Staff

Riki McManus

Chief Production Officer

Riki has worked in the Film and Broadcast Industry for her entire career.  She began with her own talk show on KQRS Radio in Minneapolis while still in high school.

She went on to the commercial industry in Minneapolis as on camera and voice over talent. McManus continued as an agent and then became the Director of Plaza Three Model and Talent Agency.    She opened the first casting company in Minnesota, “Riki Wuolle Casting Company”, where Purple Rain was the first feature she cast.  Since then, she has cast approximately 20 feature films. She won a Clio Award for a self-promotion piece she did with The Fallon Agency in Minneapolis for her company.

McManus was part of a group of founders for a Film Office in Minnesota.  She has served as past President as well as Interim Director of the organization.    Since moving to Duluth, McManus and IRRRB Commissioner Mark Phillips (formerly MN Power) started the Upper Minnesota Film Office in 1996 as a public/private partnership.  

McManus was an integral part of bringing the Catalyst Festival to Duluth, as well as the Duluth Superior Film Festival. 

She has been listed in the Who’s Who for Women in MN. She has served on the Board of Directors for several organizations including the Variety Club Heart Hospital in Minneapolis, the Duluth Playhouse, Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center, VisitDuluth, Northeast Regional Sustainable Development through the University of MN, and the Northern Film Alliance.

Shari Marshik 

Executive Director

Shari Marshik is the Executive Director and co-founder of Upper Midwest Film Office (UMFO). Since its formation, Shari has helped the region realize over $10M of outside investment through film & TV production.  The office has shepherded over 50 projects to the region since its inception and is the cornerstone of a thriving ecosystem of businesses, nonprofits, and creators in Northern Minnesota.

Being raised in rural Minnesota impressed Shari with the importance of initiative, hustle, creative problem-solving, and appreciation for what makes rural Minnesota so special. A true connector, Shari’s passion lies in bringing people together to do meaningful, fulfilling work that starts ripples of good.  She brings over 20 years of business-driving results to the office.  Her strengths are marketing strategy, project management and communications, and she excels at leading cross-functional groups to find common ground and overcome obstacles. 

Shari currently serves on the Duluth Public Arts Commission.  She holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Minnesota Duluth. She lives in Duluth with her family and 2 dogs, with whom she spends as much time outdoors as possible.