About Michael Klassen

Contact Michael

Email klassen@thinkcap.com

Those who know Michael Klassen, President of Thinking Cap Inc., describe him as the ultimate new media maven – with both left and right sides of the brain going a mile-a-minute. In today’s communication arena you have to be part writer and artist, part analyst and technologist – the complete package.

Michael is also known for being one of those unique individuals who was actually born and raised in Vancouver; an English major who graduated from the University of British Columbia.

Feeding his creative side first, Michael worked early on as part of a production team at Expo 86. That led to being offered a media monitoring job during the 1986 provincial election. Responsible for tracking news on the campaign trail, and distributing campaign releases to province-wide media organizations, he quickly fused his interest in media with political and public affairs that became the foundation for his activities today.

His interest in all forms of media led him through a series of related work, first on movie shoots and hit TV productions such as MacGyver and 21 Jump Street, and earning his certification as a member of the Directors Guild of Canada. More radio, television and corporate communications projects throughout the early 1990’s added to his media credits, including writing for alternative & mainstream publications, and co-hosting a weekly radio feature called The Hollywood North Report, and various writing and producer roles with production companies like the internationally recognized Shane Lunny Group. Michael has received numerous awards for his productions in association with Rogers Community TV.

His specialized experience in political media monitoring caused him to be recruited again for the 1991 provincial campaign. Following this he was requested to join the all-party Yes referendum campaign for the Charlottetown Accord.

Michael’s combination of interests in communications and technology allowed him to see, early on, the ‘earth-shifting’ potential of the World Wide Web. He immersed himself in this medium, launching his first website in 1994. His accelerated understanding of new media technology allowed him to co-design and produce an innovative retail multimedia display that led to an offer, by Electronic Arts Canada, to participate in the design and production of what would become the world’s best-selling basketball videogame series, EA Sports’ NBA Live for the Sony Playstation.

Levering this success, Michael returned to his work in the internet space and founded Thinking Cap Inc., created to serve as a vehicle for his web development and marketing work. Michael and subsequently Thinking Cap were becoming well-known for their ability to manage complex communications assignments through the tools of new media. This resulted in Thinking Cap becoming a new media consultant to a host of election campaigns throughout the decade. In 2005, Michael managed election campaigns for a provincial cabinet minister, and a candidate for Vancouver city council.

Michael lives and works in Vancouver and is actively involved in his community. In January 2007 he began a two-year appointment to the Vancouver City Planning Commission.

He and his wife are also unabashed supporters of the BC wine industry. After all, good conversation with friends is always best enjoyed over a glass of wine.

About this website

A published writer since 1989 and a web publisher (at Thinkcap.com) since 1995, Michael Klassen's articles have been read by tens of thousands from around the globe, attracting responses from North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and even from a White House Webmaster.

"I have employed all the Wit and Humour of which I am Master in the following History; wherein I have endeavoured to laugh Mankind out of their favourite Follies and Vices. How far I have succeeded in this good Attempt, I shall submit to the candid Reader, with only two Requests:

First, that (s)he will not expect to find Perfection in this Work; and

Secondly, that (s)he will excuse some Parts of it, if they fall short of that little Merit which I hope may appear in others."

Henry Fielding, 1749
Preface to Tom Jones

As with the quote from Fielding's momentous novel Tom Jones, we hope that you are able to find some amusement or insights among these writings.