Speakers
Scott Bounds, Microsoft, Media Cloud Architect
Scott Bounds is a media cloud architect, guiding customers on their business transformation to the cloud. Bounds focuses on content creation and production workflows, asset management, and using Microsoft AI and Cognitive Services for media. He is a 25 year veteran of Microsoft, spending over 10 years in the media industry in a variety of management and technical roles.
Tab Butler, Industry Consultant; T&P Productions, Founding Partner - Media and Entertainment Consulting
Tab Butler is an Emmy Award winning media consultant specializing in media management, workflow orchestration, and software development for digital and linear content production and distribution. With extensive experience in ‘live’, studio, and post production, as well as business development and sales, he offers a wealth of experience in advancing technology adoption within the broadcasting industry.
Butler’s experience includes over 12 years as the senior director of media management and post production at MLB Network where he worked closely with executive leadership to design, develop, and deploy original file-based infrastructure of MLB Network’s January 1, 2009 launch. Over the next 12 years, Butler continued to manage, develop, expand, and adopt new technologies, leading the marketplace with state of the art post production and media management technologies and workflow advancements.
Prior to MLB Network, Butler spent over 10 years in sales, marketing, and business development, growing revenues for Grass Valley, EMC’s Media Group, SeaChange International, and IBRIX. His extensive experience in ‘live’, studio, and post has roots from years at NBC in engineering, operations, and management.
Butler continues as the committee chair of the Sports Content Management Committee.
Bob Caniglia, Blackmagic Design, Director of Sales Operations for the Americas
Bob Caniglia began working in the film and television industry in 1985 as a part-time cameraman and editor on industrial videos. He finished school at night while working full-time as a commercial producer/director at a local CBS affiliate. Eventually, Caniglia found himself in L.A. as an editor for The Disney Channel and 525 Post Production, later working on music videos for Prince, Madonna, and Michael Jackson. He also helped Gore Verbinski with his director demo reel, telling him that he would be a feature film director someday.
Leveraging his real-world industry experience, Caniglia made the transition to working with a variety of production and post production manufacturers including Panasonic, Quantel, Snell, DaVinci Systems, and Blackmagic Design, where he currently holds the position of director of sales operations.
Gareth Capon, Grabyo, CEO
Gareth Capon is CEO at Grabyo, the market-leading cloud video platform. Founded in 2013, Capon has driven Grabyo to the forefront of the digital video industry.
Now trusted by global publishers and rights holders such as ITV, BT Sport, UFC, Fox Sports Mexico, The Premier League, and Univision – Grabyo’s browser-based tools enable digital teams to produce, edit, and publish live streams and real-time video to all major digital, mobile, and social platforms.
Prior to joining Grabyo, Capon was a product director at Sky, leading mobile and growth products, after holding senior positions at Sony and BT. He began his career in strategy at Accenture and has a Masters, First Class in geography from the University of Oxford.
Tim DeLaney, Arizona Cardinals, VP, Broadcasting/Digital Content
Tim DeLaney has been a content producer/executive within the world of professional sports for 24 years at NBC Sports Network (Philadelphia, Washington, D.C.), the Washington Football Team, and for the past 13 years as vice president of broadcast and digital content at the Arizona Cardinals. His current role oversees TV, radio, digital and social content and marketing for the Cardinals.
Drew Esocoff, NBC Sunday Night Football, Director
Drew Esocoff is the director of NBC’s Sunday Night Football. In January of 2021, he completed his 21st season as the director for an NFL primetime game, and his 15th season directing SNF.
SNF averaged 16.8 million TV viewers in 2020 (with a Total Audience Delivery average of 17.4 million viewers), once again pacing to finish as primetime’s #1 TV show in all key metrics for an unprecedented 10th consecutive year – adding to its record for the most successive years atop the charts (since 1950), based on official live plus same day data provided by Nielsen.
In the first 14 seasons on NBC (2006-19), Sunday Night Football won 28 Sports Emmys, and following the 2018 season became the first-ever 10-time honoree for Outstanding Live Sports Series. From the 2008-13 NFL seasons, Sunday Night Football won six consecutive Outstanding Live Sports Series honors – also a Sports Emmy record – and won again following the 2015 – 2018 NFL seasons.
On February 4, 2018, Esocoff directed Super Bowl LII, his fourth Super Bowl with NBC, and sixth overall.
A 16-time Emmy Award winner, Esocoff’s five prior Super Bowls (XXXVII, XL, XLIII, XLVI and XLIX) include Super Bowl XLIX, which still ranks as the most-watched program in U.S. TV history with an average of 114.4 million viewers. In that game on February 1, 2015, the New England Patriots posted a thrilling four-point victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Three years earlier on NBC, Super Bowl XLVI became the most-viewed program in U.S. television history at the time.
On August 4, 2017, NBC Sunday Night Football was honored with a display in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for “its record run as the #1 show in all of primetime television.”
For the 2016 and 2017 NFL seasons, Esocoff also served as director for the network’s Thursday Night Football series. The 2016 debut of the NBC/NFL Network Thursday Night Football series ranked as primetime’s #2 show in the 2016-17 TV season. The 2017 NBC/NFLN TNF slate ranked third among all primetime programs for the full TV season.
On November 16, 2017, NBC Sports, led by Esocoff and executive producer Fred Gaudelli, presented the first NFL game with the primary live coverage coming from SkyCam. Three weeks earlier on October 22, NBC’s “dual” SkyCam coverage received widespread acclaim from viewers when it was pressed into action due to fog during Sunday Night Football. In that game, the Falcons-Patriots Super Bowl LI rematch, fog rolled into Gillette Stadium late in the first half. After halftime, SkyCam technology provided the best camera angles to offer consistent and clear views of the live action.
Esocoff has also directed NBC Sports’ Triple Crown horse racing coverage since 2011, including the historic Triple Crown runs by American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018.
Esocoff previously spent six years as director of ABC’s Monday Night Football. He joined ABC Sports as a director in August of 1990. Esocoff also directed coverage of the NBA on ABC, including the NBA Finals.
With Esocoff as director, Monday Night Football and Super Bowl XXXVII were nominated for nine Emmy Awards, winning four, including Outstanding Live Sports Series in 2004 for MNF.
Prior to joining ABC Sports, Esocoff directed many of ESPN’s marquee events, including college basketball and football, hockey and boxing. He also served as the director for SportsCenter and Baseball Tonight.
Esocoff is a graduate of Colgate University with a Bachelor of Arts in political science.
Mike Flathers, Signiant, Chief Solutions Officer
With over 30 years of software engineering experience, Mike Flathers has a passion for pushing the technology envelope. He has a proven track record of working alongside customers to create solutions to some of their most complex problems with an API-first mindset. A media and entertainment veteran, Flathers has deep technical experience with media and its surrounding workflows. An Emmy Award winning technologist, prior to joining Signiant, he was CTO for IBM’s Aspera business unit and an IBM distinguished engineer. Flathers was part of the executive team at Aspera when it was acquired by IBM in 2014.
Prior to Aspera, Flathers held several hands-on technical leadership positions, including CTO at Sorenson Media. He has deep networking experience having spent 14 years at Novell after the company acquired Excelan where he was a developer and technical leader for the LANWorkplace product, the first suite of TCP/IP utilities for DOS and Windows. As the chief solutions officer at Signiant, Flathers plays a hands-on role, where he works closely with customers and internal Signiant teams to bridge the gap between the solutions customers need and Signiant’s product and integration roadmap.
Janel Fleming, LiveU, Director of Sales and Sales Group Manager, Sports
As the director of sports sales, Janel Fleming is responsible for driving the strategy for LiveU’s Sports Group. She has been integral in bringing LiveU Sports solutions to professional teams, sports associations, and production companies, allowing them to create more unique live content and increase fan engagement. Throughout her career, Fleming has worked with broadcasters, producers, and distributors of sports, entertainment, and news seeking reliable and robust backhaul video services. She is a graduate of Florida State University where she received her Bachelor of Science in business management.
Fred Gaudelli, NBC Sunday Night Football, Executive Producer
Fred Gaudelli is the executive producer of NBC’s Sunday Night Football. In January of 2021, he completed his 31st season as the lead producer for an NFL primetime game, and his 15th season producing SNF.
SNF averaged 16.8 million TV viewers in 2020 (with a total audience delivery average of 17.4 million viewers), once again pacing to finish as primetime’s #1 TV show in all key metrics for an unprecedented 10th consecutive year – adding to its record for the most successive years atop the charts (since 1950), based on official live plus same day data provided by Nielsen.
In August 2020, Gaudelli was honored as a member of the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020 for career-long excellence in the sports TV and media industry.
In the first 14 seasons on NBC (2006-19), Sunday Night Football won 28 Sports Emmys, and following the 2018 season became the first-ever 10-time honoree for Outstanding Live Sports Series. From the 2008-13 NFL seasons, Sunday Night Football won six consecutive Outstanding Live Sports Series honors – also a Sports Emmy record – and won again following the 2015 – 2018 NFL seasons.
On February 4, 2018, Gaudelli produced Super Bowl LII, his fourth Super Bowl with NBC, and sixth overall.
A 23-time Emmy Award winner, Gaudelli’s five prior Super Bowls (XXXVII, XL, XLIII, XLVI and XLIX) include Super Bowl XLIX, which still ranks as the most-watched program in U.S. TV history with an average of 114.4 million viewers. In that game on February 1, 2015, the New England Patriots posted a thrilling four-point victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Three years earlier on NBC, Super Bowl XLVI became the most-viewed program in U.S. television history at the time.
On August 4, 2017, NBC Sunday Night Football was honored with a display in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for “its record run as the #1 show in all of primetime television.”
NBC promoted Gaudelli to his current position in June 2016, when he was also named the lead producer for the network’s Thursday Night Football series. The 2016 debut of the NBC/NFL Network Thursday Night Football series ranked as primetime’s #2 show in the 2016-17 TV season. The 2017 NBC/NFLN TNF slate ranked third among all primetime programs for the full TV season.
On November 16, 2017, NBC Sports, led by Gaudelli and director Drew Esocoff, presented the first NFL game with the primary live coverage coming from SkyCam. Three weeks earlier on October 22, NBC’s “dual” SkyCam coverage received widespread acclaim from viewers when it was pressed into action due to fog during Sunday Night Football. In that game, the Falcons-Patriots Super Bowl LI rematch, fog rolled into Gillette Stadium late in the first half. After halftime, SkyCam technology provided the best camera angles to offer consistent and clear views of the live action.
Prior to joining Sunday Night Football, Gaudelli spent five seasons as producer of ABC’s Monday Night Football, including producing Super Bowl XL in February 2006. With Gaudelli as producer, Monday Night Football and the production of Super Bowl XXXVII were nominated for nine Emmy Awards, winning four, including Outstanding Live Sports Series in 2004 for MNF. He produced ESPN’s Sunday Night Football game telecasts from 1990 through 2000.
Gaudelli introduced the critically acclaimed 1st & Ten technology, the electronically produced yellow line that appears to be painted across the field at the first down marker, the GoalPost Cam, and the rotating clock/score box. In addition, he produced the first live sports telecast to use real-time polling data (via Enhanced TV) on all instant replay challenges. In 1997, Gaudelli oversaw ESPN’s day-to-day coverage of Major League Baseball, which won the CableACE Award for Outstanding Live Sports Series.
Named senior coordinating producer at ESPN in November 1996, Gaudelli oversaw day-to-day administration of the cable network’s National Football League telecasts, as well as the NFL Draft and X Games. He also served as senior producer of the ESPY Awards from 1998 – 2001. Gaudelli was named producer of ESPN’s NFL Draft coverage in 1990.
Upon joining ESPN’s remote production department in March of 1983, Gaudelli worked as an associate producer on a variety of sports, including college football, basketball, and baseball; the USFL; the U.S. Olympic Festival; and the NFL Draft. In 1986 he produced the network’s live Thursday night college football series. Additionally, while producing the 1988 College World Series, Gaudelli introduced the technique of live tracking the speed of pitches – a first on television. Prior to joining the remote production department, he worked in the network’s administration department.
A native of Harrison, NY, Gaudelli earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from Long Island University/C.W. Post in 1982.
David Griggs, AWS Elemental, Senior Product Manager
David Griggs is a senior product manager at AWS Elemental and has over 20 years of experience in broadcast and broadcast technology. He currently runs AWS’ broadcast video over IP services, managing AWS Elemental MediaConnect and AWS CDI.
Griggs holds a Bachelor of Science degree in computer software engineering from Manchester Metropolitan University and a BTEC National Diploma in computer science from Chelmsford College of Further Education.
Buzz Hays, Global Lead, Entertainment Industry Solutions for Content Creation
Buzz Hays is one of the world’s leading experts on advanced imaging production and technology in the media and entertainment industry. Hays and his team are responsible for Google Cloud’s content creation solutions development in the media and entertainment vertical. He works closely with the top M&E customers of Google Cloud to tailor and build solutions to transform traditional methodologies into cloud native workflows from production to post-production to archive migration.
Hays has been involved in technology for media and entertainment for over 30 years with Google, Lytro, Sony, and Lucasfilm THX. He has produced numerous film and television projects for Disney, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, and Warner Bros. He is a member of SMPTE, the founding Chairman of the Advanced Imaging Society, and a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences where he serves on the Science and Technology Council.
Jim Jachetta, VidOvation, CTO and Co-Founder
With more than 25 years of experience in designing, integrating, and delivering video transmission, contribution, and distribution systems, Jim Jachetta is the driving force behind VidOvation’s world-class technology that makes the “impossible” and “never been done before” a viable solution within daily business operations. Using modern, easy to support technology, Jachetta and the talented VidOvation team creatively designs, implements, and supports wireless, cellular, IPTV, video over IP, and fiber optics installations that meet an organization’s business goals, and at a price point that fits any size, scope, and budget.
Andrew Jordan, NEP Group, Global Chief Technology Officer
Andrew Jordan is the global chief technology officer for NEP Group, responsible for the company’s overall global technology strategy, product/solutions design and build, and synchronized network operations. He is also responsible for NEP’s R&D activities aimed at accelerating innovation within NEP, working with the company’s product managers and business leaders around the world.
Prior to his role at Global CTO, Jordan joined NEP in July 2020 as COO of the Global Broadcast Services and Media Solutions operating segments to drive cross-geography initiatives and a “One Team” operating philosophy. He was also responsible for leading the Office of the CTO and local technology leaders across the organization, and provided key insights into how the company will execute its new global growth strategy.
A pragmatic visionary and results-focused senior executive and innovator, Jordan has a proven track record of delivering industry/company firsts. Before joining NEP, he was responsible for transforming a multi-billion-dollar travel management company into a modern, digital-first platform business. Previously, Jordan conceived and delivered a global transformation plan for digital media delivery for one of the world’s biggest media companies. He has successfully led and transformed large and complex global teams, businesses, and operating units with direct budgetary control of over $240M and 1700+ headcount, as well as a number of high-profile M&A transactions across a number of business sectors, including travel, financial services, retail, media, and publishing, delivering transformative, highly available, secure and robust systems and operations.
Jordan holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nottingham and a Masters in business administration from the University of Surrey.
Mike Kelley, Grabyo, President, Americas
Mike Kelley is a sports and entertainment executive with 25+ years of experience working at the intersection of content, distribution, and technology. Currently, he is president of the Americas for Grabyo, building a team to work with the leading sports and entertainment properties, broadcasters, and digital publishers in North and South America. Grabyo is the premiere cloud-based video production platform in the industry – providing efficient tools to produce and monetize content (live and VOD) for social, digital, and broadcast distribution. Grabyo’s powerful capabilities, reliability, and customer support, have led to many of the top brands in the industry to entrust their content production to them: UFC, The Premier League, ATP, Ironman, DAZN, Wimbledon, La Liga, Fox Sports MX, Univision, Big Ten Network (BTN), BT Sport, Showtime, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea FC, and many others.
Artie Kempner, Fox Sports, Director
Artie Kempner is in his 26th year with Fox Sports. The 12-time Sports Emmy Winner directs NFL and NASCAR for the network. Kempner worked for CBS Sports from 1982 – 1994, before coming to Fox Sports as part of the start-up of the network after acquiring the rights to the NFL in 1993. He directed Super Bowl XXXIX (Eagles vs Patriots) and Super Bowl XLII (Giants vs Patriots), as well as 17 Daytona 500s.
Over his 33 year career as a director, Kempner has directed the Masters, the US Open, the PGA Championship, US Open Tennis, the NCAA Basketball Tournament, the NBA Playoffs, and three Olympics (1992, 1994, and 1998).
Kempner currently directs Fox’s NASCAR coverage, as well.
Kempner is also the founding president of Autism Delaware and the chairman of the Drive for Autism charity golf event. The event has raised over $7 million for programs, services, and research.
Autism Speaks has honored Kempner’s work for the autism community, where he received the organization’s first “President’s Award.” He was also recognized by the racing industry as a finalist for the Comcast Community Champion Award and Home Depot Humanitarian Award. Kempner was the driving force for the Fox Sports Supports Program initiated by the company in 2007.
List of major events directed:
- 12-time Emmy Winner, including four for Best Series for coverage of NASCAR
- Super Bowl XXXIX & XLII
- NFL Network Thursday Night Football (2010-2013)
- NBC’s NFL Playoff Coverage (Emmy Award in 2012)
- While at CBS – Kempner directed the NFL, Masters, PGA Championship, NBA, Winter Olympics Skiing (1992 and 1994) and Ice Hockey (1998), NCAA tournament, US Open Tennis, and many other NCAA championship competitions and sports anthology events.
- NHL on Fox: 1995-99
- NBA on Turner: 1996-2001
- 64-time Sports Emmy Award Nominee
- Indy Car Racing
- Directed Opening The Lost Tombs Live from Egypt on the Fox Network (three Emmy Nominations)
Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG, Co-Executive Director, Editorial Services
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.
Dave Klee, A+E Networks, VP, Strategic Media Solutions
David Klee is the vice president of strategic media solutions at A+E Networks, a global entertainment and media company with cable television channels including A&E, History, FYI, Viceland, and Lifetime. He is building a new technology team based in New York, focused on engineering and strategy for media supply chain systems, leveraging the cloud to drive agile transformations.
Before joining A+E, Klee was the director of media management technologies for Univision Communications (UCI), the largest Spanish-language media company in the U.S. with a portfolio of broadcast, cable, and digital properties. There, he built a new engineering team focused on software development for media supply chain tools, along with optimizing workflows for entertainment, news, and sports verticals.
Prior to Univision, Klee had the opportunity to work in media management, live production, creative, and operational roles for a variety of organizations including the Arizona Cardinals, ESPN, and most recently NBC News in New York where he managed a team focused on MAM and media software engineering. Klee holds a Master of Science in information management from Arizona State University and is an AWS Certified Solutions Architect.
Peter Larsson, BSI, President
Peter Larsson has been with BSI for 38 years and was one of the original founders. Over that time, microwave systems have shrunk from suitcase size with manually tuned cavity oscillators to digital transmission systems smaller than an iPhone. Camera systems changed from tubed cameras to digital sensors mounted in very small packages. BSI has designed and built many microwave and camera systems for use in car racing, golf, and many more events that require cameras to be small and the positioning of them will not allow cable connectivity to the production truck.
Oliver Parker, Blackbird, Chief Commercial Officer
Oliver Parker joined Blackbird in 2018 to drive focus on strategic accounts and markets. He came to Blackbird after nearly eight years at ChyronHego, covering sales of a multitude of live production solutions across EMEA, including key enterprise accounts.
Parker’s previous background before ChyronHego was technical – working both as a solutions specialist and in operations for five years at Sky.
Ed Placey, ESPN, Senior Coordinating Producer
Ed Placey is a senior coordinating producer in ESPN’s Remote Production department, overseeing college football event coverage across ESPN and ABC. In addition, he is also the lead for technological advancements and innovation for production. Placey was promoted from producer to this position in 2002, and added innovation lead in 2017.
Placey’s innovative leadership was integral in the creation of ESPN’s megacast offerings for the College Football Playoff.
Before being promoted to his new role in 2002, Placey worked as a producer from 1993 – 2001 and as an associate producer from 1987-92. Prior to his arrival at ESPN, he worked as a producer/director for NESN, a regional New England sports network, from 1985-87.
A native of Camp Hill, PA, Placey graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in telecommunications management.
Amy Rosenfeld, ESPN, VP, Production
Amy Rosenfeld joined ESPN as a producer in 2007 with extensive television sports production experience working in soccer and other sports as a freelancer for ESPN and NBC. Since joining ESPN, her leadership and success overseeing major events at the company has led to increased and varied responsibilities across different sports.
Rosenfeld serves as vice president of production (2019) and head of production for ACC Network – a comprehensive linear and digital network owned and operated by ESPN and in partnership with the Atlantic Coast Conference that launched on August 22, 2019. Rosenfeld leads the hiring of on-air announcers, development of show concepts, and the overall look and feel of the network.
Along with her ACCN duties leading up to launch, Rosenfeld was senior coordinating producer (2017 – 2019) where she oversaw production for Longhorn Network, NCAA gymnastics and volleyball, and softball, as well as all soccer properties and motor sports on ESPN linear television networks including the Indianapolis 500 on ABC. In 2016, she led ESPN’s unprecedented and critically acclaimed coverage of the UEFA European Football Championship 2016 from France with a live studio presence originating from a set on the banks of The Seine with a backdrop that included the scenic Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Rosenfeld will continue to oversee the aforementioned properties along with leading the production efforts for ACCN in her current role as vice president.
As producer (2007 – 2011) and coordinating producer (2011 – 2015), Rosenfeld was part of ESPN’s senior production management team responsible for the company’s award-winning presentation of the FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010 and the critically-acclaimed FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014, the company’s most successful and most-watched FIFA World Cup. She also oversaw ESPN’s coverage of FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011, the English Premier League (2011 – 2013), and other major international soccer events – FIFA Confederations Cup, UEFA European Football Championship 2008, and more.
Rosenfeld joined ESPN after working as freelancer on numerous soccer events for ESPN and other networks. Her experience includes serving as the lead producer for every English-language telecast of the FIFA World Cup and FIFA Women’s World Cup since 1999 in the United States. Additionally, Rosenfeld’s production credits include WNBA on Lifetime (1997 – 2000), and Olympics Men’s and Women’s soccer on NBC Sports (2000 and 2004). She has also produced NCAA men’s and women’s basketball telecasts, NCAA Men’s Frozen Four (2003 – 2004), NBC’s Winter Olympics (2002 and 2006), and ESPN’s Winter and Summer X Games (2008 – 2010).
Sotiris Salamouris, Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), CTO
Sotiris Salamouris oversees OBS’s technical operations, including managing the planning group responsible for the design and delivery of the technical facilities and services of the host broadcasting operations for the Olympic Games. Sotiris is also responsible for introducing the technological roadmap for OBS and the mid- to long-term planning regarding the adoption of new technologies. Salamouris manages the international team of broadcast engineers and operational personnel that has planned and operated the broadcast technical facilities for the past five Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as all editions of the Youth Olympic Games. Prior to joining OBS in Madrid, Salamouris was the head of engineering at Beijing Olympic Broadcasting, the host broadcaster of the 2008 Olympic Games, a joint venture between OBS and the Chinese Organizing Committee.
David Schafer, Former Group SVP, Sports Content & Production at Discovery/Eurosport
Exiting Discovery in January 2021, Dave Schafer was responsible for the planning and successful delivery of Discovery’s sports production and operations, overseeing the smooth execution on all linear and digital platforms across Europe.
Following the success of the company’s inaugural Olympic Games at PyeongChang 2018, where he played a pivotal role in delivering the Games across 48 markets and 21 languages, Schafer took on a broader role to lead all sports production activities.
Schafer has vast experience in sports production and Olympic Games broadcasting, having played a role in Olympic operations at NBC. Beginning his Olympic career at the Sydney 2000 Games, he has worked on nine Olympic Games.
Prior to joining Discovery’s sports leadership team, Schafer was senior vice president of International Digital Media, Discovery Networks International, a division of Discovery Communications, the world’s leading media and entertainment company reaching nearly three billion cumulative subscribers with an average of 10 TV networks in more than 220 countries and territories.
He was responsible for overseeing Discovery Networks International’s global digital media business across its five regional operations in Northern Europe; Southern Europe; Central & Eastern Europe; Middle East and Africa; Latin America/US Hispanic; and Asia-Pacific, including OTT, TV Everywhere, network websites, and syndication. Schafer directly oversaw all aspects of Discovery’s international digital real estate, from content creation and revenue generation to product and technology with teams based in more than 20 offices.
With Eurosport also joining the Discovery Communications in 2014, Schafer took responsibility for growing the Eurosport Player, the company’s premium live and on-demand OTT service.
Prior to joining Discovery, Schafer was vice president of operations at Madison Square Garden where he directed production management, rights management, and technical operations for Fuse music entertainment network. He executed numerous varieties of productions, ranging from reality shows to multi-camera concerts.
Schafer holds a Bachelor of Science in finance and accounting from Oakland University.
John Voorheis, EEG Video, Director of Sales
John Voorheis joined EEG Video as director of sales in 2016 where much of his focus has been on video applications for state and local governments. Previously, Voorheis worked extensively in corporate video communications and in the production and delivery of subscription streaming services. A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, he lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.
Shane Warden, ATP Media, CTO
As chief technology officer, Shane Warden is responsible for keeping ATP Media at the leading edge of media technology and excellence, pushing the boundaries of production, distribution, content management, and sports data to enhance quality, service, and value for the global broadcast partners and the ATP Tour.
Warden has over 28 years of experience in technical and operational management covering all aspects of sports media and broadcasting from outside broadcasts, studios, post-production, transmission, and distribution, as well as media asset management (MAM / DAM), sports data, and digital OTT. He has held senior management positions within private and FTSE listed organizations and his reputation in technology and sports media has lead him to become an advisor to many technology and software manufacturers across trending industry challenges. Warden currently sits on the SVG Europe Advisory Board, as well as the SVG Americas Asset Management Advisory Board.
In his role as CTO for ATP Media, Warden leads the Business Services vertical, holding overall responsibility for technical strategy and innovation, international distribution, and connectivity. He is also responsible for all aspects of workflow, content management, and the collaborative digital workplace.
James Stellpflug, EVS, SVP, Markets
James Stellpflug has three decades of industry experience in facility design, engineering integration, and production operations of live event TV production. With a Bachelor of Science degree in broadcast technology management (engineering emphasis) from the University of Wisconsin Platteville, Stellpflug has been involved in transformations of the media industry regarding SD to HD and beyond, file-based workflows, and new multimedia delivery methodologies. Since 2000, Stellpflug has spent time helping EVS grow market share and solutions enabling live production to transform in multiple market verticals including live sports.