Genius Brands Appoints Nationally Recognized Psychiatrist, Dr. Cynthia Turner-Graham, to Its Board of Directors
Genius Brands International (NASDAQ: GNUS) appointed Dr. Cynthia Turner-Graham to its Board of Directors, enhancing its leadership with over 40 years of experience in healthcare. As a board-certified psychiatrist and community leader, she aims to support the company's mission of creating purpose-driven children's programming. CEO Andy Heyward highlighted her unique skills to foster shareholder value and diversity within the company's narrative. Dr. Turner-Graham expressed commitment to enriching the mental and spiritual health of the next generation.
- Appointment of Dr. Cynthia Turner-Graham to the Board adds over 40 years of relevant experience.
- Dr. Turner-Graham's expertise in mental health supports the company's mission for purpose-driven content.
- Focus on increasing diversity within the company's narratives may appeal to a broader audience.
- Transition in leadership could raise concerns about continuity in vision and strategy.
President-Elect of the Black Psychiatrists of America, and Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, Brings Broad Clinical, Administrative, and Community Leadership Experience
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., June 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Genius Brands International, Inc. (“Genius Brands” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: GNUS), a global brand management company that creates and licenses multimedia entertainment content for children, today announced the appointment of Dr. Cynthia Turner-Graham to the Company’s Board of Directors.
Cynthia Turner-Graham, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist and Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, who brings over 40 years of experience in the healthcare industry as a practicing psychiatrist, healthcare administrator and community leader. Among her accomplishments, Dr. Turner-Graham is the immediate past president of the Suburban Maryland Psychiatric Society, served as a Director of the Washington Psychiatric Society. and will take the helm of Black Psychiatrists of America as President in 2022. She has served as Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at both Vanderbilt University and Howard University Schools of Medicine.
Andy Heyward, Chairman & CEO of Genius Brands, stated, “The entire Genius Brands Board of Directors proudly welcomes Dr. Turner-Graham as we focus on building shareholder value, producing positive children’s content, increasing diversity in our company and in the stories we tell. She brings an invaluable skill set and is uniquely qualified to help guide us in that mission as we continue growing our premier kids streaming platform, Kartoon Channel!, and advance our pipeline of tentpole productions.”
Dr. Turner-Graham recently commented, “I am committed to supporting Genius Brands’ mission of creating programming for children with a purpose. Indeed, the fate of our country is in the hands of the next generation, who will need nation and community-building tools to make our communities places of harmony and civility. As a psychiatrist for more than 30 years, I’m honored to be part of this enterprising and forward-looking company.”
Lynne Segall, Chair of Genius Brands’ Nominating Committee & Chief Revenue Officer at TheWrap, further noted, “It was my privilege to interview Dr. Turner-Graham and nominate her to join the Genius Brands board. She brings unique skills that are particularly useful for a company such as Genius which focuses on positive content with a purpose for children.”
Dr. Turner-Graham conducted a number of clinical studies of candidate psychotropic medications as principal or co-principal investigator. Motivated by her administrative and clinical experiences, Dr. Turner-Graham established ForSoundMind Enterprises, Inc in 2004, with a particular focus on enhancing the mental, physical and spiritual health of groups, families, and individuals. Alongside her role as President and CEO of ForSoundMind Enterprises, Inc, she has maintained her private adult and adolescent psychiatry practice in Washington, DC and Rockville, MD for 20 years, where she takes a holistic approach to the comprehensive treatment of individuals and families. Dr. Turner-Graham has a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Fisk University, a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Kansas, and completed her residency in Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
About Genius Brands International
Genius Brands International, Inc. (Nasdaq: GNUS) is a leading global kids media company developing, producing, marketing and licensing branded children’s entertainment properties and consumer products for media and retail distribution. The Company’s ‘content with a purpose’ portfolio includes Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, on Kartoon Channel!; Shaq’s Garage, starring Shaquille O’Neal on Kartoon Channel!; Rainbow Rangers on Kartoon Channel! and Netflix; Llama Llama, starring Jennifer Garner, on Netflix; award-winning toddler brand Baby Genius; adventure comedy STEM series Thomas Edison's Secret Lab; and entrepreneurship series Warren Buffett's Secret Millionaires Club. Through licensing agreements with leading partners, characters from Genius Brands’ IP also appear on a wide range of consumer products for the worldwide retail marketplace. The Company’s Kartoon Channel! and Kartoon Classroom! are available in over 100 million U.S. television households via a broad range of distribution platforms, including Comcast, Cox, DISH, Sling TV, Amazon Prime, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Apple iOS, Android TV, Android Mobil, Google Play, Xumo, Roku, Tubi, YouTube, KartoonChannel.com, Samsung Smart TVs and LG TVs. For additional information, please visit www.gnusbrands.com.
Forward Looking Statements: Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "predict," "forecast," "project," "plan," "intend" or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, our ability to generate revenue or achieve profitability; our ability to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms, if at all; the potential issuance of a significant number of shares, which will dilute our equity holders; fluctuations in the results of our operations from period to period; general economic and financial conditions; our ability to anticipate changes in popular culture, media and movies, fashion and technology; competitive pressure from other distributors of content and within the retail market; our reliance on and relationships with third-party production and animation studios; our ability to market and advertise our products; our reliance on third-parties to promote our products; our ability to keep pace with technological advances; our ability to protect our intellectual property and those other risk factors set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the Company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Thus, actual results could be materially different. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
MEDIA CONTACT:
pr@gnusbrands.com
INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT:
ir@gnusbrands.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ea15077e-c1d3-4384-9b5c-59d841b37efe
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