Staff and Board

Back Row: Sarah Wisan (Local Chapter Director Coordinator), Myesha Reynolds (Operations), Krista Jamison (Social Media), Jean Christen (PDP Director), Lisa Tuholski( App Development)
Front Row: Karen Covell (Founding Director), Kelry Kirschenmann (Program Director)

Meet the team

Karen Covell

FOUNDING DIRECTOR

Karen speaks and teaches around the country, challenging Christians to embrace the creative and business professionals in Hollywood with the love and compassion of Jesus, and she is a published co-author of two books: How to Talk About Jesus Without Freaking Out (The J Bomb) and The Day I Met God. Karen is also a producer and Co-Founder of JC Productions, an independent films and music production company. She has had extensive experience producing TV specials, documentaries and children’s programming, is developing a feature film and is an active member of the Producers Guild of America. Karen is a graduate of USC and is married to her best pal, Jim, a composer, and they have two sons: Christopher, a script reader and consultant, and Cameron, who is an independent director.

Kelry Kirschenmann

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Kelry Kirschenmann is a creative producer, visionary leader, and the Programs Director for the Hollywood Prayer Network. Since moving to Los Angeles in 2017, she has dedicated her life to empowering believers to boldly live out their faith in the arts, media, and entertainment industries. With a background in event production, creative direction, and spiritual leadership, Kelry equips Christian creatives to stand firm in their calling while cultivating revival through their work. A wife, mother of three, and passionate worshipper, she brings a unique blend of authenticity, strategy, and Holy Spirit boldness to every space she enters.

Myesha Reynolds

Operations
Myesha is a vital member of the Operations Team at HPN. Myesha heads Volunteer Coordination, Events Logistics, Prayer Partnerships, and assists in Communications.

Jean Christen

Professional Discipleship Program Director
Jean is the brilliant mind behind the HPN PDP Program. She organizes, constructs, and executes program timelines, application and matching processes, and curriculum structure. 

Sarah Wisan

Local Chapter Director Coordinator
Sarah is a missionary to the media industry, serving on staff as a coordination and communications point person for our 164 global Local Chapter Directors (LCDs). She also serves with events.

Lisa Tuholski

APP Development
Lisa is the development and data entry specialist who has built out the amazing HPN App. Lisa also manages the HPN LinkedIn account.

Krista Jamison

Social Media Management
Krista is a content-capture extraordinaire, and specializes in event capture and reel creation for HPN socials.

Phillip & Zipporah Madison

Prayer Leaders
Phillip and Zipporah are long-time prayer warriors serving the individual needs of many HPN community counselors. They head the in-person events prayer teams and serve as spiritual counselors in the community.

Meet the Board

Dean Batali

Chairman of the Board
Dean is a familiar name in Hollywood as a writer, showrunner, executive producer, producer, and playwright.

Dr. Naima Lett

Board Member
Dr. Naima Lett is an award-winning actor, producer, speaker and co-pastor with husband Kevin of Hope in the Hills, a diverse church plant in Beverly Hills.

Tom Halleen

Board Member
Tom is the former executive vice president of programming strategy, acquisitions and scheduling at AMC Networks, and is currently the founding dean of Biola’s School of Cinema and Media Arts.

Merlinda Balmas

Board Member
Merlinda heads Warner Bros. Theatrical Marketing, and also leads 9t5, a ministry whose purpose is to equip and encourage Christians in their God-given roles to function with a Kingdom mindset and win their sphere of influence for Christ.