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Susan
Egner, Author
Susan Egner makes her children's author
debut with the "Has Anyone Seen Woodfin?" series. The twenty-five-story series
is based on oral stories she told her children and their friends about Woodfin,
the kaleidoscopic chameleon. Egner has developed eight other character series
and has completed her fifth adult novel. Egner has penned stories for the
Dayton-Hudson Santa Bear series. Egner founded and now serves as CEO of
Egner, Inc., a Burnsville, Minnesota based company that creates new characters
offering positive and uplifting storyline adventures for children. She makes her
home in Burnsville, has two grown children and three grandchildren. |
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Patty Peterson
Patty was born into the renowned musical Peterson family which boasts mother Jeanne Arland, sister Linda, and three brothers, Billy, Ricky and Paul; recording artists all of whom are involved in the international music scene. She began singing as a child for concerts and recording sessions, and has remained a mainstay vocalist for concerts, commercials and national recording artists. Click here for an overview.
To her credits she has performed and recorded with such luminaries as David Sanborn, Hiram Bullock, Steve Miller, Donny Osmond, The Jets and most recently with St. Paul Peterson, Ricky Peterson, and the international jazz greats Ben Sidran and Sergio Mendes. Patty can also be heard on radio commercials such as Old Home and Borton Volvo. For her outstanding musical and vocal contributions, Patty has been awarded the coveted Minnesota Music Award 7 times for Best Female Vocalist and Best Group, with her latest being "Best Jazz Recording" for her debut C.D. "The More I See You".
She has performed to sold out audiences all over the country, including the nationally renowned jazz venues, The Dakota Bar and Grill, St. Paul, Minnesota and The Vine Street Bar and Grill, Hollywood, California. Patty can also be seen throughout the Minneapolis metro area performing songs from her current solo CD, "Inspired".
Patty Peterson has been a part of WCCO RADIO 8·3·0 AM since the age of three. Her parents, Willie and Jeanne Arland Peterson, were staff musicians and singers at WCCO in the days of live musical performances, and she loved being at the station to watch the action! Performing before audiences isn't new to her either. Patty extended her love for audiences by joining WCCO RADIO, in 1997, as a show host. It's that same ability to relate to audiences as an entertainer that makes her a success on the radio. Since that time, one of her theme songs on her daytime talk show (Jazz in July CD) best descibes how she feels about being an extension of history at the "Good Neighbor". In the phrase that best says it, she "loves being here with you"! Believe it!
In addition to being an actress, print ad model, and national anthem singer, Patty has four dynamic sons and lives in Edina with her husband, Stuart Paster. She has performed to sold out audiences all over the country and has four solo CDs to her name.
Jon Bream of the Minneapolis Star and Tribune calls Patty "A Musical Chameleon" adding "She can cover anything from Chaka Kahn to Cole Porter with equal authority, exhibiting star quality and drive!"
Jazz Times Magazine quotes, "She stretches her voice to accommodate wrenching emotions and brings it all off with class".
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Sue Schoening
Sue Schoening is the Owner and President of Sue Schoening & Associates, LLC in Orlando, Florida. The company provides both marketing consulting and creative services to a variety of clients. Schoening's solid background in marketing and sales has included holding executive positions for Sea World of Florida, Walt Disney World, and Florida Communities (active adult retirement communities). Since the company's inception in 2001, Schoening has provided consulting services and completed special projects for such clients as AARP- Washington, DC, Capital One Credit Cards-Richmond, VA, Chateau Communities, Denver, CO, and The Flitner Ranch, Shell, WY.
While Schoening has been trained as a marketing/sales generalist, her specialties include marketing to emerging Boomers and the 50+ market, and assisting companies to creatively brainstorm new approaches to marketing their products.
Schoening's life experiences also
include being a single mom who successfully raised two daughters. She openly gives credit to PBS programming for its contribution to her children's development. She now claims that PBS is positively influencing the lives of some of the world's finest granchildren - hers.
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Barbara Lauesen
A graduate of the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis), Barbara Lauesen earned a B.A., summa cum laude, in child psychology. As an undergraduate she was extensively involved in a research project targeting reading-skill demographics in area schools. She most enjoyed the testing she was in charge of that allowed her to meet and talk with elementary school children of all ages. Always interested in socio-emotional factors in child development, while attending the U of M, Barbara worked with autistic preschoolers and their families. After graduation, and a move back to her hometown of Chicago, Illinois, Barbara found herself at the Rimland School for Autistic Children working with autistic adult boys (ages 18-28 years). There she learned invaluable lessons about her role as a professional in the mental healthcare field. Barbara earned a Masters degree and PhD in developmental psychology from Loyola University of Chicago. In graduate school she pursued her primary interest in the mother/infant relationship and children’s emotional development. Concurrently, she became involved in an on-going research endeavor following high-risk infants and their families from birth through elementary school. Her doctoral dissertation focused on infant facial expression as mother and baby interacted with one another, through a series of shared behavioral episodes.
Barbara launched her career at The Children’s Memorial Hospital (Chicago, Illinois) training the extensive volunteer program to work specifically with the infant population. Shortly after graduation from Loyola, Barbara taught a developmental psychology course at Barat College (Lake Forest.)
Dr. Lauesen (better known now as “Dr. Mom”) lives in Glenview, Illinois and has spent the last several years at home with her husband Michael, raising their 4 children. Her love of children has found her centered on her own family with duties including school, church, soccer, basketball, nurse and taxi cab commitments.
Barbara is currently enrolled in a 3 year professional enrichment program. The Center for Intentional Living (CIL) offers a multi dimensional program, seeking a richer understanding of parent/child relations as salient, emotional, social and cultural variables are examined.
Barbara is very excited about Woodfin and looks forward to assisting Egner, Inc. in launching and protecting such a wonderful character.
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Bill Johnson
Having worked both as an independent contractor and as an IT employee, he has developed
a strong background in many areas including information systems technologies, web
development and deployment, game research and development, and graphics manipulation.
Bill operates as a full time consultant, while at the same time, continues to play his
role as a key executive at KATR Software Inc. (www.katr.com), a successful web,
software, and iPhone application development company based in Jordan, Minnesota.
Bill is currently involved in maintaining the Egner Inc. office computer network,
handling Woodfin's internet presence and domain name registration, website
administration, and email account management.
Bill graduated Suma Cume Laude from Bemidji State University, and earned a BS in
Computer Science, has earned his private pilot instrument license, and is a certified SCUBA diver.
Serving on the Jordan Community Education advisory board, he also enjoys coaching his two
boys in various athletic programs, hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting.
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Darlene Kinning
Established Colourcast Services in 1981 to provide color trends and related color selection for the Building Industry, primarily for interior and exterior homes but included commercial and architectural applications.
As a 35-year veteran of tracking color and design, Kinning has given numerous seminars and written many articles on the excitement of color, publishing a yearly color trend forecast for clients. She appeared as a color expert for a HGTV cable series called “Room For Change”.
Kinning’s color styling influence, evident in color systems around the world, has won her international recognition, including a President’s Service Award and subsequent Lifetime Service Award from the The Color Marketing Group, a premier color forecasting association. Kinning also served 17 years on London’s International Colour Authority’s Home Colour Trends panel.
Residing in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Kinning was Color Designer for Colwell Industries
Where her client list included Behr Paints, Color Guild International, GAF Materials Corp., London based ICI Paints and Sears. Kinning began her career as a promotional speaker for Minneapolis wallcovering and paint supplier Hirshfield's.
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Jeri Jo Poshkoff
Jeri Jo Poshkoff is currently the Vice President Travel, Retail, Restaurant and Lifestyle for Citigroup Diners Club. Her responsibilities include establishment sales, retention, strategic planning, marketing, procedures and policy development and implementation, and quality assurance. Her background in global marketing and sales has included executive positions within the financial, airline and hospitality industries.
Her specialties include International Marketing, Franchise Management, Client Management, Financial Management, Product Development and Placement, Loyalty Marketing, Event Marketing, and Leadership.
Jeri Jo is happily married to her husband of 20 years, Gordy, and is successfully raising two teenage daughters and two dogs.
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Courtney Cardwell
Handles partnership marketing with the Gift Certificate Center, a division of Hallmark Developed strategy to expand marketing relationships with national retail operations. Designed comprehensive program to coordinate approvals by multiple national merchant partners for client based marketing materials. Negotiated partnership agreements for $50 million corporate incentive business. Formerly Training Store Operations Manager for Hallmark Marketing Corporation, Kansas City.
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Lois Olson
Educator for twenty-five years in St. Paul, MN, and Lincoln, NE. Most of career in Elementary classrooms, some in Secondary, and most recently a teacher in the English as a Second Language Department. Served as a Mentor Teacher, on State Board of ESL Professionals, on numerous task force committees, received outstanding teacher awards, and appeared in WHO’S WHO publications. Past volunteer and supporter of educational programs in the public schools, church, and community. Leadership roles in women’s groups. Parent of four grown children. Received B.A. and M.A. Degrees from private colleges (Dana College) (Hamline University) with degrees in Education, English, Psychology, ESL, and Liberal Studies.
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Mary Stevens Knowlton
BS Elementary Education George Mason University.
MS Library Media Technology Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Specialist Educational Administration Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Scott County Public Librarian for three years, Elementary Library Media
Specialist for fifteen years. Served on district curriculum committees in
the areas of library media, health, guidance, and technology.
Hosted several authors and illustrators of children's books in an elementary
school setting, including Eric Rohmann, Nancy Carlson, Peg Kehret, Jim
Latimer and Su Egner.
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Nancy Gamson
B.A, in Arts and English, Mount Holyoke College.
EdM in Art and English, Harvard.
Nancy taught high school art and English in Minnesota and Sydney, Australia. She taught elementary and preschool art classes in Minnesota, where she also was coordinator of Art Therapy at the Hennepin County Home School (a residential reform school for delinquent teens). She became a Court Advocate in the Minnesota Juvenile Justice System and was a United Way Loaned Executive. For many years she was the volunteer fourth grade art consultant for the Hopkins School District in Minnesota.
Nancy first recognized the relationships between self-image, creative experience, and imagination while practicing teaching in Newton, MA. She was disappointed in the art and English projects, which were more manual dexterity exercises in copying the teacher’s samples than they were creative experiences that would develop a child’s imagination and individuality. Nancy feels that promoting conformity leads to children comparing themselves to others, whereas encouraging creativity celebrates a child’s uniqueness and individuality. She believes that this directly impacts a child’s self-image.
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Our Mission
To create a television series for children ages 3-5 based on the literary
series about Woodfin the kaleidoscopic chameleon that invites children to:
EXPLORE their inner selves and the world around them,
DISCOVER their unique abilities and differences, and
CELEBRATE the adventures that paint their dreams.
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Egner, Inc. is a start-up company whose flagship product is Woodfin,
the Kaleidoscopic Chameleon. Egner, Inc. owns the rights
of copyright, trademark and licensing. Susan Egner
has authored 22 children’s stories featuring Woodfin
and his forest of friends. The Woodfin stories and brand
are based on four cornerstones: Self-Respect, Acceptance,
Diversity and Attitude.
Egner, Inc.’s mission is: To support children
in their earliest years so that they may mature to lead
colorful and fulfilling lives.
History
and Milestones
Egner, Inc was incorporated by founder and CEO Susan Egner.
Egner’s flagship product is Woodfin, the Kaleidoscopic Chameleon. Egner, Inc. owns the rights of copyright, trademark and licensing.
An initial run of 3,000 Has Anyone Seen Woodfin? books were first printed in July 2001. 1,000 copies have been sold-to-date at appearances and bookstores.
The Woodfin publishing program released two titles in Fall 2002, including a prequel and re-release of Has Anyone Seen Woodfin? illustrated in the style of the animated series.
Two more titles have been edited and illustrated and are awaiting release.
A total of 25 Woodfin stories have been written and will be published on an on-going schedule.
Egner has secured Quality Books as distributor to the school/public library market.
The Woodfin books are also available via The Distributors, Baker & Taylor and Ingram books. They can be purchased at Barnes & Noble and Borders by request and many independent bookstores. They are also available on-line at Amazon.com and www.woodfin.cc.
Woodfin books were exhibited at the Frankfurt Book Fair and have received translation-publishing queries from 6 countries. Currently seeking a foreign rights agent. Exhibited at London Book Fair. Waiting for results.
Woodfin has been invited to be the basis for language curriculum at international schools headquartered in Hong Kong.
Three unique Woodfin costume characters were created to entertain children and adults at live appearances. Woodfin has delighted audiences at schools, hospitals, bookstores, corporate events, the YMCA, zoos and Underwater Adventures in Mall of America.
Woodfin’s website was re-launched to showcase the new graphics, books and plush toys.
Egner developed an animated-demo for presentation to Corporate PBS in Alexandria, VA.
PBS affiliate WYCC, The Education Station based in Chicago, committed its intent to launch and air the Woodfin animated series, as well as assist in distributing the series to PBS stations nationwide.
Prominent former executives from Disney, Radisson and Hallmark as well as a world-renowned color forecaster, website and game developer, teachers, librarians and child development specialists have joined the required PBS advisory board.
The Woodfin animated series is currently seeking underwriting/funding.
For more information about Egner,
Inc. and its properties, contact info@woodfin.cc
Highlights
The Woodfin stories are based on a series of oral stories Susan Egner told her children and their friends in her native state of Florida, where chameleons were very common.
The Woodfin stories and brand are based on four cornerstones: Self-Esteem, Acceptance, Diversity and Attitude.
The Woodfin television series is not just a cartoon – it’s feature film quality animation leveraging the finest cinematic 3D software.
The characters in Woodfin stories are all animals, which appeal to all ethnic groups. Original cultural music accompanies the Woodfin animated series.
Color is a powerful element interwoven in Woodfin stories.
Woodfin uses his ability to change color to move from one adventure to another.
Medical research shows the importance of color on children and adults.
No other literary or entertainment character uses color as an integral part of its story.
Kids love color. Parents love a colorful character offering positive messages through adventure.
Several ancillary products support the Woodfin publishing program. Prototypes of a plush toy, games based on color and coloring activity books have been created.
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