Our Team

Meet the team driving innovation to create transformative learning experiences that upgrade your skills.

Founders

Kris Krüg

Founder & CEO of Future Proof Creatives

Artist, Educator, Consultant

My name is Kris Krug – a boundary-pushing creative explorer, an intuitive tech whisperer, and a tenacious culture hacker. In the fabric of the digital era, where technology often overshadows humanity, I’ve taken it upon myself to chart a different course.

I’m on a relentless mission to humanize technology, to infuse it with empathy, ethics, and emotion. I’m not just tinkering with gadgets and algorithms; I’m reprogramming the very core of our interactions with the digital world to resonate with the heartbeat of human experience.

But that’s only part of my mission. I’m also in the ring, gloves on, ready to battle the creeping villain of apathy that threatens to numb our society. I challenge indifference with passion, confront disconnection with engagement, and replace the passive consumption of media with active creation.

I stand firm in the belief that art shouldn’t be a rarefied luxury, but a common language for all. By democratizing art, I aim to unlock a universal creative potential. Art is a right, not a privilege, and I strive to make it accessible to everyone, everywhere – breaking down the walls that confine creativity to the few.

In parallel, I’m a champion of communities, believing in the colossal power of collective action. Empowering communities is not just about giving a voice to the voiceless; it’s about amplifying that voice until it echoes across the globe. It’s about lighting a fire in every individual to contribute, connect, and collaborate.

Peter Bittner

Founder & CEO of The Upgrade

New Media Journalist, Lecturer at UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism

Peter is the founder and CEO of The Upgrade. For the past 8 years, Peter has been a visiting lecturer of new media at UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism and an instructor at the Advanced Media Institute, where he has taught emerging media. He was formerly a visiting instructor at CELSA-Paris Sorbonne. Additionally, Peter leads custom media workshops for organizations.

His photography and videography have been published on the front page of The New York Times and in CNN, Bloomberg, NBC, Reuters, Vox, Business Insider, Hearst Digital, Al Jazeera, Popular Mechanics, VICE News, and other major outlets. Peter is a Fulbright Scholar and has covered science, sports, travel, politics, and culture — and has a special knack for projects that get him outdoors and off the grid.

Rick Ahn

Operations Lead

Rick Ahn is the Operations Lead at The Upgrade Academy, where he plays a key role in driving its growth and enhancing its impact. Since joining The Upgrade in January 2024, Rick has led marketing communications, spearheaded website development and backend operations, and optimized logistical processes to elevate the Upgrade mission. Now, as The Upgrade evolves into The Upgrade Academy to reach and empower even more individuals, Rick is dedicated to improving the student experience and ensuring meaningful engagement.

As he prepares to begin dental school in August 2025, Rick is focused on advancing his skills and knowledge, with a commitment to helping others in transformative ways. Recognizing that AI is an essential tool shaping the future, Rick is passionate about integrating its capabilities into dentistry. He plans to specialize in prosthodontics, leveraging AI to revolutionize patient care and outcomes.

Instructors

Kevin Friel

Instructor

Video Producer, Creative Director, Content Solutions Architect

Kevin is a dynamic, cinematic visual director based in Vancouver, British Columbia, celebrated for his mastery in pre-production, production, post-production, technical and workflow innovation, and delivery.

With over 20 years as a Camera Operator and Director of Cinematography, 18 years as a Motion Designer and VFX Artist/Manager, and a decade as a Producer, Writer, and Director, he is a highly sought-after visual storyteller who brings creativity and community to every project.

With a roster of award-winning artists across the globe, Kevin’s vision and organizational mastery deliver the highest standards of storytelling for client ventures of any scale.

Pete Pachal

Founder & CEO of The Media Copilot

Technology Journalist & Media Strategist  

Journalist Pete Pachal has been covering technology for more than two decades and has been following the field of artificial intelligence since before Gmail was trying to complete your sentences. An experienced newsroom leader and media executive, Pete understands the way reporters and editors work, the priorities of media companies, and the areas where generative AI can make the most difference in journalism.

Pete was Chief of Staff for Content at CoinDesk where he led the publication’s AI Committee and wrote the company’s guidelines for the use of generative AI. He’s also held senior editorial positions at Red Ventures, Mashable, and NBCUniversal. His work has appeared in Fast Company, Forbes, TIME, and more. He’s also written a featured column for the Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI) at the University of Missouri, and has appeared on the Today Show, CNN, CNBC, Fox Business, CBC, NPR, The Daily Show, Cheddar, and several other outlets as a thought leader in tech, crypto, and AI.

In his meager spare time, Pete joins journalist Chris Taylor every week to host Pull To Open, a weekly Doctor Who podcast that features thoughtful and entertaining commentaries on every single televised story.

Let’s Get Started.