Management Team

Jim Myrick
Co-Founder and CEO

Jim is responsible for developing business partnerships and corporate alliances.

Jim is a seasoned Internet and software developer, with experience in global telecommunication, broadband, real-time animation and edutainment. He has launched numerous new products, services and businesses. Prior to NetToons, Jim was a founding member of Image Smith, Big Top Productions, The Xcelerator and Thirdnetworks. Jim has managed teams in software development, operations, production, product management, user experience design and global operations.

Jim's expertise includes computer graphics, animation, character licensing, casual music games, venture incubation and corporate spin-outs, plus content, media and web development.

He has one of the world's largest collections of Felix the Cat memorabilia and co-created the award-winning Felix the Cat Cartoon Toolbox.

Jake Myrick
Co-Founder and VP Products

Jake is responsible for the company’s product roadmap and delivery.

Jake's experience includes Internet, mobile, electronic greeting card and edutainment executive with a strong background in launching new products and businesses. Jake was a founding member of Image Smith, Big Top Productions, Thirdnetworks, Inc and KK (Japan) prior to co-founding NetToons. He has managed teams in software development, operations, production, product management, user experience design and global operations.

Jake's expertise includes real-time animation, games, online subscription services, online casual games, social media, product management, licensing, mergers & acquisitions, game development and web development.

Always a pioneer, Jake was the second American to cross the Himalayas on a mountain bicycle from China upon the opening of the frontier in 1985.

Bill Hensley
Director of Brands

Bill drives NetToons' brand engagement, marketing and music production.

A seasoned entertainment, retail, Internet and mobile marketing executive with a strong background in global character brands and licensing, Bill was the senior marketing leader at Sanrio driving the marketing behind the resurgent success of the $4 Billion Hello Kitty brand. Advertising Age magazine named Bill to its Marketing 100 for this achievement.

Bill's expertise includes brand and marketing management, character properties, social media, licensing, media relations, music production and E-commerce.

Terry R. Schussler
Co-Founder

Terry architected much of NetToons' core technology and advises on user experiences and applications.

Terry is an award winning entrepreneur, experienced in Internet, mobile, professional multimedia tools and authoring and edutainment executive with a strong background in launching new products. Terry was a co-designer of Macromedia Director, led technology initiatives in satellite, HDTV and mobile services at Radio Shack and founded several technology startups. Terry has managed teams in software development, R&D, production, product management, user experience design and deployment operations.

Terry's expertise includes web and RIA technologies and authoring tools, real-time animation games, online subscription services, online casual games, social media, product management, the comic book industry and game development.

Collecting comic books since age 7, Terry was inspired by them to program one of the first paint software applications for microcomputers at the ripe old age of 13.

Sara Frucht
Senior Computer Scientist

Sara develops the algorithmic imagery that drives key components of the NetToons experience and oversees the ingestion of content for client implementations. She is an experienced computer graphics programmer and product developer with a strong background in new product development and image creation. Prior to NetToons, she was a founding member of Bird Tree and Sensei.

Sara's expertise includes real-time animation programming, mathematics, casual games, product ideation, algorithmic design, media production and game development. An accomplished 2D and 3D artist, Sarah's work has been displayed in numerous solo and group shows.

Stephen Downs
Senior Developer of Human Expression

Stephen develops the platform that drives the user experience for NetToons products. He has extensive experience in cross-platform application development, with strong knowledge of ActionScript, Lingo, PHP and SQL.

Stephen served as Multimedia Developer for enhanced CD and CD-ROM titles by Terrence Trent D'arby, Soundgarden, White Zombie and many others. He was the Lead Multimedia Developer, Compton's New Media for the Imaging: John Lennon enhanced CD.

Pete Peterson
Advisor

Pete advises the company on strategic issues.

Pete has developed and financed profitable and innovative business ventures in and around emerging technology for two decades. Most recently, Pete was the Director of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Group, responsible for crafting Microsoft's mobile communications strategy to maximize new opportunities and drive thought leadership globally. Prior to joining Microsoft, he was a co-founder and a Managing Director of Braven Capital, where he co-managed Braven's listed public fund and private venture investment in technology. He spent a decade working for leading European cellular providers including Vodafone D2 (Germany), TeliaSonera (Finland), and Vodafone Italia (Italy).

Pete received a BS in Engineering, as well as a BA in History from Stanford University and an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.

Rick Sanchez
Advisor

Rick provides insight and business development assistance. He is the GM at social casual game developer Kabam. Rick is an experienced Internet and Games executive with a strong background in launching new products and businesses. He has played a hands-on role in the development of PC and online games, billing and account management solutions, website development and feature roadmaps, as well as roles in the creation of editorial and video content to drive product usage and adoption. Rick was a founding member of IGN Entertainment and a member of the launch teams for Turner Broadcasting's GameTap and Trion World's RIFT MMORPG.