Cris Popenoe

Current

Managing Director and Executive Producer at Dawn Productions LLC

Past

EVP Development & Executive Producer at RiverWired, Inc.
Founder, President & CEO at WiseBear.com
Managing Director, Internet Retailing at Nicholson NY (now IconNicholson)

Senior Manager, Media & Telecommunications at Coopers & Lybrand Consulting
Founder, President & Publisher at Putnam New Media (part of Universal Studios)
Founder & President at Yes! Inc.

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Education

George Washington University
University of Maryland

Recommended

34 people have recommended Cris

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Entertainment

Websites

Cris Popenoe’s Summary

Cris is renowned for her impressive breadth of business relationships in the media and entertainment world, and amongst marketers, technologists, venture capitalists, and entrepreneurs. She’s been a digital media maven for as long as there’s been digital media.

Throughout her 30 years of experience, Cris has innovatively combined content, commerce, and social engagement into media, creating monetization opportunities and compelling interactive experiences. She is a creative executive and entrepreneur with a proven track record. Cris has packaged and produced award-winning digital media projects, including online videos, games, and applications and widgets. She excels at being part of the creation and growth of new products and at leveraging and extending existing brands and products.

Recent work has focused on the intersection of online video and social media promotional tools to drive revenue through syndication, buying triggers, and engagement vehicles with brands or products. This ranges from the basics of employing video to strategic recommendations on monetization, content and campaign development, and syndication strategies. It includes negotiating and executing the partner deals for syndication and advertising and sponsorship, and managing and enhancing the relationship on an ongoing basis. She's also acquired enthusiast programming from both TV and online resources and curated programming channels.

Her professional and personal passions include the body-mind-spirit realm, wellness, green initiatives, and East Asian culture. If you asked many people what word comes to mind when they think of Cris, it may be her energy or passion, but it is likely to be her ability as a connector and her desire to use these connections to make the world a better place, and our individual lives more authentic and honorable. That’s what she values above all in herself and in others. She’s connected. She’s effective. She cares.

Cris Popenoe’s Specialties:

Online video strategy and monetization; content strategy and programming; social media; video platform enabling technology and ad networks; web audience engagement, social media and personal networks; mobile video and interactive content; Web 2.0 tools, widgets, and applications; leisure and casual games; program acquisition and production; deal making and representation, partnering and connecting; business launches.

Cris Popenoe’s Experience

Managing Director and Executive Producer

Dawn Productions LLC

(Entertainment industry)

January 2001 — Present (8 years 7 months)

Dawn provides strategic consultancy and hands-on execution. Recent work has focused on the intersection of online video and social media promotional tools to drive revenue through syndication, buying triggers, and engagement vehicles with a company, brand, or product. It helps companies and brands grow by finding better ways to develop and monetize and syndidate their content and media assets across multiple media. See www.dawn-productions.com for recent engagements.

• Expertise includes video and digital media monetization through syndication and marketing; online video advertising strategy and execution; and audience development.
• Identifies and secures partners and opportunities, negotiates deals.

Clients have included: Comcast, Best Buy, Penguin Group, Fox Digital, iVideosongs, Flycell, Classic Media, Yoga Journal, Diversion Media, Lifetime, Bertelsmann, Digital Chocolate, Charity Folks, VisionTV, Aspen Club, Sapphire, PAX, iAmplify.
EVP Development & Executive Producer

RiverWired, Inc.

(Internet industry)

September 2006 — November 2007 (1 year 3 months)

Provided tactical and strategic support to the CEO of eco-focused internet start-up in all functional areas. Particular focus was on digital media, video, widgets, games, the product offering, and marketing.

• Developed the company’s video, widget, game, and interactive strategy and was responsible for distribution and viral marketing.

• Produced an engaging series of short mini documentaries which present intimate glimpses into the wider green movement through the eyes of individuals and organizations. To view the videos go to http://dawn-productions.blip.tv.
Founder, President & CEO

WiseBear.com

(Online Media industry)

September 1998 — December 2000 (2 years 4 months)

Developed the concept and model for WiseBear, a business focused on wellness, personal growth, and balanced living (tag line was “Smart Tools for Balanced Living”) that would profitably integrate commerce, community, and content.

• Secured venture capital of $4.6 million from Liberty Venture Partners, Cardinal Health Partners, and PS Capital (an off-shoot of the Blackstone Group) and recruited Kay Koplovitz as Chairman.

• Set up operations and personally recruited top-flight nucleus senior staff, provided leadership and motivation, and encouraged teamwork.

• Oversaw brand and identity development, Web site and infrastructure development, and negotiated key strategic alliances and partnerships.

• Successfully sold company to Michael Milken’s Miavita in an all-cash deal on the strength of its sophisticated infrastructure, e-commerce back-end, and strong management team.
Managing Director, Internet Retailing

Nicholson NY (now IconNicholson)

(Online Media industry)

January 1998 — September 1998 (9 months)

Established a new business division at a leading interactive agency (a member of the Interpublic Group), with focus on full-service strategic and tactical solutions for Internet retailing.

• Advised catalogers, traditional retailers, and manufacturers on developing transactional online retailing sites, emphasizing merchandising and customer retention, and relationship building strategies and implementation.

• Established strategic e-commerce alliances for Nicholson and its clients and partners in technology and online marketing.
Senior Manager, Media & Telecommunications

Coopers & Lybrand Consulting

(Partnership; 10,001 or more employees; Management Consulting industry)

November 1996 — December 1997 (1 year 2 months)

Played a leadership and entrepreneurial role in developing the new media practice.

• Developed strategic recommendations for Fortune 500 companies in media and entertainment to create viable interactive businesses that extended their brands.

• Created consumer business opportunities on the internet, with special emphasis on electronic commerce and online shopping.

• Evaluated business and revenue models and developed business plans, including staffing and operational recommendations.

• Leveraged deep industry contacts to put together alliances and partnerships.
Founder, President & Publisher

Putnam New Media (part of Universal Studios)

(Entertainment industry)

June 1992 — September 1996 (4 years 4 months)

With funding from The Putnam Berkley Group (a division of Universal Studios) and Bertelsmann Manufacturing, set up a pioneering interactive company.

• Created business model, budgets, forecasts; negotiated business deals and developed contract language and terms.

• Actively involved in the creating and developing all titles; served as producer of all titles and managed the creative process. All titles won multiple awards.

• Developed partnerships and alliances.

• Hired, managed, motivated and led team. Developed and implemented distribution, marketing and promotional strategies utilizing internal resources, sister companies and outside resources.

• Facilitated interactive activities at Universal Studios and its operating companies and was part of team creating Universal Studios’ internet presence and was Founding Member of Universal Studios’ Technology Advisory Board.
Founder & President

Yes! Inc.

(Retail industry)

March 1972 — May 1992 (20 years 3 months)

Co-founded internationally recognized multi-channel company focused on personal development, wellness, Asian culture and spirituality with retail and direct mail sales of books, videos and recordings.

• Managed a complex, multi-faceted operation: developed strategy, set up stores, managed and motivated large team, built-up extensive, worldwide direct response sales.

• Pioneer in electronic commerce and e-business; beginning in 1985 reached new customers, particularly international ones, through the CompuServe Mall.

• Conceived and authored a series of annotated user guides (distributed by Random House) to guide consumers to the best among books, special interest videos, and recordings, with a focuson personal development and wellness.

• Designed and managed the development of a complex Unix-based retail management software and was first to computerize an independent bookstore in the U.S.

Cris Popenoe’s Education

George Washington University

MA , Latin American Studies
University of Maryland

BA , History & International Relations

Activities and Societies:

Honors Program