Aaron Ableman, Chief Creative Officer
Ableman is an acclaimed “edutainer” with a background in world literature, food systems, and community organizing. He grew up under the mentorship of Hopi elders and children’s musician Raffi, and he has graced the stages with K’NAAN and Joan Baez, among others. From India to Haiti, he has implemented eco-arts programs and worked with at-risk teens. He has been heralded in publications such as the “Los Angeles Times,” “New York Times,” “Montreal Mirror” and “San Francisco Examiner.” Ableman is the executive producer for the Clean Energy Tour, co-founder of the CommuniTree network, and a consultant for environmental organizations and campaigns. Ableman is also a co-founder of BALANCE Edutainment, a social enterprise that develops entertaining products for youth and families that raise awareness of our interdependence with nature and connects people who want to work for positive change. BALANCE’s flagship initiative is the Pacha’s Pajamas edutainment platform. Twitter: @ablemantra
Dave Room, CEO/Executive Producer
Dave’s inspiration is his daughter Melia. On stage as Melia’s Papa, he uses storytelling and solo performance theater to awaken and activate audiences. Before Melia, Dave had leadership roles in several tech startups, and previously launched a number of projects as an management consultant and intranet developer. After Melia was born, Dave co-founded Bay Localize, a for-impact organization that inspires and supports Bay Area residents in building resilient communities and then co-founded BALANCE. Dave is a board member of Transition US and ASPO-USA, and a Green For All fellow. Dave has Engineering degrees (B.S. and M.S.) from Stanford University. Twitter: @meliaspapa
Andre Jonson, Music Supervisor
Andre Jonson is a Record Producer, Musician, and C.E.O of Dream Catcher Productions which develops potent international musical talent. Hailing from a Jazz Fusion background as a Vocalist Guitarist, Keyboardist and Percussionist. Mentored by Record Producer legend David Rubinson (HERBIE HANCOCK-SANTANA) and Master Percussionist and Producer Bill Summers (LOS HOMBRES CALIENTE HERBIE HANCOCK QUINCY JONES). Andre’s skills range from Performer, Composer, Arranger, Producer, Engineer, Musical Director, and Manager. He’s applied them to being an artist for Warner Bros, a Producer for EMI Records, lead Singer-Guitarist for Bill Summers and SUMMERS HEAT, THE FREAKY EXECUTIVES, NATIVE SON, MIKE BOLIVAR, and ONE LOVE. Musical Director for David Kirton, JADE STEEL, LUNA ANGEL, RAHSUL, and a host of others. Composed material for the majority of the artists he’s worked with from Hard Rock to Reggae, FUNK, Jazz and World Music.
Suzanne Toro, Strategic Co-Producer
After obtaining her B.S. degree at the Arizona State University and her first steps in the commercial and design industry, Suzanne owned and operated “Out of Your Mind”, a marketing, branding, and design company for 12 years. She now works as a creative global visionary and as a successful entertainment executive. She served for years as the Creative Visionary and Strategist for media production for Apl.de.Ap of the Black Eyed Peas. Together they produced four music videos, and worked on numerous philanthropic projects. Former COO of the global music label Jeepney Music. Projects she has Co-Created: Apl Foundation, Jeepney Music, Chopra Center New York; Product and Media Development @ Chopra Center, CharityFocus.org, Project Peace on Earth, Project Reel, Music Video and TV Development and Production, Alliance for New Humanity, and Random Acts of Kindness, Evolution of Revolution, Teen Now, Courage Network, Seva Cafe and AlgaeSystems.
Dayna Reggero, Social Media and PR Specialist
Dayna Reggero is a tenured public relations expert. At 19, Dayna began promoting animal welfare, conservation and sustainability by appearing with tigers, monkeys, owls and pythons, plus other local wildlife, domestic animals and endangered species on CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX affiliates around the United States. She has interviewed with CNN; coordinated with Animal Planet, The Food Network, TLC, Planet Green, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Mother Earth News and TreeHugger.com. As a spokesperson and media personality, she wrote a Wild Woman Blog for Freedom Communications and hosted The Green Reality Show on AshevilleFM. As a public relations professional, she coordinated interviews for many social and environmental visionary leaders. Awards: 2006 Chamber of Commerce Emerging Leader of the Year Award, Florida Public Relations Society of America PR Power Award and Two American Advertising Federation ADDY Awards. Blog: www.TheGreenRealityShow.com. Twitter: @DaynaReggero
Jessica Hurley, Content and Audience Director
Jessica Hurley is a writer, editor, and producer. She does content development and production for video, TV, scripts, documentaries; books, gift series, magazines; web content, blogging, podcasts, social networking; and emergent digital media. She is an Emmy Award-winning producer, writer, host of broadcast documentaries. She has authored 12 published books and major gifts for major publishing houses. She launched a converged Webby Award-winning health & lifestyle website with national television network start-up resulting in a site traffic increase of 78% and newsletter open rate increase of 100%, with over 2,000,000 subscribers.
Ricardo Gressel, Africa Director
After graduating from Stanford University with a degree in International Relations, Ricardo teamed up with fellow entrepreneur and graduate student, Dave Room, to start-up a design and manufacturing company of fine leather garments. Being a Panamanian-American and having studied overseas in Salamanca, Spain, Ricardo excelled at effective negotiations in Spanish with local Mexican CMT plants responsible for assembly of the finished products ultimately distributed throughout the US by Ricardo and his partner. Following the success of the clothing label, he delved deeper into the world of fashion, this time as a model in the US, Europe, Latin America and finally Africa where he rubbed shoulders with celebrities and creative producers. In 1994, Ricardo landed a contract with a local South African model agency in Johannesburg, starting in March of that year – in time to witness history in the making. Over the last sixteen years as a brand builder and communications agent, Ricardo has developed strategies, and managed successful marketing interventions for leading ICT brands across Africa, including Cell C, Neotel and Virgin Mobile in South Africa; Econet in Kenya; and BTC in Botswana. Most recently, Ricardo has been contracted by Kenya Power to lead and facilitate brand engagement workshops that bolster leadership in employees. Twitter: @ricardotweetin
Joe Mohr, Writer/Illustrator
Joe is a writer, cartoonist, children’s poet, and award-winning illustrator. His environmental cartoons can be found on Greenpeace, The Center for Media and Democracy, Wend Magazine, Elephant Journal, Planetsave and many more on-line and print publications. A former elementary and special education teacher in St Louis, Chicago, and Lisbon Portugal, Joe knows kids are energetic, motivated, and optimistic about their futures. As a result, he is motivated to help their dreams become their reality. Joe believes that children and the arts are the two most powerful agents of change, and enjoys working with both as we progress towards a better tomorrow.
Lucas Guilkey, Videographer
Lucas is a writer and filmmaker based in the East Bay. He sees both the written word and multimedia as tools to be used toward progressive political change and social justice. He has freelanced for Norman Solomon, KPFA, Project WHAT!, Bay Localize, the Collective Liberation Tour, Oakland Community Organizations, and he worked as the Communications and Media Intern at the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. He graduated from Wesleyan University in 2010 and IHP’s “Rethinking Globalization: Nature, Culture, Justice” in 2009.
Recent Comments