Rick Allen has run successful companies in nearly every form of media, and helped to develop or extend some of the country’s most prestigious brands. Rick is the founding CEO of SnagFilms, which he helped to create with Ted Leonsis. The company is a leading distributor of independent films, with thousands of titles offered via sponsor supported free streaming on its own website and across a network of over 110,000 website and webpages, and via applications on over 100 models of tablets, smartphones, Over The Top boxes and Connected TVs. Allen joined Leonsis to produce Kicking It, which screened at Sundance, Tribeca and other film festivals and was aired globally by ESPN. The two thereafter produced A Fighting Chance, which premiered on ESPN, and a new documentary, Lost for Life, now screening in US film festivals, and airing on the BBC and other channels. Previously, as President and CEO of Sporting News, the country’s oldest sports media company, Allen led a revitalization that saw it named twice to Adweek’s annual “Hot List” as a top-10 media property. Earlier, he served as President and CEO of the for-profit arm of the National Geographic Society, responsible for television and film; interactive products, websites and e-commerce; maps; travel; retail; catalog; and consumer products. Under his leadership, the National Geographic Channel was launched and became one of the fastest growing cable channels in recent history. Before coming to National Geographic, Rick was a senior executive at Discovery Communications, parent of the Discovery Channel, where he extended the company’s brand into filmed entertainment, education, technology and retail. He also served in the White House as a Deputy Assistant to President Clinton, helping to establish AmeriCorps (the domestic Peace Corps). Before his White House service, Allen was CEO of a privately held group of 35 companies based in Los Angeles. He has written and lectured widely, and been active in civic affairs particularly dealing with education. Rick and his wife have three sons.