Jess grew up on the east coast, moving every two years living in New York and Pennsylvania.  He finally landed in Philadelphia attending Temple University as a Communications major specializing in Radio, Television and Film. Jess' TV production and design career took off quickly while still in school when he launched his first small ad agency.  Serving clients like Bell Atlantic and ARAMark, Jess' reputation for very innovative yet cost effective teams put him on the creative services map. In addition to serving his clients, Jess started creating sports documentaries and entertainment programming that would go to broadcast television, giving him a name for telling stories in a very special way. He has shot and directed projects for MTV, ESPN, PBS and many other networks and international clients.  As a director, Jess has had the great fortune to work with many actors and professional athletes such as Tony Dungy, Bill Cosby, Tom Lehman, Jodi Benson, Mark Harmon and many others!

The summer of 1989 changed his life when he has a little "run in" with the KGB while shooting a documentary in Russia, still under communist rule at the time.  "We were following a team of ultra-marathoners." tells Stainbrook. "These are guys that run 100 miles a day for multiple days." This international group of athletes was invited to run 1000 across Siberia in 15 days and Stainbrook and his friend were the film crew covering this first-time event for the world.  The hardships that they endured made Stainbrook think seriously about his life and what he was pursuing. "I was seeking success," Jess says, "without much significance."  Some people close to Jess say that's the year that he "found God."

            "Found God?!!" says Jess. "Perhaps for the first time I wasn't thinking only of myself and I was finally paying attention to something bigger than just me."  That experience impacted Jess' life so much that there was instant change and a direction to pursue.  It has impacted not only his life, but the lives of those around him...and according to friends and business associates, continues to do so in a powerful way. 

Mr. Stainbrook now has eight Emmy Awards to his credit and after winning the prestigious Station Excellence (Best Station) Emmy Award with the television station he built in Castle Rock, Colorado, Jess set out to serve ministries/non-profits and impact more people thru media.  In 2006, Jess founded 1615 The GC Media Project with the mission to be actively involved in impacting the world by seeking positive change in the way the institutions of education, media, entertainment and government influence our culture.  1615.tv has a radio, television and film division, each reaching out with content that presents the gospel through secular networks and media outlets. The ministry beneficiaries of Jess' skills are numerous and the impact of his work is inspirational and motivating to the variety of audiences these videos and programs have reached. Some of the projects he has produced and directed media campaigns for include: Denver's Road Home Initiative for Mayor (now Governor!) John Hickenlooper, Sold Out on Super Sunday, the nationally broadcast story of athletes committed to Christ at the NFL Super Bowl each year, the Oasis Network serving fragile families, Denver Botanic Gardens Technology Task Force, Colorado Mountain College... the list goes on and on! 

Mr. Stainbrook serves as an adjunct professor at Colorado Christian University.  "I approached CCU, wanting to be intentional about raising up the next generation of Kingdom minded filmmakers and creative design people."  With the full go ahead and support from President Bill Armstrong, Jess developed and implemented a full digital arts/media program for the University.  Jess is also an internationally recognized speaker on storytelling through media.  He has been the keynote speaker for events such as the Sabaoth International Film Festival in Milan, Italy as well as for organizations such as the PRSSA, NATOA, Rotary, Pinnacle Forum, Creative Connections and many others. 

Jess serves on the board for the National Academy of Arts and Science (the Emmy people!) in the Heartland Region and on the Historic Collections Committee with The Cherokee Ranch and Castle Foundation in Sedalia, CO. 

      Father of three beautiful daughters, Jess is married to his first and only wife, Keena.  Jess and Keena are the co-creators and authors of the faith-based Babyfaith series of videos and books, reaching babies and families throughout the world with “baby-sized” bible stories.  If you try to touch base with Jess in 2011, chances are he's either training his girls to "get some air" in the Super Pipe at Copper Mountain or watching the Women's World Cup with all his girls, rooting for the U.S. (maybe even from a stadium seat in Germany) while shooting something for somebody somewhere outside the United States!