Harasyn Sipes
Academy Director
Director of Modeling

Harasyn graduated from Dominican University of California in 2009 with her BA in Art History and Communications, and obtained her Master's Degree in Italy. Having a passion for the arts, Harasyn has a background in dance and choreography, public speaking, theatrical and musical performance, and modeling. Professionally trained in modeling in the Seattle area, she has since taken advantage of a variety modeling opportunities including appearing in the Summer and Fall 2010 Collections for national clothing brand Georgiou Studio (catalog, online store, and fashion shows), print advertising for dental software, hair salons and jewelry companies, numerous fashion shows, and has worked with major companies like Dove and Fashion Bug. Harasyn also participates in scholarship pageants and has held the titles of Miss Seattle 2007, Miss Washington 2008, and Mrs. Sonoma County United States 2013, to name a few. She has won multiple awards at both state and national levels for modeling, portfolio, and public speaking, and has consistently placed as a Top 10 and Top 5 finalist in national competitions.

Sylvia Binsfeld
Film Director/Writer
Guest Workshop Leader

Sylvia began her career as an actress and joined the Screen Actor's Guild. Sylvia's transition to writing and working behind the camera came after being cast as co-host in a short-lived, offbeat TV show, called LiveWire. The producer/director gave the on-camera hosts quite a bit of creative power. Frustrated with the content of many of the scripts she read, Sylvia decided that she wanted to have a bigger say in regards to the messages being put out into the world. She started writing her own scripts, and started to take note of the habits and mindset that produced the best results and the personal blocks that got in her way. Since then Sylvia has devised a step-by-step program to help others live life to their fullest potential and fulfill their dreams, believing that each of us came in with our own unique gifts to share with the world. Sylvia's first solo attempt at writing, producing and directing won her the first place Telly Award and her company, DreamWeaver Films, was launched. Her most recent short fantasy film, Dorme, has been shown at over 34 film festivals world wide - premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival, and won the audience award, best film, and several national awards including another Telly, and the Kids First! Coalition for Quality Children's Media Award.

Missy Copeland
Instructor of Professional Modeling & Administrative Assistance

Missy is a graduate of the Julie Nation Academy Professional Modeling Program, is a past participant in the Advanced Modeling Runway Senior Troupe, and a past participant in the Julie Nation Model & Talent Showcase, where she was discovered by top San Francisco agency Stars Model Management. Since then, she has been involved in many fashion shows including Eddie Cotillon's Bridal Fashion Shows, along with many acting appearances in commercials for Nintendo Wii, News360, and an infomercial for No!No! Skin. She has also had numerous castings as an extra for TV shows including NBC's "Trauma." Missy also has a strong dance background with 5 years of experience in ballet, competitive jazz, hip hop, and modern. She was involved in pageantry for 3 years and went to nationals at 15 years old, earning a spot in the top 15 and 1st Runner Up Most Promising Model. She is currently a student at Santa Rosa Junior College majoring in Communications. Missy hopes to pursue a career in television production.

Thea Daniels
Instructor and Cosmotologist

Thea Daniels has been working on the most amazing women in Sonoma County creating hair that fits unique styles for over 20 years. She is an American Board Certified Hair Colorist presently working at Radici Hair Studio in downtown Santa Rosa. After graduating from Julie Nation Academy in Modeling, it was a natural fit to join Julie's incredible staff. Thea has modeled at various venues around Sonoma County, and is presently perfecting her public speaking and leadership skills as president of a local Toastmasters group. She has also been involved with hair and wardrobe styling for the Summer Repertory Theatre (SRT) at the Santa Rosa Junior College for over 15 years. Her passion is to participate with others in creating fun lives worth living well.

Jacqueline Hayward
Director of TV & Film Acting

Jacqueline did her early drama training in her native England before receiving a full scholarship to study with ACT in San Francisco. She has a Master's Degree in Drama Therapy, trained in voiceover work at Radio Magic. As the drama coach for the Santa Rosa Junior College's speech team for 8 years, her students won numerous medals. She has worked on both sides of the camera- in TV, film, commercials, and voiceover. She has sung and danced professionally, and is an award-winning director. She has been teaching acting in various settings, including at Sonoma State University, for more than 25 years, and has been with Julie Nation since 2002. Her focus is on having acting be, first and foremost, a joyful and empowering experience for her students.

Ali L.
Guest Instructor

Ali obtained a degree in Business Administration with concentrations in accounting and marketing from SSU. She is a Julie Nation Academy graduate and two time past Showcase participant. She was previously signed with a top San Francisco agent that she was introduced to through Julie Nation Academy. She now models in her spare time, getting jobs through the connections she has made through Julie Nation Academy. Some jobs Ali has had include a 5 page spread in a Japanese catlog, a full page in a jewelry catlog, a Twin Pine Casino Commercial, and making it to the top 32 of about 50,000 girls from around the Nation to be on the first episode of the 13th cycle of America's Next Top Model. Ali also participates in scholarship pageants, where she has won multiple local, state and National titles that give her the opportunity to volunteer nationally and also provide financial support for college. She was Miss Sonoma County for the Miss America Organization in 2010, and competed at the state pageant where she received the People's Choice Award. She has been the Vice President of a Board of Directors for a non-profit organization for children with cancer. She is also an advocate for childhood cancer, which is something she feels very strongly about, being a childhood cancer survivor herself. Ali now lives in Portland, Oregon where she is an accountant.

Tina Lloyd Meals
Singing/Vocal Teacher

Tina Lloyd Meals has been living and working in Sonoma County since 1987, though she hails from the Mid-West. She graduated from Northern Illinois University cum laude with a Bachelor"s degree in voice performance and then continued studies in opera at USC. Tina has performed extensively in the San Francisco Bay area with such groups as the San Francisco Opera Chorus, Pocket Opera, North Bay Lyric Opera, and Sonoma City Opera. Her favorite roles include Pamina in The Magic Flute, Countess in The Marriage of Figaro, Fiordiligi in Cosi Fan Tutte, The Witch in Into the Woods, Sister Robert Anne in Nunsense, and Micaela in Carmen. She has performed and recorded with the Fulton Chorale in performances at Yosemite's Ahwahnee Hotel for the Bracebridge Dinners. She has also worked as pianist and music director for Broadway Bound Kids Children's Musical Theater in many productions including "Annie," "Oliver," "Peter Pan," and "Into the Woods," to name a few. She was the worship director for eight years at Shiloh Covenant Church in Windsor. Tina has recently worked at 6th St Playhouse in Santa Rosa and with The Raven Players in Healdsburg. In Oct. of 2010, she performed the role of Zombina in "Zombies From the Beyond" with Odyssey Theater. Tina has been teaching and coaching voice privately for 19 years, and is excited to have completed her certification as a Speech Level Singing instructor after studying and training for the last 10 years. (www.speechlevelsinging.com)

Maureen Merrill
Director of Women's Self Development and Finishing Program

Maureen is a Principal of Harris Merrill Communication Consulting, a motivational speaker, communication seminar and workshop leader, a former elected city council member, an entrepreneur, and a communicty leader. Maureen states: "My passion is to help participants find and express themselves through confidence in personal presence, effortless communication and clarity of message and purpose. Every person is magnificent in his or her own way. Each of us brings unique gifts and a particular contribution to our organizations, our world, and our relationships. What"s our job as leaders? To create a context in which the potential of these gifts can be uncovered, developed, expanded and unleashed."

Crystal Rangel
Director of Hispanic Department
Instructor of Professional Modeling & Personal Development

A leader in the Hispanic community, Crystal Rangel is a special events coordinator and liaison for Bilingual radio stations. Crystal is a graduate from Julie Nation Academy, and has taught and provided marketing services for Julie Nation Academy for almost a decade.

Robert Robbins
Guest Instructor

Robert is a Julie Nation Academy graduate who has taken the entertainment industry by storm! Before becoming a Writer and Director of feature films, Robert started out modeling to help pay for college. After landing some commercial work the acting bug ignited Roberts drive toward the craft. This drive resulted in his first feature film SandCastles, shot in Petaluma, California. Robert's first film appearance was on the movie "Twisted" followed by "Cheaper by the Dozen," "Be Cool," and then having a small part in "Lords of Dogtown" starring Emile Hirsch and Heath Ledger. Although most of his scenes were cut, Robert continued to write and direct a number of short films. Robert put off his acting career for a few years to focus on developing new films and TV shows. In 2009 Robert reignited his passion for acting and started getting lead roles in the short film series "Cop Out", the lead in the feature film "SandCastles" released in 2010, and the lead in a documentary "Fever". He is also working on the 2012 season of the hit TV show "Mad Men."

Carmen Sandoval
Bilingual Administrative Assistant

Born and raised in Sonoma County, Carmen is the youngest of ten children. During her high school years, she took a child development course and worked as a teacher's assistant with grades K-3, with the goal of becoming a teacher. After graduating from Heald Business College with a diploma in Office Administration, she met her husband and formed a beautiful family of three, which she loves and devotes all her time to. Carmen has worked as a Secretary/Bilingual Office Assistant in the school environment for the past 9 years. Her hobbies include art and poetry.

Tari Webber
Director of Personal Development

Tari Webber has been with Julie Nation Academy since 1990. She has a Doctorate Degree in Psychology, specializing in clinical psychology. She also received her Masters Degree in Organizational Development. She has a prestigious list of skills and abilities, such as being modeling and personal development teacher, a nationally certified personal trainer, a nutrition/fitness instructor, curriculum developer, grant writer, child activity coordinator and facilitator. She is certified in neurological linguistic programming, and specializes in eating disorders, self-esteem, and youth and leadership. Julie Nation Academy is fortunate to have her teach and inspire our students!

Jeff Wentzel
Instructor of TV & Film Acting

Jeff began his relationship with Julie Nation Academy when he was discovered at Showcase in 2011 and signed a contract with Marla Dell agency in San Francisco. He has extensive training in acting of all types including theatrical, film, TV, commercial, voice over, character development, psychological realism, Shakespeare, commedia dell'arte, to name a few, and received his Certificate of Theatre Arts in Acting from Santa Rosa Junior College. He has appeared in a variety of theatrical productions, short films, and other on-camera projects, and is actively working with Marla Dell auditioning for roles in the industry. Jeff also has Martial Arts training in Kenpo Karate (3rd Degree Black Belt), Taekwondo, and Judo, and he has been teaching Martial Arts for the past seven years.

Scott and Deborah Lumry
Talent Scouts, and Showcase Consultants

Scott and Deborah Lumry have been sought after judges in talent, modeling, and pageant competitions for over 20 years. Deborah, a former model, has coached runway modeling, talent, and speech presentations. Deborah has also co-directed a large acting company which toured statewide for a number of years. Both Scott and Deborah have assisted in the Miss America Pageant in pre-interviewing the Sacramento contestants.

Scott and Deborah's daughter attended the highly acclaimed Julie Nation Academy, and through the academy's training she was signed with a well known talent agency in San Francisco. She worked in runway modeling, fit, print, television, and radio commercials. Deborah gleaned great knowledge in those years as she worked behind the scenes in accompanying her pre-teen daughter to all her work locations.

Instilling a healthy self-esteem within children, teens, and adults is of the highest importance to Scott and Deborah. To love one's self is to glimpse into what God sees within each of us, and in respecting ourselves we are honoring His creation. They believe that true beauty first starts from within. It is only when both external and internal beauty merge that makes a person truly whole.

The Lumry's feel very privileged to be representatives, talent scouts, and showcase consultants for the prestigious Julie Nation Academy.

DAWN JEFFORY-NELSON: Top L.A. acting coach
Guest Workshop Instructor

Dawn Jeffory-Nelson is an acting coach and known as a top-notch "Baby Whisperer" in Hollywood. She has been hired by industry legends Steven Spielberg, Stephen King, Aaron Spelling, Michael Landon and Chris Carter. Stephen King was quoted about Dawn saying, "Of all my experiences working with young actors, the best by far have been those where I was assisted by Dawn Jeffory-Nelson. She is a genius at putting children at ease, and using her own remarkable teaching talents to elicit excellent performances. I cannot imagine recommending anyone more highly.

I do not write many recommendations, but Dawn is quite without peer." She was on-set coach for Mackenzie Rosman and all guest minors for the entire first 7 seasons of 7TH HEAVEN, coached 22 episodes of AMERICAN DREAMS, as well as mini-series, movies of the week, and feature films.

Dawn 's most current wrangling projects were for 20th Century Fox, baby wrangling on BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE 2. Prior to that, she worked for 7 months as wrangler for the character of baby SUNNY in DreamWorks/Paramount Pictures' LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS - while at the same time being retained as Pre-production casting Baby Wrangler and production Consulting Baby Wrangler for DreamWorks/Universal Pictures' MEET THE FOCKERS! She also wrangled the entire BABY BOB campaigns throughout two different incarnations: first, for freeinternet.com, and then the popular BABY BOB Quiznos campaign.

CLEAR TALENT GROUP: Jody Alexander, Agent
Guest Workshop Instructor

Jody Alexander has over twenty five years of experience in the entertainment industry. She graduated with honors from California State University at Northridge with a Theatre Arts major and started work immediately after college at a talent agency where she specialized in adult commercial representation. She has worked with celebrities including Michael J. Fox, Drew Barrymore, Robin Williams, and Heather Locklear. She also spent many years establishing and expanding the Young People"s department at K.S.R., and is currently the director of The Young People"s department at Clear Talent Group.

Ms. Alexander has discovered and helped to establish the careers of young actors such as Elijah Wood, Efren Ramirez (Pedro in "Napoleon Dynamite"), Nathan Kress (Freddy in "iCarly"), Rico Rodriguez (Manny in "Modern Family"), and many others. Her clients can currently be seen in BIG LOVE, ONE TREE HILL,MEET THE BROWNS, Disney"s new series AUSTIN AND ALLY as well as ADAM SANDLER"S GROWNUPS, SECRETARIAT, DESPICABLE ME, EASY A, THE HANGOVER II, and the Disney feature PROM. Her expertise was displayed in interviews in the Hollywood Reporter, L.A. Times, and numerous how-to books and tapes as well as appearances on CNN and 20/20.

CLEAR TALENT GROUP: Bonnie Ventis, Agent
Guest Workshop Instructor

Bonnie has a passion for finding and developing new talent. Her more than twenty five years in the entertainment industry and working with young people"s careers is a testament to that passion. Throughout her career she has seen many clients grow up in the industry and become healthy and happy adults.

Bonnie enjoys seeing these "extended family members" succeed in their passion-acting, and is proud to be a part of their success. Currently her clients can be seen on the big screen in the popular films, "Prom", " The Hangover Part II", "Easy A", "Grown Ups", "Valentine"s Day", "Secretariat", "Despicable Me". On the small screen her clients are series regulars in "One Tree Hill", Disney"s new series "Austin & Ally", and the Emmy award winning ABC comedy "Modern Family".

Many clients have guest star or recurring roles on " The Secret Circle", "Victorious", "Glee", "Eastbound and Down", "Chuck", "90210", "I"m With the Band", and the soap operas "Days of our Lives" and "The Bold and the Beautiful". Bonnie"s knowledge and expertise in developing new talent and building a career in the entertainment industry has led to the success of many young actors.