{{Short description|American entrepreneur}} {{Infobox person | name = Christina Seelye | image = Christina Seelye at WPO ceremony (cropped).jpg | caption = Seelye in 2017 | birth_place = [[Richmond, California]], U.S. | occupation = [[Entrepreneur]] and [[CEO]] | known_for = Founding [[Maximum Games]] and [[Modus Games]] }} '''Christina Seelye''' is an American [[Entrepreneurship|entrepreneur]]. She is the [[Chief executive officer|CEO]] and [[Founder CEO|founder]] of [[video game publisher]] [[Maximum Games]], and its subsidiaries [[Modus Games]] and Modus Studios.<ref>{{cite news |title=These Bosses Are Paving the Way for Women in Leadership Positions |url=https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/work-money/g35566765/dress-for-success-campaign-2021/?slide=29 |access-date=31 May 2021 |work=Oprah Daily |date=March 1, 2021}}</ref>

== Career == In June 2001, Christina founded [[Elibrium]], a [[software publisher]] and developer of the MySoftware line of small business and personal productivity titles.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Avanquest USA - Company - Press Room - Press Releases - Archives 2003 - July 2003 - Elibrium and IncrediMail Partner to Deliver Next Generation Email Software|url=https://www.avanquestusa.com/company/pressreleases/2003/prjul212003_elibincredimail.asp|access-date=2021-05-05|website=www.avanquestusa.com}}</ref> As president and CEO, Christina led the company through industry changes, including electronic software distribution, subscription revenue models and direct consumer marketing. Elibrium was acquired by [[Avanquest Software]] in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Biz Journals|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2004/04/19/daily28.html|access-date=2021-05-05|website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref> Following the acquisition, Christina served as the CEO and president of Avanquest Publishing USA until 2007.

In July 2004, Christina founded the Rhino Group, a software and technologies distribution and marketing platform.{{cn|date=October 2022}}

In 2009, Christina co-founded Maximum Family Games, now Maximum Games, Inc., and in 2018 became the sole owner and founder after the departure of the former president Len Ciciretto.

In 2016, Christina led Maximum Games in acquiring UK based Avanquest Software Publishing Limited and rebranded the company as Maximum Games, Limited. The acquisition marked Maximum's move to expand distribution of its games globally, establishing a European sales and marketing position. During this time, they also established a second European subsidiary, Maximum Games Ireland Limited.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=2016-05-23|title=Avanquest now '100% focused on games' after name change|url=https://www.mcvuk.com/business-news/publishing/avanquest-now-100-focused-on-games-after-name-change/|access-date=2021-05-05|magazine=MCV/DEVELOP|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Maximum Games Ireland Ltd - Irish Company Info - SoloCheck|url=https://www.solocheck.ie/Irish-Company/Maximum-Games-Ireland-Limited-577081|access-date=2021-05-05|website=www.solocheck.ie}}</ref>

In 2018, Christina launched a new division of Maximum Games called Modus Games to provide AAA publishing services to [[Indie game|independent developers]] globally. After several successful launches, Modus Games acquired its first development studio, expanding its capabilities to development with the addition of Modus Studios Brazil in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kerr|first=Chris|title=Trine 4 publisher Modus Games acquires Brazilian studio The Balance|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/349937/Trine_4_publisher_Modus_Games_acquires_Brazilian_studio_The_Balance.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903230753/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/349937/Trine_4_publisher_Modus_Games_acquires_Brazilian_studio_The_Balance.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 3, 2019|access-date=2021-05-10|website=www.gamasutra.com|language=en}}</ref>

Christina currently serves on the board of directors for the Women Presidents’ Organization and as an officer on the board of directors for Women In Games International.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Christina Seelye, Founder and CEO of Maximum Games, Joins Advisory Board of Exceptional Women Awardees Foundation|url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/christina-seelye-founder-and-ceo-of-maximum-games-joins-advisory-board-of-exceptional-women-awardees-foundation-870563072.html|access-date=2021-05-05|website=PRWeb}}</ref>

== Personal life == Christina was born in [[Richmond, California|Richmond, California, U.S.]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Biz Journals|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2005/07/11/smallb2.html|access-date=2021-05-10|website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref> Christina currently divides her time between managing Maximum Games in Walnut Creek and the subsidiaries in Europe and Latin America and attending the Owner/President Management Program at [[Harvard Business School]] in Boston.<ref>{{Cite web|title=DFS Your Hour Her Power|url=https://yourhourherpower.org/participants/christinaseelye|access-date=2021-05-10|website=DFS Your Hour Her Power|language=en-us}}</ref>

== Philanthropy == Under Modus Games, Christina launched a charitable program called Games Giving Back as a way for her company to support different communities. The initiative sees one-time donations to different causes, often themed after the game that accompany the contribution.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Modus Games launches the Games Giving Back charity initiative|url=https://gamedaily.biz/article/1909/modus-games-launches-the-games-giving-back-charity-initiative|access-date=2021-05-05|website=GameDaily.biz|language=en}}</ref> Christina also serves on the Advisory Board for the Exceptional Women's Awardee Foundation. She is active in supporting the advancement of women in technology and the video game industry.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Helping Women To Advance {{!}} United States {{!}} Exceptional Women Awardees|url=https://www.exceptionalwomenawardees.com/|access-date=2021-05-05|website=Helping Women To Advance {{!}} United States {{!}} Exceptional Women Awardees|language=en}}</ref>

== Awards == '''Executive of the Year - Consumer Products'''

American Business Awards

Jun 2015 - Silver Award<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Search All Past Stevie® Winners and Finalists {{!}} Page 1784 {{!}} Stevie Awards|url=https://stevieawards.com/search-past-winners-and-finalists?site_type=&year=&company_name=&award=&nomination_title=&country=&category_group=&state=&category=&city=&submitted_by=&industry=&items_per_page=10&order=category_group&sort=desc&page=1783|access-date=2021-05-06|website=stevieawards.com}}</ref>

'''Female Entrepreneur of the Year - Consumer Products'''

Stevie Awards for Women in Business

Nov 2015 - 1st place GOLD award for leadership and management<ref name=":0" />

Nov 2018 - 1st place GOLD award<ref name=":0" />

'''Maverick of the Year'''

Stevie Awards for Women in Business (Silver)

Nov 2018 - SIILVER award<ref name=":0" />

'''Women 2 Watch'''

Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO)

Jan 2020 - Ranked #3<ref>{{Cite web|title=StackPath|url=https://www.womenpresidentsorg.com/news-events/50-fastest-growing-women-owned-led-companies|access-date=2021-05-06|website=www.womenpresidentsorg.com}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Modus Games]] * [[Maximum Games]]

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seelye, Christina}} [[Category:American women chief executives]] [[Category:American company founders]] [[Category:Harvard Business School alumni]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:21st-century American women]] [[Category:Women in the video game industry]]