FSC Elections Open for 2023-24 Board of Directors

The Free Speech Coalition 2023-2024 Board of Directors election opens on December 11 for available Board seats. Each elected member will serve a two year term. This year there are seven Board seats available. The candidates for those seats include six incumbent Board Directors and two member-nominated candidates. You may vote for seven candidates. The voting period is December 11-17

All FSC members in good standing will receive an email with a unique voting link. It is important that as many members as possible participate. If you don't plan to vote, please click on the voting link in the email and choose "Abstain."

The six current board members running for re-election, include:

• Alec Helmy

• Matt Mason

• Reed Lee

• Tim Valenti

• Tony Rios

• Walden Woods

The two member nominees include:

• Alana Evans

• Jon Blitt

Bios

Alec Helmy (Incumbent)

Founder and Publisher of XBIZ.com - Los Angeles, CA

Alec Helmy is the founder and president of XBIZ, the adult industry’s leading source for business news and information, providing up-to-the-minute coverage of the industry at XBIZ.com and in three trade publications — XBIZ World, XBIZ Premiere and XBIZ Sensuals. In addition, XBIZ produces five annual trade events which culminate with the XBIZ Awards, the adult industry’s biggest night. XBIZ is frequently cited in mainstream media for coverage of the industry and has been published in CNN, Fox News, Newsweek, MSNBC, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Wired, CNET, ABC, USA Today and The Los Angeles Times among others. One of the early pioneers of the online adult industry, Helmy is the founder of ASACP and a board member of the Free Speech Coalition.

Matt Mason (Incumbent)

President of Treasure Island Media - San Francisco, CA.

Reed Lee (Incumbent)

Attorney - Chicago, IL

Reed Lee is a practicing constitutional lawyer concentrating on free speech matters. He is serving his seventh consecutive term on the Free Speech Coalition Board. He is also a National Chairperson Emeritus of the First Amendment Lawyers Association and actively serves on the that organization’s Board of Directors as well. He has political experience ranging from grass-roots organizing to lobbying in Congress, always for the less popular or powerful as against the more. He has long felt the need to help speak truth to power and to help defend those against whom the intolerant have unleashed a culture war.

Tim Valenti (Incumbent)

Tim Valenti is the Co-founder and CEO of ‘The Netflix of Gay Porn’, NakedSword.com, and a pioneering figure in online video distribution. After nearly a decade in the industry, Valenti engineered a game-changing merger between NakedSword and AEBN in 2007. In 2015, Tim was named President of Falcon I NakedSword where he oversees operations for Falcon, Raging Stallion, and HotHouse, as well as the NakedSword Network. Over the years, Valenti has become one of the industry’s most respected and innovative thinkers, known for blurring the line between adult and mainstream entertainment. Valenti¹s partnership with major studios, as well as with niche production companies, has allowed NakedSword access to an unrivaled video library. Tim has appeared as an op-ed blogger in the Huffington Post and produced both adult and independent films, including the award-winning indie feature, I Want Your Love.

Tony Rios (Incumbent)

CEO, AVN Media Network

AVN Media Network Chief Executive Officer Tony Rios assumed leadership at the company in 2015, taking the reins at the adult industry institution founded by Paul Fishbein. Since then Rios has made his own mark at AVN. Under his steady hand, the company has redesigned its website, brought back the iconic GayVN Awards, and reached new heights of professionalism with its various events—including the AVN Awards Show and the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo. Most recently Rios retooled the company’s flagship publication, AVN magazine, with a fresh new look and consumer-oriented focus.

Prior to AVN, Rios got his start in the paysite sector back in 1995. He and his co-founder created some of the earliest paysites, building new websites every few months that catered to different niches. In 2000 he jumped to Channel 1 Releasing, where he worked until 2015 as co-owner and chief technology officer.

Walden Woods (Incumbent)

Director of Production at FCF Agency

Walden Woods has been in the adult industry for well over a decade, working with some of the most well known brands and companies in the gay porn world. He started off as an assistant camera operator and found his footing quickly and excelled to be a leader in that specific niche in the community. Currently Walden is the Director of Production for FCF Agency, which produces such brands as NextdoorStudios, NextdoorTaboo, Active Duty and Stag Collective. Walden is currently helping to spearhead a new studio called Disruptive Films which aims to push the boundaries of what is expected in gay content and create a cinematic experience that is unlike anything being produced. Throughout his career, Walden has been steadfast in ensuring that models and talent and everyone involved in the industry have been represented fairly and have access to protection and rights that will create a safe working environment for all. From the day he had a camera put into his hand, he quickly learned the responsibility that came with that and has always made sure that the safety, health and respect were to be the most important priority of any production. During his years in the industry he has helped to pave the way for talent and staff to find access to resources that help their physical and mental well being. Walden is an advocate for performer rights and is excited to be a part of the FSC Board of Directors to continue to carry on the legacy and groundwork they have laid down and the positive changes that have been created.

Walden was born and raised in New England and currently resides in San Diego with his husband and two dogs..

Alana Evans (Member Nominee)

Fighting for our rights, our jobs, and our industry is what drives me every day! My name is Alana Evans and I am a performer, an advocate, and President of the performer union, APAG. As a performer, I have worked in the adult industry for twenty-four years. For the last seven years, I have dedicated my heart and soul to organizing, advocating, listening, and learning. As a member of our community and an advocate for performers, I am running for the board of the Free Speech Coalition to help bring performer’s voices to FSC. I have been working diligently as a part of FSC’s legislative committee for two years, sharing my insight and ideas to help fight the war waged against our industry. This last year, I have fought against discrimination towards our industry in both banking and social media, and I plan to continue working to bring action to these issues. If elected to FSC’s group of esteemed board members, I hope to offer the voice of performers through my service.

Jon Blitt (Member Nominee)

CEO, Mile High Media - Montreal, Canada

Jon Blitt got his start in adult at age 18, working in the family business while also attending college for his Bachelors of Commerce in Marketing. From the shipping department at Mile High Media (founded by father Ted Blitt, an AVN Hall of Famer), Blitt rose to become vice president of the company, which has changed immeasurably over the past three decades. Mile High began as a distributor for adult content, to then make its foray into production with Blitt’s guidance, launching an empire of high-end story driven porn that now encompasses every major porn niche and employs some the most awarded directors in the industry. With Jon Blitt’s business insight, trendsetting vision and goal to create high-end porn Mile High Media has become one of the largest Canadian adult content producers and distributors. His tireless work behind the scenes has earned Mile High the AEBN 2012 Studio of the Year title and FSC 2016 Production Company of the Year, as well as Blitt’s place in the AVN Hall of Fame Executives Branch in 2016. There is no end in sight as Blitt looks to the future, pushing boundaries as a trendsetter and progressive businessman for Mile High Media.