Our History
Perna Content began with a simple mission: to make great documentary films. What started as a passion for powerful, true stories quickly grew into something much larger. Our films opened the door to new ways of sharing ideas and sparked a natural evolution into a full-spectrum media company.
First came the documentaries. Their impact and the conversations they generated inspired us to move into publishing, turning stories into books that could live on the page as vividly as they did on the screen. From there, our curiosity—and our audience—carried us into the world of podcasting, where we could explore subjects in an even more intimate, accessible format.
Today, that same spirit of creativity and storytelling drives us into the next chapter: original programming. What began with film has expanded into a multi-media platform dedicated to thoughtful, compelling, and deeply human content.
Bill Perna
Author / Producer
After graduating from the University of New Mexico and New York University, where he studied film and advertising, Bill launched a 25-year career in marketing and advertising. He began in New York, working for major agencies including Grey Advertising, Wells Rich Greene, Doyle Dane Bernbach, and Ogilvy & Mather.
Bill later moved to Los Angeles, where he and his partner, Peter Smillie, spent ten years building Smillie Films, a successful television-commercial production company. Returning to New York, he worked closely with legendary filmmaker Albert Maysles for two years, during which he developed the Branded Content division of Maysles Films.
Eventually, Bill and his family relocated to Maine, where he founded Perna Content—now the creative home base where he continues his work today.
Robert Whitcomb
Editor
Robert Whitcomb is a veteran editor and writer with decades of experience across major national and international publications. He has served as finance editor of the International Herald Tribune; vice president and editorial-page editor of The Providence Journal; an editor and writer for The Wall Street Journal; and a writer for the late Boston Herald Traveler.
Throughout his career, Whitcomb has contributed essays and news stories to numerous newspapers and magazines, covering a wide range of subjects. He has edited several books and movie scripts, co-authored the book Cape Wind, and appeared as a commentator on many television and radio programs.
He is also the editor—and a frequent contributor—of New England Diary, a blog updated most days.
Jennifer Brennan
Designer
Jennifer Brennan is a graphic and web designer based in Jefferson, Maine. She has collaborated with Perna Content on a range of projects over the years, including the design and ongoing maintenance of the Perna Content website. Her broader body of work can be viewed at jenniferbrennandesign.com.
Ken Hess
Media Director
Ken has more than 20 years of experience in television programming and branded-content development, including serving as lead editor and director of photography for the Emmy Award–winning World of Adventure Sports on NBC. His background also includes work in website development and computer-network infrastructure.
Before relocating to Portland, Maine, in 2010, Ken lived in Vail, Colorado, where he worked primarily in the televised action-sports industry. His projects have included collaborations with major brands such as Red Bull, GoPro, Subaru, and Jeep.
Aida Dzhafarova
Project Manager
Aida is a Lecce, Italy-based Project Manager who plays a key role in coordinating the development of Agriturismos of Tuscany. She oversees research, updates, and communications with participating agriturismi, helping ensure accuracy, clarity, and continuity as the book moves toward final production. In addition to her work on the Tuscany project, Aida supports a range of editorial, organizational, and production tasks across Perna Content’s publishing and media projects, bringing structure, reliability, and thoughtful attention to detail to each stage of the process.
Andrew Hammond
Audio Engineer & Producer
Andrew (“Andy”) is a Manchester-based Audio Engineer and Producer who works closely with Perna Content on podcast production and sound design. He brings decades of experience in dialogue editing, narrative audio, and broadcast-quality production, helping shape clear, engaging, and immersive listening experiences. Working remotely with ease and precision, Andy is a trusted creative partner who supports hosts, producers, and storytellers from recording through final mix, ensuring each project meets the highest professional standards.
Marianela Ponciano
Operations & Fulfillment Manager
As Operations and Fulfillment Manager, Marianela oversees the behind-the-scenes work that ensures every book reaches its destination smoothly and on time. From managing inventory and coordinating shipping logistics to handling packaging, orders, and customer fulfillment, she is responsible for turning our books into successfully delivered experiences. Detail-oriented and highly reliable, she plays a key role in keeping publishing operations running efficiently and our readers very happy.