RedRover Readers Empathy App

Writers:

Nicole Forsyth is President and CEO for RedRover. In 2007, Nicole introduced a program that fosters empathy in children, RedRover Readers, and is the mind behind the new e-book app concept, in addition to the main author for the series. She graduated from the University of California, Davis with a master’s degree in animal biology in 2006, and holds a master’s degree in communication from the University of Maine and a bachelor’s degree in English and education from the University of Colorado. In the spirit of Raja, Nicole spends much of her free time at home trying to understand the behavior of her two- and four-legged family members.

Kristen McGregor

Kristen is a children’s media producer, director, and writer who has developed projects for Kids’ CBC, Treehouse, and TVO Kids. She has built 33 playgrounds across Ontario as the director, developer, and supervising producer of the Canadian Screen Award-nominated, and Youth Media Alliance award-winning Giver, a TVO Kids/Sinking Ship Entertainment series. Kristen is currently producing and directing live television with The Sunny Side Up Show on Sprout (NBCUniversal).

Illustrator

Bryan Huff (and his cat Karma) A 7-year veteran of the animation industry, Bryan has directed over 80 minutes of television animation for clients such as Warner Bros., Disney, Hasbro, and DC. Other clients include Nickelodeon, Syfy, and Nelvana. Bryan is also co-founder of Giant People Pictures, a boutique animation studio that specializes in top-quality pre-production and development.

E-Book App Developers:

Sticky Brain Studios

Sasha Boersmann

Sasha is Partner/Executive Producer at Sticky Brain Studios, an interactive digital media team focused on creating and delivering meaningful user experiences. She is responsible for project managing their slate of projects, and business affairs. In addition to her work at Sticky Brain Studios, Sasha is Faculty at Centennial College’s Story Arts Centre, teaching courses on business, accounting, marketing, and project management in the Interactive Media Management, Children’s Media, and Film and Television – Business post-graduate programs. Sasha is on the Board of Directors for Women in Film and Television – Toronto, and on the Advisory Committee for Interactive Ontario’s 2015 GameON: Ventures.

Ted Brunt

Ted Brunt has been making things on screens since he was 7 when he made his first animated film with his sister. Since then, he has worked in all aspects of broadcast television production from hosting to editing, producing, and directing, and is considered one of Canada’s pioneers in digital media. His team created TVOKids.com, one of the first children’s websites, and he went on to lead digital content production at CBC for children and arts & entertainment. At Sticky Brain Studios, he focuses on creative development and production. Ted is the co-chair of the Ontario Media Development Corporation’s Digital Media Advisory Group, and an advisor for Humber College’s Screenwriting program. He’s still making things on screens, much to his children’s dismay!