Evan Montvel Cohen
Encyclopedia
Evan Montvel Cohen is an American
businessman from the island of Guam
. He was a founder and the first chairman of the liberal Air America Radio
. Cohen has worked primarily in the broadcasting industry and in politics.
. Cohen attended Beloit College
in Wisconsin
, during the 1980s. Prior to Air America, Cohen was a shareholder of Latte Publishing, a Guam-based publishing company, was a vice president at Sorensen Pacific Broadcasting, and a market research
specialist in Guam. He also owned The Communications Corp. Cohen also participated in political campaigns as a consultant and chairman of a political action committee
.
when he and business partner Rex Sorensen
, CEO of Sorensen Media Group, created Progress Media Inc. On March 31, 2004, Air America was launched with much fanfare on flagship WLIB
in New York City
. Soon afterward it was discovered that Cohen had secured part of the money used to found the network by a loan from his employer, the non-profit Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Clubs. Approved by the board of directors and in the amount of $480,000, it went to Cohen's company Progress Media, then owner of Air America Radio. The Gloria Wise group was a non-profit organization, partially funded by the city of New York, which provided services for children and seniors in the Bronx. The city suspended further funding of the agency, and Boys and Girls Clubs of America revoked the group's right to use their name, likeness or logo. When the funds were transferred, Evan Montvel Cohen, was still Director of Development for Gloria Wise. This was part of a larger misappropriation of funds by the organization's executives, which saw several of them receiving money from the organization that was in turned used for personal expenditures. By the time this was revealed, Progress Media Inc. had sold its Air America rights to Piquant LLC (in November 2004), who subsequently agreed to repay Gloria Wise $875,000 worth of the debt, as a condition of the sale.
and the U.S. In 2007, Cohen developed the TV programs “GU MD”, “The Buzz”, and “TimeOut”.
Cohen and Sorensen have partnered with MTV Philippines
to create television programming for Filipino Americans.
for theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, forgery, and money laundering. He was extradited from Guam to Hawaii and subsequently released on bail.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman from the island of Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
. He was a founder and the first chairman of the liberal Air America Radio
Air America Radio
Air America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
. Cohen has worked primarily in the broadcasting industry and in politics.
Early life
His father was professor of history and art at the University of GuamUniversity of Guam
University of Guam is a four-year land-grant institution, located in the village of Mangilao on the island of Guam in the Western Pacific Ocean...
. Cohen attended Beloit College
Beloit College
Beloit College is a liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin, USA. It is a member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, and has an enrollment of roughly 1,300 undergraduate students. Beloit is the oldest continuously operated college in Wisconsin, and has the oldest building of any college...
in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, during the 1980s. Prior to Air America, Cohen was a shareholder of Latte Publishing, a Guam-based publishing company, was a vice president at Sorensen Pacific Broadcasting, and a market research
Market research
Market research is any organized effort to gather information about markets or customers. It is a very important component of business strategy...
specialist in Guam. He also owned The Communications Corp. Cohen also participated in political campaigns as a consultant and chairman of a political action committee
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
.
Air America
In 2003, Cohen was working as Director of Development for the Gloria Wise Boys and Girls ClubsGloria Wise Boys and Girls Clubs
The Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Clubs was a non-profit organization serving the community of the Bronx, in New York City.-Controversy:In July 2005, the Bronx News reported Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club of Co-op City loaned $480,000 to Progress Media, then owner of Air America Radio...
when he and business partner Rex Sorensen
Rex Sorensen
Rex Sorensen is the chairman and CEO of Sorensen Media Group. He was a founding board member of Air America Radio.-Biography:Sorensen is a graduate of the University of Oregon and is a Certified Public Accountant. Sorensen started his career in Hawaii as a real estate developer. Sorensen then...
, CEO of Sorensen Media Group, created Progress Media Inc. On March 31, 2004, Air America was launched with much fanfare on flagship WLIB
WLIB
WLIB is an urban contemporary gospel AM radio station located in New York City. WLIB is owned by Inner City Broadcasting Corporation along with sister station WBLS...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Soon afterward it was discovered that Cohen had secured part of the money used to found the network by a loan from his employer, the non-profit Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Clubs. Approved by the board of directors and in the amount of $480,000, it went to Cohen's company Progress Media, then owner of Air America Radio. The Gloria Wise group was a non-profit organization, partially funded by the city of New York, which provided services for children and seniors in the Bronx. The city suspended further funding of the agency, and Boys and Girls Clubs of America revoked the group's right to use their name, likeness or logo. When the funds were transferred, Evan Montvel Cohen, was still Director of Development for Gloria Wise. This was part of a larger misappropriation of funds by the organization's executives, which saw several of them receiving money from the organization that was in turned used for personal expenditures. By the time this was revealed, Progress Media Inc. had sold its Air America rights to Piquant LLC (in November 2004), who subsequently agreed to repay Gloria Wise $875,000 worth of the debt, as a condition of the sale.
Lotus Media Services
Cohen is the managing director for Sorensen Media Group and Lotus Media Services. Lotus Media Services is a creative content development and production house providing radio and television content for the Pacific RimPacific Rim
The Pacific Rim refers to places around the edge of the Pacific Ocean. The term "Pacific Basin" includes the Pacific Rim and islands in the Pacific Ocean...
and the U.S. In 2007, Cohen developed the TV programs “GU MD”, “The Buzz”, and “TimeOut”.
Cohen and Sorensen have partnered with MTV Philippines
MTV Philippines
MTV Philippines was a 24-hour music/entertainment television network owned by All Youth Channels, Inc., with a partnership with MTV Networks Asia Pacific...
to create television programming for Filipino Americans.
2008 arrest
Cohen was arrested in Guam on May 26, 2008 after being indicted by a grand jury in HawaiiHawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
for theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, forgery, and money laundering. He was extradited from Guam to Hawaii and subsequently released on bail.