OUR TEAM
Meet our Storysmiths
CARLOS MAESTAS
Founder & Chief Storysmith
Carlos Maestas believes storytelling is the best way for organizations and people to move others to action. He is the founder and chief storysmith at Key Ideas, a Texas-based storytelling firm that helps organizations sharpen and share their messages.
Carlos has directed storytelling projects covering five continents and seven countries, including Taiwan, India, Liberia, Mexico, Russia, Europe, and the United States. In Liberia, he shared stories of the Ebola outbreak and the recovery from two brutal civil wars. In Moldova, he shared stories of children subsetable to human trafficking aging out of orphanages at 16 in Moldova. Carlos was a key storytelling partner for the Human Service Council of New York and launched a multi-year Just Pay campaign to fight for equal pay for the human service workforce. In 2024, NYC announced over $741 million in long overdue raises for human service workers.
Carlos has interviewed thousands of people in his career, and since Key Ideas launched in 2002, it has won multiple awards and received five Lone Star EMMY nominations. Local and national organizations frequently hire Carlos to lead their teams through a workshop called "Storytelling that Moves People." During the workshop, Carlos covers characteristics of authentic storytelling and how to apply them so your stories build trust with your audience. The workshop also covers ways to lead and motivate your team through storytelling and the value of sharing your personal story. A stand-up comedian who once opened for Saturday Night Live alum Dennis Miller, Carlos has an MBA from The Univeristy of Incarnate Word and a BA in Marketing from UTSA. He is currently a PhD student at Our Lady Of the Lake University. His book on Storytelling, Mommy Lied to God, launched in the Summer of 2020 and quickly became an Amazon bestseller.
In January 2024, District One City Councilwoman Dr. Sukh Kaur appointed Carlos to the Brooks City Base Board. Carlos is the Chair-elect of the SAISD Foundation board and serves on marketing advisory committees for the DoSeum and the San Antonio Food Bank. Carlos is married to a career educator, and he and his wife have three kids.
Carlos has directed storytelling projects covering five continents and seven countries, including Taiwan, India, Liberia, Mexico, Russia, Europe, and the United States. In Liberia, he shared stories of the Ebola outbreak and the recovery from two brutal civil wars. In Moldova, he shared stories of children subsetable to human trafficking aging out of orphanages at 16 in Moldova. Carlos was a key storytelling partner for the Human Service Council of New York and launched a multi-year Just Pay campaign to fight for equal pay for the human service workforce. In 2024, NYC announced over $741 million in long overdue raises for human service workers.
Carlos has interviewed thousands of people in his career, and since Key Ideas launched in 2002, it has won multiple awards and received five Lone Star EMMY nominations. Local and national organizations frequently hire Carlos to lead their teams through a workshop called "Storytelling that Moves People." During the workshop, Carlos covers characteristics of authentic storytelling and how to apply them so your stories build trust with your audience. The workshop also covers ways to lead and motivate your team through storytelling and the value of sharing your personal story. A stand-up comedian who once opened for Saturday Night Live alum Dennis Miller, Carlos has an MBA from The Univeristy of Incarnate Word and a BA in Marketing from UTSA. He is currently a PhD student at Our Lady Of the Lake University. His book on Storytelling, Mommy Lied to God, launched in the Summer of 2020 and quickly became an Amazon bestseller.
In January 2024, District One City Councilwoman Dr. Sukh Kaur appointed Carlos to the Brooks City Base Board. Carlos is the Chair-elect of the SAISD Foundation board and serves on marketing advisory committees for the DoSeum and the San Antonio Food Bank. Carlos is married to a career educator, and he and his wife have three kids.
CHRISTOPHER BRANCA
Storysmith - Production Director
Born and raised in San Antonio, Christopher pursued his interest in photography and filmmaking at San Antonio College. In 2009 he moved to New York, continuing his education at The Edit Center. Christopher served as an editor on several feature-length documentary and narrative films, earning him an Emmy nomination along the way. He also edited commercial and corporate short-form videos for clients, including Fox Searchlight, Goya Foods, and more. His work has been featured at Sundance and the South by Southwest film festivals. He moved back to San Antonio in 2014 and has been with Key Ideas since 2015. View a full list of his works here.
FABIO LIMA
Storysmith - Art Director
Originally from Brazil, Fabio moved to the U.S. fifteen years ago. His passion for storytelling lies in videography and photography. He has experience in storytelling for various mission-driven organizations and in high-quality event video and photo capturing. He is a researcher at heart and believes it is important to seek first to understand before being understood.
In his free time, he enjoys taking photos of daughter Elisabeth.
In his free time, he enjoys taking photos of daughter Elisabeth.
NICK ZAMORA
Storysmith - Editor / Motion Graphics
Born and raised in San Antonio, Nick has spent most of his life pursuing creative endeavors. With a mother who danced and choreographed Ballet Folklorico with some of the most prestigious dance companies in San Antonio and a father who still performs music around the San Antonio area, Nick was raised in the local arts scene.
Over the past 25 years, Nick has spent the majority of his career working as a Creative Director for several non-profit organizations leading teams in creative video production, live stage and event production, marketing, branding, and communications.
After receiving his Bachelor's degree in Digital Cinematography, Nick has had the opportunity to work with worldwide companies like Active.com and as Digital Journalist / Videographer for KENS 5 News in San Antonio.
Currently, you can also catch Nick performing in the country music scene around the San Antonio area. See where Nick will be next here - nicholaszamora.com
PAUL STEHLIK
Executive Producer
Paul’s first foray into production was an internship at Saturday Night Live while he attended Marymount Manhattan College in New York City, followed by a stint studying film at USC. Those early experiences were the launching pad for a career in production over the last 25+ years, where Paul has had the opportunity to serve in various roles, from the creative director for a national fundraising organization to producing and directing the award-winning independent film Seasons of Gray. His love for missional story-telling has fueled an adventure that spans five continents, including three years living and working in Rwanda. His favorite story is the one unfolding each day with his wife, Sarah, and their three teenage sons.
ADRIANA RIVERA CONDE
Production Coordinator
Adriana, a self-proclaimed TexaRican, began her passionate journey for the arts at the ripe age of 5. Her curiosity, attention, and support from her family allowed her to explore many forms of it, two of which she kept close to her heart: music and film.
After graduating from Texas State University with a BA in Communication Studies (Interpersonal Comm), she began pursuing her acting career professionally. During this time, she acted in an inspirational and deeply moving Non-Profit PSA that the crew of Key Ideas was producing. Lucky for me, excuse me, third person, "her," she was brought back, but to work in all the behind-the-scenes productions.
After graduating from Texas State University with a BA in Communication Studies (Interpersonal Comm), she began pursuing her acting career professionally. During this time, she acted in an inspirational and deeply moving Non-Profit PSA that the crew of Key Ideas was producing. Lucky for me, excuse me, third person, "her," she was brought back, but to work in all the behind-the-scenes productions.
ISSAC DOWDEN
Storysmith - Editor
Issac Dowden is a Louisiana born and bred, but Texas based Indie Film Director, Photographer, and Artist. He has a background in musical theatre and film acting, and is a graduate of the Digital Video and Cinema Production program from Northwest Vista College. He draws on this eclectic artistic background as he continues to pursue film production. He is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Operations Management, and continuing to allow curiosity to drive his exploration and hunger for knowledge.
You can view his first short film, Ovation (2023), here.