HUDSY’s video streaming platform is cooperatively owned and brought to you by a small group of local ambassadors who are using their varied professional backgrounds to protect and celebrate the Hudson Valley’s talent, diversity, recreational offerings, and culture.
Thanks in advance for getting to know our team, and our values!
Jesse Brown Co-Founder, Strategy + Development, jesse@hudsy.tv
With over 20 years of media production and storytelling expertise, Jesse deeply believes in the power of place. In 2005, he helped to co-found a snowboarding magazine in Jackson Hole that still exists today, and has been a partner in a media production company as well as having built his own. Jesse brings a unique blend of skills from content creation to advertising sales and event production to the table, and often touts the mantra “our network is our net worth.” He loves to connect people and organizations in ways that help everyone realize their goals, and he couldn’t be more excited to be building HUDSY in the same place where he grew up.
Angel Gates Fonseca Co-Founder, Commercial Development + Outreach, angel@hudsy.tv
Angel was born and raised in the South Bronx before moving to the Hudson Valley in 2016. While his career started in the music industry, he later embarked on a new path to deepen his love for film, which has since led to creating Angel Gates Productions. Growing up in NYC, Angel was able to experience the rich culture that exists within the boroughs' unique melting pot, allowing him to work seamlessly with individuals of all backgrounds. He is a passionate, award-winning filmmaker and content creator with expertise in a full range of media services from shooting, and producing, to editing and directing. He currently resides in Ulster County with his daughter and fiancé, a Woodstock native.
Laura Kandel Co-Founder, Operations + Support, laura@hudsy.tv
Laura has lived in the Hudson Valley her entire life, currently residing in Kingston, and has been working in the arts community in the Hudson Valley and surrounding tri-state area for over 20 years. She was a Co-Director and Operations Manager at Artrider Productions, a contemporary fine craft show production company, for over 16 years and worked as a Guest Relations Coordinator at the Woodstock Film Festival for 12 years. She has been on the Arts Mid-Hudson Ulster Arts Awards Committee for the last five years and enjoys celebrating and lifting up the inspiring artistic community she was born into.
Shawn Strong Co-Founder, Content Creator, shawn@hudsy.tv
Shawn is the recipient of a partial Fine Arts scholarship to St. John’s University with a minor in Communications. He ran a music studio for over seven years before enrolling at SUNY Orange for Visual Communications with a concentration in TV Production, which led to being a filmmaker. Shawn started a digital media and video production company called Phanatiks Entertainment in 2011 and has shot numerous music videos and commercials, produced a creative arts web show, and most recently a series of Sit-In Talks discussing the social justice movement. He is a HUDSY co-founder but not currently involved in operations on a day-to-day basis, and serves on the Board of Directors at Arts Mid-Hudson.
Lacey Seidman Communications + Strategy, lacey@hudsy.tv
A media veteran of over 15 years, Lacey is focused on mission-driven work more than ever. Before moving back home to the Hudson Valley in 2014, Lacey spent a decade in broadcasting’s digital arena, working first in music video promotion at Atlantic Records before shifting to talent relations and digital content programming at MTV Networks. She has interviewed countless artists and entertainers as a editorial lead and producer, headed audience development for award-winning journalist Meredith Vieira’s YouTube channel, and more recently, executed communications strategy for healthcare nonprofit Planned Parenthood, DJ Jazzy Jeff’s PLAYLIST retreat, and the office of NYS State Senator Jen Metzger. In her spare time, Lacey enjoys freelance writing, addressing issues central to the Hudson Valley.
Christopher Greffrath Content Editor, christopher@hudsy.tv
Christopher Greffrath is an independent filmmaker from the Hudson Valley. Having learned many aspects of the art, Christopher has focused on developing his skills as a writer, cinematographer, director, composer and editor, preparing himself to become the best filmmaker he can be. After receiving his first award for best film, A Good Deed, at the Hudson Valley Film Festival, Christopher continues to improve and achieve his goals of making high quality films, working tirelessly to ready himself for bigger projects in the future. Christopher recently has collaborated with HUDSY and worked his way onto the team, becoming the editor and creating a strong working relationship that will pave the way for future success.
Madeline Friedman Graphic Designer, madeline@hudsy.tv
Madeline was raised in the Hudson Valley by professional artisans, finding herself fully immersed in a community of creatives following their dreams. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from Purchase College of Design with the “2018 Outstanding Senior Award," she immediately began her career as a graphic designer, working for Scholastic Inc. Madeline disliked the creatively-stifling corporate environment and began working for Artrider Productions, a contemporary fine craft show production company. While constantly inspired by the ever-changing world of digital design, she draws great inspiration from her foundation and passion for the art of cut paper. Madeline is extremely excited to be working for HUDSY; supporting and enriching the creative community in the Hudson Valley where she has called home her entire life.
Andrea Cordaro Producer, andrea@hudsy.tv
Andrea Cordaro is a producer, actress, voice over artist and writer from New Paltz. She runs her own film production company, Fusion Box Films, with her partner and brother, Francesco Cordaro. Their film Cannoli, Traditions Around the Table was funded by a grant from Anthony and Joe Russo, and won Best Documentary at NYWIFT’s Shorts Festival. As a writer, her short story Island Pulse was recently published in a compilation by Harker Press. She has performed on stage at Off Broadway’s New York Live Arts Theater, in the award winning comedy “Gay. Porn. Mafia” (DUAF). Cordaro has lent her voice to characters in video games such as Dorothea in Kiss of War and Cleo in Hidden Expedition. She is a proud member of AEA, NYWIFT, and UPWIFT.
Rob Harris Apprenticeship Coordinator + Media Educator, rob@hudsy.tv
Rob Harris studied history at Stanford, interned with legendary documentary filmmaker Barbara Kopple, then went on to get a Masters in Journalism at UC Berkeley. After associate producing a PBS Frontline with Lowell Bergman, Rob spent five years as a staff video journalist for the New York Times, where he was part of teams that won two Pulitzers, one Emmy and a Dupont award.
The last few years Rob has split his time between teaching, editing, producing and managing digital media teams. Most recently Rob was digital media director at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies. Rob teaches video production at SUNY New Paltz's Department of Digital Media & Journalism.