Eileen Keller, President/CEO
Eileen is Social Physicist and Media Investment Strategist with an empathetic heart centered in a casing of imagination. In the 1980's Eileen authored a college text book on advertising called, Blitz: You Are What You Pretend To Be, a hands-on book to help students become proficient in media buying. She taught classes at Southwest Texas State University and has instructed many advertising professionals around the country with Media Buying Academy. She has been the visionary force in presidential campaigns, global advertising campaigns, internet strategies, and creating reality platforms. Eileen is a a past president of the Austin Advertising Federation. In 1995-96 she was awarded The American Advertising Federation's District's Member of the Year for her work.
Gene Menger, Creative Director
Gene has been engaged in the creative process for nearly five decades. His work encompasses fabric design, painting, music, dance, film, video, and theater. Menger’s fiber works are in the collections of Ford Motor Company, the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, Levi-Strauss Corporation, and Texas Instruments. He has served on the faculty of the Southwest Craft Center and the Austin Museum of Art. As a musician and composer, Gene has contributed original material for Smithsonian/Folkways Records, produced soundtracks for commercials and films, and been a music video consultant for Private Music. He is a founding member of two current Austin bands, La Strada and The Commerce Street Ramblers. Menger has collaborated with dancer and choreographer Dee McCandless since 1975. They have received commissions and grants He was a member of Esther’s Follies from 1977 – 1982, and was co-producer of their television pilot. He continues to act in independent films and theater productions.
Dee McCandless, Creative Generalist
Dancer, teacher, choreographer, musician, singer and artist. Dee has been dancing her whole life and has created and performed dances in every kind of imaginable setting from underwater to downtown urban plazas, art museums, and concert stages. She is most well known in Austin for Waterworks, done in and around Austin¹s heart and soul, Barton Springs. Dee began teaching dance professionally in 1971 while still in school at The University of Texas, graduating that year with a B.A. in Drama and continued to teach into 1973. She spent two years in New York City studying with Viola Farber and performing with the Laura Dean Dance Company. Her choreographic works are included in the repertories of Austin dance companies, both ballet and modern. She has also created dances for Country/Western and Rock music videos. Since 1993 Dee has been a resident choreographer with Tapestry Dance Company presenting her works in Austin and Houston.