Free To Choose Network | About
 
ABOUT US
Free To Choose® Network is a global media 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that brought you Milton Friedman’s original 1980 10-part television series, Free To Choose. It continues to use accessible and engaging media to persuade others that individuals and societies flourish when we’re all free to choose how best to live our lives and pursue our happiness in an ethical manner with three distinct paths:

Free To Choose Media is our production arm, producing award-winning documentaries offering a fresh perspective on important issues distributed through public television broadcast and streaming. These are real stories about real people. Our video library features over 500 hours of documentary films, The Idea Channel® with conversations amongst scholars, web series, and podcasts for today’s viewing audience. All are available for no-cost streaming on our website, YouTube, and Vimeo.

izzit.org®, our 501(c)(3) nonprofit allied affiliate, offers no-cost, high-quality educational materials to educators: teachers, homeschoolers, parents, grandparents, and group leaders. We create entertaining and educational videos that encourage critical thinking, are standards-aligned, and come with teacher’s guides and quizzes. We also offer learning modules, activities, and two Current Events lessons each school day complete with vocabulary words and discussion questions.

We are the proud keepers of Capitaf (Cap-i-taf), a private space nestled in the Vermont mountains and once the summer home of Nobel Prize winner Milton Friedman and his wife, Rose. Capitaf is ideally suited for creative brainstorming, scholarly debate, quiet contemplation, and intellectual collaboration. It is available to scholars, students, business and government leaders, and those who seek to understand and apply Friedman’s insights to the challenges of our world today.

By way of powerful storytelling, we inspire curiosity, elicit emotion, and open the door for real conversations about issues that affect all of humanity. We welcome your participation in all of our efforts! Contact Rob Chatfield at info@freetochoosenetwork.org.
 
OUR BEGINNINGS
Bob Chitester and Milton Friedman

In 1977, former public television executive Bob Chitester and Nobel laureate winning economist Milton Friedman and his wife, Rose, began collaborating on a film project which became Free To Choose, an award-winning PBS television series and an international best-selling book based on the series, with sales in the millions. On the heels of that success, Chitester founded Free To Choose Network in order to continue creating documentaries for public television which offer a fresh perspective on a range of important global and national issues. More than 30 years and 500+ projects later, FTCN continues to bring thought-provoking and entertaining productions to public television audiences.

 
EXECUTIVE TEAM

Robert Chatfield
President & CEO

Cindee L. Behrendt
Vice President of Administration

Shane Pfister
Vice President of Technology

Thomas Skinner
Senior Executive Producer

Joy Stoddard
Vice President of Development
TEAM
Marley Behrendt
Education Content Specialist
Brian Dean
Education Outreach Coordinator - izzit.org
Joe DiFiglia
Director of Education Outreach - izzit.org
Kimberly Gardner
Administrative Assistant
Mike Hanel
Graphic Designer
Len Juniewicz
Graphic Design Manager
Jennifer Laird
Executive Assistant
Daniela de Leon Arriola
Education Marketing Specialist - izzit.org
Amanda Pierson
Director of Grant Relations
Capitaf Administrator
Kyle Pude
Video Media Assistant
April Rees
Email Communications Coordinator
Matt Saloff
Administrative Support Associate
Rob Sanchez
Education Outreach Specialist - izzit.org
Charles Santini
Director of Video
Taylor States
Operations Manager
Dustin Vanderhoof
Staff Accountant
PRODUCERS & CONSULTANTS
Elan Bentov
Videographer/Producer
De Shields Associates, Inc.
Station Relations
Dean Graziano
Curriculum Consultant
Scott Harris
Education Consultant
Jen & Bert Klein
Animators
Michael Kraus
Editor
Gary Parker
Writer/Producer
Kip Perry
Producer
Barb Potter
Producer
Daniel Richards
Digital Marketing Manager
Rachael Robertson
Community Outreach Coordinator
Jim Taylor
Director/Camera/Editor
Donald Thoms
Consultant, Film Production
Jim Tusty
Producer
Maureen Castle Tusty
Producer
Ellen Woodward
Administrative Assistant
 
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Robert Chatfield
President & CEO
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Mark Chitester
Entrepreneur
Nantucket, Massachusetts
David Jorgensen
Investor/Executive
Portola Valley, California
Wes Kemp
Executive in Residence
University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, Arkansas
Stephanie Giovanetti Lips
Philanthropic Advisor
Donors Trust Inc.
Alexandria, Virginia
Thomas Martin
Analyst
Glenview, Illinois
Ronald H. Muhlenkamp
Treasurer
Investment Management
Wexford, Pennsylvania
Wayne Olson
Senior Advisor
Foundation for Economic Education

Atlanta, Georgia
Chris J. Rufer
Chairman
The Morning Star Company
Los Banos, California
Brian Singer, CFA
Founder and co-CIO
ViviFi Ventures

Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Andy Walters
Vice-Chairman
Manager, National Industrial
Supply Company

San Marino, California
AWARDS & ACCOLADES

Free To Choose Network has acquired many awards and accolades through its various projects over the years.

Liberty International
Anthem Film Festival
The Templeton Freedom Award
Addy Award Bronze Winner
Gabriel Award Winner
The Telly Awards
Cine Golden Eagle Award
Aegis Award
The Communicator Awards
Empixx Awards