Our Founders
CLASS OF 2026
Viveca’s creative journey began as a young film actress in Los Angeles. Her 13 year career was marked through her work on countless commercials, short films, and pilots. Working with directors such as Ryan Coogler, Whitney Cummings, and Bobby Moresco.
Along with acting Viveca has worked as a professional Improvisational artist performing at the Young Actors Workspace, and has built experience as a writer and producer. Her first associated producer credit came from Easter Bloody Easter directed by Diane Foster.
During her time at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, Viveca founded the Ross Entertainment Conference and was deeply involved across campus. Some of her involvement included serving as a BBA Ambassador and Recruiter for Outreach, filmed three short films, worked as a Residential Advisor, was named one of Poets&Quants’ Best and Brightest, and won first place at the Sanger Leadership Crisis Challenge.
She currently serves as a Strategic Advisor to REC•, working closely with the executive board on the organization’s long-term vision and continued growth.
CLASS OF 2027
Henry Connor is a rising senior at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, studying Strategy and Marketing. He recently completed an internship at Legendary Entertainment and is currently an Entertainment & Lifestyle Partnerships Summer Intern at Roblox. Building the Ross Entertainment Conference from the ground up has been one of the most meaningful parts of his college career.
In his words, “What started as just an idea became a team of seven dedicated students, and through that hard work eventually grew into an entire network of speaker alumni, company partners, and a thriving community of students passionate about entertainment. I’m incredibly proud of what the organization has become and excited to see it continue bridging the gap between Ann Arbor and the entertainment industry.”
The Ross Entertainment Conference (REC•) grew from a club event proposal in the Spring semester of 2023 into a thriving nexus for creatives, business leaders, and entrepreneurs alike.
Founded by Viveca Henry, REC• was created in response to a gap she noticed during her freshman year at the University of Michigan: while banks, consulting firms, and marketing agencies recruited heavily on campus, there was limited exposure to entertainment companies, talent agencies, production studios, and the business behind film and media. In the words of Robots (2005): “See a need, fill a need,” Viveca set out to create opportunities for students to gain visibility, build industry connections, and explore career pathways in entertainment.
To bring this vision to life, Viveca joined forces with Henry Connor and assembled the founding REC• team: Aidan Kinsella, Kelly Linart, Alex Selvin, Beck Silver, and Nolan Tompkins. Over the course of three months, the team of seven launched the first Ross Entertainment Conference, bringing together five speakers to connect with students and introduce them to different areas of the entertainment industry.
Since then, REC• has grown from seven founding members to a team of 60 across five committees in just one year. The organization has collaborated with professionals and companies including A24, Creative Artists Agency, and Lionsgate, while also working with local high schools, universities, and the Michigan Film & Digital Media Office to support entertainment initiatives across Michigan and the greater Midwest. With a growing blog and podcast, REC• continues to expand its community and build a bridge between Hollywood and Michigan.