2017 RSN Summit

Speakers

Joe Baker, Longhorn Network/ESPN, Director, Event and Studio Operations

Joe Baker joined ESPN studio operations in 1992, moved into studio production in 1996, and then event operations in 2002. Currently, Baker oversees Longhorn Network’s remote and studio operations, which includes oversight of 300+ shows per year, as well as providing consultation on broadcast infrastructure at all University of Texas athletic facilities. He also oversees remote operations for the Home Depot College Football Awards, College Baseball Home Run Derby, and LHN packaged events on the ESPN family of networks. Prior to joining LHN for its launch in 2011, Baker oversaw remote operations in ESPN’s Bristol, CT and Charlotte, NC facilities for College Basketball, NASCAR, INDYCAR, NHRA, PGA, and Women’s College World Series. Baker is a 1986 Business School graduate of Western Connecticut State University, and celebrates his 25th anniversary with ESPN this October.

Andrea Berry, Industry Consultant

For over 30 years, Andrea Berry has served as an award winning broadcast media executive, for the FOX and CBS television networks. She led remote technical teams for high profile live events including the World Series, the Olympic Winter Games, NFL, NCAA, and NASCAR. As a broadcast operations leader, Berry held key roles supporting the technical operations and transmission of the networks’ content and her teams were instrumental in launching new cable and broadcast television networks. Most recently serving as the SVP of Broadcast Media Services, she oversaw the FOX Network Groups’ digital media management initiatives.

Berry earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the Illinois Institute of Technology. She also holds executive certificates in management and leadership from M.I.T. and in new media management from USC. Berry serves on the boards of the NAB Education Foundation and the Sports Video Group. She was recently recognized by the Alliance for Women in Media for STEM Leadership in Media.

Chris Bevilacqua, Bevilacqua Helfant Ventures (BHV), Co-Founder

Over the past 30 years, Chris Bevilacqua has established himself as a leader in the sports and media business, including being at the forefront of two transformative eras in sports media history. Bevilacqua Helfant Ventures (BHV) represents a continuation and expansion of the business he previously conducted as founder and CEO of Bevilacqua Media Company (BMC).

Recognizing in the late 1990’s that following the Telecommunications Act of 1996 there was going to be an explosion of investment by media companies into new technology and distribution platforms (i.e. the birth of satellite TV, digital cable, and a robust internet), Bevilacqua believed that there were going to be enormous opportunities for content owners, especially those with valuable, under-exploited sports rights. In the early 2000’s, he set about founding and creating CSTV, the first-ever 24-hour cable TV network dedicated to college and amateur sports. CSTV was then followed by the launch of Fox College Sports and ESPNU.

His vision and efforts for CSTV led to the acquisition of the digital media company OCSN (Official College Sports Network), which eventually became the industry-leading CSTV.com portal. After raising $100 million in private equity financing from blue chip investors during the period of 2002-2005, CSTV was acquired by CBS Corporation in early 2006 for $325 million and is now known as the CBS Sports Network.

Additionally, in 2006 as part of CSTV’s efforts, Bevilacqua created the first-ever 24-hour collegiate conference sports network, the MountainWest Sports Network, which served as a model for the highly successful and subsequent Big Ten Network, SEC Network, and Pac-12 Networks.

Also, during the early 2000’s Bevilacqua was an early investor and advisor to the online ticketing company StubHub, which was acquired by eBay in 2007 for $310 million.

Armed with the experience of successfully creating, developing, and operating media businesses, Bevilacqua was able to identify yet another forthcoming transformation in sports media. Towards the end of the first decade of the 2000’s, with over $200 billion of infrastructure investments by cable, satellite, and telco companies, as well as a massive media industry consolidation well underway, the subscription TV business had grown to a $150 billion/year industry. With new platforms built out and consumer behavior demanding content anytime, anyplace, and anywhere, there was dynamic change and an increasingly competitive environment within the media ecosystem. With the dominant media incumbents focused on protecting the critical subscription TV business, there were many genres of programming being distributed outside of the subscription TV business with the exception of one genre: sports.

With that in mind, Bevilacqua focused on this transition and was able to bring his past experiences into the media advisory business. His efforts began in 2008 and culminated during an 18-month period in 2010-11, whereby he led a slew of critical sports properties into agreements that broke conventional wisdom. First, the record breaking Texas Rangers deal with Fox Sports, which at the time was the largest local rights TV deal in MLB history, more than tripled what the Rangers were previously receiving and clearly set a new benchmark for future agreements. Second, came the San Diego Padres and their new RSN with Fox Sports, which debuted in the spring of 2012.

Thirdly, Bevilacqua was the architect of the Pac-12 Conference media strategy, including the FOX/ESPN media rights agreements – the largest and most comprehensive in college sports history at that time. He also quarterbacked the groundbreaking Pac-12 Network (and its six regional sports networks and digital network) agreements with Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, and Brighthouse. The Pac-12 achieved over a 500% increase in their media rights agreements, launched their own media company which it controls 100% equity in, and at the same time altered the landscape of collegiate athletics by igniting the re-alignment by other conferences over the last several years.

Prior to BMC, Bevilacqua served as chairman and CEO of Creative Artists Agency (CAA) Sports Media Ventures, an affiliate of CAA and Evolution Media Capital (EMC), where he served as a media rights advisor for several other sports and entertainment entities including the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Tennis Channel, the Big East Conference, the Big 12 Conference, Conference USA, the National Hockey League, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the ION Television Network. Earlier in his career, Bevilacqua worked at Nike as the director of global negotiations and league affairs. He also held key roles at Major League Baseball, The Baseball Network, and NBC Sports, where he won a 1988 Emmy for his role in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Bevilacqua is a 1986 graduate of Penn State University where he was also an NCAA All-American wrestler. In 2012, he was elected into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, OK. Bevilacqua resides in Larchmont, NY with his wife Kristen and their four children.

Doug Brown, Freelance Director

Doug Brown is a freelance, multi-camera, live sports director for many networks, including the BigTen Network as an “at home” director in their Chicago Studios.

Starting out in local TV news and production in 1992, Brown has worked in all areas of production, from intern to technical director to coordinating producer. In 2001, he began directing for regional networks on a regular basis and slowly left the technical side of production.

In 2006, Brown was hired to be a part of the live production teams that started the Mountain West Network and in 2007 he joined the live production team at the start of the Big Ten Network. He has been a part of the “at home” experiment for the Big Ten Network from it’s implementation in 2011 – 2012.

Brown has directed NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, and all manner of Collegiate and Olympic sports productions for regional networks and broadcasters.

Tom Buffolano, LTN Global Communications, VP, Business Development, Sports

Tom Buffolano has been in the broadcast industry for more than 20 years. He has held executive positions at major programming networks including MTV Networks, CSTV, and CBS College Sports, where he also lead their digital initiatives. In 2009, Buffolano founded the College Sports Video Summit (now College Sports Summit) and was chairman of the event from 2009 – 2013. He remains chairman of the SVG/NACDA College Sports Media Awards. Buffolano joined LTN Global Communications in 2014 and oversees business development for sports.

Walter Cade, NBC Sports Regional Networks, SVP, Ad Sales

Walter Cade was named SVP of ad sales for NBC Sports Regional Networks in February 2017. He is responsible for ad sales across six Regional Sports Networks, and works closely with the 29 NBC and Telemundo-owned local stations on multi-market and individual cross-platform sales. Cade reports to Frank Comerford, the chief revenue officer and president of commercial operations for NBCUniversal-owned television stations.

Cade is a sports advertising sales veteran with more than two decades of experience leading sports sales strategies. Most recently, Cade served at CSN Chicago as the VP of ad sales and the national sales manager for 13 years. There, he was responsible for overseeing the network’s national, local, and digital sales efforts and developing new business opportunities across all platforms. Prior to joining CSN Chicago, Cade served as a national sales manager at Fox Sports Net in Chicago and an associate media director at Stardom Worldwide.

Cade is a graduate of Western Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in communication. He currently resides in NYC with his wife and children.

Robert Carzoli, Program Productions, President and CEO

As a second-generation owner, Robert Carzoli has overseen 15 years of astronomical growth at Program Productions and now runs the broadcast industry’s largest labor management firm. A current consecutive 11 year run on Inc. Magazine‘s 500/5000 List of the Fastest Growing Privately-Held Companies is a testament to the outstanding customer service and employer-of-choice status that Program Productions has enjoyed under Carzoli’s leadership.

Carzoli brings over three decades of diverse labor management expertise to Program Productions and its customers. His experience in managing union relationships, implementing national employee benefit programs, developing employer-side liability and risk mitigation platforms, and navigating complex federal and state labor laws has helped Program Productions grow into an organization that handled almost 6,000 event days and paid over 10,000 technicians in 2016 alone. In recent years, he has established an Advanced Media Division which specializes in “at-home” production and labor needs. Carzoli has also expanded the company’s reach north of the border into Canada. The company’s recent acquisitions of smaller, local labor management firms and the next-generation launch of its proprietary enterprise resource management system, ProCrewz, are signals that neither Carzoli nor Program Productions are resting on their collective laurels.

Carzoli is involved in a number of local and national charities and has spearheaded Program Productions’ participation in the Sports Broadcasting Fund through the Sports Video Group.

He and his wife, Sue, and their two adult children are life-long residents of Chicago.

Frank Coll, NEP Group, Senior Account Manager, U.S. Mobile Units

Frank Coll is an experienced television industry executive with a hands on approach to management. His 30 plus years in the mobile television facilities industry have given him a very broad background in all facets of this business. From engineering to finance, operations, sales, and marketing, there’s not a role that he hasn’t played or wasn’t comfortable in.

Coll’s current role is to manage and maintain multiple major RSN contracts for the NEP Group in the Western United States. Among his clients are NBC Sports Bay Area/California, Pac-12 Networks, Spectrum SportsNet LA, and ROOT Sports Northwest. His primary focus is to ensure that a “platinum” level of service is provided on every event for every client. In his view are new sales and business development for NEP, particularly in Northern California, the Pacific Northwest, and Hawaii. Coll represents NEP at industry functions and on-site at events, in addition to providing insight to senior management and mentorship to developing team members.

Prior to joining NEP with the acquisition of MIRA Mobile Television in 2014, Coll had been the director of operations and business development at MIRA since 2009. This followed a 19-year stint as the senior vice president of operations for National Mobile Television in Los Angeles. Coll is a 1981 graduate of Ohio University where he was awarded a B.S. in communications, Summa Cum Laude.

Michael Connelly, Fox Sports Networks, SVP/EP

Michael Connelly is responsible for the day-to-day production of FSN’s 19 regional sports networks and national broadcasts of the PAC 12, Big 12, CUSA events, and all studio shows including College Football Saturday. He currently works in the Fox Sports Studios in Los Angeles.

At Fox Sports Arizona, he oversaw all aspects of the P/L including sales, production, programming, marketing, public relations, and affiliate sales, as Fox Sports Arizona is the state’s only regional sports cable network that reaches 3 million homes in Arizona and New Mexico. The network provides local cable and satellite coverage of MLB’s Arizona Diamondbacks, the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes, the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, collegiate sports from Arizona State University and the University of Arizona, the AFL’s Arizona Rattlers, and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, as well as high school and many other popular regional sports programming options that are devoted to the state of Arizona teams and athletes.

He was instrumental in helping the network launch FoxSportsArizona.com in 2009 and secure new long-term television rights agreements with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008, Phoenix Coyotes in 2010, and Phoenix Suns and the Arizona Interscholastic Association in 2011. This made FOX Sports Arizona the exclusive television home of the all three major professional sports teams beginning in 2011.

Connelly also served as the first executive producer for Fox Sports North in Minneapolis from 2001 to 2003 and oversaw the launch of Fox Sports North and Fox Sports Wisconsin in Milwaukee. There, he oversaw the production of the network’s regional sports programming that included comprehensive coverage of the Minnesota Twins, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Lynx, and collegiate events featuring the University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin and Marquette University, plus magazine shows and special events. He also oversaw the transition of FSN North when Fox purchased the network from CBS in 2001.

As the network’s first-ever executive producer, Connelly first joined Fox Sports Arizona when it launched in September 1996. He led the production effort for FS Arizona’s regional programming and was instrumental in helping launch the highly-acclaimed Arizona Sports Report, a regional news and highlight show, in July 2000. Connelly managed the debut of Diamondbacks Baseball and Diamondbacks Countdown, as well as Coyotes Hockey and Coyotes Countdown pre-game shows. He also oversaw production of various magazine shows devoted to FSN Arizona’s two collegiate sports properties.

Prior to the launch of FS Arizona, Connelly worked as a producer and director for 15 years for FSN, CBS, NBC, ABC, ESPN, The Baseball Network, and Midwest Sports Channel. Local team productions include the Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota North Stars, Minnesota Wild, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Coyotes, Minnesota Wild, and the Big Ten Conference. Connelly received a Midwest Regional Emmy Award in 1996 and 1997 for his work producing coverage of University of Minnesota hockey and received Emmy nominations for his work on Twins and Timberwolves telecasts.

At the start of his career in sports television, Connelly worked for nine years finishing as coordinating producer and senior line producer at CBS O&O, WCCO Television, and Midwest Sports Channel. He joined the network at its inception in 1989 when it was known as WCCO 2, and received the first of what would be two experiences in helping launch a regional sports television network. Born and raised in Minneapolis, Connelly attended the University of Minnesota’s School of Mass Communications and Brown College of Broadcast Engineering. He and his wife Cara reside in L.A. and have two children, Anna and Jack.

Brandon Costa, SVG, Director, SVG Digital

Brandon Costa covers the sports video production industry, with a focus on live streaming, over-the-top (OTT), social media, and other digital distribution technologies and platforms. He also directs SVG’s internal digital strategies launching the company’s video outfit, ‘SVG On Demand,’ designing and overseeing its mobile application, ‘SVG Mobile,’ and serving as executive producer and host of The SVG Podcast. Costa serves as program director of both the SVG College Sports Summit and the SVG Digital Summit. Prior to his time at SVG, Costa spent five years producing digital content for MLB Advanced Media.

Jason Dachman, SVG, Chief Editor and RSN Summit Program Manager

Jason Dachman oversees all aspects of SVG’s North American editorial operations, including the thrice-weekly SVG Insider newsletter and SVG’s annual print publications. A member of the SVG team since 2009, Dachman also serves as program director for SVG’s Sports Content Management & Storage (SCMS) Forum, Sports Graphics Forum, and TranSPORT event. Prior to joining SVG, he spent three years covering local sports for The Patriot Ledger in Quincy, MA, and spent two years on the production staff of SiriusXM Satellite Radio’s The Ron & Fez Show. Dachman began his career in the Sports Information Department at Northeastern University in Boston, where he also earned a B.A. in media communications and cinema studies. A native of Denver, CO, Dachman currently resides in Brooklyn, NY.

David Denenberg, NBA Entertainment, SVP, Global Media Distribution and Business Affairs

As senior vice president of global media distribution and business affairs for NBA Entertainment (NBAE), David Denenberg is responsible for negotiating agreements and helping manage relationships relating to all facets of NBAE’s domestic and international media business, including television, film, radio, music, digital media, photography, and talent. Denenberg also negotiates distribution and affiliation agreements relating to NBA TV and NBA League Pass, and frequently advises NBA, WNBA, and D League teams on a variety of issues relating to their television and entertainment businesses.

In addition, Denenberg oversees the league’s footage licensing, photography, and extended-market television businesses and is actively involved in advising USA Basketball on a variety of initiatives.

Denenberg currently serves on the Board of Governors for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, where he also serves on the Finance Committee.

Prior to joining the NBA in March 1995, Denenberg worked in the Corporate Department of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker in New York City.

A 1991 cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School, Denenberg graduated magna cum laude from Colgate University in 1988.

Tim Felstead, Snell Advanced Media (SAM), Head of Product Marketing

Tim Felstead is the head of product marketing for SAM and offers a deep understanding of the media business, its technology, markets, and processes. During a 25 year career, Felstead has worked in many areas of the technology side of the industry including software engineering, product management, sales management, and marketing management. His primary role at SAM is to bring insight to the current and future needs of customers and help plot their product development path.

For 2017, his focus is on the global sports and live production market, promoting the entire SAM line from content creation to management and delivery. He is the board representative of SAM with the IABM (International Association of Broadcast Manufacturers), a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, and represents SAM within the AIMS (Alliance for IP Media Solutions) group. Felstead lives and works in the UK and is based at the SAM headquarters in Newbury.

He has Bsc, Msc, and MBA degrees, as well as a MCIM designation.

Jeff Filippi, MSG Networks, SVP of Programming and Production/Executive Producer

Jeff Filippi is senior vice president of programming and production, and executive producer for MSG Networks. In this position he oversees nearly 350 live productions every year between the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Liberty, New York Red Bulls, and the Westchester Knicks. He also oversees pre-game and post-game coverage, MSG Networks’ live studio shows, and manages over 30 on-air talent, in addition to all production personnel. Filippi joined MSG Networks in 2005 and reports to Andrea Greenberg, the president and CEO of MSG Networks.

Under Filippi’s purview, MSG Networks has won more New York Emmy Awards than any other network or station in the region over the past decade.

Prior to joining MSG Networks, Filippi held roles at every major network including ABC, NBC, CBS, and ESPN, and worked as a producer on four winter Olympic Games. He was also an original hire at Classic Sports Network where he served as vice president and executive producer through the sale of the network to ESPN.

Philip Garvin, Mobile TV Group, President/Founder/Co-Owner

Philip Garvin is the president, founder, and co-owner of the Mobile Television Group, the nation’s second largest mobile production facilities company. He is also the president of​ Colorado Studios which manufactures mobile units.

A graduate of Yale University, Garvin started his career as a photographer (receiving National Book Award nominations for two of his books) before moving into television in the mid-70s. He produced and directed numerous programs for PBS including Religious America and Countdown to the White House, and was the producer-cameraman of mini-docs for CBS Sunday Morning. In 1983, he helped launch The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour and was its managing producer.

In 2001, he co-founded (with Mark Cuban) HDNet, the ​first ​all-high definition national television network​. He was its general manager for twelve years.​

Garvin has built his businesses around his experience as a creative producer and technologist. By combining both skills he has been able to offer cost-effective production solutions that are unique in the industry. Since 1980, he has built three companies playing a major role in sports television production. Mobile TV Group (including Mountain Mobile TV, Lone Star Mobile TV, and Western Mobile TV) provides facilities for over 4,000 live professional and college sports events each year with 2​8 mobile units based all over the United States. It is the leading mobile company for regional sports networks’ MLB, NBA, and NHL productions and developed the “dual feed” approach.

In 2016, Mobile TV Group launched the first 4K mobile unit in the United States. Built from the ground-up for 4K/UHD, 38 FLEX was the mobile unit for ground-breaking 4K productions including the Masters, the PGA Championship, Notre Dame football, the Garth Brooks concert, and the World Series of Beach Volleyball.

Curt Gowdy Jr., SNY, SVP, Production, and Executive Producer

Curt Gowdy Jr. is the senior vice president of production and executive producer at SNY. In this capacity, he is responsible for overseeing all production, content, and on-air talent at the network, including New York Mets live broadcasts and New York Jets programming. Gowdy also oversees the network’s original entertainment and news programming, including SNY’s critically acclaimed shows SportsNite, Daily News Live, and Loud Mouths, as well as its various award-winning documentaries. Over the course of his career, Gowdy has been recognized for his work by garnering 31 Emmy Awards.

Prior to joining SNY in May of 2005, Gowdy worked for ABC Sports for 27 years where he served as the coordinating producer and producer for Major League Baseball’s World Series, The League Championship Series and All-Star games, Summer and Winter Olympic Games, ABC’s Wide World of Sports, Horse Racing’s Triple Crown, College Football, and the Little League World Series.

As coordinating producer for Major League Baseball, Gowdy produced three World Series, including the critically acclaimed 1989 San Francisco earthquake series. He also produced – for over a decade – ABC’s Wide World of Sports, the longest running sports anthology show in television history. In addition, Gowdy garnered eight Eclipse Awards for “outstanding live coverage” of thoroughbred racing for ABC’s Triple Crown coverage.

Gowdy graduated from Colby College with a BA in american studies and lettered in varsity hockey. He was also the recipient of Colby’s “Distinguished Alumnus” award, as well as the “Carl Nelson” award for professional achievement in the world of athletics. A native Bostonian, Gowdy is an expert salt and freshwater fly fisherman, as well as an accomplished guitarist and composer. He resides in New Canaan, CT with his wife Karen and three daughters: Taylor, Katherine, and Grace.

Steve Grigely, Fox Sports Networks, VP, Technical Operations

Steve Grigely began his television career in 2002 freelancing while attending Arizona State University. After graduating in 2006, he was hired by CBS Mobile in Los Angeles. Grigely and a small team helped launch the start of CBS Mobile, streaming network content to mobile phone subscribers. After a year at CBS, Grigely had the desire to return to the sports broadcast industry. In 2007, he was hired at Fox Sports as a production coordinator. Grigely immediately made an impact on Fox’s biggest shows, managing production services and crewing for the Super Bowls in Arizona and Dallas, as well as the Daytona 500 and World Series. In 2009, Grigely was promoted to manager of field operations and began taking on technical responsibility. With Fox’s growing number of sports properties, Grigely assumed additional responsibilities in project management. He started overseeing mobile unit and vendor equipment deals, as well as the NFL on Fox and its soccer properties. In 2013, Grigely was promoted to director of technical operations and continued to flourish in managing major Jewel events such as Super Bowl XLVIII in New York and the World Series. In 2015, Grigely transitioned to the RSNs, overseeing operations for Fox Sports Regional Networks as VP of technical operations. Grigely continues his role at Fox Sports Networks today, focusing on improving mobile unit equipment, finding production efficiencies, and expanding technology in Fox Sports Regional broadcasts.

Ted Griggs, NBC Sports Regional Networks, President, Group Leader and Strategic Production and Programming

Ted Griggs was named president, group leader and strategic production and programming at NBC Sports Regional Networks in October 2016. Griggs oversees CSN New England, CSN Philadelphia, TCN, and CSN Mid-Atlantic. He works closely with the general managers of each network to lead strategies promoting the growth and optimization of the businesses. Griggs also oversees the strategy for production and programming for the NBC Sports Regional Networks. Griggs reports to David Preschlack, the president of NBC Sports Regional Networks and NBC Sports Group platform and content strategy.

Previously, Griggs served as president of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and Comcast SportsNet California, now NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports California. He first joined the network in 1998 as VP of production and operations. In 2007, Griggs was named VP and general manager. He was promoted to president in 2012. Griggs led the operations of the networks, including affiliate relations, advertising sales, production, programming, marketing, and public relations.

Before joining NBC Sports Regional Networks, Griggs spent 15 years (1982 – 1997) at Golden Gate Productions in a variety of roles and was eventually promoted to executive producer. Griggs worked on numerous sporting events, spanning from Sports Illustrated For Kids’ Olympics Specials to Stanford University football and World Cup downhill skiing. Griggs was named nine times to San Jose Mercury News’ “Bay Area’s 25 Most Powerful Sports People.”

A native of Hayward, CA, and a graduate of Moreau Catholic High School and San Francisco State University, Griggs resides in CT with his wife. They have three children.

Princell Hair, CSN New England, SVP and GM

Princell Hair was appointed senior vice president and general manager of CSN New England in October 2016. CSN New England is the exclusive television home of the Boston Celtics, and serves more than four million households in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

In this role, Hair oversees all business and strategic operations of CSN New England, including production, programming, finance, technology, budgets, affiliate relations, advertising sales, marketing, and public relations.

Previously, Hair was SVP of news and talent at NBC Sports Group, since March 2012. In that role, he oversaw all talent recruitment, negotiation, and development for all talent across NBC Sports Group, including NBC Sports, NBC Sports Network, Golf Channel, and NBC Sports Regional Sports Networks, while also consulting with NBC Sports Digital. Hair also oversaw the NBC Sports Group’s newsgathering operations and news strategy.

Hair’s two decades of national and local programming experience also include senior news programming positions with Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) and Viacom. Hair served as SVP of Turner Broadcasting’s Strategic Planning Group, SVP of program and talent development for CNN Worldwide, and EVP and GM of CNN/U.S. As EVP and GM at CNN/U.S., he was responsible for the network’s day-to-day news operations, encompassing all aspects of programming and production, including oversight of CNN.com’s U.S.-based operations. Prior to Turner, Hair was vice president of news for the Viacom Television Stations Group, coordinating news coverage for 39 television stations across the U.S.

Hair graduated with a master’s degree in business administration from Emory University and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Florida International University. He currently serves on the Executive Board of the Marcus Smart YounGameChanger Foundation in Boston, on the Board of Directors for Horizons for Homeless Children of Massachusetts, and is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and a lifetime member of the National Black MBA Association. Hair also served for five years on the board of directors of the Radio Television Digital News Association and Foundation.

Michael R. Hall, NESN, SVP, Digital

Michael R. Hall is the senior vice president of digital at NESN. Hall is a senior executive with over a decade of experience in building and leading profitable digital media businesses. As general manager of digital at NESN, Hall oversees NESN’s digital P&L, operations, product, and monetization. Under Hall’s leadership, NESN’s digital audience has grown to over 15MM monthly unique visitors, representing a 5-year CAGR of 70%. Hall is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Brian Johnson, TokBox, Global Vice President, Business Development

At TokBox, Brian Johnson is focused on helping retail and other companies solve the problem of providing concierge and expert levels of customer advice and service while reducing costs using embedded live communications technology. Johnson is an experienced business leader with a focus on exponential growth, scaling global teams, opening new markets, and building companies. He has held executive roles in several startups leading to successful IPOs and acquisitions. His previous experience includes mobile and cloud communications companies Twilio, Nexmo, Tyntec, and Mblox, as well as major service providers including XO Communications. Johnson lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Doug Johnson, Root Sports, VP and Executive Producer

Johnson has worked in sports television production for 26 years including the last five as the executive producer at Root Sports Pittsburgh.

A twenty-time Emmy award winner, Johnson has produced or directed over 2,000 live pro events. He most recently served as the coordinating producer for Fox Sports Ohio. He was the event producer for Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians baseball telecasts, in addition to directing Cleveland Cavaliers basketball. Johnson started his professional career in production at ABC Sports in New York where he worked events such as Monday Night Football including Super Bowl XXV, the PGA Tour including the U.S Open, British Open, and PGA Championship, and college football and basketball games.

Johnson oversees all event and local production for Root Sports in Pittsburgh. As the regional sports network home of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pirates, Root Sports produces approximately 1,500 hours of sports programming annually.

Mike Johnson, Dome Productions, Director or Engineering

Mike Johnson is the director of engineering for Dome Productions and has been part of Dome’s growth for over two decades. During this time, the company has moved from analog to digital, SD to HD, and more recently, has entered UHD production. Johnson has led engineering planning and development for mobile production and technical facilities and managed fiber-network services, all in support of video/audio media delivery for host broadcast events, major league sports productions, and award show presentations across North America.

Recent activities include pursuit of further advancement in UHD and HDR productions, along with implementation of VR elements in support of Dome’s broadcast partners.

Dave Keller, Sony Electronics, National Account Manager, Sports Sales - Eastern USA and Canada

Dave Keller is currently the national account manager of Eastern USA and Canada sports sales for Sony Electronics. Keller has been with Sony for 16 years. He started as the product and marketing manager for all broadcast cameras and then moved to the sales side in 2003 to support all the major broadcasters and sports teams in Canada to transition from SD to HD and now to 4K and beyond. Keller is a media veteran with over 15 years of experience in the broadcast industry, from working as a technical director to director of operations for various broadcast stations in the Toronto market. His combined Sony and broadcast experience give Keller over 30 years of experience in the industry.

Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG, Executive Director, Editorial

Ken Kerschbaumer is executive director of editorial services for the Sports Video Group and SVG Europe. He was a co-founder of SVG along with Paul Gallo and Marty Porter in 2005 and has been writing about how sports networks and leagues use video and audio technology to deliver a quality TV experience since 1991. Kerschbaumer began his career in 1991 at Television Broadcast magazine before joining Cahners where he was founding editor of Digital Broadcasting magazine. In 2000, he joined Broadcasting & Cable magazine as senior editor of technology where he covered all aspects of broadcasting, cable, and Internet content creation and distribution.

Karen Hogan Ketchum, SVG, Senior Editor

Joining the SVG team in 2011, Karen Hogan Ketchum focuses on the venue industry while also reporting on a variety of sports-production and technology topics as senior editor. She oversees SVG’s print publications and drives the company’s Venue Initiative, coordinating the program for the Sports Venue Production Summit and Venue Production Seminars and serving as editor for SVG’s annual Venue Production Journal. In addition, Hogan Ketchum is the director of the Women’s Sports Media Initiative.

Hogan Ketchum began her career in sports at Fordham University with WFUV Sports, serving as supervising producer of One on One, WFUV Sports’ weekly call-in show. After graduating in 2009, Hogan Ketchum spent the 2009-10 season in the public relations department of the Trenton Devils (ECHL) before taking on a freelance copy editor assignment with Professional Sports Publications. A New Jersey native, she currently resides in Brooklyn, NY.

Nicole Labrow, Home Team Sports (HTS) – A Fox Sports Media Group Company, VP, Partnership Development

As vice president of partnership development, Nicole Labrow works with brands to develop multi-platform partnerships utilizing Home Team Sports’ (HTS) extensive portfolio of assets across more than 80 MLB, NBA, and NHL teams, in addition to all major NCAA conferences including the Big Ten and Pac-12.

Labrow is tasked with collaborating with marketing and media clients to develop strategic and impactful marketing solutions that encompass TV, digital and social media, and IP rights, as well as hospitality and event activation. HTS partnerships include the creation of custom content and brand integration, in addition to commercial and program production.

Labrow began her professional career at FOX Sports in 1999 as a sales assistant, working her way through the ranks to planner, account executive, and director of partnership development to her current role as vice president. During her time at the company, she has been instrumental in exceeding revenue goals across the multiple divisions of FOX in which she has worked. She also served as national sales manager at Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, which allowed her to gain insight to the daily operations of a Regional Sports Network from the inside out.

Labrow received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of California, Los Angeles. She received her Master of Arts in psychology from Pepperdine University. Born in Los Angeles, her career with FOX Sports has brought her from California to New York and now Chicago, Illinois, where she currently resides downtown with her husband and toddler son.

Sarah Lauch, CSN Chicago, Executive Producer, Original Content

Sarah Lauch was named executive producer of original content at CSN Chicago in 2013. A 20-year veteran of the regional sports television business and a 15-time Emmy Award winner, Lauch is the chief producer and editor of CSN Chicago’s vast array of full-length documentaries, specials, features, and unique game shows. Lauch began her RSN career as an intern at CSN Philly in 1997 and shortly thereafter, became the network’s primary editor from 1998 – 2003. Following a two-year stint working on The George Michael Sports Machine in Washington, D.C. (2003 – 2004), Lauch moved to Chicago to help launch CSN Chicago in October 2004 as the upstart network’s supervising editor.

Lauch is a graduate of Kutztown (Penn.) University and holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and TV broadcasting.

Zach Leonsis, Monumental Sports Network, VP and GM

Zach Leonsis is vice president and general manager of Monumental Sports Network, a first-of-its-kind regional sports network for digital, mobile, and over-the-top platforms. A member of MSN’s board of directors, Leonsis oversees all operations, including digital development and design, product fulfillment, brand marketing, content production, and integrated partner solutions. Monumental Sports Network is co-owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment and NBC Sports Group.

In 2016, Leonsis led the transformation of Monumental Sports Network from an ad-based blogging platform into an OTT network capable of processing new-age subscription bundles that include hundreds of live games across multiple leagues, original on-demand programming, exclusive merchandise, and one-of-a-kind subscriber-only events and experiences.

Leonsis also manages Monumental’s media rights relationship with CSN Mid-Atlantic, which has local exclusive television broadcasting rights to the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards. He also represents MSE on CSN’s board of directors, as well as overseeing MSE’s new franchise and property evaluations and acquisitions.

An active member of the local community, Leonsis is involved in a variety of nonprofit and charitable activities in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia. He assisted in securing a location for a complex in Ward 8 that will feature a Wizards’ practice facility, a 4,200-seat arena for the Mystics, and a future MSE NBA D-League franchise. Leonsis recently joined the board of the Anacostia Waterfront Trust in Washington to revitalize one of the city’s most treasured rivers.

After earning his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 2011, Leonsis received his MBA from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. He is a founding member of the Georgetown Entrepreneurial Advisory Board and recently received an appointment to serve on Virginia’s Governor’s Advisory Board on Service and Volunteerism.

Earning a spot on the Washington Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list, Leonsis also has been honored by other publications, including Washington Life Magazine and On Tap Magazine. He has been lauded for philanthropy as the recipient of Street Soccer USA’s Youth Service Award and the McLean Rotary Club’s Youth Service Award. Leonsis was also recognized for his research role for the independent documentary film Nanking, where he received an Emmy Award nomination.

Tim Lewis, Proshow Broadcast, President and Founder

Tim Lewis is the president and founder of Proshow Broadcast. Lewis began his professional career in 1981 and has worked in many roles throughout the industry as a technical producer, director, live sound engineer, event producer, technical director, A1, and stage manager.

Lewis founded Proshow Audiovisual in 1993 and in 2007, he started Proshow Broadcast launching its first mobile TV truck. Lewis currently focuses most of his time on leading Proshow Broadcast, concentrating on building their inventory of mobile trucks and clients, as well as expanding business operations across Canada and the United States.

Proshow currently operates a fleet of 7 HD trucks from its offices in Vancouver and Los Angeles, servicing clients such as ESPN, PAC-12 Networks, and Spectrum Sportsnet, for events including NCAA football, basketball, soccer and baseball, MLS Soccer, The Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes, SAG Awards, and more.

Lewis has been particularly active in developing the REMI/at home market, designing and launching five trucks specifically geared toward this rapidly growing sector.

Robbie Louthan, SMT, VP, Client Services and Systems

Robbie Louthan has been with SMT for 17 years. He began his career in remote operations supporting more than 2,000 productions. In 2006, he was promoted to director of operations, where he was responsible for managing all aspects of technical remote and operations teams.

As SMT grew, Louthan saw the need to bring a strong technical background into the management and execution of client communications. In 2014, he was promoted to director of client services and systems, adding the day-to-day management and execution of all client communication and project initiatives to his list of responsibilities.

As SMT’s growth continued, Louthan was promoted to VP of client services and systems and absorbed the SMT production engineering team. The production engineering team is responsible for client software deliverables.

Louthan is currently responsible for overseeing all aspects of the day-to-day fulfillment of client project requests and deliverables.

Jim Marshall, Dome Productions, Executive Producer and 2018 Olympic Winter Games, Ice Hockey Director

Jim Marshall’s motto in 1975 was “Go anywhere! Do anything!”, when he moved 1,300 miles from his home in Toronto for his first job in TV as a commercial copywriter at CKCK TV in Regina, Saskatchewan. Less than a year later, he moved back and began his directing career. It’s a career that’s over 40 years old and is still going strong.

Directing Hockey Night In Canada, Formula-1 Racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and working at 12 Olympic games are highlights he takes great pride in. Marshall has been part of a team that won six Gemini Awards in Canada and later five Emmy Awards when he lived in the U.S. working for FOX Sportsnet.

Marshall’s career started in analog color, moved onto digital color, then 16:9 digital color, HD, and now 4K. Over the past two years, he has worked in 4K while directing Toronto Raptors broadcasts for TSN and Rogers Sportsnet. Directing in 4k has created some very unique challenges, but with planning, communication, and patience it is very rewarding.

Today, Marshall is working with Dome Productions as the executive producer for host broadcaster coverage of the 2017 Invictus Games being held in Toronto this coming September. Directing live sports television for over four decades has been an experience that only some dream of having and he’s looking forward to being in the chair when the fifth decade begins.

Stephen Master, Nielsen Sports, Commercial Managing Director of Americas

Stephen Master is a managing director at the Nielsen Company and leads the commercial efforts of the Sports Group across the Americas. Nielsen is one of the world’s leading providers of marketing information, audience measurement, and business media products and services. TheNielsen Sports Practice operates across 20 countries and works closely with every major global sports property including the USOC, FIFA, UEFA, NFL, NHL, NBA, Formula 1, and Major League Baseball, as well as leading companies/brands that invest in sports sponsorships and media such as Anheuser Busch, Procter & Gamble, Pepsi, and Unilever. As the head of the Nielsen Sports Group, Master developed the Fanalytics platform, which not only provides brands and properties with a deeper understanding of how fans consume sports content, but also measures the impact of sports sponsorship investments. In addition, Master created the Nielsen N-Score and Talent Analytics, which is one of the leading measurement tools for evaluating the brand effectiveness of professional athletes and sports personalities, enabling advertisers to make smart marketing decisions on commercial endorsements.

Master’s insights and analysis from the Fanalytics platform are regularly quoted in the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, LA Times, USA Today, Associated Press, Forbes, Business Week, Huffington Post, Ad Age, Bloomberg, and the Sports Business Journal. He has also been featured as a sports media expert on ESPN, CNN, Reuters, CNBC, and Fox News. Master speaks at leading sports marketing conferences and events and was recently recognized as one of “Top 100 Most-Wanted Speakers At Tech Conferences”

Prior to joining Nielsen, Master was the VP of business development of corporate sponsorships at the National Football League. Before the NFL, Master worked at Octagon Worldwide as the VP of marketing solutions, where he worked with leading brands to incorporate sports, music, and entertainment into their marketing portfolios, as well as to activate and leverage those investments at retail. Master also previously worked at the National Basketball Association, where he served as the director of business development in the International Group.

Master graduated with a BBA from the University of Michigan, received an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and is currently an adjunct professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business, where he teaches a Sports and Entertainment Marketing course. He currently resides in Westchester County, NY with his wife and three children.

Bernadette McDonald, MLB, SVP, Broadcast Operations

Bernadette McDonald is SVP of broadcast operations for Major League Baseball. She is responsible for overseeing all broadcast operations issues related to MLB’s national broadcast partners, as well as the 30 Clubs and their local television and radio partners. This includes scheduling and production for all Network regular and postseason telecasts.

Ryan McGuffey, CSN Chicago, Senior Producer, Original Content

Ryan McGuffey was named senior producer of original content at CSN Chicago in 2013. A versatile and respected industry veteran and six-time Emmy Award winner, McGuffey helps oversee all original content produced by CSN Chicago. He has also has served as executive producer and writer for several of the station’s acclaimed documentaries, including its most recent release, Reign Men, which chronicled the incredible and historic journey of the Chicago Cubs’ Game 7 win in the 2016 World Series.

McGuffey joined CSN Chicago when it launched in October 2004 as an associate producer, before being promoted as the station’s first booking producer in early 2005. He has held various producing roles within the station and prior to joining CSN Chicago, he worked at Fox Sports Net Chicago.

A native of Portage, IN, McGuffey graduated from DePauw University with a bachelor’s degree in communications.

Larry Meyers, SVG RSN Summit, Executive Program Director

Larry Meyers was most recently the VP of content and the executive producer for Spectrum (formerly Time Warner Cable) Regional Networks. He was responsible for all event, studio, and original production for Spectrum SportsNet (Lakers, LA Galaxy, LA Sparks, and college/high school events) and Spectrum SportsNet LA, the regional television network of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The networks produce over 500 live events annually plus the weekly behind-the-scenes documentary franchise Backstage, live daily studio programs such as Access SportsNet, and other original programming. The networks garnered 26 team and individual LA area Emmy awards in their first four years. Meyers also received Emmys for his work at the RSN in San Francisco and a national Emmy for his work covering the 1988 Seoul Olympics for NBC.

Previously, Meyers spent nine years at the Tennis Channel as the senior vice president of production and the executive producer. In that role he was responsible for the channel’s original programming, as well as national and international live events. Prior to that, he spent seven years at Fox, working in Los Angeles and the Bay Area. Meyers began his career in sports television in the 1980s working in TV trucks producing and directing regional and national live sports event programming. Over the years, he transitioned to a production executive.

Meyers is originally from Oakland, CA and graduated from UCLA. He lives in Los Angeles and is married with two daughters. Meyers currently serves as the executive program director of SVG’s 2017 RSN Summit.

Ken Miller, Altitude Sports and Entertainment, EVP and General Manager/Executive Producer

Ken Miller joined Altitude Sports and Entertainment in January 2016 overseeing all aspects of game and show productions for the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Mammoth, and Colorado Rapids. In his newly expanded role as EVP and General Manager/Executive Producer, Miller will continue his duties overseeing all game and show productions, as well as overseeing the television network as a whole.

Prior to Altitude, Miller spent 12 years as VP, Executive Producer for FOX Sports/ROOT Sports. He joined Altitude with over 25 years of experience in the production industry and has been recognized as one of the industry’s best, winning 17 regional Emmy Awards and one National Cable Ace Award for producing/directing. 

Miller was born and raised in Denver, CO and attended John F. Kennedy High School. He graduated from Fort Hays State University with a bachelor’s degree in communications.

Matt Murphy, NBC Sports Regional Networks, SVP, Platforms and Strategy

Matt Murphy was named SVP of platforms and strategy at NBC Sports Regional Networks in March 2017. Murphy is responsible for the strategy and development of new and existing platforms for the NBC Sports Regional Networks’ content. He works closely with the NBC Sports Digital Team, and reports to Ted Griggs, president, group leader and strategic production and programming at NBC Sports Regional Networks.

A two-decade veteran at Disney and ESPN, Murphy held a variety of roles in sales, marketing, and digital distribution, most recently serving as SVP of digital video distribution. In that role, he led non-linear sales and marketing distribution strategies, developing new business opportunities and negotiating content agreements. Prior to joining NBC Sports Group, he also consulted with Google and Revolt TV, where he helped clients develop monetization and distribution strategies.

Murphy is a graduate of Washington and Lee University, and resides in CT with his wife and children.

Leon Schweir, Pac-12 Networks, SVP, Production

Leon Schweir serves as the senior vice president of production for Pac-12 Networks. As head of production, Schweir is responsible for all studio and remote productions, as well as digital content for Pac-12 Networks. Prior to participating in the launch of Pac-12 Networks, Schweir was the executive producer/vice president of production for the Big Ten Network and part of its launch team. The veteran sports television production executive and winner of multiple national and local Sports Emmy Awards, has held senior level positions with MSG Network and Comcast/NBCSN/Versus.

Jon Slobotkin, NBC Sports Regional Networks, SVP, Content and Live Programming

Jon Slobotkin was named the SVP of content and live programming at NBC Sports Regional Networks in February 2017. In this role, he is responsible for all game, studio, and multi-platform programming for all live content across NBC Sports Regional Networks. He is charged with ensuring a consistent philosophy and production quality for programming on all platforms across the group.

Most recently, Slobotkin served as VP and executive producer of live events, where he oversaw all aspects of live event coverage for the NBC Regional Sports Networks. He also served as a producer for women’s basketball at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Previously, Slobotkin also served as a producer at Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, primarily covering the Philadelphia Phillies. Before SportsNet Philadelphia, Slobotkin worked as a producer for 15 years at PRISM TV.

Slobotkin is a six-time Mid-Atlantic Region Emmy Award Winner. He is a graduate of Temple University and a member of its School of Communications Hall of Fame.

Michael Spirito, Fox Sports Regional Networks, VP, Business Development and Digital Media

Michael Spirito currently serves as the head of business development and digital media at the FOX Sports Regional Sports Networks, as well as at the YES (Yankees Entertainment and Sports) Network which he joined in 2006. Over the past 10 years, Spirito has been a pioneer in the digital media business, highlighted by the launch of the first in-market live game streaming product in MLB history in 2009, which was also the first authenticated ‘TV Everywhere’ product in professional sports. Other achievements include establishing YES’s industry leading presence in social media, their deals with Facebook and Google, YES’s partnerships with Arsenal Football Club and Manchester City, and multiple traditional and digital distribution initiatives.

From 2000 to 2004, Spirito was a founding member of Time Warner Ventures, where he invested in the digital media space, leading deals in and serving as a board member of companies such as N2 Broadband (acquired by Tandberg TV in 2005) and BigBand Networks (IPO in 2007). Spirito began his career as an investment banking analyst in the Media/Telecom group at Credit Suisse.

Spirito is a two-time Emmy Award winner, has been the recipient of Multichannel News’ “40 under 40,” and has been named to the CableFax’s “Digital Hot List” for seven consecutive years. 

Ken Stiver, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), VP, Engineering/Operations

Ken Stiver is the vice president of engineering/operations for Mid-Atlantic Sports Network. Throughout his long and storied career, he has consistently been on the forefront of broadcast operations and engineering. Starting with Warner Brothers in 1978, Stiver quickly built a reputation of excellence and went on to open his own company, consulting for nearly every major network in the world. He was the engineer of choice for Presidential Trips from 1984 to 1996. Stiver helped to design and build the wireless telecommunications infrastructure of Indonesia. Consistently sought after by companies such as Disney and Discovery for major television events, he has a great wealth of knowledge and shares it with everyone he encounters.

Larry Tiscornia, Major League Soccer, VP, Broadcasting

Currently in his 18th season at Major League Soccer, Larry Tiscornia oversees the production and broadcast operations for the League office, overseeing the day-to-day relationships with the league’s national network partners – ESPN, FOX Sports, Univision, and TSN – and local broadcast partners affiliated with MLS’s 22 clubs. Tiscornia also manages the league’s world feed productions that are distributed to more than 170 countries and territories.

During his time at MLS, Tiscornia has managed the implementation of the broadcast infrastructure during the construction of 15 MLS stadiums. He has also overseen the creation and implementation of a league-wide data and fiber network that connects all of MLS’s venues with the League office and their production facilities. Additionally, Tiscornia has overseen the digitization of MLS’s historical video archives dating back to 1996, the League’s inaugural year.

Tiscornia started his career at ABC Sports in 1998, after graduating from Penn State University with a degree in telecommunications.

Mike Webb, YES Network, VP, Broadcast Operations

Mike Webb, a 14-time Emmy Award-winner who has been with YES since before its March 2002 launch, is the VP of broadcast operations at YES Network. Webb oversees long-range planning, field and studio operations, and engineering.

As the most-watched regional sports network in the country for 12 of the last 14 years, YES Network is the exclusive television home of the 27-time World Champion New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Nets. YES, which has earned 402 Emmy Award nominations and 95 Emmy Awards since its March 2002 launch, also televises original biography, studio, and magazine programs, in addition to college sports.

Upon joining the YES Network in November 2001, Webb researched and contracted for network origination and studio services, satellite services, mobile unit vendors, and post-production facilities. He also hired the network’s engineering and support staff.

In the ensuing years, Webb oversaw the building out of YES’ HD production and master control facilities in 2007 and the introduction of YES’ newest production and satellite trucks. Webb also played a significant role when YES produced the first two 3D Major League Baseball games.

Prior to joining the YES Network, Webb spent 20 years working in various capacities at the ABC Television Network. He had most recently been a production executive for ABC Sports, working on such franchises as Wide World of Sports and College Football Scoreboard Show, as well as the network’s golf and figure skating coverage. Webb also managed production of ABC Sports’ Super Bowl XXXVI Pre-Game Show.

Webb’s production credits at ABC Sports include three Super Bowl Pre-Game Shows, two World Series, one MLB National League Championship Series, four New York City Marathons, ABC Monday Night Football, ABC College Football, the Kentucky Derby, and the Indianapolis 500. Webb joined ABC in 1982, working in the finance department.

Bonnie Wilson, Spectrum LA, Director of Operations

Bonnie Wilson oversees remote operations and crewing for Spectrum Networks. Her responsibilities include managing technical requirements, logistics, and personnel needs nationally for remote broadcasts for three networks. Wilson joined Charter Spectrum (formerly Time Warner Cable SportsNet) in 2012, and was fortunate to be involved with the team that launched Spectrum SportsNet, Spectrum Deportes, and two years following – Spectrum SportsNet LA.

Wilson previously worked for Fox Sports West and Prime Ticket in Los Angeles, where she oversaw remote operations and crewing for seven years. Prior to Fox, she began her career working for MTV’s Real Word and Road Rules.

She is originally from New England, and holds a degree in communications from Northeastern University in Boston, MA.

Richard Wolf, The Switch, EVP, Marketing and Communications

Richard Wolf is a graduate of State University of New York at Oswego with a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcasting. Wolf also holds an Associate of Arts degree from Nassau Community College, Garden City.

Prior to joining The Switch, Wolf spent 33 years at the ABC Television Network where he served as vice president of telecommunications and affiliate support. He joined The Switch in 2014 as executive vice president. Today he serves as EVP of marketing and communications.

Howard Zalkowitz, NESN, Director of Production and Senior Coordinating Producer

Howard Zalkowitz joined NESN as the director of production and senior coordinating producer in September 2013. He oversees day-to-day remote and studio production for NESN’s Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins broadcasts and manages the producers and directors for those properties. In 2014, Zalkowitz was part of a core development team that introduced five new network shows. He supervised a live commercial-free baseball pregame show for kids called NESN Clubhouse, a Red Sox All-Access show, and a year-long celebration of NESN’s 30th anniversary that included a documentary and the production of 200 vignettes. In 2016, Zalkowitz was the project lead of NESN’s two one-hour David Ortiz edited specials.

From 1995 – 2012, Zalkowitz was a producer and executive at Turner Sports. As the vice president of production from 2008-2012, he ran content and cross-departmental integration for the NBA on TNT and MLB on TBS. He was part of the Turner-CBS NCAA Tournament team that launched the unprecedented four-network, three-studio presentation. In 2007 – 2008, Zalkowitz was a key member of the NBA Digital Re-Launch team as NBATV moved from New Jersey to Atlanta. During his tenure at Turner Sports, Zalkowitz spearheaded cross-platform creative projects such as TNT NBA All-Decade, All-Star Horse, and TNT NBA Fundamentals. His graphic innovations included the red-green-yellow Chase indicator in NASCAR and the NHL scrolling lineup lines in hockey.

A 10-time Emmy Award winner, Zalkowitz is a member of Broadcasting & Cable’s 2008 Next Wave of Industry Leaders class. He is a 1990 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. Zalkowitz began his career at CBS Sports as an Olympic Researcher for the 1992 Albertville and 1994 Lillehammer Olympic Winter Games. He and his Brazilian wife are proud parents of two young bilingual daughters.

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