WIFT TX: SPEAKER SERIES – 21 OCTOBER 2025
“STATE OF THE TEXAS MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY”
Featuring Media & Entertainment Industry Leaders & Experts
JOIN THE MEMBERS OF WOMEN IN FILM & TELEVISION TEXAS FOR AN INCREDIBLE EVENING OF TOP EXPERTS & INDUSTRY NEWS!
5:00 – 5:30
VIP MEET & GREET – LIMITED TICKETS!
$30 – PUBLIC & MEMBERS
NETWORKING, CONVERSATIONS, IMBIBING
THESE TICKETS SUPPORT THE MAGIK THEATRE DIRECTLY
5:30 – 7:30
TWO SPEAKER PANELS
$15 – PUBLIC & FREE FOR WIFT TX MEMBERS
ATTENDEES ARE SEATED TO ENJOY THE SPEAKERS
JOIN US FOR THIS ANNUAL EVENT – THE MAGIK THEATRE – SEE SEVERAL & EASY TRAVEL AND PARKING OPTIONS:
21 OCTOBER 2025 PANELS
“The Texas Media & Entertainment Industry Now and Future”
Ed Arnold – SA Business Journal
Merrill Davis – Texas 2036
Shelly Lares – Tejano Music legend
Alisa Perren– Department of Radio-Television-Film, Moody College of Communication, The University of Texas at Austin
Ashley Robinson – Texas Film Commission
Moderator: Ceslie Armstrong, WIFT Texas CEO
“Sport + Live Entertainment = Economic Development”
Laura Dixon – long game ventures, Pro Sports Assembly
Mel Zarb-Cousin – Magik Theatre
Krystal Jones – City of San Antonio Dept of Arts & Culture, San Antonio Film Commission
Chris Derby – San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo
Justin Johnson – Acorns, MoonPay, Facebook
Moderator: Ceslie Armstrong, WIFT Texas CEO
21 OCTOBER 2025 SPEAKERS
ED ARNOLD
Editor-in-Chief, San Antonio Business Journal
San Antonio, Texas
SPEAKER – WIFT TX: SPEAKER SERIES 2025 – “STATE OF THE TEXAS MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
MEL ZARB-COUSIN
Managing Director, Magik Theatre
San Antonio, Texas
SPEAKER – WIFT TX: SPEAKER SERIES 2025 – “STATE OF THE TEXAS MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
MERRILL DAVIS
Vice President of Communications, Texas 2036
Austin, Texas
SPEAKER – WIFT TX: SPEAKER SERIES 2025 – “STATE OF THE TEXAS MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY”
CHRIS DERBY
Chief Marketing Officer, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo
San Antonio, Texas
SPEAKER – WIFT TX: SPEAKER SERIES 2025 – “STATE OF THE TEXAS MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY”
LAURA DIXON
Founder, long game ventures – CEO and co-founder of Pro Sports Assembly
Austin, Texas
SPEAKER – WIFT TX: SPEAKER SERIES 2025 – “STATE OF THE TEXAS MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY”
JUSTIN JOHNSON
Global Marketing & Partnerships Leader
San Antonio, Texas
SPEAKER – WIFT TX: SPEAKER SERIES 2025 – “STATE OF THE TEXAS MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY”
KRYSTAL JONES
EXECUTIVE Director, City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts & Culture
San Antonio, Texas
SPEAKER – WIFT TX: SPEAKER SERIES 2025 – “STATE OF THE TEXAS MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY”
SHELLY LARES
MUSIC ARTIST, PRODUCER
San Antonio, Texas
SPEAKER – WIFT TX: SPEAKER SERIES 2025 – “STATE OF THE TEXAS MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY”
ALISA PERREN
Professor and Director of Industry Relations in the department of Radio-Television-Film at The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas
SPEAKER – WIFT TX: SPEAKER SERIES 2025 – “STATE OF THE TEXAS MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY”
ASHLEY ROBINSON
Production Incentives Specialist, Texas Film Commission
Austin, Texas
SPEAKER – WIFT TX: SPEAKER SERIES 2025 – “STATE OF THE TEXAS MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
CESLIE ARMSTRONG