LEADERSHIP

We are a diverse collective with broad and deep experience in all vital functional areas needed for successful location-based entertainment (LBE) implementation. Our founders have also been part of creating and building to profitable scale some of the most influential and successful concepts in LBE and experiential retail.

Our Team

Meet the people who make the magic happen.

Lawrence Tanenbaum

Chairman | in

Lawrence leads SSG’s platform, IP and real estate strategy and development. He is a proven, visionary brand builder at the convergence of entertainment and commerce. Before launching SSG, he directed LBE at Simon Property Group (NYSE:SPG), the largest retail property owner. He has founded and led successful, national venture/PE-backed experiential retail, hospitality, and data services businesses and has extensive experience in commercial property finance and development. MBA The Wharton School and BA from the University of Pennsylvania.

Carl Christensen
CEO | in

Carl leads SSG’s capital markets efforts and directs the development and operations of its IP portfolio. Most recently, Carl served as Co-CEO and CFO of the most successful immersive art and entertainment company, Meow Wolf. He coordinated hundreds of millions of dollars in growth financing and helped lead their expansion with cross-functional responsibilities, including finance and operations, resulting in 10x revenue growth. Prior to Meow Wolf, Carl worked in investment banking and management consulting, and led several entrepreneurial ventures. BS, University of Utah, MBA from BYU.

Jason Nocco

CIO | in

Jason leads SSG’s technology platform development, implementation, and partnerships. He is an accomplished entrepreneur and pioneer in developing cloud-based SaaS solutions. After holding a leadership role at Data Storage Corporation, he went on to Amazon's AWS and then Google where he played a key role in scaling their Cloud Marketplace business. He was recently a Business Development Partner at Google's AI seed fund, Gradient Ventures. BS, Computer Technology and Networking from SUNY Empire State College, and an Executive MBA in Entrepreneurship from CUNY Baruch.

IMMERSIVE

Leading a New Era of Location-Based Entertainment

Social Space Group is an end-to-end location-based entertainment (LBE) production, development, management, and advisory company.We blend futuristic entertainment, experiential commerce, and immersive technology to deliver engaging social experiences that promote collaborative storytelling and community.

OPERATING PARTNERS & ADVISORS

Tom Stat

Advisor

Tom advises SSG on global workplace initiatives. He is a seasoned experience designer with over 25 years designing transformational futures. A respected expert in human-centered design, he has a multi-discipline background in aerospace engineering, social psychology/behavioral economics, architecture and business. Tom held leadership positions at IDEO and Gensler and earned several advanced degrees, including an MBA from Stanford

Josh Wexler

Advisor

Josh supports SSG’s immersive content production and experience design. He is the co-founder and CEO of Pure Imagination Holdings. Over the last 25 years, he pioneered “transmedia” production, creating and producing content across nearly every media platform with major brands including Star Wars, Spider-Man and LEGO. Previously, he was a co-founder of Threshold Entertainment where he helped to build Mortal Kombat into a $5B global franchise through film, television, animation and more. BA, New York University.

Bob Weis

Advisor

Bob advises SSG on experience design and district programming. He currently leads Global Entertainment for Gensler. As former President of Walt Disney Imagineering, Bob brings more than 30 years of leadership creating, designing, and developing some of Disney’s most iconic projects with a capital value of more than $30 billion. He has been awarded an honorary Ph.D. from Cal Poly School of Environmental Design, where he graduated with a degree in Architecture.

Craig Russell

Advisor

Craig advises SSG on district project conception and implementation. He serves as the co-executive leader of Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) responsible for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts projects around the world. Craig first joined Walt Disney Imagineering in 1980 as a project coordinator for Tokyo Disneyland. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering systems from University of California, Los Angeles.

Lewis Kornberg

Advisor

Lew advises SSG on Real Estate and is currently the EVP, Retail Advisory Services for JLL. He served as the National Practice Lead of the Tenant Representation Group and served as an inaugural member of the firm's Global Retail Board. He served on the Americas Brokerage Leadership Council, which is responsible for setting the strategy and direction for the firm’s overall brokerage practice. MBA, Washington University in St. Louis and BA, Duke.

Nick Franklin

Advisor

Nick advises SSG on brand strategy, experience design, and operations efforts. Nick has been a senior executive across hospitality, entertainment and sports, including 18 years at The Walt Disney Company where he lead a range of global functions and operations for Disney’s Parks & Experiences Group. Nick was also President of the World Surf League and CEO of Kelly Slater Wave Company. He also led global private equity for Cain International, a subsidiary of Eldridge Industries. MBA in Strategy from The Wharton School, BA in Politics from Princeton

SSG delivers end-to-end location-based entertainment (LBE) production, development, management, and advisory services. We are on a mission to bring people together.

Our focus is on creating immersive entertainment experiences that blend storytelling, commerce, and interactive elements.

From transformational LBE concepts to a new generation of urban mixed-use, stadium and arena properties, we advise and partner with leading IP and property owners to optimize their assets for a new era of experiential consumption.

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