December 15, 2014 (Brooklyn, NY)—The Made in NY Media Center by IFP today announced its Innovation Committee members, composed of leaders working across an array of disciplines, including tech, gaming, transmedia, journalism, policy & law, branded content, and marketing. Following on the heels of the Media Center’s inaugural Advisory Board announcement, the Innovation Committee members will similarly provide insights to the Media Center, taking a hands-on approach to participating in programing and developing the center’s community and offerings by working directly with senior staff throughout the year.

Since opening one year ago, the Media Center has held more than 100 classes and 300 events serving 25,000 people in classrooms, the media gallery, theater, café, incubator and community member spaces. Recently, it held its second and highly successful Demo Day, where select member companies presented their work incubating at the center to a curated audience of venture capitalists, brand experts and media. The standing room only presentations were followed by the Media Center’s Marketplace where an additional 30 members showcased their companies and projects to more than 200 attendees. The next Demo Day will be held on May 6, 2015.

“We are excited to announce our Innovation Committee members, who will assist our senior team year-round by helping identify the ways the space can best serve its members and the community at large, fulfilling its mission to serve startups and creatives working at the intersection of story and tech,” said Joana Vicente, Executive Director, IFP and the Made in NY Media Center. “Our community is strengthened by their insights and passions in their respective fields, and their commitment to ensuring the Media Center remains at the forefront of innovation.”

The Made in NY Media Center by IFP Innovation Committee members include:

Aaryn Anderson – Executive Director/Vectorform New York
Jonathan Askin – Founder and Director/Brooklyn Law Incubator & Policy Clinic
Tom Constabile – Associate Director/Strategic Marketing & Community Development Verizon Ventures
Owen Davis – Managing Director/NYC Seed
Billy DiMichele – Vice President/Creative Development, Scholastic Inc
Nicole Emanuele – YouTube Content Partnerships Manager
Nick Fortugno – Co-Founder/COO/Playmatics
Noah Harlan – Founder/Two Bulls
Paul Noglows – Executive Producer/Forbes Reinventing America Summits
Jamin O’Brien – Producer
Jessica Lawrence – Executive Director of NY Tech Meetup (NYTM)
Tom Ryan – Head of Ventures/Archer Gray
Kent Sanderson – President, Acquisitions and Ancillary Distribution at Bleecker Street
Debika Shome – Deputy Director/Harmony Institute
Margaret Wallace – CEO/Playmatics
Paul Woolmington – Co-founder/Naked Communications Americas and Senior Fellow, Columbia School of the Arts

Bios for the Innovation Committee can be found at www.nymediacenter.com/team.

The Made in NY Media Center by IFP is supported by Official Technology Partner – Verizon, providing the network and technology infrastructure that power the Media Center; Supporting Partner – Hearst Corporation; and Founding Partner – Illy. Supporters at the Corporate Community Builders level include Astronauts Wanted, Indiegogo, Playmatics, Tribal Worldwide and Vector Form. The Media Center is a partnership between IFP and the NYCEDC and MOME.

Press contact:
Jody Arlington / Director of Communications, IFP / [email protected] / 202.316.4316 mobile

ABOUT THE MADE IN NY MEDIA CENTER BY IFP
The Made in NY Media Center by IFP is where storytellers from multiple disciplines, industries and platforms create, collaborate, connect and incubate across a spectrum of programs, events and experiences. The Center brings together innovators in film, video, gaming, technology, and more through education, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and content creation. The 20,000-square-foot facility is located on the ground floor of 30 John Street in DUMBO at the intersection of John and Jay Streets and features co-working spaces, talent incubator, 72-seat screening room, art gallery, and café, in addition to dedicated spaces for classes, conferences, meetings, and tenancy. Through a combination of membership-driven and public-access programming our Center champions the future of storytelling in the digital age through a unique focus on cross-platform and cross-discipline media innovation. www.nymediacenter.com