Trudi Nagel Morrison – Founder/Chief Executive Officer
Trudi Nagel Morrison is the key driver and visionary behind Earth2World and Earth2World TransMedia. With a background in psychology, business and communications, she has launched and proven the concept of an Internet Television Network in a little more than one year. Earth2World (E2W) is now moving from start-up to expansion via Earth2World TransMedia (E2W-TM).
Trudi’s experience with non-profit organizations, business and as a mother, led her to the wonders of the Internet and its myriad possibilities and to the launch of E2W. Prior to starting E2W, Trudi was the Co-Founder of the Ronald McDonald House-San Francisco, Business Administrator of the “I Have a Dream Foundation-Oregon, Vice President of JTL, Properties, Inc. She is also the mother of a blended family of five. This combined experience gives Trudi strong management and business skills and a commitment to creativity and diversity.
Trudi began development of Earth To Parents – an entertaining and educational television show about the everyday challenges families face – in 2006. Then, in 2008 while working with a producer in Los Angeles, writers went on strike and much new programming went to reality shows. Determined to find a venue for Earth To Parents, Trudi discovered Internet Radio and was fascinated by its myriad possibilities. In early 2009, Earth to Parent premiered as Internet Radio talk show.
Later that year, testing the limits of Internet Radio, Trudi produced an international, live-streamed radio program with Palestinian youth from Bethlehem and Jewish Israeli youth from Tel Aviv connected live to American youth from Portland, Oregon. The program was covered by the Jerusalem Post and Turkish Post and can still be heard on Generation Connex, a non-profit established by Trudi to give a voice to youth worldwide.
In September of 2009, Trudi set up Earth2World LLC and started producing Internet Radio shows, broadcasting live from her home studio. By late 2010, company growth warranted moving the studio space and coincidentally, in December, Trudi left the Blog World Expo keenly aware that video was the next big thing. Determined to remain on the cutting edge, Trudi opened the E2W studio early in 2011 as an Internet Television studio and production company and began producing Internet Television programs.
During 2011, Trudi, as Executive Producer, produced six shows on the E2W Broadcasting Network with several more in development to be aired on E2W-TM. Current shows include, HAVE YOU HEARD! with host Byron Beck, HEART OF THE MATTER with Ann Schatz, TELL ME ABOUT IT! with Francine Raften, NURSE DIANE with Diane Dennis, PRANA YOGA FIT and HFO NW APARTMENT INVESTOR.
Trudi has assembled a highly professional and experienced team whose expertise and connections span the entertainment and tech industry. She is enthusiastic and confident about the launch and future growth of E2W-TM.
James Perez-Gillespie, Chief Operating Officer
James is a television executive and producer with 32 years of experience in the business. His TV projects in development include (among others) the drama HIP-HOP NATION (at HBO and NBC), and the reality shows YOUR DIME, BLACK WIDOW, and Gfight. He recently worked as head of Post Production at Irwin Entertainment (CELEBRITY REHAB, SOBER HOUSE, SEX ADDICTION, DOWN & DIRTY WITH JIM NORTON, NICK SWARDSON. He has also been responsible for delivering numerous unscripted shows to many series including, but not limited to: AMAZING WEDDING CAKES (TLC), EXTRA YARDAGE (DIY), HOGS GONE WILD (DISCOVERY), THE SHOT (VH-1) NANNY 911 (Fox), and the pilot for
the scripted series SAVING GRACE (starring Holly Hunter for TNT).
James created and developed a half-hour situation comedy for Lucky Duck Productions (NYC) called HOMIES and a one-hour drama titled TWO FAMILIES. He served as the Supervising Producer for THE LES BROWN SHOW (NYC) and produced the pilot for a half-hour syndicated television program THE ETHNIC PERSPECTIVE, hosted by Tavis Smiley (LA).
Previously, James worked at SI Communications in Los Angeles, where he managed the development, production and marketing of television specials, series and pilots. Projects included: STORY OF A PEOPLE: EXPRESSIONS IN BLACK – PT. I, hosted by Debbie Allen; STORY OF A PEOPLE: EXPRESSIONS IN BLACK PT. II, hosted by Joe Morton; THE OTHER SIDE OF VICTORY: CHALLENGE OF THE BLACK ATHLETE, hosted by James Brown and Robin Roberts; and a half-hour pilot NIGHT AT THE CLUB WIT’ GEORGE WALLACE.
Before joining SI Communications, James worked in several managerial positions at NBC-TV in New York, primarily in the Network Advertising and Promotion department. His responsibilities included determining production priorities for writers, producer, directors, editors and videotape crews. He was the East Coast Representative for the Creative Services department where he serviced companies like Entertainment Tonight and Late Night with David Letterman. In his role as Network Media Planner, he scheduled $117 million of on-air advertising annually.
James earned his undergraduate degree in Intercultural Studies from Trinity College in Hartford, CT and his Master of Science degree in Radio, Television and Film from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
James is a member in good standing of the Producers Guild of America and NOSOTROS.
Frank Dane, CPA, MS, JD – partner with B2B CFO®
Frank Dane, CPA, MS, JD is a partner with B2B CFO® providing CFO services to E2W and E2W-TM on a consulting basis. Through his formal training and extensive experience, Frank brings a unique combination of multi-disciplinary perspective and experience to the team. Trained as an attorney and certified public accountant, Frank spent the first decade of his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers (“PWC”) concentrating on auditing, internal accounting controls, operating procedures, and advising clients at various stages of development, from start-up to IPO and beyond. His experience also includes M & A, television broadcasting and litigation support. Frank is a member of the State Bar of California, and has earned CPA certificates from the states of Connecticut and California.
After completing law school, accomplished while working full time at PWC, Frank left public accounting and began devoting his innovative and analytical thinking and strong communication and leadership skills to serving companies as an operating team leader in the position of Chief Financial Officer responsible for all aspects of finance, accounting and internal reporting, administration, legal, SEC reporting and compliance, human resources, investor relations and corporate communications. Frank has also served as a director on numerous boards including not-for-profit entities, a joint venture in Mainland China, a Japanese entity and a group of companies in the biopharmaceutical industry.
During his tenure as Chief Financial Officer of a software company, that company received the Global Frost and Sullivan Award for Market Leadership and the Frost and Sullivan Award for Growth Strategy Leadership. Additionally, the company was twice named to Software Magazine’s Annual Software 500 List.
Frank’s broad-based experience and training allows him to quickly assess all aspects of a company and rapidly develop and implement practical solutions to strengthen infrastructures and operations. Frank is high energy, maintains a strategic perspective and couples that with a hands-on approach and a process orientation all aimed at increasing the value of the companies he serves.
Laura Barber, Chief Marketing Officer
Laura is a highly skilled, proven IT and video technology professional with demonstrated results in marketing, marketing & communications, as well as public and media relations. With more than 20 years of experience as a marketing executive and also as the founder of a marketing consultancy, Laura is an expert in moving awareness and revenue needles – whether for an established brand and market or a disruptive, start-up effort.
In her work with the Grass Valley Group and Thomson, S.A./Technicolor, Harris Corporation, and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), among others, Laura has collaborated on a number of industry initiatives that actually helped shape early and foundational elements of today’s digital cinema and cinematic workflows – including the launch of the Grass Valley Viper digital cinematography system (which was subsequently used by award-winning directors Michael Mann and David Fincher on major releases such as COLLATERAL, MIAMI VICE, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, AND ZODIAC); the digital premiere of JURASSIC PARK III in collaboration with Universal Studios, Dolby, and Christie Digital; and SMPTE’s Technology Summit on Cinema (formerly the Digital Cinema Summit) and Conference on Stereoscopic 3D for Media and Entertainment.
Laura has collaborated on similar initiatives within the broadcast and broadband markets, from the launch of the industry’s first completely open digital media camcorder, the Grass Valley Infinity system, to the rollout of the 7-Eleven TV network (the largest out-of-home network and what has been predicted to become the fourth largest broadcast network in the United States), as well as the build-out of two of the most technically advanced, media-capable arenas in North America — Amway Center (home to the Orlando Magic) and Madison Square Garden. Her work included conceptualizing the strategic marketing plan and coordinating all details of these launch efforts.
Jonathan Vaughan – Chief International Officer
Jonathan has spent the last eleven years of his working life as a business development executive in corporate strategy and sales. Through both formal academic training and professional experience, Jonathan has an international perspective on corporate growth and the global consumer. With a background in international business design, Jonathan has worked to incorporate interactive technology, and the consumer demand for personalization, to impact the growth of organizations in a global marketplace. Having lived abroad, and worked with numerous international executives to innovate the ways that they present their companies, products or customer interaction processes, Jonathans approach to business development incorporates the convergence of; consumer patterns, emerging trends, and a broad network of international social influencers. Having worked in both large and small firms, Jonathan is equally comfortable in both start-ups and established organizational environments.
Previously, Jonathan was Vice President of Health & Welfare at USI. Here he provided consultation of insurance related products and services to a diverse group of mid to large size public and private organizations, both domestically and internationally owned. His responsibilities included soliciting new clients, analyzed and directed insurance policy, maintaining and developing current clients by providing creative solutions to differentiate themselves as organizations, and managed employee teams. In addition, he maintained active presence in a diverse group of boards and committees. Jonathan generated and managed a book of over $6 million, and was made a member of Pinnacle Club in 2010 for top business development performance. Throughout his time at USI, Jonathan achieved numerous awards for his achievements in sales and corporate growth.
Jonathan was also Executive of National Accounts for Qmedtrix Systems, where he was responsible for over 30% of new sales for the software based healthcare adjudication company. In addition to soliciting and managing new clientele, Jonathan was the representative at all national forums. Jonathan also founded an employment agency that specialized in executive, clerical and industrial labor placement services; where he managed all aspects of a start-up company.
Jonathan received his Bachelor of Science degree in History from Portland State University in Portland, OR; and a Masters degree in International Business Design
from Domus Academy in Milan, Italy.