Melissa Best Email & Phone Number

My journey with Visual Effects and Animation began two decades ago, and it was love at first sight.I am deeply passionate about crafting and delivering top-tier curricula in the domains of VFX, animation, and gaming. As the Head of Programming at Think Tank Training Centre, my role encompasses guiding and advising teams on the development, instruction, and roll-out of innovative post-secondary programs. These programs are designed to equip students for the ever-changing landscape of the entertainment arts sector.I've played a pivotal role in facilitating the successful inception of new studios, post-secondary campuses, and educational programs both in Canada and abroad. I'm proud to have built and sustained robust relationships with dozen of global studios. My strengths are manifold, from mentoring and coaching diverse teams, optimizing operational costs, crafting new policies and efficient workflows, to prioritizing the well-being of our staff and students. At the heart of it all, my mission remains clear: to motivate and guide the upcoming wave of VFX and animation talents.SUMMARY:• Lead and consult teams in developing, instructing, and launch of new industry-leading curricula and advanced post-secondary programs in the realm of VFX, Animation, & Games.• Integral in assisting the successful launch of new studios, post-secondary campuses, and programs. • Launched industry work initiative programs starting in 2020.• Specialize in supervising, mentoring, and training teams and individuals of various skill sets and levels, and working with various levels of academia in partner post-secondary institutions.HIGHLIGHTS:• Resource management; attracting, hiring, and staff retention• Empowering staff to move in the same strategic direction, across multiple markets• Optimization of department costs relative to revenue• Department, operation, and project management• Creation and implementation of new policies and workflows• Promotion of wellness for staff and students• New and existing program development and refinement• Research and implementation of new initiatives to drive revenue• Online, remote, and hybrid course content creation, delivery, and maintenance• SME collaboration• Marketing; design, public speaking, and outreach• Nurturing the collaboration between multiple private and public partnerships• Capacity and budget planning• Performance reviews• Pipeline development • Artist and show supervision• Supervision and work on 65+ feature films, television shows, and gamesAlso known as Mel Best

Listed skills include Nuke, Compositing, Visual Effects, Digital Compositing, and 39 others.