How has FIU helped you get to where you are today in your career?
FIU paved the way for my career in several ways. The networking and bonding with so many friends from different cultures laid the foundation for what I’m doing today. Also, I was influenced by the late great PR guru Bill Adams in the School of Communication at North Campus who went above and beyond for his students. Professor Adams recommended me for my first internship at Thorp & Company where I learned the real-ins and outs of PR. It was there that I worked on the Miami International Boat Show as an intern. That experience led to me moving to Los Angeles to work in the entertainment industry.
What path did you take to attain your current career?
After FIU, the economy was down. Even though I had a degree, there weren’t many job opportunities. I did, however, find a paid internship at a boutique entertainment PR Agency called Pryor & Associates. Working with the CEO Jeff Pryor, I got my start, my bootcamp working with some of the most fascinating figures and companies in the international TV space such as National Geographic, Sony Pictures International, SBS Broadcasting, and much more. I learned early that Hollywood was all about relationships. Three months on the job I was supporting the company’s clients at a major television conference in Cannes, France. I never looked back. I would go on to work at another major entertainment PR agency run by another guru, Dawn Miller, called Levine Communications Office. They focused more on films with incredible, iconic director clients and producers such as Peter Guber and Robert Evans. But my relationship with Jeff Pryor reunited me with him and our client Harry Sloan. Jeff recruited me to work with him at MGM Studios a few years later when Harry Sloan was appointed Chairman and CEO of the iconic Studio. The MGM experience exposed me to working on the legendary James Bond franchise, the Stargate TV universe and much more within the company’s umbrella. Also at MGM I was able to work with my wife Valerie Dumont, also an FIU alumni who I met in an Entrepreneurship class while attending FIU! She moved to Los Angeles after completing her master’s in finance and MGM was her first job. Around the time of MGM I created my first entrepreneurial venture, my own film festival Holly Shorts. That festival, now in its 21st year, has grown to become one of the largest short film festivals in the world with four Oscar-qualifying categories, and it is a BAFTA-qualifying festival. We are coming off 2 alumni Oscar wins from this past Academy Awards, which is wonderful. A few years later, I launched my own PR and marketing communications agency Dumont Marketing, which is now known as Alta Global Media. Alta Global encompasses pretty much everything from my history. We do marketing, management, and production with some of the most fascinating filmmakers and major entertainment brands in the world.
What’s been the coolest thing about your job so far?
The best is working with iconic directors such as Spike Lee on his personal brand and major film campaigns. Another great part is attending the biggest film festivals in the world and launching our projects or our client projects.
What does a typical day for you look like?
A typical day includes very early email sweeps in the morning as many of our clients are abroad. We are managers so we are seeking opportunities for our clients and pitching them. We are in a virtual world still so then we have an array of client zoom calls. We work with the media quite a bit so it’s negotiating media stories or responding to various requests which requires lots of details. Afternoons are for our own internal meetings for strategy. And late afternoons are where we read new script projects, write news releases, pitch media, strategize on new business development, and or analyze coverage on film or TV projects. Evening entails family time, dinner, sports and homework!
Were there any classes or professors that influenced where you are today?
Two professors truly helped shape my path. Professor Waller taught English during one of my first semesters. During his class he made us do some cinematic analysis which made me realize my passion for filmmaking. And, as previously mentioned, the late Bill Adams.
What advice do you have for students interested in a career in your field?
While studying Communications, I took internships in the advertising world and PR. This was very early on in the curriculum, but it went a long way. Sometimes you develop your interests in fields, but that internship experience really gives you a glimpse into what’s possible. Then you have to care about your path. Also, it’s a journey. Take your time, get some great mentors, and always keep it corporate, whether that be working for a major company or your own venture.
