Michael Salort

Michael Salort spent most of his professional career as an award-winning television journalist, working for such programs as ABC News' 20/20 newsmagazine, NBC's Dateline NBC and Twentieth Century Fox Television where he led teams of journalists in undercover investigations worldwide. In 1999, Michael was recruited by Larry Ellison (CEO of Oracle Corporation) to become a founding member and executive for Oracle spin-off, the NIC Company, a computer hardware company whose mission was the introduction of "connecting technologies" to underserved communities and Third World countries. Running marketing, press relations, business development and fundraising for the new entity, Michael managed fund raising for the company, signed new partnerships and clients and his department secured several hundred positive press placements in leading television news programs, such as NBC's Today Show, NBC's Dateline NBC and CBS News, and print publications such as the New York Times, London Times, Newsweek, and the Wall Street Journal.

Michael's first connection with Hollywood came as a consequence of being given the additional assignment of exploring ways to integrate technology and "visual content" to the benefit of the motion picture and technology industries. Concurrent to his role at NIC, Michael's work as a recognized aspiring screenwriter helped introduce him further into the workings of the industry, leading to work as a business consultant and chief fundraiser for various production entities based in Los Angeles.

In October 2003, Michael Salort joined Viewpoint Corporation CEO Jay Amato as part of a turn-around team assigned to revitalize the struggling technology company to restore shareholder value. As Senior Vice President of Business Development, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Michael was responsible for the reinvention of the company's brand and the securing of favorable press placements in media such as BusinessWeek, Forbes, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Investors Business Daily, USA Today, the Associated Press, NBC News, CBS News and the Los Angeles Times.