Fueled by a passion to make positive change in the world, Marilyn Freeman is an accomplished media artist and writer with a singular balance of executive savvy, business acumen and creativity. Inspiration infuses her rigorous work. Whether in New York City as EVP and General Manager of National College Television, in Olympia as a Senior Strategist and Producer launching media arts services in a public service context, or as Co-founder and Director of the project incubator and media arts studio, Wovie, Freeman is an original thinker, a generous collaborator, a transformational leader and a dynamic member of any team. In any forward thinking context – from public service to the private sector, from indie productions to socially conscious organizations – she reliably enhances emotional intelligence, opens imaginative channels and gets stuff done by virtue of her perpetual cosmic dance with the question: What all is possible?
Synopsis of Professional Experience
Wovie, Inc. | Project Incubator & Media Arts Studio | Olympia, WA | 2000 – Present
Co-Founder. Chief Strategist, Project Director, Media Artists & Writer
Stewards partnerships, plans and communications. Works hand-in-hand with public, private and nonprofit organizations to design and produce digital media solutions that meet a wide variety of outreach, informational, educational, advocacy and public relations needs. Serves as Producer, Writer and Director of creative content, coalescing and managing robust production and development teams project-by-project.
State of Washington, Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech) | Olympia, WA | 2015 – present
Senior Strategist & Producer, Electronic Media & Digital Content | January 2016 – August 2018
Freeman launched and directed the State’s award-winning video service—WaTech Productions, the agency’s first new business line—developing strategic partnerships and distribution strategies in support of customer agencies.
Senior Strategy Advisor & Communications/Creative Services Director | July – December 2015
With legislative authority enabling the new agency only twenty-minutes before midnight on June 30th, 2015, Freeman led the teams that lit up WaTech by 6am on July 1 with a new public site, a new Intranet site, a new logo, new communications protocols, and guided the agency’s communications for the first six months.
State of Washington, Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) | Olympia, WA | 2013 – 2015
Senior Strategy Advisor & Communications Director | August 2014 – July 2015
Highlights include helming creation of a statewide Strategic IT Framework, speechwriter for the State CIO, strategic communications for Governor Inslee’s request to create a new central technology agency, facilitator of monthly CIO Forum, producer and director of agency videos and websites.
Senior Information Technology Policy and Management Consultant | July 2013 – July 2014
One of a three-person team responsible for policy, oversight, analyses and budget prioritization of major IT investments for 88 state agencies —a portfolio of more than $500 million—and formal briefings on IT policy, strategies and major IT projects for the Technology Services Board and legislative staff.
The Evergreen State College | Olympia, WA | 2009 – 2013
Faculty, Writing and Media Arts
Recruited to bolster the media arts and writing curriculum, Freeman collaborated with faculty teams to design and teach full time, multi-quarter, foundational and advanced interdisciplinary arts programs including Evergreen’s signature, year-long media arts programs, Nonfiction Media and MediaWorks.
Washington State Department of Information Services (DIS) | Olympia, WA | 1991-99
Director, DIS Interactive | 1995-99
Freeman launched this division (initially dubbed Washington Interactive Technologies) and helmed the original Access Washington portal and DIS Communications. She led development of a suite of services: live satellite broadcasting, videoconferencing, web design, applications development and video production.
Special Technology Initiatives, Assistant to the Director | 1993-95
Developed a statewide video telecommunications strategic plan, approved by the Information Services Board (ISB), which authorized Washington Interactive Technologies/DIS Interactive.
Senior Policy Advisor for Video Telecommunications | 1991-93
Provided statewide oversight of video telecommunications projects.
National College Television, Inc. (NCTV) | New York, NY | 1988-1991
Executive Vice President & General Manager | 1989-1991
Responsible for a $22 million annual operating budget, Freeman managed programming and production, affiliate relations, network operations, marketing and creative services for this privately owned cable television programming network.
Senior Vice President, Programming & Production | 1988-1989
Responsible for all programming acquisitions and original productions as well as co-productions with colleges, including: UCLA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, American University and WSU.
Campus Network | New York, NY | 1983-1988
Senior Producer, Anchor, Segment Producer & Field Reporter | 1986-88
Produced and anchored weekly nonfiction national television programs including the newsmagazine show, Campus America and interstitial series, NCTV News. Established and led a network of student news-stringers across the country.
Director of Network Technologies | 1983-1985
Established and technically outfitted a nationwide network of U.S. colleges and universities for Ku-band satellite-delivered information and entertainment programming service.
Campus Entertainment Network | New York, NY | 1981-1983
Director of Network Technical Development
Managed the technical coordination of satellite-delivered, pay-per-view, big-screen events— including Broadway shows and major concerts—at college campuses nationwide.
Education
M.F.A. | Goddard College, Plainfield, VT | Interdisciplinary Arts | 2009
B.F.A. | Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle, WA | Theater | 1979