Broadthink Partners

Barbara Weller

A proven media/communications and content specialist, Barbara has developed television and video programming for ABC, HGTV, Price Waterhouse, and others. Simultaneously, she has run her own consulting firm specializing in magazine publishing, business and product development, and affinity marketing. In this context she successfully created and launched new “affinity” clubs, membership publications, direct mail campaigns, merchandise catalogues; directed quantitative research projects and branding programs; and consulted on database marketing projects. She was charged with restructuring the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) and represented the organization at the International Women’s Economic Summit held in Paris.

Barbara’s start-up experience includes launching the Affinity Development Group, Broadthink and BroadLit, Inc., a publishing and digital business selling romance books and e-books, licensed merchandise and in development of a digital Romance channel based on acquired True Romance and True Love magazine romance libraries. Barbara’s career began as a journalist and editor where she worked as the Features Editor for the Chicago Daily News, and as the Special Sections Editor, Entertainment Editor and Sunday Magazine Editor of the Chicago Sun-Times. Her remarkable track record in creating and establishing new features and syndicated columns for the newspaper has been widely recognized. As Promotions and Marketing Services Director at the Sun-Times, she created all of its advertising and promotional campaigns.

At Broadthink (launched in 2001 with her two partners), Barbara’s branding, business development, and content management skills provide new directions for interactive, entertainment, and publishing clients. Barbara is a content developer and art director, she has developed and launched websites, social media, email programs, brand content, marketing material, cookbooks and investment books. Broadthink works with Fortune 500 companies as well as start-ups to develop and expand their brands, build online communities, translate content into new media, and to connect “all the dots” between a brand and its market.

Nancy Cushing-Jones

Nancy is a co-founder of Broadthink, she is an expert in translating story concepts from one medium to another and is a recognized expert in all forms of print and digital publishing across all genres and age groups both domestically and internationally. Nancy is acknowledged as one of the earliest creators of the “tie-in” publishing business, transforming it from a marketing-only function to a financially significant business. Now a multi-billion dollar industry, Nancy was in the forefront of creating a new business for the development and licensing of video-game rights to filmed entertainment properties.

Nancy began her career in book publishing as the Managing Editor of two academic presses: The University of California at Berkeley Continuing Education of the Bar and Sage Publications. She transitioned to trade publishing and video-game licensing, where she launched and ran for 23 years the worldwide book publishing division of Universal Studios and the Universal Videogames Licensing Division. As a result of establishing both of these divisions for Universal Studios, Nancy became the first female division president in the history of the Studio.

She is responsible for creating and selling her first New York Times best-selling book in 1982 and has continued to earn this distinction for both fiction and non-fiction books for children and adults over the past 30 years for a wide spectrum of creative properties. Nancy was also the Executive Vice President of the Universal Studios Consumer Products Group, where she had a wide range of responsibilities including acting as the representative for this Group with all the key film and television producers, directors and performers on the various filmed entertainment projects produced and distributed by the Studio. In this capacity she often traveled with film production companies shooting on locations such as mainland China, Slovakia and Mexico.

Nancy is a credentialed Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI®) Certified Practitioner, who provides evaluations and training for clients across a wide range of industries, and for both corporations and small groups. Her assessments, insight, and training are a valuable tool for the success of a single project to the success of a business. These services can be for individuals and for team building.

Consulting Partner

Cynthia Cleveland

Cynthia is recognized leader in brand and new business development. She is an expert in translating and monetizing intellectual property rights into major global consumer brands and new businesses across diverse industries. A 5-time CEO-President, Cynthia has led companies ranging from Fortune 500s to private for-profit companies to start-ups and one of the original co-founders of Broadthink and BroadLit, Inc.

Companies Cynthia has led have generated over $4B in worldwide sales across consumer product, entertainment, and publishing brands. Her career has spanned well-known companies including Universal Studios, Mattel Toys, Imaginarium Toy Stores, Teleflora, and Carnation Foods.

Her breadth of experience and superior track record in identifying new business trends for diverse global brands, manufacturing oversight, retail experience, entertainment, and online/digital marketing expertise, and producing fast-track results provide a unique perspective of world markets and have made her a recognized industry leader. She has launched thousands of consumer products and established innovative alliances with packaged goods and fast-food promotional partners and key mass market retail partners.

Cynthia is a partner at CEO Coaching International, a leading consulting firm that is focused on working with the world's leading executives in the areas of leadership, strategy, innovation, team building and cultural design to help them dramatically grow their business. Cynthia's extensive experience supports the progression of entrepreneurs and C-level executives.

Cynthia is also a credentialed Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI®) Certified Practitioner. Cynthia has extensive experience in working with groups and team leaders to provide team development training and coaching services for both individuals and teams. She conducts evaluations and training for clients across a wide range of industries, including nonprofit, health care sector, and for both corporations and small groups. Her assessments, insight, and training are a valuable tool for the success of a single project to the success of a business.

Cynthia has been an active leader in YPO (Young Presidents Organization) for over 20 years with leadership roles including International Networks Committee, to elected Women's Network Chair, leading the 1,400+ female members in initiatives ranging from Board Education to Mentoring. Cynthia was named "One of the Top 100 Visionary Leaders" by Real Leaders Magazine in 2015.

Cynthia is an experienced board member having served on 10 Fiduciary and Advisory boards including both profit (CPP The Myers Briggs Company, Imaginarium Toys) to nonprofit (YPO, Indiana University).