How Jeffrey Keane’s Coolfire turned its biggest weakness into an advantage

Jeffrey Keane, founder and CEO, Coolfire Media, LLC; Coolfire Originals; Coolfire Solutions
Jeffrey Keane, founder and CEO, Coolfire Media, LLC; Coolfire Originals; Coolfire Solutions

STL Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Finalist
 
Jeffrey Keane
founder and CEO
Coolfire Media, LLC; Coolfire Originals; Coolfire Solutions
 
A leading television production company in St. Louis, Mo.? Unheard of, until Jeffrey Keane started three media companies and found a niche producing shows, including “Welcome To Sweetie Pie’s” on the Oprah Winfrey Network, “Fast & Loud” on Discovery and “Mom Friends Forever” on Nick Jr.
With his family’s support, in 2002 Keane launched Coolfire Media, LLC, a production/post production company. As CEO, he attracted top talent and grew the company into an organization that works with the country’s top agencies.
But the vision didn’t stop there.
With the aid of a few likeminded employees, Keane broke into the television production world in 2009 with Coolfire Originals. Using their skills to produce short clips, they laid out story ideas in such a way to grab the attention of the television networks.
So far, the company has sold six projects with two more anticipated to launch this year. Keane is working to get a scripted division up and running to be able to produce a feature film.
In that same year, 2009, Keane created Coolfire Solutions. Self-funding two start-ups during one of the worst economic downturns speaks volumes to the success, leadership and drive of their founder.
After an unplanned meeting with an employee’s relative, Keane became intrigued with how the company could make a useful tool for the military. Coolfire Solutions focuses on research and development to provide mobility app solutions to military and enterprise customers.
Employing approximately 100 people, Keane strives to maintain productions within the city to the extent possible. In fact, all five of the company’s scripted television shows are based on characters that live in the city of St. Louis.
That love for St. Louis more recently led Keane to create the Coolfire Foundation, which will help underprivileged children obtain the right education to work and excel in the media industry.
How to reach: Coolfire Media, LLC; Coolfire Originals; Coolfire Solutions, www.coolfire.com