Jim Akimchuk, BitFire, CTO

Jim Akimchuk began his career over 20 years ago as a production truck engineer, and that mindset has guided his work developing specialized solutions for television professionals ever since. It was in the early stages of his career, while working in Public Access television where funds were scarce and ingenuity and resourcefulness were paramount, that Akimchuk developed his engineering style. He carries that same drive and creativity today as CTO of BitFire.

Akimchuk has diverse backgrounds, from broadcast engineering and software development, to law enforcement and dive rescue, and he has a passion for bringing his wide-ranging experience together in new and creative ways to address seemingly insurmountable challenges. Akimchuk thrives in any high-pressure environment, where he brings calm to the chaos by leveraging his experience to confidently solve problems. Always looking toward the future, it is his mission to maintain a startup-like agility and culture, supporting and improving BitFire’s ability to lead the industry forward into a world where professional transmission and production are more reliable, available, and scalable than ever before.

Keith Bickford, Sony Electronics, Solutions Architect, Networked Solutions

Keith Bickford is a solutions architect with Sony’s Imaging and Professional Solutions – Americas (IPSA). He serves as a pivotal technical leader overseeing the design and deployment of next-generation production and contribution solutions.

Bickford has been in the broadcast industry for over a decade, starting in local television in his hometown of Portland, ME. Over the years, he has been instrumental in various aspects of the field, encompassing news production and live production, where he has orchestrated the implementation of file-based workflows and SMPTE ST 2110 routing systems.

Bickford joined Sony’s Networked Solutions team in January 2023 and directly engages with Sony’s valued clients and partners, collaboratively steering the construction of their next-generation IP and cloud environments.

Tom Buffolano, The Switch, Head of Business Development, College Sports

Tom Buffolano is head of business development, college sports at The Switch. A seasoned expert in the sports broadcasting and entertainment industry, his experience spans business development and partnerships, sales and marketing, rights acquisition, programming and production, distribution, and monetization. Buffolano holds decades of experience growing businesses and driving new partnerships at leading media companies, including MTV Networks, CBS College Sports, LTN Global Communications, BitFire Network/Studios, and LiveU. He co-founded and was Chairman of the SVG College Sports Summit and College Sports Media Awards. Beyond his professional achievements, Buffolano serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the National Blood Clot Alliance.

Brad Cheney, Fox Sports, VP, Field Operations and Engineering

Brad Cheney manages technical and operational planning for baseball, boxing, and college sports along with transmission services and advanced-technology projects for Fox Sports.

Cheney is a leader in new technology approaches, including IP-based live and post-production centers, IP over RF, UHD, HDR, and UAS systems. His work includes innovative production approaches and executions for in-ground audio, robotic cameras, and home run productions.

Cheney is a six-time Emmy winner and previously worked for MLB Network, the Late Show with David Letterman, Game Creek Video, and Cox Sports.

Ghislain Collette, Haivision, VP, Product Management

Ghislain Collette has over 20 years of experience in video networking, working in broadcast, cable distribution, and streaming industries. Prior to Haivision, Collette served as a project engineer at Videotron, designing and coordinating the deployment of multi-million-dollar projects. He also worked at Miranda Technologies / Miranda Media Networks where he served as product manager for the transport and multimedia products. 

Collette holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from University of Sherbrooke (Canada).

Chris Connolly, NBC Sports Group, VP, Olympic Venue Engineering

Chris Connolly has been with NBC Sports for over nine years. He oversees all transmission engineering and operations for NBC Sports Group and is based out of its state-of-the-art broadcast center in Stamford, CT. The center encompasses NBC Sports, NBC Digital, NBC Olympics, Olympic Channel, and Golf Channel.

Jason Dachman, SVG, Editorial Director, U.S. and TranSPORT Program Director

Dachman oversees all aspects of SVG’s North American editorial operations – including all news on sportsvideo.org, the daily SVG Insider newsletter, and SVG’s annual print publications – and is one of the primary contributors to SVG’s coverage of the sports-video-production industry. A member of the SVG team since 2009, Dachman also serves as program director for SVG’s Esports Production Forum, RSN Summit, Sports Content Management Forum, Sports Graphics Forum, and TranSPORT conference.

Prior to joining SVG, Dachman covered local sports for The Patriot Ledger in Quincy, MA, and served on the production staff of SiriusXM’s The Ron & Fez Show. He began his career in the Sports Information department at Northeastern University in Boston, where he earned a B.A. in media communications and cinema studies. A native of Denver, CO, Dachman currently resides in Queens, NY, with his wife Alyson and daughter June.

Ben Grafchik, BitFire, VP, Business Development

Ben Grafchik is a dynamic professional with a keen ability to identify client needs and deliver effective solutions. A well-rounded leader with a strong technical foundation, he has developed comprehensive production and sales strategies, worked closely with broadcast leaders, executed cutting-edge projects, and implemented effective marketing plans. Inquisitive by nature, Grafchik has a penchant for identifying effective and unique technologies all with the desire to provide a packaged solution for his clients.

He holds an undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill where he was a member of the varsity swim team, and a graduate degree from Georgetown University. Prior to joining BitFire, Grafchik served as director of business development at Phoenix-based Sneaky Big, and as a business development manager at SportsMedia Technology (SMT). Before entering the world of broadcast television, he served on the coaching staffs for both the men’s and women’s varsity swim programs at Duke and Georgetown University.

A mediocre golfer who has recently become a father, Grafchik resides in Raleigh, NC where he is committed to developing BitFire’s position in the market, leading with confidence and curiosity.

Jérémy Guevel, Haivision, Sales Business Development

Jérémy Guevel has seven years of experience in the broadcast video transmission industry. He has assisted major international broadcasters and production companies in their strategies to implement bonded cellular transmission into their contribution workflows. Guevel has worked with major telecommunications providers, as well as private 5G providers in the implementation of ultra-low latency video workflows.

Guevel holds an engineering degree from the Brest National School of Engineering as well as a master’s degree in optronics from the Warsaw University of Technology. He currently serves as senior sales engineer for Haivision North America and is based in Montreal, Canada.

Tim Jackson, Globecast, SVP, Sales and Marketing, The Americas

Tim Jackson is the senior vice president of sales and marketing for the Americas at Globecast, a leading global provider of media management services to broadcasters, programmers, platform providers, and distributors. A 30-year industry veteran, Jackson has worked for a variety of companies in the television and media distribution industries including IDB Communications, Discovery Communications, PanAmSat, Intelsat, and Ateme. At these companies, he has worked in many areas ranging from television operations and engineering, to sales and marketing, and business unit management.

Jackson holds a B.A. in broadcast and cinematic arts from Central Michigan University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan.

Matt Keiler, TVU Networks, VP of Sales, North America

Matt Keiler has over 20 years of experience in media, enterprise software, and sports markets. He has vast experience with IP-based workflows across many industries.

Prior to TVU Networks, Keiler spent seven years at Automatic Data Processing (ADP) leading enterprise software sales and channel development in the Midwest. He also spent six years with Tribune Company, NBC Sports Network, and Fox Sports Net in a variety of affiliate sales roles.

Keiler has a B.A. from Ohio University.

Angus Mackay, Matrox Video, Product Marketing Manager

Angus Mackay hails from a family of filmmakers and grew up around film sets. After studying psychology and communications, Mackay delved into post-production, eventually becoming an in-house producer. His journey continued with impactful roles in content production, product marketing, and customer relations, working for companies like Autodesk, Avid, and more. Mackay enhanced his skills with a McGill mini-MBA. Fluent in English and French, he enjoys skiing, hockey, and motorcycling.

Scott MacLean, Universum Media, President

Scott MacLean has over 25 years of experience in the video production industry. He started work as a cameraman for major networks like CBC, CTV, TSN, BBC, and Global, as well as filming numerous independent projects. MacLean’s keen interest in the field of video production inspired him to obtain formal training from Ryerson Polytechnic University School of Radio & Television Arts, as well as from the Canadian Screen Training Centre’s Summer Institute of Film & Television, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s On Course. All of the training allowed MacLean to grow with the industry to be an editor, producer, and director.

Janel Moorefield, LiveU, VP of Sales, Sports

As the director of sports sales, Janel Moorefield 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, Moorefield 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.

Julie Morrison, Warner Bros. Discovery, Manager of Content Transmissions

Julie Morrison manages a core team supporting transmissions on behalf of Turner Sports. Soon after joining Turner Broadcasting in 1995, she became the first female sports coordinator for live events on TBS.

Now, as manager of Content Transmissions, she leads a team vital to ensuring the success of tent-pole events and high profile shows – including many complex remote productions – across multiple platforms. In addition, she supports various contribution networks, delivery systems, and fiber connectivity into the Techwood NOC. On behalf of Turner Sports, Morrison and team manages transmissions ranging from NBA & NHL to MLB & NCAA March Madness (as well as upcoming soccer), averaging about 25,000 feeds yearly.

With the recent merger of Discovery and WarnerMedia, Morrison is also involved in expanding transmission diversity, business continuity, and acquisition partnerships to leverage strengths of both companies into a robust home for live sports.

Brian Nelles, PSSI Global Services, CTO and EVP

Ciro Noronha, RIST Forum, President; Cobalt, CTO

Dr. Ciro Noronha holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Stanford University. He has worked in the compressed video over IP space since 1995. He is currently the president of the RIST Forum and CTO at Cobalt Digital. Dr. Noronha is the author or co-author of a number of academic papers and patents.

Emeka Okoli, Zixi, SVP, Customer Success and Business Solutions

Emeka Okoli is a passionate advocate of Zixi’s customers and products. As senior vice president of customer success and solutions, he leads customer care, pre-sales technical consulting, and solutions delivery.

Prior to Zixi, Okoli was the CTO and vice president of product and information systems at WARM2Kids, a charitable foundation. He developed a unique method of broadening technology outreach in inner cities and suburbs across the United States. Okoli’s model was recognized and achieved significant grants from Microsoft and others. He was also previously at Polycom as IS manager and a pre- and post-sales manager at MeetU. In the mid-90s, Okoli co-founded OHC, a technical support service provider, as well.

Okoli holds a bachelor of science degree in computer science (Magna Cum Laude) and technology and a master’s degree in management, information technology from Northeastern University.

Stephen Repass, Ross Production Services, Vice President

Paul Spinelli, Sinclair Broadcasting Group, Director, Distribution and Network Systems

Paul Spinelli is the director of distribution and network systems for Sinclair Broadcast Group (SBG). Previously, he had been the director of engineering, starting in 2014. Prior to this he served as the engineering manager of Sinclair Television Group’s corporate facilities. He has held various operations and engineering positions with SBG for the past 12 years. Before his time at Sinclair, he spent time working at WBOC, PSAV, and QVC.

Spinelli is active in many broadcast-related technical organizations such as the ATSC, Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE), and the Avid Customer Association (ACA). He has been an SBE certified member and an Avid certified support representative for the past 10 years.

Spinelli has expanded SBG’s linear and file-based acquisition and distribution strategies and technologies. He attended Salisbury University on Maryland’s Eastern Shore where he earned a B.A. in communications, B.A. in theatre, and played football. He remains active in the Salisbury University Maroon & Gold Club to support fundraising efforts for student athletes.

Steve Stennett, Intelsat, Senior Product Manager, Media

Steve Stennett has devoted his decades-long career between broadcast network operations and as an international service provider.  He currently manages the global Intelsat media distribution and contribution businesses, including MCPC platforms and the evolution of “Occasional Use” media contribution.

Tim Stevens, Verizon Business Group, Global Leader, Strategic Innovation for Sports, Media & Entertainment

Tim Stevens is Verizon Business Group’s global leader of strategic innovation for sports, media, and entertainment. Leveraging a deep understanding of business operations, technology, industry trends, and competitive landscape, Stevens is responsible for marketing strategy, product positioning, market intelligence, and business development. Prior to joining Verizon, he held senior technology roles at Newsweek, Viacom/ MTV Networks, Showtime, and New Line Cinema.

Sean Sullivan, Astound Business Solutions, Senior Director, Media Network Architecture

Sean Sullivan is the senior director of media network architecture at Astound focused on network designs, media transport protocols, and fiber network designs customized to meet SMPTE standards and high bandwidth availability. Sullivan has an extensive history and experience in the delivery of sporting events in both international and domestic markets. He started in sporting events in 1994 with the U.S.-based World Cup soccer delivery and distributing remote games and fiber builds at the IBC in Dallas Texas. In 1996, he built and coordinated the U.S. Olympics delivery for CCTV in Atlanta, GA with dedicated optical fiber and satellite delivery backhauls and turnarounds to international markets.

Sean Sullivan spearheaded the adoption of MPG2 broadcast signals over satellite and participated in the terrestrial interface developments of encoded ASI signals integrating teleports with fiber network delivery across the North American market while at Teleglobe. Sullivan subsequently brought that experience to MCI / Verizon and built the first dual rail diverse 10Gig Optical network for a major television network connecting London, Washington D.C., and a major Hub in New York City. Sullivan has brought that experience to Astound, formerly RCN, and implemented extensive optical and media specific network solutions to major stadiums, venues, and studios across the United States. Sullivan is an active member of SMPTE and Video Services Forum and a former member of the VSF Board of Directors.

Brad Wall, LTN, CTO

An industry pioneer with a proven track record spanning more than 25 years, Brad Wall has held roles at world-leading organizations including ABC and Disney. Awarded several patents for his innovative cloud media initiatives, Wall has implemented large-scale broadcast, OTT, and digital media projects that drive transformation.

Adam Whitlock, ESPN, Director, Remote Traffic Operations

Adam Whitlock oversees the daily operation of ESPN’s Remote Traffic department, which is responsible for the acquisition of all live event contribution transmissions for ESPN linear and digital networks, both domestic and international. Since joining ESPN in 2001, Whitlock has provided transmission planning and on-site support to a variety of remote event productions including the Super Bowl, World Cup, World Series, X Games, and NBA Finals, as well as Monday Night Football.

The three-time Emmy recipient also oversees all remote telecom services, managing a voice-over-IP system used to support more than 1,000 remote events annually. In 2014, Whitlock supported the SEC Network launch by designing and implementing a completely fiber-optic video and data network across more than 100 athletic venues within the conference to facilitate unlimited campus productions and ESPN Remote Operations events. In 2019, he launched another conference-wide fiber optic video and data network in support of the ACC Network.

Whitlock is currently focused on seasonal sports and live-from-home production workflows while overseeing more than 70,000 satellite, fiber optic, and IP based transmissions annually.

Rich Wolf, Brklyn-Media, Media, Operations & Technology Advisor

Rich Wolf is currently a media, operations and technology advisor at Brklyn-Media, a provider of a comprehensive set of virtualized media services to support a full range of live, linear, and on-demand workflows for content creation, acquisition, and delivery.

Before joining Brklyn-Media, Wolf was executive vice president at The Switch, a video production and transmission platform/provider, from January 2014 through August 2018. He continued his association with The Switch as an advisor until July 2020. Prior to joining The Switch, Wolf spent 33 years at the ABC Television Network where he served as vice president of telecommunications and affiliate support. While at ABC, he was responsible for all technical, operational and management systems and processes associated with the distribution of the ABC Television Network to its (approximately) 240 affiliated broadcast stations. Wolf was also in charge of acquisition, assembly, and media management workflows associated with long-form/short-form content distributed on the ABC Television Network. Earlier, he held positions at RCA American Communications (RCA Americom) and Hughes Television Network (HTN).

Since 2012, Wolf has been a representative of the National Advisory Council (NAC) and Technology & Innovation Committee of The Emma Bowen Foundation (EBF), a non-profit talent pipeline focused on building a more diverse media ecosystem.