Elevating Creatives.
Growing a Community.

The true test of any community is its willingness to be open to new ideas, new people, new cultures, and new opportunities. Encouraging and enabling people to engage in activities which broaden their view of what is possible is key to building a community that is both more tolerant and more ambitious.

By expanding our cultural boundaries and experiences together, we can nurture a new identity that empowers locals to reach their full potential and attracts others to this area to do the same. We believe this will make Shreveport and Northwest Louisiana the city and place we are meant to be.

Learn More About Prize Foundation

Prize is more than big cash prizes and fun parties.

Prize Foundation is not your typical non-profit organization. We have found a way to grow the creative class in new and exciting ways through creative competitions and community building. We have a proven track record of activating and elevating filmmakers, culinary artists, entrepreneurs, musicians, designers, craftspeople, and other motivated individuals — some have even found a new home in our community.

Prize is more than just a series of events and festivals; we are an engine for economic activity, a spark for community engagement, and a driver for the kind of change that will continue to make Shreveport and Northwest Louisiana a premier creative and entrepreneurial destination in the United States.

Prize Foundation Staff Members

These are the magic-makers who make Prize Foundation a reality.

Gregory Kallenberg

Founder, Executive Director

gregory@prize.foundation

Gregory is an award-winning documentary filmmaker from Shreveport. Most recently, he directed and produced the Rational Middle of Immigration, an acclaimed series of short films shining a light on immigration in America. He is also the director of The Long Game, a series documenting the massive energy development in West Texas and the impact of the energy sources on the local population and the environment. He also directed the award-winning Haynesville: A Nation’s Hunt for an Energy Future. Kallenberg is the Louisiana Endowment of the Humanities’ 2019 “Champion of Culture” and is a former journalist.

Amy O'Callaghan

Associate Director, Prize Foundation

amy@prize.foundation

Amy, a native of New Orleans, oversees day to day office operations and logistics. She joined us in 2018 and brings over 25 years of logistics and event management experience to the Foundation. Prior to the Prize, Amy worked as the Assistant Executive Director for the Independence Bowl and as Donor Relations Manager for Sci-Port Discovery Center in Shreveport.

Chris Lyon

Director, Film Prize

chris@prize.foundation

Chris is a filmmaker and community advocate who has called Shreveport home for almost 30 years. He has been collaborating on film projects with Gregory Kallenberg since 2008 and joined the Prize Foundation in its inaugural year 2012. Lyon produced documentary feature Unexpected Modernism: The Wiener Brother Story (2020) which is now available on LPB and Class Action Park (2020) for HBO. He currently consults on feature film story development and post production and serves as treasurer for ReForm Shreveport and is a Founding Member of ShrevePride.

Melissa Brannan

Director, Startup Prize

melissa@prize.foundation

Melissa joined the Foundation in 2018 and has been overseeing Startup Prize since its transition to Focus on Health in 2021. Her background includes over 20 years of project management, event management and hospitality work.

Kelly Pederson

Director, Film Prize Junior

Gregory is an award-winning documentary filmmaker from Shreveport. Most recently, he directed and produced the Rational Middle of Immigration, an acclaimed series of short films shining a light on immigration in America. He is also the director of The Long Game, a series documenting the massive energy development in West Texas and the impact of the energy sources on the local population and the environment. He also directed the award-winning Haynesville: A Nation’s Hunt for an Energy Future. Kallenberg is the Louisiana Endowment of the Humanities’ 2019 “Champion of Culture” and is a former journalist.

Kaylee Hooper

Artist Liaison, Music Prize

Amy, a native of New Orleans, oversees day to day office operations and logistics. She joined us in 2018 and brings over 25 years of logistics and event management experience to the Foundation. Prior to the Prize, Amy worked as the Assistant Executive Director for the Independence Bowl and as Donor Relations Manager for Sci-Port Discovery Center in Shreveport.

Felicia Kay

Volunteer Coordinator

Chris is a filmmaker and community advocate who has called Shreveport home for almost 30 years. He has been collaborating on film projects with Gregory Kallenberg since 2008 and joined the Prize Foundation in its inaugural year 2012. Lyon produced documentary feature Unexpected Modernism: The Wiener Brother Story (2020) which is now available on LPB and Class Action Park (2020) for HBO. He currently consults on feature film story development and post production and serves as treasurer for ReForm Shreveport and is a Founding Member of ShrevePride.