Cris Popenoe Cris Popenoe is a creative executive and entrepreneur with a proven track record as a digital media strategist, content production and distribution specialist, and partner and deal maker. Her experience spans the distance from idea to consumer, and includes strategy, development, production, publishing, marketing and sales. She is a problem solver, able to execute rapidly and successfully with limited resources. Cris has a vast network and long-term relationships with well-positioned global industry leaders and talent in all facets of the entertainment business in LA and New York as well as Europe and Asia. She has the talent, contacts and the credibility to develop and execute both large and small scale media ventures and the strategy and tactics for the deployment and development of content and businesses across multiple devices in a manner best suited to each device. Cris excels at being part of the creation of a new initiative and growing it, and of leveraging and extending brands and products. Her particular area focus is the development, production, and distribution of interactive media with transactional and emotional hooks across multiple platforms, including online and mobile. Cris has extensive viral marketing and Web 2.0 experience, particularly with online video, widgets, new IP, and social networking, and with UI and action triggers. Cris has 30 years experience in managing media businesses. An entrepreneur as well as an executive, Cris has had both a professional and personal focus on healthy living, eco-friendly goods and services, personal growth, and East Asia. Over the last decade, Cris has executive produced many award-winning digital media projects, including online videos, games, applications and widgets, and DVDs. In 1972, she co-founded Yes! Inc. She served as its president until 1992 and grew the company into a leading purveyor of books, videos and music related to wellness, holistic living and personal growth, and Asian studies — both at retail and through a significant international catalog and direct marketing business. She was the first to computerize an independent book store. The software that she later developed from scratch was first licensed and then sold to the largest book store in Europe where it became the basis of the computer system for the Stockmann department store group in Scandinavia. The first to popularize the term wellness (in her 1977 book of the same title), Cris has deep subject matter expertise in well-being, fitness, life balance, personal development and body-mind-spirit — with an ability to make these topics accessible to mainstream audiences. The LA Times declared her 1979 book Inner Development "the most useful guide to the literature old and new of the consciousness revolution". Cris has unparalleled experience in creating premium content in new media. In 1992, she was recruited to create Putnam New Media, funded by The Putnam Berkley Group and Bertelsmann. Once again, she built an organization from the ground up, developing program ideas, securing creative talent and producing all of the CD-ROM content. Each title produced was a multiple award-winner. In addition she facilitated interactive activities at Universal Studios and its operating companies, was part of team creating and developing Universal Studios’ internet presence. and was Founding Member of Universal Studios’ Technology Advisory Board.. In 1996 she was recruited into the Media & Telecommunications group of Coopers & Lybrand Consulting (which became PriceWaterhouseCoopers) to help build their media practice. The following year she joined the Interpublic Group, where she was Managing Director of Internet Retailing for Nicholson NY, one of their agencies. In 1998 Cris founded WiseBear.com, an expansive online business dedicated to balanced living, personal growth, wellness and fitness. Merging commerce, content and community, Cris raised nearly $5 million in venture capital and sold the business to Michael Milken in August 2000 in an all-cash deal. Cris founded Dawn Productions LLC in 2001. She and a core team of highly talented associates deliver innovative, clear, practical and immediate solutions for client problems. Dawn contracts with companies to help them grow by finding better ways to engage their audience and to leverage and extend their intellectual property and media assets across multiple media. Numerous recommendations from Cris' colleagues and business associations can be found on her Linkedin profile page, http://www.linkedin.com/in/popenoe