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Team

What sets Bottle Rocket Media apart from the rest? Duh, it’s the people. Learn more about each individual that makes up the BRM team.

Dan Fisher

Principal, Producer, Director

As a Principal and a Director at Bottle Rocket Media, Dan is excited to be able to combine his years of experience as an Editor, a Producer, a Director, and a Photographer to create content across many platforms.

Special skill: I can make an incredible omelet. My personal favorite is a Greek omelet with or without olives.

Favorite pastime: Going to see live music. Jam bands, rock, blues, & for a short period of time I also really enjoyed The Wiggles.

Favorite restaurant: Longitude 415. South American Fusion. Start with the Smoking Rita and be sure to get the green beans alongside any dish.

Brett Singer

Principal, Executive Producer

Nobody loves a good story as much as Brett. His experience in design, film, and video production spans over 20 years. His career has afforded him the opportunity to work with a wide variety of clients, in many different roles. Brett wears a few hats at Bottle Rocket Media; director, producer, writer, creative, and more.

Special Skills: Repairing things (tech and non-tech) and capable of making a perfect pour-over coffee

Favorite book read this year: The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate—Discoveries from a Secret World

Favorite Corned Beef Hash in Chicago: The Cozy Corner Cafe in Oak Park

Best place to be at 1:20pm on a Tuesday in Spring: Wrigley Field

Mark Cwiakala

Executive Producer

Mark is a producer, director, and occasional filmmaker. He crawled up the creative ranks as an art and creative director for numerous ad agencies. He thinks a lot about distilling rum in his spare time, and he’s always down to hear a crazy story.

Nickname: Depends on who you ask.

Skill: I can make a big deal about almost everything.

Favorite Food: Couscous, ahi tuna, avocado, pickled ginger, toasted black same, and Wasabi aioli.

Favorite Restaurant: Avec, always Avec.

Michelle Niemiec

Post Producer

Michelle joins the BRM team following eight years in the news industry. Most recently, she was a senior booking producer for a national morning news program. Michelle is eager to use her storytelling skills to bring BRM client businesses and products to life through video. Outside of work, Michelle enjoys biking, traveling, and spending time with family.

Nickname: No nickname, but my family calls me by my Polish name Michasia (Me- ha – shah).

Skill: Making soup out of any vegetable.

Favorite Pokemon: Pickachu

Favorite Restaurant: Capri Ristorante

Dan Wulfing

Creative Director

Another veteran of the Oprah show, Dan Wulfing, studied film and animation at the Savannah College of Art & Design before coming to Chicago in 2005. Prior to joining BRM, Dan went on to design for 20th Century Fox’s Empire and Star, ABC’s Built to Last, and NBC’s The Voice.

Favorite Color: #454545

Drink I can’t seem to say no to: London Fog

Favorite Watering Hole: Lazy Bird Cocktail Bar

Currently listening to: Mellow Lofi playlist on Spotify

David Sarno

Editor

Dave is an award-winning editor based in Chicago, with over 18 years of experience across many platforms. His passion is helping filmmakers and companies discover their stories and share them with the world. Dave’s documentary work has been broadcast on CNBC, ID, OWN, the History Channel, and on festival screens across the country.

Favorite Restaurants: Spacca Napoli, Aba

Special Talents: Making pasta

Favorite Youtube series: Pasta Grannies

Favorite place in town: The Music Box Theater

Favorite Chicago activity: Architecture Tour

This year – Most Anticipated Film: The Beatles – Get Back. The Peter Jackson documentary

Dave Thomas

Editor

Dave Thomas is widely known for square hamburgers and that one unfortunate chili incident, but this Dave Thomas is an award-winning video editor hailing from The Hawkeye State. Since moving to Chicago in 2016, Dave has found himself crafting a wide range of video content, from commercials to reality TV and motorsports. His true passion in the realm of video production, however, is storytelling and truly striving to make every piece better than the last.

Special skill: I can guess most movies based on 1 frame.

Favorite show: The Simpsons

Favorite restaurant: Michael’s Pizzeria & Tavern (Best tavern pizza in Chicago)

Tamika Carlton

Director of Marketing

Originally from Seattle with a Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism from Columbia College Chicago, Tamika has worked with several startups to increase their revenue with tailored marketing strategies. With experience in content marketing, digital marketing, writing, and events, her passion is building something out of nothing and creating targeted messaging for services, experiences, and products.

Nickname: Momma T

Special skill: Freetime DJ

Favorite ice cream: Rocky road ice cream

Favorite restaurant: Mercadito

Mikey Cappuccilli

Motion Designer

Mikey Cappuccilli is a Chicago-based Motion Designer. He’s created animations and motion graphics for numerous entities and platforms, including Fortune 500 corporations, television, start-ups, and indie projects. Outside his work, he enjoys animated TV shows and movies, gaming, and game development, customizing apparel, and Chicago summers.

Nickname: Mikey, of course!

Special Skill: I do a great Backstreet Boys cover at karaoke

Favorite Pokémon: Dragonair

Favorite Restaurant: Crisp. Best Korean fried chicken in town, and they make a killer Korean fried chicken sandwich.

Rayna McKinley

Production Coordinator/Project Manager

After studying Television Writing & Production at Columbia College Chicago, Rayna was an engineer on live streams, including Coachella, Dancing with the Stars, and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Pursuing her passion for producing, she then spent several years at a nationwide mortgage company as their in-house video production coordinator before moving to expand her skills at Bottle Rocket Media.

Special skill: I can wiggle my ears

Favorite Drink: Iced green tea

Favorite Restaurant: Frasca Pizzaria and Wine Bar in Roscoe Village or Fine Thai in Brookfield

Shayla Wolf

Sales and Marketing Coordinator

A graduate of Michigan State University, Shayla joins the BRM team with 5 years of in-house marketing and sales experience. From design work and branded content creation to social media and business development, Shayla brings broad-reaching skills, forward-thinking, and enthusiasm to each project.