Friday Abernethy, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, GM, Network

Friday Abernethy is a strategic dealmaker with high-impact media experience and a proven ability to inspire, grow, and reimagine businesses. An innovative and collaborative leader known for meeting industry disruption head-on, Abernethy has managed billion-dollar revenue streams, reimagined long-time partnerships, and transformed business models to reflect technological advances.

Serving as general manager of the network at Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Abernethy oversees day-to-day operations of the network while working with existing leadership to build best-in-class linear and digital services for current and new partners alike.

An executive at Univision for eight years, Abernethy was at the forefront of the network’s content distribution strategy, improving revenue through legacy cable and satellite providers even as she accelerated an expansion into major streaming platforms. As executive vice president of platform strategy, content licensing, & business development, Abernethy managed licensing distribution across all cable systems in the U.S., with revenue of $1B+, as well as the development of streaming businesses and other business development strategies. Since leaving Univision, she has been a strategic advisor to the founder and president of Tagger Media, a venture-funded social listening platform that helps brands, agencies, and media companies leverage social media platforms.

Abernethy earned a B.A. in communications and Spanish from Denison University in Granville, OH. She also completed the Senior Executive Management Summit at Northwestern University and the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute from WICT. Abernethy began her career as a management trainee at JPMorgan Chase and an account and program Manager at GE Capital.

Abernethy was a member of the Board of the Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA in Becket, MA (2016 – 2022), serving as chair and vice chair for two years each.

John Kosner, Kosner Media, President

John Kosner is an internet pioneer and four-decade veteran of sports media. Today, he is an investor and advisor in sports tech startups and president of Kosner Media, a digital media and sports consultancy.

In 2018, Kosner and the late NBA Commissioner Emeritus David Stern created Micromanagement Ventures, a portfolio of sports technology start-ups focused on media, betting, and player health. Kosner continues to serve as an advisor to and an investor in nine of the original Micromanagement Ventures portfolio companies which include WHOOP, WSC Sports, and Overtime.

In addition, Kosner is an advisor to Apple News, MLS, the Big East, the PRCA, Opendorse, SponsorUnited, Videocites, and NFT.NYC, among others. He was a board member at 8th Wall which was acquired by Niantic on March 11, 2022. Niantic and his former NBA colleague Ed Desser devise sports media strategies and negotiate media agreements for rightsholders and write periodic columns for the Sports Business Journal. In addition, Niantic writes articles about sports and video games with his colleague J Moses, a board member at Take-Two Interactive. He also does expert witness work, currently for Proskauer Rose LLP and recently for Latham & Watkins LLP and Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP.

Previously, Kosner led digital media at ESPN from 2003 – 2017, after stints at Sports Illustrated; the NBA – where he was in charge of U.S. broadcasting during the Dream Team era; CBS Sports; and NBC Sports. In his 21 years at the company, Kosner built ESPN into the world’s leading digital sports destination – a powerhouse in short- and long-form editorial content, streaming, social media, podcasting, fantasy sports, and direct-to-consumer. He increased traffic ten-fold and turned an unprofitable business into ESPN’s fastest growing. At ESPN, Kosner was part of a small, senior group that managed the program acquisition, scheduling, and linear and digital distribution of all ESPN professional and collegiate sports properties.

During Kosner’s tenure at ESPN, SportsBusiness Journal awarded ESPN its annual award for Best in Digital Sports Media five times in 10 years and named him the “Most Influential” in Online Media in 2008. In addition, ESPN.com won eight Sports Emmy’s and two Online Journalism Awards, including the prestigious Award for General Excellence. ESPN The Magazine was awarded the National Magazine Award for General Excellence in 2017. Kosner has also appeared on lists of powerful and influential figures in sports media in BusinessWeek, Daily Variety, among others.

Kosner is the Chairman of the Alumni Association and former Trustees of his alma mater, the Collegiate School in New York City. He graduated with distinction from Stanford University in 1982 with a bachelor of arts degree in American History. A native of New York City, Kosner lives in Manhattan with his family.

Zach Leonsis, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, President of Media & New Enterprises

Zachary Leonsis is president of media & new enterprises for Monumental Sports & Entertainment (Monumental), a fully-integrated sports, entertainment, media, and technology platform located in the heart of the “DMV” in downtown Washington, D.C.

Monumental is best known for its fan-facing brands including the NHL’s Washington Capitals, the NBA’s Washington Wizards, the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, the NBA 2K League’s Wizards District Gaming, the G League’s Capital City Go-Go, esports team Team Liquid, and Capital One Arena. Monumental also operates four additional venues including Eaglebank Arena, Medstar Capitals Iceplex, Medstar Health Performance Center, and District E. Additionally, Monumental now also owns and operates its media networks including NBC Sports Washington (NBCSW) and Monumental Sports Network.

As president of media and new enterprises, Leonsis oversees all of Monumental’s media operations, team rights agreements, and media revenues. Both NBCSW and Monumental Sports Network report directly into Leonsis. In addition, he also oversees all corporate development activities which include M&A, venture capital, and private equity investment opportunities. Leonsis led the acquisition of NBCSW into Monumental and also led additional investments into companies including Team Liquid, Epic Games, Niantic, Dapper Labs, and more.

In addition to his media and corporate development responsibilities, Leonsis launched and oversees Monumental’s growing esports division which includes Wizards District Gaming, Caps Gaming, and District E. Through his leadership in esports, he represents Monumental on Team Liquid’s board of directors. Leonsis also oversees the organization’s larger technology efforts as Monumental strives to innovate and build a more robust digital footprint that benefits fans and employees alike.

In 2020, Leonsis was a member of the board of directors of Acies Acquisition Corp which announced a successful business combination with social gaming company, PlayStudios. He partnered with Sports Business Journal to launch the industry-leading ‘Dealmakers in Sports’ conference which is hosted in Washington, D.C.

After earning his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 2011, Leonsis received his M.B.A. from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and is a founding member of the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Advisory Board. He also joined the Advisory Board of the Georgetown McDonough School of Business in 2019. Leonsis received an appointment to serve on Virginia’s Governor’s Advisory Board on Service and Volunteerism in 2016, and is involved in a variety of nonprofit and charitable activities in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia communities.

The Washington Business Journal and Sports Business Journal both recognized Leonsis for his work in revolutionizing the direct-to-fan regional digital experience by both honoring him in their prestigious ’Forty under 40’ lists. Sports Business Journal has also featured Leonsis as an ‘RSN Power Player’ and recently inducted him into their Forty Under 40 Hall of Fame. VenuesNow has honored Leonsis as one of their VenuesNow All Stars and SportTechie has featured him as one of their top 20 innovators.

Charlie Myers, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, CTO

Charlie Myers is the chief technology officer for Monumental Sports & Entertainment. Myers oversees a new department inclusive of information technology, engineering, cyber security, digital development, new technologies & innovation projects, and other critical technology needs.

Myers joined Monumental from Sirius XM where he served as vice president and general manager of Media & Development Engineering. He was responsible for technology and media infrastructure, strategic planning, and design for all linear media platforms; also overseeing video production, IP networks, and asset management systems. Under his leadership, Sirius deployed multiple new strategies and platforms to align with evolving best practices and digital advancements contributing to $8B in annual revenue. Prior to that, Myers worked for Discovery and was involved with building major media facilities, overseeing global transmission platforms, and managing a media research and development team that was involved with the development and deployment of HD, 3D, and UHD technologies worldwide.

Myers holds a Bachelor of Technology degree from Farmingdale State College – SUNY and is an M.B.A. candidate at the University of Illinois Gies School of Business. He is a longtime resident of Northern Virginia alongside his family.

Friday Abernethy, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, GM, Network

Friday Abernethy is a strategic dealmaker with high-impact media experience and a proven ability to inspire, grow, and reimagine businesses. An innovative and collaborative leader known for meeting industry disruption head-on, Abernethy has managed billion-dollar revenue streams, reimagined long-time partnerships, and transformed business models to reflect technological advances.

Serving as general manager of the network at Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Abernethy oversees day-to-day operations of the network while working with existing leadership to build best-in-class linear and digital services for current and new partners alike.

An executive at Univision for eight years, Abernethy was at the forefront of the network’s content distribution strategy, improving revenue through legacy cable and satellite providers even as she accelerated an expansion into major streaming platforms. As executive vice president of platform strategy, content licensing, & business development, Abernethy managed licensing distribution across all cable systems in the U.S., with revenue of $1B+, as well as the development of streaming businesses and other business development strategies. Since leaving Univision, she has been a strategic advisor to the founder and president of Tagger Media, a venture-funded social listening platform that helps brands, agencies, and media companies leverage social media platforms.

Abernethy earned a B.A. in communications and Spanish from Denison University in Granville, OH. She also completed the Senior Executive Management Summit at Northwestern University and the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute from WICT. Abernethy began her career as a management trainee at JPMorgan Chase and an account and program Manager at GE Capital.

Abernethy was a member of the Board of the Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA in Becket, MA (2016 – 2022), serving as chair and vice chair for two years each.

John Kosner, Kosner Media, President

John Kosner is an internet pioneer and four-decade veteran of sports media. Today, he is an investor and advisor in sports tech startups and president of Kosner Media, a digital media and sports consultancy.

In 2018, Kosner and the late NBA Commissioner Emeritus David Stern created Micromanagement Ventures, a portfolio of sports technology start-ups focused on media, betting, and player health. Kosner continues to serve as an advisor to and an investor in nine of the original Micromanagement Ventures portfolio companies which include WHOOP, WSC Sports, and Overtime.

In addition, Kosner is an advisor to Apple News, MLS, the Big East, the PRCA, Opendorse, SponsorUnited, Videocites, and NFT.NYC, among others. He was a board member at 8th Wall which was acquired by Niantic on March 11, 2022. Niantic and his former NBA colleague Ed Desser devise sports media strategies and negotiate media agreements for rightsholders and write periodic columns for the Sports Business Journal. In addition, Niantic writes articles about sports and video games with his colleague J Moses, a board member at Take-Two Interactive. He also does expert witness work, currently for Proskauer Rose LLP and recently for Latham & Watkins LLP and Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP.

Previously, Kosner led digital media at ESPN from 2003 – 2017, after stints at Sports Illustrated; the NBA – where he was in charge of U.S. broadcasting during the Dream Team era; CBS Sports; and NBC Sports. In his 21 years at the company, Kosner built ESPN into the world’s leading digital sports destination – a powerhouse in short- and long-form editorial content, streaming, social media, podcasting, fantasy sports, and direct-to-consumer. He increased traffic ten-fold and turned an unprofitable business into ESPN’s fastest growing. At ESPN, Kosner was part of a small, senior group that managed the program acquisition, scheduling, and linear and digital distribution of all ESPN professional and collegiate sports properties.

During Kosner’s tenure at ESPN, SportsBusiness Journal awarded ESPN its annual award for Best in Digital Sports Media five times in 10 years and named him the “Most Influential” in Online Media in 2008. In addition, ESPN.com won eight Sports Emmy’s and two Online Journalism Awards, including the prestigious Award for General Excellence. ESPN The Magazine was awarded the National Magazine Award for General Excellence in 2017. Kosner has also appeared on lists of powerful and influential figures in sports media in BusinessWeek, Daily Variety, among others.

Kosner is the Chairman of the Alumni Association and former Trustees of his alma mater, the Collegiate School in New York City. He graduated with distinction from Stanford University in 1982 with a bachelor of arts degree in American History. A native of New York City, Kosner lives in Manhattan with his family.

Zach Leonsis, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, President of Media & New Enterprises

Zachary Leonsis is president of media & new enterprises for Monumental Sports & Entertainment (Monumental), a fully-integrated sports, entertainment, media, and technology platform located in the heart of the “DMV” in downtown Washington, D.C.

Monumental is best known for its fan-facing brands including the NHL’s Washington Capitals, the NBA’s Washington Wizards, the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, the NBA 2K League’s Wizards District Gaming, the G League’s Capital City Go-Go, esports team Team Liquid, and Capital One Arena. Monumental also operates four additional venues including Eaglebank Arena, Medstar Capitals Iceplex, Medstar Health Performance Center, and District E. Additionally, Monumental now also owns and operates its media networks including NBC Sports Washington (NBCSW) and Monumental Sports Network.

As president of media and new enterprises, Leonsis oversees all of Monumental’s media operations, team rights agreements, and media revenues. Both NBCSW and Monumental Sports Network report directly into Leonsis. In addition, he also oversees all corporate development activities which include M&A, venture capital, and private equity investment opportunities. Leonsis led the acquisition of NBCSW into Monumental and also led additional investments into companies including Team Liquid, Epic Games, Niantic, Dapper Labs, and more.

In addition to his media and corporate development responsibilities, Leonsis launched and oversees Monumental’s growing esports division which includes Wizards District Gaming, Caps Gaming, and District E. Through his leadership in esports, he represents Monumental on Team Liquid’s board of directors. Leonsis also oversees the organization’s larger technology efforts as Monumental strives to innovate and build a more robust digital footprint that benefits fans and employees alike.

In 2020, Leonsis was a member of the board of directors of Acies Acquisition Corp which announced a successful business combination with social gaming company, PlayStudios. He partnered with Sports Business Journal to launch the industry-leading ‘Dealmakers in Sports’ conference which is hosted in Washington, D.C.

After earning his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 2011, Leonsis received his M.B.A. from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and is a founding member of the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Advisory Board. He also joined the Advisory Board of the Georgetown McDonough School of Business in 2019. Leonsis received an appointment to serve on Virginia’s Governor’s Advisory Board on Service and Volunteerism in 2016, and is involved in a variety of nonprofit and charitable activities in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia communities.

The Washington Business Journal and Sports Business Journal both recognized Leonsis for his work in revolutionizing the direct-to-fan regional digital experience by both honoring him in their prestigious ’Forty under 40’ lists. Sports Business Journal has also featured Leonsis as an ‘RSN Power Player’ and recently inducted him into their Forty Under 40 Hall of Fame. VenuesNow has honored Leonsis as one of their VenuesNow All Stars and SportTechie has featured him as one of their top 20 innovators.

Charlie Myers, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, CTO

Charlie Myers is the chief technology officer for Monumental Sports & Entertainment. Myers oversees a new department inclusive of information technology, engineering, cyber security, digital development, new technologies & innovation projects, and other critical technology needs.

Myers joined Monumental from Sirius XM where he served as vice president and general manager of Media & Development Engineering. He was responsible for technology and media infrastructure, strategic planning, and design for all linear media platforms; also overseeing video production, IP networks, and asset management systems. Under his leadership, Sirius deployed multiple new strategies and platforms to align with evolving best practices and digital advancements contributing to $8B in annual revenue. Prior to that, Myers worked for Discovery and was involved with building major media facilities, overseeing global transmission platforms, and managing a media research and development team that was involved with the development and deployment of HD, 3D, and UHD technologies worldwide.

Myers holds a Bachelor of Technology degree from Farmingdale State College – SUNY and is an M.B.A. candidate at the University of Illinois Gies School of Business. He is a longtime resident of Northern Virginia alongside his family.

Michael Allen, Bally Sports, Chief Product Officer

As chief product officer for Bally Sports, Michael Allen is responsible for the Bally Sports digital portfolio across multiple media platforms. He oversees all aspects of Bally Sports digital products, including Bally Sports+, the direct-to-consumer subscription service available to fans in all Bally Sports regional markets.

Prior to joining Bally Sports, Allen worked for the NBA where he oversaw the League’s digital portfolio. He oversaw product development and operations for the network of 100+ NBA websites, NBA Mobile & Connected TV Apps, and NBA LEAGUE PASS, the league’s full-season, live-game subscription service available to fans in more than 200 countries and territories.

Allen also led all digital products for the NBA GLEAGUE and WNBA as well as digital development, operations, and content management for all 30 NBA teams.

During his 20-year career at the NBA, Allen was instrumental in many groundbreaking digital initiatives, including the launch of NBA LEAGUE PASS; the launch of the league’s 19 international websites; NBA All-Star balloting on multiple platforms; and the first NBA mobile and connected TV application. In 2015, Allen was honored by the Sports Business Journal with a Forty Under 40 Award and in 2020, Allen won a Sports Emmy for the digital presentation of the NBA Bubble.

Prior to rejoining the NBA in 2006 as director of digital products, Allen worked for MTV Networks, where he managed digital products for the VH1 brand, overseeing numerous online, gaming, and mobile launches. He began his career with the NBA in 1999 as a department assistant, where he was responsible for tracking and analyzing website traffic and trends for both the league and individual team websites. Allen began his career in sports working in the marketing department for both the New York Knicks and New York Liberty.

Allen graduated from Franklin & Marshall College with a bachelor’s degree in history. He resides in Ramsey, NJ with his family.

Kevin Anderson, NBC Sports Chicago, Director, Studio Content

Kevin Anderson oversees all studio production for NBC Sports Chicago, rights holders for the Bulls, Blackhawks, and White Sox. He was hired as an associate producer in 2004 for Comcast SportsNet Chicago (later renamed NBC Sports Chicago) and over the past 19 years, has held roles as associate producer, producer, coordinating producer, manager, and now director. Prior to joining Comcast SportsNet, Anderson worked as the sports producer for WBAL-TV, the NBC affiliate in Baltimore, for five years.

Anderson is also part of the NBC Olympic production team working on their graphic enhancement productions for lives events and studio. In his 24-year career, he has helped provide coverage for two Super Bowls, two World Series winners, two Stanley Cup Finals, two Olympics, and five Championship parades.

Jeff Byle, Bally Sports Detroit, VP/Executive Producer

Jeff Byle is the VP/executive producer for Bally Sports Detroit, a position he was named to in 2016. Byle has spent over 28 years in the sports television industry, starting in 1995 as part of the original production team that launched the Golf Channel in Orlando, FL. He went on to be part of the original staff for Fox Sports Detroit, where he served as a live event producer/coordinating producer for nine years. From there, Byle took his skillset to Fox Sports North, and was the executive producer beginning in 2006. During his time at Fox Sports North, he was part of the team that developed and launched Hockey Day Minnesota, a successful statewide hockey initiative that showcases over 16 hours of original hockey programming and continues to this day. Following Bally Sports North, Byle launched Bally Sports San Diego in 2012 and served as the VP/executive producer there, until returning to Detroit in 2016. Byle’s work has earned him many industry awards, including 58 Emmy awards and 16 Beacon awards.

Robert Carzoli, Program Productions, Chairman

For over two full decades, Robert Carzoli has overseen the astronomical growth of Program Productions, XLT Management Services, ProCrewz, and Kingsbridge Shared Services. Today, these entities make up the industry’s largest labor management group.

Carzoli brings over 30 years of diverse labor management experience to his companies and their customers, matched with a foresight and understanding of the industry he loves. He continuously seeks out and retains the best and brightest personnel in the industry. Under Carzoli’s leadership, the companies’ management, accounting, crewing, client support, and legal units are universally acknowledged for their excellence, dedication to client satisfaction, and the passion they bring to their jobs.

Carzoli is active in a number of national and local charities including the Sports Broadcasting Fund, Merging Vets and Players, and most recently has worked with industry Hall-of-Famers Geoffrey Mason and Jerry Steinberg to lead the efforts of the Sports Video Group’s Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. This initiative ensures that broadcast technicians and their families have access to today’s most-trusted addiction and mental health care resources.

Carzoli and his wife Sue split their time between their homes in Scottsdale, AZ and the Chicagoland area.

Brandon Costa, SVG, Director of 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 networking events serving the SVG College and SVG Digital communities. Prior to his time at SVG, Costa spent five years producing digital content for MLB Advanced Media.

Jason Dachman, SVG, Chief Editor

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 RSN Summit, Sports Content Management 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 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.

Nick Garvin, Mobile TV Group, COO

Nick Garvin is the chief operating officer for Mobile TV Group (MTVG). This includes all strategic partnerships, management of all day-to-day operations for its mobile unit fleet covering over 4,000 live events annually, and its audio/video manufacturing facility called Colorado Studios. MTVG has led live 4K HDR productions in the U.S. covering the PGA Tour, NBA, NHL, UFC, college football, entertainment, and corporate events for many of the top Fortune 500 companies.

Garvin is also the founder of Stackup, an education technology company that uses artificial intelligence to deliver metrics on students reading and learning on the web to K-12 school districts around the United States. Stackup is among few certified Google partners, and his work on this technology put him into the Forbes 30 under 30 class of 2018.

Garvin holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the Eller College of Management, along with an executive education from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Ron Gralnik, Bally Sports, VP, Production

Ron Gralnik has been with Bally Sports/ Diamond Sports Group, previously FOX Sports Net since 1996, first as assignment manager, then production director, coordinating producer, and is currently vice president of production (since 2008). He is responsible for national management and oversight for over 3000 MLB and NHL broadcasts annually across their regional network. Currently in his 18^th MLB season, Gralnik just completed his 11^th NHL season.

Along with SVP Mike Connelly, Gralnik represents the Bally Sports RSN group with MLB and NHL broadcasting departments. Within the company, his role overlaps with the Operations, Engineering, Graphics, Music, Marketing, and Master Control Operations departments.

Gralnik started in local sports news in 1982, producing sportscasts for several LA stations before joining ESPN in 1993 to produce Sportsnight, the show that launched ESPN2. He later produced Up-Close with Roy Firestone. Gralnik returned to local sports news in LA for the NBC O&O in 1996 for Olympics coverage, before joining FOX Sports Net that same year.

Kristian Hernández, SVG, Senior Editor

Kristian Hernández is currently the senior editor of Sports Video Group. In his role, he is responsible for covering team-based and in-venue productions and various other sports technology topics within the industry. In addition, he is the program director for the annual SVG Venue Summit and SVG Teams Summit.

Before joining SVG, Hernández served as co-founder of CHC-TV, the first student-run television studio at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, PA. While at CHC, Hernández produced a daily sports show named “On the Hill with Hernández” — covering all men’s and women’s athletics for the college. Also, Hernández spearheaded the college’s newspaper, “The Griffin”, as its Sports Editor. Hernández graduated with a BA in Communications. Born in Brooklyn, NY, he currently lives in Queens, NY.

Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG, Co-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.

Jess Kowatch, Program Productions, EVP, Operations and COO

With over 14 years of experience managing projects, Jessica Kowatch has served with Program Productions since 2015. As a hard-working, multi-task titan who treats crews like family, some of her senior-level direction duties relate to client resource allocation and communication directives, new business development, national training initiatives, and assisting with labor union negotiations.

Kowatch also serves on the Technology Advisory Committee created to develop and implement technology advancements to the ProCrewz enterprise resource management system and mobile application.

Hailing from a proud Pittsburgh family, Kowatch cherishes traveling while working as a production manager and visiting events over the years, from the views at Kapalua on the Island of Maui in Hawaii to Sea Island, GA. The relationships and contacts made over the years proved invaluable as she continues to strengthen the company with her detail-oriented expertise.

Matt Krol, Altitude Sports, Vice President/General Manager/Executive Producer

Matthew Krol has been with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment since 2005 and was promoted to vice president and general manager in 2021. For two years prior to that, Krol was VP of KSE Digital and leading the Social group for the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Mammoth, and more. Krol has been working in television media since 1997 where he got his start in Green Bay, WI, before heading to Miami, FL and eventually the Denver, CO market.

Greg Macchia, Riedel Communications, VP of Business Development, Live Production

Gregory Macchia has 25+ years of experience in the live broadcast production industry. Before joining Simplylive in 2017 to manage the region, he was the SVP, Americas for EVS Broadcast Equipment where he spent over 18 years building the Americas sales and technical operations. Macchia holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Lehigh University.

Daniel Pesce, WSC Sports, Business Development, North America

Dan Pesce is a team lead in the business development group at WSC Sports – a leader in sports tech using AI and machine learning to automatically create and distribute sports highlights. WSC has built a strong following with its AI technology working with top tier tech companies, broadcasters, leagues, teams, and more. Pesce creates partnerships that harness the power of AI with partners such as AT&T, NFL, and YES Network. His passion for sports tech has spanned his 10+ year career in the industry with stops at Krossover, Synergy Sports, and Madison Square Garden.

A.J. Ponsiglione, Spectrum SportsNet and SportsNet LA, Senior Coordinating Producer, Live Events and Special Projects

As senior coordinating producer, A.J. Ponsiglione oversees live events and special projects for Spectrum SportsNet and Spectrum SportsNet LA. SportsNet LA serves as the television home of the Los Angeles Dodgers, while SportsNet is the broadcast partner of the Los Angeles Lakers and LA Sparks, and serves as the official TV home of the CIF High School State Championships. Prior to his current role, Ponsiglione served as coordinating producer for studio programming, helping launch SportsNet in 2012, and later overseeing the launch of SportsNet LA in 2014. His sports production experience also includes nearly four years as coordinating producer at ESPN where he helped launch and oversee the Los Angeles based edition of SportsCenter. Ponsiglione started his career as a sports producer in 1997 at KCBS/KCAL in Los Angeles, CA.

Mike Schabel, KISWE, Chief Strategy Officer

Mike Schabel is currently the chief strategy officer and board member at Kiswe. He joined Kiswe in 2016 and has served as the COO and CEO. Prior to joining Kiswe, Schabel worked in the telecommunication industry with a focus on launching new innovative businesses and executing turnarounds of distressed businesses in areas such as wireless small cell radio networks, mobile voice switching solutions, and wireless data security and analytics.

After receiving a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Arizona, Schabel started his research career at Bell Laboratories but slowly migrated his interests toward leading businesses built upon innovative technology at its then parent company, Lucent Technologies.

John Schippman, NBCUniversal Local Chicago, VP of Sports Content

John Schippman is the vice president of sports content for NBCUniversal Local Chicago, which includes NBC Sports Chicago, WMAQ, and WSNS.

He oversees sports content and studio production across the networks, as well as live game production for the Chicago Blackhawks, Bulls, and White Sox.

Prior to this role, Schippman was the news director for NBC Sports Chicago and also produced studio programming for the network. He was an integral part of the planning and production of the championship parades and celebrations for the Blackhawks, White Sox, Cubs, and Sky.

Schippman serves on the Executive Committee and is president of the National Academy of Television, Arts and Sciences, Chicago/Midwest Chapter, and is the executive producer of the annual Emmy Awards.

A native of Chicago, Schippman graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and prior to joining NBC Sports Chicago (formerly Comcast SportsNet) in 2004, started his broadcast career at ESPN in 2000.

Debby Schneider, Marquee Sports Network, SVP, Broadcast Operations

Debby Schneider is the senior vice president of broadcast operations for Marquee Sports Network, overseeing all aspects of operations and engineering for the network since its launch in 2020. Schneider has more than 25 years of experience in the sports media industry, serving key leadership roles with networks including MSG Networks, Fox Sports NY, and Outside TV. She also led broadcast operations efforts for the National Hockey League where she was involved in tent pole events such as the NHL All-star game, Stanley Cup Finals, and outdoor games such as The Winter Classic. Schneider’s breadth of experience has allowed Marquee to serve as an industry innovator in the broadcast space, leading to the early implementation of emerging technologies such as Cloud Control and more.

A native of New York, Schneider graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor of Arts in English and secondary education.

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

Jon Slobotkin has served as senior vice president of content and live programming for NBC Sports Regional Networks since 2017. In this role he is responsible for all content and live production, which includes more than 1,500 games annually, and leads content and production strategy and execution across platforms.

Prior to his current role, Slobotkin served as vice president 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 live event producer at the 2016 Rio Olympics, overseeing women’s basketball.

Previously, Slobotkin worked as a producer for Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, primarily covering the Philadelphia Phillies. Before SportsNet Philadelphia, he was a producer for 15 years at PRISM, one of the country’s first-ever regional sports networks.

Slobotkin is a graduate of Temple University and is a member of its Klein College of Media and Communication Hall of Fame.

Josh Stoner, Canon, Senior Specialist, Product Management Team, Broadcast and Cinema Lenses

Josh Stoner is a senior specialist for Canon’s Product Management Team focused on broadcast and cinema lenses. For a majority of his career at Canon, Stoner has served as a repair engineer and field support for customers on the front line of productions, and often the sidelines of major sporting events. He has served as the face of Canon for most broadcast customers and done his utmost to ensure no customer ever misses a shot. Stoner’s intimate knowledge of customer needs, equipment operation and Canon technology now help drive product development and lifecycle management as part of Canon’s headquarters, Product Management Team. Stoner continues to serve Canon customers by driving implementation of the technology and solutions that modern productions and live streams require as he continues to ensure Canon customers never miss a shot.

Jared Timmins, Diversified, Vice President of Media Innovation

As Diversified’s first vice president of media innovation, Jared Timmins leverages his more than 15 years of industry experience to help deliver future-forward solutions for a changing media landscape. Known for his ability to drive disruptive innovation in the industry — and with a U.S. patent to prove it — he’s a strategic thinker who is passionate about learning and has an exceptional talent for quickly grasping new technology. Throughout his career as a media technology executive and strategist, Timmins has held several leadership positions in strategic account management and business development. With an unyielding dedication to delivering an exceptional client experience, he routinely goes above and beyond to push the boundaries of possibilities to ensure the most desirable outcome and solutions that give clients a highly sought after competitive edge.

Mike Webb, YES Network, VP, Broadcast Operations and Engineering

Mike Webb, a 24-time Emmy Award-winner who has been with YES since before its March 2002 launch, is the vice president of broadcast operations and engineering at the YES Network. He oversees long-range planning, field and studio operations, and engineering at YES.

The YES Network, the most-watched regional sports network in the country 18 of the last 20 years, is the exclusive regional television home of the 27-time World Champion New York Yankees, the Brooklyn Nets, and the New York Liberty. The network has won 141 New York Emmy Awards since its 2002 launch.

Upon joining the YES Network in November 2001 as manager, broadcast operations, 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.  Webb was promoted to director, studio and production planning in 2005, to senior director, broadcast operations in 2011, and to his current title in 2013.

Webb has played a major role in all of YES’ technical and production innovations over the years, including the design and building of all of the network’s new production and satellite trucks; the building out of YES’ HD production and master control facilities; the frequent introduction of state-of-the-art cameras, replay machines and other equipment; and the updating of YES’ control rooms, studios, and edit rooms at the network’s Stamford, CT production facilities.

He also played a major role in the creation and March 2021 launch of the authenticated YES App, which quickly became the #1 free sports app in the Apple App Store and, in March 2023, the launch of YES’ direct-to-consumer subscription product providing fans in YES’ regional coverage territory an option to purchase a direct subscription to YES through the YES App.

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 managed production of four U.S. Open Golf Championships, as well as 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.

Scott West, Program Productions, President and CEO

For nearly 25 years, Scott West has provided both technical facilities and labor management services to the broadcast television industry. West was named president and CEO of Program Productions in 2019. He is currently responsible for oversight and management of business operations for Program Productions, its sister company XLT Management Services – a payroll and human resources management firm – as well as Event Software Partners, which develops and manages the proprietary ProCrewz labor management software and mobile application platform.

Prior to his work with Program Productions, West served on the facilities side of the business as vice president of engineering operations for NEP Group where he provided senior level direction for television facility maintenance engineering; six national field shops; fiber-optic departments, operations, and travel departments; and 1st-tier technical support. He also served as president and general manager of Corplex. At Corplex, West helped build a small, local mobile production truck company into a national player that provided HD facilities to some of the sports industry’s highest profile events prior to its acquisition by NEP Group.