About Little Fort Environmental Film Festival Film Festival

Diana Melichar is an architect and owner of Melichar Architects. Inspired by classically designed buildings and urban spaces, she thought architecture would be an exciting field to get into – blending beauty and function to enhance the spaces where we live, work, and play. She has always felt that it is important to successfully design and integrate buildings with their existing contexts – not only designing the interior and exterior spaces, but how the building fits on the site and within its community.

As principal of Melichar Architects, we strive to provide an exceptional customer experience, beginning with an attitude of helpfulness, active listening, prompt responses, and timely delivery in order to make our clients genuinely pleased to work with us. We work together as a team to provide a collective benefit of our experiences, insights, ideas, and imagination.

I have always felt that transcending the ordinary into purposeful, vibrant, and uplifting spaces will provide enjoyment and comfort for those that live and work there. I respect time-honored principles of fine architecture, and I devote time and care to achieve them in all of the projects I work on.

Local business and arts advocate Joanna Rolek has served as the executive director of the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce for almost three decades. A trained singer and actress, her career transitioned from performance to both arts and non-profit administration and has included participation in two administrative boards at the College of Lake County as well as serving with local and national professional organizations. More recently she has proudly participated in the creation of ARTSLINK NORTH, an exciting, evolving project for promotion of Lake County, IL arts and culture that can be found at www.ArtsLinkNorth.com.

Ana Holland Krawec is a Yoga, Breathwork, and Mindfulness instructor based in Lake Forest, Illinois. 

Her professional life extends beyond teaching, encompassing creative pursuits and collaborative film projects.

Ana served as Assistant to Producer and Director Susan L. Kelsey on "Billy Caldwell: The Negotiator," which premiered in 2024. This film, the culmination of Susan’s thirty-year endeavor, chronicles the life and legacy of Billy Caldwell (Chief Sauganash) and his pivotal role in negotiating the treaty transferring Native American lands in Illinois to the U.S. Federal government during the 1880s.

Ana is currently contributing as a content editor and historical research assistant to a thirteen-episode documentary series, "Staff Rides with Colonel (Ret.) Keith Nightingale," produced by the Normandy Institute in Normandy, France. This series follows Colonel Nightingale as he visits the D-Day battlefields with active-duty service members, incorporating firsthand accounts from WWII veterans.

Ana is a Board Member of the Little Fort Film Festival, established by Susan L. Kelsey in the community of Waukegan, Illinois. 

Beyond her professional endeavors, most importantly, she mother of three remarkable young adults. 

Susan Roe Musacchio (Kelsey)  is a filmmaker, author, and founder of LegacyFILM & Publishing, LLC. She has written four historical books, including Billy Caldwell (1780–1841): Chicago and the Great Lakes Trail, and directed the award-winning documentary The Negotiator: Billy Caldwell, which explores Indigenous history and the 1830 Potawatomi Removal. Her creative work spans film production, book publishing, podcast development, and music scoring.

As Director of the Little Fort Film Festival, Susan champions environmental storytelling and original music on the shores of Lake Michigan. The festival has grown into a regional hub for conservation-focused filmmakers, artists, and Great Lakes advocates.

Expanding her storytelling into the skies, Susan launched Aviatrix.Company, a media platform focused on sustainable aviation, women aviators, and the future of flight—including electric and eVTOL aircraft. A certified Remote Pilot (Part 107), she brings her passion for aerial filmmaking and aviation heritage into a new era of flight innovation.

Susan has served as president of the Gitchigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum and the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce, and currently serves on the board of the Waukegan Historical Society. In her free time, she swims in Lake Michigan, flies airplanes, and explores untold histories waiting to be shared.

MaryIlene Blondell was born in Chicago and has lived in all four quadrants of the U.S.- Midwest, South, East coast, West Coast. She began her career in news and radio (ABC, NBC, CBS, BBC/London). Early in her production career, she worked freelance on large scale music projects: Phil Collins (Live at Madison Square Garden, Whitney Houston (Miracle- Brooklyn Academy of Music), Muppets Christmas Carol, and developed MTV's Rock The Planet. Blondell wrote, produced, directed her own environmental television show Project Earth and continues to do environmental radio work for WLAK-DB.

Her most recent film The Road Dance (UK release Spring 2022) recently won EIFF's Audience Award for Best Picture.

Blondell continues to develop projects, most recently The Carl Jackson documentary, that focus on: environment, stories of triumph, strong female lead/narratives.

Dedicated to breaking down barriers so people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities can experience the transformative power of the natural world, I work to ensure equitable access to the outdoors. Through my role at Lake Forest Open Lands and the Center for Conservation Leadership (CCL), I shape community engagement and nature-based programs that spark curiosity, build connections, and promote environmental stewardship across Lake County.

My work focuses on creating inclusive, meaningful opportunities for people to engage with nature—whether through hands-on learning, accessible trail experiences, stewardship projects, or cross-sector partnerships that bring communities together. I am passionate about ensuring that everyone feels welcome in natural spaces, and I’m proud to help expand access through initiatives such as adaptive outdoor equipment, youth conservation leadership programs, and immersive field-based experiences.

At CCL, I collaborate with educators, families, local organizations, and community partners to design creative, place-based programs that support mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. From early learners to lifelong naturalists, we aim to inspire curiosity, build confidence, and cultivate the next generation of conservation leaders.

I believe connecting people to nature strengthens communities and the natural world thrives when everyone has the opportunity to participate. If you’re interested in outdoor access, environmental education, or building community through nature, I’d love to connect.

Name Pronunciation: (la-ree-elle)

As someone who is passionate about protecting the earth and its environment I decided to get my Bachelor's in Environmental Science from Emory University. While in school I held various internships that allowed me to see my studies applied in the realms of education, lab and research and others. Upon graduating I found myself working in sustainability sector as a sustainability analyst. I also pursued my Masters in Sustainability Leadership from Arizona State and I plan to use my experiences along with my passion and drive to move our world into a more sustainable frame.