Mary Ann joins StoryCollab after more than fifteen years as a Program Director at StoryCenter. She has facilitated digital storytelling workshops for groups in higher education, public health, libraries, museums, and social justice. In addition to facilitating workshops, she has developed custom digital storytelling discussion guides, and has collaborated on podcasting workshops.
Mary Ann came to storytelling via her work as a museum educator at History Colorado, where she curated museum exhibitions, specializing in interactive components. She directed the production of an interactive DVD titled War and Reflection: Voices of the 10th Mountain Division in 2007. She also created educational materials and presented workshops for teachers through the Library of Congress program Teaching with Primary Sources.
She was the photo editor for the book I Looked in the Brook and Saw a Face: Images of Childhood in Early Colorado, by David N. Wetzel, which won an award from the American Association for State and Local History in 2003, and was a finalist for the Colorado Book Award in 2002.
Mary Ann has earned bachelor’s degrees in history and anthropology, as well as teaching certification for secondary education, from the University of Northern Colorado, and has completed master’s degree work in anthropology and museum studies, at the University of Arizona.
Allison brings to StoryCollab a wealth of experience and a passion for amplifying individual and community voices through innovative media creation. Prior to launching StoryCollab, Allison served for over 15 years as a Senior Program Director and Principal Facilitator at StoryCenter, the founders of the Digital Storytelling movement.
Allison’s expertise has been applied across diverse sectors, including community and public health, maternal health, higher education, international education, and leadership development, across the United States and the globe.
She previously served as a Program Director of the Community College Initiative Program, an international educational and leadership program of the U.S. Department of State; as design director for a design and marketing firm; and as the external relations director for an international educational and leadership exchange program.
A graduate of Vanderbilt University (BA) and the University of Colorado (MA), Allison's expertise has garnered recognition on a global scale. Her work has been featured on NPR and supported by a diverse range of partners including the U.S. Department of State, the Mayo Clinic, departments of public health for several U.S. states, numerous leading universities, U.S. Embassies and Consulates, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU, Vital Voices Global Partnership, and the National Health Services of the UK.
Allison has traveled, lived, and worked in over 45 countries. Her education, work, and travel have amplified her appreciation and understanding of cultural differences and variables in
communication and learning styles. She proudly speaks Portuguese with a Brazilian accent.
Stephen Marshall, Ph.D. brings more than two decades of media, marketing and brand storytelling experiences to StoryCollab. He is passionate about activating human-centered stories to drive exponential organizational impact and ROI.
In addition to his role at StoryCollab, Stephen is the chief marketing officer of the ETSU Research Corporation as well as a professor in the Department of Media and Communication at East Tennessee State University.
In addition to his university roles, Stephen is the education director for Brand Storytelling; the premier community for global professionals passionate about creating amazing brand stories and experiences that exceed organizational goals. Marshall also serves with industry professionals representing Google, HubSpot, Meta, Coca-Cola and others on the Digital Marketing Institute’s Global Industry Advisory Council.
Marshall has extensive client-side as well as agency-side experience working in the B2B, B2C, research, marketing technology, non profit, and education spaces for brands like Adobe, Coca-Cola, Nielsen, Texas Pete, Siren Marine, Armadillo World Headquarters, and Tennessee Hills. Marshall is also an experienced corporate trainer in digital marketing strategies. His Digital Experience Strategies course for Adobe Digital Learning Services has been taught virtually for Americas, APAC, and EMEA customers and he has trained professionals from the likes of Delta Airlines, Marriott, Dow, Verizon, Monsanto, Harley Davidson, and dozens of others.
Maame Aba Afful is a Brand & Media Strategy Master’s student at East Tennessee State University and the Marketing Manager and Graduate Assistant for StoryCollab and the ETSU Research Corporation.
Aba has over six years of experience creating engaging content and strategies that nurture and add value to audiences, boosting returns on investment.
She has worked as a content writer, copy editor, blogger, author, and content manager with Prime News Ghana, YEN.com.gh, Streamline Africa, and Beans Technologies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies (Journalism major) from the Ghana Institute of Journalism.
Chase Friedman is a purpose-driven marketing leader who empowers businesses to achieve success while making a positive social impact. He helps thought leaders and organizations leverage brand strategy, storytelling, and marketing to transform audiences into passionate advocates.
With a proven track record, Chase has helped diverse clients, from startups to Fortune 500 companies achieve sustainable growth and societal impact. He has produced over 1,500 branded content pieces with over 500 million views, resulting in a combined +$45 million in revenue and donations.
Beyond his professional success, Chase is deeply committed to giving back. He is a member of 1% for the Planet, dedicates time to pro-bono and non-profit initiatives, and serves on the board of Film2Future, a non-profit foundation.
Holly comes to StoryCollab with over a decade’s worth of experience facilitating digital storytelling workshops with StoryCenter. She has played a critical role in assisting storytellers of all ages find and create their stories in their own words. She draws on her skills as a fine artist and graphic designer to assist storytellers in implementing a creative approach to the visual elements in their stories as well.
Holly played a vital role in a digital storytelling project with the Positive Women’s Network in Colorado, holding space for women living with HIV. She also facilitated intergenerational LGBTQ+ workshops in Denver, bringing together youth and elders in the community. She has worked with a variety of groups in public health, social justice, cultural organizations, and higher education. Deeply listening to people is one of Holly’s strengths, and it is key to her success in working with people of all ages and backgrounds.
Another area of focus for Holly is the design and production of printed and online materials, including StoryCollab’s toolkits and discussion guides. Holly earned a bachelor’s of fine arts degree in graphic design and painting from Colorado State University. Her art appears in many local art galleries and restaurants. She owns and operates her own graphic arts business in Denver, Colorado, Clementine Studios.
First-person narratives are not just stories. They wield a transformative power, shape perspectives, and catalyze community impact. They provide a platform for individuals to share lived experiences, fostering compassion, empathy and understanding. They allow us a glimpse into the lives of others. Their inherent authenticity makes complex issues relatable, bridges gaps, and transcends cultural boundaries and diverse backgrounds.
Digital storytelling and participatory media creation offer a transformational and honoring process for gathering first-person narratives. And the democratization of media production empowers individuals within communities to contribute a more comprehensive and nuanced representation of their diverse voices.
As these narratives are shared with wider audiences, they not only empower individuals but also serve as an effective advocacy tool, raising awareness, fostering a sense of shared purpose, and prompting collective action towards positive and sustainable change.
Our mission is to support organizations and communities by facilitating powerful first-person stories in transformative participatory processes. We collaborate with organizations and their storytellers to create media that educates, advocates, promotes well-being, and builds leadership and community.
We support people in identifying stories they want to tell, in their own voices, with accessible tools. We strive to amplify these everyday voices through the stories, podcasts, videos, and story maps emerging from our Collabs with storytellers and organizations. We seek to engage audiences in ways that prompt reflection and action towards positive social change at local, national, and international levels.
