Board of Advisors

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Mark Harris is a three-time Oscar-winning documentary director, story consultant, professor emeritus, and author.

He served as Story Consultant for two feature documentaries by Pacific Film Foundation. 

He retired in 2023 from the USC School of Cinematic Arts where he was named Emeritus Distinguished Professor in recognition of his contributions to the university.

He has written five novels and recently published Misfits, a collection of short stories.

Dayle Hartnett is a partner with Joe Hartnett in the Pacific Film Foundation,.

She has produced the following documentaries titled With One Tied Hand, The Buffalo Soldiers of WWII and Pershing’s Paths of Glory.  

Before that, she created and directed the credit and adult ESL Programs for Santa Monica College.  She obtained a BA in English, MA in TESL, and Ph.D. in Education from UCLA. While at UCLA she participated in Bruin Belles, Anchors, the Distinguished Speakers Program, and Prytanean. 

Currently, she belongs to book groups, writes, edits, attends Bruin Woods Week 6, watches her grandchildren play soccer, volleyball, basketball, enjoys Bruin Basketball, and loves musicals.

Dave Hutchinson is a 30-year veteran of television production, marketing, distribution, and digital media with a passion for technology and agile innovation.

20 years ago, Dave helped found the Pacific Film Foundation as a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit.  He continues to serve as a key advisor.

 He helped launch AOL Canada, pioneered interactive TV for CityTV/MuchMusic, and built early VOD networks with CHUM TV and Bell. 

A certified PMP, he now sells shows for PPI Releasing and has published widely on marketing and digital media.

 Gary Pia helps clients remove financial stress and achieve prosperity, health, and harmony.  He is a fee-only CFP® professional dedicated to service, clarity, and integrity, 

By translating “finance” into “human,” Gary guides confident life decisions. 

A lifelong learner, Gary has acted, conducted, and served as South Pasadena’s City Treasurer. 

Gary became a founding Board Member of PFF after serving with Joe Hartnett as a national advisor to the American Cancer Society.  Above all,  Cary is a husband, father, grandfather—and advocate for the abundant life.

Pam Penner Markovitz taught English at Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, California with Pacific Film Foundation’s co-Founder, Dayle Hartnett. 

Supporting her husband, Dr. Alvin Markovitz' passion for community service, Pam became active as a key volunteer helping to build and develop the Venice Family Clinic, a leading nonprofit health center in Los Angeles, providing quality medical care to underserved individuals and their families. 

She also belonged to and served in leadership roles in the Los Angeles Art Council. 

After her husband’s death and the January 2025 fire in Pacific Palisades, California, Pam moved to Savannah, Georgia near her art historian daughter and granddaughters.

At 18, Joe shipped out as a seaman across the Pacific, surfed Australia, and later earned his UCLA degree in literature, additionally focusing on anthropology and philosophy.

Joe’s work blends creativity, technology, and purpose across media, marketing, and education.  

A co-founder of two Integrated Marketing Communications agencies and a nonprofit film foundation, Joe has led global marketing for brands from Warner Bros. to Toyota and built Switzerland Tourism’s first digital platform.

A UCLA Extension adjunct professor, filmmaker, writer, and songwriter (“The Surfer Stomp”), Joe, Dayle, and Board Member Dave Hutchinson co-founded Pacific Film Foundation, which is celebrating its 20th Anniversary.

Joe Buhler is a senior executive with global management experience. Notable past roles include EVP at EuroVacations and Regional Director at Switzerland Tourism in Japan, Canada, UK and the US.

As a pioneer in destination marketing, Joe's expertise spans tour operations, retail travel, and airlines.  His particular expertise is in the online travel e-commerce vertical. 

On behalf of Switzerland Tourism, and in partmership with Joe Hartnett, he led the development and launch of the world's first online destination management system, www.myswitzerland.com, with content in eight languages and 37 global markets.

Today, Joe's focus is on effective web marketing  solutions, including social media, social networks and AI tools.

Joe and his wife Kako have recently returned for good to her ancestral homeland, Japan, from which Joe continues to provide value as a strategic consultant.

Joe Sperandeo has over 20 years of experience in post-production, with credits on projects featured by Discovery, the History Channel, and National Geographic. 

As Editor and Producer for the Pacific Film Foundation’s documentary Pershing’s Paths of Glory, Joe brought his deep expertise to every stage of post-production. 

He continues to support the Foundation with his skills in editing and post-production supervision.