Andy Awes is the President of Committee Films and has been working professionally in film and video production as a director, producer, editor and Tom Hanks’ stand-in for over 20 years. That's 140 in dog years.

In addition to turning the company into a production powerhouse, Andy has been Executive Producer and Showrunner for ABC's hit docudrama series, In An Instant, Travel Channel’s, America Unearthed, Investigation Discovery’s Serial Killer: Devil Unchained and History Channel’s Found and True Monsters.  Long before the success of his series work, Andy’s first foray into television came in 2009 when he directed and produced the 2-hour documentary special Holy Grail in America for History Channel. It was so well received, it helped Committee Films launch America Unearthed, H2’s top-rated show – which aired an impressive 39 episodes and was re-booted on Travel Channel in 2019.  Andy has also produced multiple specials and pilots for National Geographic, History Channel, Travel Channel, MSNBC and HGTV.

Whew.  As if that's not enough...

Andy's television work doesn't stop at successful network and cable programming. He continues to direct and edit national spots, digital content and brand campaigns for companies such as Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Sperry, Dairy Queen, Herman Miller and Alice's Wig Warehouse. (Okay, the last one's a joke. But if Alice were ever to want cool branding, he'd be all over it. But we all know Alice.)

Maria Awes is Sr. Vice President, Executive Producer and Head of Development for Committee Films. She also holds the title for most titles. Prior to coming on board, she spent 10.2 years (she's very detailed) in broadcast journalism where she won multiple Emmys and the Edward R. Murrow award for her investigative projects. In 2009, after realizing her journalism award shelf had no more room, she decided to turn her talents toward one of her two other passions: producing and writing TV series and specials - or cooking.  While she’s been known to make a mean pork slider, she’s even better at cooking up ideas for kick-$*% television shows.

Since the success of her first television special, Holy Grail in America on HISTORY, she's gone on to produce a LOT more content - including the hit docudrama series In An Instant on ABC.  She spent three years as the Executive and Series Producer for H2's top-rated show, America Unearthed, oversaw the new HISTORY series True Monsters and was an EP on Top of the World for Travel Channel.  Specials she's developed, produced or written include Who Really Discovered America, Bigfoot Captured, Secrets of Einstein’s Brain, and Nostradamus: 21st Century Prophecies Revealed - all for HISTORY - and Mystery of Easter Island for National Geographic/NOVA.

Maria has also done not too shabby of a job overseeing the successful, rapid growth of the company, which now employs nearly 30 people in varying roles.  That's a lot more than the 4 it started with!

Is there anything she doesn't do?  Yes, get enough sleep.  But - on the bright side she does still cook every night for her family while she and her husband Andy prep their two young children to take over the world, or at least the company, someday.

Ben Krueger is a dude with a beard in a northern city: Rockin', Livin' and Holdin' Steady (AND keeping the letter "g" off of words ending in "ing"). He's into episodic television playin' rock n' roll, huntin' agates and eatin' wrong. He's also a Producer, Director and all around likable guy.

After attending film school in Minneapolis, Ben started his career as a Production Assistant – working freelance for many years. In 2009, he submitted a commercial (his first) for Doritos "Crash The Super Bowl" contest and was selected as a finalist. His spot "Snack Attack Samurai" aired in the 4th quarter of the 2010 Super Bowl and was "the most watched ad of all time" by Nielsen ratings. It was also rated "best ad with a samurai" by Samurai Zine, which is not a real magazine. Since then he's kept busy working with Committee Films on all of its projects big and small. He's been all over the world with Committee and hopes to keep doing just that.Ben's trademark is his captain's hat – he is currently on his seven(teen)th. "The Captain stands for quality,” he says, “and being cool with everyone you can, while you can.” He lives in Chaska with his awesome wife, rad sons and odd dog where they have a small garden and a great life.When asked to write a play-by-play fight between his favorite 8Os comedy star and favorite 8Os drama star (this is a standard interview question), Ben wrote about a bout (see how I did that?) between Fozzie Bear and Magnum PI. It speaks volumes about Ben's character that Fozzie won in this scenario.

You wanna know about “the Mule"?

Neither do we.

But if you do, he has dirty blonde hair, dirty blue eyes, and a dirty personalty. He graduated college in 2 years and moved to NYC to pursue everything dirty. Well, not everything dirty.

For many years, he worked in theatrical film distribution, helping release independent films such as CROUPIER, YU TU MAMA TAMBIEN, PALINDROMES, BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING, TARNATION, PASSION OF THE CHRIST, among many others. He worked for Shooting Gallery, IFC films, Newmarket, Wellspring, Tribeca Film Festival & United Artists during his tenure.

David (NOT DAVE - don’t you dare!) made the transition back to television, securing a position on the ABC sitcom Hope & Faith. Once those adjectives wore off, David pursued a producer position with PBS. While at the Twin Cities affiliate, TPT, Mueller wrote, edited and produced a number of local short-form documentaries.

Mueller eventually fell in love with POST and was lured to the other side so to speak. Managing post production on numerous television series for Magnetic Productions in Minneapolis reminded David that he no longer needed to carry pelican cases for pennies and flex his shapely muscles for meals. Please note that flexing his muscles for meals was never required.

In his current Post (get it?!) David leads the post production department, which includes managing personnel, equipment, schedules, budgets and plays Post Supervisor on all projects. He leads a team that is responsible for completing and delivering all projects to television networks and commercial clients.

If that’s not enough, Mueller fights hard to always show that the POST muscle is as fast, strong and as pretty as the production muscle...well, maybe not as pretty. Not that it’s a competition or anything...or is it?!!

bio coming soon

Normally we take the time to write up a bio for someone, but we think Curt’s answer to the question “What’s your background?” is pretty good by itself:

I was born in Fargo, ND and I'm half Canadian. When people make fun of Canada in front of me, there are repercussions. I went to film school to avoid sitting at a desk all day.  Ironic, eh?  Also, I joined the Army after High School but didn't pass my physical.  I was voted most likely to win an Oscar in high school. I dig the outdoors. I'm an Eagle Scout, how's that for all-American (but half Canadian)? 

That sums it up, except for one thing.  Curt is just ridiculously tall.

He’s as tall as any two other Committee employees combined.

We say 6’10”.

This allows us to constantly shower him with praise puns: “If you left we’d have big shoes to fill,” or “You take editing to new heights,” or “You’re super tall Curt."  Wait, that last one isn't quite the same…

Despite his stature, he’s crap at basketball and has a tiny dog - a 6lb Chihuahua named Paco. He is, however, a fantastic editor despite the small keys.

Outside of work Curt likes to be outside in the woods. He may be solely responsible for 1/5 of the sasquatch sightings in North America.

In the past, Curt has been a cart pusher at Target, a truck driver and a homebuilder. He was also once a door-to door meat salesman – a common path for editors. Whatever the path he took to get here, we’re happy he’s here now. He was a huge hire for Committee Films. There we go again…praise punning.

Bill Hurley. If that sounds like a shepherd’s name to you then, you’re right, and I’m not sure how you knew that. Yes, Bill was raised on a sheep farm, which is at odds with his set nickname “Ham Tray” (because ham=pigs, an alternative livestock) given to him for his flawless circulation of a tray of ham to crew members on multiple occasions. This is, he says, his proudest production moment, but most of us here would say he’s just a super hard worker with a great attitude and should be more proud of the fact that we all see him as such.

Still, that ham though…

Originally from New Hampshire Bill came to Committee through an internship after having seen our work on TV and writing in with a letter entitled “Bill: Intern Extraordinaire”. We called him up and liked his voice and the faint “bahs” in the background. So, he came to Minnesota where we fell in professional, HR-compliant love with him as he worked on back-to-back TV specials. Knowing he had to be ours, we made him an offer he could refuse, but didn’t – Production Assistant #2.

But Bill was so much more than a number two. He’s the shit so we made him an Associate Producer! In his short time at c_f he has become a well-rounded employee capable of taking on any task he’s asked to do and providing comic relief in the spaces between.

In his spare time… well, I guess all the time… he is a nerd of the highest order. He loves to play video games, go to the Renaissance Festival (who doesn’t?), play something called “Catan” or whatever, play Magic The Gathering, and watch Lord of the Rings (his favorite movie) or Game of Thrones (his favorite show). As nerdy as this all is, he somehow makes it cool and we love him for that. Surprisingly, he also just got married… to a lady not a sheep!

Bill is also about 5’11”.

Bio coming soon.

Cindy Barber is like the big sister of Committee Films. She takes care of us, gives us advice, gives us her old clothes, and is always there when we need her. This is how she is in all aspects of her life: devoted wife, loving mother, great friend, and guinea pig saver. That sounds like an attempt at random “cleverness”, but it’s not - Cindy once saved her family’s male guinea pig from breast cancer.

I’m going to let that sink in for a second…

…just one second longer…

While not saving largish rodents from ravaging diseases, Cindy is into interior design and home décor. She once worked as a custom furniture designer AND as a buyer for Nordstrom where she was both buyer of the month and buyer of the year. At first I thought – how much did you spend!? – but then I read it again. Pretty cool.

All of this is aided by Cindy’s meticulous nature. She loves cleanliness, organization, even numbers, and symmetry. The perfect person to help organize a sometimes cluttered, random, and odd group of TV and Commercial makers!

In short, we would be lost without the unanimously voted MVP of Committee Films! There is also a high probability that without Cindy in this world, guinea pigs would be extinct too.

Before working at Committee Films, Devin Meierding was in college.  Literally, that's where we hired him from. There is a rumor that he literally drove from graduation at the Art Institutes International Minnesota to {c_f} and literally sat down at a computer to start work. At the time, he was the youngest person ever to join the Committee. Why? Because awesomeness knows no age or bounds!

Officially, Devin is the Media Management Coordinator, but in reality he’s the Catch-All-Guy Extraordinaire. When he’s not helping to keep the media nice and tidy, driving gear around, making our calendars run smoothly or simultaneously troubleshooting fifteen random office tech issues, Devin can be found unwinding by taking selfies. You know, pictures of yourself, I mean himself, I mean yourself , if you’re Devin, or if even you’re just you… forget it.

At any rate, you should see his selfie collection – its amazing.

Devin's mastery of selfie snapshots stems from his general love of photography, film and images and that's why he's a great member of our team. Bottom line, we’re glad to have him on board and don’t think we could live without him. We're not sure if he feels the same about us, but he definitely can't do without the TV shows Glee and Heroes.

When Committee Films decided we needed somebody to manage our research library, we went out and got an actual librarian.  That’s how we roll.  Jen Blanck is not just an example name you’d see in a mobile app tutorial on how to consolidate your friends into one easily accessible group, it’s also the name of our rock star Head Research Librarian.

Jen is schooled in anthropology, airplane runway taxiing, hand modeling, camp counseling and fancy coffee drink making – though she’ll tell you herself she’s the worst barista ever.  She also happens to have an MLIS degree.  That’s the part that makes her a real deal librarian.  After an eight-year stint working in a hospital library, she decided it was time to do something that made more use of all of her various skills and that’s when she started heading up Committee Films’ research department.  It’s a place where she can both do research and do a little hand modeling from time to time.  But, she’s not allowed to touch the coffee, except the Keurig.

Jen spearheads our many research needs, managing all of the information from that research and loves it almost as much as we love her.  When she has free time, she doesn’t read nearly as many books as you might think a librarian reads.  She loves to travel and spend time with her friends and family.  Any other free moments are spent uploading and organizing all of her photos of her travels, friends and family.

If she could have a superpower, she’d love to make more of those moments. “I would like to be able to stop time. I would use this power for two purposes. First, during the best days, I would stop time to revel in the moment. Additionally, I would stop time to do stupid tasks like dishes and laundry.”

We’ll remember to not add dishes and laundry to the, er, laundry list of everything else she does for us.

Ryan started at Committee Films as "the intern." He'd come in sort of whenever and do whatever and then go to his real job at Canterbury Park as a camera operator. We have no idea how long he'd been showing up, as no one really talks to the intern.

Turns out, Ryan is actually an extremely talented designer and master of Photoshop, so the execs at Committee decided he should be paid before it started to look like the company was in violation of labor laws. In addition to making his own films in his spare time, Ryan is an avid snowboarder, jazz connoisseur, and tree-fort builder. Seriously, you should see his tree fort.

Now that he's on board at Committee and lending his creative brain to all things design, we actually talk to him. We found out his favorite television guilty pleasure is Wife Swap, which he calls "excellent social experimentation." He also likes the Planet Earth documentary series, Misfits, NewsRadio, Rocky and Bullwinkle, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

We've all stopped talking to him again.