leadership & advisors
Marc Benjamin – Founder & CEO
Kristofer McNeeley - Executive Producer
Mark Harris – Executive Producer
Marc Benjamin is a serial entrepreneur and multi-hyphenate creator committed to using the power of storytelling to bridge divides and foster unity. He issued a “Media Moonshot” with his 2021 op ed in Ad Age, calling on the better angles of media and entertainment to create content that defies expectations and reveals our common humanity –
Marc Benjamin is a serial entrepreneur and multi-hyphenate creator committed to using the power of storytelling to bridge divides and foster unity. He issued a “Media Moonshot” with his 2021 op ed in Ad Age, calling on the better angles of media and entertainment to create content that defies expectations and reveals our common humanity – and he founded Polaris to lead by example. Also CEO of digital agency Convergence Point Media and founder of pro bono initiative Face2Face America, Marc is a martech innovator and a thought leader on best practices for responsible and effective use of digital platforms for positive societal impact.
Mark Harris – Executive Producer
Kristofer McNeeley - Executive Producer
Mark Harris – Executive Producer
Mark Harris brings a wealth of expertise to lead the Polaris development team. His history of successful producer deals with prominent companies like Lionsgate, STX, and Banijay, along with his unique ability to create, develop, package, and sell both scripted and unscripted properties across film and television make Mark a true unicorn.
Mark Harris brings a wealth of expertise to lead the Polaris development team. His history of successful producer deals with prominent companies like Lionsgate, STX, and Banijay, along with his unique ability to create, develop, package, and sell both scripted and unscripted properties across film and television make Mark a true unicorn. Since 2016, he has developed a string of remarkably successful projects sold to top streaming platforms and networks, a reflection of the strategic insight and skills now poised to drive the growth of Polaris’ Scripted and Unscripted Divisions.
Kristofer McNeeley - Executive Producer
Kristofer McNeeley - Executive Producer
Kristofer McNeeley - Executive Producer
Kristofer McNeeley has been a prolific Executive Producer since transitioning from Broadway in 2014. He has produced over 60 feature films and 120 hours of primetime television, with projects featured on platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. Renowned for his acumen in identifying creative and financial trends in film and TV, Kri
Kristofer McNeeley has been a prolific Executive Producer since transitioning from Broadway in 2014. He has produced over 60 feature films and 120 hours of primetime television, with projects featured on platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. Renowned for his acumen in identifying creative and financial trends in film and TV, Kristofer excels in production for both domestic and international markets. He spearheaded sustainable production partnerships during the pandemic, helping revive the global film industry, successfully securing worldwide distribution for 17 films during the lockdown.
Fred Martin – A&R, Artist Development
Fred Martin – A&R, Artist Development
Kristofer McNeeley - Executive Producer
Fred Martin is a writer, artist, Grammy winning vocal producer and youth advocate. As founder and CEO of Compton Kidz Club, he coaches and mentors students in music and the creative arts, overseeing performance programs fostering social and environmental justice. The organization is a subject of an upcoming feature film with Miramax. As
Fred Martin is a writer, artist, Grammy winning vocal producer and youth advocate. As founder and CEO of Compton Kidz Club, he coaches and mentors students in music and the creative arts, overseeing performance programs fostering social and environmental justice. The organization is a subject of an upcoming feature film with Miramax. As a musician and producer, Fred has worked with luminaries including Kelly Clarkson, Ray Charles, Beck, Jackson Browne, George Benson, Al Jarreau, Diane Warren and Greg Kurstin.
Lee Dannay – Executive Producer
Fred Martin – A&R, Artist Development
Lee Dannay – Executive Producer
As a senior A&R executive for both Epic and Columbia Records, Lee Dannay signed, developed, and worked with artists including John Mayer, Shawn Mullins, Five for Fighting, Train, and Anna Nalick. She contributed to soundtracks, created compilations and was instrumental in developing and releasing several significant charitable album proje
As a senior A&R executive for both Epic and Columbia Records, Lee Dannay signed, developed, and worked with artists including John Mayer, Shawn Mullins, Five for Fighting, Train, and Anna Nalick. She contributed to soundtracks, created compilations and was instrumental in developing and releasing several significant charitable album projects. Lee also served as a senior music producer for America’s Got Talent, involved in casting, artist development and executive producing the artists subsequently signed.
Audrey Pine Wright – Advisor
Fred Martin – A&R, Artist Development
Lee Dannay – Executive Producer
Talent scouting and artist development specialist Audrey Pine Wright is a producer of American Idol and a go-to resource for Sony, Disney, Universal and other labels searching for the next generation of music stars. Audrey began her career in radio before moving into A&R, marketing and touring for several major labels. She has played a ke
Talent scouting and artist development specialist Audrey Pine Wright is a producer of American Idol and a go-to resource for Sony, Disney, Universal and other labels searching for the next generation of music stars. Audrey began her career in radio before moving into A&R, marketing and touring for several major labels. She has played a key part in launching of the careers of artists including Backstreet Boys, Brandy, and Jewel.
Josh Zieman – Advisor
Curtis E. Lee – Advisor
Curtis E. Lee – Advisor
Music industry executive Josh Zieman has 40 years of experience managing and marketing music at both indie and major labels. He has held senior marketing positions at Blue Note, Columbia, EMI, Geffen, Mercury, and was the General Manager of Razor & Tie. Josh has helped market and brand releases by artists including Bon Jovi, David Bowie,
Music industry executive Josh Zieman has 40 years of experience managing and marketing music at both indie and major labels. He has held senior marketing positions at Blue Note, Columbia, EMI, Geffen, Mercury, and was the General Manager of Razor & Tie. Josh has helped market and brand releases by artists including Bon Jovi, David Bowie, Dixie Chicks, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jessica Simpson and dozens more.
Curtis E. Lee – Advisor
Curtis E. Lee – Advisor
Curtis E. Lee – Advisor
Curtis Lee is a Richmond-based youth and community engagement strategist helping organizations operating in urban settings problem solve and develop outreach methods that effectively support their missions. His community development activities span mental health counseling, classroom instruction, motivational speaking, mentoring and coach
Curtis Lee is a Richmond-based youth and community engagement strategist helping organizations operating in urban settings problem solve and develop outreach methods that effectively support their missions. His community development activities span mental health counseling, classroom instruction, motivational speaking, mentoring and coaching. Currently he serves as Co-Chair for the VCU Health Hub’s Community Advisory Council and founder and coach of the community youth step team “Gents and Gems”.
Rachel Mintz – Advisor
Curtis E. Lee – Advisor
Patrick Jager – Advisor
Label marketing executive Rachel Mintz has 20+ years of experience at indies, majors and distribution companies including TVT, Mercury Records, V2, WEA, Razor & Tie, and RED. She spearheaded the success of artists like Brandi Carlile, Lucinda Williams, and Moby.
Patrick Jager – Advisor
Steven M. Silverstein, Ph.D – Advisor
Patrick Jager – Advisor
Patrick Jager has created programming for leading networks including MTV, AMC, VH1, A&E, Travel Channel, USA Network, HGTV, Bravo, Science Channel, E!, Nickelodeon, PBS, NBC News and Discovery. He has overseen programming and creative strategy for NBCUniversal’s creativity-focused SVOD, Bluprint, put his unique mark on such award-winnin
Patrick Jager has created programming for leading networks including MTV, AMC, VH1, A&E, Travel Channel, USA Network, HGTV, Bravo, Science Channel, E!, Nickelodeon, PBS, NBC News and Discovery. He has overseen programming and creative strategy for NBCUniversal’s creativity-focused SVOD, Bluprint, put his unique mark on such award-winning series such as “Behind the Music” and “Biography”, and led the development, sale and production team behind lifestyle juggernaut “Fixer Upper.” He also served as protocol producer for the 2020 DNC.
Niklas Myhr, Ph.D – Advisor
Steven M. Silverstein, Ph.D – Advisor
Steven M. Silverstein, Ph.D – Advisor
Niklas is an author, keynote speaker and international TEDx presenter who teaches Social Media, Digital & Global Marketing at Chapman University. Google’s #1-ranked "Social Media Professor," Dr. Myhr received his Ph.D. in Marketing from the University of Virginia. Author of "The Social Customer Journey", he has been featured on ABC, CBS,
Niklas is an author, keynote speaker and international TEDx presenter who teaches Social Media, Digital & Global Marketing at Chapman University. Google’s #1-ranked "Social Media Professor," Dr. Myhr received his Ph.D. in Marketing from the University of Virginia. Author of "The Social Customer Journey", he has been featured on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX News, USA Today, Huffington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle, the BBC, The Washington Post, Marketplace Morning Report and InformationWeek.
Steven M. Silverstein, Ph.D – Advisor
Steven M. Silverstein, Ph.D – Advisor
Steven M. Silverstein, Ph.D – Advisor
Dr. Silverstein is the Associate Chair of Research in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center. He is an internationally recognized researcher in perception, cognition, and social cognition, including on how people process and apply information about others, key to understanding the personality and envir
Dr. Silverstein is the Associate Chair of Research in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center. He is an internationally recognized researcher in perception, cognition, and social cognition, including on how people process and apply information about others, key to understanding the personality and environmental factors contributing to effective collaboration, problem solving and negotiation. Dr. Silverstein has close to 250 publications in scientific journals.