Rob Alberino, Kansas City Chiefs, VP, Content and Production

Rob Alberino re-joined the Chiefs in 2021 as the vice president of content and production after originally serving as the club’s vice president of media and marketing for three years (2010-13). He enters his fifth season with the club and his 28th season in the NFL in 2022.

Alberino leads all short-form and long-form content efforts, including creation and distribution across the club’s traditional, digital, social, and over-the-top platforms. He also oversees all aspects of game production, presentation and entertainment elements at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

Beginning in 2022, Alberino will oversee a new division of production which will help launch the team and the brand into new international markets, as well as complete special projects and new long-form concepts. These efforts will deliver best-in-class content to Chiefs fans in Germany and Mexico, helping grow Chiefs Kingdom overseas, as well as expand the NFL’s international fanbase.

In his first stint with the franchise, Alberino oversaw the club’s media partnerships and creation of the in-house production team, 65 Toss Power Trap Productions, as well as the team’s digital operations on Chiefs.com while playing a key role in the club’s marketing initiatives. Under Alberino’s direction, 65TPT garnered the franchise’s first 18 Emmy Awards and captured 41 National Telly Awards, as well as became the first NFL club to win a prestigious New York Festival Award.

He spent eight seasons (2013-20) as vice president/executive producer for the San Francisco 49ers between his stops in Kansas City. With San Francisco, Alberino oversaw all marketing, creative and design, as well as the launch and direction of 49ers Studios, the team’s in-house production division. His group created all multimedia and broadcasts across all platforms, while he managed branding, events, social media, and new media.

Prior to joining the Chiefs in 2010, Alberino spent 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles (1997-2009) as vice president of broadcasting where he helped launch the Eagles Television Network, earning 38 Regional Emmys, more than 100 Tellys, and other regional accolades. He spent two years (1995-97) as a filmmaker/producer with NFL Films where he was a writer/director for HBO’s Inside the NFL.

In 2012, while with the Chiefs, Alberino was bestowed an honorary enlistment in the United States Army and continues to pay forward the honor by working alongside all branches of the military on a daily basis. He sits on the Board of Directors for The First Twenty, a non-profit dedicated to improving the performance, health, and safety of the American First Responder.

The New Haven, CT, native graduated from Duquesne University in 1992.

Rick Capstraw, Signiant, Chief Growth Officer

As chief growth officer, Rick Capstraw leads the global strategic sales and alliances organization of the company, focused on accelerating the worldwide growth of Signiant. With a proven track record of leadership, he has built a career in delivering technology solutions in global markets that help to transform the way we use and consume media.

Before joining Signiant, Rick Capstraw led the global sales organization at Verizon Media Platform. Throughout his career, he has led high-performing teams in media, entertainment & technology, and strategy & enterprise development. Rick Capstraw has found success innovating products and leading cross-functional enterprise sales teams by focusing on the business result and the processes required to get there. He has also held management positions at CNET Networks, The Walt Disney Company, and Ticketmaster.

Rick Capstraw attended the University of Southern California and holds a postgraduate diploma in economics from SOAS, University of London.

Jay Christensen, JayByrd Films, Owner and Head Pilot / Cinematographer

Jay Christensen is the owner and head pilot/cinematographer of JayByrd Films. With nearly 10 years of experience filming on drones and “ground cameras”, Christensen’s passion is in the skies. He changed the world of drone cinema in 2021 after he conceptualized, directed, filmed, and sound designed Right Up Our Alley – the epic, 87 second, drone goes bowling video that went viral around the world. Within the film and FPV community, Christensen is best known for his ability to track golf balls and film sports with never-before-seen angles; along with being the father of the one-take aesthetic that has inspired so many drone films seen today. JayByrd Films is one of the most notable drone companies worldwide working with teams and athletes from NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and PGA along with clients such as ESPN, NHL and HBO. Christensen continues to push the vocabulary of cinema by being a passionate storyteller, prioritizing safety, and ensuring that each one of his team’s projects has monumental sound design.

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.

Ryan Frankson, Edmonton Oilers, Director, Digital Media

Ryan Frankson has been with the Oilers for 12 and a half years in a variety of content roles, overseeing all digital media for the past three and a half years including Oilers+ content.

Justo Gutierrez, Diversified, Director of AV & Sound, Sports and Live Events

Justo Gutierrez is currently the director of engineering for Diversified’s Sports and Live Events and Mid-Atlantic Media teams. The Sports and Live Events Group is a team of specialists dedicated to working with venue ownership, facilities, and engineering staff to deliver video control rooms, sound reinforcement, video, broadcast, IPTV, and IT solutions.

Gutierrez has over 20 of experience in the industry in integration, consulting, and management in sports and broadcast facilities. His team has worked on a diverse range of high-profile projects. These projects include Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia Phillies), Hard Rock Stadium campus (Miami Dolphins), Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia Eagles), Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia Flyers and 76ers), T-Mobile Park (Seattle Mariners), Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Red Bull Arena (NY Red Bulls), and Globe Life Field (Texas Rangers) to name a few. 

Gutierrez holds a BSE in electrical engineering from Duke University and an MS in music engineering technology from the University of Miami.  In 2008, he was recognized by Consulting Specifying Engineer as one of the top “40-under-40” in the construction engineering community.

Kristian Hernández, SVG, Senior Editor; SVG Teams Summit Program Director

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.

Austin Hittel, Atlanta Falcons, Director of Video Production & Broadcast

Austin Hittel is the director of video production and broadcasting for the National Football League’s Atlanta Falcons. In this position, Hittel provides oversight to the newly built and highly anticipated Ticketmaster Studios as well as the digital video team on specialized Falcons brand cinematography. Due to his efforts, the Falcons digital team has seen tremendous growth to the Atlanta Falcons digital content, marking a 166.6 million total view increase since 2014.

Hittel began his career with the Atlanta Falcons in 2014 serving as a digital video producer where he collaborated with TV partners, the NFL Network, and national broadcasters to create specialized, engaging content. Through his leadership, the digital team has earned eight Southeast Emmy awards during his tenure.

Prior to his role with the Atlanta Falcons, Hittel served as the video production manager for MLS’s Orlando City Soccer Club where he produced in-game broadcasting, features, match recaps, and more.

Hittel is a graduate of the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in communications.

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.

Deon LeCointe, Sony, Director, Networked Solutions

Deon LeCointe is the director for networked solutions 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. He 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.

Dan MacDonald, Chyron, Director of Product Marketing

Dan MacDonald is the director of product marketing for Chyron. Playing a vital role in the expansion of Chyron’s all-inclusive production platforms and cloud-native technology, his day-to-day is spent helping clients understand how to best leverage emerging technologies – as well as keeping Chyron’s development teams laser-focused on industry needs.

Over his seven year career in the broadcast industry, MacDonald’s experience ranges from working hands-on with local sports productions in his home of Ottawa, Ontario – to collaborating with product development teams for leading technology vendors to bring their solutions to market. His passion for production and knack for distilling complex technology into straightforward information makes it easy for clients and partners to envision how to take their organization to the next level.

Joe O'Clair, University of South Carolina, Assistant Athletics Director of Marketing & Fan Experience

Joe O’Clair is the assistant athletics director of marketing and fan experience at the University of South Carolina.

His primary responsibilities include overseeing the day-to-day operations of the marketing department, as well as overseeing the marketing for the football and men’s basketball program and all marketing geared towards the student body. In his role as assistant AD, O’Clair also works with Sport & Story to assist in the marketing of Gamecocks+ to the fan base.

A three-time graduate of the University of South Carolina (B.S. and M.S. in Sport and Entertainment Management and an M.B.A.), O’Clair has been involved with the Athletics Department in some capacity since 2011 when he first served as a marketing intern. After graduating in 2014, he began working full-time with the marketing department and over the past eight years has worked his way to his current role of assistant AD of marketing and fan experience.

Brandon Ramsey, OEG Sports & Entertainment, VP, Digital Subscription

Brandon Ramsey joined OEG last January to lead the final planning, launch, execution, and growth of Oilers+. His previous experience was with Activision Blizzard and the Golden State Warriors.

Joe Rios, Chicago Cubs, Assistant Director of Broadcasting

Joe Rios is the assistant director of broadcasting for the Chicago Cubs. Entering his 24^th season with the team, he oversees all elements of broadcasting, which includes all third partying filming in and around Wrigley Field. Over the years, this has included all movie, TV, and documentary productions as well as photo shoots, commercials, and some PR/media content. Some of the productions he has worked on include The Break Up, The Bachelor, Love is Blind, and The Last Summer, to name a few.

As part of his role, Rios is responsible for working with various departments within the Cubs organization, including Ballpark Operations, Safety and Security, and Legal, as well as with Major League Baseball from a licensing, content approval, and location agreement standpoint. In addition to his broadcasting responsibilities, Rios has also been involved in, or managed, various aspects within the Cubs Marketing department including managing the gameday experience from booking anthems, first pitches, and celebrity appearances. In 2020, Rios helped launch Marquee Sports Network, the exclusive television home of the Cubs, and in 2021, he was awarded the Ron Santo Award, the highest award bestowed on a Cubs Associate for his hard work, dedication, and values.

Rick Seegull, Riedel, SVP, Technology & Business Development, The Americas

Rick Seegull is SVP of technology and business development, the Americas, for Riedel Communications. He is responsible for the technology direction and development of business opportunities within the Americas for Riedel. Seegull is formerly the VP of system consulting where he directed the team of engineers who design and implement Riedel’s comprehensive portfolio of products within video and broadcast facilities throughout the Americas. He also develops Riedel’s product training programs and represents Riedel North America on industry technical panels and on standards committees. Prior to joining Riedel, Seegull created and managed both startup divisions and departments involved in all aspects of the product chain, from concept and design to manufacturing, marketing, and sales. Seegull graduated from the Polytechnic University of New York with a B.S. degree in electrical engineering.

Jeff Volk, Alpha, VP of Sports & Entertainment

Jeff Volk is VP of Alpha and the founding officer/director of the Alpha Video Sports & Entertainment Group. With 31 years of industry experience, 29 at Alpha, Volk has overseen the negotiation and installation of over 100 major sports venue technology integrations including control rooms, sound systems, broadcast infrastructures, A/V systems, and IPTV/digital signage solutions. Projects include the AAC Network production facilities for Temple and UCF, the production facility at the Las Vegas Raiders’ team headquarters, and the IP control room at Allegiant Stadium, amongst others. Volk uses his knowledge of technology, fan engagement, and team ROI to create technology environments that help better engage fans and drive revenue.

Dakota Watson, Sport and Story, General Manager of Gamecocks+

As a Columbia native and a legacy Gamecock, Dakota Watson grew up an avid USC sports fan. After giving the college football dream a try, he went on to study broadcast journalism at the University of South Carolina, graduating in 2017. Watson began his professional career as a morning news reporter at KPLC-TV in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He worked his way up to morning anchor at KPLC, and continued as the morning anchor for WRDW in Augusta, GA in 2019 while also earning the role as executive producer. While Watson loved his time in local television, his goal was always to get back to his roots in Columbia, specifically at USC. Getting the opportunity in 2022 to merge his love for sports with his love for the Gamecocks, working with Gamecocks+ has made Watson’s professional dreams become a reality. He looks forward to continuing to bring fans even closer to the teams, athletes, and coaches they love through his work in sports media. He and his wife, Hannah, are also excited to raise their one-year-old daughter, Palmer, to be a Gamecock as well (class of 2044)!

Mike Welsh, Sky Candy Studios, Owner and CEO

Mike Welsh first became interested in drone technology when he joined the military in 2010 and Flew UAV/drones for six years with the MN National Guard. In 2014, he started Sky Candy Studios and started using drones to capture real estate and smaller productions. Over the years the technology evolved rapidly and the flying cameras became better. The jobs turned from real estate to commercials and feature films. Today, Sky Candy has become a leader in the drone industry working with clients such as FIFA, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Chicago Cubs. Welsh loves the process of working with teams to bring their creative vision to life.