Meet The Staff
The RESCU Staff is comprised of dedicated, knowledgeable, and experienced individuals. These are the amazing people who are behind the scenes, receiving your mail, processing your aid forms, running to the bank and returning your phone calls.
Debra Mischel
Office Manager
Debra has been a dedicated patron of Renaissance fairs, especially Sherwood Forest Faire, for the past 8 years. Over the recent years, she has deepened her involvement with Sherwood and the RESCU Foundation. With over 30 years of experience as an office manager and bookkeeper, Debra brings a wealth of administrative expertise to her role at RESCU.
Outside of work, Debra enjoys spending time with her dogs, Lucy and Pearl. She is passionate about creating art, cooking, baking, reading, and volunteering, and continues to play an active role in the Sherwood community.
Mary Parrish-Iles
HIPAA Compliance Officer
Mary is a part of RESCU’s Programs Committee and the HIPAA compliance officer. She is a rooted Renaissance festival participant from Texas performing at Sherwood Forest Faire and working as a vendor at the Texas Renaissance Festival. Her educational background includes a BA in Christian Studies from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and a Master’s of Public Health from Baylor University.
When not working at faire, Mary can be found supporting her husband’s professional wrestling career, walking her dog, and drinking large quantities of green tea.
Outside of work, Debra enjoys spending time with her dogs, Lucy and Pearl. She is passionate about creating art, cooking, baking, reading, and volunteering, and continues to play an active role in the Sherwood community.
Bruce Ballard
HR Consultant
Bruce supports RESCU in an advisory capacity in the areas of Human
Resources and Operations. His career was mainly with Hughes Space and
Communications and The Boeing Company as an engineer, then ten years as
an engineering manager, two years as a manager in Corporate HR, and two
years as an executive. This involved considerable experience in
applying HR policies and practices, and generally managing people and
organizational activities.
Bruce performs on-stage at the Southern California Renaissance Faire as
Bugle Biggins, ship’s musician retired from the sea, with a program of
music on the harp, Irish whistle, and bugle, plus a little education and
story-telling about his seafaring adventures. Otherwise, he supports the
children’s area known as Kids’ Kingdom.
Keridwyn Hershberger
Intake Specialist
Keridwyn has been part of the Renaissance festival community her entire life, first as a child traveling with her parents, and later as the owner of Devonshire Incense and Soap Company (2000–2020). With decades of firsthand experience as both an artisan and member of the community, she brings a deep understanding of the unique challenges and resilience of festival professionals.
As an Intake Specialist for the RESCU Foundation, Keridwyn meets each client with empathy, respect, and firsthand knowledge of the challenges they face. She guides people through medical and financial crises with care, helping them navigate difficult systems while preserving their dignity.
Alongside her work with clients, Keridwyn works closely with the board to strengthen RESCU’s internal processes, ensuring the organization remains sustainable and effective. For her, this work is both service and a way of giving back to the community that raised her.
Colleen Bremer
Bookkeeper
Colleen is a seasoned finance manager with over 15 years of experience in the field. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Composition and a Human Resources Management Certificate, both of which have provided her with a unique skill set that she has brought to her financial work.
Colleen is an active member of the Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire cast, having participated as a performer, a vendor, and staff finance manager over the years. She currently performs there as part of Brigid’s Daughters. Colleen developed a love of Renaissance and Medieval music while studying music history in college. Renaissance faires provide the perfect venue for sharing this passion, and through them, she has met many kindred spirits who have become an extended family all across the country. Colleen is thrilled to join the RESCU Foundation and to give back in her own way to this amazing community.
As an avid lover of the arts, Colleen enjoys attending concerts and visiting museums in her free time. Living in California, she takes advantage of the beautiful outdoors and enjoys hiking and exploring nature with her husband and two kids.
Angie Austin
Programs Support Staff
Angie Austin is a full-time renaissance festival entertainer. They write and perform various comedy, acrobatic and interactive shows. Angie loves improv comedy, empowering people, and collaborating with other artists.
Human rights, mental health, and the healing power of comedy are some of Angie’s passions. They are on the board of Spectrum Diversity, an LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, and have worked as a hospital clown for many years. Comedy and imagination are empowering in a way that reality could never be, and interactive theatre allows everyone to be whoever they want to be. Community is important to Angie, and they firmly believe that renaissance festivals have one of the strongest, most accepting, loving families anywhere in the world and is very grateful to be able to give back through the RESCU foundation.
As a neurodivergent person, who has struggled to navigate the healthcare system themselves, Angie is dedicated to helping their fellow travelers find treatment, particularly mental health care while on the road, and is pleased to be able to offer CPR certification, NARCAN Training, Mental Health First Aid training and Stop the Bleed certification.
By Mail
RESCU Foundation, Inc.
797 Sam Bass Rd.
STE 171
Round Rock, TX 78681
By Phone
800.374.9215