EPIC Impact Society Podcast — FUTURE PROOF Series —Steven Amato (Founder & CEO, Contend)

Future Proof is a special series on the EPIC Impact Society Podcast that brings emerging creatives into conversation with innovative leaders about the future of creativity, storytelling, and work. Produced by the iWorks student creative agency at Colorado Mountain College, the project is recognized as an EPIC Impact Project, sparking a generational dialogue about how to lead and create in a time of rapid change.

Steven Amato is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Contend, a trailblazing innovation studio with offices in the U.S. and Canada that is reshaping content creation and giving it an end game. Amato is an innovator in the worlds of marketing, advertising, and entertainment. Under his leadership, Contend has attracted leading global brands—including Amazon, Ticketmaster, Microsoft, Netflix, NFL, Meta, Bud Light, Warner Brothers, Disney, and Verizon—pushing the boundaries of storytelling, technology, and entertainment through innovative campaigns and immersive experiences that drive culture and consumer engagement. With a constant eye on the future, he has founded and invested in emerging technologies including Apex (a virtual smart stage), HoT (a mobile fitness game), and Corto, a proprietary audience intelligence and AI company. Prior to founding Contend, Amato served as President & Chief Content Officer of Omelet, the award-winning agency he co-founded in 2004, and as a Creative Leader at TBWA\Chiat\Day. He has worked with major brands including Wal-Mart, AT&T, Facebook, PlayStation, Lexus, Samsung, Harley-Davidson, the Academy Awards, DirecTV, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. An innovative storyteller and thought leader, Amato has consulted with the Obama White House, is a frequent speaker and moderator at global conferences, and continues to create as a writer and producer of original long- and short-form content.

Mallard Tieder is a graphic designer focused on brand and marketing design, with a passion for creating visual identities that authentically reflect the stories they represent. His work is grounded in a lifelong commitment to art and storytelling, shaped by early experiences in drawing, painting, and leading the design and production of his K–12 charter school yearbook—an experience that reinforced his attention to detail and the responsibility of designing work that holds meaning and memory. Mallard currently serves as the Graphic Design Lead for the Isaacson Works (“iWorks”) creative agency at Colorado Mountain College, where he develops brand systems and campaign visuals that support real-world clients and community partners. He has also gained industry experience through an internship with Backbone Media, further strengthening his skills in strategic design and professional creative workflows. As an emerging designer, Mallard is dedicated to building thoughtful, effective brand identities that communicate clearly, resonate deeply, and connect with audiences in meaningful ways.

Mark Millhone is a storyteller, educator, and creativity evangelist. He currently serves as Integrated Media Program Director at Colorado Mountain College’s Isaacson School of Communication, Arts and Media and Director of the Isaacson Works (“iWorks”) Creative Agency, where he mentors emerging creatives while building a next-generation model for agency-based creative education. As producer and host of the EPIC Impact Society and Strategic Play podcasts, Mark curates conversations with creative leaders across education, leadership, brand strategy, emerging technology, and the arts.