Regarded as one of Hollywood’s top marketing experts, Dean is an award-winning producer and director of some of the biggest productions with the world’s greatest stars — directing JLo and John Legend in Super Bowl spots, producing events featuring Dolly Parton at Radio City Music Hall, and creating hit shows starring the globally beloved Minions.
Dean has produced for NBC, HBO, CNN, Entertainment Tonight, E! NewsDaily, and Good Morning America. As Senior Vice President of Promotional Programming at NBC, he helped launch countless hits including The Voice, This Is Us, America’s Got Talent, Chicago Fire, World of Dance, Smash, The Biggest Loser, Friday Night Lights, and all of NBC’s live musicals, from the original ratings phenomenon The Sound of Music Live to the Emmy award-winning Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert. Dean has also produced campaigns for The Olympics, The Golden Globes, The Billboard Music Awards, Survivor, The Blacklist, NYPD Blue, Star Trek Enterprise, ER, Law & Order, SVU, Days of Our Lives, The West Wing…and many more.
Dean was the writer, director and producer of Hairspray Live‘s half hour syndicated “making of” special. He also was the creator and executive producer of the television special Heroes: Countdown to the Premiere, which was an innovative combination of an advertiser sponsored premiere party, a publicity/press red-carpet event and a highly rated hour of original primetime programming.
On Broadway, Dean choreographed Sha*Bang (Lincoln Center), Gypsy of the Year (Virginia Theater), Upfront (Radio City Music Hall) in addition to original dance productions at Studio 54, the Palladium and the Los Angeles Wilshire Theatre, Universal Amphitheater, Royce Hall and The Geffen. He is also proud to be one of the creators of the cult hit Octomom: The Musical.
In Hollywood, he has done countless TV shows, music videos and international concerts with Tina Turner, Prince, Barry Manilow, Ray Charles, The Temptations, Kool and The Gang, The Pointer Sisters, Debbie Reynolds, and Carol Channing to name a few. Dean has been one of Twyla Tharp’s dancers, an instructor at Broadway Dance Center and also a private dance teacher to the stars (with Rita Wilson, Kelly Preston, and Maria Shriver among his clients).
As a speaker, Dean’s TEDx Talk has propelled him into international engagements with clients as varied as PepsiCo, The World Council on Educational Development, and Seabourn Cruises. He shares his problem-solving method called the “Producer’s Perspective” which translates techniques from film, television and Broadway into practical business tools applicable to any industry. Mixing Hollywood insights with substantive action items, Dean has become a favorite for informational and entertaining keynote speeches around the world.
Contributing to his success is a diverse education from UCLA (BA degree, English Literature) and NYU’s Tisch Graduate School of Film (MFA degree, Film Production).
And, perhaps if you’re quick, you can spot a young Dean as one of the original Newsies.
Awards
Dean he has received over 35 top industry awards, including
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Promax World Gold (Best Launch Campaign,
Best Program Campaign, Best Director) -
Telly Award (Gold)
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NY Festivals (Gold)
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Cine Golden Eagle Awards (1st)
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The Clio (Gold, Silver)
He is a three time NBC Universal Ovation Award winner for Outstanding Creativity and a five time winner for Excellence in Leadership. He has also been the recipient of the Tisch Scholarship, the Pathfinder Award, the Time Warner Grant and the National Tremain Dance Scholarship.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
Tori Averett, Chairperson, Theater Arts Department, Troy University
"Dean is an absolutely phenomenal guest speaker and teacher."
"We just heard one of the world's greatest storytellers."
Andrew Thomas, TicketTattle
"One of the best, sorry THE best keynote at any conference I have ever attended. Brilliant."
Jeff Hollis, CBS Television
"I only wish I possessed half as much talent as Dean. He is a rare find."
Ian Anriki, Encore Events
Cathrine Kalssen, WCGTC Conference Chairperson
"A delight as a speaker. Dean’s presentation was rich in its messages and dynamic illustration, both of which were delivered with an acute awareness of audience and occasion."
Will Robedee, Executive Director, Broadcasters International
"The consummate professional...Dean brilliantly changed his presentation on the fly to fit the dynamics."
David Spell,Creative Director
The CW
"Over the years, again and again, Dean displayed superior talents that keep him at the top of his field."
"Anyone fortunate enough to work with him would understand why he’s so well respected."
Dean is one of the most creative leaders I’ve had the pleasure to work with. He regularly produces material that goes beyond expectations to surprise and entertain audiences.
Heaven Hnatiuk,
William Morris/Endeavor
Guy Ram, Vice President, Digital Marketing, NBC
Jim Barrett, President,
Edge Creative
"Dean has the creativity and dedication to create and produce campaigns that exceed all expectations."
Karen Berman, Ph.D, Theatre Chair, Georgia University
"Awesome…insightful…it was a delight having Dean on campus and the students learned so much!"
David Zobell, Education Director, Signature Theater
"His ideas have proven to be remarkably intuitive and show his ability to recognize what is missing in any situation. A remarkable speaker."
Wendy Miller, Vice President Playboy Television
"Dean is a great creative executive who understands every aspect of a large-scale project. Some can manage, some are highly creative – Dean is the best of both worlds."
Scott Chastain, EVP, Affiliate Marketing, NBC
Dean is one of the most creative producers I know. He is always incredibly organized, gets the big picture and never loses focus on the overall goal.
Danielle Wright, Director of Production, NBCUniversal
Not only is Dean always the most creative guy in the room, but he’s collaborative and generous.
Dean's Mom
"And on top of everything he’s accomplished, he’s very tidy. I like that."