OUR STORIES

REEL Experiences came from the imagination of Chief Creative Officer, Bryan Coley and from years of story development from his creative team at Art Within. As Art Within’s creative team developed methods to help screenwriters discover their voice, Coley realized there was hidden treasure to be found in the writers’ favorite movies. The treasure began to be mined years later, when Coley tried out some of his methods on small groups of friends and marrieds. Surprisingly, people were changing their lives based on insights found in their top 10 movies. And REEL Experiences was born! Coley established REEL Studios as a place where people could have an experiential way of finding their story, while having that story be seen by the people with whom they work, live and play. Now, REEL Experiences is excited to be working in developing people and teams within some of the most influential businesses in our country.

Theresa M. Ward (REEL FACILITATOR) spent more than a decade in the financial technology space, thriving in roles from sales to brand management to product innovation (and is credited as an inventor on a patent for detecting fraudulent retail transactions). While serving in those various positions, Theresa was often asked to build and lead the training for that role. So after fully embracing her superpower as a facilitator and educator, Theresa now conducts keynotes and workshops on culture, communication, and change. Theresa has coached and trained over 5,000 individuals across dozens of industries. She recently delivered her first TEDx Talk in The Netherlands, on the power of embracing mistakes to optimize personal and professional growth. 

 

Theresa studied Interpersonal and Organizations Communications at Bowing Green State University, and is certified in ORSC (Organizational Relationship Systems Coaching) and Design Thinking. She is passionate about creating conditions where any human can learn and grow. When she’s not on stage, you can find Theresa fly fishing with her fiance in the North Georgia Mountains, teaching yoga, or curled up on the couch with a good book and her senior dog by her side.

GREG PAYNE (REEL FACILITATOR)

If you see Gregory Payne on the road, chances are he’ll wave.  If you stop him, he’ll tell you a story…or two.  Then he’ll want to hear your story.  With an undergraduate degree in English and an MFA in Theatre, it’s no wonder that Gregory relishes the drama of life.  After over two decades of presenting stories that bring families closer together, he is more sure than ever that everyone, everywhere, has a story that needs to be told. He is a writer, producer, director, and performer for video, audio, and live performance.  He developed and directed KidStuf, an environment for families with elementary-age kids, for North Point Community Church, served the ReThink Group as the Director of Family Experience, and produced the audio series “Miss Rory’s Story Emporium.”  Currently a facilitator at Reel Experience, Gregory also works as a creative consultant helping organizations, churches, and people tell better stories.