Alex only ever wanted to be a rock star. Since the Replacements are long gone and KISS isn't hiring, he's the front man for Changents.

Alex is a media executive and social entrepreneur who got his start in the entertainment industry more than 15 years ago heading up live concert tours for major label artists like Radiohead, PJ Harvey and The BoDeans, while rocking out with his own band in the off-hours. He was at Radiohead's first-ever US concert; there for Conan O'Brien's second night on-air; on the set of The Arsenio Hall Show when the unlikely assemblage of luminaries included Dennis Miller, Anna Nicole Smith, Chris Farley, RuPaul plus 5 five slightly perplexed RH guys; and has personally lived through nearly every scene of This Is Spinal Tap.

No stranger to Internet business (ad)ventures, partnerships and pioneering, Alex specializes in launching new businesses at the intersection of socially-conscious storytelling and digital distribution. He has worked extensively in developing digital business strategies and negotiating content licensing deals on behalf of organizations including Sundance Institute, The Paley Center for Media (formerly the Museum of Television and Radio) and SnagFilms with partners such as Microsoft, Google/YouTube, Real Networks, Comcast and ProQuest.

Before jumping off the proverbial start-up cliff, Alex was Senior Director of Digital Ventures at PBS (Public Broadcasting Service), where he launched the advertising business on PBS.org – one of most highly-trafficked dot org sites on the Internet. He's also been a consultant to Sony Online Entertainment, Mattel Online and Disney/ABC Cable Networks Group – where he initiated the Internet advertising and e-commerce referral businesses on DisneyChannel.com in addition to producing dozens of original Internet entertainment and marketing features.

Alex’s pioneering spirit is also evidenced by his westward-expansion education tactics. An MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management followed a BA from University of Wisconsin – Madison. In 2010, UCLA Anderson selected Alex as one of 100 Inspirational Alumni out of more than 30,000 graduates.

Changents is now live and on tour in your city every day. Alex keeps our journey directed, cool and knows the worthwhile spots to stop along the way.

Drop him a line: alex at changents dot com

From an early age Stephen was captivated by computers, the Internet and anything that could be remotely labeled “techie”., Stephen was fascinated by how things functioned and began tinkering with various forms of web development, computer programming and animation. After being conscripted into duty as family tech support, it was only fitting for Stephen to parlay his hobbies into a career path – one in which he could get hairline deep into advancing and exploring new technology for a purpose higher than mere personal curiosity. 

With technology becoming more and more integrated with our everyday lives, Stephen has embraced the rapidly expanding potential and power that technology has to build communities and spur positive social change. Shortly after earning a BS in Computer Science from Oregon State University, Stephen took this revelation, along with his knowledge of Drupal, and made the dive into the rollercoaster world of Internet start-ups. He is now in the fast lane of propelling the use of technology for social good as a core team member of Changents.  

Stephen is full-speed-ahead on expanding and improving the tools and resources used by Change Agents to tell their stories and build teams of supporters on Changents. With an eye to the future, Stephen is excited to explore the new and innovative ways that Changents can harness the power of technology to empower Change Agents as they drive real, meaningful change around the world!

Drop him a line: stephen at changents dot com

Ally prefers to exist in paradox: she’s a girly girl hiker, a Catholic yogini, a socially conscious shopaholic and an all around mutt who is equal parts in love with and broken by the world in which she lives.

She hails from the east coast where she attended Boston College for both her B.A. and Masters (go Eagles!). Her academic background is in philosophy and theology and she’s used those degrees while teaching high school theology in Boston and San Francisco during the last six years. She loves working with teenagers and still considers herself to be one, no matter what her driver’s license says. While she loved teaching, she was ready for a new challenge, and that’s where Changents came in!

You’ll see Ally around the site, commenting and blogging, as well as in the futuristic realm of social media (word to my tweeps). She loves writing and being creative and is inspired daily by the stories told on this site and hopes you are, too.

Her skills include hydrating, parallel parking, headstands, spilling things and memorizing lyrics. Ally is willing and able to incorporate these into any situation, should they be needed and/or necessary.

Drop her a line: allison at changents dot com

Deron, a co-founder of Changents and its first CEO, is passionate about pouring his expertise into businesses that catalyze positive social change. He is now the Director of Content Distribution for TED with responsibility for leading that organization's development of a multi-platform distribution network.

In addition to his involvement in Changents, Deron has taken a leading role in launching two digital cable networks; negotiating more than a dozen partnerships with media technology companies (including iTunes, Amazon, AOL, Xfinity, and Hulu, among others) and developing a feature-length documentary that is slated to air on The History Channel.

As Vice President for Scholastic Entertainment in 2006, Deron spearheaded the joint venture to launch Qubo, a children’s programming venture in partnership with NBC Universal. Deron also served as Vice President of Digital Ventures for PBS where he represented the network in putting together the successful preschool cable network, Sprout – a joint venture with Comcast Corporation.

Deron is fluent in both Southern and Northern English languages, thanks to a BA in Journalism from University of Georgia and an MBA from McGill University (y'all / eh!?). As a cancer survivor, he understands fighting the good fight under the toughest of conditions. Whether ice climbing, kite boarding, launching a start-up or serving on the leadership team of venerable media brands, Deron brings a life-on-the-edge ethos to everything he does.