2009 Speakers Included:

Richard Bullwinkle, Chief Evangelist

Richard Bullwinkle is well known in the digital networking entertainment industry from his previous roles at Digital Networks North America, Inc. (DNNA), TiVo and Mediabolic. As vice president of Product Management, Richard was a chief evangelist for Mediabolic, which was acquired by Macrovision in January 2007.  He was also previously a senior member of TiVo's product marketing team. Richard helped create and develop the TiVo products and then played an instrumental role in helping create the well-known publicity around the TiVo products and brand. At DNNA, a wholly owned subsidiary of D&M Holdings U.S., Inc. and the parent company of Rio Audio and ReplayTV, Richard was a senior member of Rio Audio's Product Marketing team.  He helped create and market some of the most popular MP3 players in the US. At ReplayTV, he was in charge of the user experience, including software and interface design.  Richard graduated from Rollins College in Florida with degrees in English and music.

Lin Dai graduated with honors from the prestigious School of Industrial Management, now Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University. His pioneering work on Intel's Planning and Logistics Intranet project eventually led to the launch of Unique Net Solutions, Inc. The company's revolutionary work was recognized when Lin Dai was awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year award by Carnegie Mellon University. He served a one year tenure as the youngest adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University, teaching a set of credited courses on Web Publishing for its School of Business.

Lin's digital expertise spans more than a decade. In 1999, he founded Kiwibox.com, the first social networking destination and online magazine for teens. Leading business development and marketing, he grew the website to more than two million members worldwide, and was successfully acquired in 2007. 

Lin also successfully launched K2 Entertainment, Inc., in 2003, where he managed and promoted major label recording artists from such top music labels as Bad Boy Records, Universal Records, and Warner Music, and handled casting and production services for major television networks such as MTV, ABC, NBC, and Fuse TV.

Marc DeBevoise, SVP, Business Development & Strategy
Starz Media LLC

Shawn DuBravac, Chief Economist
Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)

Shawn G. DuBravac, CFA is the Economist for the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) where he directs CEA's economic analysis. He is responsible for handling analysis of the economy as it relates to the consumer electronics industry including forecasting future economic activity, econometric studies, examining trade flows, and ascertaining relative health of the industry. DuBravac also provides research into the technology trends underpinning the industry and quantitative support for CEA’s legislative initiatives.

Prior to joining CEA, DuBravac was head research analyst in the Economic Analysis Group of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. He holds economic degrees with Highest Honors from Brigham Young University and George Mason University. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and is a member of both the CFA Society of Washington, DC and the National Association of Business Economists. He has published on a wide range of topics in finance, economics, and technology. Additionally, DuBravac is an Adjunct Professor in the MBA program at George Washington University.

In his free time, he volunteers in the community by providing financial education through the Virginia Cooperative Extension.

DuBravac resides in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and three sons.

Pat Dunbar, Director, Mediaroom & connected TV Advertising
Microsoft TV

Pat Dunbar is a recognized leader in the world of advertising and New Media, with twenty years experience in the development, marketing and management of online/internet/advanced television services. As Director of connected TV Advertising for Microsoft TV, Ms. Dunbar focuses on bringing new media experiences to Microsoft’s range of video platforms.

Prior to joining Microsoft TV, Ms. Dunbar co-founded the DiMAS (Digital Media and Advertising Strategy) Group. The DiMAS Group was responsible for numerous groundbreaking, cross industry initiatives to advance emerging media ad concepts. These solutions included AdLab, a multi-client research initiative and the ID!A Group, a cross industry working group with over 100 corporate leaders. DMAS Group also spawned BlackArrow, a venture backed startup focusing on digital advertising technologies, of which she was also co-founder of the company.

Prior to her tenure at DiMAS Group, Ms. Dunbar served as Senior Vice President at Ford Financial, as well as Vice President for Electronic Commerce for GMAC. It was at GM that she created the award-winning, definitive online financing site. MNs. Dunbar was also instrumental in the launch of a dealer to dealer auction service that sold over $1B in vehicles in its first year. Other corporate work included NBC, HBO, and Bank of America where she created the first online banking service.

Ms. Dunbar holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Northwestern University.

Jim Eadie, VP, Digital Distribution
MTV Networks

Jim Eadie is Vice President of Digital Distribution for MTV Networks.  In his role, Eadie is responsible for developing content distribution strategies across mobile platforms and cultivating distribution deals with mobile operators, aggregators and emerging media platforms across MTV Networks’ diverse brands, including: CMT, COMEDY CENTRAL, Logo, MTV, Nickelodeon, The N, Spike and VH1, among others.  Based in the company’s New York City headquarters, Eadie reports to Alice Kim, Senior Vice President of Digital Distribution & Partner Relations for MTV Networks. 

Most recently, Eadie served as Director of Business Development and Strategy for the MTV Networks Entertainment Group, which includes Comedy Central, Spike, TV Land, Gametrailers and Atom Films.  In that role, Eadie led the targeting and analysis of acquisition targets, managed long-term financial planning and drove strategic initiatives, such as the launch of Spike HD.   

Prior to joining MTV Networks in 2006, Eadie served as an Associate in the Time Warner Corporate Strategic Planning Group and held a succession of Corporate Development and Corporate Strategy roles at AOL. He began his career as an investment banker at Alex.Brown as a financial analyst in the Technology Group. 

Craig Engler, SVP & GM, SCIFI Digital
 NBC Universal

Craig E. Engler was named Senior Vice President, SCIFI.COM and SCI FI Magazine in February 2006. Mr. Engler is responsible for the digital growth and expansion of SCI FI, including the continued development of original online content, and the launch of a new broadband network. Under Mr. Engler's leadership, SCI FI Channel has been on the forefront of digital technology with innovations like the critically acclaimed 'Battlestar Galactica' podcast and videoblog by the show's executive producers and the expansion of the daily entertainment news service Sci Fi Wire. Engler began working with SCI FI in 1997 as a consultant and joined them full time in 1999 after the Channel acquired his online publication business. The award-winning SCIFI.COM is both the official site of the SCI FI Channel and also the largest general interest sci-fi website in the world. It has won numerous awards including the "people's choice" Webby, the Flash Forward Award and the Nebula Award (the first time it was awarded for an electronically published story). Recently, the site won a prestigious Hugo Award, an annual recognition handed out by sci-fi fans at the World Science Fiction Convention. Besides offering in-depth info about all of SCI FI's original programming, the site also provides content about the entire sci-fi genre including reviews of the latest books and films; daily news; an events calendar with hundreds of listings; and more. Prior to joining SCIFI.COM full-time in 1999, Mr. Engler founded Science Fiction Weekly, the first Internet magazine devoted to science fiction. While serving as its publisher & editor, the weekly was named best sci-fi 'zine on the Internet by Yahoo! Internet Life. It was sold to the SCI FI Channel in 1999. From 1994 to 1997 Mr. Engler worked for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), where his last position was Electronic Publishing Editor for IEEE Spectrum, their flagship magazine. Prior to his stint with IEEE, he held several positions in journalism. As a freelance writer, Mr. Engler's credits range from 'The New York Times' to 'Wired.' In addition, for four years he served as an "expert editor" for Amazon.com, and he also consulted for Yahoo! Internet Life. He is a regular speaker at events like Digital Hollywood, Blog-On and the Digital Media Summit, and has participated in the AFI's Enhanced Television program. Mr. Engler graduated with a dual B.A. degree in Magazine Journalism and English from the S.I. Newhouse School at Syracuse University.

Dave Evans, SVP, Broadband
Rainbow Media Holdings

As senior vice president of broadband, David Evans is responsible for the continued development of Rainbow Media’s acquisition strategy, brand development and content distribution across new media platforms for AMC, Sundance Channel, IFC and WE tv. Mr. Evans efforts center on building an infrastructure for Rainbow Media that will extend the reach of the company and its brands on the Internet, wireless devices and other broadband-enabled in-home entertainment and consumer electronics. He will develop strategic partnerships, new business opportunities and additional revenue seeking opportunities through both content and advertising sales. Mr. Evans also serves as a strategic partner with the heads of Rainbow Media’s other business units, which include IFC Entertainment and VOOM HD Networks, with a particular focus on helping them maximize the value of their programming content in the evolving media landscape.

Prior to joining Rainbow Media in 2007, Mr. Evans served in a variety of new media roles for nearly five years at New York Magazine. He first served as the part-time general manager of newyorkmetro.com, a joint venture between Rainbow Media and PRIMEDIA Inc., who then owned New York Magazine. Newyorkmetro.com was a smart, critical guide to life in the city for readers who want to stay on top of the players, trends, culture and politics of city life. In November of 2004, he became the full time general manager of the operation, now owned by Wasserstein & Co. At this time, he began the site’s complete re-build and re-design, re-launching in February 2006 as nymag.com. The results were dramatic with the site reaching a record 3.8 million unique visitors in October 2006.

Before joining the online group for New York Magazine, Mr. Evans served as vice president of marketing and internet operations for PRIMEDIA, Inc., developing and executing strategies to expand enthusiast magazine brands into true multi-media franchises. Earlier in his career, he held marketing posts at Nerve Media, Interactive Media Group and Dell Computer Corporation.

Mr. Evans earned his Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada.

Sam Ferraj, VP
AT&T Digital Media Solutions 

Sam Farraj, is responsible for leading the strategy and business development activities for Digital Media Solutions at AT&T. Before joining AT&T in April of 2008, Mr. Farraj was responsible for launching the digital media group at MCI. He has also been EVP of product development at Vaultus, Inc., which provides wireless mobility solutions for enterprise customers. He also served as SVP of Marketing and Product Development at CMGI Solutions, an enterprise-focused Internet solutions provider, as well as leadership positions at e.Spire Communications, an integrated communications provider. Prior to that Mr. Farraj started his career at MCI.

Jay Fehnel, VP, TMS Entertainment Products
Tribune Media Services

Jay Fehnel leads the Entertainment Products division of Tribune Media Services (TMS), an international leader in entertainment navigation.  Every day, 100 million consumers in over 40 countries use TMS products and services to discover their best entertainment options. 

TMS Entertainment Products creates rich databases of television, movie and celebrity information used by thousands of media and technology companies worldwide for their publications, Websites, mobile services and interactive program guides (IPG). The division also operates Zap2it.com, one of America's most popular entertainment Web sites, publishes Channel Guide and DISH magazines, and provides direct-marketing services for cable and satellite operators. 

TMS Entertainment Products serves thousands of customers, including many of the biggest names in media and technology, such as Comcast, Time Warner Cable, DISH, TiVo, Google, Microsoft and USA Today. 

Fehnel previously served as Vice President, Business Development.  In that role he led the company’s strategic planning process and identified growth opportunities for TMS, including internal start-ups, partnerships, acquisitions and investments.  Fehnel has played key roles in TMS’ acquisition of five companies and in the launch of five new businesses. 

He is a member of the board of directors of YellowBrix, Inc., of Alexandria, Virginia, a provider of filtered news services for corporate users. 

Fehnel previously worked in research and marketing for the NBC TV Stations group, Katz Television and Walt Disney Company.  He is a graduate of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and Purdue University.

Barry Frey , EVP, Advanced Platform Sales
Cablevision Systems Corp.

Barry Frey is an innovative and visionary media and marketing executive with a proven record of success. His primary role at Cablevision is running the Advanced Platform Group for the company’s RASCO (Rainbow Advertising Sales Corp.) division, which has created ground-breaking agreements with major blue chip marketers utilizing the cable system’s interactive television (ITV), video-on-demand (VOD), online and linear platforms in ways that have produced valuable and tangible benefits for the company’s customers and advertising clients. Cablevision and RASCO have been leading the way to provide marketers with unique and measurable cross-platform marketing packages that provide the highest levels of consumer engagement.

Mr. Frey pioneered the concept of Cablevision’s “Power 30SM”, interactive 30-second commercials that take traditional advertising units to the next level by driving viewers to VOD channels entirely dedicated to a specific advertiser, providing marketers and agencies with addressable television advertising, promoting viewership of long-form content, enhancing lead generation via requests for information (RFI) and more. The company also offers a continually growing list of innovative communications tools and multi-Emmy Award-winning technologies.

Cablevision Advanced Platforms has developed and implemented branded interactive VOD channels for a number of leading global brands including Disney Vacations, The U.S. Navy, FX Network, Mars, Inc., BMW, Unilever, and Sony Corporation. Featuring long- and short-form video, polling, photos and other information that engages, entertains and educates consumers; the VOD channels encourage viewers to learn more about how to incorporate these brands into their daily lives.

The Advanced Platform Sales division utilizes Cablevision’s advanced two-way fiber-optic network’s ability to provide a robust interactive experience for both brands and consumers. Cablevision’s cable service with the nation’s highest digital penetration rate of over 91%, and having received an unprecedented four interactive Emmy Awards has long been recognized as an industry pioneer and leader in cable service innovation.

Having previously served in senior sales and marketing positions with USA Networks, Crown Media and the National Basketball Association, Mr. Frey has successfully built, pioneered and overseen divisions connecting the advertising community with new and important media, entertainment and technology platforms on a domestic and international basis.

At Crown Media, as senior vice president overseeing global sales for the Hallmark Channel, Mr. Frey managed the division that created and sold television’s first digital product placement agreements. Previously, as senior vice-president for the NBA, he oversaw the development of multi-million dollar, multi-platform advertiser partnerships with the nation’s leading marketers. Earlier in his career he was responsible for leading the international sales, new business development and interactive efforts at USA Networks (USA Network and Sci-Fi Channel), and serving on both domestic and global channel and Internet launch teams.

Mr. Frey has served as a board member for the International Advertising Association and contributed to initiatives for Advanced Advertising within The Cable Advertising Bureau, CTAM On Demand and the cross MSO Consortium (which works closely with the AAAA in developing guidelines for VOD and ITV platforms). Mr. Frey often speaks on the future of media, advertising and television at conferences in the U.S. and in Europe.

Bernard Gershon , President
Gershon Media

Bernard Gershon is currently the President, Gershon Media, a digital media strategy practice with a focus on the convergence of information and entertainment.  Mr. Gershon is advising several early stage companies and sits on the Advisory Boards of Boxee, a Spark and Union Square investment and several other companies in the mobile and online video space.
Bernard Gershon was formally senior vice president and general manager, digital media, at The Walt Disney Company.  In this role, he was responsible for developing revenue opportunities and distributing Disney/ABC content to all digital media platforms including broadband, wireless, cable, IPTV and VOD.

Most recently, Mr. Gershon was instrumental in delivering Disney/ABC content, including “High School Musical”, “Desperate Housewives” and “Lost” to the Sprint mobile video service.  He also launched and distributed the 24-hour ABC News channel, ABC News Now, to new digital platforms including digital cable, broadband, VOD and wireless, and on devices like the Sony Playstation Portable© and Apple’s iPod©. 

In March 2003, he created ABC News Live, the Web’s first 24/7 streaming news network, and in July 2004, Peter Jennings re-launched the channel as ABC News Now with the start of his gavel-to-gavel coverage of the Democratic convention. Today, ABC News Now is available on digital cable as part of Verizon’s FiOS expanded basic package, and to over 35 million Internet homes. 

In 2002, Mr. Gershon introduced the first standalone subscription service from a major network when he launched “ABC News On Demand.”  The service offered the latest ABC News video content from programs like “Good Morning America,” “World News Tonight” and “Nightline.”

Mr. Gershon joined ABCNEWS.com in 1999 as vice president and general manager. Under his leadership, ABCNEWS.com marked several important milestones-- its first two years of profitability and numerous prestigious awards for online journalism, including the RTNDA Edward R. Murrow award for Overall Excellence.

Acknowledged within the industry as a pioneer in streaming media, as early as 1995, Mr. Gershon started ABC’s first streaming media Internet site—ABCRadioNet.com.  Mr. Gershon started the first regularly scheduled online web cast with ABC News’ Sam Donaldson, and expanded that offering with the Internet-only web cast, "Political Points,” co-produced with the New York Times.  He also oversaw the creation and development of the Internet-exclusive investigative series, "Internet Exposé," hosted by ABC News' Chris Wallace.  Mr. Gershon was named #9 on Streaming Media Magazine’s Top 50 Most Influential figures in streaming media in 2003.

Previously, Mr. Gershon was vice president of ABC News Radio, responsible for all information programming produced for the ABC Radio Networks’ 140 million weekly listeners.  During his tenure, the ABC News Radio staff received the RTNDA’s Edward R. Murrow award for Overall Excellence for four consecutive years.

Before joining ABC News in 1993, Mr. Gershon was associate director, news and programming for WCBS NewsRadio 88. He also served as news director of WOR Radio, New York.

Jeff Gomez , CEO & Founder
Starlight Runner

Jeff Gomez is the world’s leading producer of transmedia entertainment properties. He is an expert at incubating new entertainment franchises, strategic planning and production for cross-platform implementation. As CEO of Starlight Runner Entertainment, a New York-based digital production company, Jeff transforms intellectual properties into global franchises that successfully leverage an array of media channels and mass audience touchpoints. He also extends niche properties such as toys, animation or videogame titles across multiple platforms, which in turn generate multiple revenue streams for Starlight Runner’s partners and clients. Jeff has worked on such blockbuster universes as Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean, Prince of Persia and Tron, Microsoft's Halo, James Cameron's Avatar, Hasbro’s Transformers, Mattel’s Hot Wheels and Coca-Cola's Happiness Factory. In addition to serving as a brand extension consultant to such corporations as Disney, Microsoft, 20th Century Fox, Coca-Cola, Scholastic, Wieden+Kennedy, Mattel, Showtime, Turner and Hasbro, Jeff has also delivered his seminar, Creating Blockbuster Worlds: Developing Highly Successful Transmedia Franchises, to the MIT Futures of Entertainment Conference, Game Developers Conference, International Game Developers Association, the NewTeeVee Conference, the New York State Bar Association and the Producers Guild of America. He will be speaking at the TED conference in Lucerne, Switzerland in April 2010. Jeff is a board member of the Producers Guild of America East, and sits on the advisory board of the PGA New Media Council. Jeff and company Starlight Runner have recently been featured in Forbes, BusinessWeek, Variety, Publishers Weekly and The Wall Street Journal. http://www.starlightrunner.com

Vince Groff, Executive Director, Corporate Development
Cox Communications

Vince Groff has responsibility for setting strategies and leading corporate development in support of all Cox products and services. Key activities include establishing alliances and ventures within the industry as well as with key partners and suppliers. Vince is also Cox's lead investigator of the business impact of emerging technologies and start-up companies.

Previously, Vince led Cox's interactive television product development effort and the OpenCable initiative. He is also involved in the Consumer Electronics Association’s plug-and-play project and CableLabs standards efforts.

Vince holds bachelors and masters degrees in electrical engineering from Georgia Tech and an MBA from Duke University.

Erick Hachenburg, CEO
MetaCafe

Erick Hachenburg brings more than 15 years of experience in market creation, global expansion, operations and publishing to his role as Metacafe CEO.   Metacafe is one of the world’s largest video entertainment sites, focused on original short-form content from emerging talents and Hollywood heavyweights alike.  Through a sophisticated system of audience-based reviews, recommendations and rewards, Metacafe uses input and feedback from its 30 million unique monthly viewers to program the site and deliver exceptional entertainment experiences.

Prior to joining Metacafe, Erick was Electronic Art’s senior vice president of global online publishing and managing director of EA China.  In this role, he developed and led key strategic initiatives, including the company’s entry into the digital distribution of retail games.  Erick joined EA following the company’s 2001 acquisition of Pogo.com, the industry leader in the casual games market that he founded and built to nearly 1.5 million subscribers.

Erick began his career as an intellectual property attorney at Fenwick & West.  He holds a JD from Harvard Law School and a BS in Electrical Engineering from University of Illinois.

Jack D. Hidary, Chairman
iAmplify

Jack D. Hidary has built his career as an entrepreneur in the finance and technology sectors. He is currently chairman of iAmplify, an online company selling downloadable audio and video content.

Prior to co-founding iAmplify, Hidary co-founded Vista Research in 2001 as an independent financial research company serving institutional investors. Jack sold Vista to the Standard & Poor's division of McGraw-Hill in April of 2005. Hidary also co-founded and served as President and CEO of EarthWeb. During this time he raised three private rounds of equity and completed a record breaking initial public offering. Under Hidary's leadership, EarthWeb earned the prestigious Business Week Info Tech 100 award as the third fastest growing IT Company.

Committed to community and philanthropic causes, Hidary has received several industry and community awards as well as being recognized as a Global Leader of Tomorrow at the World Economic Forum, Davos. Hidary is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a founding member of the Clinton Global Initiative.

In recent years Hidary has been particularly involved in issues of energy and transportation. He sits on the advisory board for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and is founder of the Freedom Prize Initiative, which will provide monetary prizes to cities, auto companies, and fleets that can most reduce their petroleum use through energy efficiency and low-emissions alternative fuels. In New York City, Hidary was a leading proponent of incorporating hybrid vehicles into the city's taxi fleet, which will comprise entirely low-emissions vehicles by 2012.

Hidary studied philosophy and neuroscience at Columbia University and was then awarded a Stanley Fellowship in Clinical Neuroscience at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Under the fellowship, Hidary conducted research in functional neuroimaging using techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET) and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to study brain and disease states.

Hidary is an active private investor and a limited partner of Redpoint Ventures and the Prism Fund. A frequent keynote speaker, Hidary has presented at venues including the business schools at Yale, Harvard and Columbia.

Dave Howe, President
Syfy - NBC Universal

Dave Howe was named President, Syfy in January 2008. Howe oversees Original Development, Programming and Marketing, Global Brand Strategy and Market Development, Strategic Planning, Syfy Digital, Syfy Ventures, Media Relations and Syfy's public affairs initiative, Visions for Tomorrow. In July 2009, Howe launched a new global brand identity by evolving SCI FI Channel to Syfy. He is charged with expanding and diversifying its business portfolio beyond broadcast and digital media into new affinity areas such as video gaming, mobile, licensing and merchandising and the youth market.

Appointed the Channel's General Manager and Executive Vice President in July 2004, Howe had served as Executive Vice President, Marketing & Brand Strategy since joining the company in September 2001. Since becoming General Manager, Howe has overseen the launch of some of Syfy's most successful and ground-breaking programming, including "Tin Man" -- which was ad-supported cable's top entertainment telecast among Adults 25-54 in more than two years in addition to being the most-watched telecast in Channel history -- and the critically acclaimed, Peabody Award-winning series "Battlestar Galactica."

Howe also spearheaded a major overhaul of Syfy's brand strategy, focused on redefining the genre and making it more relatable and accessible to a broader audience and new generation of viewers. This lead the way for record-breaking hit drama series, "Eureka," and hit reality series, "Ghost Hunters," which have attracted record numbers of new, female and younger viewers to the channel.

Howe has been instrumental in shaping Syfy's pioneering digital strategy, ensuring Syfy remains at the forefront of digital growth and innovation. Howe orchestrated the launch of a successful portfolio of Syfy.com standalone sites, including technology blog DVICE, gaming site Fidgit and SCI FI Wire, the on-line destination for the entire science fiction genre's entertainment news.

Howe has played a lead role in Syfy's consistent ratings and revenue growth, firmly establishing its top 10 cable network ranking and culminating in its best year ever in both ratings and revenue in 2008. Syfy continues to demonstrate unprecedented growth in all key demographics fueled by its original dramatic and reality series. Syfy is widely regarded as one of the best-branded and marketed channels on television. The Channel has been honored with numerous accolades, including a D&AD Award, a Clio, countless PROMAX & BDA awards, two Cannes Lions, two One Club Awards, as well as a 2004 Gold Effie Award for the campaign promoting TAKEN.

In 2003, Howe was the recipient of the prestigious Brandbuilders Award. Presented by PROMAX & BDA, Broadcasting & Cable and Multichannel News, the honor was awarded in recognition of his industry leadership and outstanding dedication to branding in the electronic media.

Prior to joining Syfy, Howe spent 15 years at the BBC in London, most recently as head of the BBC's on-air marketing and creative services division (now part of Red Bee Media), where he is credited with building the BBC's multi-award-winning in-house creative team, which has delivered acclaimed on- and off-air campaigns, as well as world-class branding for the BBC's 17 UK and international TV channels, including BBC America, BBC World and the UK flagship broadcast channels BBC One and BBC Two. As Creative Director of the BBC?s new channels, Howe also directed the branding and on-air launch of the BBC's five new commercial channels, UKTV, and the re-launch of the BBC's new on-air corporate identity and program branding initiative.

Howe also led the teams responsible for positioning and launching over 10 new entertainment and news channels in the UK and internationally, including BBC News 24, BBC America, BBC Canada, BBC Choice, BBC Knowledge, BBC Three, BBC Four, UK Horizons, UK Drama, UK Style, UK Play and UK Food.

In addition to his impressive marketing track record, Howe has a programming background, having produced numerous television projects for the BBC, including Points of View with Anne Robinson (of Weakest Link fame). He also produced award-winning television spots for BBC One and BBC Two comedy, music and arts, sports, current affairs and purchased programs.

Howe is a member of the American Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Royal Television Society, UK. Fluent in English, German and French, he is also a classically trained pianist and oboist and played percussion in a local symphony orchestra.

Teemu Huuhtanen, President, North America
Sulake Inc. (Habbo Hotel)

As President, North America, for Sulake Inc., Teemu Huuhtanen knows a thing or two about how to navigate and monetize the new brave world of digital entertainment. He heads up operations in North America for Habbo, one of world’s most popular online social networking and gaming communities for teens. He managed to get Habbo to be the first virtual world to sign a deal with the Hollywood talent agency William Morris and recently announced a dual economy in its online community, allowing users to be rewarded for spending time on the site with ‘pixels’, a currency that allows them to purchase discounted virtual items or rent a variety of special effects for their avatars and virtual rooms. Teemu and his team at Sulake offer advertisers real world access to teens' virtual worlds.
 

Dina Kaplan, COO & Co-Founder
blip.tv

Dina Kaplan is a co-founder of blip.tv and serves as the company's COO. Dina oversees business operations for the company with a particular focus on advertising and sponsorships, PR and marketing.

Before blip.tv, Dina was a news reporter with WNBC in New York, Wave3 News (NBC) in Louisville Kentucky and News12 Long Island and New Jersey.

Dina won an Emmy for Spot News last summer and in prior years has won Society of Professional Journalists Awards for Deadline Reporting, Service Reporting and Feature Reporting and Associated Press Awards for Best Feature and for Breaking Spot News.

Before reporting, Dina produced stories for MTV News about politics, technology and a range of musical acts from Ozzy Osbourne to The Wu-Tang Clan to Jewel. She also helped coordinate MTV's Choose or Lose coverage of the 1996 Presidential Election.

After graduating from college, Dina worked at the White House as Director of Research for the White House Counsel's Office and then as Special Assistant to the Director of Presidential Personnel. During college, Dina worked at Rock The Vote, setting up a volunteer network of representatives that registered college students to vote around the country.

Dina graduated from Wesleyan University with a degree in Economics, Government, Philosophy and History. She sits on the National Board of Wesleyan University and is a Founding Board Member of the Women's Media Center. She is a judge for the Interactive Media Awards and for the Webbies. She is also on the board of the Theodore Roosevelt Teddy Bears for Kids Annual Benefit.

Paula Kerger, President & CEO
PBS

Paula A. Kerger is president and chief executive officer of PBS, the Public Broadcasting Service, the nation’s largest non-commercial media organization with 356 member stations throughout the country.

Ms. Kerger joined PBS as its sixth president and chief executive in March 2006. Since her arrival, Ms. Kerger’s commitment to high-quality content, education, diversity, and the use of new technology to bring public service media into the lives of all Americans has resulted in a broad range of initiatives. Among her accomplishments are Ken Burns’s and Dayton Duncan’s  recent 12-hour documentary, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea”; the debut of such acclaimed children’s programs as “Curious George” (the number one show for children ages 2-5 since 2006), “Word World,” “Super Why!,” “Martha Speaks,” and “Sid the Science Kid”; new primetime science and arts series; and comprehensive online sites for parents and caregivers -- PBS Parents -- and for educators -- PBS Teachers. In 2009, PBS programs have been honored with 28 Emmys, including 13 Daytime Emmys, nine Primetime Emmys, and six News and Documentary Emmys; six George Foster Peabody awards; three Writers Guild of America awards; one Academy Award nomination (documentary feature); 15 Parents’ Choice Awards for television; and five Parents’ Choice Awards for Websites. PBS’s critically praised online video portal and innovative digital partnerships with such companies as iTunes, YouTube, Microsoft’s Xbox, Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and Comcast’s On Demand service ensure that PBS programming is accessible across more than one platform and, increasingly, to a global audience.

In addition to leading PBS, Ms. Kerger is president of the PBS Foundation, an independent organization that raises private sector funding for PBS, and a director of the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. For the past four years, the Hollywood Reporter has included Ms. Kerger in the “Women in Entertainment Power 100,” an annual survey of the nation’s top women executives in media. In 2005, she was named to the Women’s Forum, an organization of 300 leading women in New York’s arts and business scenes. In 2008, Ms. Kerger received the Woman of Achievement Award from Women in Development, New York.

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Prior to joining PBS, Ms. Kerger served for more than a decade at Educational Broadcasting Corporation (EBC), the parent company of Thirteen/WNET and WLIW New York, where her ultimate position was executive vice president and COO. Her tenure boasts many achievements, including WNET’s completion in 1997 of the largest successful endowment campaign ever undertaken by a public television station.

Ms. Kerger received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Baltimore, where she serves on the Merrick School of Business Dean’s Advisory Council. In addition, she is a member of the board of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History. Ms. Kerger and her husband Joseph Kerger live in Washington, D.C.

Zach Klein is an accomplished entrepreneur and designer.

Prior to Boxee, he was a founding partner and chief of product at Connected Ventures, the creators of CollegeHumor.com and Busted Tees.

In 2006, he and his partners sold a major stake of Connected Ventures to Barry Diller’s Interactive Corp (IAC). Zach is best known for co-founding and designing Vimeo.com, a popular video-sharing community emphasizing authenticity and quality. Time Magazine recently named Vimeo one of the Top 50 sites on the Internet.

Zach has a degree from Wake Forest University in Studio Art.

Josh Kline, President & CEO
Secure Path Technology

Joe Laszlo, Director of Research
Interactive Advertising Bureau

As the IAB’s director of research Joe Laszlo plays a key role in driving the IAB’s thought leadership among members and across the industry at large.  Laszlo manages most major IAB research initiatives, provides guidance and advice for IAB members with research questions, and oversees the IAB’s Research Council.  Laszlo’s current projects include spearheading an ongoing IAB project to assess online video ad effectiveness.   

Laszlo began his IAB career in September, 2007, following an eight-year tenure as a research director at Jupiter Research.  During his time at Jupiter, Laszlo was widely acknowledged as an authority on numerous aspects of the technology and business of interactive media.  His research interests focused primarily on the consumer adoption of broadband and mobile data services, and the new applications that those forms of connectivity enable.  Laszlo’s research expertise on Internet business models encompasses the entire media value chain, including content creation, delivery, monetization, and the audience.

Laszlo previously worked as a consultant with Economics and Technology, Inc., a Boston-based research firm specializing in telecommunications and economic and regulatory policy issues. He holds an M.A. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and a B.A. in East Asian studies from Columbia University. He lives in New York City.

Melissa Lavigne, Executive Director
The Intelligence Group

Melissa Lavigne is Executive Director of The Intelligence Group.  As a leading expert on youth culture and trends, Melissa provides clients with a complete view of their consumer – how they are feeling now, what they will be looking for in the future, and what marketers should do in order to stay relevant in this constantly shifting consumer landscape.  She works on a variety of research and consulting projects with clients including Procter & Gamble, BBC Worldwide, Microsoft, HBO, Nike and Target, and heads The Intelligence Group’s monthly trend seminars, which immerse companies ranging from Reebok to Bank of America in the latest trends impacting Generations X, Y and Z.  

Melissa has extensive public speaking experience and presents at major industry conferences and marketing seminars, including Forbes Magazine’s Executive Women’s Conference, BBC’s Vision Forum, L’Oreal’s MDC North America Learning for Development Program, CTAM, and the Royal Television Society Forum.  She has been featured in publications including the New York Times, People StyleWatch, Brandweek, AdAge and Women’s Wear Daily, and has appeared as a trend and youth culture expert on the Food Network and The CW.    

Prior to joining The Intelligence Group, Melissa was the Director of a NYC fashion forecasting firm, and a merchant and youth culture expert for Urban Outfitters. 

Melissa is a graduate of Vanderbilt University where she earned a B.A. in Communication Studies.  She is currently pursuing her masters in trend research at New York University. 

The Intelligence Group is the leading research, consulting and trend analysis company specializing in understanding and interpreting the attitudes and behaviors of Gen X, Gen Y and Gen Z.  The Intelligence Group issues The Cassandra Report® and trendcentral®, and offers proprietary services including qualitative and quantitative research, brand consulting and trend analysis.  The Intelligence Group is a wholly owned division of Creative Artists Agency, a talent and literary agency representing artists working in film, television, theatre, video games and sports.   

David Leibowitz, Managing Director
CH Potomac

David E. Leibowitz is Managing Partner of CH POTOMAC, a strategic services firm that works with companies developing enhanced, innovative ways for consumers to enjoy and experience content, and to assure that proper business models are in place to monetize these offerings. Among other activities, Mr. Leibowitz serves as Executive Vice President of Gotuit Media, as a principal in The A&R Channel – a Comcast cable music oriented VOD service, Chairman of Sir Groovy – a music synchronization technology search and licensing platform, and as a senior advisor to Motorola, National Datacast and Musicane.  In recent years, Mr. Leibowitz served as Chairman of Ezmo, an independent online social music subsidiary of FAST Search and Transfer (now part of Microsoft), as a co-founder and Chairman of VERANCE, the preeminent audio watermark technology provider, and as an advisor to BMI, Gibson Guitar, Haystack Media, Peppercoin and others in the content and technology industries.

Earlier in his career, Leibowitz served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), as a partner in the Washington, D.C., law firm Wiley & Rein, representing a number of Fortune 100 media and entertainment companies, television personalities, and a major league professional baseball team; and as Policy Planning Advisor to the U.S. Register of Copyrights.

Al Lieberman, Executive Director, EMT Program
NYU Stern School of Business

Al Lieberman is the Clinical Associate Professor of Marketing Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Executive Director of the Entertainment Media and Technology Program at New York University’s Stern School of Business. In his current position, Professor Lieberman teaches several courses including in The Marketing of Entertainment Industries. Global Impact of Entertainment, The Business of Producing, Sports Marketing, and a Los Angeles based course called The Craft & Commerce of Cinema.

Professor Lieberman has been with NYU Stern for more than six years. His primary research areas of interest include film festivals and entertainment globalization. Before joining NYU Stern, Professor Lieberman served as the Executive Vice President of Young and Rubicam Direct Response Division and managed the advertising accounts of Fortune 500 companies. He then joined Simon and Schuster as World-Wide Director of Marketing and became Executive Vice President of the company’s Silhouette Books division. Professor Lieberman was also the founder and CEO of Grey Entertainment, an advertising and marketing company whose client roster included Warner Brothers Studios, ABC Entertainment, News American Corp., Harper Collins Publishers and a variety of theater and arts companies.

Professor Lieberman received his Bachelor of Science in labor relations from Cornell University and his master’s degree in marketing from NYU Stern.

Ronald London, Of Counsel
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Ronnie London represents clients regarding mass media, advertising and privacy and security matters. This includes advising clients such as broadcasters, cable networks and operators, advertisers and Internet companies in matters before the FCC, FTC and state and federal courts, and on general regulatory compliance. He also provides counsel and strategic advice on a broad range of litigation, administrative, enforcement and legislative matters related to communications, the media and all aspects of direct consumer contact by sellers of goods and services (including telemarketing, commercial faxing, voice broadcasting, text messaging, email and direct mail). Ronnie is the editor of Davis Wright Tremaine's Privacy and Security Law Blog, PrivSecBlog.com.

Ronnie's clients include: A&E Television Network, CBS, Active Response Group, Charter, Comcast, MTV Networks, Playboy, Showtime, SIRIUS XM Radio, Sundance, Varolii Corp., E!, HBO and The Los Angeles Times.

Stefanie Michaels A.K.A. Adventure Girl

Matt Murphy, SVP, Digital Video Distribution
Disney and ESPN Media Networks
 

Jack Myers, President
Myers Publishing LLC

Jack Myers works with media companies, agencies and marketers to develop and implement investment, business development and growth strategies.

 For more than two decades, Jack Myers has been among the media industry's leading visionaries and economic forecasters. He has advised more than 250 media companies, marketers and agencies on business transformation, revenue-development and organizational best practices. Jack invests in and works closely with emerging companies to enhance the value of their brands, develop marketing strategies, expand their organizations and connect with relevant business opportunities. Jack consults with leading traditional media companies to develop and implement Media 2.0 monetization models.   

Jack is the only industry analyst to have accurately predicted – more than 15-years ago – the media industry's current economic transformation and he has been outspoken in advocating new business models for what he calls The Relationship Age™, when society and business will shift from Industrial Age mass production, mass marketing and mass media to targeted, interpersonal communications. His 1998 book, Reconnecting with Customers: Building Brands and Profits in The Relationship Age, is recognized as a leading edge primer that anticipated today's dramatic industry transformation.  

The Jack Myers Media Business Report, published exclusively for corporate subscribers, has provided economic insights and proprietary research on industry trends for more than 20 years. His 1993 book, Adbashing: Surviving the Attacks on Advertising, was prescient in its long-term perspective on media and advertising industry challenges and growth opportunities. His third book, Virtual Worlds: Rewiring Your Emotional Future, was published in 2007 and focuses on the growing influence of social networks.

Jack established his leadership reputation in the early 1980s at CBS Television, where as Director of Marketing and Business Development he successfully built the television industry's first multi-platform integrated marketing initiative and unsuccessfully advocated that CBS invest aggressively in the infant cable television industry. He began his career with the out-of-home division of Metromedia and was a sales executive at ABC-FM Radio.  

In 1995, Jack was asked by President and Mrs. Clinton to lead a delegation of advertising executives to the White House Conference on Children's Educational Television. He is the recipient of the George Foster Peabody Award for journalism, won the Crystal Heart Award from the Heartland Film Festival, and has been nominated for both an Academy and Emmy Award for the documentary Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream. He has co-produced six broadcast network primetime specials with advertiser funding support. Jack is a Board Member Emeritus of the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, served on the Advisory Board for the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development at New York University, is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and serves on the boards of several charitable organizations.

As Director of Service Provider Video Marketing at Cisco, Murali Nemani has global responsibility for marketing video & connected home solutions into telecommunications, cable and satellite/broadcaster markets. Prior to joining Cisco Murali was at Alcatel, where he focused on strategy development for the multimedia applications division targeting high-growth segments, including advanced advertising and content sharing/distribution. He also led Alcatel's global Triple Play & IPTV marketing program, helping Alcatel establish a billion dollar revenue engine. Murali holds an MBA from Michigan State and a B.Sc. in Electrical & Computer Engineering from University of South Carolina He was named to the Multichannel News 2009 ‘40 Under 40’ list of movers and shakers who are helping their companies succeed and map the future of cable and telecommunications.

Mr. Oxenford’s practice focuses on media issues, representing broadcast stations, financial institutions, consulting firms, program providers, trade associations, and others involved in the industry. His practice involves both transactional and regulatory matters, including counseling clients on issues relating to the Internet. He represents the International Webcasters Association, and represented 29 State Broadcast Associations in filing comments before the Copyright Office on the issue of the applicability of Digital Millennium Copyright Act to broadcasters who stream their signals.

He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary, and received his law degree, with distinction, from Emory University.

Mark Pascarella, President & CEO
Gotuit Media Corp.

Mark Pascarella is President & CEO of Gotuit Media Corp.  As one of Gotuit's founding investors, Mark has been a member of the company's Board of Directors since inception and joined Gotuit full-time in 2001. Under Pascarella's direction, Gotuit has pioneered video discovery / monetization and has become the leading provider of next-generation video products for multiple platforms including broadband, mobile, and cable. 

Before joining Gotuit, Pascarella teamed up with Sidney Topol, the former Chairman and CEO of Scientific-Atlanta (Cisco), to found The Topol Group, an early-stage investment firm. In addition to Gotuit, The Topol Group's investments include broadband router manufacturer RiverDelta Networks (Motorola), cable services provider Navic Networks, and VoIP switch maker Cedar Point Communications.  From 1992 to 1997, Pascarella worked in Business Development at Procter & Gamble.  

He holds a BS in Management from Bucknell University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Shelly Palmer, Host, MediaBytes
Author, "Television Disrupted"

The business and technology of television is changing at an ever increasing pace. Shelly Palmer, Managing Director, Advanced Media Ventures Group, LLC is one of the experts leading the industry’s rapid evolution. From developing advanced television services to implementing new Internet technologies, Palmer’s pioneering efforts have made him the successful creator, producer, composer and television Renaissance man he is today. 

Palmer is the President of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, NY (the organization that bestows the coveted Emmy® Awards). He is the Vice-Chairman of the National Academy of Media Arts & Sciences an organization dedicated to education and leadership in the areas of technology, media and entertainment. Palmer also oversees the Advanced Media Technology Emmy® Awards which honor outstanding achievements in the science and technology of advanced media.

Along with his contributions to the advancement of television, Palmer is a pioneer in the field of Internet technologies. He is the inventor of Enhanced Television used by programs such as ABC’s Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and Monday Night Football. In 2004, ABC's Celebrity Mole Yucatan received an Emmy® Award in the category of Enhancement of Original Television Content. It was Palmer who led ABC’s team of advanced media professionals and spearheaded the award-winning project.

Palmer is a popular speaker and moderator at technology and media conferences hosted by industry organizations and top tier colleges and universities, like: The Consumer Electronics Show (CES), The National Association of Broadcasters Convention (NAB), The National Show presented by the National Cable Television Association (NCTA), Telecom presented by the United States Telecom Association, Digital Hollywood, iHollywood, DV Expo and ITV Europe. He is a guest lecturer at the MIT Media Lab, Stern Graduate Business School at NYU, The Columbia Institute for Tele-Information (CITI) at Columbia University, The Graziadio School of Business Management at Pepperdine University, The Digital Content Lab at the American Film Institute and other top tier colleges and universities.

Over the last two decades, Palmer has enjoyed a highly distinguished career as a composer and producer. His professional vitae includes years of experience in television production and musical composition. He created and produced HotPop, a teen lifestyle and music show airing on Starz/Encore’s WAM! As a prolific composer, Palmer was the recipient of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP's) 12^th Annual Film and Television Music Award for ABC’s hit series Spin City. He was also recognized the following season in the category of “Most Performed Television Themes.” Palmer's music credits include the theme songs for Live with Regis & Kelly, Rivera Live and MSNBC as well as the digital debut of the "real" cat singing the classic “Meow, Meow, Meow, Meow.”

Palmer is the host of Media 3.0 with Shelly Palmer a weekly business news series. A graduate of New York University’s School of the Arts, he is the author of one of the most popular television business news blogs, www.Media30.com, a weekly columnist for the Jack Myers Report, The Huffington Post and a technology commentator for CNN.com. His book Television Disrupted: The Transition from Network to Networked TV(www.televisiondisrupted.com) about the technological, economic, and sociological forces that impact the future of television, media and entertainment is is available on www.amazon.com.

Jean-Briac (JB) Perrette, President, Digital Distribution
NBC Universal

Jean-Briac (JB) Perrette was named president of NBC Universal Digital Distribution in December 2006. Perrette oversees the distribution of digital products across multiple platforms, including on-demand, interactive television, broadband, wireless, and IPTV. He is the primary lead for NBC Universal’s television content distribution with internet portals, wireless carriers, emerging digital companies, and nontraditional customers. Perrette reports to George Kliavkoff, chief digital officer of NBC Universal and Jeff Gaspin, President of NBC Universal Cable.

In addition, Perrette leads strategic partnerships and has executive responsibility for NBC Universal’s investments in properties such as A&E Networks, Sundance Channel, ShopNBC and NBC Weather Plus.

Under Perrette’s leadership, the NBCU Digital Distribution team has lead the industry in making content available on emerging platforms. Most recently, Perrette was instrumental in the creation of a new broadband video joint venture between NBCU and News Corp to distribute content ubiquitously on the internet, starting with 4 distribution partners: Yahoo!, MySpace, AOL, and MSN. The Digital Distribution team has also secured a series of “firsts,” including: the first VOD film offering on a peer-to-peer service; the first film and primetime TV on-demand offering on mobile devices; and the first 24/7 broadcast channels on mobile phones. In addition, the team led the launch of three new multi-platform channels (linear channel, on-demand, and on broadband) - Universal HD, Sleuth and Chiller.

Previously, Perrette had served as senior vice president, New Media Distribution, where he led the company’s development of new content distribution businesses with a focus on on-demand and interactive television. He was also chief financial officer of NBC Universal Cable, with responsibility for the group’s financial operations.

As part of NBC’s acquisition of Vivendi Universal Entertainment in 2004, Perrette led the integration of NBC and Universal’s cable divisions, creating one of the broadest, most profitable, and fastest growing television groups. He also served as chief financial officer of Bravo in 2003, following his lead role in NBC’s acquisition of the network from Cablevision.

In his prior role at NBC, Perrette was vice president of Business Development and was instrumental in completing over $1.5 billion in acquisitions; most importantly of Bravo and San Francisco station KNTV. He also negotiated and executed several JVs and partnerships for CNBC International as part of its global strategy.

Before joining NBC, Perrette worked for GE Capital, and was an analyst with CS First Boston in London and Tokyo. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in public policy from Hamilton College. Perrette lives in New York City with his wife, Amy.

Juliette Powell, Author, Entrepreneur, Integrated Media Specialist / Co-Founder
The Gathering Think Tank

Juliette Powell is an integrated media specialist, a community catalyst and the author of 33 Million People in the Room : How to Create, Influence and Run a Successful Business with Social Networking, (Financial Times Press, 2009). Drawing on first hand experience helping to produce the world-renowned TED Conferences, Powell co-founded The Gathering Think Tank, an innovation forum that connects technology, media, entertainment, and business communities.
Powell's consulting services have been employed by corporate, government and new media organizations, including Microsoft, the United Nations, Research in Motion, the Department of Justice and Nokia. A popular keynote speaker, Powell has been featured at Harvard, NYU and MIT's Innovation Forum.

Frank Rose, Contributing Editor
Wired

Frank Rose has been a contributing editor at Wired since 1999, writing about such topics as the Year Zero alternate reality game, Sony’s gamble on the PlayStation 3, and the rise of Philip K. Dick in Hollywood. In the past he has worked as a contributing writer at Fortune and Premiere and as a contributing editor at Travel + Leisure and Esquire. His writing has also appeared in New York, The New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, and Vanity Fair. His 1989 best-seller West of Eden: The End of Innocence at Apple Computer, about the power struggle that resulted in Steve Jobs being expelled from the company, is being republished next month in an updated edition. He is currently working on a book about the future of narrative in the Internet age and posting on the same subject at his Deep Media blog. He lives in the East Village of Manhattan, where he got his start covering the punk scene at CBGB for The Village Voice..

Kurt Scherf, VP & Principal Analyst
Parks Associates

Kurt Scherf studies developments in home networks, residential gateways, digital entertainment, technology development in the housing market, and residential and building management and controls. Kurt is the sole author or contributing author/analyst to more than 30 research reports and studies produced by Parks Associates since 1998.

Kurt joined Parks Associates following a career in political research and multi-tenant dwelling management. He earned his BA from The University of Iowa.

INDUSTRY EXPERTISE: Home Networks & Residential Gateways, Home Networking Media (Wi-Fi, UWB, HomePlug, HomePNA, MoCA, etc.), Media Center PCs, Set-top Boxes, Consumer Storage, Media Server Hardware and Software, Consumers and Digital Entertainment, IPTV, Internet Television and Web Video, Digital Home Customer Support Issues.

Evan Shapiro, President
IFC tv and Sundance Channel

As president of IFC tv and Sundance Channel, Evan Shapiro oversees the strategic development, management and operation of The Independent Film Channel (IFC) and Sundance Channel, television’s premier independent film networks.  Mr. Shapiro was named to this post in June 2008.  Since then, he has had a tremendous impact on both networks, strategically evolving the brands in response to the rapidly changing programming delivery technologies, industry trends and issues critical to their audiences. 

In this role, Mr. Shapiro oversees the strategic direction of IFC and Sundance Channel’s programming, including original productions and acquisitions.  He also serves as executive producer on a number of originals, including the critically-acclaimed documentary mini-series Brick City for Sundance Channel, and IFC’s musical mini-series event Bollywood Hero starring Chris Kattan.  In 2009, Mr. Shapiro created Indienomics, a new advertising platform that served as the foundation of IFC and Sundance Channel’s first-ever joint Upfront and demonstrated the networks’ complimentary value to the advertising community.  As part of this effort, Mr. Shapiro formed a unified sales force to oversee the two networks’ branded entertainment sponsorship efforts.  IFC’s sponsorship deals have included partnerships with Absolut®, Red Bull®, Heineken® and Target, while Sundance Channel’s partners have included Brita®, Green Works®, Stella Artois® and Ferrero Rocher®. 

Prior to this role, Mr. Shapiro served for three years as executive vice president and general manager of IFC.  During his tenure, IFC produced a number of thought-provoking and acclaimed original series, specials and documentaries, including This Film Is Not Yet Rated, which prompted the MPAA to discuss making changes to its film ratings process.  IFC grew dramatically in scope and magnitude under Mr. Shapiro’s guidance.  In 2008, IFC launched its first On Demand offering, IFC Free, and the network became available in high-definition.  Mr. Shapiro broke new ground in 2007 by bringing R. Kelly’s Trapped in the Closet, a landmark “hip-hopera,” to IFC.com.  Called “the cultural event of the year” by New York magazine, Trapped in the Closet also served as the catalyst for driving a record number of visitors to IFC.com, which Mr. Shapiro remolded into a “second network” with extensive original content.  Mr. Shapiro joined IFC in 2004 as senior vice president of marketing and in this role he launched some of IFC’s largest-ever marketing campaigns, including Film Fanatic Fridays and Pulp Month. 

The industry honors bestowed upon IFC and Sundance Channel during Mr. Shapiro’s tenure include: BrandWeek Brand Builder (2005), two CableFAX Program Awards (2009), a CableFAXIES Award (2009), a Myers Media Innovation & Creativity Award (2006), a gold Reggie Award (2006), two silver Mark Awards (2006 and 2007), a Peabody Award – one of the most prestigious awards in electronic media (2006), seventeen PROMAX|BDA Awards (2007, 2008 and 2009), and a Web Marketing Association Web Award (2009). 

Prior to joining IFC, Mr. Shapiro served as senior vice president of marketing for Court TV, where his campaigns for “Forensic Files” garnered several top awards.  In 1996, Mr. Shapiro formed a marketing agency called FourFront, which he ran until joining Court TV.  With clients such as HBO, Court TV, A&E, Microsoft and Universal Pictures, he developed marketing campaigns, events and guerrilla strategies for some of the world's top brands.  He was also integrally involved with the creation of countless Broadway enterprises such as The Lion King, Rent, Chicago, Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk and Freak.  Before FourFront, Mr. Shapiro got his first major career lift as the director of marketing for the Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival, where he re-launched the venerable theater's brand after 40 years and developed a new look and image for Shakespeare in the Park (FREE WILL!) and Noise/Funk. 

Mr. Shapiro serves as chairman of the board for Ghetto Film School, the only youth-media non-profit in the country that specializes in providing young people of color with first-person access to the film industry, and serves on the board of New York Women in Cable Telecommunications (NYWICT).  He is a member of the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM), the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and PROMAX.  Mr. Shapiro served for four years as an adjunct professor of marketing at NYU and lectures for Columbia Business School, Stern School of Business, Fordham University and other business and marketing schools nationwide.

Ned Sherman, CEO & Publisher
Digital Media Wire

As CEO, Publisher and Executive Editor of Digital Media Wire, Inc., Ned Sherman works at the center of the rapidly growing digital media industry, where he brokers relationships and keeps a tab on the most important developments shaping the industry. According to the Wall Street Journal, "Publisher Ned Sherman is more than the average pundit: He is an attorney and has an inside grasp of what is happening."

Ned has established Digital Media Wire as a leading online media company that provides daily news, information and community to tens of thousands of executives and professionals at entertainment, media and technology companies throughout the world and owns and produces nine annual conferences. The advertising, sponsorship, client, partner and subscriber relationships that Ned has brokered make Digital Media Wire one of the best known media and entertainment industry brands to emerge in the digital age.

Ned is a frequent speaker at industry events in the U.S. and overseas and has been quoted in publications including American Lawyer, The Los Angeles Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard and Crain's Mermigas on Media, interviewed and featured on C-SPAN, National Public Radio (NPR), NY1 Evening News and nationally syndicated radio shows, Inside Digital Media and WebTalk, and recognized in the Wall Street Journal.

Before co-founding Digital Media Wire, Ned spent seven years as a corporate and entertainment attorney practicing at several of the leading law firms in the world.

Ned is active in alumni affairs for Brown University and is currently Los Angeles Chair for Brown University's Alumni Interview Program. He has traveled extensively from Europe to Asia to South America to Northern Africa. Ned is married and lives with his wife, son and daughter in Los Angeles, California.

Brian Steinberg, TV Editor
Ad Age

Brian covers the big broadcast television networks and also looks at changes in the world of TV advertising. He particularly enjoys stories that have a pop-culture element to them, but that doesn't preclude him from being open to all topics. Use email or phone to contact.

Georg Szalai, NY Bureau Chief & Business Editor
The Hollywood ReporterG

Georg Szalai is the NY bureau chief and business editor at The Hollywood Reporter. In those roles, he oversees all business and financial news coverage at the publication and is its NY industry liaison. He joined THR as a business reporter in Oct. 2001.

Previously, Georg served as media/entertainment/advertising industry reporter for BridgeNews, a financial news wire service.

Georg has covered such industry stories as the AOL-Time Warner merger, the Napster case and the Adelphia bankruptcy.

Georg is a native of Vienna, Austria. He has appeared as an industry expert and commentator on CNBC, Fox News, CNN, the BBC, Bloomberg TV, NPR, AP Radio and other media outlets.

Robert Tercek, President, Digital Media
Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN)

Robert Tercek was named President, Digital Media for OWN in October 2008.  Tercek oversees the multimedia ventures for OWN and Oprah.com and, as such, is responsible for leading the team that creates and markets multi-platform opportunities for OWN and Oprah.com content. With a strong background in social media, he is charged with spearheading initiatives to build a significant social media presence for the brands.

A seasoned media executive, Mr. Tercek's experience spans two decades in creating and marketing content on all digital distribution platforms, including cable, broadband, game consoles, and mobile.  Since 2006, he has headed his own company, Multimedia Networks, Inc.  Headquartered in Los Angeles, Multimedia launched the social startup media ventures Comedy.com and PeopleJam.com.  Both ventures were driven from conception through venture financing to successful launches under Mr. Tercek's leadership.

Prior to forming Multimedia Networks, Mr. Tercek served as Chief Marketing Officer for M Forma Group, one of the world's largest publishers of entertainment for mobile phones.  There, he oversaw content programming and marketing strategies, forming key partnerships with Paramount, Universal, Atari, Activision, Hasbro, CBS Sportsline, and Marvel Comics, among others.  Before that, he served as President of the Applications and Services Division of Packetvideo Corporation, the first company to provide multimedia in mobile networks.

Mr. Tercek's cable career began as Creative Director at MTV, where he led the groundbreaking pop culture network's on-air creative department.  He moved into online programming as Senior Vice President of Digital Media at Sony Pictures Entertainment, where he launched more than twenty online properties, including interactive versions of the top-rated syndicated programs Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Williams College. 

Mr. Tercek is based in Los Angeles, but he spends much of his time in Chicago.

Daniel Tibbets, Executive Vice President
GoTV Networks

As Executive Vice President and Studio Chief at GoTV Networks, Tibbets brings over  15 years of  entertainment programming and producing to GoTV Networks.  Tibbets oversees all programming, development and licensing of video content for mobile and broadband, as well as new distribution models.

 Prior to GoTV, Tibbets held the position of Vice President at Twentieth Television, and ran FOXLAB, Inc. While at Fox, Tibbets developed the first convergence program to air on broadcast television and is credited with the development of the "mobisode™" including executive producing the first two original content mobisodes™ Love and Hate and Sunset Hotel (winner of the Golden Eagle Award for Excellence) which launched on Verizon's VCAST in February 2005.  

 From his work at Papazian-Hirsch/Rysher Entertainment Tibbets is credited with the development and sale of the HBO series “ROME” and television films A Mother’s Testimony and Determination Of Death for Lifetime and Face Value for Court TV.

 Early in his career Tibbets served as a writer and producer on a number of notable television programs and specials including the Emmy Award winning Streetwise, World Champions of Golf and BuzzTV, and the BBC/PBS mini-series Signs and Wonders starring James Earl Jones.

Tibbets has produced and/or contributed to the production and development of other award-winning, made for television series, including: Martha Stewart Living, Bob Vila, Pensacola: Wings of Gold, Psi Factor - Chronicles of the Paranormal, News for Kids, The Extremists, George Michael’s Sports Machine, America’s Most Wanted, Good Day Live, Divorce Court, and many others.

 Tibbets has a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing with an emphasis in International Marketing and business from Arizona State University. Tibbets is on the Board of Advisory for e-card site rattlebox.com.

Dave Ulmer, Senior Director, Entertainment Products
Motorola Media Solutions

Dave Ulmer is Motorola’s Sr. Director, Entertainment Products, defining and promoting seamlessly mobile media devices and experiences. A digital media pioneer, Dave has held a variety of executive roles with wireless, hardware, and software companies, including running the world’s leading CD-Recording software company and initiating its spinout as the original founder of Roxio and Napster. Dave serves as board director and vice-chairman of the Mobile Entertainment Forum and has a long history of championing and chaperoning leading edge products into mainstream consumer markets.

John Watson, Executive Director, Business Development
AT&T Digital Media Solution

John Watson is responsible for Business Development and Market Development for AT&T’s Digital Media Solutions, encompassing its Content Delivery, Content Management and Digital Signage services.  In this role he is responsible for identifying and developing go-to market propositions  that integrate partner and AT&T products, solutions and services that provide ongoing business value for customers. 

Prior to joining AT&T Mr Watson was Vice-President of Business Development in the Content Markets group at Level 3 and was responsible for building relationships and positioning Level 3’s content markets services within major Media organizations. 

Mr Watson did two stints at IMG, the worlds largest sports, media and lifestyle marketing company and most recently was responsible for the international sales and marketing of IMG Media’s Internet and Broadband platform products. With over 10 years experience in the Online industry, John is tasked with using leading edge new media to enhance the online offerings of new and existing clients including ManUtd, Arsenal and The European Tour. 

Prior to rejoining IMG Media, John was the Executive Vice President responsible for sales and marketing at Nine Systems, a San Diego based streaming services company where he built a team that more than doubled revenue in 12 months helping attract clients including Warner Music, the NBA and the NHL.  

In his earlier stint at IMG Media, John served as a Vice-President of Business Development leading various strategic initiatives with organisations such as HP and MCI, to whom he oversaw the divestment of the Interactive Content Factory software business. He joined IMG Media initially as  Vice–President of Hosting Operations and built the hosting group to service the web hosting, broadband, WAP, SMS, and MMS requirements of its roster of over 50 high-profile clients on four continents including the European PGA tour, Manchester United, O2, the Open Championship, Tiger Woods, and Wimbledon. 

John has also held various business development and product management roles at PSINet where he was instrumental in launching the managed web hosting business while building revenue and enhancing partnerships.  

John holds a BA from the University of Kent at Canterbury and an MBA from the College of William and Mary where he graduated first in his class.

Jacqueline Weiss, Co-Founder & CEO
National Datacast (PBS)

Jacqueline Weiss co-founded National Datacast, Inc. in 1988, serving as its first General Manager and Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Weiss became Chief Executive Officer in 1991 and is responsible for the strategic direction, planning, and overall management of the company. Joining PBS in 1978, she has held a number of legal and business management posts including Deputy General Counsel from 1982 to 1988. Ms. Weiss headed the public television system satellite replacement project in the late 80's and was responsible for launching in the mid-90's the nationwide Ready To Learn Service on PBS, integrating children's television programming, interstitial material, and outreach services to help early learners develop the skills they need to succeed in school and in life. She also served as the CEO of PBS Enterprises for 15 years. Prior to joining PBS, Ms. Weiss held various media positions with prominent advertising agencies in New York and Miami.

Phil Wiser, Co-Founder, Chairman & President
Sezmi
 

Pam Zucker, EVP, Marketplace Ignition
MediaVest

A 19-year MediaVest veteran, Pam Zucker, EVP, Marketplace Ignition, oversees the development of new business models for the evolving broadcast media landscape. She also leads MediaVest’s Advanced Television discipline, which includes platforms such as video-on-demand, digital video recording, interactive program guides, navigation, addressable advertising and interactive/enhanced television. In 2007, she became a member of MediaVest’s Executive Team. Pam focuses on the development of new broadband and broadcasting models. Her work includes the creation of the Viewer Connection Index, which taps variables like clutter to deliver an empirical engagement metric, and CW Content Wraps, which boast a 100% audience retention rate from program to content (Nielsen). An active industry spokesperson, in 2008, Advertising Women of New York honored Pam with its “Changing the Game” recognition for spurring real change in the industry. In 2004, Pam was named Television Week Media Buyer of the Year. Throughout her career, Pam has exemplified leadership and the ability to provide innovative solutions in the broadcast marketplace for clients including P&G, Masterfoods and Coca-Cola. In the early 90s, Pam experienced a new media frontier first-hand, taking a MediaVest position in Russia, which only started permitting television advertising in 1993. Prior to her current role, Pam was the AOR Director of the Broadcast Investment team on P&G.