About me
Self-motivated, goal-oriented executive with over 20 years combined experience in corporate and educational environments. Creative and innovative project manager, administrator, public speaker, and entrepreneur, taking pride in ability to develop and launch new and diverse products. Recognized and sought-after public speaker, bringing a wealth of knowledge and highest levels of enthusiasm to all projects undertaken. Possess exceptional written communication skills and ability to incorporate ingenuity with business savvy in successful start-up efforts, marketing strategy, and product branding.
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Career Accomplishments
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Created education technology branded website and a complete technology program with a complete strategic plan for teachers and K-6 students. Managed technology systems, repairs, coordination and IT for Del Mar Union School District. Developed Art lessons for K-6, STEM program and delivered Design Thinking lessons for both the State of Hawaii and Del Mar Unions School Districts. Served as Curriculum Coordinator and Training Officer.
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Conceived and built 2 successful start-up operations specializing Youth Electronics.- Invented, patented and branded over 30 technology and education products under brands such as Girl Tech, Where in the World is Carmen San Diego, Password Journal, Door Pass, Bug Em, Surfer Girl, Talk Boy FX, Yak Bak, and Discover Discs.
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Authored and published award-winning IDG Book – 1997, and 7 articles.
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Recognized for exceptional performance in advancement of women by San Jose Career Action center, YWCA of USA, San Francisco National Association of Women Business Owners, Ms. Magazine, and Girls Inc.
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Recipient of Parent Choice Software Awards: “Toy of the Year Award” (1997) and “Parent Council Award” (1997), numerous software development and internet awards.
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Appeared on numerous syndicated television, radio, and cable programs over 5 year period, in support of women in technology and business, in addition to the topic of created brands of over 75 published articles in newspapers, magazines, and trade journals.
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Designed and published 1st website for the toy industry and specifically for girls.
Business Experience
Vice President Radica Games. LTD 1998 – 2000
Founder and CEO, Girl Tech Brand and KidActive LLC 1995 – 1998
2015-2017
•Managed all facets of organization from conception to incredible success of this start-up technology and education firm.
•Developed company from ground floor through sale to Radica Games for $6 million.
•Raised over $900,000 in financing through business plan development and loan negotiation.
•Recruited, hired, and trained high-quality team of managers, designers, programmers, artists, and engineers to create and launch electronic toys and software products.
•Built and fostered strategic relationships and partnerships with Fortune 100 and 500 companies such as Hasbro Toy Group, Interval Research, PC World, and Microsoft.
•Remained responsible for market research, forecasting, budgeting, personnel management, staffing, professional development, product branding, and all other administrative processes.
Founder and President, Kid One For Fun, Inc. 1992 – 1995
•Grew start-up organization from concept through product design, strategic marketing, and product launch.
•Developed and implemented financial models and business plans, exceeding all original expectations and resulting in launch of several newly invented toys that opened a new electronics category that sold millions.
Product Manager, Broderbund Software, Inc. 1988 – 1991
2011-2014
•Remained responsible for management of product lifecycle from inception to publication and release.
•Designed and implemented cost models, financial analyses, and business plans for new SKUs.
•Administrated and monitored activities related to development and integration of graphic, sound, and programming elements.
•Developed, integrated and ensured compliance with all quality control processes, including test plans.
•Created and maintained interpersonal relationships with public personalities, as well as local, regional, and national television, radio, and newspaper reporters, ensuring continuous and positive press coverage of newly released products.
2007-2010
INVENTIONS/SOFTWARE/EDUCATIONAL youth electronic Toys
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2005-2007 The Clicks Website for classroom and technology use.
2005 The Art Apprentice
2000 Girl Tech
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Surfer Girl ™ Browser and Portable Computer
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Palm Reader ™ Girl
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Password Phone ™ Voice Recognition Phone
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Password Notes ™ Voice Recognition Locking Notepad
1999 Girl Tech
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Bug Em ™ Radio Transmitter
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Keepsafe Box ™ Infrared Coded Remote Locking Keepsakes Box
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Laser Chat ™
1998 Girl Tech
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Door Pass ™ Voice Recognition Motion Sensor Room Monitor
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Password Journal ™ Voice Recognition Locking Journal
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Radion Friend Frames ™ Talking Picture Frame
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Beam It ™ Light Projector
1994/1995 Kid One Licensed Toys
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VRTEX ™ Hologram Hand-Held Electronic Games (Tiger Electronics)
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Look-N-Learn Pictures ™ (Tiger Electronics)
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Discover Discs ™ Counting and Shapes, Alphabet, People and Places (Tiger Electronics) Talkboy Pen FX ™ (Tiger Electronics)
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Beamers ™ Recording Device (SEGA)
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Megaphone ™ Megaphone (YES! Entertainment)
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MegaMike ™ MegaMike (YES! Entertainment)
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Secret Pen ™ (YES! Entertainment)
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Yak Bak ™ Series Recording Device (YES! Entertainment)
Broderbund Software Products
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The Playroom ™ (MS DOS, Macintosh, Apple II)
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The Treehouse ™ (MS DOS, Macintosh, Apple II)
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Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? ™ Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego? ™ Where in Europe is Carmen Sandiego? ™ Where in North Dakota is Carmen Sandiego? ™ (Macintosh, Apple IIGS, MS DOS, Apple Network)
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Algebra ™ (MS DOS, Macintosh, ILS)
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Calculus ™ (Microsoft Windows)
HONORS AND AWARDS Achievement and Recognition:
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Technology Foundation Hero Award, San Diego, CA - 2006/2007
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IDMA Award 2007
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Time Warner Award 2007
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Peer Nominated for Teacher of the Year Award, Del Mar Union School District 2007 National Daisy Mentor Award Girl Scouts of San Francisco Bay Area 2003
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Who’s Who in Executive and Business – Nationwide Register – 2001/2002
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Women in Science and Technology Month – Women in Technology International – 1999 Advancement of Girls and Technology – YWCA of the USA – New Jersey – 1998
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Curriculum Vitae of: Janese Swanson Page 4 (continued)
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Women Entrepreneur of the Year Nominee – San Francisco National Association of Women Business Owners – 1997
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Women of the Year – Ms. Magazine – 1997
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Outstanding Women Role Model Award – Girls, Inc., - New York – 1997
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Annual Leading Change Award – Women in Communications – 1997
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Products:
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Toy of the Year Award – Parent Choice Awards – 1997
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Parent Council Award – Parent Choice Software Awards – 1997
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Toy of the Year Award – Dr. Toy – 1996
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Internet Awards:
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Apple Computer - iWeb -Best Education Website 2007
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GII Awards – Semi-Finalist – 1998/1999
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Best of Show, California State Fair – 1997/1998/1999
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Best of the Web – Cnet
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4 Star Site – Magellan
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Pick of the Day – MSN
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Best on the Net – New York Times
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Chicks Get Hip – CNN Interactive
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Business Website First Place – Marin Online – 1996/1997/1998
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Best Sites for Girls – The Salt Lake Tribune
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Hall Pass to Cool Places on the Web – Kidwatch.com
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EZ Connect
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Three Clicks to the Best of the Net
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SpecTECHular Resources featuring SpecTECHular Women
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PUBLICATIONS
Author, “Tech Girl’s Internet Adventures,” IDG Books Worldwide, 1997
Author, Adventures On-Line, American Girl Magazine, March/April 1996
Author, Tech-ed Off, Girls Life Magazine, December 1995
Author, Empowering Girls, San Francisco Business Time, April 4, 1997
Author, View Point, San Francisco Chronicle – Business Section, May 4, 1997
Author, What’s the Difference? A Review of the Literature on Boys and Girls, Kidactive, 1997 Author, Technology – Are We Helping Our Daughters, Tech Directions, April 1998 Author, High Tech for Girls, Northern California Parent, July 1998
Author, Rekindling the Artist Within, Marin Independent Journal, January 2003
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
NEA
International Technology Education Association 2005-2007
SIGGRAPH Board Member and Education Chair International Tech Conference 2005-2007 Board Member Latino Film Festival 2002
Board Member, Dominican University 1999 - 2002
Board Member, Women in Toys 1999 - 2000
Board Member, Lemelsohn Center for Innovation and Invention, Smithsonian Inst. 1998 -1999
Panel Member, San Francisco City College Technical Advisory Board, 1995
Board Member, Disabled Children’s Computer Group, 1991 – 1992
Video Producer, IDL and Associates, 1990 - 1992
Keywords
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Author, Inventor, Artist, Educational Software, Business Consultant, Analyst, Product Development and Management, Strategic Planning, Marketing, Branding, Operations Management, Design, Fundraising, Administration, Training, Professional Development, Teacher, Instructor, Executive, Budgeting, Models, Team Building, Quality Control, Product Testing, Speaker, Spokesperson