Alycia Kaback - Be Your Own Success Story

Keith Fenimore has been a fixture, much like a cool lamp, in the entertainment industry since 1994. In August, Fenimore realeased his first book Hire Me, Hollywood, which profiles 30 heavy hitting Hollywood types who share their paths to success as well as the failures they had to endure to sustain their amazing careers. The interviews come from a cross section of the industry, from Stan Lee to Mark Steines, Michael Gelman, Sam Tremmall and many others. As in the spirit of this book, Fenimore’s career path has taken many unpredictable twists and turns. Initially, he put his degree in marketing to use while working at a PR firm in Los Angeles. He then made the move to an executive position within the marketing at E! Entertainment, where he helped launch many of their franchise series like The E! True Hollywood Story and Wild On. In 2000, Fenimore stepped out of his comfort zone of promoting other peoples’ ideas and began to create, sell and promote his own, in the form of TV shows. He sold original concepts to Networks like A&E, E!, Vh-1, TV Guide Channel, PBS, and Ovation. In 2006, Fenimore was on the launch team for the new Movie Network Reelz Channel, where he served as an executive producer and development executive. Now in New York City, Fenimore is a senior producer, writer and director for the ʻKing of All Media,ʼ Howard Stern

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Jeanne Pappas Simon has been a producer, writer, and content creator for the major TV networks and studios in the entertainment industry for more than 25 years. She has produced more than 400 television series episodes such as Nickelodeon’s Clarissa Explains It All, Roundhouse, Weinerville, Gullah Gullah Island, and Allegra’s Window. Jeanne also created the format for International Blue’s Clues and produced the Cartoon Network’s first live-action series, Carrot Top’s A.M. Mayhem. She also was the writer/producer/director on TNN’s reality series Roller Jam, developed, pitched and produced ZigZag for Animal Planet, which aired for two seasons, and wrote for the ABC series Secrets of the Animal Kingdom. Jeanne and Mark moved from L.A. to Orlando to help launch Nickelodeon Studios at Universal. While there, she developed the Nickelodeon production management book and produced many of Nickelodeon’s top-rated shows, including half of Nickelodeon’s Saturday night prime-time block, Snick. In addition to her work in production, she has had notable success as a creator of content. The Gen X network she co-developed for Turner Broadcasting was green lit by Ted Turner and Scott Sassa.

Mark Simon has a 25-year career in the entertainment industry as a producer and director for live action and animation, writing and lecturing, and amassing nearly 3,000 production credits. Mark has pitched and sold more than 25 production and distribution deals for his original concepts, and worked with Disney, Nickelodeon, The Golf Channel, HSN and other networks pitching in-house productions. Sell Your TV Concept Now, Inc. is one of three national companies Simon owns and runs in Orlando, Florida. It was inspired by countless requests from both industry insiders and eager outsiders wanting to tap into Mark’s pitching techniques and success record. His storyboard and animation companies have included clients such as Disney, Universal, Viacom, Sony, HBO, Nickelodeon, FOX, Starz, Steven Spielberg, USA Networks, ABC Television and many others. He is the animation producer of Fox’s Tooth Fairy 2 starring Larry the Cable Guy. He is also the author of ten popular industry texts, and lectures around the world at major conferences, entertainment trade schools and universities.

You may remember Troy McClain as a finalist from Season 1, The Apprentice-- ­ he was the Idaho country kid with whom America fell in love. ­ From there, Troy went on to host a nationally syndicated reality show called, HomeTeam. Over the last 15 years, Troy McClain, CEO of The McClain Companies, has demonstrated a proven successful track record in creating, running, and selling multiple businesses. With an added focus in unique marketing and communications strategies, he won praise from national media outlets, and a seat at the table of the world’s most respected business leaders including Donald Trump, Warren Buffet, and his mom. Troy has come be known as a “go-to-person” for creative financing, business structure, implementation, and creating positive corporate culture. For more than 15 years, Troy has been focused on developing marketing and communications strategies that drive sales and product distribution. Troy has been recorded as one of Idaho’s history makers and received awards, including the Idaho Business Review’s “Accomplished Under 40,” and the Honorable Dirk Kempthorne, former United States Secretary of the Interior and Idaho Governor, presented Troy with the “Seal of Idaho” for his work as an ambassador of the state.

Lifestyle expert, television host, reporter, model, author-- Roshumba Williams is accomplished in all these mediums and moves gracefully between them.Roshumba’s broadcast career launched in 1998 when she was chosen by Lifetime Television to report on lifestyle trends for The Wire. Later that year she was spotted by VH1, and began working as an on-air talent from 1999 to 2001 hosting Top 10 /20 Countdowns, All Access, Diva’s Live and Save the Music.In 2002 Entertainment Tonight hired Roshumba as a correspondent to cover all the red carpet activity at the Golden Globes, Emmys, Oscars and others. From 2004 to present Roshumba hosted lifestyle and make-over shows. She lent her talents as judge, mentor and host on NBC’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Search. Prior to her broadcast career Roshumba was recognized as one of the world’s top models and runway icon. She appeared on the covers and pages of Vogue, Glamour, Elle and Essence magazines. She was inducted into Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Hall-of-Fame along with Tyra Banks and Heidi Klum. Roshumba wrote her first book The Complete Idiots Guide To Being A Model in 1999; it was a top seller in it’s category, the second edition was released in 2007.She was last seen on WABC TV Los Angeles' "On the Red Carpet" covering the 2011 Academy Awards and the Royal Wedding of William and Kate.

Earl Morris has been many things throughout his life from illusionist to martial artist and from soldier to bodyguard of “at risk” individuals and Hollywood celebrities and even an actor himself. Earl has spent more than 20 years, providing close personal protection for various dignitaries, high profile personalities around the world and advising various organizations on the prevention and management of violence. He is founder and CEO of Lifeforce One International. Earl is “a man on fire” when it comes to advising, training and empowering organizations and individuals against violence! As an actor, Earl most recently filmed in Australia for the full first season of FOX’s Terra Nova along with his daughter Caoimhe. Earl has been heard and seen in shows in U.S. and Australia, such as ABC Radio - “Conversation with Richard Fidler” as well as “The Ben Fordham Show” in Sydney, Australia, “The Big Couch,” and many others.

Ms. Kerrie Hopkins is an expert who has had years of academic study, elaborate research, and practice on the correlation between a person's name, and his or her behavior and personality traits. Kerrie's skills have been utilized way beyond her academic circles, and her services are being sought widely from people from different spheres of life. Kerrie has been interviewed on Good Morning America, The Today Show, Fox & Friends, just to mention a few, and has had over 2000 interviews on national, regional, and local Television and Radio Shows, covering every state in the United States, every province in Canada, and five continents around the globe. She is a contributing Celebrity Correspondent for E! Entertainment Network, a Reality TV Consultant for TLC Network as a Reality TV Consultant, a Celebrity Expert for examiner.com (National Edition), and a Relations Expert for examiner.com (NYC Edition). She has also been a political analyst for Fox Network. Kerrie has been profiled in several major newspapers, such as The L. A. Times, The Toronto Sun, New York Daily News, and others. Kerrie has published three books based on her skills in analyzing the name-trait correlation and her years of experience, titled 'You’re SUCH a Dave,' 'How to Never Meet A Stranger,' and her most accomplished book, 'Breaking The Name Code: Define your name, Design your life.'

Danielle DiFerdinando of Danielle Nicole Handbags always loved design and she experimented sketching and making handbags while still a high school student in the Baltimore area. After moving to New York City to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology, Danielle landed an internship at Bergdorf Goodman. While there, the cosmetic buyer asked Danielle to design a line of cosmetic bags. The success of the line was instantaneous and she was subsequently asked to design a complete collection for the prominent department store. Orders from other department and specialty stores such as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lane Crawford, Holt Renfrew, and Nordstrom soon followed. Since the launch of her company in 2006, Danielle Nicole has seen a tremendous amount of success. This past fall, Danielle was chosen to produce 5,500 bags for Oprah’s highly anticipated “O You” event, where her famous “Sydney Shopper” tote was used as the official gift bag. Danielle Nicole handbags have been seen in publications such as Elle, People, Lucky, Harper’s Bazaar, The New York Times, and have been featured on NBC’s “Today” show. Danielle appeared on “The Real Housewives of DC” during a fashion show at Saks Fifth avenue that featured Danielle Nicole handbags on each model on the runway. She has also given on-camera interviews with news Channel 8, “Let’s Talk Live” in Washington, D.C. and Virginia, and WJZ Channel 13 in Baltimore, MD. Recently, she was invited to speak at the Wharton School of Business on the topic of young entrepreneurship. Danielle Nicole Handbags can be found online at www.danielle-nicole.com, as well as in retail locations around the world including Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, Nordstrom, Harvey Nichols, Saks in Mexico City and Coin in Italy.

Jordan Burnham is a public speaker who discusses the mental health issues and disorders that affect so many of us. He tells his story of struggling with depression and having to go through high school hiding his internal battle. In high school, Jordan had everything to live for. He was popular, had good grades, and was a star athlete. But as the pressures mounted, Jordan attempted to take his own life during his senior year of high school. Jordan's miraculous survival propelled him to begin to deal with his depression and learn healthier coping mechanisms. Jordan was honored as one of the “2010 Best Of Philly” for his work with mental health and speaking. He has been featured in major Philadelphia print, Sports Illustrated, People Magazine, and USA Today. He’s appeared on local and national broadcast news, appeared on ESPN’s E:60 and Outside the Lines, CNN, Dr. Phil, Good Morning America, The Early Show and addressed a Congressional briefing on Capitol Hill. He has been featured in three documentaries and his piece, “Unbreakable” with E:60 was nominated for an Emmy. Jordan has been speaking on his story and mental health all over the country for over three years. He’s spoken in 27 different states and 3 different countries. His brave and relatable presentation encourages students and informs them that talking about whatever they are going through is a sign of remarkable strength. Jordan is currently signed with Kaback Model Management.

Tony Bongiovi is one of the most accomplished record producers of all time and has sold over half a billion records. Over the years, Tony Bongiovi has worked with some of rock’s biggest names in the music industry and inadvertently helped the career of his second cousin, Jon Bon Jovi. Some of the artists Tony produced include Jimi Hendrix, Gloria Gaynor, The Isley Brothers, The Ramones, and Talking Heads. As a producer, Tony has built a solid gold reputation due to his contribution to over 40 gold and platinum records for artist such as Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Aldo Nova, the Scorpions, Ozzy Ozbourne, and the largest selling disco record of all time, “Star Wars” by Meco. In 1977, Tony founded Power Station Studios, which instantaneously became a huge commercial success due to Tony’s now legendary acoustical design, providing rooms designed specifically for multi-track recording, boasting a “live” sound. This groundbreaking design won Mix Magazine’s prestigious TEC Award for an unprecedented 6 years. The Power Station became the first recipient for a special lifetime achievement award from Mix, the Les Paul Award. Tony took his expertise in acoustics and engineering and created the DPS Plug-in- the only real-time patented technology that re-masters compressed audio for your media, on your device in your environment.

Bob Baker is an author, musician, and workshop leader who is dedicated to helping independent musicians of all kinds get exposure, connect with fans, and increase their incomes. Bob’s work has been featured in many well-know outlets, such as the major motion picture “School of Rock,” NPR’s “Morning Edition,” and Music Connection and Electronic Musician magazines. His reach online spans ebooks, audio programs, blogs, podcasts, videos, and more. Considered a music veteran with 20-plus years experience, he teaches songwriters, musicians, and bands on a budget to take control of their careers and create their own success. Bob's books include Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook, Unleash the Artist Within, Guerrilla Music Marketing Online, and more.

Ron Roecker is a 20-Year Entertainment Industry Vet; former VP Comms & Artist Relations, GRAMMY Awards for six years; currently Founder & President, Entertainment PR & Brand Marketing Company Enfluence Group. He has appeared on news and entertainment programs, including “Entertainment Tonight,” “Access Hollywood,” E!, TV Guide Network, MTV, CNN, Extra, ”CBS Early Show,” as well as featured in international segments for outlets from Japan, China, UK, Latin America, and Canada, among others. Ron has been inside, backstage and on stage with the entertainment and pop culture communities for the past 20 years, working with the biggest celebrities and brands in the world. His knowledge, passion, wit, charisma and charm have made him the music go-to expert for breaking news, entertainment programming and original content development producers. Celebrities with whom Ron has worked or is working include Mariah Carey, Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson, Gwen Stefani, Beyonce, Bono, Carrie Underwood, Madonna, Twilight’s Booboo Stewart, Cher, Zac Efron, Ludacris, Christina Aguilera, Fergie, Will.I.Am, Kanye West, P!nk, Mary J. Blige, Green Day, Jessica Simpson, Queen Latifah, Gloria Estefan, Juanes, Stevie Nicks just to name a few.

Katha earned a BA from Cal-Poly and an MFA in Theatre from the University of Oregon, moved to New York with her theatre company Forplay Improvised Theatre and pioneered the Improvisational Herald format – the long form - into the mainstream NY comedy scene. She won a Backstage Magazine Bistro Award for ‘Best Director’, a Manhattan Association of Cabarets [MAC] award for ‘Outstanding Comedy’, and was named New York’s ‘Most Exciting Improviser’ by the New York Post. Currently, Katha is the Director of the Queens World Film Festival which is set to open March 1, 2012 at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria Queens. The festival prides itself on screening challenging films from around the world and around the corner. Katha Co-Produced and is the co-lead in the award winning feature Be My Oswald (bemyoswald.com and available on amazon.com) and is the lead actor in her youtube series, The Department of Positive Commentary.

Janet Fisher serves as Music Coordinator for films and TV shows, coaches actors who have been assigned a song for a scene, is a frequent guest speaker at expos and industry presentations, and consults on music licensing to media creators and others who need to find or license music for project, product or event. Janet is also a longtime professional songwriter and publisher for Film and TV, author of the pop book, MUSIC HORROR STORIES, owner Goodnight Kiss Music (BMI) and Scene Stealer Music (ASCAP). As a Songwriter, her works include more than ninety songs for HBO, Showtime, MCA, Concorde/New Horizons Films, and other motion picture companies, as well as television segments and ads of all varieties. She teaches songwriting and is a popular reviewer for professional groups and conventions.

Montgomery Frazier, known as the “Image Guru,” is a renowned stylist with an extensive knowledge of culture, which has afforded him an impressive career with a “Who’s Who” of clients. He is the stylist for many stars - Madonna, Downtown Julie Brown, Kelsey and Camille Grammer, Grace (Mrs. Robert DeNiro) and others. He even gave Katie Couric her “$65 million look.” Montgomery Frazier is considered an image pioneer who is quoted and sourced as a lifestyle expert and commentator on media outlets including E! Entertainment Television’s ‘Style Court’, ‘The Gastineau Girls’, and ‘Hollywood Blondes’, Fashion File, ‘Inside Edition’, The Metro Channel, VH-1’s ‘The Fabulous Life’. He has been profiled in The New York Times, Vogue, Elle, The New York Observer, Money Magazine and appears often in the columns and society sections of Women’s Wear Daily, DNR, Interview, Hamptons, Quest, Gotham, Q and Avenue Magazine and has been regularly featured as a style critic for Star Magazine and In Touch Weekly. Montgomery is an image maven with a presence of vision and style.

Damon Feldman is a Philadelphia-area boxing promoter and is currently the president of Celebrity Boxing and the New PFC Pillow Fighting Championships. His relationship with boxing started at a very early age as Damon’s father Marty was a successful middleweight and in the 1970s became a trainer who turned mediocre fighters into champions. Damon was destined for a career in boxing- he holds a stellar record of 9-0 Undefeated in Heavyweight professional boxing. He has worked with celebrities like Lindsay Lohan’s father, Rodney King, and Danny Bonaduce. He classifies himself as the WWE of boxing. Damon Feldman is legendary at getting media attention- a recent database search of the combined Daily News and Inquirer archives pulled up more than 270 articles mentioning Damon Feldman. Feldman’s events get nationwide — worldwide — attention.

PRThatRocks.com, founded by Christopher Buttner, established 1994, is a San Francisco Bay Area-based award-winning and PRWeek-recognized publicity agency and marketing consultancy specializing in the representation of Indie to internationally-recognized multi-platinum and Grammy and Academy Award-winning entertainers, composers, bands and recording artists, national and regional concert tours and events, legendary recording studios, and some of the best-known musical instrument brands and manufacturers of consumer and commercial/industrial entertainment technologies in the world.

Ryan began his career as a model at the age of 12 in London and soon became an in demand fashion model in Paris, London, New York and Tokyo. After 12 years he retired from being in front of the camera and went into art direction, working for prestigious magazines, such as Vogue, Surface, Interview, and advertisements for Victoria’s Secret, FedEx, Heineken, and Coach. While art directing, Ryan got into scouting faces, which led to a current 10 year career finding some of the most recognizable faces in modeling today. Ryan currently runs Colby Models.

Robert Galinsky is the founder of The New York Reality TV School and has spent his career creating provocative art and entertainment in theater, television and on the internet. Robert is featured in the Sundance Award Winning film We Live In Public and he is a facilitator and founding member of the We Are Family Foundation's Three Dot Dash initiative created by Grammy winning producer and musician Nile Rodgers. Robert performs and lectures nationally and internationally, and is the co-creator and co-host of the bi-coastal phenomenon: The Manhattan Monologue Slam . Robert is also a highly sought-after director/producer who recently directed the acclaimed online web series, with over 1 million views, “MySpace Rants” and he continues to develop, produce and direct promotions for CBS, VH1, NBC, FOX TV, American Express, MSN and others. He is currently writing a musical called, "Coffee." Robert also holds the position of Head of Content at YouNow- a social video platform that allows users to broadcast live video & interact with their audience in real time, facilitating an entirely new social entertainment experience.

Bill Apter has been in the show business for over 40 years. As an entertainer, Bill has performed his music and comedy act in night clubs, theatres, and appears regularly as a talent for many charitable events. He has appeared as an actor-singer in many off-Broadway productions as well as "gigs" on TV. Bill is also a Master of Ceremonies for various corporate events. As a matter of fact, he was the very first MC when VIP Talent Connect commenced their first summit at a standing-room-only venue in Philadelphia. Since then, he has hosted most of their very successful, one-of-a-kind "Summits." Although his performance career is an undying passion, Bill is perhaps most well-known for his illustrious career as a writer, photographer, and broadcaster in the world of Professional Wrestling. He regularly "rubs-elbows" with athletes such as Hulk Hogan, Triple H, John Cena, The Rock, and so many more. Bill is the editor of www.1wrestling.com and you can find hundreds of videos of him interviewing the legends of wrestling simply by searching his name on You Tube!

Anchal Joseph was on Cycle 7 of America's Next Top Model. Tyra Banks has said that she was one of the most physically beautiful contestants to ever participate in the competition. She has been featured in Vogue Paris and ZOOM Magazine, and modeled for Show Off Straps for their on-line look book. Now signed with Colby Models, she has been booked for Night Weekly Magazine, Artemis Allure Models Magazine, I AM CERA show / FUNKSHION Fashion week, Sofi Swimwear, Lila Nikole Show / Rock Fashion Week, Co-Hosted WSFL Live with Kristin Anderson, and landed a principal role in a short film titled “Unveiled”. She has also taken part in several Miami Fashion Weeks and so much more. Joseph takes her work on the runway a step further—she participated in the Red Dress Fashion Show to benefit the American Heart Association as part of Funkshion Fashion Week, headlined The All About Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Fashion Show, and more recently will be working with Luna Luis Ortiz to help raise Awareness for HIV / AIDS. Joseph is clearly more than meets the eye; she is not successful just because of her unique look—she studies business and can work on both sides of the industry. Joseph’s current projects include Halogen TV’s Nobel Exchange, as well as a role in director Garry Marshall’s movie New Year’s Eve.