Michael Governale

Michael John Governale was a key player in the development of the Giggles Computer Funtime for Baby software series. Created by friend and former colleague of Michael's, Tim Leverett, the software allows babies and toddlers 6 months old and up, to tap on their parents computer keyboard, rewarding them with colorful graphics, animation, music, and sound effects. The software locks out the computer's operating system while in use, keeping parents' files safe.

Life and Career
Michael Governale was born in Ozone Park, Queens, New York on June 10, 1977 of Maryann and John Governale. When Michael was still an infant his parents moved out of their small one bedroom Queens apartment to a house in Valley Stream on Long Island. Michael was the oldest of three siblings - his sister Kristen and brother John Henry. In 1990 his parents separated and in 1993 his mother moved them in with their grandmother and then into an apartment until she could afford to buy another home in their childhood neighborhood. Michael's father moved to Lynbrook, later remarried, and moved into his wife's home in Plainview. Michael spent much of his childhood and teenage years expressing himself creatively through pencil drawings, paintings, and science-fiction writing.

Michael attended Rochester Institute of Technology in 1995 where he studied Illustration and Graphic Design and lived in a special interest dormitory for art students where he met his future wife, Jennie. After graduating in 1999 he took a job designing web sites for E-Znet Incorporated, a Rochester based ISP.

In 2000 he joined Coombs Media, a small marketing communications firm in Fairport, New York. While working at Coombs, Michael sharpened his skills as a multimedia designer and animator developing a number of Flash-based web sites, presentations, and sales/training apps as well as graphics for print and video for clients such as Xerox, Bayer, and Eastman Kodak.

In December 2004, Michael was approached by a former Creative Director at Coombs Media, Tim Leverett, to help develop some illustrated characters for his new children's software project. Mike's background as an illustrator, animator, and web developer combined with his growing desire to leave the world of corporate communication behind, made this a mutually beneficial alliance. Michael joined Leverett's company, Leveractive, L.L.C., part-time in December 2004 and immediately began to illustrate the characters for the first title "Shapes". The software, which Leverett had already spent a year developing, took another year of work and the first title was subsequently released in November of 2005. After the product's release, Mike worked closely with Leverett in promoting the product line at consumer and trade shows across the U.S. and in developing the product's official website.

For the next 2 releases in the Giggles Baby series, Michael illustrated all of the Giggles characters including Flopsy The Dog, created and illustrated new characters, and created the visual appeal and illustrations for all of the program's activities. He also worked closely with Leverett in developing the creative aspects and concepts for each of the program's activities. The two have worked together in producing 4 Giggles software titles to-date, including Shapes (2005), My Animal Friends (2006), ABC's & 123's (2007), and "Nursery Rhymes" (2008).

In May 2005, not yet in a position to join the Giggles team at Leveractive full-time, Michael accepted a position as an Interactive Art Director at Western NY’s leading ad agency, Partners and Napier of The Partners Group. There he designs, develops, and oversees the creation of integrated multimedia campaigns for clients including Kodak, Bausch & Lomb, Excellus, Constellation Wines, and Lactalis. In 2008, Governale designed a subway map for the city of Rochester's abandoned subway line.

Michael lives with his wife and daughter at their home in Irondequoit, New York, a suburb of Rochester.

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