The Team

Scott Hays has taken on various professional roles throughout his lifetime in numerous areas of public media as a writer, editor, radio host, TV producer, and media consultant. At present he is co-Founder and Executive Producer of OC World, a nonprofit multimedia company that broadcasts to 15+ million home in Southern California on the KLCS-PBS stations. He began his career as a reporter for an alt-news weekly, later serving as editor of a weekly newspaper in North Orange County, a reporter-editor for a daily newspaper in Fullerton, and editor of a start-up entertainment section for a daily newspaper in Costa Mesa. The following 15 years he worked mostly as a freelance writer for local and national newspapers and magazines and websites, and he authored or co-authored several non-fiction books. Hays eventually spent two years as producer-host of his own radio show, followed by three years as co-producer of PBS SoCal’s “Inside OC” with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Rick Reiff.

Manuel N. Gómez, Ph.D., served as Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs at University of California, Irvine from 1995 to 2010. He began his work as a counselor in the Educational Opportunity Program, was a program officer with the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education in Washington D.C., and he served as Interim Vice President for Educational Partnerships in the University of California Office of the President. He also served as a member of the Children First, Paul Merage Foundation, on the Board of Trustees for the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the Board of Governors for the Orange County Community Foundation. Currently he is an Advisory Committee member of the UC Berkeley Institute for the Study of Higher
Education.

Ty Woodson is an award-winning television producer, director, writer, and editor with over two decades of experience in the industry. Notably, he has produced hundreds of hours of content for PBS, including the regional broadcast “Sustaining US” in the Los Angeles DMA. He is currently in pre-production for the seventh season of “Everybody with Angela Williamson.” Ty’s extensive portfolio encompasses five-hour specials, a documentary on visionary Henry Segerstrom, and various online content, including webisodes and PBS SoCal Extras. As the Director/Producer at KLCS, he oversees all station productions and post-productions, collaborating with internal and external teams to shape the strategic vision for content production across multiple platforms. Beyond his role at PBS, Ty is a dedicated documentarian, capturing the impactful work of US doctors transforming the lives of children in developing nations.

Dan McKechnie is an Emmy-nominated editor and award-winning cinematographer. Dan began his professional career as a 6th grade school teacher in Irvine, California, where he was honored with the Climate Creator of the Year award and nominated for the National Teacher of the Year award. He has created award-winning videos since 1981 and teaches many young video and film professionals throughout the country on editing and cinematography techniques, when not producing videos for OC World.

Anthony Clegg is an Emmy Award-winning videographer and video editor who has produced countless programs for local public broadcasting. Earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Communication from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Anthony has spent his career passionately learning and expanding his skillset in the field of video production. He has traveled around the country in the production of various documentary projects centering on the excellence of educators and the work they perform in the lives of the Nation’s next generation.

Tony Perez is a recipient of the Telly and Golden Mike Awards and brings over 18 years of extensive experience as a videographer, editor, and director of photography in public broadcasting. Tony has served as a digital librarian, programming assistant, camera operator, technical director, and editor. He believes everyone possesses a distinctive narrative and aims to disseminate these stories to a broader audience.

Veronica Marquez is an award-winning Website Developer and Graphic Designer who seamlessly bridges the worlds of web and print with creativity and purpose. From crafting polished websites and striking posters to designing engaging social media campaigns and distinctive brand identities, she blends artistry with strategy to deliver exceptional results. Her commitment to innovation and design excellence drives her to create meaningful digital solutions that elevate brands and amplify the missions of the organizations she supports.