CEO – Justin Beckett
Justin Beckett is the Founder and CEO of BTV247, Inc and represents over 20 years of diverse entrepreneurial and media related management experience.
Justin has been focused on the Internet and technology sectors for the past 12 years and between 2000 and 2009 he founded and successfully exited three Internet based entertainment companies.
Justin is the Founder and former Chairman and CEO of Fluid Music Inc. (TSX:FMN) an internet-based music services company which he led from inception in 2004 until its successful IPO in 2008.
Before founding Fluid Music, Justin was the Founder and CEO of SkillJam Technologies, a leading casual gaming company, which he led from its inception in 2001 until the company’s sale to Liberty Media subsidiary Fun Technologies (TSX:FUN) in 2004.
He was previously the Founder and CEO of Music Gaming Inc, which he led from its inception in 2000 until the company’s sale to Intermix/MySpace in 2001.
Prior to his focus on the Internet and technology sectors, Justin was the Executive Vice President of Sloan Financial Group, a diversified financial services firm.
Justin is also a board member of Fluid Music Inc. (TSX:FMN), Aptilon (TSX:APZ), 7 Touch Group, GNO Healthcare Services and Consonus Technologies, Inc.
He also wrote and produced the Telly Award winning TV documentary Africa: An Emerging Market , which featured Iman, Danny Glover, Lou Gossett, Jr and Nigel Hawthorn.
Justin received a B.A. from Duke University.
President – Cecil Cox
Cecil Cox is the co-founder and President of BTV247, Inc. and represents over 15 years of diverse entertainment management experience.
Cecil is the Founder and Managing Director of Metco Boys Media, a convergent media focused consulting firm and provider of creative packaging services for digital media and film projects whose previous clients include Fluid Music Inc. and American Idol Underground.
Prior to the founding of Metco Boys Media in 2004, Cecil was the Senior Executive and manager of Mundy Lane Entertainment, the Los Angeles-based film and television company founded by Academy Award winning actor Denzel Washington.
During his tenure at Mundy Lane, Cecil was responsible for all TV, film, new media, strategic planning and day-to-day operations of the company.
He supervised the development of over a dozen projects for Mundy Lane including the award winning films, Hurricane and The Antwone Fisher Story.
He was an Executive Producer of Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks, which Mundy Lane produced with HBO and was nominated for 3 Emmy Awards and an NAACP Award.
A former agent with the William Morris Talent Agency, Cecil has previously worked with a wide range of artists including actors George Clooney, John Travolta, Sharon Stone, Eddie Griffin, Raven Symone, writer Joe Eszterhas and music artists Bobby Brown, Ice Cube, Queen Latifah and Tupac Shakur.
BTV247, Inc represents the third Internet start-up company where Cecil has teamed with Justin Beckett.
Cecil received a B.A. from Harvard College.
Technology Partner – Michael D. Raeford, Jr
Michael is the CEO and Founder of the 7 Touch Group, a web and mobile applications development company that is responsible for the design and development of BTV247, Inc’s software infrastructure.
Michael is the former Chief Strategic Officer and co-founder of Fluid Music (TSX: FMN) where he managed product development activities and the design of various software applications.
He was previously the Chief Metrics Officer for Skilljam Technologies, an Internet-based gaming company.
Michael’s experience with Internet entertainment companies began in 2000 when he was a product development manager and co-founder of Music Gaming, Inc.
BTV247, Inc represents the sixth Internet start-up company where Michael has teamed with Justin Beckett.
Michael received a B.B.A from North Carolina Central University.
Executive Producer- Renee Warren
Renée is an accomplished media executive with successful and extensive Production, Journalism and Writing experience.
She is the president of Arielle-Wren, Inc. and co-founder of Noelle-Elaine Media, a nationally recognized media relations and production company whose clients include: HBO, Black Enterprise Magazine, Essence, Charles Schwab, The National Urban League and Disney.
She is also a Telly Award-winning producer with a list of individuals that she has interviewed and or worked with which includes: Presidents Bush (H & W), Clinton, Mandela (South Africa) and Obasanjo (Nigeria); Celebrities Muhammad Ali, Prince, Janet Jackson, Samuel Jackson, Diana Ross, and LL Cool J; and Business Leaders Charles Schwab, Kenneth D. Lewis, Robert Johnson, Sanford I. Weill and Richard Parsons.
Renée’s prior production and journalism employers include: CNBC, WTKR-TV (CBS), The Virginia-Pilot, Dow Jones & Company, Black Enterprise Magazine and Essence. She is the co-author of You Buy the Peanut Butter, I’ll Get the Bread, The Absolutely True Adventures of Best Friends in Business. She is also an Adjunct Professor at New York University where she teaches media relations.
Renée’s working relationship with Justin Beckett dates back to the early 1990’s. She has a BS from Old Dominion University an MS from Columbia University and a Certificate in Finance from New York Institute of Finance.
Senior Producer-Annmarie Morais
Annmarie is an established screenwriter and filmmaker whose extensive experience includes independent, feature, network and cable programming credits.
She wrote the feature film HOW SHE MOVE which was a Sundance Film Festival Selection and was internationally released through MTV/Paramount Vantage. She penned THE FLIP SIDE a dramatic series pilot for ABC Family Channel. And Annmarie also served as the head writer, producer and story editor for the first season of “DA KINK IN MY HAIR” an award winning stage play which she adapted for Canada’s Global Television Network.
As a Jamaican born Canadian, living in Hollywood and Toronto and teaching in Uganda, Annmarie is uniquely qualified to give both an ear and a voice to the African cultural diaspora and its influence on black programming.
Although BTV247, Inc represents their first commercial teaming, Annmarie and Justin Beckett have previously worked together in “at risk” youth education programs and on African missions teams.
Annmarie received a BFA from York University.
Production Director – Isaac Díaz
As BTV247, Inc’s Production Director, Isaac has several key responsibilities regarding the development of the company’s original programming initiatives. He also plays an important role relative to the company’s content acquisition and overall programming activities.
As Founder of IKED Entertainment, a full service production company, Isaac is an avid independent filmmaker with nearly a decade of relevant experience as a freelance writer, director, and producer.
Isaac brings a broad network of industry contacts to BTV247, Inc and augments the company’s unique ability to service the independent filmmaker community and appreciate their goals and objectives.
Prior to the founding of BTV247, Isaac worked with Justin Beckett at Fluid Music where he was a Project Manager and assisted in the coordination of the company’s various programming activities.
Isaac received a B.A. in Cinema-Television Arts from California State University, Northridge and a Professional Degree in Producing from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Corporate Counsel – Geoffrey Lamoureux Esq.
Geoffrey is Corporate Counsel for BTV247, Inc and has the primary responsibility of coordinating/facilitating the company’s legal activities.
Geoffrey brings a wealth of entertainment law experience to the team and he is uniquely qualified relative to the management of both New Media (Internet, mobile, UGM etc.) and traditional media legal activities.
Geoffrey’s previous experience includes working in a similar capacity at Bigfoot Entertainment, an international film production and finance company and Pierce Law Group, a boutique entertainment law firm.
Geoffrey received a B.A. from Queens University, a J.D. from the University of London, an L.L.M. from Loyola Law school and an L.L.M. from USC Law school.
Creative Director – Derek Young
Derek has nearly a decade of experience relative to the creative design and management of entertainment related websites and user interface applications. He is also an avid musician and independent filmmaker who brings a broad network of relevant contacts to BTV247, Inc.
Derek was previously the Creative Director for Fluid Music Inc, where he was responsible for a broad range of creative functions including user interface design, graphic design, music production and original composition.
While working with Fluid, Derek played a key role relative to the management and development of promotional materials regarding the company’s partnerships with American Idol, Sony & iTunes.
Prior to joining Fluid Music, Derek managed the customer care functions of Internet gaming company SkillJam Technologies, the former interactive gaming subsidiary of Intermix/MySpace.
BTV247, Inc. represents the 3rd Internet based entertainment start up that Derek has worked on with Justin Beckett.
Producer – Sherrie Robertson
As a member of BTV247, Inc’s production team, Sherrie has a broad range of responsibilities relative to the company’s original production activities.
As the co-founder of IKED Entertainment, Sherrie’s experiences relative to casting, writing, directing, researching and producing original content represent a valuable contribution to BTV247, Inc.
Sherrie is a SAG-Eligible actor with a scope of relevant entertainment industry experience which includes; National TV and Internet commercials and numerous regional theater engagements as an actor, associated producer and casting director.
She received a B.A. and M.A. from California State University, Northridge.
Associate Producer – Megan Watkins
Megan is a member of the BTV247, Inc production team that is primarily focused on the company’s original programming activities. She is responsible for various programming research functions and for liaising with the company’s network of freelance contributors.
Megan received a B.A. in Communications/Theater from University of California, Berkeley.