Christopher Tyree
127 Maryland Avenue • Portsmouth, Virginia 23707 • (h) 757.339.6232 • (c) 757.406.3478 • chris.tyree@weyonow.com
Visual Communications, Media & Creative Direction
Proven ability to research, produce, lead, and manage complex projects ranging from documentaries to digital media dissemination; proficient in strategic formulation, execution, team building and communication strategies.

Highly accomplished multimedia producer, creative director and journalist offering a unique blend of strategic leadership, entrepreneurial talent, and operational expertise especially applicable to the Nonprofit sector. Charismatic, honest, and results-oriented; highly regarded by colleagues and staff for outstanding organizational and business development skills. Proven record of success in competitive markets built from founding and leading companies in the media, visual communication and marketing industries. Directs project resources efficiently and fosters an environment predicated on a commitment to the customer and the attainment of short- and long-term goals.

Skilled in building top-performing teams and sharing best practices across the entire organization. Equally skilled at story telling and developing technology. Leverages critical and creative thinking capabilities to analyze and rectify project issues. Assesses and motivates team members to maintain individual accountability for results.

Core skill areas
✓ Documentary Video Production
✓ Still Photography
✓ Narrative Based Story Telling
✓ Project Management
✓ Visual Communication Strategies
✓Use of Video and Design Software
✓ Team Leadership
✓ Research & Analysis
✓ Process & Procedure Creation
✓ Strategic Planning & Execution
✓ Quality Assurance
✓ New Product / Concept Creation
✓ Issue Management & Resolution
✓ Written Communication
✓ Social and Digital Media Concepts
✓ Creative Direction
✓ Entrepreneurship
✓ Understanding of Nonprofit Sector

Professional Experience

Wéyo Inc., Norfolk, Virginia September 2009 to Present
President and Co-Founder www.weyo.org & www.weyoblog.com

Wéyo is a non-profit media company specializing in stories focused on marginalized people and need in the world as well as the causes of Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and Non-profits, with the goal of increasing help for those in need through the use of documentary and narrative based projects.
Develop company concept.
Oversee finance, distribution and marketing.
Participate in board development, strategic planning, and project management.
Develop professional contacts and partnerships with media industry leaders especially with dissemination.
Build and manage entire award-winning teams focused on story development and editing.
Initiate various social media, digital media and emerging technology programs.
Build capacity for programs though development of donors and volunteer base.
Direct the creative approach to projects and their dissemination as well as company wide brand.
Wrote the company business and strategic plan.
Negotiate and write contracts with vendors and clients.
Produce, direct, edit and film feature length and short documentaries as well as writing and still photography.
Extensive travel in developing countries.

IDM LLC., Norfolk, Virginia February 2008 to Present
Co-Founder/Owner/CEO

Run the day to day operations of niche marketing and media company that utilizes strong narrative and visual communication with award winning design and new media technologies to detail and promote the mission and stories of our clients, strictly non-profits, social entrepreneurs and NGOs in their marketing and fundraising endeavors.
Responsible for attracting and maintaining clients and employees; clients range in size from those
organizations with operating budgets of $200,000 to $13 million.
Responsible for purchasing, writing proposals and estimating costs for the company.
Additional duties include production, creative direction and strategic planning.

Truth With A Camera Workshops, Norfolk, Virginia May 2008 to Present
Director www.truthwithacamera.org

•Responsible for the promotion, design and execution of weeklong, international documentary photography and film workshops.
•Promote the work of non-profits and NGOs in developing countries.
•Provide a learning experience for students interested in international project based documentary employment.
•Work with international universities and U.S. Embassy in workshop development.

The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Virginia May 2000 to August 2008
Visual Communications Specialist

Covered the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City, the detainees in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was embedded during work in Iraq with Navy, Army and Coast Guard as well as producing hundreds of other award-winning socially centered documentary projects using a variety of media formats.
•Produced stories to include researching, reporting, writing, editing, photographing (still and video) and
designing the projects.
•Produced, wrote, directed, and filmed multimedia projects.
•Served as Night Picture Editor, Features Picture Editor, and Assignment Editor.
•Responsible for technological support for the department, intern and department hires development.

The washington post, Washington, D.C. June 1998 to May 2000
Freelance photographer

Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, Spring 1999 & Fall 2000
Adjunct Professor, School of Visual Communication
Taught design classes on undergraduate and graduate level.

Bootstrap, Oxford, Maryland May 1996 to October 1999 Editor/Creative Director

Regional magazine for the National Press Photographers Association.
•Performed all edits, designs and layouts for Bootstrap quarterly news magazine.
•Redesigned magazine in 1996 and 1999.
•Wrote design-style guide.

The Star Democrat, Easton, Maryland June 1992 to July 1998
Photojournalist, Designer, Editor, Strategic Planner

•Redesigned the newspaper and wrote the publications first design style book.
•Responsible for facilitating growth of the newspaper, ensuring a high standard of quality for the newspaper, seeking new ways to incorporate technology into the production of the newspaper, boosting employee morale, and improving community relations.

Christopher Tyree, Page 3 757.406.3478 : chris.tyree@weyonow.com

Education

Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, M.A. Visual Communications with Distinction 2000
James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, Cum Laude, B.S. Communications/Journalism 1991

Professional Affiliations and Memberships

Wéyo.org, Chairman of the Board
Tree of Lives.org, Communications Chair
Edom Foundation, Board of Directors
Member, International Documentary Association and National Press Photographers Association

List of references, professional publications, additional training and accomplishments available upon request.