Megan Mazzoccone ’07, Moderator

Actor, School of Communication, Media and the Arts Career Coach at SUNY Oswego

Megan McGarvey Mazzoccone has worked in the entertainment industry for the past 15 years. At SUNY Oswego, she is the Career Coach for the School of Communication, Media and the Arts, as well as an Adjunct Instructor in the Theatre Department, teaching Acting for the Camera, Business of Show Business, and Fundamentals of Acting. 

As a professional actor, she has been in many regional and national touring theatre productions, as well as in multiple film, tv, and commercial projects. Some highlights of her work includeBull(CBS),Cocoa(Amazon Prime),SHREW!(World-Premiere Reading @ SCAD),Hamlet (West End Theater, NYC), and Sympathy Jones (Original Musical Cast Recording.) 

Additionally in other areas of media, she has worked as a member of the VIP Guest Relations team for the Savannah Film Festival and the SCAD Atlanta TV Festival. Some additional highlights of her past experience include working for Scenario PR (Public Relations) and as a Casting Intern for Andra Reeve-Rabb (former CBS Casting Director). 

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from SUNY Oswego and a Master of Fine Arts in Performing Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design.

Jeremy Garelick, Panelist

Writer, director, producer

Jeremy Garelick is a dynamic force in the entertainment industry, leaving his mark as a writer, director, and producer. His journey began with a role as a writer on hit comedies such as The Hangover, firmly establishing himself as a top-tier comedy scribe. In 2015, Jeremy ventured into directing, making his debut with The Wedding Ringer, featuring Kevin Hart and Josh Gad. This bold move swiftly earned him recognition, landing a spot on Variety’s prestigious ’10 Directors to Watch’ list.

Driven by a passion for coming-of-age comedies, Garelick co-founded American High, a production company dedicated to crafting films that explore the diverse journeys of characters navigating their formative years. Under his leadership, this innovative studio has produced notable works like Big Time Adolescence, Banana Split, and Looks That Kill.

Jeremy’s creative prowess extends beyond cinema, as he directed the award-winning Netflix series Best. Worst. Weekend. Ever. and served as an executive producer for the popular YouTube Red show Sideswiped. Furthermore, Garelick directed the highly-viewed Netflix Original comedy Murder Mystery 2, starring the dynamic duo of Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston. Beyond his work in film and television, Jeremy Garelick is committed to fostering emerging talent. In 2018, he founded The Academy at American High, a dynamic 501(c)(3) nonprofit designed to offer aspiring filmmakers and innovators hands-on experiences, workshops, and internships. This initiative has not only transformed the film landscape but has also empowered countless young creators. Jeremy Garelick’s remarkable career continues to shape the world of entertainment, bridging the gap between education and industry to sculpt the future of cinematic storytelling.

Juliet Giglio, Panelist 

Screenwriter, producer, associate professor at SUNY Oswego

Juliet Giglio is a screenwriter and producer, who also happens to be an associate professor at SUNY Oswego. She has sold seventeen screenplays in Los Angeles, and her film credits include Disney’s TARZAN, ABC’s NOAH, ABC Family’s PIZZA MY HEART, Disney Channel’s RETURN TO HALLOWEENTOWN.

. After deciding she was allergic to sunshine, Giglio moved to upstate New York to teach screenwriting at SUNY Oswego. Upon arrival, she wrote and produced four more movies (all, of course, including Christmas and snow). These film credits include  A VERY NUTTY CHRISTMAS, CHRISTMAS RESERVATIONS, DEAR CHRISTMAS and REBA McINTIRE’S CHRISTMAS IN TUNE.

Giglio’s publications include Proof of Concept: Writing the Short Script (textbook) and the novels, The Summer of Christmas and The Trouble with Tinsel.

Giglio has a BA from Dartmouth College and a MFA from NYU. She is a member of the Writers Guild of America, NY Women in Film & TV and the Television Academy.

Aunrée Houston ’00, Panelist

Vice President of Account Services & Digital+Production Operations, Paramount Global

Aunrée Houston is the vice president of Account Services and Digital+Production Operations at Paramount Global and NYU certified Life Coach, a global creative and marketing operations executive and creative director. Prior to his current role, Aunrée was a vice president who led the marketing operations team for HBO’s programming sales division. At HBO, Aunrée and his team partnered with international broadcasters to produce marketing campaigns, promotional strategies and interactive experiences for HBO’s vibrant brand and award-winning programming including Game of Thrones, Westworld, Big Little Lies, True Detective, and Insecure.

Aunrée is a member of the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications and the Public Relations Society of America. SUNY Oswego awarded Aunrée a BA degree in broadcasting and mass communication in 2000. He holds a Master of Arts degree in drama therapy and a certificate in coaching from New York University. He serves on SUNY Oswego’s University Foundation and the School of Communication, Media and the Arts advisory boards.

Aunrée served as the Make Your Mark challenger for the spring 2021 GOLD giving challenge. In May 2017 he was the featured speaker for the Commencement Eve dinner and Torchlight Ceremony. Aunrée is a patron of the arts. He loves to travel, visit museums and galleries, and indulge in style.

Christy Somers ’15, Panelist

Nonfiction television producer

With over eight years of experience in the nonfiction television industry, Christy holds multiple production credits across popular entertainment networks such as MTV, TLC, A+E, HGTV, Cooking Channel, Food Network, Travel Channel, and more. Jumping from pre-production planning to directing shoots in the field, Christy now works in post-production as a Story Producer for MTV’s Help! I’m in a Secret Relationship. With a focus on lifestyle content and docu-series, her prior producing roles range from hit shows like Cooking Channel’s Man v. Food and popular spin-offs from TLC’s 90 Day Fiancé. 

Based in New York City, Christy previously graduated from the State University of New York at Oswego in 2015, with a degree in Broadcasting and Mass Communications, as well as Cinema and Screen Studies. Sitting on the Student Leadership Advisory Board, Christy spent a majority of her time focused on the university’s student-run television station, WTOP-10, and served as General Manager her senior year. 

Joshua Holfoth ’20, Career Connector

Associate Producer, CNBC Events

Josh Holfoth is an Associate Producer on the CNBC Events team. He produces video spots, interviews as well as coordinates live production for in-person and virtual events including CNBC’s Small Business Playbook, CEO Council Summit, Game Plan Sport Business Summit and Delivering Alpha Investor Summit. He also manages post-event online content distribution for CNBC Events.

Previously, Josh was an NBC Page based at 30 Rock. As a Page, Josh worked assignments with NBC Sports Communications, Mad Money with Jim Cramer on CNBC, Late Night with Seth Meyers Audience Team, MSNBC Social Media and Peacock Sports Content Marketing. As well as Audience Services for Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, All in with Chris Hayes and the Today Show with Hoda & Jenna. Prior to becoming a Page Josh interned with MSNBC’s Yasmin Vossoughian Reports and American Voices with Alicia Menendez, and before that with Spectrum News in Rochester, NY.

He graduated from SUNY Oswego in 2020 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcasting and Mass Communication. While at Oswego Josh spent a lot of time at WTOP-10 TV, serving as General Manager during the 2019-2020 school year. He had a radio show for 4 years on WNYO and was Co-Event Director of the 15th Annual Media Summit in 2019.

Amanda Ebrahim ‘16, ’19, Career Connector

Account Director, Fenton

Amanda Ebrahim is an Account Director at Fenton where she implements communication strategies to advance social change. She is a media expert with a successful track record of garnering national and local media attention for some of the country’s leading foundations, nonprofits and advocacy organizations working on issues that deeply impact low-income communities and communities of color. Early in her career at Fenton, she worked with a national nonprofit to bring awareness to racial justice issues in the criminal legal system including campaigns led by John Legend, Michael B. Jordan, Jesse Willams and Ava DuVernay. She also worked on campaigns to drive and influence change in Hollywood, fashion and the music industry. 

Now as an account director, her portfolio of clients focus on child and family well-being, education equity and economic opportunity.

Amanda is a native New Yorker and a proud SUNY Oswego graduate. She earned her masters degree in strategic communications and bachelor’s degree in broadcasting and mass communications from SUNY Oswego in 2019 and 2016 respectively. 

Destiny Lynch ’15, Career Connector

Executive Team Leader of Specialty Sales, Target

‘Work somewhere you love’ is not only Target’s motto, but a motto that Destiny Lynch lives. Her journey began after graduating from SUNY Oswego in May 2015. While attending Oswego, Destiny was a public relations major who did not know the next step upon graduation. She interned at BPCM Public Relations where she grew a quick interest in fashion. After the internship, she served as a clothing brand freelancer and then became a merchandising assistant at Ross. 

Her interest in the fashion/retail industry did not end there. As she moved away from the Big Apple, she continued to think big on her career in the retail industry. Shortly after moving, she became the Assistant Store Manager for Hollister, commencing her management journey. After two years, Destiny left Hollister with a mindset focused on apparel and broadening her horizons in the retail industry. She became the softlines Assistant Store Manager at Walmart. 

During her two years at Walmart, Destiny felt a disconnect in her role and company’s culture. In November 2021, her disconnect came to an end when she was recruited by a District Store Director from Target. Destiny now serves as the Executive Team Leader of Specialty Sales. With a sales focus in style, home, beauty, and technology, she and her team contribute to company sales and growth. Overall, through the journey of moving and career changes after graduation, Destiny is now working somewhere she loves.

Jackie McTigue ’19, Career Connector

Production Coordinator, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees

Jackie is a NYC based IATSE Production Coordinator with experience in both film and television production. She has close ties to American High, gaining her first PA credits on AH’s Big Time Adolescence while a student at SUNY Oswego. She credits much of her experience to the Syracuse local Production Company with further credits including The Visitator, I Love My Dad, Plan B,  and Sex APPeal. Jackie’s most recent credits are for NBC Universal Television, where she served as the APOC for Seasons 2 & 3 of The Equalizer.

Jackie graduated from SUNY Oswego in 2019 with a double major in Cinema and Screen Studies and Creative Writing, and a minor in business. During her time at Oswego she was the President of Film Club, co-Director of the 2019 SUNYWide Film Festival, and presented amongst a panel at the 8th Annual Small Cinemas Conference in Bilbao, Spain.