Dana Michelle Cook grew up in Los Angeles, CA. She attended the University of California, Santa Barbara and held internship positions with Fox News, Fox Sports, MTV, and Montecito Picture Company working for Director Ivan Reitman. After college she joined Creative Entertainment Services, a boutique product placement agency, managing branded content for network shows and films for Warner Brothers, Disney, and Paramount studios. In 2004, she began producing at Pietown Productions on original programming for HGTV and The Food Network. Since moving to Chicago over nine years ago, Dana has been a freelance Field/Story Producer and Writer on shows like HGTV's Design on A Dime, Dancing With the Stars and has also produced original content for NBC, TLC, DIY, Investigation Discovery, Bio and more. She founded Heartfelt Productions in 2009, producing on two documentaries, Girls Rock Chicago and Growing Up Strong: Girls on the Run, the winner of a Midwest Emmy Award in 2013. She then went on to co-create and produce the feature length documentary, The Empowerment Project: Ordinary Women Doing Extraordinary Things with the goal of creating positive, uplifting content to inspire women everywhere. She’s traveled with the film across the country on two national tours sponsored by Nordstrom and American Girl, has been featured on Good Morning America, Forbes and Marie Claire. She has screened at schools, women's organizations and corporations posing the important question, "What would you do if you weren't afraid to fail?" Dana’s true passion is to continue telling stories of inspiring women around the globe. Freeheart Creative is her next endeavor alongside her partner Katie Wilkes. AWARDS: “Growing up Strong – Girls on the Run” – EMMY WINNER, Chicago/Midwest Chapter 2013; Outstanding Achievement for Human Interest Programming; “The Empowerment Project” – Gracie winner 2015; Best Documentary Winner | Lady Filmmakers Festival 2014; Spirit of Independent Winner | Fort Lauderdale Film Festival 2014; People’s Choice Winner | Toronto Zonta Film Festival 2015 AFFILIATIONS: Producers Guild of America, AP Council; NATAS Chicago Midwest Chapter; Women in Film Chicago; ArcLight Women in Hollywood 

Desired genres: Producing documentary, shorts, commercials, corporate, agency