Sterling Long-Colbo
Sterling Patrick Long-Colbo (born April 21) is an entrepreneur with focuses on espionage entertainment, fitness and outdoor education, live event production, and working with children, particularly with respect to Scouting.
Biography
Sterling Patrick Long-Colbo was born in Madison, Wisconsin, the only child of his father, a petroleum engineer, and his mother a European/South American socialite, who owned an equestrian academy, Los Chibchas Stables, with her sister. He attended Madison Edgewood High School for two years, then Madison West High School where he graduated, and then the University of Wisconsin. Born Roman Catholic (his great uncle was a Cardinal), he served as an altar boy at St. Joseph Church.
Business
Author & producer
Long-Colbo is also the original story creator, And Co-author with best selling author, Cathy Carson, and producer on a new action adventure mystery book, comic, webisode and film series entitled The 7 Scouts.
Long-Colbo describes "the idea of a Mission: Impossible team for teens appeals to all kids and teens. Detectives and Super Scouts, it’s the Hardy Boys meets Ocean's Eleven and Mission: Impossible for the 21st century!"
On September 16, 2009, Sterling Long-Colbo, on behalf of the 7 Scouts and Sterling Long-Colbo Productions announced that Internationally known US and German television and film actor, Rudolf Martin, formerly the unforgettable [...], Ari Haswari, on the highly acclaimed hit series, NCIS, will be featured as a villain on the cover of "The 7 Scouts And The Mystery Of The Commie Spies," the first action-adventure teen mystery book presented by the 7 Scouts, to be followed by comics and graphic novels, and a series of prequel webisodes and trailers for the book and film.
Martin, an owner, producer and active participant of the 7 Scouts, will also serve as a PR representative and goodwill ambassador for the 7 Scouts and describes the action filled story as "The Goonies meets The Bourne Identity" and credits its "roller coaster" pace as the reason he came aboard as a central book character, web and film actor, owner and producer.
The webisode prequel series has enlisted a major motion picture director and other notable cinematic villains in order to develop the property in Harry Potter "famous-villain-actors" style.
The first installment, a book titled "The 7 Scouts and The Mystery of The Commie Spies," was released for pre-sale October 1, 2009, and will be released February 22, 2010 and already boasts a fan club in the thousands.
In Spring 2001, Long-Colbo created, complied, and co-authored of Hauntorama’s “How to Haunt Your House” that used the Halloween season to teach children how to be safe year round.
Espionage entertainment
Long-Colbo is an acknowledged expert in the field of themed entertainment, and particularly espionage. In 1991, he began developing Spyhouse (Spyhouse, the first location-based entertainment venture in espionage, mystery, detectives and covert military operations. In 1993, he founded Spyhouse, Inc., a multi-platform company, to develop the Spyhouse concept worldwide. Long-Colbo and the Spyhouse project received extensive media attention, including articles in The Robb Report, Nations Restaurant News, Restaurants & Institutions, Restaurant Business, Crain’s Chicago Business, The Chicago Tribune, Variety, and The New York Post, among others. Such was Long-Colbo’s expertise in themed entertainment that in 1994 he was invited to address the country’s top restaurant executives at the Restaurants & Institutions Executive Conference in Laguna Niguel, on a panel that included Isaac Tigrett (co-founder, Hard Rock Café, and founder, House of Blues), Robert Earl (founder, Planet Hollywood), Larry Levy (Levy Restaurants), and Richard Melman (founder, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises).
Also in 1994, Spyhouse was a co-producer of the 30th Anniversary Convention and Exhibit of James Bond “Goldfinger” in Los Angeles. In addition to securing the appearance of George Lazenby (the only “Bond” to appear at the convention) and the participation of The Ian Fleming Foundation, Spyhouse also secured the appearance of the original Aston Martin DB5 used in the film. Later that year, Long-Colbo served in a similar capacity for the 25th Anniversary of James Bond On Her Majesty's Secret Service at Pinewood Studios in England, including securing the appearances of Lazenby, Desmond Llewellyn (“Q,” and a Spyhouse partner) and Lois Maxwell (the original Miss Moneypenny).
Long-Colbo maintains a close relationship with 007 Magazine (former owner operators of The International James Bond Fan Club), and Spy Guise, the world’s largest vendor of espionage memorabilia and publisher of Cinema Retro Magazine. He also published the U.S. edition of 007 Magazine for its U.K. creators, and coordinated and promoted live entertainment and media events featuring espionage and James Bond 007 actors and celebrities in Los Angeles, London and Munich.
Long-Colbo has also consulted on the management, marketing and financial aspects of theme restaurants. He assisted in the promotion and opening of the House of Blues in New Orleans, including handling press releases, security, and press and celebrity relations. He also consulted to former NASCAR Café Board member Harold Pierce regarding merchandising, clothing, staffing, and concept development. Long-Colbo’s espionage-based clients include producers and production companies, as well as Creations Entertainment (operator of licensed Star Trek, James Bond, Stargate, Xena, Doctor Who, and Battlestar Galactica conventions).
Long-Colbo also advised and helped create Media Point Productions’ bid to develop the Secret Agent/Dangerman property into a major motion picture for ITV/Granada Productions United Kingdom, including development of the script, character, trailers, sound tracks, concept art, marketing posters, and other items.
General consulting
Long-Colbo spent several years consulting on various aspects of business and marketing development including raising capital and start up advice for businesses in the technology, 4G wireless, telecommunications and telecommunication devices, art publishing, and oil and gas.
Governor Jesse Ventura
In the fall of 2007, Sterling joined former U.S. Navy SEAL, WWF (World Wrestling Federation, now WWE World Wrestling Entertainment) wrestler, actor, news & political commentator, Mayor and Governor Jesse Ventura to begin exploring business and philanthropic opportunities in several arenas.
Fitness and outdoor education
Long-Colbo is an avid fitness and outdoor enthusiast and has over ten years in outdoor youth education (wilderness survival and first aid) and has even completed the BUD/S obstacle course at the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Facility in Coronado, California alongside his “adopted son.”
He is certified as a Personal Trainer through the National Personal Training Institute (NPTI), with over 500 hours of study in Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics, Fitness Psychology, Health Appraisal, Nutrition and Personal Training. He is also TRX certified, having brought TRX Suspension Training to Santa Monica, California and has also been a NPTI instructor and frequent speaker and on the topics of health, fitness, and nutrition in Bel Air, Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Santa Monica, California.
Community service and charitable work
Boy Scouts and scouting
Long-Colbo joined the Boys Scouts of America (BSA) as a Cub Scout. Later he became a Scoutmaster, and even started his own Boy Scout programs. He credits his experience in the Boy Scouts with: learning first-hand about building relationships formed from being part of a group and working as a team; becoming—like most Boy Scout leaders—a better person himself; and the personal satisfaction comes from developing youth on the right path and helping others. This led him not only to remain a lifelong volunteer and mentor ("Scouter") in Wisconsin, New York, and California, but to teach youth self sufficiency and to “do the right thing.” He continues to dedicate time toward guiding, educating and nurturing teens in first aid, outdoor skills, and wilderness survival training. Among the activities he has led for Boy Scouts are: 15 to 75 mile hikes; rappelling, rafting, sailing, canoeing and mountain biking at Ten Mile River Boy Scout Camp (NY); and a 100-mile hike, rappelling, horseback riding and COPE course at Philmont Boy Scout High Adventure Base (NM). Long-Colbo has taken extensive training with the Boy Scouts of America.
Long-Colbo’s association with the Boy Scouts also led to one of the achievements of which he is most proud: a young boy—an Eagle Scout and Sea Scout Quartermaster Award (Boy Scouts of America)—that he considers his “adopted son” whom, as a direct result of Long-Colbo’s mentorship, is a member of the United States Navy SEALs.
Charitable work
Long-Colbo has been involved in charitable work since his late teens and college years, during which he coordinated a number of events for BSA, the Alzheimer’s Association, KaBOOM!, and Share Our Strength, a program aimed at hungry and homeless children.
In 2001, Long-Colbo founded Hauntorama, a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles. Hauntorama developed their awareness, safety and abduction prevention/education programs in connection with Child Quest International (CQI). This two-year program was created to raise awareness of child abduction, and provide safety education nationwide leading up to Halloween – a night with significant abduction risks. He partnered Hauntorama with Radio Disney , secured $500,000 in nationwide media promotion, and distributed 75,000 Halloween Safety brochures in 44 markets nationwide, supported by public safety announcements in the same markets. Long-Colbo also secured Universal Home Video and Scholastic Books as sponsors, as well as securing the involvement of the families of Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney, Peter Lorre, and Vincent Price. He also created, art-directed and produced the Hauntorama website.
Childhood
Long-Colbo was a childhood magician for ten years, which included: a Royal Performance in Munich, Germany to the Thurn und Taxis Family (Europe’s largest landholders); representing the Abbott Magic Company at their trade exhibitions; befriending Harry Blackstone, Jr. and being used by him as a stage assistant/volunteer whenever the Great Blackstone and he were in the same town.