Chris Rettstatt

I’m a published children’s book author with 10+ years as a specialist in youth-focused virtual community.

Qualifications

• Experience developing transmedia entertainment properties for kids and teens
• Expertise in online privacy and safety laws and best practices
• Understanding of and passion for the possibilities of technology to entertain, educate, and engage children
• Experience building and managing teams as large as 30, including designers, editors, web developers, and online community staff
• Extensive familiarity with social media as a user and as a strategist

Things I do:

• Created an epic fantasy property called Kaimira, which has a five-book deal with Candlewick Press and Walker Books as well as a “360-degree development deal” with BBC Worldwide
• Developed MMOG story bibles for a Toronto-based nonprofit
• Contributed a chapter on kids and digital ownership for the book Settlers of the New Virtual Worlds
• Developed online safety curricula for schoolteachers
• Presented on the subject of kids online at conferences such as the Virtual Communities Conference in London
• Hired, trained, and lead a team of chat room monitors for a top kids online community
• Performed online community consulting for Fox Kids Online
• Served as editor for the Online Directory Project
• Performed online privacy (COPPA) consulting for Back Yard Jungle, funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
• Worked as Director for a summer computer camp for kids
• Served as Managing Director, Interactive for a branch of Thomson Corporation
• Published articles on the subject of safe online communities for kids
• Served as a judge for the digital communities category in the Prix Ars prize
• Served as a judge in the Fantasy / Science Fiction category for the 2007 Cybils award