Eric Christensen
CHAIRMAN
Eric Christensen, a founding member of North Bay Media, brings over three decades of visual effects expertise to our mission of nurturing creative storytelling and digital innovation in the North Bay community. Beginning his career as a digital artist at Industrial Light & Magic, Eric honed his craft creating high-impact visuals for major films, television, commercials, and video games. In 2006, he founded RotoFactory to support VFX studios, followed by Factory VFX in 2010, where he serves as CEO and Senior VFX Supervisor, leading teams in California and New Orleans to deliver exceptional work. As a co-founder of North Bay Media, Eric leverages his extensive experience in production, digital media, and business development to empower local artists and storytellers. A dedicated member of the Visual Effects Society, he is passionate about mentoring emerging talent and advancing the art of visual storytelling across all mediums. Through his leadership, North Bay Media thrives as a dynamic hub for creativity, collaboration, and innovation.
Nikki Cerniglia
CHIEF TECHNICAL OFFICER
Born and raised in the East Bay and now a Sonoma County resident, Nikki is the Chief Technical Officer at North Bay Media. Drawing on almost two decades of experience in visual storytelling and digital art, Nikki is expanding into her local community. After cultivating her skills at the Academy of Art University and working in the visual effects industry as a digital artist, lead, and VFX supervisor, she now oversees North Bay Media's website design and technical infrastructure. This shift is fueled by her dream of building a creative community and launching a computer lab with a green screen, cameras, and lights, offering a space for local creatives to express themselves and bridge the gap between traditional and digital artistry.
Colin Patty
DIRECTOR OF MEDIA
Hailing from Santa Rosa, California, Colin Patty—North Bay Media’s resident wildcard—has spent most of his life as a Bay Area editor and filmmaker, immersing himself in audio and video expertise to deliver impeccable client projects with speed and precision, masterfully balancing meticulous detail with bold risks. Over the past 14 years, he’s built a professional career as an editor and digital artist, shaping feature films and advertisements into captivating masterpieces that still fuel his passion. As Director of Media, he approaches the role with unwavering commitment, harnessing his adventurous spirit to cultivate an inclusive community for diverse artists—from filmmakers and actors to musicians, game developers, writers, and beyond—ensuring every innovative voice finds its platform. A dedicated champion of storytelling’s vibrant energy, he transforms daring concepts into compelling cinema, and in his spare time, he relaxes by composing original music and crafting narratives that challenge conventions.
Volunteers
EXCEPTIONAL VOLUNTEERS
Juan Melgoza
Born and raised in Napa Valley, California, Juan had a passion for visual arts. He graduated from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and has excelled at Factory VFX. Supervising on-set for numerous feature film, television, commercial and virtual reality projects is Juan’s passion. Juan has previously taught as a key instructor in visual effects for government and non-profit funded courses in the fundamentals of rotoscoping and digital paint. When Juan isn’t working behind the computer, he loves to bake and cook in his home kitchen. He often brings baked goods in for the team to sample.
Advisory Consultant
Eric Bermender
Christal Wolgamott
