Carlos believes storytelling is the best way for organizations and people to move others to action. He is the founder and Chief Storysmith at Key Ideas, a Texas-based storytelling firm that helps organizations sharpen and share their messages.

Carlos has directed storytelling projects covering five continents and seven countries, including Taiwan, India, Liberia, Mexico, Russia, Europe, and the United States. In Liberia, he shared stories of the Ebola outbreak and the recovery from two brutal civil wars. In Moldova, he shared stories of children susceptible to human trafficking aging out of orphanages at 16. Carlos was a key storytelling partner for the Human Services Council of New York and launched a multi-year Just Pay campaign to fight for equal pay for the human service workforce. In 2024, New York City announced more than $741 million in long-overdue raises for human service workers.

Carlos has an MBA from the University of the Incarnate Word and a BA in Marketing from UTSA. He is currently a PhD candidate in Leadership Studies at Our Lady of the Lake University. Carlos serves as board chair of the SAISD Foundation, as a board member and Marketing Committee chair at Texas Public Radio, and on the Brooks Development Authority board.

Chris served as an editor on several feature-length documentary and narrative films, earning him an Emmy nomination along the way. He has also edited commercial and corporate short-form videos for clients including Fox Searchlight, Goya Foods, and more. His work has been featured at the Sundance and South by Southwest film festivals.

Chris has guided production and creative quality at Key Ideas for more than a decade.

Originally from Brazil, Fabio moved to the United States at age 15 and has spent the past eight years shaping a career in branding, creative strategy, and visual storytelling. An Emmy-nominated cinematographer and editor, he blends creative execution with strategic insight to help organizations communicate with clarity and impact.

With more than eight years of experience as a photographer and cinematographer, Fabio has developed a distinctive style rooted in photojournalism, capturing authentic, unscripted moments that preserve memories and bring stories to life. He especially enjoys working at events, where his visual storytelling connects lived experiences with lasting meaning.

Fabio holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from UT San Antonio, along with certifications in Creative Advertising, Digital Marketing from the UT Austin McCombs School of Business, Google Ads, Google Analytics, and HubSpot Email Marketing. Fluent in Portuguese and proficient in Spanish, he brings a multicultural perspective to his creative and strategic work.

Adriana, a self-proclaimed TexaRican, began her passionate journey for the arts at the age of five. Her curiosity, attention, and her family’s support allowed her to explore many forms of art, two of which she kept close to her heart: music and film. After graduating from Texas State University with a BA in Communication Studies, she began pursuing her acting career professionally.

In 2023, she acted in a short film produced by Key Ideas for the Nonprofit Council and joined the team full-time by the end of that year. Today she supports project management, production logistics, timelines, client communication, and creative development workflows.

Issac is a Louisiana-born but Texas-based indie film director, photographer, and artist. He has a background in musical theater and film acting and is a graduate of the Digital Video and Cinema Production program at Northwest Vista College. He draws on this eclectic artistic background as he continues to pursue film production.

He is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Operations Management and continues to let curiosity drive his exploration and hunger for knowledge. At Key Ideas, Issac supports editing, motion graphics, social-first creative adaptations, and visual asset development.

As a San Antonio local, Xiana is passionate about supporting the city and highlighting the many backgrounds and cultures that shape it. With a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from The University of Texas at San Antonio, she has worked with organizations including Texas Public Radio and The Blooming Social to elevate their digital presence and build stronger relationships within the community.

Xiana brings a strong foundation in organization and communication to her role, helping keep operations running smoothly so the Key Ideas team can focus on delivering impact and storytelling.

Originally from Chicago and raised in San Antonio, Ian has been drawn to visual storytelling from an early age. He grew up writing and creating stop-motion films, which led him to pursue filmmaking at the Northeast School of the Arts, where he focused on writing, directing, and editing. Ian later earned his bachelor’s degree in Film and Television Arts from Columbia College Chicago, gaining hands-on experience in production, editing, and screenwriting while developing independent projects outside the classroom.

After returning to San Antonio, he continued to write, direct, shoot, storyboard, and edit. His films have screened at the Austin Short Film Showcase and the San Antonio Film Festival, and he is developing his directorial debut feature film, Suit of Armor.