Our Team

Matt Hoffman

Born and raised in Ashland, Oregon. For two decades, Matt Hoffman has been pushing creative boundaries of advertising and storytelling, directing commercials for the world’s leading brands. Nike collaborations launched his career and resulted in some of the most iconic and beloved films in Nike’s history, establishing his status as a master storyteller. Acclaimed works for Gatorade, Michelob, Nissan, ESPN, and Capital One highlight an awe-inspiring list of celebrities, brands, agencies, and awards. A 360 LED wall installation, featuring Kobe Bryant and Gwen Stefani, helped secure the 2028 Olympic bid for the City of Los Angeles. In 2025, Matt joined the illustrious director roster of world-renowned production company hungryman with offices in LA, NYC, London, and Rio De Janeiro. He lives in Ashland, Oregon, with his wife Noelle and children Desmond and Viva.

Founder/Creative Director

Montana Hauser

Based in Ashland, Montana is driven to bring people together and as an elite Operations Director has spent 15 years turning ideas into live events. She’s skilled at making tough plans work, executing massive big-name events from Coachella to the Preakness Stakes, major Esports events like Immortals Gaming Club and Los Angeles’ Valiant. Her events are smooth, inspiring, and keep clients coming back. Montana’s creative and strategic skills have helped shape famous festivals and events across music, sports, non-profits, and more. Now, she wants to bring her passion and experience to Ashland, Oregon where she now calls home. She tackles each project with resourcefulness, humor, and heart, believing every goal can be reached with the right team, clear focus, and just the right sprinkle of good-natured sarcasm.

Head of Operations

Karolina Lavaningno

Marketing Director

Karolina is a seasoned marketing professional with over 20 years of experience in event production. As the owner of Wild Thyme Productions and the founder and producer of the Oregon Chocolate Festival and FERMENTOPIA, she brings a wealth of expertise in public relations, community and visitor engagement, and integrated marketing across traditional, digital, and social platforms. Driven by creativity and a passion for crafting memorable experiences, Karolina now applies her skills to building and promoting the one-of-a-kind Ashland Sarcasm Festival and all other Storytown events, along with many regional festivals, conferences and community activations.

Susan Elshire 

Bookeeper

coming soon!

Amanda Morgan

Social Media

Amanda has over 9 years of experience in marketing and social media, and 3 years in photography and design, combining these skills to help businesses and organizations like Storytown elevate their brands through social media storytelling.

Our Board

Jim Fredericks 

Board Chair

Jim combines executive leadership, consulting, human resources, and nonprofit management. He held senior roles at Fortune 500 companies, focusing on strategic planning, organizational development, and HR. As Executive Director of the Ashland Independent Film Festival, he led a successful rebirth that strengthened the festival’s standing in independent cinema. Known for visionary leadership, high standards, and practical change-making, Jim brings broad, deep experience. His blend of corporate and nonprofit skills makes him a trusted leader and valuable asset for strategic growth.

Nathaniel Hardy

Board Member

Originally from Australia, Nathaniel is a longtime Ashland resident and Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor at D.A. Davidson Wealth Management, focusing on multigenerational financial plans rooted in family values. He previously worked 15 years with businesses across New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, and the United States. Known for white shirts and his Australian accent, he serves on the Ashland Food Project board and coaches Ashland Soccer Club. He enjoys outdoor activities with his wife Brittany and three boys.

 

Matthew Bernard

Board Member

Matthew Bernard is the CEO of Work Sharp Tools, a leading manufacturer based in Ashland, Oregon. Under his leadership, the company has grown into the #1 brand in knife sharpening through a strong focus on culture, innovation, and long-term growth. Matthew has deep roots in the Ashland community, having served on the boards of the Ashland YMCA, Mt. Ashland, and as President of Epic Ashland — driven by a belief that strong local connections are foundational to thriving places.

Jeff has partnered with investors and investment professionals across the ecosystem since 1998, consistently driving growth through integrity, teamwork, and an entrepreneurial mindset. He also brings deep FinTech experience from Motif Investing and Motif Capital Management in Silicon Valley, where he helped build investment platforms alongside ETF providers, investment banks, and venture capital firms.

Education: BBA in Finance & Biology, University of San Diego; International Finance and Spanish, Spanish-American Institute of International Education.

Jeff Prichard

Board Member

Jessica Therkelsen

Board Member

Jessica Therkelsen is a nonprofit strategist, social housing advocate, and human rights lawyer championing the rights of families, immigrants, and marginalized communities. She is the founding Executive Director of Trusted Homes in Ashland, a community land trust building permanently affordable homes for working people. Her prior roles include Director of Legal Protection at HIAS, Pro Bono Justice Program Director at OneJustice, and Global Advocacy Director at Asylum Access. She holds a JD with Honors in International Law from USF Law.