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VC+

Founded by former “VC” graduates that majored in Visual Communications, VC+ is a collective of creative professionals that uses our creativity to fund, fuel & raise awareness for existing charities. We are a tight knit creative family of doers, thinkers and makers that collaborate together to ignite, strengthen and support people & organizations that are already doing good things. As professionals in photography, film, advertising, design & entertainment, we know how to use creativity to start conversations, tell stories, solve problems, and ultimately influence people & culture.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

We know and recognize that there are already so many charities out there doing good. We don’t need to be another one. Instead, we can use what we are good at (creativity) to help existing charities push forward, get stronger & do more. We have good hearts & good ideas. And love collaboration.

OUR TEAM

As a creative collective, our team is never limited and instead constantly growing stronger with other like-minded creatives. Meet our current VC+SA team below. And don’t hesitate to contact us should you want to join in. We have open arms, minds & hearts.

+ KRISTEN CAHILL

co-founder / creative director

After graduating from University of Delaware with a BFA in Visual Communications, Kristen has spent 10+ years servicing big brands with creative ideas through advertising, entertainment and branded content. She now wants to service hearts & humanity. As a creative thinker, do-er, maker, writer, designer, photographer, strategist and storyteller, she never stops working; but according to her, when you love what you do, it’s not work. For the past ten years she’s been a workhorse in New York City, where she met her South African husband who has successfully managed to add adventure, travel & culture into her life – which she is grateful for, everyday.

+ HOWARD GRANDISON

co-founder / director

After graduating from University of Delaware with a BFA in Visual Communications, Howard has worked in all aspects of the creative industry. Starting out as an Art Director in advertising for 3 years he began to take on the role of copywriter. Eventually he moved into directing. His love of the visual arts mirrors his passion for the game of soccer which he has played all his life. With a philosophy of constant growth he hopes to both teach and learn together with these children.

+ SHELLY RANGSIYAKUL

creative / social media director

Obsessively driven through the love of travel, food, friendship and art, Shelly too graduated with a BFA in VC. Shelly has 11+ years experience as a strategic, multidisciplinary creative director, entrepreneur, philanthropist and serial instagram-er. So please, don’t eat your food until Shelly takes a photo. Thanks.

+ KATE FORLENZA

executive producer / creative wrangler

After graduating from Monmouth University with a degree in Graphic Design, Kate worked at an NYC ad agency where she was placed on the Pro Bono team as a Junior Designer. It was there that she realized she had a passion for helping people and wanted to find way to get involved. She also learned that she was a much better producing than a designing and switched over to the other side. Kate has been involved in sports her entire life and wants to make sure anyone anywhere is given the opportunity to play the their passion for the sports that they love.

+ ANDREW BOWLES

finance / producer + left brain

South African native Andrew Bowles, grew up in Cape Town where he graduated from UCT with a Bachelor of Commerce. With that degree he packed his bags, jumped on a plane (his first ever) and moved to London where he worked in accounting for 8 years, traveling and working in 15 different countries. In 2004 he ventured again, this time to NYC where he met his wife (Kristen) and for 10+ they have traveled the world together. Andrew currently works as an IT program manager supporting multiple finance teams and now is excited to extend his support to (in his words) “an enthusiastic bunch of over-achieving creatives.”

+ PAUL BASTIN

photographer / editor + animator

Since he was 15 years old, Paul has been capturing moments ever since his first photography class in high school. Visually focused, he took his interests to learning film and video editing on the job as an assistant editor, many years ago before it all went digital. Settled in NYC, Bastin Editorial Inc. brings him many diverse projects from editing commercials to short films to art installations, or photographing around the world documenting the many ways of life that fulfills his never ending wonderment of people and cultures.

+ JUSTIN SWEENEY

entertainment lawyer

Justin Sweeney has been playing soccer from an early age. He attended Manhattanville College where he played for four years. Later he earned his Juris Doctorate from Pace Law School. Currently he lives in New York City practicing in the entertainment industry. He jumped at the opportunity to contribute to a cause that encourages the love of the game and potential in the youth.

+ CUBIE KING

director of photography

Cubie King is a native of sunny San Diego, California. He left one sunny state for another to study film at the University of Arizona. A master of many things creative he worked as a producer / photojournalist at CNN (NY) for over six years. If you have a question about Larry David this guy is your man.

+ VITO DECANDIA

editor

If there’s one thing everyone loves, it’s a great story – and it’s that love of great stories that led Vito to pursue a career in the film editing. From his early days editing on actual film to working with today’s high resolution digital formats, Vito has been fortunate enough to have worked on everything from TV commercials to promos to episodic television programs while keeping storytelling at the heart of everything he does. Vito is a graduate of the School of Communication & Media at Montclair State University and is currently a senior editor at Radical Media in NYC. It was at Radical where Vito first met VC+ co-founder, Kristen Cahill. And he’s beyond thrilled to be a part of the VC+ team.

+ TRACEY FELLER

production designer

Another graduate from Delaware’s VC program, Trae has worked in publishing, retail and digital design, and is currently doing a mix of all those things. But outside the computer, she has an even greater passion for handmade art, and has continued making her own by painting murals and products for kids. She is much more of a giver than a receiver, and enjoys seeing people smile, which she considers the greatest reward when completing a job for someone. Having married a “soccer fanatic” and now raising a vibrant & enthusiastic toddler son, the sport has and is becoming a part of her everyday life.

+ DREAMFIELDS PROJECT

Dreamfields believes a team game like soccer can build better schools and better students. And they also recognize that lasting change must transform the areas where children play — and are helping to restore soccer fields wherever they can and build new ones wherever they are needed.