John William Holt is Technical Director for The River's Edge International Film Festival and Operations Director at Maiden Alley Cinema. John was born in Paducah KY and educated at Murray State University. After getting his hands on a camera in 2002 he started making short films full time. He has won several awards and completed his first feature film The Dooms Chapel Horror in 2015 along with being co-founder at the production company Red Band Films.
Lindsay is a Paducah native through and through. She graduated from Heath High School (Go Pirates!) and went on to get her Bachelors from Bellarmine University in Louisville where her love for the arts only grew. As a kid Lindsay spent almost every Saturday downtown Paducah doing footlights at Market House and enjoying treats from Kirchoffs Bakery. As she grew up Lindsay enjoyed spending time with friends at events like downtown after dark and eating chocolate at the fudge shop. Even though some of those childhood staples are no longer around one thing is still a constant and that is Maiden Alley Cinema. Lindsay is thrilled to be able to give back to downtown Paducah as it has given her so much over the years. Lindsay and her new family of four love to take walks by the river and listen to a local band play or catch a movie at MAC, you should join them!
Canyon and her husband moved to Paducah from Seattle with their three children, in the fall of 2020 to be near her twin and her family. In another life before children, she worked as a Greensperson and a Set Dresser for many years in the Art Departments of various television shows and movies. Canyon finished her bachelor's degree, with a focus on sculpture, after her first child was born. As more of her children have aged into school she begn to revive her art practice. Canyon's work fluctuates between fiber, sculpture, printmaking, and installation. Being a part of Maiden Alley has helped her weave herself into the artistic community of Paducah. She loves film and is so happy we have this wonderful theater.
Liz is a native Kentuckian, having grown up and attended college in Murray. Throughout her adolescent years, she often traveled to Maiden Alley Cinema for a taste of "the big city." Once she even went on a date there. (Was it a date? His parents were there and it was middle school. Let's call it a date.) Maiden Alley and Downtown Paducah have long felt like home to Liz, an artsy kid with a penchant for poetry and choral music.
While not watching movies in a romantic alley and eating her favorite food (popcorn), Liz enjoys singing with The Paducah Singers and spending time with her husband and two dog children.
"Your innermost urges will tell you what strategy to employ to accomplish your special purpose while doing the work you enjoy." -Carrie Fisher
Asia Burnett is an independent film lover and the Station Manager at WKMS - Murray State's NPR Station. Getting to help grow our region's culture is the best part of her job - and she loves partnering with other local non-profits to impact the community with cool arts & conversation. You can generally find her nerding out about movies, grooving to Sounds Good or The Kitchen Sink, or learning something new from NPR. She also enjoys farmers markets, trivia contests and wonderfully weird local art.
Cora Sims, a Paducah native and Murray State University graduate, is the owner of ElevateU Studios, where she merges her passion for creativity with coaching and artistic production. As the Program Facilitator for an out-of-school Youth program at WKCTC, where she first started as a Success Coach, Cora empowers young adults to reach their full potential. Her commitment to the arts and community shines through her roles on the Boards of Maiden Alley Cinema and the NAACP Youth, where she inspires future leaders. Outside of her professional life, Cora enjoys soaking in local culture, attending events, and working on creative projects.
Britton Shurley is a Professor of English at West Kentucky Community & Technical College where he also serves as Dean of the Humanities, Fine Arts, Business, and Social Science Division. He grew up in Paducah and moved away after high school, only to return about a decade later.
He and his wife, Amelia, both love seeing films at Maiden Alley—as do their two daughters, who also swear it makes the best popcorn in town.
Adam was raised in Mayfield and returned to Western Kentucky in 2023 after living and working in Washington, DC for 10 years. He strongly believes in the value of independent, nonprofit movie theaters like Maiden Alley Cinema and is excited to bring his passion for local arts and culture to Maiden Alley’s board. In his free time, Adam enjoys barbecuing with his family at the annual St. Jerome Fancy Farm Picnic, watching movies with his wife Hanna and their little dog Sherman, and cheering on and/or cursing the name of the Chicago Cubs. Adam works as a Revenue & FP&A Manager at the Jane Goodall Institute. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Kentucky and a Master’s of Public Administration from Syracuse University.
Tim grew up in Northern Illinois and earned his Bachelor's in Business Administration from NIU in 2002. After spending 20 years in Operations Management, his career brought him and his wife to Paducah, KY in 2021, where they settled in Lone Oak. In June 2024, he earned his Kentucky Real Estate License and now assists buyers and sellers with their real estate needs on the side. They have fallen in love with the welcoming community here, and enjoy everything from local restaurants to the arts scene. They especially love their movie dates to Maiden Alley Cinema and are proud to call this area home. Their 24-year-old daughter also lives nearby, just minutes from us, making this community even more special.
Rosana Anderson is originally from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and grew up in Louisville, KY. Rosana is a proud alumna of the University of Kentucky, and she currently teaches English at Lone Oak Middle School. Rosana's love for reading and writing naturally extends into an appreciation for film. A dedicated supporter of local businesses, as well as a community volunteer, Rosana believes in the power of small, independent organizations like Maiden Alley Cinema to enrich the cultural fabric of Paducah. Rosana is an active member of the Charity League of Paducah and serves as a sorority advisor at Murray State University. Rosana loves to travel, is a proud cat mom of two, and enjoys spending time with her husband. You can often find her hanging around midtown and attending local events in Paducah, always ready to engage with her community.
Haley moved to Paducah in 2020 with her partner, Glenn. Together they have two cats and two dogs they adore! Originally from central Illinois, she moved to be closer to her cousin, Ali, and quickly fell in love with the area. Haley decided to go back to school to get her Masters degree through MSU during the pandemic and is now a school librarian at Graves County High School. Haley has always loved movies and quickly fell in love with Maiden Alley. Her partner even rented out the theater for her 30th birthday to show one of her favorite movies, Lost Boys. Haley joined the board at MAC to be more involved in her community that she has called home for almost five years. She is excited to help grow this amazing theater!
Born and raised in Mayfield, KY, Isaac has always been proud to call Western Kentucky home. He currently lives in Lower Town with his wife, Alexis, and their two dogs, Kira and Nebby. Isaac and Alexis are the founders of Marrs Property Group, a local real estate sales team, and they share a passion for renovating historic homes. Outside of real estate, he enjoys traveling, playing sports, and spending time outdoors. As a small business owner, Isaac is excited to contribute to a local organization that fosters creativity and provides a platform for independent films to reach the community.
