ClearContent Communications
ClearContent Communications is a media consulting firm that specializes in helping publishers/companies build custom print and digital content products. ClearContent Communications is also an incubator for launching projects with individual and group partners. Current projects include: a series of dad oriented parenting books, a sports video community web site, and a Macintosh video how-to site.
Our Team
Founder/ Publisher
Joel brings years of knowledge and expertise to ClearContent Communications with his experience building companies and creating innovative print and digital content products.
Prior to founding ClearContent Communications, Joel was Publisher and Director of New Media for Sybex, Inc., one of the oldest and most respected publishers of computer print and digital media. As Director of New Media, he was responsible for the launch and management of the digital interactive division of Sybex, which included the Sybex Virtual Trainer™ and Learning Studio™ software product lines, the Sybexetrainer.com online training and testing web site, and the company web site, Sybex.com. The software and web products garnered rave reviews for their innovative use of cutting-edge technologies such as adaptive testing, assessment tests, and narrated step-by-step screencasts and hands-on visual projects powered by a simulated interface.
In his role as Publisher at Sybex, Joel directed publication and was responsible for the P&L of a multimillion-dollar book list featuring numerous best-sellers and the launch of six new successful series. He was also responsible for developing and managing partnerships with high profile authors and companies such as Microsoft, Apple Computer, and DevX. He also presented publishing strategies to retail clients such as Barnes & Noble, Borders, and Sybex’s international partners. Sybex was sold to John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Before joining Sybex, Joel was co-founder of LightSpeed Publishing, Inc., a content packaging and publishing company specializing in acquisitions/development, author relations, project management, and product production for technical publishers. LightSpeed’s client roster included Microsoft, Peachpit Press (Pearson Education), Waite Group Press (Simon & Schuster), The Coriolis Group, Sybex (John Wiley & Sons), Ventana Communications, and International Masters Publishers. LightSpeed also published its own computer book/software products for non-technical readers, which were distributed by Publisher’s Group West, the largest seller and distributor of books in the United States.
Previous to founding LightSpeed, Joel was Editorial Director at Waite Group Press, a visionary computer book and software publisher with products ranging from technical programming tutorials, how-tos, and references to cutting-edge multimedia products. Waite Group created numerous CBT (Computer Based Training) products from stand-alone Windows-based tutorials to the eZone, one of the first web-based learning course libraries. As the second employee hired, Joel played an integral part in transforming Waite Group Press from $300,000 per year 3-person content development group/book packager into a successful $10 million per year 33-employee publisher, which sold to Simon & Schuster.
Aside from his work at ClearContent Communications, Joel is a Managing Member of Care Share, LLC., a company that is building a family of social networking sites for the care industry. The first web site, ChildCareShare.com, scheduled to launch in the summer of 2008, is an online social networking service that brings together all the tools parents need to affordably, securely and effectively share child care, play dates, and carpooling with other parents in their community.
Joel also sits on the Board of Directors for the North Coast Mac Users Group (NCMUG), one of the largest Macintosh User Groups with over 650 members.
Currently, Joel resides in Marin County, California with his wife, daughter, and two dogs.