For Your Imagination develops and markets high-quality original Internet TV and web video series, turning concept into reality for brands and content creators. The company works with creative individuals to develop their show, offering them the opportunity to reach a targeted advertiser-friendly audience effectively and monetizing quickly.
For Your Imagination’s talented team writes, produces and markets entertaining videos for online distribution and monetization through advertising, sponsorships, merchandising and licensing. New York City based For Your Imagination is built upon the experience of industry veterans whose combined expertise include web development, major television and movie production, national marketing campaigns and technology.
Executive Management- Paul Kontonis, Chief Executive
- Alec Pollak, Chief Creative Officer
- Richard Camuso, Chief Financial Officer
- Gino Tomac, Director of Digital Media Development
- Jon Johnnidis, Director of Digital Media Production
- John Henkel, Vice President, Artist and Industry Relations
- Dave Ford, Director of Business Development
- Beth Redden, Vice President, Administration
- Russell Denniston, Digital Media Production
- Mark Johnnidis, Digital Media Editor
- Matt Matossian, Digital Media Production
- Neiki Ullah, Marketing
- Tom Concordia, Photographer, www.tomconcordia.com
- Alexandrina Golub
- Sasha Rosen
- Dane Atkinson
- Garrett Denniston
- Paul Kontonis
- Richard Cundari
- Pat O'Gorman
- David Tochterman
Biographies
Alec Pollak
Alec is a co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of For Your Imagination. Alec began his web design career on the earliest movie and corporate web sites and through creative director roles at a variety of design agencies and his own projects, which range from co-authoring a sci-fi fantasy novel to an installation art project. Alec was the former Creative Director of btldesign and has worked in the Internet industry since 1995 when he created one of the first big budget film websites for the movie, "Batman Forever." His background of art direction and design for print and multimedia at Grey Entertainment Advertising launched him into a founding Creative Director position at Siteline, one of the first NYC web design shops. Alec went on to form Stir Associates where he continued to develop relationships with a number of major corporate clients including Olympus America, Warner Bros. Movies and Atlantic Records. He has appeared in a number of industry publications, and speaks at industry conferences and seminars.Dane Atkinson
Dane is a board member and co-founder of For Your Imagination and has founded, bought, and sold, over a dozen companies over the past 15 years. He has led these firms as CEO and Chairman utilizing his extensive technology and marketing expertise. Most recently he has managed his own investment fund to handle positions in the mobile, internet and gaming sectors. Dane's first entrée into the internet was in the early 1990's with the founding of SenseNet Inc., a web service company that migrated into internet software. The company grew explosively through servicing Fortune 500 companies (WPP, Pfizer, Lucent) to over 100 employees on three continents. Dane has also launched several web consumer companies including yourday.com, yourstuff.com, estandardsforum.com, iensure.com. Yourday.com was funded, developed, brought to market and sold to Deltathree (NASDAQ:GMST) in an 8 figure deal in under 6 months.Dave Ford
Dave is the director of business development at For Your Imagination. He works directly with For Your Imagination clients to achieve custom marketing, advertising, and sales objectives. Born in Baltimore, Dave attended the University of Maryland where he studied marketing. His experience in advertising, sales, and account management started in the radio business in Baltimore working for Hearst Radio's WIYY-FM, 98 Rock. From there Dave moved to the Washington DC market and worked for an additional 3 years at Clear Channel's rock station, WWDC-FM, DC101—the same station where Howard Stern got his start. He has managed advertising campaigns for Toyota, Coca-Cola, Apple, Discovery Channel, Washington Post.com, Hair Cuttery, and the WWE. In 2007 Dave took a one year sabbatical from work and traveled through South America, North America, and Africa. While traveling he climbed Mt.Kilimanjaro, trekked through both the Andes and the Amazon, and sailed below the Antarctica circle. He logged his journey at www.daveforddoesearth.com.Gino Tomac
Gino is director of digital media development at For Your Imagination. He oversees a seasoned department whose main objective is to bring ideas, concepts and content into full fruition. Born in Montreal, Gino attended college at New York’s New School University where he studied film production and journalism. His experience in production, development and writing includes documentary films for Radical Media, national commercials for Verizon, as well as years of writing and producing various programming for MTV Networks such as Top 20 Countdown, I Love the 80’s and Web Junk 20, just to name a few. Aside from television and film, Gino has also lead teams on the development of web-based projects such as video web design, tutorial video imaging and corporate video podcasting.John Henkel
Henkel is the Vice President of Artist and Industry Relations at For Your Imagination. He began his work in the entertainment industry 12 years ago when he joined the Recording Industry Association of America. During his tenure at the RIAA, Henkel co-founded the association artist relations department, and has been heavily involved in shaping the artist relations component of the company legislative agenda. In 1999, he was promoted to head up the association well respected Gold and Platinum award program where he developed and launched their Diamond award program and, more recently, created sales certification programs for digital tracks and ringtones. In addition, he established Front Row, a monthly in-house music series that has featured performances from many up and coming artists. His relationships with artists, management companies, agents, record label executives and media companies puts him a unique position to develop online video strategies for artists. Prior to working at the RIAA, he was an account executive at AON/Huntington T. Block. View John Henkel's Linkedin profile.Jon Johnnidis
Jon is director of digital media production at For Your Imagination. He heads a highly skilled team of experienced individuals producing a variety of original and client based internet and network video content including podcasts, corporate videos, documentaries, band and musician EPK’s, commercials, and broadcast PR packages. Jon began his production career freelancing throughout MTV Networks producing a variety of highly rated, creative, and inspired shows throughout the network. After 6 years, Jon moved on as a staff producer for Dogmatic Inc, a NY and Los Angeles based production company. He produced projects for clients that include The Rolling Stones, Pepsi, the Estee Lauder Companies, Universal Music, and 20th Century Fox. Before merging with for Your Imagination, Jon founded Axios Productions, a New York City based production company and talent agency comprised of a creative, ambitious, experienced team in 2005.Pat O'Gorman
Pat O’Gorman is an award winning television producer and director with over 40 years experience. Presently, she works as television network and media consultant for Beauchamp Communications. Pat was the executive producer for the Television Food Network (1992-99) and the Book Channel (1984-1986). She has worked as an editor on "60 Minutes," CBS’ "Who’s Who," "Crime Watch Tonight" and as an editor and producer for Woman’s Magazine. In 1979, Pat started CNN with Reese Schonfeld, and developed a program for "Video Journalists" to teach all aspects of Journalism and TV News. In addition to her plentiful professional experience, Pat has received 4 Peabody Awards for her work as a documentary film editor at CBS. Pat has collaborated on many projects; "Cambodia", a documentary reported by Ed Bradley and "Assassination MLK", reported by Dan Rather, are two of her finest.Paul Kontonis
Paul is the Chief Executive and a co-founder of For Your Imagination. As an interactive media veteran, Paul has been a new media pioneer and has developed interactive content practices which reach out and engage an audience. Paul was the General Manager of Educational Marketing and Corporate Sales for Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, the leading test preparation provider. Prior to joining Kaplan, Paul was the Chief Marketing Officer of btldesign, a 25-year-old marketing communications agency, specializing in business-to-business marketing communications for Fortune 100 global brands like MasterCard, Samsung, Pfizer, Major League Baseball and the FIFA World Cup. Paul's interactive experience began as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at SenseNet, a Web application development agency, and as the Director of Business Development for Silver Shock, a boutique interactive agency. He appears in a number of marketing publications, digital media books including the Documentary Filmmakers Handbook, and is a speaker at several industry conferences and seminars annually. View Paul Kontonis' Linkedin profile.Richard Camuso
Richard is the Chief Financial Officer of For Your Imagination and a seasoned financial executive with over 30 years experience in technology product and services, customer-oriented companies ranging in size from international Fortune 100 to early-stage development. Richard has led major efforts as a CFO, interim financial executive and consultant, to restructure companies, arrange for financing, develop strategic business plans, participate in M&A activities and orchestrate the sale of a $25 million company. Richard has served as interim CFO at SecureInfo, a professional services and software company, CFO at Greenwich Technology Partners, an IT professional services company, CFO and EVP of Braxtel Communications, an international services company providing CRM solutions, and Norstan Communications, a telecommunications company. In each of these positions, Richard was deeply involved in restructuring operations, the strategic realignment of products and services, raising capital, and M&A activity. Richard received an A.B. Degree in Economics from Georgetown University, and an MBA in Finance from Columbia University.
