LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Steven Amato, Founder, CEO and Chief Content Officer of Contend, announced today the formal launch of the company. Based in downtown Los Angeles, Contend is a collective of data-driven content creators with a mission to innovate, disrupt and produce short- and long-format content for multiple distribution channels and networks.
Steeped in backgrounds ranging from entertainment and marketing to advertising and publishing, the company is philosophically rooted in creating content with an end result, thus the name Contend. The team, consisting of a multi-disciplinary executive team and 25 staffers, will focus on developing and producing integrated, multi-cultural marketing and entertainment content, which will engage audiences across all platforms.
“We intend to create content, both commercially driven and entertaining, that is rooted in the understanding and knowledge of audience needs, based on real data-driven research,” stated Steven Amato. “We are part consultancy, part production company and part content distributor, providing measurable results for brands and media partners,” concluded Amato.
Amato recently left his position as President and Chief Content Officer at the award-winning agency Omelet, which he co-founded in 2004. During his tenure, he worked with such clients as Sony, HBO, Microsoft, NBC, Samsung, Wal-Mart and AT&T. Known in the industry as an innovative storyteller, Amato spent ten years as a playwright and within the last few years, consulted with the White House and various government agencies on the utilization of technology in job development as well as consulted on the elimination of cyber-hacking under the direction of Vice President Biden.
Joining Amato in Senior Roles:
Philip Alberstat: (Chief Operating Officer) Former EVP of Omelet Studios, Alberstat is best known for his role at the William Morris Agency within their independent film team. He worked on such noted films as Thank you for Smoking, Away from Her, Factory Girl and Bobby and was awarded and nominated for Emmy Awards for his work on The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie and The Song Spinner. He was also shortlisted for an Oscar for the documentary Downstream. In addition he was a partner and investor in Ntology Inc. and Fuel Industries. At Contend, he will focus on strategic partnerships and operations.
Dane Aloe: VP, Partnerships & Innovation at Contend. The former Director of Corporate Development of Omelet, Aloe met with investors and created strategic partnerships. He also wrote the business plan to launch Omelet Studio, a division within Omelet to create branded and original content. He began his career at Deloitte as a Consultant for the Technology, Media and Telecom group, working with Blackberry, AT&T, Rogers and Interac. While at Deloitte, Dane helped start “BOOST,” a pro bono program which assigns consultants to local start-ups who normally wouldn’t be able to afford outside help. Steeply rooted in analysis and research, Aloe brings a depth of knowledge to Contend and its clients in all areas of market analysis, monetization and management.
Chi-young Yoon: The Managing Director of Contend comes from a background in multicultural marketing for such noted brands as Comcast, Energizer, Kellogg’s and Disney. She led the largest acquisition team at Grupo Gallegos, helping to build the company to over 100 employees. With Spanish and Korean roots, Chi will spearhead the bicultural components of Contend’s projects and oversee account management and strategic research.
Evan Astrowsky: Head of Production at Contend. A graduate of the NYU School of Film and Television, Evan began his producing career with director Eli Roth’s debut feature, Cabin Fever. In July of 2005 Evan accepted the position of Vice President in charge of Production at Kevin Spacey’s Trigger Street Productions, where he produced films such as Fanboys, starring Seth Rogen, and Mini’s First Time, starring Alec Baldwin, among others. In 2009 Evan returned to the advertising world, where he held the title of Executive Producer at production company/creative shop Meat & Potatoes as well as the video game leaning agency Petrol.
Paul Soter: EVP, Director of Content at Contend. Soter has had an illustrious career as a member of the Broken Lizard comedy group, where he wrote and acted in such films as Super Troopers, Club Dread and Beerfest. He has directed multiple features and branded content series, and has developed television projects with NBC, Fox, TBS, Lionsgate, MTV, Comedy Central and ABC Family.
About Contend:
Founded in the spring of 2014, Contend specializes in creating, producing and distributing data-driven content to deliver measurable business results. With offices in Los Angeles and Chicago, Contend is headquartered in downtown Los Angeles. Visit us at: www.contendco.com.