People

As Director of Production Services, Megan Donnelly’s responsibilities include the management of the entire department, as well as providing the overall vision and leading its growth trajectory. Megan joined the AbelCine team in 2015 as the company’s first Chicago-based Camera Technology Specialist, eventually relocating to LA and becoming the Training Manager.

Previously, Megan was the Technical Manager at Fletcher Camera and Lenses / CineVerse in Chicago, where she provided technical and workflow support for multiple features and television series. She also developed the curriculum for the International Cinematographer’s Guild Digital Loader Workshops, which she taught nationwide. Megan is an accomplished Director of Photography for commercials, music videos, and narratives. Here work can be seen at megandonnelly.net.

Originally from Mesa, Arizona, Megan Donnelly graduated summa cum laude from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Media Arts with a concentration in Cinematography.

As AbelCine’s Director of Product Strategies, Joe Facchini develops national sales and product strategies that are relevant to AbelCine’s expanding customer base.

Prior to joining AbelCine, Joe worked at Panasonic for over 25 years. Most recently, he served as their Vice President of Sales and Product Management for professional video products.

Joe is a member of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, the Society of Broadcast Engineers and the International Television Association.

Joe holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and worked as a Systems Engineer at Panasonic before moving into sales and marketing.

As Director of Sales, Jeff Giblin oversees the overall strategy and growth of the AbelCine sales department through traditional channels, along with developing and expanding our newer Sales Solutions and Managed Services.

Jeff joined AbelCine in 2011 as a Production Sales Assistant before being promoted to Retail Sales in 2012, Account Sales in 2015, and Sales General Manager in 2019. His previous experience includes Sales Representative at Alan Gordon Enterprises, where he worked with resellers of the company’s products. He has also worked in various production jobs including: DIT, Camera Assistant, Camera Operator, and Director of Photography.

Jeff has a B.A. in Media Communications from Asbury University, where he won an Ohio Valley Regional Student Production Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

As Directory of Technology, Matt Giblin leads AbelCine’s Technology Group. He identifies new and emerging technologies and develops strategies to support and implement them, within the company and for our clients. Additionally, he oversees custom solutions for clients by working with AbelCine’s resources and manufacturers.

Matt started with AbelCine in 2010 as a Rental Check In Agent. He held several positions in the department, before being promoted to Rental Operations Manager in 2016.

Prior to joining AbelCine, Matt worked as a freelance DP and 1st AC, the highlight of which was being an Assistant Camera in the Beijing 2008 Olympics. He continues to freelance as a DP, and has shot dozens of award winning shorts, three feature films, several web series, and a documentary on the Special Olympics World Games.

Matt holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications & Film from Asbury University in Kentucky.

As Director of Sales Operations, Johnny Heatley leads the Order Operations team to support Sales and drive customer satisfaction. He oversees the development, implementation, and modification of sales operations workflows to increase efficiencies in the sales process. He also communicates closely with the Product Strategies team to gain essential analysis for strategic forecasting.

Johnny joined AbelCine in 2013, working in inventory and fulfillment out of the LA office. In 2015, he transferred to the company’s Chicago location. During his time at AbelCine, Johnny has held a variety of positions including Order Administrator, Sales Agent, Customer Service Manager, Office Manager, Sales Supervisor, and Sales General Manager / CHI & NY.

Previously, Johnny worked at Ron Robinson, Inc. as a warehouse manager and distribution manager for their Apothia fragrance line. He also has worked as a professional musician for DreamWorks Music, and in his spare time continues to write music for the entertainment industry.

As Director of Education & Product Specialization, Jeff Lee oversees the company's educational initiatives, as well as spearheading the development and maturation of emerging products and applications. He helps develop new curriculums, whether for in-person workshops, online courses, or custom training. He also manages the training team across all three offices.

Jeff is a technical editor on AbelCine’s blog and serves as the lead technologist for AbelCine NY. He joined AbelCine in 2009 as a member of the sales team. He then transitioned to Camera Technology Specialist and Trainer, eventually becoming the National Training Manger.

Additionally, Jeff is an accomplished still photographer who has traveled extensively working on documentary projects. His work has appeared in publications such as Shutterbug, and he has been a featured Gawker Artist. His photo blog can be found at jeffleephoto.com.

Born and raised in NYC, Jeff attended Rutgers’ Mason Gross School of Arts where he concentrated in both photography and filmmaking.

As Director of Rental, Gabriel Mays oversees growth of Rental by nurturing business relationships and unifying the customer experience nationwide. In his previous role as the LA Rental Manager, Gabriel worked with producers, cinematographers, and assistant camera operators to provide the highest level of customer service possible. He also ensured that all their equipment needs are met on budget.

Before coming to AbelCine in 2015, Gabriel previously worked as a Communications Instructor and Electronic Media Engineer at a private university. He taught various courses in electronic media, including film, broadcasting, and digital arts.

Gabriel is an award-winning cinematographer, director, producer, and editor known for his innovative research and implementation of new film techniques. He was also one of the first to implement HDSLR cameras into filmmaking. He has been the cinematographer on dozens of independent films, documentaries, and music videos.

As Director of Human Resources, Gala Napakh oversees the strategic hiring of new employees, as well as developing staff training and benefit programs. She also manages the operation of the HR department.

Gala joined AbelCine as the Human Resources Manager in June of 2007. She comes from a diverse professional background that includes finance and music management. With over a decade of experience in the HR field, Gala previously held HR positions at Vibe Magazine, Spin Magazine and Register.com.

Gala attended CUNY Baruch, majoring in Finance, and is a member of SHRM (Society of Human Resources Management).

As the Director of Integration, Jason Zapata oversees the development of AbelCine’s Integration services and business strategies.

Jason joined AbelCine in 2012 as the Service Manager and then became the Sales General Manager, both in New York. He became the Integration Sales Manager in 2018. Jason is also an ISF certified monitor calibration technician.

Jason worked as a videographer and editor for Personify Productions in Philadelphia and freelanced as a Master Control Operator for both WWSI Telemundo and The Comcast Network. A documentary feature he worked on—The Anderson Monarchs, about the first all-black girls’ competitive soccer team in the USA—won the 2010 Sundance Institute Documentary Fund grant.