Richard Ades

Creator, Writer, Producer – Robin’s Curious Travels

Co-founder, co-president – RCT Media

 

With Robin’s Curious Travels Richard has combined his passion for storytelling, public policy and history to entertain and introduce young minds to pioneers, adventurers, thinkers and heroes on whose shoulders we stand.  Ades is a veteran storyteller having written in various short and long form platforms – from screenplays to speeches to opinion essays to congressional testimony to videos to a book chapter.

 

Early in his career Richard was a writer/producer for independent films and tv movies. He then moved on to serve in two presidential administrations (Clinton and Obama) as a senior speechwriter and chief of communications and public affairs -- serving as a communications consultant in-between.   Today, Richard is a specialist in high stakes communications in challenging environments for companies, organizations and individuals, but never veers far from storytelling.

 

Marshall Grupp

Sound Designer + Editor, Producer -Robin’s Curious Travels

Co-founder, co-president – RCT Media

COO/Managing Partner Sound Lounge

 

With his background as an acclaimed sound designer, producer and creator of audio content, Marshall began developing podcasts for kids and family. Grupp is the Managing Partner/COO/Sound Designer of Sound Lounge a leading artist-owned and operated audio post-production studio in New York with a long-standing reputation as an industry leader in all things sound. Marshall has been in the audio post-production business for more than 35 years. He has sound designed for movies, tv shows and over 7,000 commercials in his illustrious career. Marshall has been the recipient of  many awards including AICP/MoMa Award, Cannes Silver Lion, Clio, AMP and a Yellow Pencil for Sound Design. Additionally, Marshall has produced and edited a few hundred podcasts including a series produced for Mass. General Hospital called “Charged”. Recently he’s edited and sound designed a 7 part kids adventure series entitled “The 8th Light.”

 

Steve Schiffman

Chief Operating Officer – RCT Media

 

Steve comes to RCT Media with a wealth of experience building global brands across a broad spectrum of media, technology, sports gaming, cannabis and food service properties through a rapidly evolving technology and business environment.  Steve specializes in strategic planning, brand development, marketing, sales and raising capital.  For over 30 years Steve has been instrumental in the growth of companies such as the Washington Post, National Geographic Channels, The Weather Channel, NASCAR and Kraft Foods

 

As CEO of Cooper Media, Steve led the development of ad-supported broadcast networks - Justice Network, focusing on crime, mystery and investigation, and Quest featuring stories about the natural world, science, history and technology. Four years after launch, the channels were sold to TEGNA Media for $92 million.  Among his previous roles Steve was General Manager of digital video for the Washington Post during a period of significant expansion; served as President/GM of National Geographic Channels (NGC) where he increased revenue  six-fold including launching two additional channels - Nat Geo Wild and Nat Geo Mundo.  Additionally, Steve held various leadership roles including the EVP of Marketing and Digital Media at the Weather Channel, VP of Marketing at NASCAR as well as senior management positions at Kraft Foods.

 

Steve is a public board director for The Clarion Acquisition Corp, a media centric SPAC and a private board member for the Lenox Corporation, a leading manufacturer of tabletop products, Linguado, a language app in the EdTech category; K-Motion, the leader in motion technology to optimize movement and formerly, Smashburger before its sale to Jollibee Corporation.