Team

Sumner Bender is an arts and nonprofit leader dedicated to community engagement through film, theater, and cultural programming. As Executive Director of The Nickelodeon Theatre, she has revitalized Columbia’s only independent cinema by balancing arthouse and mainstream films, strengthening partnerships, and navigating industry shifts.
A Columbia native, Sumner’s career spans public relations, arts leadership, and education. She served as board president and interim executive director of Trustus Theatre, taught high school theater in Chapin, SC, and was Vice President of the South Carolina Theatre Association. She holds a B.A. in Public Relations from USC and a Master’s in Teaching from Clemson University.
Sumner serves on The Contemporaries board at the Columbia Museum of Art and the USC Women’s and Gender Studies Partnership Council. Recognized for her impact, she has been named to The State’s “Top 20 Under 40” and the Free Times Power List multiple times.

Kassidy Johnson joined The Nick as the Marketing and Development Coordinator in January 2023. Originally from Charleston, she brings a dynamic background in communications, design, and project management.

Before joining The Nick, Kassidy served as the Communications and Membership Coordinator at the South Carolina Press Association, where she managed member communications, oversaw social media engagement, coordinated events, and worked closely with leadership on membership initiatives and special projects.

She also spent several summers as a Naval Research Enterprise Intern (NREIP) at Joint Base Charleston, where she designed and tested mobile applications, led project management efforts, and mentored first-year interns in research and development processes.

Kassidy holds a Master’s in Mass Communication from the University of South Carolina, where she focused on strategic communication management. With expertise in Adobe Creative Suite, SEO, Google Analytics, and digital content strategy, she brings a creative and strategic approach to her role at The Nick, helping to amplify the theater’s mission and engage the community through film.

Allie Stubbs, born and raised in Columbia, attended the College of Charleston where she received a BA in Arts Management. Following graduation, she spent a year as the General Management Apprentice at Triad Stage in Greensboro, NC. Stubbs then returned to Columbia where she spent a few years as a patron before joining the Nick. She looks forward to serving the Columbia community as a part of this organization!

A proud SC native originally from Bluffton, Chelsey brings over a decade of experience in fundraising, donor engagement, and community development, having led successful campaigns at the University of South Carolina and United Way of the Midlands.
Chelsey’s passion for building meaningful connections is matched only by her love of food, travel, and spending time with her family, her husband, their one-year-old son Marshall, and their lovable doodle, Shiloh.

My name is Cierra McCullough I’m from Augusta,Ga I’m a graduating mass communications senior from Benedict College and there’s nothing I love more than watching cool and  interesting movies in beautiful scenery like we offer at the Nick.

Donnie enjoys a tall glass of freshly squeezed lemonade every evening as he concocts his homemade artisan soaps that he sells and gives to his friends and family. He grew up oldest of six, often escaping the challenges of being the eldest by discovering new worlds in books and in nature. When other children enjoyed the typical joys of sports, music and other things that are staples in the typical child he remembers being almost forced into the kitchen to help prepare meals for the siblings and family by his grandmother, forever diligent in her tutelage of how to create the perfect meal with whatever they had in the kitchen and pantries to spare. He is a Gaston native and received his certification in massage therapy in 2016. After a long day, he enjoys his glass of lemonade whilst listening to his choice of audio books. He is graced with the responsibility of owning a dog, a cat, a bearded dragon and two ball pythons that he loves very much. Donnie looks forward to his future with high expectations and pride as he embraces the loving staff, intriguing guest and the ever improving atmosphere that the Nickelodeon has to offer.

Jorian Branham was born, and the world has never quite forgiven him since. An avid film enthusiast and self-proclaimed critic, he enjoys sharing his excitement for film culture with guests as part of the Nick staff. Branham is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science with a double major in Software Engineering and Machine Learning. He likes to call himself a storyteller, and in his spare time he collects, plays, and designs tabletop board games.

Winifred is a Native of Columbia,SC and is a true thespian. While taking theater courses in performance and production she developed a passion for the performing arts. She enjoys singing in her church choir (The Brook) cooking, decorating, watching movies, traveling, and spending time with her 2 sons and 2 grandchildren. She states, “I enjoy both receiving and providing stellar service and entertainment. Working here at Nick allows me to do just that.”