Meet the Staff
Donald Bauer
Business Manager – dbauer@betv.org
Donald is an established business professional with 25 years experience managing both small and medium-sized organizations. He has a master’s degree in Business Administration from San Francisco State University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast and Electronic Communications Arts. Donald was BCM’s Operations Manager from 2003 until late 2009, at which time he parted ways with the organization and pursued other business goals. He has returned to Berkeley Community Media as the Business Manager and looks forward to again providing BCM with a solid business foundation and a steady hand of experienced management leadership.
Melanie Mentzel
Community Outreach Coordinator – melanie@betv.org
Melanie became a member producer with Berkeley Communty Media in April 2009. Since that time, her life has been a whirlwind of change and opportunity. Currently the membership development and community outreach coordinator, Melanie enjoys her time as the Ambassador for the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce promoting BCMTV with all of it’s amazing resources! Her goal is to increase the awareness of Berkeley Community Media so that individuals, organizations and businesses look to BCM as their one stop media shop. Connect with YOUR community using the power of video. Let us create the video of your dreams to reach out and share your message
Ruben Perez
Front Desk/Maintenance
Ruben has been working tirelessly at BCM for many years. He is the go-to person when it comes to just about anything that is needed involving construction and/or maintenance. He is also on the BCM Media Services team.
David Flores
Executive Director – david@betv.org
David Flores is the Executive Director here at Berkeley Community Media. He got his start in the digital video production world when he joined the Coast Guard in 2010 as a Public Affairs Specialist, where he worked telling the Coast Guard story to an international audience. He has worked on a variety of different production jobs from broadcast to live event production and also does some photography from time to time. Since joining BCM as an intern in 2013 he has worked on several projects that highlighted some of the publicly funded city agencies, highlighted our community non-profit partners and has become a integral part of the BCM filmmaking community.
Joseph Liesner
Government Producer
Joe got his first exposure to the TV/Video scene when, in 2000, he was accepted into the apprenticeship program at Berkeley Community Media. Prior to that he had been a teacher, caseworker, dance therapist, and carpenter/contractor. Having completed all three tiers of the BCM Internship Program he was hired as the Government Producer of The City of Berkeley’s aired board and commission meetings on Channel 33.
Brian D. Scott
Programming Coordinator
Brian hails from the mountains of Colorado but has lived in the Bay Area for more than 30 years. Before beginning his career in PEG television in 1994, he was a producer, director, teacher and actor in theatre and film and still keeps a foot in to this day. He was Executive Director for BCM 2000-2007 & 2013-2021 and is so happy to be back to help keep media truly local and completely grassroots. Become the Real Media. email me at: brian@betv.org
Qadir McCray
Youth Educator & Facilities Access Technician
Qadir McCay is a dynamic Multimedia Artist whose roots trace back to the vibrant streets of Harlem and the rich cultural tapestry of Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City. Armed with an impressive educational portfolio—Fine Arts from Pratt Institute, Video Arts from Berkeley City College, and Film Studies from San Francisco State University—Qadir has established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the world of art and technology. His journey through these esteemed institutions has equipped him with a diverse skill set, enabling him to seamlessly blend traditional fine arts with cutting-edge digital techniques.
In his role as a seasoned Art Education Program Developer, Qadir has left an indelible mark on the youth of New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area. His innovative programs, ranging from Traditional Fine Arts and Darkroom/Digital Photography to Advanced Digital Printmaking, Studio/Location Film Production, VFX, 2D & 3D Animation, Scriptwriting, and Storyboarding, continue to thrive and inspire. Currently, Qadir is at the forefront of technological advancement at Berkeley Community Media, where he serves as a Facility Technician and Arts Educator. Here, he passionately integrates new technologies in Virtual Production, Virtual Reality, and AI production, enriching the creative experiences of the community. With a steadfast commitment to community development and youth education, Qadir tirelessly advances his technical prowess in visual arts and multimedia, driven by a profound joy and appreciation for the medium and an unwavering desire to inspire others.
Ned Pollack
Facilities Access Technician
Nathaniel “Ned” Pollack started making movies at the ripe old age of 12. Later, he earned a BFA in Drama from New York University. After a lengthy detour through law school, Ned returned to his love of filmmaking through Berkeley City College, where he earned most of the Certificates of Proficiency they offered. Ned also worked as a senior teaching assistant at BCC for over 5 years. Ned is committed to offering as much support as possible to members of Berkeley Community Media.