ON AIR GUEST – Stephen Newman CEO, CultureMap CEO, Founder, Mouth Watering Media

Stephen Newman

CEO, CultureMap

CEO, Founder, Mouth Watering Media

Stephen is an accomplished executive with more than 20 years experience in business strategy, general management, digital product development, media sales and marketing, business development and content production.

As CEO of CultureMap, Stephen is building a new kind of digital media company equal parts media, technology and services. CultureMap publishes a daily digital magazine in Houston and Austin (and soon beyond) that offers 24/7 coverage of local culturally relevant news and information across all digital platforms. Through its Digital Services division, CultureMap provides digital products, technology applications and creative services to local, regional and national clients across a variety of industry sectors.

In 2008, Stephen founded Mouth Watering Media, a digital media company that serves clients in the information, culture, and entertainment sectors. MWM focuses on three areas: 1) digital strategy and marketing; 2) application development across web, mobile and tablet platforms; 3) content production across all media – audio, video, text, info-graphics, etc. In addition to working with clients ranging from large entertainment companies like the NCAA, Sony, Universal Music, and Warner Bros, to cultural organizations like the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and many others, MWM has a successful record of developing and operating its own direct to consumer sites.

Prior to founding Mouth Watering Media, Stephen was the Principal of Crescendo Consulting Group, a boutique strategy firm that worked with clients in all stages of development, from startups to mature businesses.

Before his return to Houston, where he was raised, Stephen served as Deputy General Manager and Director of Business Operations at New York Times Digital. As a member of the company’s senior management team, Stephen’s responsibilities included leading product development, managing revenue operations, client and customer services, and overseeing site design, architecture and functionality.

Stephen came to The New York Times Company from PricewaterhouseCoopers where he served as a senior consultant in the firm’s Entertainment and Media Corporate Strategy practice, working with clients ranging from small Internet start-ups to global Fortune 500 media companies.

Stephen began his career at CNN during the first Gulf War where in addition to his responsibilities as a writer and producer for the television network, he was involved in the company’s early new media initiatives.

Stephen is active in the Houston community. He’s a member of the Executive Committee of the Association for Community Broadcasting, the joint board for Houston PBS and Houston Public Radio. He remains involved with Houston Grand Opera after serving on its board and leading a long-term strategic planning initiative for this innovative opera company. He also serves on the board of the American Festival for the Arts.

Stephen served as a founding member of the first Customer Experience Council, an international group of blue chip companies dedicated to furthering best practices and building business by providing flawless customer experiences.

Stephen earned his MBA from Columbia University Graduate School of Business and a BA from Tufts University.He and his wife, Katharine, live in Houston with their two sons.