Rainmakers Advisory Board
Dr. James Forsher, Special Consultant and Adviser
Before going into academia, Dr. Forsher produced over a 100 nationally aired shows over a 20-year career that were carried by Discovery Channel, A&E, Cinemax, Movie Channel, and PBS. These included shows on the entertainment industry, American culture, holiday traditions, and censorship.
Dr. Forsher served at Florida State University as an Assistant Professor in the Communication Department from 1997 to 2001. From 2001 to 2007, he achieved Associate Professor status and was tenured at California State University, East Bay. At that institution, he was director of the broadcast production program. Recently, Dr. Forsher has served as an Associate Professor in Communication at Seattle University.
Over the past five years, Dr. Forsher, in addition to teaching, has maintained an active media consultancy. Most of his work is focused on using the web as a way to promote learning in the classroom. Dr. Forsher has been active for one client in the production of over 50 “webisodes,” as well as production of a variety of online assessment projects.
“Every organization needs a mentor,” said Stan Emert. “Dr. Forsher is on the cutting edge of the latest in production. He is a truly invaluable part of the RainmakersTV team!”
For more information, visit www.forsherproductions.com
Eric Becker
Eric Becker is a Seattle-based Director. After receiving his MPH in Global Health (Yale, 2006) he went on to work as a Producer for HBO and as a Co-Producer for the documentary Fambul Tok.
He has directed a number of short films dealing in issues of social justice, the environment, health, and development. His first feature-length documentary, Sound and Vision, will be released in August of 2011.
“Eric is modest about his accomplishments,” said Stan Emert. “He has a great ability to identify human struggles and tell stories of triumph through the camera lens. RainmakersTV is well-served by Eric’s advice and consultation.
Learn more about Eric at www.weareshouting.com.
Warren Berry
The owner of New York-based Big Dream Productions and Fish Head Studios, Berry brings a vast depth of experience to Rainmakers. He earned his first photography award as a Cub Scout; attained a BA in Multimedia Production from the University of Washington; and earned multiple Northwest Emmy awards.
Berry’s work television and production work includes Bertolucci’s Little Bhudda, Northern Exposure, Goodwill Games, CBS Evening News with Dan Rather, Donahue, Monday Night Football, and JP Patches. He has worked in all professional sports in the Pacific Northwest, including Hydroplane racing.
Irena Mihova
Founder and CEO of I’m Creative, Irena is focused on creating recognizable brands in independent motion picture and television through investment in talent and unique creative projects. For more than 15 years she has produced and executed documentaries, narrated stories, TV shows and other fiction, nonfiction, and animation projects for numerous broadcasters, major production houses, and distributors around the world such as BBC, CNBC, FR5, ARD, Global Networks, MTV Networks, and Live Planet.
Among Irena’s recent productions are RUNNING THE SAHARA, with Executive producer Matt Damon and directed by the Emmy and Oscar winner James Moll; BLING: A PLANET ROCK, for VH1, starring Kanye West; FEATHERS TO THE SKY, in the social selection of the AFI, Santa Barbara and Tribeca Film Festivals; the CNBC show THE BUSINESS OF DEVELOPMENT, winner of the Excellence Videographer Award; and DIGITAL DIVIDE, nominated for the Deborah Fletcher Award
Born in Bulgaria, Irena holds a Master of Arts in Political Science, with postgraduate studies in International Law at The Institute of International Studies in Switzerland and a research fellowship in International Relations at The Reykjavik University of Iceland. Irena was Chief News Editor at Channel COMM Networks, Bulgaria, extensively covering the war in Bosnia, the Moscow Putsch, and the collapse of the financial pyramid schemes in the Balkans. At the United Nations, Irena has held Political, Judicial and External Affairs positions around the world. She also launched the groundbreaking TV & Film Partnerships Initiative at the United Nations Development Programme. Irena Mihova is a four-time recipient of the Carnegie Corporation of New York’s creative grant
Stan Emert: “Irena’s breadth of knowledge is invaluable to RainmakersTV. Her advice and consultancy is important to our success.
For more information, see www.imcreative.org.
Karen Myers
A Seattle-based editor with a passion for telling a good story, Karen has edited everything from Super Bowl commercials to documentaries to infomercials. Whether it is a television commercial, web video, corporate piece, documentary, narrative film or personal project, Karen is a master at telling the story.
Karen believes that it’s her job to help find the storyline, and then trim, shape and polish. That way the project has the best potential to become the best and most effective communication possible.
Myers is referred to by her clients as having a unique combination. ProVideo’s Tom Kermgard calls Myers “A very rare combination of right brain and left brain working together.” Matt Cowden calls it a “great technical and an artistic eye.
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Myers has worked with some of the largest studios on the west coast of the US
“RainmakersTV is very fortunate to have Karen Myers on our consulTant/advisory team,” said Stan Emert. “She has a keen understanding of issues related the stories of people overcoming great odds to defeat extreme poverty.
For more information, visit: www.redhead-post.com.
Kunle Oguneye
Kunle Oguneye was born and raised in Nigeria. He graduated from Valparaiso University in Indiana with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, and did his MBA work at Drake. He combines computers and technology with a his passion for story-telling.
While working in technology he founded a nonprofit organization, Digital Aid Inc., which donated over 540 computers to schools in Africa. Sikulu and Harambe by the Zambezi River: An African version of the Good Samaritan Story is his first book.
What they’re saying about Kunle Oguneye …
“Kunle is cut from the fabric of Prime Ministers. His integrity and desire to better situations is unsurpassed. I was associated with him for several years while he was collecting computers to bring to schools in Nigeria.” Dustin Thostenson, Technical Mentor Trainer, ITAGroup
“I have found him to be a consummate professional with the excellent ability to articulate the technically issues so that others can understand and take action.” Alf Farnham, Alltel
“He has a keen eye for presentation and content and did an incredible job blending nonfiction material with the folktale.” Terry Doherty, The Reading Tub
Stan Emert: “Rainmakers welcomes Kunle to our advisory group. He has a perspective on development and accomplishment that is a great help.”
For more information, see www.sikulu.com.
