Meet Our Team
Stephanie learned video production as a producer and host at Del Mar TV 20 years ago. It was there she came to love collaborating with nonprofit organizations that were often the subjects of her productions. She then met two teenagers who Inspired her to act, and started Pay It Forward Media to immerse disadvantaged youth in broadcast journalism and documentary production while continuing to serve the nonprofit community. With the assistance of these youth, she was able to produce and host 60 compelling documentary stories for local nonprofits. In the years that followed, she delivered hands-on video production training to youth in STEAM qualified programs across San Diego County. Stephanie’s lifelong dream and passion has become a reality as Pay It Forward Media is not only preparing opportunity youth for the workforce, it is also providing paid internship programs. These programs are led by Mauricio Navarro, Youth Media Trainer/Mentor, and with the support of its key partners: Access, Inc. and Learn4Life, where these youth can grow into mentors and “pay it forward” all while they are engaged in “personalized learning” and achieving their High School Diplomas.
Stephanie Sullivan
Founder
Trinity Houston
President & CEO
Trinity Houston and our Founder, Stephanie Sullivan originally met through the Roddenberry Dive Team and it was there that Trinity offered her expertise for the Media creation of “Pay It Forward Media, Media that Matters”. Trinity and her co-worker, Denver Harris, together produced the very first website as well as creating the logos and editing Stephanie’s first video to place on the new website.
Trinity’s outstanding knowledge, background and passion to succeed in Media has “driven” her to accomplish her goals and dreams. Whether she is producing feature films, commercial video, television programming, or traveling the world to produce live concert DVDs, Trinity does it all with style; having always been driven by a single force: Creativity. She has moved into the world of film and music distribution as an agent for Studio City Pictures scouting and procuring quality content for theatrical and streaming entities worldwide. Houston has also held the position of Executive Producer for the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema for 10 years.
Mauricio Navarro
Youth Media Trainer/Mentor
Mauricio Navarro is a San Diego filmmaker, videographer, and director of photography who works in English and Spanish. He has over two decades of experience in narrative film, documentary, commercial, and event work.
Mauricio partnered with Pay It Forward Media to train and mentor opportunity youth in STEAM Media Internship Programs. He most recently trained and mentored 5 High Tech High International graduates through hands-on documentary filmmaking, mentoring in story development, camera operation, and field production.
Mauricio keeps his finger on the pulse of current trend awareness and modern innovations, along with emotional clarity, which makes him ideal for training "opportunity youth" to approach every project with cinematic intention and technical precision. Mauricio is dedicated to empowering young people to help foster and shape a better future for them through narrative cinema storytelling.
Alex Guillen
Director of Strategic Innovation
Alex Guillen is a San Diego guitarist and composer who has made his living in music for 30 years. He is a 2022 graduate of Berklee Online, where he studied Music Composition for Film, TV and Video Games. He made the Dean's List and was awarded a music scholarship.
He has earned film composer credits as well as a screenwriting credit.
He co-organizes FilmNet, a monthly gathering of San Diego filmmakers.
Alex has taught music since 1999 and designs the curriculum he teaches.
He rebuilt the guitar program into a multi-style, technology-based course and added mariachi guitar for City Heights Music School. He wrote a K-8 music curriculum for Apt 4 Music and the South Bay Union School District that was used at four schools, and led monthly training for their teachers.
He also co-wrote a Prebys Foundation grant for City Heights Music School.
He currently teaches after-school music with the Center for World Music at underserved schools in San Diego.
Alex teaches people how to use AI in creative work, without handing it the creative decisions.
As Director of Strategic Innovation for Pay It Forward Media, he serves as music and AI curriculum designer for a new film and music program for young people, with AI used inside each track.
https://www.alexguillenmusic.com
Bobby Gallegos
Multimedia Director
In Loving Memory of a wonderful person and Youth Trainer/Mentor, Bobby Gallegos
for Pay It Forward Media: 10/1/2020 - 11/10/2022
Bobby Gallegos is a Multimedia Graphic Designer with over 14 years experience in the design industry. He completed his degree, Bachelor of Science in Media Arts, from Platt College School of Design in 2003 and since then, focused his talent in a variety of ways. From developing his own successful graphic design business to teaching underprivileged youth, Bobby has shown his passion to help others grow in their own unique way.
It is his hope to bring about positive change not only for himself, but for the future youths of America. His skills in video production, sound editing, desktop publishing, and current trend awareness makes him ideal for training the youth of tomorrow. This way the youth of tomorrow can then contribute back to their home communities.
