Cynthia E. Exum is President & CEO of Exum and Associates – a full-service project development company dedicated to strategic planning, community relations and public affairs consultation. With more than 30 years of event management experience, Exum specializes in producing large scale projects including conferences/seminars, exhibitions, conventions, festivals, and special events, Exum’s clients have included the California Council for the Humanities, The Southern California Gas Company, Time Warner Cable, KABC-Channel 7, L.A. Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, City of Los Angeles, The Walt Disney Company, LA’s Department of Cultural Affairs, LA Philharmonic and Center for California Studies.

Detra Palmore is an Event Designer with over 25 years of design and event management experience. As owner and founder of I designs, Detra specializes in corporate and entertainment marketing communication and creating one-of-a-kind design concepts for her clients. In addition to strong, brand-driven design elements, which are present in each event, her company provides full complement of production services that include, but are not limited to: site selection, custom menus, stage and lighting design, brand activation, audio visual technology, event concepts, and entertainment. With her exceptional eye and talent for creating a standout memorable event, Detra has been a member of the Book Fair Production Team since its inception in 2006.

Gia Civerolo has been producing films, live events, and festivals for over twenty years. Gia joined on the Leimert Park Village Book Fair staff in 2011 working on a variety of production managerial roles including Exhibitor/Author Coordinator 2018, the year the event earned its recognition as “One of Los Angeles’ best annual book festivals.” This year Gia has been appointed as Associate Producer of the LPVBF’s Virtual Event Experience. Gia has also worked on other notable city festivals including Israel Film Festival for the last seven years and the Pan African Film Festival. In 2014 she produced the feature film “The Way We Weren’t” which currently can be seen on Amazon Prime. She is also a special needs advocate and continues to champion non-profit organizations and their causes. Gia’s proudest production are her two children.

With more than 20 years of experience, Wyllisa Bennett has honed her skills as an award-winning writer, communicator and celebrity publicist. A native of North Carolina, she relocated to Los Angeles in 2001, and founded wrb public relations -- a small, boutique pr firm with big ideas! Working with the Leimert Park Village Book Fair since its start in 2006, she has helped the event become one of the esteemed literary events west of the Mississippi. She has also worked with other various non-profits organizations, promoting their charity events and messages of social change. These organizations include the Liberty Hill Foundation (Upton Sinclair Awards/social change), the Better Brothers LA (The Truth Awards/LGBTQ issues) as well as celebrity causes, including the DIVA Foundation (HIV/AIDS), and the Victoria Rowell Foster Care Positive Plan (foster care)

Web designer and digital marketing specialist Blaise Morita has been working with Leimert Park Village Book Fair for over 8 years. A graduate of of the University of California, Davis and Art Center College of Design, Blaise started his own marketing company, Brazen Path Design, in 2005. He has worked with numerous clients, including First Team Real Estate, Team Athletics and Pali Mountain. He currently works at Cal State University San Bernardino as Project Coordinator for the Digital Transformation Department.

As a Master of Visual Communications, Kelcey L. Newman has long since learned to live his testimonies––to show his community the standards and principles he believes in––through action, accomplishment, and incessant civic service. Renown as a “Creative Hero,” the decorated Design Director has creatively brought the life of various entrepreneurial dreams into a bold and vivid reality. As the joyful founder and Principal of ATTAIN Design & Marketing Communications, Newman’s bright character and laudable talents have summoned an impressive array of assignments and assignments over the last two decades. Notables include: 44th U.S. President Barack Obama, Nike, California African American Museum, Fox Searchlight, U.S. Department of Navy (Navy Seals), the National Institutes of Health, The South African Department of Education, Lebron James Kings Academy, DC Public Library, Charles R. Drew Medical University, Pan African Film & Arts Festival, and many others. Newman, a distinguished 1993 Fine Arts graduate of Norfolk State University, holds an M.A. in Visual Studies from Old Dominion University. Kelcey joins this year’s Leimert Park Village Book Fair as Creative Director of its Virtual Programming.

Historian, History Event Planner and Director of Community Relations for The Leimert Park Village Book Fair, Joyce Hogan has been a member of the Leimert Park Book Fair staff since the Inaugural Fair in 2007. During the years, Joyce has served in a variety of capacities including, Author’s Coordinator, Special Exhibits Manager, Sponsorship Outreach and Volunteer Recruiter, and Community Relations Director. Joyce is also a member of the ASAALH (Association For the Study of African American Life and History) and was honored in 2015 by the City of Los Angeles City Council on her outstanding accomplishments as a Community Advocate.

Daniella Masterson is a graduate of USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Having a broad suite of media experience, Daniella has worked as a freelance writer for the Los Angeles Times, a reporter at the Daily News, and an associate producer for shows on E! and BET. Most recently, she helped to launch an online women’s lifestyle and arts magazine entitled “The Z-Spot” as the Editor in Chief. She’s also an aspiring novelist and screenwriter. Her short story was a finalist for the Pacificus Foundation writing competition and received an honorable mention in Harlem’s Hue-Man Book Store Short Story writing competition. She is a fellow of the Guy Hanks & Marvin Miller Screenwriting Program at the University of Southern California and has written and directed a documentary and three short films. A valued support staff of the Leimert Park Village Book Fair, Daniella provides writing and editorial support services, including coordination of the Fair’s quarterly newsletter.

Steve Shoemaker has been a Live Sound Engineer, and Technical Producer for over twenty years. He loves being able to meet so many people from so many different walks of life, and participate in sharing their cultures in public venues. "it is a pleasure to be a part of The Leimert Park Village Book Fair. It is a blessing to be of service to such an important event."

As Founder and Principal of SNAP Productions, Ginger Campbell provides purposeful integrated communications strategies and event management services for organizations and businesses. By focusing SNAP’s efforts on “why” clients do what they do, she has developed cutting edge, creative and successful campaigns, and events for companies both nationally and internationally for her wide client base. Campbell also enjoys working with businesses and projects that enhance, transform, or make a difference in people’s lives. Ginger holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management in Marketing and International Business. She is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program and has sat on boards for the Kellogg Alumni Club of LA and Karen Bass’ 47th District Small Business Commission. She also volunteers for a variety of organizations who need to take their message and purpose to the forefront of the news cycle. To that end, she focuses on developing creative and innovative campaigns and platforms that empower and enrich the public profiles of her clients. This year, the Book Fair is pleased to have Campbell join our team its Virtual Event Producer.