Connie St. John
- Director
- Writer
- Production Manager
Connie Robinson, along with her husband Barry, is co-founder of No
Weapon Productions (NWP), a company that specializes in Christian and
family-friendly entertainment for mainstream audiences. Launched in
2001, No Weapon Productions produces high-quality film and television
programming, along with stage plays and other live events that feature
no gratuitous sex, profanity or violence. The Message is the first
short film produced by NWP. It has already garnered a "Best Short Film"
award and been featured in several film festivals.
As the Company's primary writer and director, Connie has written film and television spec scripts that are generating significant interest from studios and networks. She has also written, directed and produced several successful stage plays and musicals.
Prior to No Weapon Productions, Connie served as director of public relations and marketing for the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a non-profit umbrella organization that coordinates the industry's philanthropic efforts. While at EIF, she served as the primary point-person for nearly all of the company's fund-raising events and initiatives, including overseeing the PR and launch activities of the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance, co-founded by EIF, Katie Couric and Lilly Tartikoff. She spearheaded campaigns for education and breast cancer research, developed the company's strategic communications plan, and managed the development of the company's logo and collateral materials.
Before joining EIF, Connie served as senior manager of public responsibility for Sara Lee Corporation, based in Chicago. There, she was charged with managing all of the corporation's public responsibility programs and initiatives, including awards programs, minority advertising and target marketing. She developed the model for the company's leadership development program for women and minorities. She also directed all elements of the company's national awards program
Connie also represented the Sara Lee with local, national and international organizations, serving as a liaison with the leading professional, civic, community and activist groups, as well as with senior political officials, including then South African Ambassador Franklin Sonn, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Vice President Al Gore.
Prior to Sara Lee, she worked for Harpo Productions, Inc. and The Oprah Winfrey Show as manager, media and corporate relations. As such, she served as spokesperson for Oprah Winfrey, The Oprah Winfrey Show and Harpo Productions. While there, Connie managed all PR-related special projects, handled press inquiries, served as the primary point person for all electronic media and coordinated non-TOWS related Oprah Winfrey appearances and speaking engagements. She also oversaw all public relations activities for Oprah's highly successful Tina Turner series - Oprah Runnin' Wild with Tina.
Connie also served as director and manager of public relations at Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. in Atlanta, and Columbia TriStar Television in Los Angeles, where she managed the PR launch of such series as Party of Five, The Lazarus Man and The Critic; and contributed to the PR efforts for successful series such as Mad About You, The Nanny, Married, with Children, Beakman's World, Who's the Boss?, Designing Women and Jeopardy!
Prior to working for entertainment companies, she worked in Washington, D.C. as a meeting and convention planner for both the Urban & Regional Information Systems Association and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. At both Associations, she coordinated all aspects of annual and bi-annual educational conferences and exhibit shows with more than 3,000 participants. She negotiated contracts with hotels, convention centers, decorators and airlines; conducted nation-wide site inspections; and prepared and presented reports to the Board of Directors, making recommendations for future meeting and convention locations.
While in Washington, D.C., Connie also developed and produced events and fund-raisers, including "Dance Against Drugs," and a program for the Coca Cola Company designed to honor women. She also consulted on other major citywide events including the National Desert Storm Victory Parade and the opening of Broadway shows such as Shogun.
Connie began her entertainment and event management career in 1983 at Michigan State University, where she double majored in computer science and theater. While in college, her work garnered both writing and producing awards. Her projects also attracted the attention of University faculty, who asked her to produce events each year on behalf of the college, for incoming freshman. She is also a member of Mensa.
Residing in Southern California, Connie and Barry have a six-year-old son, and a 21-year-old daughter in Chicago.
As the Company's primary writer and director, Connie has written film and television spec scripts that are generating significant interest from studios and networks. She has also written, directed and produced several successful stage plays and musicals.
Prior to No Weapon Productions, Connie served as director of public relations and marketing for the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a non-profit umbrella organization that coordinates the industry's philanthropic efforts. While at EIF, she served as the primary point-person for nearly all of the company's fund-raising events and initiatives, including overseeing the PR and launch activities of the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance, co-founded by EIF, Katie Couric and Lilly Tartikoff. She spearheaded campaigns for education and breast cancer research, developed the company's strategic communications plan, and managed the development of the company's logo and collateral materials.
Before joining EIF, Connie served as senior manager of public responsibility for Sara Lee Corporation, based in Chicago. There, she was charged with managing all of the corporation's public responsibility programs and initiatives, including awards programs, minority advertising and target marketing. She developed the model for the company's leadership development program for women and minorities. She also directed all elements of the company's national awards program
- the Sara Lee Frontrunner Awards - which honored women in the areas of
Connie also represented the Sara Lee with local, national and international organizations, serving as a liaison with the leading professional, civic, community and activist groups, as well as with senior political officials, including then South African Ambassador Franklin Sonn, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Vice President Al Gore.
Prior to Sara Lee, she worked for Harpo Productions, Inc. and The Oprah Winfrey Show as manager, media and corporate relations. As such, she served as spokesperson for Oprah Winfrey, The Oprah Winfrey Show and Harpo Productions. While there, Connie managed all PR-related special projects, handled press inquiries, served as the primary point person for all electronic media and coordinated non-TOWS related Oprah Winfrey appearances and speaking engagements. She also oversaw all public relations activities for Oprah's highly successful Tina Turner series - Oprah Runnin' Wild with Tina.
Connie also served as director and manager of public relations at Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. in Atlanta, and Columbia TriStar Television in Los Angeles, where she managed the PR launch of such series as Party of Five, The Lazarus Man and The Critic; and contributed to the PR efforts for successful series such as Mad About You, The Nanny, Married, with Children, Beakman's World, Who's the Boss?, Designing Women and Jeopardy!
Prior to working for entertainment companies, she worked in Washington, D.C. as a meeting and convention planner for both the Urban & Regional Information Systems Association and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. At both Associations, she coordinated all aspects of annual and bi-annual educational conferences and exhibit shows with more than 3,000 participants. She negotiated contracts with hotels, convention centers, decorators and airlines; conducted nation-wide site inspections; and prepared and presented reports to the Board of Directors, making recommendations for future meeting and convention locations.
While in Washington, D.C., Connie also developed and produced events and fund-raisers, including "Dance Against Drugs," and a program for the Coca Cola Company designed to honor women. She also consulted on other major citywide events including the National Desert Storm Victory Parade and the opening of Broadway shows such as Shogun.
Connie began her entertainment and event management career in 1983 at Michigan State University, where she double majored in computer science and theater. While in college, her work garnered both writing and producing awards. Her projects also attracted the attention of University faculty, who asked her to produce events each year on behalf of the college, for incoming freshman. She is also a member of Mensa.
Residing in Southern California, Connie and Barry have a six-year-old son, and a 21-year-old daughter in Chicago.