Christy Ferer

Christine Ann Ferer is a New York City public servant, entrepreneur, television correspondent and philanthropist. She founded Vidicom (1982) one of the first to videotape fashion shows. She also founded Citybuzz, an affiliate that programs out-of-home television in hotels, taxis, airports and airlines As a 9/11 widow, Ferer served Mayor Michael Bloomberg as his liaison to the families of 9/11 and served as one of the first female commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Ferer is a founding Board Member of the 9/11 Museum Memorial Foundation.

As a Francophone, Ferer serves Franco-American commerce initiatives formed by French ambassadors based in Washington. In France, Ferer is a consultant to the First Lady of France, Brigitte Macron, on philanthropic and educational issues and hosts her fact-finding tours in the US

Ferer is a recipient of the French Legion of Honor and the Matrix Award for Women in Communications.

Early life and education

Ferer was born in St. Louis, Missouri where she graduated high school before earning two bachelors degrees (French, Journalism) from the University of Colorado.

Ferer achieved the Premier Degré de la Langue Française at the University of Bordeaux in 1970. In 1974 she earned an MA in Urban Affairs from Boston University including a fellowship at MIT's Grunsfeld program in urban planning.

Career

Journalism

Ferer began her career as an Emmy Award winning television correspondent and anchorperson at NBC affiliate KSDK St. Louis in 1974, and at WPIX New York 1976-1981. She remained a contributor to morning news programs on ABC, NBC and CBS for the next 25 years. Ferer also authored two style books which often served as the basis for her television appearances.

Entrepreneur

In 1981 Ferer founded two businesses. Vidicom became one of the first companies to videotape fashion runway shows and distribute them globally through satellite. .[1] The stylish content became a staple of news shows and lifestyle programs.

The lifestyle video news release that Vidicom created 30 years ago morphed into a branded content, native advertising, and an interactive platform called InteracTV. The digital platform linked major brands with consumers directly through the brands' own digital outlets, hosting live interactive interviews. The firm also created video marketing programs for clients including Disney, Johnson & Johnson, AARP, LVMH, Donna Karan, Nintendo and General Motors.

Citybuzz[2] became the first in-hotel TV network, which expanded to include mobile Wi-fi screens in subways, taxis, in-flight and online as well as traditional broadcast radio and TV. Much of the content was advertorial, a form of branded content. As part of the city's tourism network, Ferer continues to serve on the Board of New York City's Javits Center.

Public service

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Commissioner 2004-2008

Ferer served as the interface between 9/11 families and the PANYNJ during the planning/creation of the 9/11 Memorial.

Javits Convention Center Board – 1998 to Present

Special Assistant – Liaison to the families of September 11, Office of the Mayor

Ferer is a 9/11 Widow who lost her husband Neil Levin, the director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey which was located in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Four months after the 9/11 tragedy, Mayor Michael Bloomberg appointed Ferer as his 9/11 liaison. She represented 3,000 9/11 families who lost loved ones on all government issues including victims compensation negotiations, Ground Zero rebuilding, gift programs, and DNA and property idenfication processes. Ferer initiated fundraising and creation of the Battery Park "Sphere" Memorial as well as a temporary Memorial Park Chapel containing unidentified human remains and the family rooms and platforms at Ground Zero. Since 2002, her responsibilities have included liaising with 9/11 families and shaping balance media coverage through both New York newspaper op-ed pieces and multiple appearances on news broadcasts.

As a member of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, Ferer helped to create the mission and program requirements for a Ground Zero memorial.

World Trade Center Memorial Foundation, Development Chair

Since 2006, Ferer has worked with companies including InBev Anheuser Busch, Bank of America and Disney for multimillion-dollar gifts for the creation of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and Foundation.

American Corporate Partners, Founding Advisory board member

Ferer led several 9/11 family members to visit troops in Baghdad and wounded veterans in military hospitals stateside. With Syd Goodfriend, Ferer helped to create American Corporate Partners to encourage US companies to mentor vets. She facilitated partnerships with companies like Bloomberg, Travelers and AON.

Not for profit

Publications
  • Newsweek: Back from Iraq and Prouder Than Ever
  • New York Times op-ed: Unforgotten Soldiers
  • New York Times op-ed: Lives Lost and the Renewal of Downtown

Books

Breaking the Rules: Home Style for the Way We Live Today

Decorating on a Dime: Trade Secrets from a Style Maker -

References
  1. Dunn, Laura Emily (January 16, 2015). "Women in Business Q&A: Christy Ferer, Founder and Chair of Vidicom". HuffPost. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  2. "About Us – Citybuzz Insider's Guide for Sophisticated Travel". Citybuzz.com.
  3. "List of Private Companies Worldwide, Letter". Bloomberg BusinessWeek.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 14, 2010. Retrieved May 7, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

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