DAVID BERNKNOPF
David Bernknopf is a founding principal of Devonwood Media specializing in media strategy and forecasting.
An original employee of CNN, David worked at the network for more than 21 years, from 1980 to 2001.
He served in virtually every key role at CNN, from writer to documentary and political news producer before eventually serving as CNN's first Vice President, Director of News Planning. In that role, he served as the network's "news futurist," making decisions about what events and trends CNN needed to cover and assigning reporters and producers to cover those stories. He was one of the key people responsible for deciding what news made it onto the network.
Prior to forming Devonwood Media, David served as senior media strategist and principal for Atamira Communications from 2002 to 2006.
David has been a visiting professor at the University of Colorado School of Journalism and Mass Communication for the past nine years and has taught at numerous other universities.
BETH BUURSEMA
Beth Buursema is a senior strategist for Devonwood Media specializing in media consulting and media placement
A former CNN producer and guest booker and former manager of public relations for TBS and TNT, Beth currently works as a publicist and media consultant for a broad range of clients. She has successfully placed clients on national and cable media outlets, in top 20 newspapers and magazines. A graduate of Presbyterian College, Beth also has a journalism minor from American University and has studied abroad at Oxford University.
WILLIE CHRIESMAN
Willie Chriesman is a founding principal of Devonwood Media specializing in media strategies and media production.
A veteran of more than 25 years in broadcasting, his experience has ranged from being one of CNN's first employees, where he worked as a producer and writer, to producing and management positions in major TV markets including Chicago, Detroit, Boston and Denver. In addition to CNN, his national and international experience includes executive producer for Fox News Service in Washington, D.C. and overseas assignments in Europe and Africa.
A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, he was a vice president of news in the NBC TV Stations Division. He has written and produced corporate videos as well as producing programs for broadcast television.
MARSHALL ORSON
Marshall Orson is a founding principal of Devonwood Media specializing in business development, legal affairs and client services. Prior to that, he performed similar duties for Atamira Communications.
In addition to forming his own company, Melbourne Partners, which specialized in providing business development advice on copyrights and other intellectual property, he spent 12 years at Turner Broadcasting including his last five as vice president and general manager of the Turner Trade Group. Marshall also held a number of business positions at Turner focusing on content creation, use, acquisition and disposition, including stints as Vice President for Turner Home Entertainment (new media, video, educational products, licensing and merchandising and retail), Turner Publishing (books) and Turner Original Productions (documentaries).
He joined Turner’s legal department in 1989, initially with responsibility for overseeing deals related to its motion picture library but he ultimately oversaw certain production deals as well as due diligence projects related to selected Turner corporate acquisitions. Prior to joining Turner, Marshall practiced law in the Atlanta office of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky and Walker. He is a graduate of the Duke University School of Law and also received his bachelor's degree from Duke. He is an active member of the Georgia Bar.
Marshall has extensive community experience and relationships. He graduated from Leadership Atlanta in 2001 and currently serves as one of the co-chairs of its Education Impact Team. He has served on the boards of APPLE Corps (Atlanta’s local education fund), the Atlanta Children’s Shelter, the QUEST for Public Education, the Dekalb County School System Design Team and numerous other entities. His relationships and experience extend nationally through current membership on the board of directors of Janus Films and his former membership on the board of the Public Education Network in Washington, D.C.