Canon Communications

Charles G. McCurdy is Chairman and CEO of Apprise Media LLC, which he founded in January 2004, and Chairman and CEO of its Canon Communications LLC unit. McCurdy has more than 25 years of experience in managing and investing in niche media, information and education companies. Under the Apprise umbrella, he has led the acquisition and development of three platform companies. Canon Communications is a leading B-to-B company active in trade shows, magazines, and digital media. The Beckett Media LP and Action Pursuit Group LLC units, which together form Apprise Enthusiast Media, cover various special interest consumer niches through magazines, live events, and digital media. As a co-founder, President and Director of PRIMEDIA Inc. (NYSE: PRM), he oversaw the acquisition, development, and build-up of more than 20 platform niche media companies. He engineered the company's entrance into a broad range of niche media businesses, including enthusiast and business-to-business magazines, consumer guides, specialty video, supplemental educational publishing, and their related online and digital media activities. McCurdy pioneered the practice of the leveraged build-up in the niche media and information sector through the 1990's. He developed and helped implement the strategy of growing niche media businesses by surrounding their markets with print, live events, and digital products. He successfully led the raising of more than $9 billion in debt and equity financings. Prior to launching PRIMEDIA, McCurdy was the top finance and development executive at Macmillan Inc., the educational and professional book publisher and business-to-business information services provider. He started his publishing career as an editor. McCurdy is a member of the Board of American Business Media and the Chair of its Marketing Committee. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Society of Independent Show Organizers. He received an MBA from Columbia and his BA from Yale, Magna Cum Laude. Because of our experience as dealmakers and business developers, we are better positioned to recognize, create and realize value in our investments.