MEET THE TEAM

DAMIEN S. NAVARRO
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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In 2019, Damien S. Navarro was selected by the Board of Outfest to become its next Executive Director. As Executive Director Damien oversees all day-to-day leadership and oversight responsibility for Outfest staff and programs, including fundraising, finance and administration, staff supervision, and external relations. In partnership with the Board of Directors, has been specifically tapped to lead Outfest into its next 40 years, including the implementation of a strategic vision and direction for the organization, as informed by a recently completed five-year Strategic Plan that expands its footprint nationally, globally and digitally.
Damien is a native Angeleno and a graduate of film studies from California State University, Fullerton. He began his career as a start-up entrepreneur, building the LA-based digital marketing and tech agency, Earthbound Media Group (EMG) / Brighter. Following it’s in 2013, Damien co-created The Institute, a boutique marketing and fundraising consulting firm and joined the faculty of Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. In 2017, he became President of VIMBY, a global content and brand entertainment studio previously co-owned by Mark Burnett and MGM.
His business and creative portfolio includes award-winning docs-series, as well as national and international advertising, events management, public relations, and fundraising campaigns for several Fortune 100 global brands, studios, nonprofits and publishers. He has sat on the boards of a number of Southern California trade and industry organizations, including the OC Ad Club and Think LA, and has been selected regularly as a public speaker and mentor for South by Southwest (SXSW), the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
Damien is the proud owner of Monkey Business Farms, a sustainable urban farm in LA’s Laurel Canyon, where he lives with his husband Adam.

Meghan Adamovic
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, CORPORATE RELATIONS

BRIANNE BAIRD
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

HANSEN BURSIC
MARKETING MANAGER

DANIEL CROOKE
SENIOR PROGRAMMER

MIKE DOUGHERTY
DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING
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As Director of Festival Programming Mike is in charge of programming Outfest Los Angeles and ensuring the highest experience of filmmakers and audiences at all Outfest festivals. He has over a decade of experience in the finance, production and distribution aspects of the industry. Mike joins Outfest after five years as Acquisitions and Distribution Executive at Radiant Films International, and five years prior to that as a Creative Executive at Hyde Park Entertainment. Since 2014, he has been the Director of Programming for the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) and is an Associate Programmer for AFI FEST.

WILMER GONZALEZ
GRAPHIC DESIGNER

ALEX GOOTTER
DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT

GABI GROSSMAN
SENIOR PROGRAMMING COORDINATOR

KAHEA KIWAHA
OPERATIONS MANAGER

MARTINE MCDONALD
DIRECTOR OF ARTIST DEVELOPMENT

KIERAN MEDINA
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS MANAGER

PATRICK RYAN
CHIEF OF STAFF

SHERYL SANTACRUZ
SENIOR MANAGER – PROGRAMMING

MAGALI VIRULA
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

TARIK YETKEN
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
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Tarik brings nearly 20 years of fundraising knowledge and experience to this new role. For more than 9 years, Tarik has devoted his talents to developing resources and support for the health and wellness needs of LGBTQ+ and other underserved people with APLA Health (formerly AIDS Project Los Angeles) and Men’s Health Foundation.
In his role, Tarik will lead and grow fundraising initiatives, including events, annual fund/major gifts, membership, sponsorship, foundation relations, and planned giving. He joins the Outfest team as a hands-on leader, adept relationship-builder, and passionate advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and its visual arts and history.