Jason Schmidt

Current

Founder and Product Manager at VISUALPLANT

Past

Director of Internet Product Management at Advertising Age / Crain Communications
Consultant at ObjectLab
User Experience Director at Universal / BMG / GetMusic

User Interface Lead at BMG Music Service

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Education

Connecticut College
New York University
School of Visual Arts

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Recommended

3 people have recommended Jason

Connections

87 connections

Industry

Internet

Websites

Jason Schmidt’s Summary

I'm Founder and PM at VISUALPLANT (VP): an Internet Media Platform for publishers to manage and curate video, audio and images served to Internet venues with social networking. VP infrastructure comprises 3 core services:

1. A scalable digital asset and content management system, including media and user management, reporting and advertising tools

2. Secure APIs for publishers to distribute their content to one or many Internet venues – websites, applications and set-top boxes

3. Flexible templates customized for Web 2.0 topical venues, including news, social networking and video and photo sharing

VP qualifies as a "Level 3" platform as described by Marc Andreessen ( http://blog.pmarca.com/2007/09/the-three-kinds.html ). It allows publishers to modify templates and develop custom applications directly where their domain is served without risking stability of the core platform. http://visualplant.net/about-technology.php

Publishers can use VP out-of-the-box to serve and monetize content with advertising, subscriptions and micro-payments. Then, they can grow their enterprise to any level without being locked-in to proprietary technologies.

Jason Schmidt’s Specialties:

Internet Strategy, User-centered Design, Information Architecture, Search Engine Optimization, Software Development and Team Management.

Jason Schmidt’s Experience

Founder and Product Manager

VISUALPLANT

(Internet industry)

February 2007 — Present (2 years 6 months)

I conceived and managed ground-up development of a Web 2.0 media platform for publishers to launch Internet venues with video, audio, images and social networking.
Director of Internet Product Management

Advertising Age / Crain Communications

(Privately Held; 501-1000 employees; Publishing industry)

2002 — 2007 (5 years)

I proposed and evangelized Internet business strategies for a global media publication serving hundreds of thousands of C-level executives and high-value business users. I directed development of Internet products and content management systems balancing needs of Editorial, Marketing, Sales, Circulation and Executive Management. I spearheaded media-based products combining in-stream advertising and subscription-based revenues. I hired/managed staff, agencies and developers to support in-house agendas.

I was awarded by senior management as meteoric contributor to company Internet agenda. Ad Age Group Online realized triple-level revenue growth in my 5-year tenure.
Consultant

ObjectLab

(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)

January 2000 — February 2001 (1 year 2 months)

I provided user experience consultation for Fortune 500 clients and start-ups in publishing and finance, including BMG, Napster, Ruckus, Vertical Crossings. I worked with management and engineering to ensure deliverables and deadlines for new products. I established Quality Assurance procedures for software development and design teams.
User Experience Director

Universal / BMG / GetMusic

(Entertainment industry)

April 1999 — January 2000 (10 months)

I directed user experience initiatives of consumer music entertainment sites co-owned by major labels. I conducted research, developed site maps, navigational schematics, graphical treatments and prototypes. I worked closely with executive management to re-launch e-commerce website. Sales doubled upon re-launch of website.
User Interface Lead

BMG Music Service

(Entertainment industry)

March 1998 — March 1999 (1 year 1 month)

I managed website production department supporting Media Metrix top-10 music entertainment website. I hired and managed production staff and collaborated with software engineers to design user interface solutions for new development initiatives. I developed specifications to serve unique content and design to dozens of demographic and behavioral profiles. Website acquired and retained subscriptions for millions of consumer music lovers.

Jason Schmidt’s Education

Connecticut College

Communications ,

Activities and Societies:

Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa
New York University

Computer Science
School of Visual Arts

Typography and Graphic Design