Bender Helper Impact

Dean Bender is a founding partner of Bender/Helper Impact (B/HI). The agency, which was formed in 1986 along with Lee Helper, is a full-service public relations and marketing communications firm that specializes in the development and implementation of corporate and consumer-oriented campaigns for entertainment-based businesses.

Having counseled a wide range of entertainment and corporate-related clients over the years, Bender is currently responsible for the agency’s day-to-day operations.  In that role, he oversees the agency’s four key practice areas, which include Entertainment Content, Interactive Entertainment, Consumer Products and Technology. With an in-depth knowledge of the issues, trends and policies related to these areas, Bender provides corporate, branding and product consultation to the entire firm’s roster of clients including 20th Century Fox Consumer Products, Lionsgate Home Entertainment, THQ, CBS Consumer Products, Disney Home Entertainment, Sony Online Entertainment and Saban Brands, among many others.

Prior to the establishment of B/HI, Bender spent the previous decade in executive positions at entertainment-based public relations agencies Rogers & Cowan and ICPR Public Relations.  From comprehensive and strategic campaigns to damage and crisis control situations, he has worked closely with such recognizable industry leaders as Rupert Murdoch, Christie Hefner and Al Gore on behalf of 20th Century Fox, Playboy Enterprises and Current Media, respectively.

Lee Helper is a founding partner and president of Bender/Helper Impact (B/HI), which has focused on providing strategic marketing communications and public relations services since 1986. In addition, Helper oversees The Neo Cooperative (formerly EMbizImpact), a highly-specialized advisory practice of senior executives who focuses on accelerating development and growth for new and established entertainment, cross- media and digital technology businesses.

Helper has played a key role with several domestic and international companies and industry associations, including: 20th Century Fox (Domestic & International TV), Disney, USA Network, Discovery Communications, The Sundance Channel, National Association of Programming Executives (NATPE), King World, NBC International, OpenTV, the University of California Regents, National Geographic Television, New Media Broadcast Company, The International Council of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Amazon.com, @d:tech, InterVU, Liberty Media, News Corp., Shelter Ventures, IXL, Tele-Communications, Inc. (merged into Comcast after AT&T sale), Viacom, Association for Interactive Media (AIM), Interactive Digital Software Association (ISDA)/E3, Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) and National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM).

Prior to establishing B/HI, Helper formed Helper & Associates, which handled public relations for numerous cable television channels and entertainment ventures and, most notably, the launch of the nationally syndicated program, The Oprah Winfrey Show, through his client, King World. Prior to that, he spearheaded the West Coast Office of March Five PR after rising through the ranks of several national PR firms, including DAY and Harshe, Rotman & Druck.

With more than 20 years experience in public relations, Shawna Lynch has represented some of the largest entertainment companies in the world and has developed groundbreaking communications strategies for a wide variety of companies in the areas of entertainment packaged goods, technology, digital delivery, television and consumer products.  Lynch’s strengths include strategic planning, creative events/concepts, media relations, corporate positioning and media training.

As an Executive Vice President at Bender/Helper Impact, Lynch oversees the agency’s Entertainment Content (including digital entertainment) and Consumer Products groups, and is known for getting in the trenches with her account teams.  She is personally involved in the implementation of every project and contributes on a daily basis to the orchestration of each campaign.

Lynch has supervised campaigns and special events for such clients as Disney Interactive, Mattel Media, DreamWorks Home Entertainment, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, MGM Home Entertainment, CBS Home Entertainment, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, American Film Institute, Current Media, FremantleMedia North America, TV Guide Network, Comcast Interactive Media (Fancast.com), Yahoo! Entertainment, Universal Studios Consumer Products, WB.com, Playmates Toys and 20th Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising, among others.

As Senior Vice President of Bender/Helper Impact, Adam Fenton oversees the operations for the agency’s New York office.   With nearly 20 years of public relations experience with 10 of those at B/HI, Fenton has been instrumental in growing the office in size and stature from eight employees and 10 clients to almost 30 employees and 20 clients.

The office maintains a client roster that features some of the most distinguished names in the home entertainment, consumer products and video game industries including Lionsgate, Nickelodeon, Guinness World Records, Konami, BBC Americas, Scholastic Media, 4Kids Entertainment, Pokemon, Majesco Games, and Electronic Arts, among others.   Fenton works closely with his account teams to ensure a strong strategic approach to every campaign as well as an aggressive media relations program.

Prior to his current position at B/HI, Fenton served as the Sports Information contact for women’s track & field/cross country at the University of Texas. He also served as the Sports Information and Marketing Director at Kean University in Union, New Jersey from 1990-1996, where he was in charge of  media relations for 16 varsity programs.

With more than 12 years of experience in public relations and publicity, Melisa Rodriguez has represented clients in the areas of entertainment, music, technology, travel and consumer products.  Her work has encompassed the full range of public relations, including strategic communication planning, special events, and media relations and publicity.

Rodriguez has been with Bender/Helper Impact for over nine years and brings a wealth of entertainment experience to the agency, particularly in the area of music.  She previously served as public relations manager for Warner Music Group’s home entertainment division and worked for an agency specializing in public relations for musical performers and groups.  At Bender/Helper Impact, she has overseen account activity for clients including Current Media, Koldcast, The Streamy Awards, Fox Television Studios’ 15 Gigs, Yahoo! Music, Yahoo! Entertainment, Break.com, Comcast Interactive Media (Fancast), Scion Broadband, A2 Entertainment, AFI, FremantleMedia and MGM Home Entertainment.  Her emphasis at the agency is on digital entertainment content, music and television.

Previously, Rodriguez worked at MGLA Public Relations where she was responsible for the agency's music clients.  Prior to that, Rodriguez held a position at the Los Angeles-based independent public relations company, People’s Revolution.  While at People's Revolution she was involved with clients such as The Sunset Marquis Hotel and Villas, The Avalon Hotel, recording artist Liars Inc., and events such as the Gay Pride Festival.

Brian Reinert is a Vice President for Bender/Helper Impact’s Consumer Products Division where he represents and oversees the day-to-day operations of a wide range of leading entertainment companies including Nickelodeon, Pokemon, 20th Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising, Guinness World Records, CBS Consumer Products Group, 4Kids Entertainment and others.

Brian brings nearly 10 years of public relations experience and extensive contacts in print and broadcast media. Prior to his tenure at BHI, Brian worked for Moody Communications and an investment research publisher in New York.

Eric Wein brings nearly 14 years of communications and brand management experience to the executive director role, leading the interactive entertainment and consumer technology group. Wein’s background includes leading highly successful communications campaigns for major entertainment franchises and transmedia product launches both in-house and on the agency side. The B/HI division’s stellar client roster includes Sony Online Entertainment, THQ, SEE Virtual Worlds, Sony Creative Services and Zoo Games.

Before joining B/HI, Wein spent almost six years leading global public relations campaigns for multimillion-dollar video game product launches at Disney Interactive Media Group, the interactive entertainment division of The Walt Disney Company.  Products ran the gamut from major live-action and animated film-based games to racing, shooting, casual and lifestyle products. He also served in a corporate communications capacity, managing several projects, including developer studio acquisition announcements.

Prior to his Disney tenure, Wein spent nearly five years at Edelman, the largest independent global public relations firm, where he was among the first members of the Xbox hardware public relations launch team for the Microsoft games account.  After initially supervising business media and industry analyst outreach strategy, he transitioned into roles that led strategy on a number of major projects, including the revolutionary broadband Xbox LIVE online service, Xbox brand promotional partnerships and eventually supervised media outreach for Microsoft Game Studios console and PC products, featuring major brands and licenses. 

His experience also includes stints in studio corporate communications and TV publicity at Warner Bros; and in client relations at Business Wire.  He began his career as a newspaper beat reporter.

Jonalyn Morris has been a member of the Bender/Helper Impact family for more than eight years in various roles that have included senior staff member, client and consultant.  With more than fourteen years of experience, Morris has worked with companies in ad/marketing, consumer technology, entertainment, mobile and online social media and specializes in executing product launches, B2B campaigns and thought-leader programs that generate awareness, sales and new business partnerships.

While rising the ranks at Bender/Helper Impact, Morris received a Sabre Silver Finalist Award for her work on the launch of the PhatNoise Digital Media Player for Audi & Volkswagen, and her PR efforts on several start-ups contributed to their multi-million dollar acquisitions. Morris began her career in Television Publicity, holding positions at both Warner Bros. International Television and Paramount Television Media Relations.

Brian has been immersed in social media, web video and interactive trends for over five years. He has helped clients in film, television, music and consumer products successfully launch new products and social media initiatives.  His expertise spans digital application development, community management strategy and outreach, video production and screen and copywriting as well as high concept integrated promotional campaigns that connect all of these elements together.

Brian’s experience prior to joining Bender/Helper Impact included independent film development, Public Relations Account Associate, researcher and writer for the trend-forecasting book “Trendspotting,” DVD and interactive application producer, video content creator and most recently Interactive Strategist for one of LA’s largest digital marketing agencies.