Our Board

BA Ciccolella (she/her) is a professional production manager, technical director, lighting designer, stage manager, hospitality manager, artist liaison, rigger, stage electrician, scenic carpenter, and painter, as well as a writer, editor, field director, legislative assistant, administrative assistant, and virtual assistant including graphic design and social media curation. She is a co-founder, president, and editor of Spotlight News (and occasionally a writer) and was the president of the board of directors at the Little Theatre of Norfolk from 2020-2022. She is a black belt in HapKiDo.

Synnika Alek-Chizoba Lofton is an award-winning poet, author, and educator. He is the author of more than 30 books and more than 170 spoken word recordings. His poems have appeared in Clock Works Magazine, Revenge, Upstreet, Experience Reality Magazine, Quay, Dissident Voice, Blue Collar Review, The Skinny Poetry Journal, and Mid-Atlantic Review. Lofton teaches literature at Chesapeake Bay Academy and Composition and Public Speaking at Norfolk State University. For more information, check out: www.iamsynnika.com

Virginia Beach native, Denise Bishop (she/her), is pleased to serve as Treasurer of Spotlight News. Currently, she serves as an Accounting Associate for a wealth management firm. Previously, she worked in nonprofit administration and finance as Finance Operations Manager for Todd Rosenlieb Dance, Executive Assistant for YWCA South Hampton Roads, and Director of Operations for Virginia Symphony Orchestra. Denise is a member of the Downtown100 and volunteers with the Downtown Norfolk Council. She is a graduate of the University of Richmond and lives in Norfolk with her husband.

We're looking for volunteers who are passionate about local independent media to join our team! More info here.