Todd Steele Named CEO of Tribeca Flashpoint Academy

CHICAGO, May 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy (TFA), a leading provider of digital media arts education and based in Chicago, announced today the appointment of Todd Steele as its next Chief Executive Officer.  Steele, whose appointment is effective immediately, will also serve on TFA's Board of Directors.  Howard Tullman, co-founder of TFA and former CEO, will become Chairman of the Board.

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Mr. Steele brings a wealth of experience in higher education across a wide range of educational businesses and entrepreneurial/professional settings. As a co-founder and executive at Career Education Corporation (CEC), Steele led the company's strategic planning and development functions, as well as building and managing the company's International and new location ("Startup") Divisions. More recently, he has consulted with companies such as Bertelsmann S.A. and Embanet/Compass and consulted with private equity groups regarding educational investment opportunities.

Having served on the Tribeca Flashpoint Academy board of directors, Steele says that he was drawn by TFA's distinctive and contemporary approach to education, and impressive educational outcomes. "TFA's educational approach personifies innovation in higher education," says Steele. "The curriculum is lean and focused, and centers on the needs of its students –not strictly skills and knowledge but real-world experience, perspective, and connections to help them successfully launch their careers. I am thrilled to lead the next phase of expansion and development for this game-changing school."

Former CEO Howard Tullman (one of TFA's founders and a well-known serial entrepreneur in both education and the tech space) will become TFA's Chairman of the Board, and will focus on exploring new technologies for the school while expanding the institution's partnerships with key businesses and industry players.  "This is another important and exciting step that positions TFA for accelerated growth. I am looking forward to working closely with Todd to continue expanding the college while advancing our mission of educating the best and brightest digital media arts graduates and preparing them for great jobs and bright futures."

About Tribeca Flashpoint Academy

A venture with Robert De Niro's Tribeca Enterprises, Tribeca Flashpoint Academy (located in downtown Chicago) is one of the nation's most well-respected digital media arts colleges— providing intensive, direct-to-industry associate degree programs in film + broadcast, recording arts, animation + special effects, game + interactive media, and graphic design. Part college, part industry apprenticeship, the school offers a progressive training model that erases the boundaries between education and the professional world by exposing students to real-world, industry experiences and state-of-the-art software and equipment beginning their very first semester on campus. Students graduate with robust resumes, professional-quality portfolios and reels, and insider industry know-how and connections in as little as 15 months.  Learn more about Tribeca Flashpoint Academy at http://www.tfa.edu.

SOURCE Tribeca Flashpoint Academy