Company

Mill Creek Entertainment is the industry's leading provider of value DVD compilations with millions of units sold through major retailers across North America, online resellers, national catalogs, direct response marketers and premium marketers.

The company has redefined the DVD value marketplace with instant genre libraries featuring anywhere from 10 to 250 movies, or 20 to 300 television episodes.

Mill Creek's product offering is available through all major home video distributors including Alliance Entertainment, Anderson Merchandisers, Baker & Taylor, ESI Distribution, Ingram Entertainment, Navarre Corporation, Vivendi Visual Entertainment, VPD and WaxWorks. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Mill Creek's headquarters include 50,000 square feet of office and warehouse space featuring EDI order processing, automated ticketing and shrink-wrapping, kitting, assembly and customized end-user fulfillment.

Its website features instant download of hi-res product images and sell-sheet PDFs. Mill Creek's seasoned management, sales and operations teams represent decades of successful experience in consumer retail, wholesale, OEM and direct response marketplace.

The company is relentlessly focused on continuously creating and marketing dramatic value propositions with the broadest possible retail appeal.

Click to see our:

• Senior Management Team
• Sales Management Team
• Sales Team
• Product Management Team

Senior Management Team

Irwin Jacobs – Chairman

Mr. Jacobs is Chairman of Jacobs Management Corporation and J & D Acquisitions, LLC, the owner of Larson, Seaswirl, Triumph and FinCraft. Mr. Jacobs has owned/and or controlled large, small and start-up companies, and has spent the majority of his energies focused on developing such businesses and creating opportunities for the employees. He currently owns businesses involved with direct marketing (Watkins Incorporated); close-out and return merchandising and value DVD distribution (Jacobs Trading Company); and professional fishing tournament management (FLW Tour, American Fishing Series, BFL, FLW Walleye Circuit, and National Guard FLW College Tournament). Additionally, Jacobs supports several other local and national non-profit organizations benefiting the arts, the disabled and developmentally challenged, and the homeless.

Robert Zakheim – CEO

Robert's 25 year management experience includes the co-founding and development of a computer hardware distribution company with sales in excess of one billion dollars, as well as successful commercial real estate partnerships and numerous entrepreneurial ventures. He is a co-founder of Mill Creek Entertainment and is responsible for the treasury, legal and financial management functions of the company.

Ian Warfield – President & COO

Ian's 30 year management experience includes senior management roles with national retail, distribution, OEM and direct response organizations including Navarre Corporation, Microgistix, Software Etc., Schaak Electronics and Dayton Hudson Corporation. He also provided strategic consulting to IBM, Hewlett Packard, Compaq, Samsonite and Corel Software. He is a co-founder of Mill Creek Entertainment and is responsible for the sales, marketing, product development, content acquisition and manufacturing functions of the company.

Scott Moss – Vice President

Scott's 25 year management experience includes the co-founding and development of a computer hardware distribution company with sales in excess of one billion dollars, as well as ownership in a 100 store retail fitness equipment chain and numerous entrepreneurial ventures. He is a co-founder of Mill Creek Entertainment and is responsible for the operations and IT management functions of the company.

Sales Management Team

John Kaminski - Executive Vice President, Sales

With over 16 years management experience in the home entertainment industry, John held progressively senior sales roles at Pioneer Electronics, Alpha Software, Data Becker, Encore and Griffin International holding key account management responsibility for numerous major accounts where he grew revenue and profitability consistently and dramatically.

Mark VanGorp - Vice President, Sales

Mark’s 20 year management experience includes executive management roles at BMG Distribution, Sony Music, Sony Pictures and BCI Eclipse.  As an accomplished executive with a record of success in the package goods industry, Mark will be responsible for the sales staff, business development and sales operations for the company.

Tony Novachis - Vice President, Business Development

Tony brings a strong track record of sales growth and new account development from his 10 years in key account management at Navarre Corporation and BCI Eclipse. He is responsible for identifying new channels of business and customer sets and working across the sales organization to develop them systematically.

Sales Team

Dan Johnson - Director, Strategic Accounts

Dan brings more than 20 years of experience in the retail/distribution channel including sales, purchasing, distribution, warehousing, operations, and supply chain systems.  He has held progressively more senior positions with Navarre Corporation, Microgistix, Eidos, Sony Computer Entertainment and MTV Networks and brings his expertise to the management and development of key accounts.

Therese Stoulil - Director, Strategic Accounts Operations

Therese's extensive sales management experience includes sales and sales operations roles at Compass Productions where she was responsible for all aspects of national music listening station programs within Target and Walmart. Previously she was operations manager for Paisley Park studios where she worked for 10 years managing recording sessions as well as tours and performances for the artist Prince.

Brian Johns - Director, National Accounts

Brian's extensive experience in home video includes the development of key genre businesses including horror and fitness on a national basis. Previously he held a variety of sales and sales management roles with Anchor Bay Entertainment. He is responsible for the development and management of national retail and distribution accounts.

Kathy Johnson - Director, National Accounts

Kathy's extensive home entertainment sales experience includes key account sales management roles at Sight & Sound and MTI Home Video. Her successful track record in the development and management of non-traditional accounts continues at Mill Creek Entertainment.

Sean Metheny - Director, National Accounts

Sean has managed national accounts since the company's inception in 2003. He has built a specialized account portfolio that includes major players in the catalog, direct response and online segments, incorporating innovative promotions and custom marketing initiatives.

Robin Oxley - Director New Media Business Development/Strategic Partnerships

Robin has over 20+ years of professional experience leading the development of marketing and partnership programs for companies such as General Mills, Pillsbury, Dunkin’ Donuts, Hasbro, Crayola, and more and has achieved multiple Best in the World and Best in North America Pro Awards.  In 2010 Robin joined our industry as the Director of New Business Development for Aeris Marketing.  Her experiences combined with Aeris’ operational excellence offers you an opportunity to implement new, innovative, turnkey solutions that meet the challenges of our industry today and help generate incremental sales for your products. 

Product Development Team

Jeff Hayne - Vice President, Content Acquisitions

Prior to joining Mill Creek, Jeff was Director of Content Acquisition for BCI Eclipse an independent entertainment video and audio supplier. At BCI Eclipse, Hayne's responsibilities included acquisition, licensing production and development of content under the company's various brands. He is responsible for all acquisition and licensing for the company's product offerings.

Barrett Evans - Vice President, Marketing

Barrett has enjoyed a diverse career in the home entertainment industry. Prior to joining Mill Creek, Barrett was Director of Product Development for BCI Eclipse, an independent DVD and home audio publisher and distributor, and also served as a Product Marketing Manager for video game publisher, Elephant Entertainment. He manages a team of product managers and graphic designers and is responsible for product marketing initiatives.

Krista Furan - Vice President, Supply Chain

Krista's extensive project management career includes global manufacturing and JIT deployment of OEM software with Microgistix, and a variety of project management roles with Regis Corporation. She is responsible for all purchasing and inventory management functions for the company.

Howard Zelener - Business Affairs

Howard brings over 30 years experience as a transactional entertainment and sports lawyer, including all aspects of the motion picture, television, music and home video distribution industries. His specialties include contract negotiation and drafting, and protection of intellectual property rights.

Chris Smith – Marketing Manager

Chris brings extensive marketing experience in the home entertainment industry. Prior to Mill Creek, Chris was the Director of Marketing for Navarre Corporation, a leading distributor for computer software and home entertainment media. Chris oversaw marketing communications, product marketing and event planning for all product categories at Navarre. Currently, she is responsible for the marketing of Mill Creek Entertainment’s product and online initiatives.