and has a BS from Appalachian State University. Currently Corporate Sales Manager with the Asheville Renaissance Hotel, she has a 12 year career in hospitality management and sales. Her community involvement includes a history with the Asheville Jaycees, Asheville Downtown Association, Asheville Area Arts Council, Girls on the Run. She now serves on the Board of Directors for Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance and Asheville HATCHfest and is a Committee Chair for the Georgia Chapter of Meeting Professionals International.

Contact us as info@ashevillehatchfest.org