Kelly Wegel is a lawyer and cat mom who loves Halloween. She attended UGA in 2005 for journalism and then worked as a photographer in Athens before pursuing her law degree at UGA Law. After many years as a public defender and federal staff attorney, she was appointed to be a Magistrate Court Judge in Clarke County in 2022. She begins the next phase of her career as a Lecturer of Legal Studies at UGA in August 2025. In her free time, she enjoys planning Halloween costumes, caring for the neighborhood feral cat colony, and creative writing. On the weekends, you can find her at a local cafe, walking with friends, or volunteering at the free legal clinics. The Wild Rumpus is by far her favorite Athens event.

A lifelong artist and musician who had a successful career in logistics management, Dan has always walked the strange line between being a creative and a logician. Forced into retirement in 2019 by MS, Dan has rededicated himself to pursuing his passions for all things creative and community. He still pursues art when his schedule and MS allow him to, and to supplement his physical therapy Dan dusted off his old drum kit and started playing again after a decade plus of dormancy. He is currently drumming for 5 bands and tries to be as active in the local music scene as he can. Dan was immediately drawn to the wonder and spectacle of the Wild Rumpus upon moving to Athens in 2019 and is absolutely thrilled to be able to be a part of the team that makes it happen. Joining the Rumpus team is like a dream come true for Dan, combining so many facets of his previous experiences–organizing and promoting an annual music festival and charity drive in his native Northeast Ohio, years managing logistics for Fortune 500 companies, and his lifelong love of art, music, and community outreach. Dan is extremely grateful for the opportunity to help keep Athens weird, and promises to give his absolute best for the amazing and unique community of Athens!

A native of Tallahassee, FL, Kallie wandered a bit before putting down roots in Athens. She started her professional life as a radiographic technologist and made all of the lateral moves through the modalities she could before returning to school and eventually earning an MBA. She worked for St Mary’s Healthcare as a senior financial analyst before leaving to pursue all of the other things! Currently stretching her skills as a leather and wood worker this mom of two humans and two cats is always chasing down new skills. Always interested in the arts and everything geek she is a member of Dragon Con, Center for Puppetry Arts, Athens Rock and Gem Club, Georgia Mineral Society, and Gwinnett Woodworkers Association.

Dave Alston is a multidisciplinary creative with roots in Los Angeles, where he spent a decade (2006–2016) working as a professional animator. A classically trained musician from a young age, Dave plays multiple instruments and has always been drawn to the intersection of sound, storytelling, and visual art.
In 2016, he moved to Budapest, Hungary, where he built and operated a brew pub that became a vibrant community hub for locals and travelers alike. After seven years abroad, Dave relocated to Athens in late 2024 and quickly fell in love with the city’s creative spirit and welcoming community. He’s excited to bring his eclectic background and passion for the arts to his new home.

Alexis originally moved to Athens in 2013 for school and then just never left. She’s an avid fan of anything that involves dressing up whether that’s Halloween, Ren Fair, or oddly specific themed birthday parties. Beyond her day job of working at UGA, she spends her time playing D&D, trying needlessly complicated new recipes, and cuddling her incredibly mean and beloved cat, Luna.

Alison is a multifaceted professional whose journey began with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from UGA. Her passion for understanding human behavior blends seamlessly with her artistic talents and love for nature. As a freelance makeup artist, she specializes in both traditional and SFX film makeup, breathing life into characters on screen. Alison’s commitment to empowering women shines through her skin and makeup classes, where she encourages creativity and self-expression. Proudly a member of IATSE 479, Alison contributes her skills to the costume department, serving as both an ager/dyer and a costumer. Off-duty, she finds solace in the company of dogs, enjoys swimming, and reconnects with nature. Alison firmly believes in the power of play and advocates for a balanced approach to life, where stress takes a backseat to enjoyment. With an unwavering belief that no obstacle is insurmountable and no goal is too big, Alison approaches every challenge with determination, resilience and passion.

Hello! I am a current Non-Profit Board Fellow through the UGA MBA program and I’m a non-voting board member of Wild Rumpus. I’m getting my MBA to pivot to a career in Human Resources. My work experience is primarily in Business Immigration but I’ve also worked in the Atlanta film industry. During my free time you can find me making ceramics at the local pottery studio!

Hey! I’m Ana. I’ve been an Athens local for 9 years now & in the past year have become more involved in the community. I’m currently a bartender. I run social media & events for a new local nonprofit, Athens Craft Breweries Can Collective! I’m a new board member for the Wild Rumpus & excited to get started! I also serve on the Porchfest committee for Historic Athens. I live for the local music scene here in Athens & recently started helping with the booking for a local band, Phantom Dan. I’m sure you’ll catch me at a show sometime. Some of my passions include community work, animals (I’ve got 3 cats of my own), music & art!

A relationship builder by nature and a strategist by trade, Brandon blends startup hustle with a nonprofit heart, flipping between account management, sales, and community service like it’s second nature. He’s the kind of guy who can close a SaaS deal by noon, speak at a town hall by three, and still have time to help a neighbor fix their back porch in the evening.
With a background in science, sales, and account management, plus a deep love for cooking and a toolbox full of handyman skills, he moves fluidly through business, academia, and grassroots initiatives, always with a knack for connecting the dots others miss.
He’s lived lean, worked wide, and never lost sight of why he shows up. He loves building things that matter, connecting people who care, and making the world around him work better for everyone. Rooted in the red clay of Georgia but wired for bigger things, Brandon brings a small-town soul and wide-angle vision to everything he does.

Christa, once a West Virginia native and now a 40-year Athenian bohemian, is a nurse by day and a free spirit by night. She finds joy in advocating for differently abled and marginalized citizens of Athens-Clarke County, communicating through ASL, thrifting, enjoying live music, and traveling with friends. At home, Christa cherishes time with her vibrant family, which includes a sassy granddaughter, an elderly Shih Tzu, a talking parrot, and a collection of formerly stray porch kitties.

Christopher Paul Charette was born on October 6, 1991 in Augusta, Georgia. In high school, he thrived in JROTC gaining a State and National Championship title. After graduating, he completed an enlistment in the United States Army and served three years at Fort Myer in Washington, DC. Once he got out of the military, he used his G.I. Bill to complete college and graduate with an Associates of Applied Science degree in graphic design. It was in this field that he realized his passion and talent for helping people bring their creative vision to life! Chris moved to Athens in 2015 and fell in love with the Classic City. He currently works in the insurance field and sells niche clothing online. In his free time he loves crafting and spending time with his partner, Joshua, his cat, Fang. Chris loves Pokémon, watching movies and television, social media, creating, designing, sculpting, sewing and any kind of creative craft that you he has the opportunity to work with.

Cole Taylor is a seasoned music industry professional and creative entrepreneur based in Athens, Georgia. With a career spanning decades, Cole has tour managed iconic acts such as Drive-By Truckers, Houndmouth, and Steve Earle, earning a reputation for professionalism, road-tested logistics, and deep respect within the touring community.

His impact on the Athens music scene runs even deeper—Cole formerly managed the legendary 40 Watt Club, one of the nation’s most influential live music venues.

In recent years, Cole has brought his production expertise into the world of independent wrestling. As a co-founder and a driving force behind Classic City Wrestling, he’s helped build a high-energy, community-focused promotion that blends the arts and music with professional wrestling—creating a one-of-a-kind experience that perfectly reflects the creative heartbeat of Athens.

Blending music, performance, and community, Cole continues to shape the cultural landscape of Athens in bold, unexpected ways.

With his deep roots in Athens’ creative scene and a track record of bringing people together through unforgettable live experiences, Cole is a natural fit for the board of the Wild Rumpus. His energy, vision, and love for this city will make him a fantastic addition to the team.

Hi, my name is Franki, and I’m excited to serve on the Wild Rumpus Board of Directors. I live in Athens, where I run a branding and marketing studio that helps small businesses and entrepreneurs find their voice. When I’m not working with clients, I’m usually diving into my own creative projects.

A former yearbook kid who never grew out of it, I’ve always been drawn to storytelling in all its forms. I studied photography and journalism, earned a Master of Science in Communication, and built a career around bringing stories to life. For twenty years, I worked in nonprofit marketing with humanitarian organizations, museums, educational institutions, and animal welfare groups across New Mexico, Oregon, and California before transitioning to freelance work in 2021. Since going freelance, I’ve had the opportunity to combine my own creativity with the needs of my clients. Some of my favorite projects have been illustrating children’s books, designing book and album covers, and creating character designs for animations.

Since shifting to remote work, I’ve realized how much I miss the camaraderie, creativity, and meaningful chaos of the nonprofit world and am grateful for the chance to support its mission and channel my energy back into community‑driven work.

Jacquelynn is a mechanical engineer and a halloween fanatic. She has worked in glass manufacturing for about 8 years now, in various management positions. Currently she is a Technical Production Manager for a multi-national company. In her free time she likes hanging out with friends, her dog and 2 cats. She has lived on both coasts and all over the county and has been able to experience other cultures and enjoys traveling abroad.

Josh lives at the intersection of brand, creativity, and technology. That range lets him move between strategy and execution, storytelling and systems — whatever the problem needs. The goal is always the same: ideas people actually talk about.

Videographer, Photographer, Editor and Carpenter based in Athens. Has been obsessed with Halloween for years and more recently with the Wild Rumpus. Very excited to have an outlet to spread his love for this event and is proud to be able to contribute!!!

Suki Janssen likes to talk trash and is quite resourceful!  She is the Director of the Athens-Clarke County (ACC) Solid Waste Department and has been with ACCGov for eighteen years.  Biggest accomplish to-date was bringing a Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) to Georgia.  Prior to her position in Athens-Clarke County, she was a Program Coordinator for the Keep Georgia Beautiful program.  She is a certified middle grades teacher (having taught 7th and 8th grade science in Cobb County Georgia for five years).  She is a past Georgia Recycling Coalition President and board member, current Northeast Georgia Regional Solid Waste Management Authority board member and Solid Waste Association of North America Georgia (SWANA) Chapter past president and current International Advisory Board Delegate.   She is a SWANA certified Landfill Operator and Class Instructor since 2005, SWANA Recycling Systems Manager certified since 2007, and Composting Programs Manager certified since 2013.  She is a Georgia Master Gardener, Master Composter and Master Naturalist.  She published a children’s book about nature’s best recycler, the vulture.  The book is titled There Goes the Neighborhood and came out in February 2020. 

Tyler Stansky is a long time Athens resident who has always loved the creative and quirky. 2026 marks Tyler’s first year on the Wild Rumpus board. When not helping with Wild Rumpus you can find her teaching a creative class at either Double Helix or Fox Den Third Space, creating set pieces for Cedar Shoals High School, or catching a show at a local venue. Tyler has always held a deep love for Wild Rumpus and has been attending the parade since the year it started. Tyler is excited to lend both her creative talents and organizational skills to the Wild Rumpus.

Timothy ‘Timi’ Conley was born in 1967 in Massachusetts and raised between Mass, and East Tennessee. He attended The University of Massachusetts in Amherst, receiving a BFA in Oil Painting in 1990. In early 1991, he moved to Athens, GA to start a music career that now spans three decades. His accomplished musical projects include Wonderland Rangers, Kite to the Moon, Aqualove, and Fuzzy Sprouts.

Restlessly creative, Timi started the Wild Rumpus Parade & Spectacle in 2009. The parade took the streets unofficially that year, with crowds large enough that Conley received a citation for disrupting traffic. Since 2010, the parade has grown, as has the organization. The Wild Rumpus parade is a unique event, centered on the premise that the public IS the parade, and that “All are invited”. Timi fundraises through business and individual sponsorships, civic and arts-related grants, tourism grants, private foundations, crowdfunding, and more to put on one of the biggest parties of the year in Athens and the Southeast, concurrently raising money and awareness for locally-based nonprofit charities.

The Wild Rumpus now attracts Halloween enthusiasts by the thousands, locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally, and has been supported by hundreds of businesses’ and individuals’ sponsorships. Timi formed the nonprofit entity for the Wild Rumpus in 2020 during the pandemic, paving the way for Rumpus for years to come.

Timi lives in Athens near downtown, prides himself in his kids, Sage and Luna, and his current musical project Wonderland Rangers, is a 25-year vegetarian, bicycle and espresso enthusiast, and avid proponent of environmentalism and being in Nature. Timi continues to make and sell art, mostly serving the imagery of the Wild Rumpus.

Reluctantly, Timi has ‘grown up’ to the degree of doing spreadsheets and taxes, but adheres to his tenet: “Keep playing.”