OUR TEAM
JOANNE WILLIAMS
PRODUCER, DIRECTOR
Her career began in high school when she hosted the teen talk show on Milwaukee’s WAWA. Two weeks after graduating with honors in film from Northwestern, she started working for WTMJ. In 1973, Joanne and Pete Wilson started The Morning Scene – the first 30-minute, early morning TV newscast in Milwaukee.
That was followed by several years at WGN in Chicago as a reporter, writer and part-time weathercaster.
She returned as WITI’s Community Relations Director in 1978, producing many projects, including “The Disabled Are Able”, which was nominated for a national daytime Emmy. In 1982, Joanne returned to the WITI newsroom and wore many hats as reporter, anchor and producer during her tenure.
She was the host and segment producer for Milwaukee Public Television's "Black Nouveau" which won a Chicago Regional EMMY for the special “Crossing The Bridge” in 2018, awards from the National Association of Black Journalists in 2012 and won the Bronze award from the Milwaukee Press Club for Best Documentary or news special for the program "Harry Kemp: The Photography Man".
Joanne was a regional director on the board of the National Association of Black Journalists, a founding member of the Wisconsin Black Media Association, past president of the Milwaukee Press Club. She is a member of the Milwaukee Press Club Hall of Fame and a National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Silver Circle honoree in 2009. In 2014 the Milwaukee Business Journal honored her as a Woman of Influence for her inspiration to others.
Joanne “retired” in 2008.
ROSS MONAGLE
CINEMATOGRAPHER, CO-DIRECTOR
Ross is a video editor and videographer at Tanner-Monagle. He has a passion for producing meaningful videos about people and companies who have a unique story to tell, as well as music videos and documentaries.
Outside of Tanner-Monagle, when he isn't moonlighting as Dave Murray in an Iron Maiden cover band, Ross can be found hiking with his family, golfing at 5:00am and playing in various local bands.
DEB PASCHKE
PRODUCER
Debbie is a veteran of television/radio news and production. In Milwaukee she worked at WITI as an anchor/reporter/producer and it's where she met Joanne Williams which led to her involvement with "The Exchange In White America Kaukauna & King 50 Years Later".
Her film background includes being Executive Producer of the documentary "Healing Hearts" which was screened at the national G.I. Film Festival in Washington, D.C. The documentary focuses on the initial year of the groundbreaking program Camp Hometown Heroes. This unique national summer camp is free to children who have lost a parent/sibling who served in the U.S. military. For a week the children bond and are given healing grief therapy.
Debbie experienced the Civil Rights movement at the same time as the exchange students. As a child of the 60's, she believes the simple message of the documentary can resound even 50 years later.
KATHLEEN TANK
PRODUCTION MANAGER, DESIGNER, WRITER
Kathleen is a visual designer and creative director who has
20+ years of experience leading design teams in the
broadcast and financial industries. She has a special interest in video production, filmmaking and fine art. As a colleague and friend of Joanne Williams, Kathleen was drawn to the relevance of this story and its positive message.
Kathleen supports logistics, on-site production, writing,
planning and design for the film.
ROBERT SMITH, PhD
DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT
Dr. Robert Samuel Smith is a professor of history and the Director of the Center for Urban Research Teaching and Outreach at Marquette University. Dr. Smith specializes in African American history, civil rights history, and the intersection of race and law.
DON HERTZ
EDITOR
Don has been an editor for more than twenty years. During that time he has worked on a wide range of projects that include commercials, television shows, and documentaries for networks such as Versus, TLC, ESPN, and PBS. Don is acting as lead editor for “The Exchange”.
DENISE CALLAWAY
DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT
Denise brings more than four decades of communication experience and expertise to her role of a communication consultant.
One of the first African-American female broadcast news reporters in Indianapolis and Milwaukee, Callaway also has successfully managed the public relations efforts of one of the largest community foundations in the world – Greater Milwaukee Foundation – and one of the biggest school districts in the country, Milwaukee Public Schools.
Callaway also served as a host and panelist for public affairs programs on Milwaukee PBS where she also anchored award-winning specials. She has been recognized for her efforts by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (The Emmys), national and local journalism and public relations associations, and community organizations.
TESS BERGESON-GALLUM
EDITOR, PRODUCER
An award-winning documentary veteran who owns Root River Films, Tess is passionate about creating socially relevant work and building loyal relationships among peers, story subjects, and the audiences she reaches.
With over twenty years of long-form nonfiction experience, her professional credits include innovative community service and public awareness campaigns, documentaries for national PBS outlets, a thirteen-part series for the Discovery Channel, and rich historical video projects for museums.
The subjects she’s covered include war photography, community advocacy, wildlife conservation, gun violence, racism, world religions, and LGBTQ youth homelessness.
GARY REISTAD
SCREENWRITER
Gary’s career in Television Journalism began in 1978 right after graduating with a BA in journalism from The University of Wisconsin-Madison.
His nearly 40 years of experience includes writing and producing daily newscasts at WTMJ-TV as well as the half-hour news interview show “Sunday Night With Mike Gousha” and the Sunday morning issues program “Insight with Charlie Sykes.” Gary also produced live election night coverage and live breaking news.
Gary was inducted in the Emmy “Silver Circle” before retiring in 2017. He is married to Denise Callaway. They have 3 adult children and one grandchild.
DONNA TRIPLETT
DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT
Donna is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) with twenty years of experience planning and executing successful fundraising campaigns concurrent with thirty years of experience in the nonprofit sector.
She has rich experience in supervisory and administrative roles managing small to medium-sized development departments. Donna is committed to donor cultivation and retention and has a personal passion for all aspects of work supporting the mission, financial stability and longevity of a nonprofit organization.
Donna is contributing her expertise to the development obligations necessary to bring “The Exchange” to our audience.
BOB QUAST
DESIGNER
For more than 25 years, Bob has provided award-winning visual communications and creative strategy in the financial services industry.
Bob’s experience has also included teaching and mentoring design students, supporting neighborhood programs, and sketching on cocktail napkins.
