Founding partner Fernando Szew serves as CEO, spearheading company strategy and overseeing the operations of the company.  Prior to the formation of MarVista Entertainment, Szew served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing at his father’s distribution company, Whamo Entertainment, joining him in 1999 at the young age of 23.  It was Szew’s vision to transform the company from a distributor of third-party produced programming to a production and distribution company with a worldwide presence.  By 2003, Szew and his father had aligned with current partners Michael D. Jacobs and George F. Port to launch MarVista Entertainment, a fundamental springboard towards that goal. 

Szew serves as executive producer of the primetime teen drama Beyond the Break which debuted in the U.S. in June 2006 on MTV Network’s The N and several television movies including, Night of Terror for Lifetime Television, Christmas in Boston for ABC Family and Disaster Zone: Volcano in New York for Universal Television.

Under Szew’s direction, the company complements its distribution slate with strategic acquisitions and third party distribution agreements for television movies, kid’s live-action series and animated specials. 

During his tenure at Whamo, Szew expanded the company’s operations by forming strategic distribution alliances with such companies as Cambium Entertainment (Canada), Burbank Animation Studios (Australia), VICTORY Film Production & Distribution (Germany) and VCI (UK).  Additionally, Szew was responsible for distributing internationally such noteworthy entertainment franchises as Theodore Tugboat, The Three Stooges and Art Clokey’s Gumby.  Szew launched Whamo’s European operation in Barcelona, Spain in 2001. 

Prior to joining Whamo, Szew served as Manager of International Commerce for CEPA (G&Z), then one of Argentina’s principal exporters and the country’s largest export-based meat packing company with over 1500 employees.  Szew was directly responsible for the sale of higher margin products with sales of over US$ 40 million p.a.  Szew was in charge of leading a round of negotiations with Outback Steakhouse, an important worldwide restaurant chain, where he established and implemented innovative business and revenue models for the company. 

Szew is an alumnus of the Huntsman International Studies and Business Program’s first graduating class at the University of Pennsylvania where he earned a dual-degree with double concentration in Management and Marketing at the prestigious Wharton School of Business. 

Joseph Szew – President/CEO

Joseph Szew is a founding member of MarVista Entertainment and currently serves as its CFO/COO.  Prior to founding MarVista Entertainment, Szew started Whamo Entertainment in 1993 where he served as CFO until 1999 and then as CEO and CFO.  Szew built Whamo Entertainment into a leading licensing company of direct-to-video animated specials.  Szew is today one of the most recognizable figures in licensing of Home Entertainment rights to independent foreign video companies.  Szew envisioned that Whamo’s niche place in the market was a solid foundation for expansion into new areas of the production and distribution business.  With that vision, Szew brought on board like-minded industry veterans to launch MarVista Entertainment. 

Prior to founding Whamo, Szew served as General Manager of Broadcast Standards Inc. (BSI) overseeing sales and operations.  Before BSI, Szew was Head of International Sales at Argentina’s first private Television Network, Channel Nine, where he was directly responsible for sales of over 5000 hours of programming and established the Channel’s US-based offices under the banner of Spanish Television Services (STS) in 1986.  Szew was a pioneer in the import of Spanish language programming for the U.S. Hispanic market. 

Prior to Channel Nine, Szew was a minority shareholder and CFO/General Manager at J.M. Sztul S.A., one of the largest toy manufacturing companies of South America with over 70 employees.  Szew started his professional career at Gillette’s Braun Division in Buenos Aires, Argentina as Treasurer and Financial Office with direct responsibility over the budgeting and management of over U.S.$ 50 million.

Szew served as a consultant for Independent International Television, one of LedaFilm’s companies, and was an advisor to TopWord Inc., a subtitling and translation Company with a client roster that included 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros, Disney, Columbia/Sony and Universal.  Szew served as Treasurer and Vice President for Argentina’s largest Jewish private day school for over 10 years and is currently an active member of the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Szew holds a Master in Accounting and Business Administration at the University of Buenos Aires and has a minor in Medicine.

Michael D. Jacobs – President, Production & Distribution

Michael D. Jacobs is one of the founding members of MarVista Entertainment and currently serves as its President of Production and Distribution. 

With over 15 years experience in television programming and distribution, Jacobs has spearheaded MarVista’s growth in the development of original programming for the company.  Since the company’s inception in September 2004, MarVista is now in production in all areas of original family entertainment programming. 

In the prime-time arena, Jacobs has created and serves as an executive producer for the teen drama series Beyond the Break, co-produced with Viacom’s The N, which debuted in the U.S. in June 2006 and is distributed exclusively worldwide by MarVista.  Brookwell McNamara Entertainment is also a co-producer of the series, the first in a three series development deal with The N.

In 2005, Jacobs orchestrated licence agreements in the U.S. with Lifetime Television, Universal Television and ABC Family for four movies were originally produced by third party producers and for which MarVista acquired international distribution rights.   Jacobs, on behalf of Marvista, receives executive producer credits on all four movies. (See company profile).  During 2005, Jacobs also received an executive producer credit on behalf of Marvista for Absolute Zero, a disaster thriller starring Jeff Fahey and Erika Eleniak produced by Front Street Pictures of Vancouver. The success of the initial movies delivered by MarVista to Lifetime Television lead to licence agreements for five new movies for the 2006/2007 television season for which MarVista acquired international distribution rights..

In 2005, the company teamed up with Canada’s Alberta Filmworks, on 26 half-hour episodes of , I Am Not An Alien, a live-action tween series being produced by Alberta Filmworks for Canada’s Family Channel, for which international distribution rights have been acquired by MarVista. The series is currently in development. Previously, Jacobs negotiated a deal with Alberta Filmworks whereby MarVista and Alberta Filmworks provides access to a CTF (Canadian Television Fund) approved distribution company owned and controlled by Alberta Filmworks, as well as access to MarVista’s international distribution network, providing a new worldwide distribution option for Canadian producers.

Prior to joining MarVista Entertainment Jacobs served as Executive Producer and Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales at PorchLight Entertainment.  Mr. Jacobs joined PorchLight in 1996 to create and a launch a worldwide distribution organization and was directly responsible for over 90% of the company's annual revenues.  Under his leadership, Jacobs spearheaded the acquisition of over 500 half-hours of television programming and more than 80 feature film and television movies for worldwide distribution.

Additionally, Jacobs launched and served as executive producer for PorchLight's TV Movie and live-action television programming division, which produced over 20 TV Movies during his tenure.  The TV Movies and animated specials have aired on all major US television and cable networks including HBO, The Disney Channel, ABC Family, USA Networks , SciFi Channel, Encore/Starz, and PAX. 

Jacobs was responsible for structuring of many innovative co-production scenarios including the Buena Vista/Fox Kids co-production of the NBC animated series Tutenstein.  He was instrumental in the structuring of many output deals for the Company’s TV Movies with the worlds leading networks such as TF1 in France, Mediaset in Italy and Telecinco in Spain.

Jacobs launched internationally, the PBS pre-school series Jay Jay the Jet Plane and oversaw the international exploitation of the series on television, home video and licensing and merchandising.  Jacobs served as Co-Executive Producer on all produced feature films, animated series and specials, and television programming. 

Previous to PorchLight Entertainment Jacobs served as interim Vice President of Distribution for NASDQ traded TEAM, recruited to build a library of product for the company prior to its Initial Public Offering.  During this time Jacobs was responsible for the acquisition of over 100 hours of programming and the production of 44 hours of programming including the action adventure television series Total Recall that was based on the major motion picture of the same name. 

Jacobs began his career at Keller Entertainment where he served as VP of Distribution overseeing international distribution of the company's television movie and series catalog.  In addition, Jacobs was responsible for pre-selling and financing the internationally co-produced television series Tarzan: The Epic Adventures, Conan the Barbarian, and Acapulco Heat.

Jacobs is a graduate of New York University's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts Film and television program.  He is a member of the Television Academy of Arts and Sciences, Writers Guild of America West, and the Producers Guild of America. 

George Port – Executive Vice President

George Port is one of the founding members of MarVista Entertainment and currently serves as Executive Vice President in charge of Business Affairs and New Business Development.  Previous to joining MarVisa Entertainment, Port co-founded Anchor Bay Entertainment (f/k/a Video Treasures Inc.) in 1985 as a publisher and distributor of home video programming which became the largest independent video label in the United States.  In 1989, Port and his original partners sold Anchor Bay to Handleman Company (NYSE) and Port remained as President where he had direct P&L responsibility for US and Canadian operations which included sales in excess of $50 million.  Port was the President of Anchor Bay for thirteen years.  In 1998 and for a three year period, Port headed up Anchor Bay’s international expansion as Managing Director of Anchor Bay International, Ltd. based in London, England.  Port established Anchor Bay’s UK office for the acquisition of companies and properties for Anchor Bay Entertainment and affiliates and had extensive entertainment licensing activities throughout all of Europe    

Prior to founding Anchor Bay, Mr. Port served as Vice-Chairman of A. Gary Shilling & Co., Inc. where he oversaw the general management of the firm, client services, product development, marketing, planning and administration.  He was a member of the New York stock exchange, administering firm broker-dealer activities.  In 1977 Port was the Vice President of Corporate Relations/General Council for Pickwick International, Inc., a subsidiary of American Can Company.  During his time at Pickwick Port had P&L responsibility for two marketing companies, one in the United States and one in England, totaling $60 million in annual sales. 

Port, who holds a B.A. from Vanderbilt University and an L.LB from New York University, began his extensive career in the Entertainment industry as an Assistant General Council for the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).  From the MPAA, Port worked as Assistant General Counsel for United Artists Corporation’s Music and Records Division, then as Attorney at American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.’s Theatrical Motion Picture and Music and Record Divisions where he went on to become Vice President/General Counsel at Record Club of America, Inc and then to Springboard International, Inc. as Vice President Business Affairs/General Counsel where Port had direct responsibility of growth from U.S. $6 million to U.S. $ 20 million during his administration.

Marc B. Lorber – Senior Vice President, Production

As Senior Vice President, Production, Lorber is responsible for spearheading the expansion of the company’s original productions and acquisitions, including feature films, MOW’s and series, for both the U.S. and international broadcast landscape.  His initial focus will be on developing local formats for Beyond the Break and a number of other kids’ titles and movies in the MarVista library.

Since 2002, Lorber has provided program consultancy services to various companies, most recently to Disney-ABC International TV.  Based in London, Lorber oversaw format sales, development and production for some of the company’s most prominent titles including The Amazing Race, Golden Girls and General Hospital.  Amongst Lorber’s other consultancy roles, he oversaw series production for Sony Pictures Television International for On King & Country (110 episodes) and Betty La Fea (200 episodes) together with Russian TV Networks Channel 1 and CTC respectively; for Fox TV Studios International and Germany’s Tandem Media he helped to develop and sell the Australian drama Medical Defense Agency  to Germany’s Sat.1; and for Working Title TV he sold  A Tale of Two Wives to Oxygen and produced the project in Vancouver and London.  His last solo production, Hello Sister, Goodby Life, for which he served as Executive Producer, premiered in 2006 on ABC Family Channel. 

Prior, Lorber served as VP, Production and Development at Carlton America, where he established the U.S. television development and co-production division for Carlton Communications.  There, he produced a franchise of telefilms with partners such as Germany’s Tele Munchen and Austalia’s Nine Network including the Jon Cassar (Emmy Award-winner, 24) directed Rough Air and Danger Beneath the Sea.  He also supervised production on The Impossible Elephant. 

In his previous position at Phoenix Pictures, where he served as Vice President, he served as the executive in charge of production on the critically acclaimed The Chris Isaak Show.  He also served as Executive Producer on the Emmy Award-winning Showtime films The Wishing Tree and Off Season, for which Lorber received an Emmy-nomination as the Producer.

Sara Rutenberg – Vice President Business Affairs

Terese Linden Cohn – Vice President, International Sales

Terese Linden Cohn joins MarVista following several years’ tenure with American World Pictures, where she served as Executive Vice President, Distribution. Linden Kohn brings to MarVista a thorough knowledge of the worldwide home video and television marketplace, and global negotiation skills in licensing entertainment media. During her tenure at American World Pictures, Linden Kohn also served as Associate Producer on four in-house feature film productions, and supervised the company’s marketing efforts. Prior, Linden Kohn served as VP, Distribution at Triad Studios, Inc.; and as VP, International at Artist View Entertainment, where she co-established Artist View Video to distribute program titles to the U.S. market.

Vanessa Goglio – Vice President, Sales

Vanessa Goglio also joins the company as Vice President of Sales, managing territories including France, Italy, Japan and Scandinavia.  Goglio served most recently as Director of Worldwide Pay Television at Sony Pictures Television International, a position she held for the last six years of her ten year stint with the company.  Goglio originally joined the company (formerly Columbia Tri-Star) after gaining her Masters Degree in Political Science and International Finance at the prestigious Institut d’Etudes Politiques, University of Aix-Marseille in France. 

Nicole Hoag – Manager of Marketing & Communications

Nicole Hoag joins MarVista as the Manager of Marketing and Communications responsible for the company’s presence at international and domestic markets. Previously from FOX Broadcasting Company, Hoag served in the publicity department working on hit shows such as The O.C., ‘Til Death, House and American Idol, and events such as The Golden Globes Awards, Billboard Music Awards and Teen Choice Awards.

Shannon Humphries – Director of Finance & Business Affairs

Shannon Humphries joins MarVista’s Business Affairs team as the  Director of Finance & Business Affairs  where she is responsible for maintaining contracts and managing licensee accounts.   Formerly MarVista’s accountant, Humphries’ experience resonates from her work in commercial production at Ocean Park Pictures and as a production coordinator for Go Moco, Inc. where she managed motion control work for high-end automotive shoots.

Michael Wilson – Manager of Acquisitions

As the Manager of Acquisitions, Michael Wilson is responsible for the acquisitions of independently produced films and television programs for MarVista’s US home entertainment label and for the worldwide distribution division. A native to the east coast, Wilson graduated with a B.S. in Economics from Lehigh University where he wrote and directed several comedy pieces for the television show, Lehigh Unregistered. 

Cameron Larson – Development Manager

D. Doug Hill – Controller