Chris Wolford, NASCAR, Managing Director, Media & Event Technology

Chris Wolford is the managing director of media and event technology at NASCAR. He has 20 years of experience in the Media & Entertainment industry building out solution architectures specializing in media orchestration. Wolford leads the media and data technology initiatives for the NASCAR Technology and Media Ventures lines of business.

He lives in Charlotte, NC with his wife and two girls.

Graham Allan, Deloitte, Managing Director, Media & Entertainment

Graham Allan has 30 years of experience leading technology strategy, development, and operational sustainment in: the content supply chains for motion pictures, television, and OTT; studio operations; information architecture and metadata for media; intellectual property rights, clearance, and legal ops ecosystems for the creative industries; digital and media asset management, including archive and preservation for media; theme parks and location-based entertainment; and digital transformations in general for a broad range of content and entertainment companies. As managing director, media & entertainment at Deloitte, Allan leads media technology and content operations projects for major broadcast and motion picture clients in the U.S. and Europe.

Mark Anderson, Seagate Technology, Manager, Channel Systems and Solutions Sales Team

Mark Anderson has been involved in the media and entertainment industry for over 20 years, initially as an actor and producer. In 2009, he crossed over to the dark side (into sales), transitioning from “user” of storage to “pusher.”  Since then, Anderson has helped numerous customers streamline their storage workflows. He also has helped drive M&E strategy with multiple major manufacturers of data storage, including Seagate, where he has been for the last five years. At Seagate, Anderson is responsible for sales of Enterprise Data Systems into multiple verticals, including M&E, in the United States. He currently manages their Systems & Solutions Sales Team.

Brent Angle, CineSys, CTO

Padraic Boyle, MLB Advanced Media, Senior Director, Enterprise Media

Padraic Boyle joined Major League Baseball in February of 2008 as part of its information-technology transformation. In his role as business relationship manager, he provided technical direction to the business verticals of the Office of the Commissioner and also served as a technical liaison to MLB Productions and MLB Network.

Reaching into his rich media background, Boyle took on the role of technical lead for MLB and architected the league’s digital-asset-management system, the DIAMOND Platform, which was nominated for the 2012 Sports Emmy George Wensel Technical Achievement Award. The DIAMOND Platform is hosted in MLB’s Secaucus facility where it serves MLB Productions and MLB Network. DIAMOND also has a cloud-based presence to facilitate video services for internal departments within the Commissioner’s Office, Clubs, and MLB.com.

Prior to joining Major League Baseball, Boyle was the VP of technology for Venaca. Venaca was a systems integrator with a unique set of applications which primarily addressed digital asset management/media asset management (DAM/MAM) solutions for the broadcast industry. Clientele included Lifetime Television, MTV, Scripps, Turner Broadcasting, and the Paley Center for Media.

Before Venaca, Boyle worked for Lifetime Television and was heavily involved in the architecting, development, and implementation of Lifetime Television’s digital asset management system from the ground up. This involved ingest and archive to tracking and repurposing content owned and/or purchased for distribution on Lifetime’s networks. Boyle was also the co-principal and VP of technology for DataVision, a systems integration and consulting company in the magazine publishing, financial, and television broadcast industries.

Roy Burns, IMT, SVP, Media Solutions

Roy Burns has over 20 years of experience advising clients in the media and entertainment sector.

Burns is on the forefront of emerging media workflows and technologies. He is an active member of SVG, SMPTE, and HPA. At IMT, he leads the Advanced Consulting Team with a primary focus on MAM and workflow orchestration. Burns partners with clients to map their current and future media workflows and define best practices, as well as recommend and implement scalable, forward-looking solutions.

His expertise in the sports sector has grown immensely with successful projects spanning multiple teams across the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB.

Tab Butler, Industry Consultant & Former SVG Sports Content Management Forum Committee Chairman

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. During his MLB network 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 previously served as the committee chair of the Sports Content Management Committee.

Byron Chapman, PGA TOUR, Director of Media Asset Management & Media Workflows

Olivia Cianci, Imagen from Reuters, Head of U.S. Accounts

Olivia Cianci is the head of U.S. accounts at Imagen from Reuters. With a robust background spanning 15 years, she has cultivated extensive expertise in client success.

In her current capacity, Cianci assumes a pivotal role overseeing Imagen’s U.S. portfolio with a focus on U.S. Sports and blue-chip customers. She is responsible for maintaining long-lasting client relationships, serving as the main link between Imagen and its customers, and always driving innovation.

Cianci’s leadership continues to shape the company’s trajectory, solidifying Imagen’s reputation as one of the leading sports video management and distribution platforms across the globe.

Chris Cruz, CBS Sports, Senior Director of Media Services

Chris Cruz is the senior director of media services for CBS Sports. He is responsible for the proper management of all digital asset management systems developed for CBS Sports studio and remote productions. He also oversees the personnel utilized for the acquisition, distribution, and archiving of all digital content.

Cruz started working with CBS Sports in 2012 as the manager of digital archives. In this role, he developed the division’s first digital asset archive. He also led the team of media managers responsible for the strategic digitization and archiving of CBS Sports legacy programming.

Having developed these systems from the ground up has given Cruz a keen understanding of digital content management. He’s also a key contributor to the development of all cloud and AI initiatives at CBS Sports.

Travis Couture, Twelve Labs, Founding Solutions Architect

A biologist turned technologist, Travis Couture has a wealth of experience across academia, industry, and startups. With deep roots in computer vision research, he spends his time with Twelve Labs’ customers to sweat the details on how they utilize cutting-edge technologies in their video workflows.

Jason Dachman, SVG, Editorial Director, U.S.​; SVG Sports Content Management Program Director

Jason 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, daughter June, and son Hank.

Abhijit Dey, Perifery, GM and COO

Abhijit (Abhi) Dey is a distinguished executive with over 25 years of experience, showcasing a rich background in leading innovations in IT infrastructure and the media industry, with a particular focus on the intersection of AI and data management. His expertise spans the critical domains of strategy, product management, and customer relations, positioning him as a catalyst for significant transformations in both well-established firms and startups.

As the founder and chief product officer at Perifery, Dey brings a wealth of experience from previous key roles in product management and market strategy at industry leaders like Agari, Veritas, and Druva.

His leadership has been pivotal in the development of pioneering products in software-defined storage, data protection, archiving, AI, and analytics. With a customer-centric approach, Dey has built deep connections across a variety of sectors, notably in media & entertainment, corporate IT, and healthcare, leveraging his deep knowledge in AI and data management to drive innovation and success.

Ericka Duffy, Riot Games, Media Asset Manager

Ericka Duffy began building her experience in asset management in 2014 as an intern in VideoElephant, a B2B video distribution marketplace. Over the course of nearly eight years, Duffy worked her way up to content manager for a library of over 3.5 million video assets. She developed distribution workflows and asset management for solutions ranging from OTT opportunities, mobile apps, and web-based news agencies. In 2022, Duffy made the leap to broadcasting and joined Global Content Operations at Riot Games. Based in Dublin, Ireland, she is media asset manager in Riot Games’ first Remote Broadcasting Centre powered by AWS. Working across global and regional tournaments for both League of Legends and VALORANT, Duffy manages workflows that help Riot staff create fandom defining esports broadcasts.

David Franza, TIPLynx, Founder & President

As founder and president of TIPLynx, Dave Franza aids organizations in the business of media and entertainment, major sports content production and delivery, and technology solutions with their strategic planning and operations. Franza currently serves as director of technical sales, Americas for Marquis Broadcast which specializes in integration services and workflow tools for broadcast and post-production, helping facilities improve the efficiency and ease of digital workflows. He is also technical advisor to shayre in Burbank, CA and was previously CTO for startup MementoHQ in Portland, OR. Franza previously served as a member of the SVG Sports Content Management Committee.

Prior to founding TIPLynx in 2018, Franza worked for NFL Films and NFL Network where as CIO and VP of production applications, he built the IT and Accounting environments and led development of TV and digital production systems for 31 years. He also managed services at broadcast compounds for 22 Super Bowls, starting in 1996. Franza earned a Sports Emmy for Hard Knocks on HBO and is a recipient of CIO Magazine’s “Bold 100” award. He recently served for seven years as an assistant coach on the Strath Haven Varsity Football Team in PA and has supported United Way, Habitat for Humanity, and Special Olympics.

Isabel Freedman, Wasabi Technologies, Alliance Marketing Manager, Media & Entertainment

Isabel Freedman is the alliance marketing manager, media and entertainment at Wasabi Technologies. Since joining the company in 2019, she has grown from supporting Wasabi’s IT partners to leading Wasabi’s sports, media, and entertainment marketing strategy and partner ecosystem. In her role, Freedman collaborates with partners and industry groups to drive impactful messaging, events, and content.

Freedman earned a degree in human factors engineering from Tufts University and has worked in the IT industry for five years specializing in the media and entertainment industry.

Anne Graham, Warner Brothers Discovery, Manager, Media Strategy & Project Planning; SVG Sports Content Management Committee Chair

Glen Huszar, Diversified, Principal Consultant, Media Supply Chain

Glen Huszar is a multimedia, production, workflow, and technology visionary, maverick, and proven agile professional with a passion for all aspects of digital content. With a specialization in multimedia workflow, his professional career spans over 15 years, working for some of the top companies across a broad spectrum of industries, including media and entertainment, health and fitness, finance, and retail.

Huszar’s primary specialty is building symbiotic relationships between business workflows, creative processes, design/production, content management, and distribution. He strives to deliver solutions that meet his clients’ needs today while preparing for the demands of tomorrow.

Brett Kaplan, MLB Network, Senior Content Services Lead

Brett Kaplan has had an extensive career within baseball both at Major League Baseball and MLB Network, spanning nearly 20 seasons. Kaplan started as an audio board operator and video editor at MLB.com, where he ultimately line-produced studio shows and covered various jewel events such as Spring Training, the All-Star Game, the MLB Draft, and the World Series.

Currently at MLB Network for the past six seasons, Kaplan’s role involves collaborating with engineers, developers, product, and media management teams to develop workflows aimed at delivering baseball content more effectively. His experience highlights a journey from hands-on production roles to more strategic involvement in content delivery and technology development within the industry.

Pete Leone, Veritone, Sales Director for Sports and Live Entertainment

Pete Leone is a sales director for Veritone, focused primarily on AI within Sports and Live Entertainment. He partners with organizations to deploy AI-solutions and services, transforming their media archives into new revenue. Leone comes from a technology consulting background with almost 15 years of experience working in the entertainment industry for Capgemini and OnPrem Solution Partners, where he spent time with Disney, Warner Bros, NBCU, and Discovery. Leone is currently responsible for managing 30+ enterprise sports customers (e.g., NCAA, USA Soccer, Big Ten Network, USGA, SF Giants) and leading new business for all North American customers.

Manuel Minut, Vidispine – An Arvato Systems Brand, Solutions Architect

Manuel Minut is a seasoned veteran in the Media & Entertainment (M&E) industry, boasting an impressive 28-year career blending technological expertise with production experience. As both a technologist and a creative mind, Minut has played a pivotal role in implementing cutting-edge asset management systems for numerous leading companies worldwide, including news and sports broadcasters, sports leagues, and individual sports teams. His unique blend of technical prowess and artistic vision has revolutionized the way organizations manage their assets, driving efficiency and unlocking new possibilities in content creation and distribution.

As a solutions architect for Vidispine – An Arvato Systems brand, Minut bridges the gap between technology and user requirements and stays in touch with the market trends.

Dustin Myers, Fox Sports, SVP, Production Operations

Dustin Myers is a seasoned media executive with a demonstrated history of working in the content and broadcast media industry. He has been recognized for his exceptional work with multiple Emmy awards.

Currently, Myers is leveraging his expertise in cloud-based production and artificial intelligence as a key member of the team at Fox Sports. His responsibilities encompass post-production, media management, content acquisition, and the development and implementation of innovative technology initiatives. Additionally, Myers is charged with “Jewel Event” management, on both domestic and international scales, ensuring that Fox Sports delivers unparalleled coverage of the most significant sporting events to millions of viewers.

Grant Nodine, NHL, SVP, Technology

Grant Nodine started his career working as a systems librarian at Editel. He moved on to working as a web developer on sites like Rodale Press’s MensHealth.com. He later co-founded a web development firm called Mercury Seven where he worked as the firm’s chief technologist. Twenty-plus years ago, Nodine arrived at the NHL where he has been involved in building a technology infrastructure that supports NHL.com and all 30 of the team’s websites, numerous systems to produce and deliver streaming media, and many other large technology implementations.

Ian Owen, Riot Games, Manager, Media Asset Management, Esports

Ian Owen started his career working in broadcasting for the Memphis Grizzlies and NBA Entertainment. After falling into the MAM world during eight years in professional basketball, he made the move to the collegiate ranks. For five years, Owen built workflows and provided asset management as a service to the University of Notre Dame as a part of ND Studios. He joined Riot Games late in 2022 as the global manager of media asset management for the esports pillar and now oversees a growing team in Dublin, Ireland and Seattle, Washington where he is based today. Owen and the Global Content Operations team are excited to build a content services platform that will set the standard for the future of esports and beyond.

Dev Patel, TCM Sports, GM - Business Head, Dubai Office

Dev Patel is a disciplined professional with over 20 years of global sports experience in various roles and sports around the globe, working for IMG (International Management Group), ICC (International Cricket Council), NZC (New Zealand Cricket), and now TCM (Twenty First Century Media). He recently concluded the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the U.S.A. and West Indies, overseeing the broadcast and production for Florida and Trinidad.

David Rosen, Sony, VP, Cloud Applications and Solutions

David Rosen has global responsibility for leading Sony’s Ci Media Cloud SaaS business. As one of the original founders, Rosen has grown the business from inception into the largest and most profitable SaaS company in Sony’s history. He is a valued technology thought leader within Media & Entertainment and has been a significant contributing force in bringing the reality of cloud-based production and broadcast workflows to many of the largest media organizations in the world.

Prior to launching Ci, Rosen helped create the Digital Media Group within Sony Pictures where he was responsible for delivering solutions to enable the studio to transition from tape based to file-based workflows. While at Sony Pictures, he also spent two years developing and bringing to market the Distribution Backbone, the industry’s first automated supply chain for post theatrical manufacturing and distribution. Rosen started his career as a software developer and solutions consultant with Oracle Corporation where he consulted with Fortune 50 companies and multiple government agencies.

Mark Russak, Warner Brothers Discovery, New Technology & Strategy, Architect

Brian Shield, Boston Red Sox, SVP and CTO

Brian Shield is SVP and chief technology officer of the Boston Red Sox. He is responsible for technology for the club and Fenway Sports Management. Shield leads the technology team on all phases of the Red Sox strategy from creating a compelling fan experience at Fenway Park to enabling an effective front office and baseball operations environment, as well.

Shield is a true IT visionary and has been working closely with Wasabi as the Red Sox look to constantly innovate their data storage game and fan experience.

Dan Trass, MLB Network, Senior Manager, Post Production Engineering

Dan Trass is a senior manager of post production engineering at MLB Network and has been in the broadcast industry for nearly 20 years. Trass got his start in the mid 2000’s working for a systems integrator helping build the NOC at CNBC. He later traveled the globe as a field engineer for Grass Valley, troubleshooting large Aurora Browse and Stratus / K2 News Production systems. In 2016, Trass settled at MLB Network working under Tab Butler. He helped grow the network from a 40 channel ingest solution to over 200 channels of ingest and five PB of online edit storage. Currently, Trass and his group manage 120 PB of baseball archives on everything from flash to tape.

Chris Wolford, NASCAR, Managing Director, Media & Event Technology

Chris Wolford is the managing director of media and event technology at NASCAR. He has 20 years of experience in the Media & Entertainment industry building out solution architectures specializing in media orchestration. Wolford leads the media and data technology initiatives for the NASCAR Technology and Media Ventures lines of business.

He lives in Charlotte, NC with his wife and two girls.

Graham Allan, Deloitte, Managing Director, Media & Entertainment

Graham Allan has 30 years of experience leading technology strategy, development, and operational sustainment in: the content supply chains for motion pictures, television, and OTT; studio operations; information architecture and metadata for media; intellectual property rights, clearance, and legal ops ecosystems for the creative industries; digital and media asset management, including archive and preservation for media; theme parks and location-based entertainment; and digital transformations in general for a broad range of content and entertainment companies. As managing director, media & entertainment at Deloitte, Allan leads media technology and content operations projects for major broadcast and motion picture clients in the U.S. and Europe.

Mark Anderson, Seagate Technology, Manager, Channel Systems and Solutions Sales Team

Mark Anderson has been involved in the media and entertainment industry for over 20 years, initially as an actor and producer. In 2009, he crossed over to the dark side (into sales), transitioning from “user” of storage to “pusher.”  Since then, Anderson has helped numerous customers streamline their storage workflows. He also has helped drive M&E strategy with multiple major manufacturers of data storage, including Seagate, where he has been for the last five years. At Seagate, Anderson is responsible for sales of Enterprise Data Systems into multiple verticals, including M&E, in the United States. He currently manages their Systems & Solutions Sales Team.

Brent Angle, CineSys, CTO

Padraic Boyle, MLB Advanced Media, Senior Director, Enterprise Media

Padraic Boyle joined Major League Baseball in February of 2008 as part of its information-technology transformation. In his role as business relationship manager, he provided technical direction to the business verticals of the Office of the Commissioner and also served as a technical liaison to MLB Productions and MLB Network.

Reaching into his rich media background, Boyle took on the role of technical lead for MLB and architected the league’s digital-asset-management system, the DIAMOND Platform, which was nominated for the 2012 Sports Emmy George Wensel Technical Achievement Award. The DIAMOND Platform is hosted in MLB’s Secaucus facility where it serves MLB Productions and MLB Network. DIAMOND also has a cloud-based presence to facilitate video services for internal departments within the Commissioner’s Office, Clubs, and MLB.com.

Prior to joining Major League Baseball, Boyle was the VP of technology for Venaca. Venaca was a systems integrator with a unique set of applications which primarily addressed digital asset management/media asset management (DAM/MAM) solutions for the broadcast industry. Clientele included Lifetime Television, MTV, Scripps, Turner Broadcasting, and the Paley Center for Media.

Before Venaca, Boyle worked for Lifetime Television and was heavily involved in the architecting, development, and implementation of Lifetime Television’s digital asset management system from the ground up. This involved ingest and archive to tracking and repurposing content owned and/or purchased for distribution on Lifetime’s networks. Boyle was also the co-principal and VP of technology for DataVision, a systems integration and consulting company in the magazine publishing, financial, and television broadcast industries.

Roy Burns, IMT, SVP, Media Solutions

Roy Burns has over 20 years of experience advising clients in the media and entertainment sector.

Burns is on the forefront of emerging media workflows and technologies. He is an active member of SVG, SMPTE, and HPA. At IMT, he leads the Advanced Consulting Team with a primary focus on MAM and workflow orchestration. Burns partners with clients to map their current and future media workflows and define best practices, as well as recommend and implement scalable, forward-looking solutions.

His expertise in the sports sector has grown immensely with successful projects spanning multiple teams across the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB.

Tab Butler, Industry Consultant & Former SVG Sports Content Management Forum Committee Chairman

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. During his MLB network 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 previously served as the committee chair of the Sports Content Management Committee.

Byron Chapman, PGA TOUR, Director of Media Asset Management & Media Workflows

Olivia Cianci, Imagen from Reuters, Head of U.S. Accounts

Olivia Cianci is the head of U.S. accounts at Imagen from Reuters. With a robust background spanning 15 years, she has cultivated extensive expertise in client success.

In her current capacity, Cianci assumes a pivotal role overseeing Imagen’s U.S. portfolio with a focus on U.S. Sports and blue-chip customers. She is responsible for maintaining long-lasting client relationships, serving as the main link between Imagen and its customers, and always driving innovation.

Cianci’s leadership continues to shape the company’s trajectory, solidifying Imagen’s reputation as one of the leading sports video management and distribution platforms across the globe.

Chris Cruz, CBS Sports, Senior Director of Media Services

Chris Cruz is the senior director of media services for CBS Sports. He is responsible for the proper management of all digital asset management systems developed for CBS Sports studio and remote productions. He also oversees the personnel utilized for the acquisition, distribution, and archiving of all digital content.

Cruz started working with CBS Sports in 2012 as the manager of digital archives. In this role, he developed the division’s first digital asset archive. He also led the team of media managers responsible for the strategic digitization and archiving of CBS Sports legacy programming.

Having developed these systems from the ground up has given Cruz a keen understanding of digital content management. He’s also a key contributor to the development of all cloud and AI initiatives at CBS Sports.

Travis Couture, Twelve Labs, Founding Solutions Architect

A biologist turned technologist, Travis Couture has a wealth of experience across academia, industry, and startups. With deep roots in computer vision research, he spends his time with Twelve Labs’ customers to sweat the details on how they utilize cutting-edge technologies in their video workflows.

Jason Dachman, SVG, Editorial Director, U.S.​; SVG Sports Content Management Program Director

Jason 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, daughter June, and son Hank.

Abhijit Dey, Perifery, GM and COO

Abhijit (Abhi) Dey is a distinguished executive with over 25 years of experience, showcasing a rich background in leading innovations in IT infrastructure and the media industry, with a particular focus on the intersection of AI and data management. His expertise spans the critical domains of strategy, product management, and customer relations, positioning him as a catalyst for significant transformations in both well-established firms and startups.

As the founder and chief product officer at Perifery, Dey brings a wealth of experience from previous key roles in product management and market strategy at industry leaders like Agari, Veritas, and Druva.

His leadership has been pivotal in the development of pioneering products in software-defined storage, data protection, archiving, AI, and analytics. With a customer-centric approach, Dey has built deep connections across a variety of sectors, notably in media & entertainment, corporate IT, and healthcare, leveraging his deep knowledge in AI and data management to drive innovation and success.

Ericka Duffy, Riot Games, Media Asset Manager

Ericka Duffy began building her experience in asset management in 2014 as an intern in VideoElephant, a B2B video distribution marketplace. Over the course of nearly eight years, Duffy worked her way up to content manager for a library of over 3.5 million video assets. She developed distribution workflows and asset management for solutions ranging from OTT opportunities, mobile apps, and web-based news agencies. In 2022, Duffy made the leap to broadcasting and joined Global Content Operations at Riot Games. Based in Dublin, Ireland, she is media asset manager in Riot Games’ first Remote Broadcasting Centre powered by AWS. Working across global and regional tournaments for both League of Legends and VALORANT, Duffy manages workflows that help Riot staff create fandom defining esports broadcasts.

David Franza, TIPLynx, Founder & President

As founder and president of TIPLynx, Dave Franza aids organizations in the business of media and entertainment, major sports content production and delivery, and technology solutions with their strategic planning and operations. Franza currently serves as director of technical sales, Americas for Marquis Broadcast which specializes in integration services and workflow tools for broadcast and post-production, helping facilities improve the efficiency and ease of digital workflows. He is also technical advisor to shayre in Burbank, CA and was previously CTO for startup MementoHQ in Portland, OR. Franza previously served as a member of the SVG Sports Content Management Committee.

Prior to founding TIPLynx in 2018, Franza worked for NFL Films and NFL Network where as CIO and VP of production applications, he built the IT and Accounting environments and led development of TV and digital production systems for 31 years. He also managed services at broadcast compounds for 22 Super Bowls, starting in 1996. Franza earned a Sports Emmy for Hard Knocks on HBO and is a recipient of CIO Magazine’s “Bold 100” award. He recently served for seven years as an assistant coach on the Strath Haven Varsity Football Team in PA and has supported United Way, Habitat for Humanity, and Special Olympics.

Isabel Freedman, Wasabi Technologies, Alliance Marketing Manager, Media & Entertainment

Isabel Freedman is the alliance marketing manager, media and entertainment at Wasabi Technologies. Since joining the company in 2019, she has grown from supporting Wasabi’s IT partners to leading Wasabi’s sports, media, and entertainment marketing strategy and partner ecosystem. In her role, Freedman collaborates with partners and industry groups to drive impactful messaging, events, and content.

Freedman earned a degree in human factors engineering from Tufts University and has worked in the IT industry for five years specializing in the media and entertainment industry.

Anne Graham, Warner Brothers Discovery, Manager, Media Strategy & Project Planning; SVG Sports Content Management Committee Chair

Glen Huszar, Diversified, Principal Consultant, Media Supply Chain

Glen Huszar is a multimedia, production, workflow, and technology visionary, maverick, and proven agile professional with a passion for all aspects of digital content. With a specialization in multimedia workflow, his professional career spans over 15 years, working for some of the top companies across a broad spectrum of industries, including media and entertainment, health and fitness, finance, and retail.

Huszar’s primary specialty is building symbiotic relationships between business workflows, creative processes, design/production, content management, and distribution. He strives to deliver solutions that meet his clients’ needs today while preparing for the demands of tomorrow.

Brett Kaplan, MLB Network, Senior Content Services Lead

Brett Kaplan has had an extensive career within baseball both at Major League Baseball and MLB Network, spanning nearly 20 seasons. Kaplan started as an audio board operator and video editor at MLB.com, where he ultimately line-produced studio shows and covered various jewel events such as Spring Training, the All-Star Game, the MLB Draft, and the World Series.

Currently at MLB Network for the past six seasons, Kaplan’s role involves collaborating with engineers, developers, product, and media management teams to develop workflows aimed at delivering baseball content more effectively. His experience highlights a journey from hands-on production roles to more strategic involvement in content delivery and technology development within the industry.

Pete Leone, Veritone, Sales Director for Sports and Live Entertainment

Pete Leone is a sales director for Veritone, focused primarily on AI within Sports and Live Entertainment. He partners with organizations to deploy AI-solutions and services, transforming their media archives into new revenue. Leone comes from a technology consulting background with almost 15 years of experience working in the entertainment industry for Capgemini and OnPrem Solution Partners, where he spent time with Disney, Warner Bros, NBCU, and Discovery. Leone is currently responsible for managing 30+ enterprise sports customers (e.g., NCAA, USA Soccer, Big Ten Network, USGA, SF Giants) and leading new business for all North American customers.

Manuel Minut, Vidispine – An Arvato Systems Brand, Solutions Architect

Manuel Minut is a seasoned veteran in the Media & Entertainment (M&E) industry, boasting an impressive 28-year career blending technological expertise with production experience. As both a technologist and a creative mind, Minut has played a pivotal role in implementing cutting-edge asset management systems for numerous leading companies worldwide, including news and sports broadcasters, sports leagues, and individual sports teams. His unique blend of technical prowess and artistic vision has revolutionized the way organizations manage their assets, driving efficiency and unlocking new possibilities in content creation and distribution.

As a solutions architect for Vidispine – An Arvato Systems brand, Minut bridges the gap between technology and user requirements and stays in touch with the market trends.

Dustin Myers, Fox Sports, SVP, Production Operations

Dustin Myers is a seasoned media executive with a demonstrated history of working in the content and broadcast media industry. He has been recognized for his exceptional work with multiple Emmy awards.

Currently, Myers is leveraging his expertise in cloud-based production and artificial intelligence as a key member of the team at Fox Sports. His responsibilities encompass post-production, media management, content acquisition, and the development and implementation of innovative technology initiatives. Additionally, Myers is charged with “Jewel Event” management, on both domestic and international scales, ensuring that Fox Sports delivers unparalleled coverage of the most significant sporting events to millions of viewers.

Grant Nodine, NHL, SVP, Technology

Grant Nodine started his career working as a systems librarian at Editel. He moved on to working as a web developer on sites like Rodale Press’s MensHealth.com. He later co-founded a web development firm called Mercury Seven where he worked as the firm’s chief technologist. Twenty-plus years ago, Nodine arrived at the NHL where he has been involved in building a technology infrastructure that supports NHL.com and all 30 of the team’s websites, numerous systems to produce and deliver streaming media, and many other large technology implementations.

Ian Owen, Riot Games, Manager, Media Asset Management, Esports

Ian Owen started his career working in broadcasting for the Memphis Grizzlies and NBA Entertainment. After falling into the MAM world during eight years in professional basketball, he made the move to the collegiate ranks. For five years, Owen built workflows and provided asset management as a service to the University of Notre Dame as a part of ND Studios. He joined Riot Games late in 2022 as the global manager of media asset management for the esports pillar and now oversees a growing team in Dublin, Ireland and Seattle, Washington where he is based today. Owen and the Global Content Operations team are excited to build a content services platform that will set the standard for the future of esports and beyond.

Dev Patel, TCM Sports, GM - Business Head, Dubai Office

Dev Patel is a disciplined professional with over 20 years of global sports experience in various roles and sports around the globe, working for IMG (International Management Group), ICC (International Cricket Council), NZC (New Zealand Cricket), and now TCM (Twenty First Century Media). He recently concluded the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the U.S.A. and West Indies, overseeing the broadcast and production for Florida and Trinidad.

David Rosen, Sony, VP, Cloud Applications and Solutions

David Rosen has global responsibility for leading Sony’s Ci Media Cloud SaaS business. As one of the original founders, Rosen has grown the business from inception into the largest and most profitable SaaS company in Sony’s history. He is a valued technology thought leader within Media & Entertainment and has been a significant contributing force in bringing the reality of cloud-based production and broadcast workflows to many of the largest media organizations in the world.

Prior to launching Ci, Rosen helped create the Digital Media Group within Sony Pictures where he was responsible for delivering solutions to enable the studio to transition from tape based to file-based workflows. While at Sony Pictures, he also spent two years developing and bringing to market the Distribution Backbone, the industry’s first automated supply chain for post theatrical manufacturing and distribution. Rosen started his career as a software developer and solutions consultant with Oracle Corporation where he consulted with Fortune 50 companies and multiple government agencies.

Mark Russak, Warner Brothers Discovery, New Technology & Strategy, Architect

Brian Shield, Boston Red Sox, SVP and CTO

Brian Shield is SVP and chief technology officer of the Boston Red Sox. He is responsible for technology for the club and Fenway Sports Management. Shield leads the technology team on all phases of the Red Sox strategy from creating a compelling fan experience at Fenway Park to enabling an effective front office and baseball operations environment, as well.

Shield is a true IT visionary and has been working closely with Wasabi as the Red Sox look to constantly innovate their data storage game and fan experience.

Dan Trass, MLB Network, Senior Manager, Post Production Engineering

Dan Trass is a senior manager of post production engineering at MLB Network and has been in the broadcast industry for nearly 20 years. Trass got his start in the mid 2000’s working for a systems integrator helping build the NOC at CNBC. He later traveled the globe as a field engineer for Grass Valley, troubleshooting large Aurora Browse and Stratus / K2 News Production systems. In 2016, Trass settled at MLB Network working under Tab Butler. He helped grow the network from a 40 channel ingest solution to over 200 channels of ingest and five PB of online edit storage. Currently, Trass and his group manage 120 PB of baseball archives on everything from flash to tape.