Chicago-based premiere post production house The Colonie has entered a new phase, as Bob Ackerman and Susan Okimoto take full ownership of the company. With decades of experience in the commercial and film industries, the real-life/business partners are set to steer The Colonie towards greater diversification and innovation in the evolving media landscape.
As long time collaborators, Ackerman and Okimoto’s partnership dates back to their days at Swell Pictures, where they honed their craft across short films, music videos, and commercial projects. Their respective careers saw them contributing to major advertising campaigns—Okimoto at Digital Kitchen, crafting spots for McDonald’s, Motorola, and a campaign for PBS starring the Muppets. Ackerman made a move to Avenue Edit, working on national campaigns for McDonald’s, Nintendo, and Disney — including editing a Primetime Emmy Award-winning Hallmark spot.
In 2008, Ackerman and a core team of Avenue Edit alumni co-founded The Colonie, establishing a strong reputation through partnerships with top agencies like Leo Burnett, FCB, and Burrell. The Colonie also became an early partner of Facebook/Meta, helping to create and teach best practices for social media campaigns to many of Meta’s Fortune 500 clients. Okimoto, though stepping away from full-time editing, remained active in episodic TV with Grand and Noble Productions.
Post-pandemic, The Colonie has successfully navigated industry shifts by strengthening direct client relationships in addition to their longstanding agency partners.
“We are very fortunate to have diversified our client base to include many direct clients on top of our longstanding agency partners,” said Ackerman. “We love working with creative teams however we connect. With all the changes the industry has experienced, the expertise we bring is more valuable than ever.”
Okimoto sees this evolution as an opportunity: “My early career was focused on music videos and independent films,” said Okimoto, “and today’s media landscape provides so many opportunities to use that experience beyond traditional spot work. I really see that as one of our greatest strengths.”
The Colonie has embraced remote workflows, offering clients real-time collaboration. This was essential when they worked with the creative team at Yellow Shoes based in Orlando. Working full day sessions with creatives in Florida, they provided an editorial team along with color, design and finish departments with all the ease of being in the room together. This streamlined the approval process and efficiently delivered dozens of pieces on a tight schedule.
While remote work has expanded their reach, The Colonie maintains high-end in-house edit suites for clients who prefer a physical workspace.
With the recent addition of editor Addy Bienarz, The Colonie now boasts a four-person editorial team capable of handling a diverse range of projects—from dialogue-driven pieces to action-packed sequences and documentary storytelling. The company fosters a culture of collaboration, continuously raising the creative bar through shared insights and teamwork.
Their design team, led by Jeff Borowiak and Lindsey Fisher, brings expertise in typography, 3D, illustration, and motion design. The team has earned industry accolades, including recognition from AICP and ANA award shows, and remains a trusted creative partner for global clients like Meta and agencies such as Leo Burnett.
Despite the industry shift towards in-house production, The Colonie remains a go-to resource for agencies needing color, design, and VFX support. “These are people we have worked with for years and who know the quality we bring to the table, so even if the creative editorial is being done in house, we still love to provide color, design and VFX services that they may need help with,” said VFX/Color artist Tom Dernulc. “When you’re up against a deadline and demanding clients our agency friends don’t want to take chances and often lean on the trust they have had in The Colonie for many years.”
With its new leadership structure in place, The Colonie is poised for continued success, leveraging its deep industry expertise, collaborative spirit, and innovative approach to stay at the forefront of post-production excellence. “Each project challenges us to explore new techniques, styles and technologies,” said Ackerman. “We’re always learning and growing, and that’s what drives us. We’re beyond excited to start this new chapter.”
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