Rick Wray - Executive Director

Rick Wray was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. His university education took him to Seattle and the University of Washington. Back in Utah in 1996, Rick brought an educational vision to fruition when he co-founded Higher Ground Learning (HGL), a creative tutoring and mentoring center focused on creating customized learning models based on students individual learning needs. While at Higher Ground, Rick realized the dynamic nature of digital storytelling and its enormous untapped potential after designing and teaching numerous media arts workshops. In 1999, Rick passed on the reins of HGL and founded Utah’s only not-for-profit youth media center, Spy Hop Productions. Over a decade later, Spy Hop Productions has swelled to nearly 20 full-time media mentors and its programming has involved over 10,000 young people ages five to nineteen through innovative audio, video, and interactive programming.

In 2002, Rick collaborated with the Kennedy Center Imagination Celebration of Salt Lake City and founded the LocoMotion International Film Festival, a showcase that celebrates the cinematic visions of teenage filmmakers from across the globe.

In 2003 he was the recipient of the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Service to the Arts Award, and in 2010, he was a finalist for Utah's Ernst and Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year. Most recently, Rick transformed Spy Hop Productions' teacher professional development program, the Interactive Digital Education Academy (iDEA), and started the full-time teacher training organization, the Spy Hop Institute For Teachers (SHIFT), where he serves as Executive Director.

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Stacy Ringo - Program Director

Stacy moved from Seattle, WA, to join Spy Hop as Programs Director in September 2005. She has over 10 years of experience working in education and technology in both the public and private sectors.

Committed to working with underserved communities, Stacy taught at-risk and special needs children in the public schools and volunteered to assist refugee families with their transition to life in the Seattle area.

She continued her work in disadvantaged communities as a Public Access Computer Trainer for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation US Library Program, and has been active in non-profits for over six years.

Stacy graduated from Washington State University with a B.A. in Education and recently completed a Documentary Design and Production Program at the University of Washington, through which she produced a short film.

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Jeremy Nielsen - Trainer

Jeremy started his film career at the ripe age of 14 when a friend with a camera invited him over to play the lead in You’re Such a …… The film’s emphasis on special makeup effects, prompted the young Jeremy to pursue the world of special effects.  After many failed attempts to cook up some sugar glass in mom’s oven, the seemingly more realistic career of Film Director became the focus.

Jeremy Nielsen then received a degree from the University of Utah in Film Production, with an emphasis in Cinematography. Upon graduation, he worked at the Granite School District in the Youth in Custody program for five years where he discovered his love for teaching. He also developed the video programs at both Salt Lake Valley Detention Center and at Region II.  Following his stint in Granite School District, Jeremy was the Film and Video Director at the non-profit youth media arts center, Spy Hop Productions from 2005 thru 2010.

In addition to academics, Nielsen is an accomplished musician and co-produced the award winning film Twice Today which appeared in the Los Angeles Film Festival and took home “Best of Show” honors from the North Carolina Film Festival. Neilsen also co-produced, wrote and was the cinematographer of the 2009 independent film, Dark Room.  Jeremy has recently returned to the University of Utah where he is pursuing his MFA in Film Studies.