Michael Drescher (born July 14, 1954) is an entrepreneur,[1] social impact investor,[2] TEDx speaker,[3] writer, and philanthropist.
Michael Drescher | |
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| Born | July 14, 1954 Maplewood, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin–Madison Boston College |
| Occupations |
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Early life and education
editDrescher was born in Maplewood, New Jersey. One of three children to James and Peggy (McKenna) Drescher, the family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1962, where he spent the remainder of his childhood. Drescher attended University of Wisconsin–Madison and Boston College, where he studied business marketing and theatre.
Entrepreneur
editIn 1981 he co-founded JDTV, a multimedia and production company that built up the world's largest database of interactive television and movie descriptions in 11 languages with an international distribution.[citation needed] Privately held JDTV was sold to Tribune Media Services in 1999.[4] It was said that through that sale, JDTV would offer competition to TV Guide[5] and added 4 million subscribers.[6] In 1997, he established Drescher Holdings[7] and in 2003, along with DHL, became co-founder, partner and director of global publishing for One World Yellow Pages. In 2010, he co-founded two companies: Okanjo's SAAS marketplace and ad-tech platforms that transform content into commerce for publishers,[8] and Vibrant Body Company,[9] a product line focusing on women's breast health. In 2015, TechCrunch described Okanjo's technology as an alternative to the growing-in-popularity native advertising.[10] That same year, the startup raised $1.7 million in follow-on funding [11] Okanjo's “Product Match” feature allows any site to add a “buy it now” feature[12] and is often compared to Facebook.[13] The locally-driven site has been praised for its simplicity and transparency.[14] In January 2015, Okanjo raised another $1.7 million in what was speculated to lead to a venture capital round.[15] Drescher serves on the board of directors for Newaukee, Okanjo Partners, Vibrant LLC, MiKE and International Film Finance.
Acting career
editIn 2004, Drescher wrote and performed a one-man, autobiographical, spiritual comedy show in Los Angeles entitled “18 Arrests, No Convictions”.[16] The story followed a boy who sees angels and goes on a journey from NBA ball boy who unsuccessfully pursued a diploma at seven colleges, to a powerful businessman who closes multimillion-dollar business deals with Time Warner, Disney, and Microsoft.[17] All proceeds went to the nonprofit, One Tribe.[18] The play was shown Off-Broadway in 2016. He is currently producing a documentary on the making of “We Are The World,” called “One Night. One Song. One World.” The documentary is co-produced and directed by Chip Duncan.
Drescher continues to invest in and produce socially impactful theatrical and film productions in both New York City and Los Angeles. He serves on the board of directors for the Culture Project[19] and the Lynn Redgrave Theater in New York.[20] In film, Drescher has served as executive producer in “The Dry Spell” and “Hamlet A.D.D.” and acted in “China Test Girls."[21] Off-Broadway, he co-produced “Strange Fruit on Rye,” which won the 2007 NAACP Spirit Award for Best Lead Male and Best Adapted Screenplay.[22] On Broadway, he produced “Million Dollar Quartet,” which garnered him a Tony nomination.[23]
Philanthropy
editIn 2008, Drescher developed Vibrant LLC, a firm that focuses on social impact investing. He is co-founder of BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation,[24] a groundbreaking philanthropic approach to support job creation and economic growth across Wisconsin. The non-profit pledged $7 million its first year with a goal of $60 million. He was also a founding donor to the Brico Forward Fund to help Milwaukee's filmmaking community.[25] In 2015, the fund provided $50,000 in cash and $76,000 in production services for local filmmaking projects.[26]
Social work
editDrescher supports social impact groups that focus on job creation, economic growth, innovative fashion for health wellness, and arts that generate and inspire a public dialog. These groups include: Feminine Weapon, Underfashion Club of New York, The Femimy Awards New York, TJ Martell Foundation Los Angeles, Heal the Bay Santa Monica, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Milwaukee Film Festival[27][28] (where he often talks on panels about the entrepreneurial spirit of filmmaking),[29] College Possible Milwaukee, Breast Cancer Showcase Wis., Ronald McDonald Wis.
Personal life
editDrescher is a 50-year resident of Milwaukee and continues to split his time between New York, Malibu, and Milwaukee.
Recognition and honors
editHe was nominated for a Tony Award in 2010 for his work a[30] s co-producer of “Million Dollar Quartet” [31] He also won a CTAM Mark Award (for Time Warner Cable Milwaukee) in 1995,[32] 1996[33] and 1998.[34]
References
edit- ^ "Start-up Okanjo Partners raises $1.7 million from investors". www.jsonline.com. Retrieved 2020-02-14.
- ^ Noennig, Jordyn. "Lingerie firm focuses on breast health with new bra". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2020-02-14.
- ^ "TEDxUWMilwaukee | TED". www.ted.com. Retrieved 2020-02-14.
- ^ "Tribune Media Acquires JDTV". CNET.
- ^ "JDTV-Tribune combo to challenge TV Guide". Milwaukee Business Journal. 14 February 1999.
- ^ Graser, Marc (7 February 1999). "P'gramming info co. will add 4 million subscribers". Variety.
- ^ "Drescher Holdings". Bloomberg Business.
- ^ Bauter, Alison. "Okanjo Unites e-commerce, advertising". Milwaukee Business Journal.
- ^ "About us". Vibrant Body Company. Retrieved 2020-02-14.
- ^ Peretz, Sarah (9 January 2015). "Native commerce platform Okanjo raises $1.7 million". TechCrunch.
- ^ Bauter, Alison. "Milwaukee e-commerce start-up raises $1.7 million". Milwaukee Business Journal.
- ^ "Okanjo launches product match". Milwaukee Business Journal.
- ^ Engel, Jeff (16 July 2015). "Okanjo embeds "buy" button in ads". Xconomy.
- ^ Kennedy, Maddy (30 April 2013). "Okanjo offers Milwaukee residents innovation in e-commerce". Marquette Wire.
- ^ Kathleen, Gallagher (28 January 2015). "Milwaukee start-up Okanjo Partners raises $1.7 million". Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel.
- ^ "Malibu resident delivers comedy with a message". Malibu Times. 16 June 2004.
- ^ Horne, Michael (22 February 2013). "Millionaire Mike Drescher's Urban Aerie". Urban Milwaukee.
- ^ "Review". Backstage. 16 June 2004.
- ^ "About Page". Culture Project.
- ^ "Culture Project". Lynn Redgrave Theater.
- ^ "IMDB Michael Drescher". IMDB.
- ^ Stitt, Eric (20 February 2007). "NAACP feted Fishburne, Pettiford". Variety.
- ^ Gans, Andrew. "2010 Tony Nominations Announced". Playbill.
- ^ Engel, Jeff (10 July 2013). "BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation to invest donations in start-ups". Milwaukee Business Journal.
- ^ Sabliak, Mark (8 July 2015). "Brico launches fund to help Milwaukee filmmakers". Milwaukee Business Journal.
- ^ Peearson, Zack (8 July 2015). "Milwaukee film to aid local filmmakers with grant". Milwaukee Suntimes.
- ^ "Associated Bank becomes Bank of Milwaukee Film Festival". Milwaukee Business Journal.
- ^ "Associated Bank becomes Bank of Milwaukee Film Festival". MarketWatch.
- ^ "Milwaukee Film Fest offers guest speakers, conversation series". Wisconsin Gazette.
- ^ "Mark Awards 1998".
- ^ Gans, Andrew (4 May 2010). "2010 Tony nominations announced". Playbill.
- ^ "Mark Awards 1995".
- ^ "Mark Awards 1996".
- ^ "Mark Awards 1998".