PICKLE PALS
VICTOR YERRID (KOSHER DILL)
Victor Yerrid is a show creator, writer, DGA director, and world-renowned puppeteer. He created and produced the orchestral puppet concerts The Great Chipmunk Picnic and Race For the Reef for the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and Halloween Fandemonium for the Pacific Symphony. Victor was the Co-Creator/EP of the Disney Junior pilot Eddie the Yeti. He has written for Rubble & Crew, Friendzspace, and Word Party and has directed numerous puppet series including Crank Yankers, Wake Up, Pajanimals!, Kookamakaluka, and The Movie Show Victor has been a puppeteer & voice artist for the Jim Henson Company, Sid & Marty Krofft, and The Walt Disney Company for almost thirty years. His work includes Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, The Hangover, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Team America, Men in Black II, Robot Chicken, Family Guy, The Simpsons, Community, Angel, Night Court, Miracle Workers, Crank Yankers, Greg the Bunny, The Sarah Silverman Project, No You Shut Up, Word Party, Sid the Science Kid, Slumberkins, Mutt & Stuff, Hannah Montana, Sigmund & the Sea Monsters, Splash & Bubbles, Pajanimals, The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The 2010 Grammy Awards, and Sesame Street.
HALLE STANFORD (SWEET RELISH)
Halle Stanford is a Primetime and Children’s Emmy® Award-winner, a 2025 Silver Circle Children’s and Family Emmys Inductee, and a twelve-time Emmy®-nominated producer with over three decades of experience in creating groundbreaking children’s and family content. As the founder of 7 Crow Stories, Halle produces inclusive and imaginative content, with a first-look deal at The Jim Henson Company, where she spent 30 years shaping iconic projects. She has Executive Produced award winning series such as FRAGGLE ROCK: BACK TO THE ROCK, THE DARK CRYSTAL: AGE OF RESISTANCE, SLUMBERKINS, HARRIET THE SPY, SID THE SCIENCE KID, DINOSAUR TRAIN, WORD PARTY!, and PAJANIMALS. Halle has sold over 100 projects to top networks and studios, including Netflix, PBS, Nickelodeon, Disney, and YouTube Kids. A committed community leader, she serves on the Advisory Board for Creative Community for Peace, the Jewish Federation’s Hollywood Committee, and the Children’s Programming Peer Group for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS).
BENJAMIN LEHMANN (Cornichons)
Benjamin Lehmann is a Director, Writer and Producer, passionate about socially conscious storytelling and believes in projects that use humor -and pickles- to bring joy and education to viewers. His recent projects include Tiny Time Travel for PBS Kids as Executive Producer and Series Director, and Book Drop for TPT / Twin Cities PBS as Head Writer and Executive Producer. Lehmann formerly led the production and creative direction for Sesame Street and all other live action productions at Sesame Workshop where he was the Executive Producer for Sesame Street from seasons 49 to 53 . Prior accomplishments include developing and Executive Producing The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo (29 episodes HBO MAX) and Executive Producing and being Series Director for Helpsters on Apple TV+ (40 episodes). A 22-time EMMY award winner, Ben’s work has been recognized by the DGA, WGA, IMAGEN, NAACP, PEABODY and others.
ELISE ALLEN (DISNEYLAND GIANT PICKLE)
Emmy Award nominee and New York Times Bestselling author Elise Allen has established herself as a premier voice in kids and family entertainment. In the television world, Elise has written for audiences from preschool to prime time, working with talent such as Rita Moreno, Madeline Kahn, and Kermit the Frog. She developed and was showrunner for Princess Power on Netflix, produced by Drew Barrymore’s Flower Films. She also created Rainbow Rangers for Nickelodeon, and has written for such acclaimed preschool shows as Dinosaur Train, Sid the Science Kid, Gabby’s Dollhouse, and The Lion Guard, as well as over fifteen Barbie movies for Mattel. As an author, Elise’s books include the young chapter-book series Jim Henson’sEnchanted Sisters, the middle grade Twinchantment series, and the YA Elixir series (written with Hilary Duff). In addition, her middle grade series Gabby Duran and the Unsittables was adapted into a live-action television show currently airing on Disney +. Elise is dedicated to bringing to life unique character stories that both entertain, and also share messages of kindness, inclusivity, and joy.
TODD SHOTZ (BREAD N’ BUTTER PICKLE)
Todd leads adual career as a Film &Television Producer and Jewish Educator. In 2005, he founded Hebrew Helpers, a personalized Bar/Bat Mitzvah education company that has worked with thousands of families nationwide. An Emmy Award-winning producer, Todd earned acclaim for Recipe for Change: Standing Up to Antisemitism and for the past 20+ years, has produced, raised independent financing or been the executive on dozens of feature films including The Grotto, Lazy Eye, and Latter Day Jew. He co-founded T42 Entertainment with Emmy-nominated writer-director Tim Kirkman after serving as VP of Development at Cheyenne Enterprises. Before film, Todd worked i n Broadway company management on Tony-winning shows like Kiss Me, Kate and Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing. He's a leading consultant on Jewish representation in media, including working on the upcoming film 31 CANDLES, contributing to Grey's Anatomy, Netflix's You People, and more. As Producers Guild member, he received the Human Rights Campaign E-Hero Award.
JILL HOtchkiss (Spicy Pickle)
Emmy Award winner Jill Hotchkiss, Founder of Creative Waves Agency, brings over two decades of global experience marketing to adults, tweens, and kids. Her expertise spans strategic marketing, media planning, and content development. Most recently, she led the creative brand vision, strategy, and execution for all on-air marketing at Disney Branded Television, shaping imaginative, aspirational content for Disney+, Disney Channel, Disney XD, and Disney Junior. Jill also spearheaded Disney’s history and heritage month branding and its kid-focused citizenship campaigns, including “Be Inspired,” which earned her an Emmy. Previously, she played a key role at Warner Bros. launching Felicity and Gilmore Girls, and contributed to NBC across News, Entertainment, and Late Night. A dedicated mentor, Jill was honored by the U.S. Department of State’s Global Sports Mentorship Program. She has spoken at global leadership and marketing conferences and is available for speaking engagements.