Kurt Tondorf is Animal Planet’s vice president of development. In this role he oversees the development strategy and slate for the network and creates and curates series, stunts and other programming initiatives.

Since joining Animal Planet in 2012, Tondorf has developed several multi-season series including The Last Alaskans, Ice Cold Gold, Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters and The Pool Master along with both Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet and Dr. Dee: Alaska Vet.

Tondorf joined Animal Planet with more than 15 years of experience in television production and program development. Prior to his appointment with the network, Tondorf helmed development for Optomen Productions in New York and developed series for History, Discovery ID, Animal Planet, National Geographic Channel and Travel Channel. As a producer for Optomen, Tondorf was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Science, Natural History and Technology Programming for Evolve, a 13-part series he developed for History.

Prior to joining Optomen, Tondorf was the sole U.S.-based development producer for London’s BAFTA-winning indie Windfall Films and helped develop its internationally acclaimed series My Brilliant Brain for National Geographic.

Tondorf has a degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He currently resides in Katonah, NY, with his wife, Carissa, and daughters Cassady and Wren.

Speaking on: Luncheon Roundtables (12:30pm-1:45pm)