Company: Arkadium, Inc., New York, New York
Company Description: Arkadium is the premier game solutions developer for the advergaming and casual game markets. Founded in 2001, the company is a privately held, family-run business and its growing library of over 200 Flash-based and custom game solutions currently reaches millions of people through some of the most popular online destinations and corporate branded Web sites on the Internet.
Nomination Category: Individual Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Entrepreneur – Service Businesses - Up to 100 Employees

Nomination Title: Jessica Rovello, President and Co-Founder, Arkadium

1. Describe for the judges the activities and accomplishments of the nominated entrepreneur during the eligibility period (up to 500 words):

Founded in 2001, as the result of a fruitless search for an online version of
Ms.Pacman, Arkadium is a privately-held, family-run game development company
with its fearless Co-Founder and President, Jessica Rovello at the helm. Jessica
is proud that her company has never taken money from venture capitalists,
private equity firms or really rich people, yet has managed to be profitable for
the last five years. Starting as a small development firm with only three people
into now employing nearly 80 people with offices in New York and the Ukraine,
today Arkadium represents leading brands including Hearst Magazines Digital
Media, Scholastic, AARP, National Geographic Channel, Mattel, Sony, CBS and many
more.

As a successful woman in an industry dominated by men, Jessica makes it a point
to actively seek out speaking opportunities at events where women are
underrepresented and where she can share experiences and advice to other women
who want to start their own business. Recently Jessica was selected as one of
only twelve people for MIN’s Digital Hot List, spotlighting her work
transforming and making an impact with magazine brands.

Jessica runs her company as though every employee is part of her family and
ensures that everyone enjoys their work. With a one-year-old son and another
baby on the way this year, Jessica likes to keep things personal with regular
team dinners, beach days with the “extended family” and amusement park trips for
game design inspiration. Jessica also implemented a “pipeline day” each Friday
for employees to work on individual, non-client related, game projects to
encourage creativity and freedom in game development.

Interestingly, women aged 35 years and older are the largest demographic of
people playing casual games online. And although that demographic is not equally
represented on the development side of gaming, Jessica continues to push the
game innovation envelope to show that a company with more women than the norm
can make an impact in the industry by building award-winning games.

Notable recent projects include:
- Over four virtual environments and countless online games for Mattel’s
digitally interactive toy, U.B. Funkeys
- Online game communities for Publishers Clearing House, Hearst Digital
Magazines, myYearbook.com, Scholastic and AARP.org
- Award winning, custom advergames for four of National Geographic Channel’s
recent television specials: Fossil Hunt, Fight Science, Stonehenge and
Expedition Week
- Arkadium’s first downloadable game based on historical events and individuals,
The Pini Society: The Remarkable Truth

With a smart business model and continual planning, Jessica and her company are
one of few businesses thriving during these tough economic times. For the past
year, the company has seen double digit revenue growth, and a staff increase of
nearly 30%.

2. List the URLs (web addresses) of any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that you would like the judges to see that support your nomination. IMPORTANT: List each URL on a separate line, begin each URL with http://, and enclose each URL in square brackets. For example, [http://www.yourcompany.com/pressrelease.html]:

http://www.arkadium.com/index.html
http://www.edge-online.com/features/the-growing-role-women-gaming?page=0,0
http://womenforhire.tv/jessica-rovello-founder-arkadium/
http://www.arkadium.com/docs/hybrid_mom_jess2008.pdf
http://www.arkadium.com/docs/Min%20Magazine%202008-%20Digital%20Hot%20List.pdf
http://www.arkadium.com/docs/creativity_awards_release.pdf
http://www.arkadium.com/case-studies-national-geographic.html
http://www.arkadium.com/case-studies-myyearbook.html
http://www.arkadium.com/docs/natgeo_expedition_release_103108.pdf

3. Provide a brief biography of the nominated entrepreneur (up to 100 words):

As the President and Co-Founder of Arkadium, Jessica Rovello is responsible for
overseeing the strategy and development of online games that help to engage
consumers, drive interaction times and improve results. With her expertise in
consumer marketing and her love of games she has broken into a field that, until
now, has been run, owned and operated exclusively by men.

Before founding Arkadium, Jessica was VP of Marketing and Creative Services at
On2 Technology, a broadband technology company. Prior to joining On2, she was
Director of Online Services for Artisan Entertainment, an independent film company.