Our Team
BGG Changers Team
Betsy Weaver Ed.D.
Founder/ Chief Creative Officer, Entrepreneur
A nationally recognized leader, innovator, and professional in many fields. Weaver was the founder of two original niche industries: (i) parents, families, and baby boomers publications, and (ii) the first private-labeled hospital direct digital patient care messaging platform.
The common thread in Weaver’s professional life has been being a serial entrepreneur, changer/innovator, including work in the Carter administration at the New Department of Education. Subsequently, she was a consultant to the MA Department of Education and the Boston Public Schools. Weaver became an entrepreneur, developing, growing and selling two new niche companies. Currently, Weaver is on her third company as Founder of BGG Creative Studio. BGG’s The ChangersAdventures®, is the first Children's Creative Thinking, quest-fantasy learning experience.
In a world rapidly transforming through AI and technology, the ability to foster creative thinking in young learners is more critical than ever. Here’s what AI says: The Changers Adventures® is essential for the AI-driven world this next generation will inherit because creativethinking, imagination, and flexible thinking are the human edge in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. AI Can’t Imagine What Doesn’t Exist—But Humans Can”
BGG Creative Studio LLC. is a company whose first children's quest learning fantasy curriculum and original trilogy, The ChangersAdventures® is a ‘next gen’ multi-media company for Early Childhood, Enrichment, and Homeschool Companies. It forges a unique reader-listener relationship, creating an inspiring atmosphere that develops creative thinking. It fosters learning to think beyond what is andimagine what could be then develop the strategies to make it happen.
Previously, Weaver Co-Founded TPR Media (d.b.a. UbiCare®). The innovative, profitable, nationally recognized healthcare content provider, media-service company that provided one of the first ever Internet-based healthcare communication solutions through UbiCare®’s unique and proprietaryplatform.
Prior to UbiCare®, Weaver was a founder and one of the creators of The Regional Parenting publication—a new national-regional niche industry for expectant and new moms and families. She created, launched and published the nationally acclaimed, award-winning The Boston Parents’ Paper —one of the top three regional parenting information publishing companies sold to United Parenting Publications.
Furthermore, Weaver founded the award-winning family websites ParentingQ&A.com and LocalMom.com and acquired TheCyberMom.com.
Weaver’s academic background includes a Master’s in Education and a Doctorate in Social Policy and Trend Analysis in Education from Harvard University, A Master’s in ECE & Elementary Ed. from Bank Street College of Education.
Let’s talk.
Previously, Weaver Co-Founded TPR Media (d.b.a. UbiCare®). The innovative, profitable, nationally recognized healthcare content provider, media-service company that provided one of the first ever Internet-based healthcare communication solutions through UbiCare®’s unique and proprietary
Janna Alcaraz
Illustrator and Artist Changer
Janna, a Mexican-American artist, is a nature enthusiast and animal lover who has always admired the wonder of storytelling. She worked many years in art galleries and is also an eco-entrepreneur. Her natural surroundings are a consistent part of the inspiration for her drawings, paintings and photographs.
Shami McCormick
Story Changer & Aunt M
Shami is a performer, writer, editor and Fowl whisperer. Previously a Producing Artistic Director of a professional theatre company and now freelance director and editor, McCormick can often be found at Universal Studios where she is a Wandkeeper. Shami brings expertise and a love of storytelling to BGG and will help create and navigate the magical trails upon which the Changers will quest.
Samori Etienne
Bea’s LibrarianTeller
Samori is a writer, actor, director, and filmmaker, hailing from New Jersey. He graduated from Williams College this spring with a B.A. in Theatre and English. Samori is in charge of the magical words and archives for characters, including backstories and marvelous tales.
John Christopher Jones
Master Thespian & Gloman
John will head character development for BGG, focusing particularly on the part of ‘Gloman the Wizard’, whom he will play at certain points. Jones is also a BGG Investor. An actor for 50 years, among more than a dozen shows on Broadway, he played Cogsworth the Clock in Beauty and the Beast and was the school teacher, Dobbins, in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Lucille Lortel winner for his translation of Checkov’s play The Cherry Orchard. Also, as an associate director of the Depot Theatre, he directed classical and contemporary productions.
Kalpita Chakote
Gad’s & Gloman's LibrarianTeller
Kalpita Chakote is a recent graduate of Northwestern University where she studied acting, screenwriting, and creative writing. She recently played The Angel of Time, Miriam in the staged reading of Letters from London by Samah Meghjee and understudied Professor Aman/Ghost/Police Officer in the Wirtz production of Water by the Spoonful by Quiara Alegría Hudes.
Scott Schafer
StoryTeller Changer
Scott has worked On Broadway, Off Broadway and at Regional theaters including Cinncinatti Playhouse, Repertory Theatre of St Louis, David Geffen Theatre in LA and The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Television credits include Chapelle’s Show, One Life to Live, Law and Order. At the ripe old age of 55, Scott decided to try something new. He became a Flight Attendant for a major carrier. He lives in New York City with his husband.
Nathaniel Wolf
Associate Developer
Nate is a software engineer based in New York City. After working as a mechanical engineer for several years, he transitioned into programming to explore the exciting world of modern technology. At BGG, he is fine-tuning our website and databases, and troubleshooting the Betwix portal.
Penelope Vonswitz
Changer in Training
Penelope Vonswitz is a student at Boston Arts Academy, and a Student Associate working with BGG as an Admin Intern/Creative Changer. Since May, Pen has worked on the Connects, Purple Pouches, and has created the “Countess Spider and Mistress Ladybug Mystery Story” which will be included in the Connects and on the ChangersAdventures Series digital platform.
Alan Trinkle
Chief Edutainment Officer
Alan has spent his career supporting the business, marketing, and product launches of Fortune 500 companies, charities, & non-profits. He takes passion in the intersection of Education and Entertainment; the interactions of people, their worlds, and deeper relationships between them all.
Betsy Weaver Ed.D.
Founding Changer
Betsy is a serial entrepreneur and ‘Changer’ who created two new niche markets and successfully exited both. She is now venturing into her third – BGG Creative Studio. Beyond business acumen and innovation, Weaver holds a doctorate in Social Policy and Trend Analysis from Harvard University Graduate School of Education, Masters degrees from both Harvard University and Bank Street College of Education, and a Bachelor of Arts from Lake Forest College.
Matteo Baez-Giangreco
Youth Advisor
Matteo is a junior at Boston Latin School, and a Student Associate working with BGG as an Admin & Tech Intern/Creative Changer. Matteo is also a part of the Boston Student Advisory Council (BSAC), a student-led body aiming to address prominent issues in BPS and create action plans to resolve them.
Bill Lindsay
Executive Editor
Bill is an award-winning writer, editor and content executive who has successfully directed multi-channel approaches to engaging and informing niche audiences in a variety of spheres (health, learning, parenting, life stages and more). An effective manager of people, processes, and change, Bill enjoys bridging business priorities and creative assets to guide editorial and technical production.