Owner, Publisher

Great Lakes Film Association

Executive Director, C.E.O.
Steven M Opsanic

The publisher is in charge of the business aspect of the magazine and is in constant communication with the magazine staff and the associate publisher. Our publisher is also responsible for attending many events on behalf of the magazine.

Before moving to Erie in the fall of 1994, I lived and grew up in the Pittsburgh area. In 2001 I co-founded the Great Lakes Film Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit film and arts organization based in Erie, Pennsylvania, which has a staff of over twenty-four (24) members.    

In September of 2002 GLFA hosted its inaugural film festival. For the past eight (8) years I have held the position of Executive Director and C.E.O. of the Great Lakes Film Association.  

GLFA is Northwestern Pennsylvania's only association for independent film.

Since my favorite hobby has always been watching movies, it seemed only natural for me to work in the film & arts industry.

In addition to producing the Great Lakes Independent Film Festival each year, I have had the unique opportunity to create several other exciting annual events for the Erie Community such as the Great Lakes Music Video Festival and the Eerie Horror Film Festival.  

I have also had the pleasure of working with some of the most talented professional filmmakers and artists in the Erie area as the producer of 3 short length, and 2 feature length films.   

Having worked with many people from the local Erie theater community, in the fall of 2007 I decided to try my hand at creating an original musical stage play, "Buddy Holly: The Day The Music Died" starring local Rock-a-Billy king Matty B of the Dirty Pickles.  The show débuted in early September and in the opening weekend the entire 6-week run was sold out.    

Following the success of Buddy Holly, in 2008 I created, produced and directed 2 additional musical stage productions, "The Johnny Cash Tribute Show" and "Remembering Janis", both of which enjoyed large popularity and capacity attendance.  

Prior to working with GLFA, I was the store manager of a local supermarket, Edinboro Giant Eagle for a period of eight (8) years during which time I managed a staff of over 100 employees. 

Owning and operating several diversified businesses over the years, I have a strong background in business and corporate management; investment property and real estate management; retail management; human resource development; accounting and finance in addition to a broad variety of agreement and document preparation and interpretation.

I am a seasoned professional in business with a strong record of achievement in providing the necessary front/back business operations and personnel motivation experience to ensure streamline operations, customer satisfaction, that leads to increased profitability.   

I have excellent communication, listening, and negotiating skills coupled with the ability to effectively establish and maintain rapport with all levels of personnel, management, and clients.   

I have a proven background in management; administration; supervision; organizational; reorganization; coordination; customer relations and public relations; cost control; budgeting; quality control; new business development; forecasting; planning and scheduling; accounting; merchandising and training, all of which realizes significant contributions to bottom-line results.

Associate Publisher,  Managing Editor, Lead Writer
Rob Taylor

Our associate publisher heads the advertising team, makes sales strategies and reports the advertising numbers to the publisher.  Our Associate Publisher as the managing editor also is in charge of enforcing deadlines, following the editorial calendar and making sure daily tasks are being accomplished by each person. Our Associate Publisher and Managing Editor also selects the writers, assigns them stories and edits their articles.

I was born on October 22, 1956, 6 years exactly before the Cuban Missile Crisis, with the name of Robert Evan Taylor Jr. Unfortunately, there was a huge movie star at the time named Robert Taylor so I grew up consistently being asked, “Is Robert Taylor really your father?” Of course I answered yes. This led to a sense of humor where I rarely if ever cannot find the humor in a situation.

During my school years, at Central Hower High in Akron, Ohio, I was one of the outcasts who's lives center around art, drama, choir and other arts type classes. I even had a one man art show called “The Morose World of Robert Taylor.”  I graduated from there in 1977 with a diploma in Communications Arts.

I moved to Erie…dreary Erie…in 1979 and started a local access TV show called “Erie Rock…” Mainly the show started out as a protest to the limitations that city council placed on music and movies but it grew to a place where every band in town could be showcased. The show lasted 5 ½ years and hit a major high point when I arranged with the Soviet Union’s state controlled television network for them to broadcast videos of local bands in exchange for us showing videos of Soviet bands.

I attended Mercyhurst College, graduating in 1991 with a BA in Communications. During my time there I served as the Entertainment Editor of the school’s newspaper, The Merciad.  While there I learned about the news and how to have fun reporting it.  I covered everything from the serious (A girl flashed by a pervert in a laundry room) to the totally silly (pigeons crapping in a classroom and on students) But, through it all I learned how to find good stories and make them entertaining and informative for the reader.

In the last year I have written 2 theatrical plays, 3 musical plays, one book that has been published, another which is ready to be published and two more I haven’t submitted yet. I have also found my way into the world of dark poetry which is a unique place to be…to say the least.  But, I still remember my youth and do not take things seriously.

I have worked for several magazines in the area over the years and even a chain of newspapers,  but I never gave a damn about Erie until I started working for E R I  Jams last year.  Now,  I care what is going on and the people of the area.  Now, I think of Erie as my home and I want to do everything I can to help promote it.

As an ending I would just like to say in memory of the 1980’s Erie: 

“Murolces odro suvon – sitpeoc tiunna”

Magazine Editor in Chief

Kelly Hecker

The chief editor oversees the whole content and makes sure the flow of the magazine is seamless. As a top editor, this she is responsible for making all the final decisions and is constantly getting reports from the managing editor, creative director and the executive editor.

Born in Meadville Pennsylvania, some of my hobbies include biking, camping and basically anything involving the outdoors. I have always been interested in expressing myself artistically through whatever creative outlets that were available to me.

However, prior to joining the Great Lakes Film Association and the E R I Jams Magazine team, I had spent many years working in the medical management industry, devoting years to the enhancement of the quality of life for seniors.

I have been associated with the Great Lakes Film Association since 2005 and recently, when I was offered the position of Editor in Chief of E R I Jams Magazine I was happy and excited to accept the job because in doing so I could now find even more ways to express my love of writing and art.

With a strong background in graphic design art and a sincere love and awareness of the local Erie art and music scene, I hope to productively contribute my artistic talents to effectively enhance the overall appearance and general feel of the magazine.

Arts & Leisure Editor

John Simon

Our Arts & Leisure Editor is in charge managing the Arts & Leisure Section of the magazine.  His Job is to select the Arts & Leisure writers, assign the stories to the Arts & Leisure writers and edit the work.

Born in Erie, PA I had a knack for anything of art. As a tyke, I would draw on my walls (which I got punished for), draw stick figures, and play out creative scenarios for my toys as I expressed myself. It wasn’t until in 8th grade that I realized that I had something going for me as I did a comic strip that I wrote and illustrated. Friends and classmates noticed me not just for who I was, but my talents as well. In that moment I was a somebody than a nobody. However, it wasn’t until college that I realized that my writing skills had a unique appeal that my professors appreciated.

As with an apprentice swordsman who hones his skill with the teachings of a master, I too had the chance to advance my skills with my English professor, Jeffery Bartone. He taught me how to keep my style in a set order of paragraphs that got my point across without confusing the reader. I guess I can also thank my slight OCD tenancies as well. They came in handy as I wrote the essays that achieved good grades. However, the one thing that influenced me even more was everyday life. I wanted to paint a picture with words as I described a place or thing. With ERI Jams, I get a chance to do that.