David Codikow

In 1987 David Codikow was a founding partner of the law firm of Codikow, Carroll, Guido & Groffman, where he remained until 2002. The boutique entertainment Law firm specialized in the music business law.

Codikow, Carroll, Guido & Groffman, currently known as, Carroll, Guido & Groffman represented record labels, music producers, music publishing companies, music business executives and numerous gold and platinum recording artists such as; Slash, Marlyn Manson, Nirvana, Patti Smith, Sugar Ray, Outkast, Courtney Love, Jay Z, Dave Mathews and Ben Harper to name just a few. The law firm also represented many internet, new media and technology companies with music business solutions.

In 1994 David, along with Kevin Lyman and CAA, co-created and co-founded the “Vans Warped Tour”, a musical event which marries the punk rock musical style and extreme sports. The success of “Vans Warped Tour” is unprecedented and the Vans Warped Tour has the distinction of being the longest running Rock ‘n Roll festival in America. Codikow is still a co-owner of the Vans Warped Tour.

In September 2004 David joined forces with Dana DuFine to create Highland LLC, a Music Management and Live Branded Entertainment Company. Mr. Codikow Co-managed the career of multi- platinum recording artist Velvet Revolver. Velvet Revolver has sold more than 5 million albums worldwide. Velvet Revolver’s debut album, “Contraband”, entered in U.S. charts at Number 1 and entered in the top 10 in eight other countries.

In 2010, David entered into a partnership with the world renown songwriter Diane Warren. Together they created the romantic duo Due Voci. Due Voci performed new, reinterpreted versions of some of Diane Warren’s biggest hits. Due Voci had entered into agreements with Sony Music, Universal Music, Home Shopping Network, PBS, and a host of other key strategic marketing partners which enhanced the Due Voci brand and helped expand Warren’s music to new fans and revenue streams.

In 2012 Mr. Codikow founded dc Media Ventures. The notion was to build a firm that did not necessarily represent people in either the film and music business but artists and creators that are interested in looking at a broader global view with a focus on creating culture and lifestyle outside of their specific expertise, artists that are multidisciplinary, often weavers of dreams and myth makers, artists who understand that story and narrative are key essentials to creativity and creating innovation and mythology.

For the past 4 1/2 years, dc Media Ventures has helped facilitate the connection between its clients and a wide and diverse variety of potential partners, including lifestyle brands, hospitality brands, fashion houses, various manufacturers, global retailers, designers and a variety of licensees. For the past several years dc Media Ventures has negotiated a variety of different agreements for its clients with companies ranging from Chanel to Swarovski, Hublot to Calvin Klein, Baker Furniture to Valentino, Barney’s to Balenciaga to name just a few.

In 2016 Mr Codikow also produced the critically acclaimed and highly anticipated documentary Franca: Chaos and Creation about the life, work and vision of the singularly dynamic and uniquely groundbreaking editor of Vogue Italian, Franca Sozzani.

Gabriel Ornelas

Gabriel Ornelas helps businesses lay a foundation for growth. He brings a wealth of diversity management, consulting experience & relevant industry contacts where he directs hospitality, music, entertainment & agency clients on strategy, innovation, licensing and brand collaborations.

He acts as an outside Chief Strategy & Revenue Officer for his clients, responsible for the acquisition, strategic sales, business development & planning of new and key partnerships. Over the past 10 years his project portfolio has consisted of NBC Universal Telethons, X Prize Foundation, Studio One Media, Inc. (SOMD) Mystudio HD Recording Studios & AfterMaster Sound Labs, sbe Entertainment Group’s hotels, restaurants and nightlife properties, Faena Group Argentina & Miami Beach, Sixty Hotel Collective, Citi entertainment & culinary marketing, Mercedes Benz multi-year art & lifestyle partnerships & multiple sponsorship platforms for interactive film, art and music festivals like Sundance, Art Basel, South by Southwest and Coachella. Gabriel has also become a go to expert in developing business & collaborations in Cuba working closely with the Cuban Government. Gabriel recently produced a short film & multiple event activations in Havana, Cuba with Time Inc. & Infinity/Nissan automotive company.

In 2013, Gabriel partnered with David Codikow at dc Media Ventures. Together they run a boutique management & brand strategy consulting agency, advising & managing numerous creative/cultural influencers & contemporary artists on brand development, licensing, collaborations & new business objectives. With their strategy & vision their clientele has collaborated with Barney’s New York, Chanel, Peroni/MillerCoors, Faena Group, Hugo Boss, RCA, Samsung & more.

Gabriel graduated from the University of Southern California with a BA in International Relations Global Business, with concentrations in both Business Management and Spanish. He has also studied at the Universidad Internacional in Cuernavaca, Mexico, with a focus on International Business and Linguistics.