9 Story Creative Affairs

Angela C. Santomero

Angela C. Santomero, Creator & Executive Producer of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Blue’s Clues, Wishenpoof, Creative Galaxy & Super Why has been changing the way children watch TV for more than twenty years. She is the Creator, Executive Producer and Writer for award winning kids and family content for PBS, Nickelodeon, Amazon Studios, etc.

With a Masters in Child Developmental Psychology from Columbia University (TC), Angela’s vision for integrating educational curriculum into entertaining content for kids led her to co-create, executive produce and head write Nick Jr.’s landmark series, Blue’s Clues. Malcolm Gladwell referred to Blue’s Clues as “One of the stickiest TV shows EVER made”, in The Tipping Point.

Angela is the recipient of the prestigious Peabody Award for Outstanding Childrenʹs Programming and a 2019 Daytime Emmy Award for Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood in the category of Outstanding Preschool Children’s Animated Series. She has also received several gold and silver Parents’ Choice Awards. Her book PRESCHOOL CLUES: Raising Smart, Inspired, and Engaged Kids in a Screen-Filled World (Touchstone) was released April 2018.

Wendy Harris

Wendy Harris, SVP Content and Creative Affairs, leads and directs the creative content process for development, production and current series of 9 Story Media Group to ensure that all properties realize the company’s creative vision while meeting the company’s business objectives.

Harris is an award-winning, children’s television executive producer and writer with over 20 years in the industry. Beginning her career in live action production, Wendy’s first role in children’s television was Assistant Director on the original Blue’s Clues eventually becoming one of the series Executive Producers, she then Co-Created and Executive Produced the series spin-off Blue’s Room.   As Executive Producer and VP of Production & Development at Out of the Blue Enterprises, since the company’s inception in 2005, Wendy has served as Co-Creator and Executive Producer of Super Why! and Creative Galaxy, Executive Producer of Wishenpoof, and Supervising Producer of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood as well as overseeing the production and development of the children’s media production company.

Marcy Pritchard

Marcy Pritchard, SVP Business & Creative Affairs, works to grow the 9 Story USA office and integrate it into the 9 Story Media Group.

Pritchard has been working in children’s television since the 90s, starting on the original Blue’s Clues series as the Production Manager, and working her way up to Supervising Producer, earning 5 Emmy nominations along the way. She continued on at Nickelodeon to produce the Blue’s Room spin-off, followed by current hit series Team Umizoomi. After years on the production side, she moved into a network role as the VP, Development & Series Production, where she managed more than 15 animated and live-action current series, development projects, and digital initiatives.

Jennie Stacey

Jennie Stacey, VP of Development & Production, co-leads 9 Story’s overall development efforts for original television series. Jennie has spearheaded the development of many of Brown Bag’s series including Henry Hugglemonster and Sadie Sparks for Disney Channel and Get Rolling With Otis for Apple. Jennie developed and executive produced the music series Karma’s World and the Emmy-nominated specials Angela’s Christmas 1 & 2 for Netflix. Jennie first joined Brown Bag Films in 2008, after roles with RTE and Universal Pictures International in London.

Karen Fowler

Karen Fowler is a multi-Emmy® award winning Executive Producer, Showrunner and Producer with a proven track record of taking projects from development to production. Karen was Executive Producer of The Sesame Workshop/PBS reboot of The Electric Company, which earned over 20 Emmy® nominations and won 10, including Outstanding Children’s Series in 2010, 2011 and 2012. She has held staff positions at Sesame Workshop, Nickelodeon and CBC KIDS’ where she was Executive in charge of Development & Production, developing and overseeing new shows and interstitials including the award-winning series Scout and the Gumboot Kids and DOT.  Recently she was Development Exec and Creative Producer on Nickelodeon’s Abby Hatcher for Spin Master. As an independent she’s developed and written series from development into production and has a track record of (and passion for) creating opportunities for new voices.

Sarah Wallendjack

Sarah Wallendjack is an Emmy award-winning Producer with a 20+ year career creating children’s content. Sarah co-leads the company’s overall development efforts for original properties and oversees a slate of ambitious development and production projects that aim to better children’s lives through media. Sarah Executive Produced Super Why!, PBS’s long running hit literacy series. She also developed and Executive Produced Netflix’s Charlie’s Colorforms City, and served as the Supervising Producer on five seasons of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, helping to create over 100 episodes, which earned 5 Emmy nominations and won the award for Outstanding Children’s Animated Preschool Series in 2019. A leader in the industry, Sarah sits on the board of the Children’s Media Association and is passionate about fostering the next generation of children’s media makers.  

Rachel Kalban

Rachel Kalban VP, Research and Curriculum, is a child development expert with a Master’s degree in Developmental Psychology from Columbia University’s Teachers College, spearheads New York’s groundbreaking formative research process. She is involved in all projects, to develop curriculum-driven brands that enrich the lives of children and families. Kalban has been a key role in the development and success of Super Why, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Creative Galaxy, Wishenpoof and Charlie’s Colorform City.

Gráinne McNamara

With over 20 years’ experience within the children’s sector, Gráinne McNamara will be responsible for leading the company’s overall development efforts for original television series in live action kids and family. McNamara is joining from King Bert Productions where she successfully grew a children’s development slate and produced the hugely successful Malory Towers for CBBC and Family Channel Canada. Prior to King Bert, McNamara worked as Head of Live-Action Development for Disney Channels EMEA and before that as VP Development for Cake Entertainment where her credits included the award-winning Bottersnikes and Gumbles and Chicken Invaders In Space. 

Alex Breen

Alex Breen VP, Interactive at 9 Story US, oversees the creation and distribution of groundbreaking interactive content, focusing on 9 Story properties with inherent digital potential and emerging technologies. Breen is an award-winning producer with over 16 years of experience in digital media, apps and production management at Out of the Blue. His credits also include writing the tentpole SUPER WHY Comic Book: Attack of the Eraser episode, which appeared in movie theaters across the U.S.