Kevin Callahan, Fox Sports, VP, Field Operations and Engineering

Kevin Callahan is tasked with providing coverage of events large and small, both on location and from the studio. He joined Fox Sports Media Group in the summer of 2013 to oversee the technical planning and development/deployment of new technology. One of his key roles is overseeing Fox’s World Cup operations and engineering, as well as operations for Fox’s entire soccer portfolio. For the previous eight years, Callahan was the engineer in charge of Game Creek’s Fox trucks. In that time, he served as EIC for the NFL on Fox, including Fox’s coverage of Super Bowl XLII, Super Bowl XLV, and NASCAR on Fox. Callahan has worked with vendors and Fox to migrate to a tapeless workflow on site and expand a tape-based workflow from site to the studio. Prior to joining Game Creek Video, Callahan worked for NBC News Tech Ops providing live coverage of news events from around the world.

Paul de Bresser, Grass Valley, Product Manager, Cameras

Paul de Bresser has worked for more than 13 years for Grass Valley’s Cameras business in Breda (the Netherlands). Within the camera product management team, de Bresser is responsible for the (IP) communication between camera and XCU (base station). He maintains overall responsibility for the new LDX 100 camera with NativeIP, which features IP camera communication directly from the camera into the IP network.

Robert Erickson, Grass Valley, Strategic Account Manager, Sports and Venues

A member of the Grass Valley team since 2008, Robert Erickson has more than 19 years of experience in the broadcast and IT markets with previous roles covering systems engineering, television station management, broadcast network design, and RF transmission systems. Throughout his career, his focus has been on designing and maintaining infrastructure and playout systems based on new and emerging technologies for both existing and greenfield broadcast facilities.

In his current role, Erickson is a participant in the Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) and advocates for proper implementation of current and emerging broadcast standards on live production equipment. He spends much of his time engaging with customers to educate them on emerging IP technologies and trains internal staff on how IP technology drives different system designs. Erickson also designs and manages IP POC (proof of concept) systems for customers worldwide, testing and implementing solutions based on a diverse product line that includes cameras, servers, routers, multiviewers, various processing nodes, and VM-based software solutions.

Erickson is an active participant and frequent presenter in many of the major industry associations, including the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE), Society of Television Engineers (STE), Society of Motion Pictures and Television Engineers (SMPTE), and Hollywood Post Alliance (HPA).

Al Karloff, Dome Productions, Manager, Engineering Services

Al Karloff has worked in various engineering roles at Dome Productions over the past 16 years. Until 2013, he was an engineering technician on Dome’s mobile units, covering many professional sports and entertainment shows, as well as Olympics and government summits. In 2013, Karloff transitioned to project engineering and is currently engineering project manager where he has designed and built numerous 3G/1080p, UHD mobile trucks, and remote production facilities. Karloff works closely with clients and operators to ensure the truck designs accommodate the latest workflows.

Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG, Executive Director, Editorial

Ken Kerschbaumer is co-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.

Chris Lapp, Cisco Systems, Technical Solutions Architect, Media and Entertainment

Chris Lapp is a technical solutions architect for media and entertainment at Cisco Systems, where he provides thought leadership and technical insight into the media vertical. Although a recent hire at Cisco, Lapp brings with him over 10 years of experience in the broadcast industry. He is an active SMPTE member currently serving as membership director for 2020 and is also involved in standards participation.

Prior to joining Cisco Systems, Lapp has worked on many IP deployments all over the world while working at Diversified and Evertz Microsystems.

Lapp graduated from South Alberta Institute of Technology in Canada from the Broadcast Systems Technology program.

Deon LeCointe, Sony Electronics, Senior Business and Technology Manager - Live Production Systems

Deon LeCointe is the senior business and technology manager for live production systems at the Imaging and Professional Solutions of America division at Sony Electronics. LeCointe works with television networks and broadcasters to design and build equipment that delivers live content to millions of homes around the world. He leads a team of solution architects, engineers, and marketing professionals that oversee development, sales, and marketing of products designed for news, sports, and entertainment.

After graduating from the University of Miami with a B.S. in electrical engineering and an M.S. in electrical and computer engineering in 2007, LeCointe joined Sony and has taken on a number of roles involving post-production workflow technologies, A/V codecs and compression, IP video transmission, 4K production, and content management systems for broadcast and news.

LeCointe has overseen the deployment of IP systems at CNN Studios at Hudson Yards in New York and Telemundo Studios in Doral, Florida. He also led the deployment of slow-motion video capture and replay systems for Sunday/Monday/Thursday Night Football, the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, and the World Series.

John Mailhot, Imagine Communications, CTO, Networking and Infrastructure

John Mailhot has worked in the field of digital high-definition (HD) television systems since its North American inception in 1990. He began as part of the AT&T-Zenith team, responsible for the system architecture and integration of the digital spectrum compatible high-definition television (DSC-HDTV) system prototype, and then served as technical lead for the Grand Alliance encoder at Lucent Technologies. Mailhot subsequently held engineering manager and general manager roles at Lucent Digital Video, Aastra Digital Video, and the Harris Broadcast Video Networking Group. Today, he is chief technology officer of the networking and infrastructure team at Imagine Communications. He has dual bachelor’s degrees in computer science and electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and has been recognized as a SMPTE Fellow.

Phil Myers, Lawo, CTO

Phil Myers currently holds the role of chief technology officer at Lawo. Myers has in excess of 20 years’ experience of product management and business development. He has held a number of technology leadership roles within the industry, most recently for Snell Advanced Media (SAM) and Grass Valley within the EMEA region, where he was responsible for architecting digital media workflows and IP solutions. He previously worked at CVP Group, Sony, Pinnacle Systems, and co-founded Oddfish films in 1997.

Gary Olson, GHO Group, Principal

Gary Olson is an independent consultant in the broadcast media industry and an active practitioner in IP-based broadcast design. He has been an evangelist in the transition to IP and considered to be a media technology thought leader and industry expert. Olson is a technology architect, project executive, and media technology advisor specializing in the transition from traditional media technology, workflows, and business processes to the computer and network centric IP and file technologies and workflows. Olson has substantial experience working with project sponsors and stakeholders to help them understand the changes associated with digital media platforms and file-based workflows.

Olson has a considerable background with practical experience in the analysis, selection, and uses of emerging technology. He is also an innovator in media technologies and broadcast design. Olson advises on the selection and best use of technology in the migration and transition from traditional media to IP and file-based technology enabling distribution to the various delivery platforms in broadcast, broadband, mobile, portable multimedia, and On-Demand media technology.

Olson’s book, Planning and Designing the IP Broadcast Facility – A New Puzzle to Solve is considered by the industry as one of the most comprehensive technical guidelines for making sound decisions implementing IP technology. He is a regular contributor on The Broadcast Bridge educating the industry on IP technology and file-based workflow. Olson has created courses for SBE University and IABM online University on IP facility design. He is one of the contributing authors of the 2016 SBE Broadcast Engineering Manual. Olson is frequently asked to present and moderate discussions on IP understanding.

GHO Group was honored as one of the “10 Most Innovative Media Companies” in 2018. Olson was recognized in 2016 as one of the top 20 media CIO’s and then in 2017 as one of the “30 Innovative CEO’s of 2017 to Watch”.

Cassidy Phillips, Imagine Communications, VP, Networking Solutions

Joseph Signorino, NEP Broadcast Services, VP, Systems Integration, U.S. Mobile Units

Joe Signornio has been an engineer with NEP for more than 30 years, beginning at NEP in 1988 as an engineer-in-charge. Since joining the company, he has worked as a technical manager, engineering manager, senior project engineer, and now is the vice president of systems integration. Awarded several Emmys throughout his career for his technical expertise, Signornio has also been instrumental in technical project management for top networks such as Turner, ESPN, CBS, NBC, and Fox, as well as some of the largest televised events, including NASCAR racing, the NBA Playoffs, and the Super Bowl.

Signornio has developed creative engineering solutions, efficiencies, and communication guidelines that have benefited many NEP partners. While serving as an NEP engineering manager, he directed the transition from analog to digital 16:9 and to HD for Fox, NASCAR coverage on ESPN and NBC, SPEED, DirectTV, and Turner. Most recently, Signornio has been heading up NEP’s in-house integration, ensuring that each project is completed with the company’s exacting standards from start to finish. In this role, during the company’s latest mobile unit integrations, he has directed his team through the transition to IP audio, video, and communications systems.

Wes Simpson, LearnIPvideo.com, Founder

Wes Simpson is founder of LearnIPvideo.com, the web’s newest resource for learning about advanced media transport technology. He has developed and delivered well-received training seminars covering IP video and media networking technology for a wide range of private clients and organizations such as the VSF, the IEEE BTS, and SMPTE.

Simpson is a contributing editor for TV Technology and frequently speaks at events including VidTrans, SMPTE, NAB, IBC, and their virtual equivalents. He has written two books which have both been released as second editions: IPTV and Internet Video and Video Over IP.

Simpson was a founder of the Video Services Forum and is currently co-chair of the RIST Activity Group.

Jason Taubman, Game Creek Video, SVP, Technology

Jason Taubman spearheads Game Creek Video’s efforts in truck design and helps service the company’s vast profile of high-profile sports clients including ABC, CBS, ESPN, FOX, HBO, NBC, MLB, NBA, the YES Network, USA Network, NFL Network, and Winnercomm. Prior to joining Game Creek in 1999, Taubman was an engineer-in-charge for National Mobile Television and VTE Mobile Television Productions.

Will Waters, NewTek, Head of Product Management

Will Waters is head of product management for NewTek, a division of Vizrt Group. Waters has an extensive background in A/V and broadcast workflow design with practical implementation. During his tenure at NewTek, Waters led the creation of a sales organization in EMEA, and oversaw the launch and delivery of numerous NewTek video solutions, including NDI. Most recently, as VP of NewTek Customer Success, Waters was responsible for the design and implementation of extensive NDI-based workflows. He is a proven industry expert in networking, configuration and implementation of IP, media transport, and software-based live video production solutions. As head of product management, Waters works in the Vizrt Group R&D division and drives the plans and execution for product strategy.

Robert Welch, Arista Networks, Technical Solutions Lead

Robert Welch is a principal architect at Arista Networks, working with customers and partners on innovative solutions to business challenges. With over 30 years experience in IT and professional media networks, Welch takes into consideration the technical, organizational, and strategic aspects of each project. The media and entertainment industry is a passion as his family has been involved with the industry since the 1930s.

Peter Wehner, Mobile TV Group, Director of Engineering

Peter Wehner is the director of engineering for Mobile Television Group. His primary responsibilities are overseeing engineering for over 4,000 live events a year with a fleet of 25 mobile units and advancing new technologies.

Wehner is also an integral part in new mobile unit construction such as 39 FLEX, which was the first purpose-built 4K and high-dynamic-range mobile (HDR) unit built in the U.S. Mobile Television Group’s 39 FLEX has been used on many 4K and HDR productions such as Fox college football, the Masters, and several NBA games.

Prior to taking on the director of engineering role, Wehner was an engineer in charge for nine years and responsible for the early implementation of dual-feed production at Mobile Television Group.

Wehner is a graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with bachelor’s degrees in both radio-television and technical theater.

Rob Willox, Sony Electronics, Director of Marketing, Media Solutions

In his current role as marketing manager of Sony Electronics’ Media Solutions business, Rob Willox is responsible for marketing and development of broadcast, sports, and production systems and solutions. Willox has been deeply involved in Sony’s studio and ENG efforts for over 20 years, working closely with customers and industry partners to advance imaging technologies.

Steve Wynn, Sony, Senior Solutions Architect

Steve Wynn is currently a senior solutions architect for Sony Imaging Products & Solutions, specializing in emerging technologies such as broadcast IP infrastructure, cloud media workflows, and advanced systems.

Following an initial run of 14+ years at Sony, Wynn spent time as director of engineering for Atlantic Video, a live television production facility in Washington, D.C. This was followed by 7+ years at PBS as director of engineering for its Media Operations Center, before returning to Sony to continue work in the area of advanced systems and media applications.

Wynn has written for industry trade publications, as well as publishing in the SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) Journal on the application of MXF standards and applied systems. In addition, he has presented on various aspects of emerging technologies at conferences including SMPTE, NABA, and SBE. He currently serves as a section manager for the Washington D.C. SMPTE Chapter.