Board and Team
Outgoing
Founder and Executive Director
Incoming Board Member
Suzanne Harle
Suzanne founded Green Planet Films in 2003 as a nonprofit distributor of nature and environmental films. Besides being the Founder, she is also the Executive Director. She and GPF advocates that environmental education, especially through video imagery, plays an important role in building awareness of the pressing environmental challenges of today, but also of the solutions.
Suzanne’s work background consists of corporate communications, where she specialized in presentation design for technology companies and management consulting firms. Besides corporate work, she also designed magazines and promoted music, skillsets which directly correlate to film promotion. Her educational background includes a BA from UCONN in writing and broadcast communications.
When travelling to film festivals, she frequently appears on panels discussing new video platforms, technology and processes of film distribution. Example appearances: Film Com, International Wildlife Film Festival (Missoula MT), Wildscreen (Bristol England), Wild and Scenic Film Festival (Nevada City CA), Sunny Side of the Doc (La Rochelle France). In 2008 she won the Gaea Award for the Environment from the Women’s International Film and Television Showcase, (Hollywood, CA)
Suzanne was also the Associate Producer Season 6 of a broadcast series called Natural Heroes.
Incoming ED
Chief Operating Officer
Chris Kepple
Chris Kepple joined Green Planet Films in 2022. In addition to being C.O.O. Chris is an experienced filmmaker and fundraiser who has worked mainly in the nonprofit sector for the last 10 years.
In 2016 Chris produced and directed two episodes of a thirty-minute television program titled Backcountry Gourmet for publication on Colorado Public Television. In 2018, I published a short music documentary featuring star members of the Colorado symphony orchestra interpreting the work of iconic American composer David Amram. In 2020 Chris released his first feature length documentary entitled: A Call to Arts. A Call to Arts premiered on Connecticut Public Television and was later broadcast on the RTÉ Network in Ireland.
An avid sailor and surfer, Chris has a passion for outdoor adventure and deep explorations into arts, literature and our natural environment. Chris holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Connecticut and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Naropa University.
Director of Sales & Marketing
Drew Rodgers
Drew joined Green Planet Films in 2024. Rodgers founded the Barley Head brewery in 2017. There he managed operations, sales and business development after working at Cottrell Brewing Co. in nearby Pawcatuck for eight years and becoming head brewer at Cottrell. Rodgers previously worked in the beverage industry at Jonathan Edwards Winery in North Stonington.
President (Interim)
Ernest Gonzales
Ernest is an international business executive specializing in finance, risk, and compliance. He has held senior positions in Finance, Treasury, Risk and Compliance with both global institutions (private-sector) and multilateral organizations (international public sector). Clients he has worked for include the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Asian Development Bank, Nomura Securities, State Street and SVB Financial Group covering global businesses. The worldwide reach of his work have allowed him to live and work globally in three continents (Asia, Europe and North America).
Ernest has a master’s degree from NYU, an MBA in Finance and International Business from New York University’s Stern School of Business, and an MA in International Economics with an Applied Professional Certificate for Applied Economic Analysis from NYU Graduate School of Arts and Science.
Besides being a member of the CFA Institute and the World Leadership Alliance, Ernest has been consistently included in Who’s Who list in World, Finance and in America for over 10 years. He is an avid sailor and is a member of US Sailing Association and the Royal Yacht Association (U.K.)
Board Secretary & Director of Marketing and Development
Christopher Donohue
Christopher Donohue is a seasoned organizational development and communications professional, an accomplished researcher, writer, and project manager with broad experience in delivering solutions to achieve desired results toward business objectives and organizational goals. As a consultant to a variety of for-profit and non-profit organizations, he has led the creation of integrated communications strategies, training and staff development programs, fundraising campaigns, and managed budgets both large and small. Mr. Donohue is an excellent ambassador and public presenter and possesses the interpersonal skills required to influence positive outcomes and manage conflicting priorities.
Mr. Donohue worked across an international enterprise at Fidelity Investments in numerous roles, which included leading internal corporate communications programs, managing the design and implementation of change management solutions, creating and delivering employee training programs, and providing communication leadership to numerous corporate functions, including human resources, corporate affairs, information technology and multiple individuals and departments.
In the mid 1990s while working at Boston University, Mr. Donohue transformed a traditional reactive academic public relations office into an agency-style model of pro-active outreach to media nationwide. Mentoring a small team of professionals, his team developed and implemented the university’s first comprehensive public relations program to promote Boston University locally, nationally, and internationally in support of the multiple goals of student and faculty recruitment and retention, development, grants, and fundraising.
Director of Education
Rosanne Shea
Rosanne Shea is an exhibiting artist and arts educator working since 1988 with students of all ages in a wide range of mediums. She received her BFA from the University of Connecticut and her MFA from Vermont College. Ms Shea is committed to supporting ocean conservancy and sustainability, and educating people about what individuals can do to promote sustainability and conservation. She lives and works in Waterbury, CT. teaching art at Holy Cross High School where she is department chair, and at Naugatuck Valley Community College.
Treasurer, GPF History and Culture Founding Member and Senior Advisor
Dave Reinhardt Ragouzeos
A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Dave draws insight and inspiration from those closest to him. He traveled to different countries and intimately experienced the people and the landscapes along the way, allowing him a global perspective on humanity and culture.
Board Members
Charles Buffum
Charles is the founder of Cottrell Brewing Company, based in Stonington, Ct.William Dougherty
William is the owner of Mystic Luxury Cinema.
Friend of Green Planet Films
Matt Scullin
Matt was formerly the President of Green Planet Films, and now an advisor to us. Matt is Vice President-Portfolio Manager at U.S. Bank. He graduated from the University of Oregon with a B.S. in Business Administration and a minor in Environmental Studies. Matt is an avid sailor who crewed on a 42′ sailboat across the Atlantic Ocean. His passion for the environment was further strengthened by his experience at Outward Bound and at the University of Oregon.
