RICH HENKELS
Show Runner / Executive Producer
Founder of Actors’ Think Tank, Henkels threw himself into Workforce after hearing from a multitude of industry professionals that”creating your own content:” was the best way to make a splash as an actor, and the pilot script landed on his lap (see below). As EP, Henkels is putting skills he developed over 15 years as an Emmy Award winning producer/host and 20 years as a successful businessman to use, shepherding Workforce from initial script and screenplay to sizzle reel to pilot, and beyond.
LINDSAY MICHELLE REED
Associate Producer
Lindsay Michelle Reed is a professional actor and model from the Philadelphia area. She worked as a clinical therapist for several years before switching her passion for acting into her career. While on her acting journey, Lindsay realized she enjoys the creative and organizational side behind the lens just as much as being in front of the camera. Lindsay is the Director of Communications for Actors’ Think Tank. Now Lindsay is excited to be on the Workforce team working with an amazing group of cast and crew.
PHIL KWARTA
Director
As a multi-disciplined video professional with over a decade of experience writing and directing, Phil aims to bring his own unique vision to the screen in Workforce. Phil has written and directed commercials for some of the nation’s top brands, on the biggest stages, including the Summer Olympics and the Super Bowl. Through these projects, Phil has honed his storytelling skills and learned what it takes to get the best out of your talent when you only have 30 seconds to tell your story.
JOE FENICO
Writer
Workforce was inspired by the 40 years this writer spent as a Human Resources professional. Initially, his experience led to an unpublished book, “When Work Interferes With Your Job”, a satirical look at the workplace. That all changed after Fenico endured several layoffs and “the light went on”. This more serious side of employment (and unemployment) led to radical introspection, ultimately the foundation of Workforce, and 20 years of rewrites and massaging of his screenplays.
DANNY BELINKIE
Director of Photography
Danny is a narrative and commercial cinematographer, as well as a fine art, still photographer. He has shot over 50 short film projects, 5 feature films and documentaries, as well as multiple music videos and webseries. Highlights include his features working with director Alexander Tovar "Nothing in Los Angeles" and "Show Business", as well as his series of music videos with Luna Achiary.
LUCA CUNDO
Independent Consultant
New to the acting world and entertainment industry, Luca threw himself into Henkels’ Actors’ Think Tank and is the beneficiary of his uncle’s writing prowess. Fascinated by his Uncle Joe’s pilot episode of Workforce, Luca introduced Henkels to the writer, and so it began. A “creative” to the core, Luca will serves as Associated Producer as Workforce moves forward.
CAST
ANTHONY SCOLARI - White male, late-forties, hired as the new General Manager (and fourth in three years) of Protocol Industries. He is impatient with the self-important and arrogant and an employee advocate who must strike the difficult balance between what’s right for the employee and what’s right for business. As an agent of much-needed change in an environment where there is much resistance to change, he generates conflict with his dysfunctional management team, a combative union, and the company’s executive management. He also has to soothe the wounds of the workforce caught in the crossfire.
Rich Henkels (actor) - An Emmy Award winning TV Sportscaster, Rich has come full circle to play the role of the series lead. The single father of two sons, Rich changed gears and careers, temporarily surrendering his show biz ambition, in his mid-30s. Two decades of experience with a nationwide industrial contractor, served as “research” for the role of Anthony. He brings the character to life, as he did while gaining Best Actor awards and nominations for other projects. Workforce also serves as an opportunity to support the acting careers of many members of Actors’ Think Tank, an actors collaboration he founded at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
MIKE MIGLIORE - White male, mid-fifties. He is the chief union steward for Local 33 at Protocol Industries. His long tenure and position at Protocol has enabled him to boast a position of power- both real and imagined. He is given considerable latitude by the management team, more than Scolari thinks he deserves. The acknowledged leader of the workforce, he often challenges Scolari’s attempts to change union work rules.
Chris Evans (actor) - In 2019, Chris walked into Rich Henkels ‘“Acting for the Camera and Media” class and immediately knew that acting was going to be his life moving forward. A professional Voice Over actor for almost a decade, he finds acting to be cathartic and freeing. It opens doors to play in worlds other than his own. Playing Mike Migliore, Chris gets to examine and nurture an unfamiliar archetype, and likely learn a lot about himself in the process, an idea he embraces with gusto.
ISABELLA FLORES
She is Protocol’s spit-fire Sales Director, very capable and confident…to a fault. She has occasional battles with George Chambers only because she believes to fight for what she feels is right.
Her relationship with Anthony is initially confrontational, fueled by his style and his hire for the position she coveted. However, she eventually gets on board with Scolari’s plan to make Protocol viable. Meanwhile, her relationship with him grows, professionally and personally.
DEANNA FONTANEZ
A long-time model and commercial actress, Deanna Fontanez turned her attention to Film/TV acting four years ago, with an eye on feature films and procedurals. Doing so, she followed a cadre of friends in similar situations to hone her craft at the Actors Lab Philly in a Philadelphia suburb. Stabilized by current and consistent work as a 20 year on-air model at QVC and as an active spokesperson for other clients, Deanna is "all-in" in the role of Isabella Flores. "This is a tremendous opportunity to play a role that really isn't far from who I am in real life. Isabella is driven and talented and a tad bit bitter about not getting the promotion to General Manager. At the same time, she is sassy and determined to make a mark in what appears to be a man's world."
SUSAN DOLMAN - Female, late thirties years old. This brash business manager keeps a tight grip of the purse strings which frustrates her fellow managers. In addition, she is the only manager who reports directly to the VP Finance, giving her additional leverage.
Erin Villone (actor) - A Voice Over artist, actor, model, who has trained professionally through a variety of Casting Director Workshops and spent time training directly with Neill Hartley and Bryan Fox of Actors Lab Philly. Erin leaps through every door Workforce opens, embracing deep dives into her “no-nonsense” character and absorbing everything she can from the show’s collaborative and spirited cast and crew.
GEORGE CHAMBERS - Black male, 65 years old. Production Manager who feels he is at the end of his career, either voluntarily or involuntarily. Despite Anthony’s reassurances, he believes that he will be ousted by Scolari in a downsizing move.
Michael Johnson (actor) - A Philadelphia born actor, Mike returned to acting in 2014 following 30 years of government service. His resume includes appearances in many successful TV shows, including The Circle, Daredevil, Madame Secretary, VEEP, House of Cards, The Americans, and Person of Interest. A successful commercial actor as well, Michael is now putting his creative stamp on his own projects, serving as Director/Producer and Actor in many of them. He is excited to bring his powerful and commanding presence to the role of George Chambers, a man of unshakeable resolve.
BERNIE FALSTEAD - White male, mid-fifties. He is the Maintenance Manager who has the difficult task of keeping the faulty equipment running and dilapidated building standing. Susan’s frugality, George’s demands, and Victor’s whining make his job frustrating and exhausting. Initially, he is Anthony’s sole supporter, a point painstakingly remembered by Anthony when he is faced with the decision to fire Bernie.
Mike Sutton (actor) - In less than 10 years, Mike has appeared in over 180 indie feature films, shorts, TV shows and other projects. In 2019 he won Best Actor from the Philly IFF, and had lead or supporting roles in other award winning projects including Suddenly Single, Hunting for Justice, Rendezvous, and Densmore. He also appeared in the final season of House of Cards. Mike has trained at the Actors Lab Philly since 2014.
CLAIRE WILLIAMS - Black female, 65 years old. She is Anthony’s Assistant and one of the senior (30 years’ tenure) members of Protocol. She provides Anthony with stability and an important sense of history in his attempts to make the company profitable. Employees value her opinion and she is able to convey their issues to Anthony as he attempts to build credibility.
Rosalyn Charles (actor) - Rosalyn is taking her acting talent from the courtroom to the TV screen, playing Claire Williams in Workforce. An experienced lawyer, prosecutor, judge and criminal defense attorney, Rosalyn is excited to act for the benefit of the screen. Most recently, she’s starred as a family law litigator, while taking on the world of crime show commentary, commercials and commercial print. By-the-book and even tempered, she’ll apply these attributes and her professionalism while bringing her character to life.
LARRY STEPHENS - White Male, 65 years old. Although he is the CEO of Protocol Industries, his office is miles away from the manufacturing facility, a good indicator of how he feels about his employees. He turned over the reigns of the operation to Scolari in a last-ditch effort to gain profitability and keep 500 employees working.
Bob Heath (actor) - Bob started acting late in life, having spent 22 years of active duty in the US Army. Following retirement, he started as a Voice-Over artist, putting the pedal to the metal in 2005 when he moved from the VO booth to in front of the camera. Bob has had principal roles in House of Cards, Game Change, HBO’s VEEP and a long list of other productions, commercials, and industrials. He’ll apply his business and military instincts to his role as Larry Stephens and embrace the chance to work hand in hand with and in support of his friends, the cast and crew of Workforce.