Maya Laurinaitis Drake is an Emmy Award winning producer with extensive experience producing natural history films.  Growing up on the New England coast, Maya's passion for the world of nature led her to a career in filmmaking. She currently mentors young adults in the techniques of documentary filmmaking and consults with clients such as Discovery Communications, The Teaching Company, and Light House Studio, an educational media center in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Maya has over twenty years' experience in network broadcast television, print and educational media.  She worked for over fifteen years for National Geographic Television & Film producing films for the Explorer Series.  Education includes a BA in Communications from the University of Massachusetts and a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (Geography, Biology and Film) from George Mason University.