Creator
Certified Business Etiquette and International Protocol Consultant, Melissa Leonard has worked with Fortune 100 Companies as well as hundreds of private clients. In addition to holding a Bachelors of Science Degree in Business, Melissa received her business etiquette training and certification from the Protocol School of Washington.
Melissa has been wowing clients and readers over the years with her fun and dynamic approach to the often perceived 'stuffy' world of etiquette. After having two children (well-behaved, of course!), Melissa took her innovative style of teaching business etiquette and tailored programs for children, parents and yes, even yachting enthusiasts. Her "distinctive style and sense of humor" has helped put manners back into the 'in-crowd.'
Melissa's expert columns can be seen at websites such as Modern Mom, SheKnows, Disney Family, Huggies Baby Network and PregnancyandBaby.com...just to name a few! She has been featured on Martha Stewart's Sirius Radio shows, KidStuff & BluePrints. She has had etiquette columns in Journal News' InTown Magazines and has given her savvy advice in articles for American Baby, Parent Magazine, US Weekly, NY Times, Real Simple, Redbook, Hallmark, Quick & Simple, Toddler Magazine, Home Basics, as well as many other well-known publications.
Melissa lives in Harrison, NY with her husband, Scott and two little ladies, Mackenzie and Riley.
For more information about Melissa Leonard, please visit www.establishyourselfNY.com.
Illustrative Consultant
Raised in an artistic Southern family, Warner McGee had an early start to his career as an illustrator. Growing up in Jackson, Mississippi, where he started his artistic foundation, he loved to draw and paint his friends, family and the rich Southern landscapes of the Southeast.
Warner did his undergraduate work in Savannah, GA where he studied illustration, painting and art history at the Savannah College of Art and Design. He was recruited by American Greetings right out of school as a staff illustrator. Warner had the great fortune of working with some talented designers and artists while at American Greetings. He attributes a lot of his knowledge today to this staff position.
After three years, Warner left American Greetings and Cleveland to pursue his freelance career full time. He also wanted to get "back home" to the warm sunny skies of the South. Warner has lived in Savannah now for over seven years and really enjoys the small town comforts.
There have been many clients and companies that Warner has worked with in his career...Walt Disney, Nickelodeon, Big Idea, Sesame Street Workshop and Leap Frog, to name just a few!
Over the last seven years or so Warner has focused his talents primarily on licensed children's book artwork. Some of the properties that he enjoys working with are Disney Princess, Nemo, Go Diego Go!, Backyardigans, Dora the Explorer, Sponge Bob, Ni Hao Kai Lan, Sesame Street, Veggie Tales... and the list goes on! Warner excels in character design. His passion for high quality, fun imagery has led him down this wondrous road of children's illustration.
Warner currently lives in just outside of Savannah in Pooler, GA with his wife and two sons where he works (and plays) out of his home based studio. Visit his website at www.warnermcgee.com.
Writer
Specializing in children's entertainment and family films, Michael Maurer has developed series, story edited, written pilots and penned over 300 scripts for studios in 13 countries.
Michael's story-editing credits include creative consultant for "Mythic Warriors," a half-hour animated fantasy adventure for CBS/Nelvana based on the Greek myths; the animated "Karate Kid" for DIC; the animated "Police Academy" series for Warner Brothers, and the live-action teen sci-fi series, "The Zack Files" for Fox Family Channel.
Recently, Michael dipped into the preschool pond, developing two series for independent producers and writing seven episodes for Emmy nominated "Curious George." He is currently writing all 26 episodes for "Vipo's Island," a CG series for VPL Productions in Munich.
Michael's screenwriting ventures include "Red Hot," a produced feature about rock 'n roll in Russia in the 1950s; two live-action family films for Porchlight Entertainment and "The Magic Flute," an animated feature commissioned by Argus Entertainment.
His live-action family adventure feature, "Mutts," is in pre-production.
Michael can be reached at michael@writer-producer.com.
Graphic Designer
John Locklair has been a graphic designer in Charleston, South Carolina for nearly a quarter of a century (it makes him sound OLD when you put it like that, doesn't it?). He graduated from the College of Charleston with a degree in Business and has operated Studio Seven Designworks, Inc. since 1995.
John's design work has appeared across the country in the forms of publication design, advertising, identity, website development -- he will pretty much design anything that is marketing related for his clients. He absolutely loves what he does and has enjoyed working with the Kookatoo team to develop the Kookatoo bible and website. Warner McGee has long been a hero of his and it has been a special treat to work with him on this property.
He is married to the most nearly perfect woman around and they homeschool 3 incredible kids (2 princesses and 1 prince) who can hardly wait for Kookatoo to come alive. He takes time out from his hours at the computer by photographing the world around him, building stuff out of wood for the kids, tending their vegetable garden on The Back 40 (square feet), practicing guitar, and jumping on the trampoline with the kids (nothing crazy, though).
While the Studio Seven Designworks website is being "retooled" these days, you can find out more about John at www.johnlocklair.com or www.locklairfamily.com.
