EPIC Impact Society

This Future Proof conversation is part of a special series on the EPIC Impact Society Podcast that brings emerging creatives into conversation with innovative leaders about the future of creativity, storytelling, and work. Produced by the iWorks Creative Agency at Colorado Mountain College, the project is recognized as an EPIC Impact Project, sparking a generational dialogue about how to lead and create in a time of rapid change.

Andrew Lazar is an Academy Award–nominated producer and founder of Mad Chance Productions, a company he launched in 1995 to develop smart, compelling stories across genres and budgets. His early success included 10 Things I Hate About You, and he went on to produce American Sniper, directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Bradley Cooper, which became the highest-grossing domestic film of 2014 and earned six Academy Award nominations. Lazar’s recent work includes Clouds for Disney+, Persuasion for Netflix, and Nyad, starring Annette Bening and Jodie Foster. He continues to develop high-profile projects through a first-look deal with Warner Bros., including adaptations and biographical films in collaboration with industry leaders such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Taika Waititi, Dr. Dre, and Jimmy Iovine. Across film and television, Lazar’s credits include Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Get Smart, I Love You Phillip Morris, Death to Smoochy, Space Cowboys, and the Showtime series George & Tammy. Known for his range and storytelling instincts, he has built a career shaping projects that resonate with both audiences and the industry at the highest level.

Ashley Orozco is a junior creative with a passion for graphic design, illustration, and visual storytelling. Her work reflects a strong eye for design and a thoughtful approach to how visuals communicate meaning. She currently serves as Social Media Lead for the Isaacson Works (“iWorks”) creative agency, where she helps shape the agency’s digital presence through strategic, platform-driven content. Ashley is also expanding her expertise in social media strategy, integrating her creative skills with audience-focused thinking to develop content that is both engaging and purposeful. As an emerging creative, she is building a versatile skillset that bridges design and strategy in today’s evolving media landscape.

Mark Millhone is a storyteller, educator, and creativity evangelist. He currently serves as Integrated Media Program Director at Colorado Mountain College’s Isaacson School of Communication, Arts and Media and Director of the Isaacson Works (“iWorks”) Creative Agency, where he mentors emerging creatives while building a next-generation model for agency-based creative education. As producer and host of the EPIC Impact Society and Strategic Play podcasts, Mark curates conversations with creative leaders across education, leadership, brand strategy, emerging technology, and the arts.

This Future Proof conversation is part of a special series on the EPIC Impact Society Podcast that brings emerging creatives into conversation with innovative leaders about the future of creativity, storytelling, and work. Produced by the iWorks Creative Agency at Colorado Mountain College, the project is recognized as an EPIC Impact Project, sparking a generational dialogue about how to lead and create in a time of rapid change.

Gene Lim is a business and creative leader with nearly 25 years of experience spanning business development, marketing, branding, storytelling, and strategic partnerships. He is the Founder and CEO of MAV12, a creative agency working across corporate and entertainment sectors to build brands and businesses through strategy, film, television, digital media, and influencer-driven campaigns. His work integrates emerging technologies, including proprietary algorithms and green screen innovation, to create impactful, scalable content solutions. Gene has collaborated with leading Fortune 500 and global entertainment brands, including Disney, DreamWorks, 20th Century Fox, Sony, Universal Pictures, Paramount, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, AT&T, SAP, and Microsoft.

On the philanthropic side, Gene has played a global leadership role with the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), serving as Global Chairman of the Strategic Alliances Committee. In this capacity, he has helped raise millions of dollars and build partnerships with organizations including the United Nations, G20, NYSE, and the White House. He also helped launch NYSE Big Startup, connecting global business leaders with high-growth entrepreneurs, and represents the U.S. as part of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance (YEA), supporting entrepreneurship and economic development worldwide.

Mallard Tieder is a graphic designer focused on brand and marketing design, with a passion for creating visual identities that authentically reflect the stories they represent. His work is grounded in a lifelong commitment to art and storytelling, shaped by early experiences in drawing, painting, and the responsibility of designing work that holds meaning and memory. Mallard currently serves as the Graphic Design Lead for the Isaacson Works (“iWorks”) creative agency at Colorado Mountain College, where he develops brand systems and campaign visuals that support real-world clients and community partners. He has also gained industry experience through an internship with Backbone Media, further strengthening his skills in strategic design and professional creative workflows.

As an emerging designer, Mallard is dedicated to building thoughtful, effective brand identities that communicate clearly, resonate deeply, and connect with audiences in meaningful ways.

Mark Millhone is a storyteller, educator, and creativity evangelist. He currently serves as Integrated Media Program Director at Colorado Mountain College’s Isaacson School of Communication, Arts and Media and Director of the Isaacson Works (“iWorks”) Creative Agency, where he mentors emerging creatives while building a next-generation model for agency-based creative education. As producer and host of the EPIC Impact Society and Strategic Play podcasts, Mark curates conversations with creative leaders across education, leadership, brand strategy, emerging technology, and the arts.

https://iworks.agency/
https://coloradomtn.edu/programs/integrated-media/
https://mav12.com/
https://www.epicimpactsociety.org/podcast

This Future Proof conversation is part of a special series on the EPIC Impact Society Podcast that brings emerging creatives into conversation with innovative leaders about the future of creativity, storytelling, and work. Produced by the iWorks Creative Agency at Colorado Mountain College, the project is recognized as an EPIC Impact Project, sparking a generational dialogue about how to lead and create in a time of rapid change.

Brett Morgen is an Academy Award–nominated filmmaker whose work as a writer, director, producer, and editor has helped redefine documentary cinema. Widely regarded as one of the most influential nonfiction filmmakers of the past 25 years, he is known for bold formal experimentation and immersive, music-driven storytelling—with The Wall Street Journal calling him “the greatest revolutionary of American documentary film.” His most recent film, Moonage Daydream, a David Bowie IMAX experience, has been hailed as one of the greatest music documentaries ever made and marked a major evolution in the form. Distributed by Universal Pictures, it became the highest-grossing documentary of the past decade and the first nonfiction film in over 50 years to receive Academy recognition for Sound. Morgen’s previous work includes Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck and Jane, for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing. Across his last three films, he has received 12 Primetime Emmy nominations. Additional credits include Crossfire Hurricane, ESPN’s 30 for 30: June 17, 1994_, and The Kid Stays in the Picture, widely regarded as one of the greatest films about Hollywood. He began his career at NYU, where his thesis film On the Ropes earned an Academy Award nomination. Morgen is the only filmmaker to receive all four major guild honors as an individual artist: the DGA, WGA, PGA, and ACE Eddie Awards, along with recognition for excellence in sound editing.

John Felix Shaw is a photographer, filmmaker, and multidisciplinary creative working at the intersection of visual media and experiential design. His work spans commercial and documentary media, live event production, and immersive installations exploring themes of consciousness, perception, and human connection. He is currently a student in the Integrated Media program at Colorado Mountain College’s Isaacson School of Communication, Arts and Media, where he is developing a portfolio that blends storytelling, creative technology, and experiential media.

Mark Millhone is a storyteller, educator, and creativity evangelist. He currently serves as Integrated Media Program Director at Colorado Mountain College’s Isaacson School of Communication, Arts and Media and Director of the Isaacson Works (“iWorks”) Creative Agency, where he mentors emerging creatives while building a next-generation model for agency-based creative education. As producer and host of the EPIC Impact Society and Strategic Play podcasts, Mark curates conversations with creative leaders across education, leadership, brand strategy, emerging technology, and the arts. 

Future Proof is a podcast series produced by iWorks at Colorado Mountain College’s Isaacson School of Communication, Arts and Media. The series features candid conversations between emerging creatives and innovative leaders about the future of creativity, storytelling, and work. Recognized as an EPIC Impact Project, Future Proof is being featured on the EPIC Podcast to spark generational dialogue about how to build meaningful creative careers in a rapidly changing world.

Joe Rosenberg has built a career spanning both the entertainment industry and academia. With more than 25 years of experience, he began as an agent at Creative Artists Agency, gaining a comprehensive view of the global entertainment business. He represented acclaimed directors including Ridley and Tony Scott, David Fincher, and Michael Bay. Rosenberg later transitioned into education, serving as Director of Professional Programs at UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television while teaching in the MFA Producers Program. He has lectured at leading institutions including NYU Tisch, Columbia University, and UNC School of the Arts. He currently serves as Director of Industry Relations and Artistic Associate Professor at Dodge College of Film & Media Arts, Chapman University.

Katie Bottinelli is dedicated to helping people explore their professional identity within arts and entertainment. She serves as Manager of Career Development & Industry Relations at Chapman’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, supporting over 1,500 students while building alumni and employer partnerships. With over five years in higher education advising and an M.S. in Counseling, she brings a thoughtful, student-centered approach to guiding career pathways.

Marco Beltran is a photographer drawn to capturing bold, compelling images that tell a story—moments that feel alive, expressive, and full of meaning. His work focuses on finding the emotion, energy, and narrative within a frame, using photography as a way to connect people to an experience or feeling. He is currently a student at Colorado Mountain College’s Isaacson School of Communication, Arts and Media, where he is developing his creative voice and building a body of work that reflects both curiosity and a passion for visual storytelling.

Mark Millhone is a storyteller, educator, and creativity evangelist. He currently serves as Integrated Media Program Director at Colorado Mountain College’s Isaacson School of Communication, Arts and Media and Director of the Isaacson Works (“iWorks”) Creative Agency, where he mentors emerging creatives while building a next-generation model for agency-based creative education. As producer and host of the EPIC Impact Society and Strategic Play podcasts, Mark curates conversations with creative leaders across education, leadership, brand strategy, emerging technology, and the arts.

https://iworks.agency/

https://coloradomtn.edu/programs/isaacson-school/

https://www.epicimpactsociety.org/podcast

Future Proof is a special series on the EPIC Impact Society Podcast that brings emerging creatives into conversation with innovative leaders about the future of creativity, storytelling, and work. Produced by the iWorks student creative agency at Colorado Mountain College, the project is recognized as an EPIC Impact Project, sparking a generational dialogue about how to lead and create in a time of rapid change.

Jeremy Barber is a Partner in the Motion Picture Literary and Talent Departments at United Talent Agency (UTA). Prior to UTA, Barber was President of Catch 23 and Catch 23 UK, the production and management company which he helped found. During his tenure, Barber executive produced One Hour Photo and King's Ransom. Barber was also head of Production and Acquisitions at Artisan Entertainment where he oversaw films such as Requiem for a Dream, The Blair Witch Project, and Buena Vista Social Club. Barber began his entertainment career as an attorney at Loeb & Loeb (after working for Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, clerking on the Ninth Circuit, and working in the U.S. Attorney's office for the District of Columbia). Prior to Hollywood, Barber had a career in politics, where he worked on the Dukakis/Bentsen Campaign, for Senator Chuck Schumer, Senator Herb Kohl, and on Bill Clinton’s Chicago Convention. Barber serves on: the Georgetown University Law School Board of Visitors, the Telluride Film Festival’s Esteemed Council of Advisors, the board of The People Concern, UTA’s Advisory Council and Leadership Council, Campbell Hall’s Advancement Committee, and served as Chairman of the Board of the UCLA Lab School - where he now maintains an emeritus position. Jeremy holds a law degree from Georgetown University and an MA and BA from Cambridge University and is a graduate of The Harvard Divinity School. He is a member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Conor Tomlin, originally from Delaware, moved to Colorado to pursue his passion for narrative filmmaking. A creative student at Colorado Mountain College, he is driven by a deep love for visual storytelling and a commitment to crafting emotionally grounded, compelling narratives. Conor is currently directing Future Proof, a documentary following the iWorks team’s journey through Los Angeles, and is developing a narrative short film, Lonestar, a dramatic Western. As an emerging filmmaker, he is focused on developing his voice while exploring how visual media can create shared experiences and meaningful human connection in an evolving media landscape.

Mark Millhone is a storyteller, educator, and creativity evangelist. He currently serves as Integrated Media Program Director at Colorado Mountain College’s Isaacson School of Communication, Arts and Media and Director of the Isaacson Works (“iWorks”) Creative Agency, where he mentors emerging creatives while building a next-generation model for agency-based creative education. As producer and host of the EPIC Impact Society and Strategic Play podcasts, Mark curates conversations with creative leaders across education, leadership, brand strategy, emerging technology, and the arts. 

Future Proof is a special series on the EPIC Impact Society Podcast that brings emerging creatives into conversation with innovative leaders about the future of creativity, storytelling, and work. Produced by the iWorks student creative agency at Colorado Mountain College, the project is recognized as an EPIC Impact Project, sparking a generational dialogue about how to lead and create in a time of rapid change.

Steven Amato is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Contend, a trailblazing innovation studio with offices in the U.S. and Canada that is reshaping content creation and giving it an end game. Amato is an innovator in the worlds of marketing, advertising, and entertainment. Under his leadership, Contend has attracted leading global brands—including Amazon, Ticketmaster, Microsoft, Netflix, NFL, Meta, Bud Light, Warner Brothers, Disney, and Verizon—pushing the boundaries of storytelling, technology, and entertainment through innovative campaigns and immersive experiences that drive culture and consumer engagement. With a constant eye on the future, he has founded and invested in emerging technologies including Apex (a virtual smart stage), HoT (a mobile fitness game), and Corto, a proprietary audience intelligence and AI company. Prior to founding Contend, Amato served as President & Chief Content Officer of Omelet, the award-winning agency he co-founded in 2004, and as a Creative Leader at TBWA\Chiat\Day. He has worked with major brands including Wal-Mart, AT&T, Facebook, PlayStation, Lexus, Samsung, Harley-Davidson, the Academy Awards, DirecTV, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. An innovative storyteller and thought leader, Amato has consulted with the Obama White House, is a frequent speaker and moderator at global conferences, and continues to create as a writer and producer of original long- and short-form content.

Mallard Tieder is a graphic designer focused on brand and marketing design, with a passion for creating visual identities that authentically reflect the stories they represent. His work is grounded in a lifelong commitment to art and storytelling, shaped by early experiences in drawing, painting, and leading the design and production of his K–12 charter school yearbook—an experience that reinforced his attention to detail and the responsibility of designing work that holds meaning and memory. Mallard currently serves as the Graphic Design Lead for the Isaacson Works (“iWorks”) creative agency at Colorado Mountain College, where he develops brand systems and campaign visuals that support real-world clients and community partners. He has also gained industry experience through an internship with Backbone Media, further strengthening his skills in strategic design and professional creative workflows. As an emerging designer, Mallard is dedicated to building thoughtful, effective brand identities that communicate clearly, resonate deeply, and connect with audiences in meaningful ways.

Mark Millhone is a storyteller, educator, and creativity evangelist. He currently serves as Integrated Media Program Director at Colorado Mountain College’s Isaacson School of Communication, Arts and Media and Director of the Isaacson Works (“iWorks”) Creative Agency, where he mentors emerging creatives while building a next-generation model for agency-based creative education. As producer and host of the EPIC Impact Society and Strategic Play podcasts, Mark curates conversations with creative leaders across education, leadership, brand strategy, emerging technology, and the arts. 

Future Proof is a special series on the EPIC Impact Society Podcast that brings emerging creatives into conversation with innovative leaders about the future of creativity, storytelling, and work. Produced by the iWorks student creative agency at Colorado Mountain College, the project is recognized as an EPIC Impact Project, sparking a generational dialogue about how to lead and create in a time of rapid change.

Emmy winner and Academy Award & Golden Globe nominee, Bill Gerber, has spent over 30 years in the film business in several positions including President of Production at Warner Brothers Pictures. As an executive, he has had a hand in dozens of movies including: LA Confidential, JFK, Heat, You've Got Mail, Twister, The Perfect Storm, Three Kings, and the Harry Potter series. Bill established Gerber Pictures with a long-standing first-look deal with Warner Bros. He has since produced such films as A Star Is Born, Gran Torino, A Very Long Engagement,  Grudge Match, and Moonage Daydream. In 2019, Bill was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture for A Star Is Born, which he also received a Golden Globe nomination for. Bill also received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Language Film for A Very Long Engagement in 2005. In 2002, he was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Made for Television Movie for James Dean which James Franco received a Golden Globe for Best Actor in the title role. In 2020, Bill received a Sports Emmy for Outstanding Long Documentary for the HBO documentary series, What's My Name | Muhammed Ali. His most recent documentary with HBO, Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes, premiered in August 2024. Before joining Warner Brothers, Bill was a partner at Lookout Management, a premier music management company that has over the years represented such classic rock artists as Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Tom Petty, The Cars and Devo. Along with Elliot Roberts, Bill co-managed The Cars, Devo, Heaven 17, ABC, Scritti Politti and Paul Reubens. For the last 30 years Bill has served as an advisor for several companies including AOL, Authentic Brands Group, Lennar Homes, and Udio.

Conor Tomlin, originally from Delaware, moved to Colorado to pursue his passion for narrative filmmaking. A creative student at Colorado Mountain College, he is driven by a deep love for visual storytelling and a commitment to crafting emotionally grounded, compelling narratives. Conor is currently directing Future Proof, a documentary following the iWorks team’s journey through Los Angeles, and is developing a narrative short film, Lonestar, a dramatic Western. As an emerging filmmaker, he is focused on developing his voice while exploring how visual media can create shared experiences and meaningful human connection in an evolving media landscape.

Mark Millhone is a storyteller, educator, and creativity evangelist. He currently serves as Integrated Media Program Director at Colorado Mountain College’s Isaacson School of Communication, Arts and Media and Director of the Isaacson Works (“iWorks”) Creative Agency, where he mentors emerging creatives while building a next-generation model for agency-based creative education. As producer and host of the EPIC Impact Society and Strategic Play podcasts, Mark curates conversations with creative leaders across education, leadership, brand strategy, emerging technology, and the arts. 

This Future Proof conversation is part of a special series on the EPIC Impact Society Podcast that brings emerging creatives into conversation with innovative leaders about the future of creativity, storytelling, and work. Produced by the iWorks Creative Agency at Colorado Mountain College, the project is recognized as an EPIC Impact Project, sparking a generational dialogue about how to lead and create in a time of rapid change.

Dr. Steve Ralph is a faculty member at Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School, where he teaches creativity and innovation, leadership, and team dynamics. His research focuses on creativity, leadership development, personal disruption, pause practices, and the impact of exponential technologies. He is the founder and director of the EPIC International Summit, an award-winning global conference on creativity and social innovation recognized by BizBash as one of North America’s most innovative meetings. Dr. Ralph also consults with organizations worldwide, leading workshops and retreats on creative problem solving, innovation culture, and leadership. 

John Felix Shaw is a photographer, filmmaker, and multidisciplinary creative working at the intersection of visual media and experiential design. His work spans commercial and documentary media, live event production, and immersive installations exploring themes of consciousness, perception, and human connection. He is currently a student in the Integrated Media program at Colorado Mountain College’s Isaacson School of Communication, Arts and Media, where he is developing a portfolio that blends storytelling, creative technology, and experiential media.

Mark Millhone is a storyteller, educator, and creativity evangelist. He currently serves as Integrated Media Program Director at Colorado Mountain College’s Isaacson School of Communication, Arts and Media and Director of the Isaacson Works (“iWorks”) Creative Agency, where he mentors emerging creatives while building a next-generation model for agency-based creative education. As producer and host of the EPIC Impact Society and Strategic Play podcasts, Mark curates conversations with creative leaders across education, leadership, brand strategy, emerging technology, and the arts. 

Paul Propster is a seasoned-storyteller, strategy-lover, line-blurrer, dot-connector, and message-driven professional. 

With more than 20 years in Business Development and Capture, Paul has a knack for engineering engagement that builds emotional investment in stakeholders driving impact, enrollment, and funding. Paul’s recent 10.5-year mission at NASA/JPL began with capturing nearly $200M in mission funding his first 2 years, co-leading JPL’s Proposal Shop, becoming Sr Staff to the Formulation Office and in the end, helped capture billions of dollars for NASA/JPL.

Paul's knack for “communicating complexity” and the “right kind of crazy” led to him establishing NASA’s first “story accelerator”: StoryLab. As Founder and Chief Story Architect of this strategic communications shop, StoryLab leverages the power of storytelling and narrative thinking to amplify JPL's impact on humanity.

He has successfully executed large scale ecosystem campaigns ranging from billion-dollar science missions like Mars Sample Return to unveiling the habitability of Venus to finding the biosignatures of life on other worlds. These campaigns involved creating and leading a strategic communications plan including executive, crisis, and internal communications, managing multi-stakeholder interests, and building emotional investment that drives impact, enrollment, and funding.

Paul has consulted or spoke on capture strategy and the power of a kindred quest through a shared story with NASA HQ and other NASA centers, the UNDP, Boston Consulting Group, Google X Moonshot Factory, Caltech, Pepperdine, CSUN, ASU, CalArts, Art Center, SXSW, C2 Montreal, California Science Center, Exploratorium, and several other Institutions across the globe.

About Global Day of Unplugging and the Unplug Collaborative

Global Day of Unplugging® (GDU) is an annual awareness campaign, celebrated the first weekend in March. Visit www.globaldayofunplugging.org to learn more.  Unplugged Collective was the recipient of the 2024 EPIC Impact Award.  

Kim Anenberg Cavallo, Co-Founder & Co-Executive Director, Unplug Collaborative. 

With 25 years experience raising money for nonprofit organizations, event planning and building community, Kim has been passionately focused on the intersection of social impact and digital wellbeing since she founded lilspace in 2016 — where the Unplug for a Cause® concept was born. Now a part of the nonprofit organization behind Global Day of Unplugging, Unplug for a Cause® is a feature of the resource center that provides support for people to spend their time being of service, gathering in person, and generally prioritizing social wellness and healthy tech habits. Kim has served on multiple nonprofit boards, and is the co-founder of the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival which will celebrate its 20 year anniversary in 2026. Kim is also currently on the Board for Sound Mind Live and is the COO at Done Deal Management.

Claudia Erickson (BSW, MPH), Co-Founder & Co-Executive Director, Unplug Collaborative. 

Claudia is a Digital Wellness expert, community strategist, dedicated to restoring authentic human connection. As the Co-Executive Director of the Unplug Collaborative as well as Public Health Advisor to the Ethan Dallas Hopeful Hearts Foundation, she is at the forefront of the global movement to help others reclaim their offline lives. Claudia’s work is rooted in the philosophy that it takes a village to navigate today’s digital landscape. Drawing on a 30-year foundation in Social Work and Public Health, she spearheads strategic planning and global partnerships to build the support systems that make unplugging possible. She advocates that digital wellness is rarely a solo journey, but rather a collective effort fueled by shared accountability and community-driven infrastructure. Aside from speaking engagements, Claudia can be found leading hands-on activities and community-driven events designed to give people the tools and social permission to step away from their screens together.