Future of Television Logo
Hosted By:Digital Media Wire blank
March 25, 2010 - Los Angeles

Future of Television Registration Button
REGISTER BY PHONE:
Tel. 310-855-0033 ext. 0


The Roosevelt Hotel

7000 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA

SPEAKER SUBMISSIONS
Submit Speaker

Sponsorship Info



2009 Sponsors

Macrovision
 
Move Networks Inc.
 
Parks Associates
CES

Media Partners

 
 
 
 
New York - Tokyo
 

Produced by

Digital Media Wire, Inc.
8721 W. Sunset Blvd. Suite P8
Los Angeles, CA 90069
Tel. 310-855-0033

Sponsorship Inquiries:
Tinzar Than Sherman
tinzar@digitalmediawire.com
Tel. 310-855-0033 ext 2
OR
Jay Baage
Jay@digitalmediawire.com
Tel. 310-855-0033

Press Inquiries:
Nadia Saalabi
nadia@terpin.com
OR
Ellen Gildersleeve
ellen@digitalmediawire.com
Tel. 310-855-0033


For the past 8 years, Digital Media Wire has been a leader in digital media and entertainment news, community and events covering daily developments at our industry leading news site and producing the industry's most prestigious events in New York City and Los Angeles.

"D
MW is a hub of information about digital media, though not a hometown cheerleader for Hollywood (L.A. is a company town and most of its news outlets treat it that way). A wire service for digital media, DMW provides the top stories of the day, breaks news, and puts everything in context. Publisher Ned Sherman is more than the average pundit: He is an attorney and has an inside grasp of what is happening. The site also hosts first-rate conferences and has the best job board in new media. It is without fear or favor regarding news and catches the news that others miss."
--
The Wall Street Journal
(March 26, 2007)

To receive updates and announcements about our events, please join our event list here:



 

2009 Speakers included:

Tom Adams, President
Adams Media Research

Tom Adams, founder of Adams Media Research, has been widely acknowledged as a leading authority on the U.S. home entertainment markets. Tom developed the analytical models and databases AMR’s analysts use to provide actionable intelligence to content producers, network providers, technology innovators and investors. Tom founded AMR in 1993, after six years as senior analyst at Paul Kagan Associates, and merged AMR with Screen Digest, Ltd. in London in November, 2007. The companies’ staff of 40-plus U.K.- and U.S.-based analysts collaborate on Global Media Intelligence, an online database service providing research ton institutional investors on worldwide media markets and companies.
 

Alex Barkaloff, Executive Producer, Digital Media
Lionsgate

As Executive Producer for Digital Media at Lionsgate, Alex Barkaloff is responsible for developing high-impact mobile entertainment, applications, games and communities from the company’s 12,000 film library and hit TV shows as Weeds, Mad Men, Crash and Fear Itself. Additionally, he oversees original digital productions, especially those that can be cross-developed for filmed entertainment and TV. Prior to Lionsgate, Alex created media-based mobile applications for musical artists, graphic novels and dramatic, horror and comedy projects with such companies as UCP Morgen/qPass, Nellymoser, and mobile operators including T-Mobile, Telefonica, Belgacom, Era Poland and handset makers including Nokia. An entrepreneur and venture capitalist, Alex founded GlobalNet Ventures in San Francisco in 1998 and ArtistOne, an online digital music distributor. His enterprise experience ranges from Oracle to PSION (UK) to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory/NASA.
 

Christopher Barry, SVP, Digital Media and Business Strategy
Sundance Channel

Christopher Barry is Senior Vice President, Digital Media and Business Strategy for Sundance Channel. Christopher's responsibilities include overseeing the Network's website, including content strategy, sponsorship integration, original video production and creative design.
Christopher also manages all third-party partnerships and is charged with extending Sundance Channel's content to mobile and electronic sell-through platforms. Christopher recently led the Network's digital activity on YouTube, Yahoo, iTunes, Verizon's VCast, Hulu and Second Life. In 2008 sundancechannel.com more than doubled the site's monthly unique visitors, doubled site pageviews and tripled the site's video views. Under his direction the digital group has received numerous accolades including 2008 Webby Nominations, 2008 Webby Honoree Designations, 2009 Global Media Award Nominations (CES) and several Interactive Media Awards.

Prior to joining Sundance Channel in 2003, Christopher was a Vice President in Morgan Stanley's Investment Banking division (Media and Communications Corporate Finance Group). Christopher also worked as a Financial Consultant with Arthur Andersen in Chicago.

Christopher earned his MBA from Columbia Business School with Beta Gamma Sigma honors along with a Master of International Affairs from Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame and is a Certified Public Accountant.
 

Jonathan Barzilay, SVP, Programming and Advertising
MediaFLO USA

Jonathan Barzilay is senior vice president of programming and advertising for MediaFLO USA, a wholly owned-subsidiary of Qualcomm, Inc. He is responsible for leading MediaFLO USA’s business in the areas of programming strategy, content acquisition and development, production, advertising, and consumer research. Based in MediaFLO USA’s Los Angeles office, he is also responsible for managing relationships with content partners and the creative community.

Prior to joining MediaFLO USA, Barzilay served as senior vice president and general manager of entertainment for CBS Interactive. In that role, he oversaw the online entertainment business for CBS, including the CBS.com and StarTrek.com websites.

Previously, Barzilay served as senior vice president of Disney/ABC Cable Networks, and general manager of Toon Disney and ABC Kids. In that role, he oversaw all operations at both Toon Disney, a cable network, and ABC Kids, the children’s programming lineup on ABC-TV. During the course of his 15-year career at Disney/ABC, he held numerous management posts, including vice president and general manager, ABC Children’s Programming, and vice president, ABC Television Network Group. As a member of ABC’s legal department, he counseled ABC News and ABC Broadcasting on legal and regulatory matters.

He began his career as an attorney in private practice in New York, focusing on entertainment law and First Amendment matters. Barzilay is a graduate of Harvard College and Columbia Law School.

Mike Bennett, Founder & CEO
Oil Productions (creator, Routes, Channel 4, UK)


Mike has 15 years experience in the digital market, pioneering digital agencies and content businesses (Sunbather, Emptyspace / HaHaBonk, Oil) and providing creative leadership (BAFTA, D&AD, MILIA Palm D'or).

Mike has run and owned various businesses in the UK including Sunbather Ltd, a multidiscipline creative agency that was later acquired by Razorfish, as part of its global expansion. He also founded and raised significant funding in Emptyspace, a digital content business, that then developed into HaHaBonk, a pioneer in online comedy and content.

Oil Productions Ltd specialises in the creation of Interactive Drama and Entertainment. Mike Bennett's role at Oil kicks off at format conception, when he works together with a trusted network of contributors to develop an idea. His core belief is great story telling, which lies at the heart of each concept. Oil's first commission, with Channel 4, launched in January 2009 and is an Interactive thriller named Routes. An innovative blend of fact and fiction, drama and documentary, Routes is an exploration of genetics and bio-ethics that uses a variety of platforms to engage a young audience.
 

Eric Berger, SVP, Mobile Entertainment & Digital Networks
Sony Pictures Television

Eric Berger is the senior vice president of digital networks at Sony Pictures Television where he oversees Crackle, Sony Pictures Entertainment’s online video network.

In this position, Berger supervises content development and programming, marketing and distribution for Crackle. Berger also manages the day to day operations of the digital networks group. These responsibilities include the programming and distribution functions for multi-platform channels including The Minisode Network; the Vault, SPT's television library channel; and PIX, SPT’s movie channel.

Berger joined the company in 2006 as vice president, mobile entertainment. He guided SPT’s mobile games division from 17th to 5th place in the market, and he successfully launched video services on all available mobile operators including Verizon, Sprint and AT&T.

Prior to Sony, Berger was Vice President of Strategic Planning at Time Warner Inc. (AOL, HBO,Turner Broadcasting, Time Inc., Time Warner Cable, and Warner Bros.) where he was responsible for wireless initiatives and the creation of new digital growth businesses. His efforts included shaping the company’s overall mobile strategy, including driving investment, acquisition and business development.
 

Mitch Berman, CEO & Founder
ZillionTV

Mitchell Berman’s 25 years of executive management and entrepreneurial leadership in multimedia entertainment and technology includes a combination of powerhouse television brands and rising television technology start-ups.  Under his global leadership, Mitch has spearheaded the launch of consumer entertainment services spanning cable, DBS, IPTV, Broadband, P2P, VoIP, wireless, interactive television, video-on-demand (VOD) and digital advertising insertion. 

Prior to joining ZillionTV, Mitch was corporate vice president of global marketing for C-COR (acquired by ARRIS in December 2007; NASDAQ: ARRS), where he led the company’s successful repositioning and marketing strategy for its video-on-demand, digital advertising insertion, optical transport and operations support software products. 

Prior to C-COR, Mitch served as senior vice president of worldwide marketing and operations for interactive television middleware start-up OpenTV, Inc. (NASDAQ: OPTV), and helped the company navigate a highly successful IPO in 1999.  His efforts have led to software deployments in more than 100 million digital set-top boxes in 96 countries to date, including BSKYB and DISH Network. 

Mitch also served as senior vice president of strategic business development at start-up Galaxy Media/East Coast Pay TV Ltd. (FOXTEL), Australia’s first and largest multi-channel pay TV network operator.  In this position, Mitch launched: XYZ Entertainment, a television production company of four, 24-hour entertainment TV channels; and, sister company Satellite Music Australia, a digital satellite music service for businesses.  Mitch also served as marketing director for the start-up of Sky Network Television New Zealand, New Zealand’s first and largest multi-channel pay TV network operator.  Mitch honed his start-up skills as vice president of affiliate sales for then start-up E! Entertainment Television, and as regional manager of affiliate operations at Home Box Office, Inc. (HBO/Cinemax), where he was awarded the company’s highest distinction for “Marketing Excellence.” 

In all of these positions, Mitch successfully blended strategy with innovation to achieve increased market penetration that led to millions of new subscribers and multi-million dollar annual revenues. 

Known for his warm and engaging style, Mitch is a respected and frequently requested speaker/moderator at global industry events such as Digital Hollywood, iTVT’s “TV Of Tomorrow Show,” NAB, IBC and CTAM Europe.   

Mitch holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of California at Los Angeles.  While Mitch’s current television favorites include HBO’s John Adams mini-series and Entourage, his real television passion is sports, especially UCLA basketball.

Bill Bradford, SVP & Chief Product Officer Fox Digital Media
Fox Entertainment Group

Bill Bradford is SVP, Chief Product Officer for Fox Digital Media Broadband Channels Group. He is responsible for leading the product, design, and technology strategy and implementation for Fox Networks Group digital media media properties. He is also Senior Vice President, Content Strategy for Fox Broadcasting. In this role Mr. Bradford is responsible for overseeing the Fox Broadcasting online and digital strategy. 
 
Before coming to Fox Entertainment, Mr. Bradford, served as Vice President, Product Management for Yahoo! Studios, where he drove the production of original content entertainment websites – combining the best of proven offline media formats with the best of Internet technology to produce a new type of integrated consumer experience. 
 
Throughout his tenure at Yahoo!, Mr. Bradford also served as Vice President of Cross-Media Products. In that role he was responsible for working across multiple business units to develop cross-platform Internet products. 
 
Prior to Yahoo!, Mr. Bradford was at America Online, serving in various consumer product leadership capacities including Shopping and Search. He also spent four years at Oracle Corporation as a consultant responsible for spearheading large-scale business systems implementations. 
 
Mr. Bradford started his professional career as an officer in the United States Army, serving as a Transportation Officer in Germany. After active duty, he served 7 1/2 years as a Captain in the U.S. Army Reserves. 
 
Mr. Bradford graduated with a B.S. in Economics from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1993 and earned an M.S. in Operations Research from George Washington University in 1999.
 

Scott Brovsky, President
Brovsky Capital

Scott is an accomplished marketing executive in the video game industry with experience launching, building and managing major franchises such as Turok, Kingdom Hearts and Medal of Honor for leading entertainment companies like Disney, Electronic Arts and Take-Two Interactive. Scott has also been involved in Internet start-ups and new media companies such as Stan Lee Media as an entrepreneur and executive since 1997.

Scott left Disney in the Spring of 2008 to form Brovsky Capital and apply his experience in new IP evaluation and brand/franchise building to invest in and help bring downloadable video games to market across all major digital distribution channels; iPhone, Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, Nintendo WiiWare, and Steam on the PC. Scott works to identify and build relationships with top independent global developers and introduce promising new IP to publishing partners. Brovsky Capital co-funded the iPhone puzzle game HydroTilt with publisher partner Publisher X which launched in December 2008. The game reviewed well, garnered Apple support and spent 3 weeks in the Top 50 games on the App Store. Additionally, Brovsky Capital and Publisher X have co-funded a free level editor expansion pack that will leverage user generated content and create a community around the HydroTilt brand for a global re- launch in April 2009 with full Apple support. Scott is launching a consulting division of Brovsky Capital in April of 2009 that advises media companies and game publishers on digital content and direct-to-consumer strategies.

Scott graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in the Humanities Honors Program from The University of Texas at Austin and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, an academic honor society.
 

Sean Carey, Senior Executive Vice President
Sony Pictures Television

Sean Carey was promoted to Senior Executive Vice President, Sony Pictures Television (SPT) in February 2007.  In this role, Carey oversees all domestic digital entertainment distribution efforts across all electronically delivered platforms, including the Internet and mobile.  This includes distribution of the Company’s vast library of films, TV series as well as acquired properties. In addition, Carey contributes to the long term strategy for the television group.  Also under his purview is Grouper, one of the fastest-growing user-generated video communities on the Internet.

Previously, Carey was Executive Vice President, Digital Distribution and Product Acquisition for Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE).  In this position, he was responsible for developing and managing the North American digital distribution of movies and other content, and oversaw all business aspects of the home entertainment unit's production and acquisition group and negotiated key acquisition agreements.   

From 2000 to 2006, Carey served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development for SPE.  In this capacity, he helped to define overall SPE strategy and was responsible for all corporate transactions, including film financings that raised over $1 billion in production funding, acquisitions including Grouper Networks, and divestitures including the sale of Telemundo to NBC.  

Prior to becoming Senior Vice President, Carey was Vice President, Motion Picture Finance & Corporate Development, a position he held at SPE since 1996. Mr. Carey joined SPE in 1993 as Assistant Manager, Financial Planning and Analysis.  He was subsequently promoted to Director Motion Picture Finance and Corporate Development in 1995. 

Prior to that, Carey was a strategic planning assistant for Creative Artists Agency, a participation accountant for then-Columbia Pictures Entertainment and an associate analyst for Paul Kagan Associates. 

A graduate of Syracuse University, Carey received his MBA from UCLA.
 

Tim Connolly, VP, Mobile Distribution
Disney/ABC/ESPN, Media Networks

Tim Connolly is Vice President of Mobile Distribution for Disney & ESPN Media Networks. He is responsible for creating and maintaining strategic relationships across the mobile industry on behalf of ABC Entertainment, ABC News, Disney, Disney Channel and ESPN, with a primary focus on growing the distribution of mobile video and mobile web services with wireless service providers, handset manufacturers and others. Connolly and his team oversee account management, negotiate carriage agreements, and develop distribution strategies, including pricing, packaging and marketing of the company’s mobile product offerings.

Prior to joining Disney, Connolly served as VP of Sales and business development at Ericsson, where he was responsible for delivering networks, applications and services to T-Mobile and AT&T. Prior to this role, he was responsible for Ericsson’s Applications business in North America.

Prior to joining Ericsson, Connolly founded a telecom and media start-up as well as a gourmet coffee business.

Connolly received an MBA and a Masters of Public Policy from the University of Maryland, as well as BA from Wesleyan University. He is based in New York City.
 

Felicia Day, Creator, The Guild
Owner, Knights of Good Productions

Felicia Day is a professional actress who has appeared on such television shows as "House", "Windfall", "Strong Medicine" and "Monk". She had a recurring role as Potential slayer Vi on the last season of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and has been in such films as "Bring it on Again", "June", "Prairie Fever" with Kevin Sorbo and the Emmy award-winning "Warm Springs", with Kenneth Branagh. Felicia is the creator and star of the hit web series "The Guild", a sitcom about a group of online gamers. She also appears as "Penny" in Joss Whedon's internet phenomenon "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" and is developing another web series for Machinima.com based in a gaming world. Aside from her numerous internet projects, she can soon be seen in a recurring role on "Roommates", a new ABC Family sitcom.
 

Allen DeBevoise, Chairman and CEO, Machinima.comAllen DeBevoise, Chairman and CEO
Machinima.com

Machinima is the leading online network for the machinima movement which is spearheading the integration of filmmaking, animation and videogame technologies to produce computer-generated content in real-time. Machinima.com provides news, articles, interviews, how-to and in-depth "making of" features on creating machinima as well as the largest selection of machinima videos from around the world. Mr. DeBevoise brings more than 30 years of extensive experience in the multimedia and Internet arenas with specific focus on early stage companies and technologies. His roles range from the earliest use of computer-generated imagery on films such as "Tron", to managing the user interface design of the landmark Time Warner Cable interactive television trial in Orlando, to spearheading the creation of joint ventures such as TMZ.com and LAT34.com, to serving on the board of directors of Internet companies such as Sportsline, iVillage, LowerMyBills.com, Creative Planet and Dealer.com.
 

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

Marc DeBevoise is the SVP of Business Development and Strategy for Starz Media LLC, responsible for the generation, evaluation and execution of business development and growth opportunities. Marc is primarily focused on exploring opportunities related to emerging digital platforms.

Digital delivery deals DeBevoise has overseen include content distribution agreements with Amazon Unbox, Xbox Live 360, Heavy.com, Netflix and others. DeBevoise and his team were also responsible for the launch of manga.com, a destination site for global fans of Japanese anime animation. 

Prior to joining the company in 2006, DeBevoise was the Director of Emerging Markets for NBC Universal Digital Media. In this role, DeBevoise was responsible for generating and executing new business development opportunities related to NBCU’s Internet/Broadband and Wireless businesses. DeBevoise joined NBCU as a member of the Business Development group where he executed various corporate-level projects and transactions including the evaluation of potential acquisitions and investments in digital media and related industries, the analysis of various motion picture slate-financing structures for Universal Pictures, and the integration, strategic review and restructuring of Universal Parks & Resorts.

Prior to joining NBCU, DeBevoise was an Associate in the Technology, Media &Telecommunications Investment Banking Group at JPMorgan in San Francisco and New York. In this role, DeBevoise executed and advised on equity, debt and M&A transactions in various sectors including Internet Media, Software, and Information & Business Services. DeBevoise has also worked in Corporate Financial Planning & Operations at Cablevision Systems Corporation and Motion Picture & Television Production Finance at Miramax Films.

DeBevoise received his MBA with distinction in Finance and Entertainment, Media & Technology from NYU's Stern School of Business and his BA in Economics and Computer Science from Tufts University.
 

John DeMarchi, EVP, Sponsorships & Distribution
Saavn

John is Executive Vice President of Sponsorships & Distribution for Saavn, the world's largest marketers and distributor of Bollywood entertainment. John has been instrumental in Saavn’s triple-digit growth since 2008 and he has helped drive deals that brought Bollywood films to 20 million homes in the US; he created innovative programs and campaigns that drove high web traffic (27 million monthly unique visitors on its sites); and he helped ink unique mobile content distribution deals, bringing Bollywood content to 500 million phones on 77 carriers in 32 countries.  

Prior to joining Saavn, John served as:
·
         GM, VIBE Digital Media, running all digital businesses for VIBE magazine
·         Chief Marketing Office (Donald) Trump University
·
         Sr. Producer, BillOReilly.com (FOX TV star's site)
·
         VP and News Director, WorldNow Networks, helping over 170 NBC, CBS, Fox and ABC television stations run their web sites in the USA
·
         National Coordinating Producer, FOX News, helping run Fox’s Edge feed service out of NYC
·
         GM, Latina Digital media, running all digital businesses for Latina magazine

 Throughout his career, John has had a lot of success launching user-generated content and viral marketing, including 2008 Marketing Sherpa Viral Marketing Hall of Fame site VIBEVerses.com, the web’s most successful rap battle; launching Bollypop, the world's first online Bollywood dance competition, sponsored by Verizon FiOS (contest winners won a trip to India and danced in a major Bollywood movie) and founding Stargzr, an online company that runs battles for leading brands like the Guinness Book of World Records. 

John holds a B.A. from Harvard University (Economics/Government), and an M.S. from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School (Communications).  He lives in NYC with his wife, Jennifer, a senior vice president publicist at Dan Klores Communications, one of the world's leading celebrity PR firms. John is a huge fan of his hometown NFL Buffalo Bills and NHL Buffalo Sabres... despite 39 years of no championships for either team, compelling evidence that neither team may be delivering a strong return on his investments of time, hope and energy.

John Edwards, President and CEO, Move NetworksJohn Edwards, President and CEO
Move Networks

Mr. Edwards has 25 years’ experience in the technology industry, including key executive positions for high-growth companies: I-Link, Coresoft, Digital Research, and Novell. Edwards introduced the first Voice-Over-IP technology and the first file and print server and operating system. He holds degrees from Brigham Young University and Arizona State University.
 

Dominic Field, Partner & Managing Director
Boston Consulting Group

Dominic Field is the west coast leader of BCG’s Media practice, based in BCG’s Los Angeles office.

At BCG, Field has led many projects for studios, games developers, technology and internet companies. His recent projects include pricing strategy for the online service of a major global videogame company and broadband strategy for a major global media brand. He has also led BCG’s pro-bono relationship with the America Film Institute.

Prior to joining BCG in 2001, he held positions in the advertising industry in the United Kingdom.

Field holds an MBA from the Anderson School at UCLA, where he was a Carter Fellow, and a BA in Philosophy and Economics from Pembroke College, Oxford.
 

John Fitzpatrick, Director of Business Development
blip.tv

John Fitzpatrick runs Business Development for blip.tv. He oversees the content team and blip’s syndication, distribution, ad network and general technology partnerships. Blip.tv’s focus is on providing technology, syndication and monetization services to independent web show creators.

Prior to joining blip.tv, John was a media strategy consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton (now Booz & Co) in New York City, helping media companies with marketing, technology, distribution and ad revenue projects. Before Booz, John held sales, business development and consulting roles at Oracle Corporation, InterTrust Technologies (now owned by Sony and Phillips) and The Warner Group.

Aside from media technology, John has passion for travel, having visited 45 countries and twice crossed the US by car, once in his '70 Mustang convertible. He graduated from Columbia Business School and UCLA and lives in New York City.
 

Eric Garland, CEO
BigChampagne

Eric Garland is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of BigChampagne Media Measurement, a privately-held technology and metrics company specializing in entertainment media. BigChampagne provides business intelligence and strategic analysis to the world's largest entertainment companies, major brands and their agencies, and Wall Street analysts. BigChampagne's metrics include online retail (iTunes) and music streaming services, social networks (MySpace, YouTube), Yahoo and AOL, Clear Channel, MTV and through strategic partner Mediabase, radio broadcast. Garland is recognized as one of the industry's leading authorities on the intersection of popular entertainment and technology.

Garland contributes data and analysis to the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) flagship publication IT Outlook. His advisory board membership includes the digital initiative of the Recording Academy (The Grammys), where he has served alongside artists Kelly Clarkson and Kanye West. Garland was formally recognized for his outstanding contribution to the Recording Academy in 2007.

WIRED magazine anointed BigChampagne the Nielsen ratings of online music. BigChampagne pioneered the measurement of multimedia content distributed using new platforms (YouTube, BitTorrent) and is today an entertainment industry standard research tool. BigChampagne's chart syndication partners include Entertainment Weekly and E! Entertainment Television. Before co-founding BigChampagne in 2000, Garland was with global management consulting firm Towers Perrin in the Communication and Measurement practice where, according to WIRED, "he spent much of his twenties dashing through airports and hotel restaurants telling people how to run their businesses."
 

Dr. Seth Geiger, President
SmithGeiger, LLC

Dr. Geiger directs the development of strategic research partnerships and oversees research innovation and product development. He has consulted with clients across the broadcast, cable, satellite, syndicated television, telecom and internet industries, including: ABC, Buy.com, CNN, VOOM, Disney, FedEx, Microsoft, Nokia, Showtime, TiVo, Warner Bros., The Weather Channel, NBCUNI, King World, and Visa.

Prior to forming SmithGeiger, Dr. Geiger served as Vice President of Professional and E-Commerce Services for BizRate.com, the leading supplier of e-commerce research and intelligence, and the largest B2C shopping marketplace on the web.

Before joining BizRate.com, Geiger worked for Frank N. Magid Associates, where he established the company’s strategic research direction and designed research initiatives in new media and television convergence. Geiger joined Magid from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he was an Assistant Professor of Communications.

Dr. Geiger holds a Ph.D. and Master's degree in communication research from Stanford University and a Bachelor's degree in anthropology from Cornell University.
 

Dick Glover, CEO
Funny or Die Networks

When Hollywood funnyman Will Farrell co-founded the comedy website Funny or Die, many people thought that it would just be a collection of funny videos in the slapstick comedy genre. But under the leadership of CEO Dick Glover, formerly VP of Broadcasting and New Media for NASCAR, Funny or Die has developed into an Internet powerhouse and an online home for videos featuring some of Hollywood’s biggest start. It helped launch the much publicized 2008 presidential candidacy of Paris Hilton and hosts a number of the most viewed politically themed videos. A 20-year veteran of broadcasting and media, Glover also has a background at the Walt Disney Company in various senior management roles in their ABC and Internet Groups.
     

Sibyl Goldman, Vice President, Movies, TV, omg! and Shine
Yahoo!

As General Manager of Yahoo! Entertainment, Sibyl Goldman oversees the continued growth and success of Yahoo!’s Movies, TV, omg! and Broadway properties. Under her leadership, these properties have experienced all time highs in unique users, trailer streams, and premiere partnerships.  

Sibyl was at the helm of the development of omg!, Yahoo's celebrity news and gossip site.   omg!, which was just launched in June 2007, has become #1 in its Comscore category and receives over 13 million unique visitors a month making omg! the number one entertainment news destination on the Web (beating TMZ and People.com in the month of April by 1.5 million readers for instance).  Sibyl played a key role in differentiating omg!’s celebrity news format by aggregating unique, light-hearted, and up-to-the-moment content.

Prior to joining Yahoo!, Sibyl ran Lifetime Television's interactive group.  She worked closely with studios to produce video diaries on behalf of Lifetime's movies, as well as tapped into the powerful and often ignored audience of female gamers with a series of original Flash-based games that promoted Lifetime's slate of shows.  Sibyl also created Girls on Film (Girls On) in 1995, a ground-breaking website featuring fan friendly perspectives on pop culture, which was acquired by Oxygen in 1999.  Sibyl co-authored Girls On Film: The Highly Opinionated, Completely Subjective Guide to the Movies published by Harper Collins in 1999.


omg!, TV and Movies continue to expand their content offerings, advertising opportunities, and unique and returning users under Sibyl’s guidance and are each premiere destinations in their respective categories.
 

Greg Goodfried
Co-Founder, President and COO, EQAL
Co-Creator and Executive Producer,
lonelygirl15 and KateModern

Greg Goodfried is the co-founder, president and COO of the social entertainment company, EQAL, and is the co-creator and executive producer of the online video series’ lonelygirl15 and KateModern.  While practicing law as a first-year associate, Goodfried, along with Miles Beckett and Mesh Flinders, created lonelygirl15 in summer 2006.  Goodfried and Beckett followed this success by launching KateModern in summer 2007 and formed EQAL to develop and create new interactive shows.  lonelygirl15 and KateModern became pop culture phenomenons and are the most popular online interactive shows, collectively receiving more than 150 million views to date.

Trained as an entertainment attorney, Goodfried has a background in new media and copyright law.  He holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley where he was a member of the Men's Varsity Golf Team.  He received a J.D. from the University of California at Los Angeles and went on to practice law at Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp, LLP.  Greg is married to Amanda Goodfried, series producer on lonelygirl15 and head of production for EQAL’s Los Angeles office. 

As an expert on the convergence of entertainment and technology and online video, Goodfried has spoken on panels throughout Europe and across the US and Canada and was a co-host with Miles Beckett of Mixed Media, a live streaming web show on NowLive (nowlive.com).
 

Dani Grindlinger, Director, Advertising Sales Operations and Strategic Initiatives
TiVo Inc.

As Director of Advertising Sales Operations and Strategic Initiatives at TiVo Inc, Dani manages the design and implementation of the sales, order, and inventory management processes for TiVo’s Media and Advertising Services division.

Prior to joining TiVo, Ms. Grindlinger was Director of the Advertising Sales Strategic Initiatives team at NBC Universal responsible for implementing the systems and processes used by NBCU’s Digital Advertising Sales team. Prior to that she was a member of the Market Research team at NBC Universal, focusing on television viewing behavior in digital viewing environments.

Ms. Grindlinger has a BS degree in Psychology from the College of Charleston, and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
 

Jonathan Handel, Of Counsel
TroyGould

Jonathan Handel practices transactional entertainment and technology law at TroyGould in Los Angeles. He has previously worked as a talent lawyer; as associate counsel of the Writers Guild; and as a litigator. He is a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and was named by the Daily Journal as one of the top 100 lawyers in California in 2008.

A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College in applied math and computer science, Handel worked for several years in the computer industry before attending Harvard Law School. He graduated cum laude in 1990, and then clerked for a federal appeals judge.

Handel has appeared about 400 times in international, national and local television, radio, print and online media, including network and cable news programs, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, wire services, trade press, The Economist, Entertainment Weekly, and even the London Star tabloid. He blogs at http://www.jhandel.com, the Huffington Post and AlwaysOn, and has published op-ed pieces in the Los Angeles Times and other outlets. An article by Handel on trademarking movie titles was selected as the cover article of the April 2008 issue of Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine, and another article, on the struggle between content and technology, is forthcoming in the Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law.

Handel has also presented seminars on the entertainment industry to professional audiences in Los Angeles, Park City (at the Sundance Film Festival), Taiwan, and Havana. For several years, he taught a film appreciation and screening class (approximately 400 students) for UCLA Extension.
     

Liz Heller, CEO & Founder
Buzztones

Buzztone is an agent of popular culture, raising the bar for next-generation product marketing. Clients include include Fox Television, Coca-Cola, Atlantic Records, Electronic Arts, and Warner Bros. Founder Liz Heller was one of the first Hollywood executives to employ the power of previously unexplored mediums such as the Internet, music video, and DVD. The inspiration for Buzztone was drawn from extensive experience in the music and film industries. As Executive Vice President at Capitol Records Ms. Heller forged early alliances with strategic partners including Microsoft, Macromedia, Liquid Audio and Apple. As an independent film producer she produced the feature film adaptation of Jim Carroll's The Basketball Diaries, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. This followed a period at Island Visual Arts and MCA Records where she launched the music video department and executive produced over 1,200 videos for artists such as Bobby Brown, Tom Petty and New Edition.
 

Ben Huang, Director of Product Management and Marketing, TV, Video & Music Business
Microsoft Corporation

Ben Huang oversees product management, planning, and product marketing for Microsoft Mediaroom, the award-winning Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) and multimedia software platform.

Mr. Huang joined Microsoft in 2003, where he led various initiatives related to new business opportunities, emerging markets, pricing, and corporate transactions, among other areas. Earlier in his career, he worked in various strategic, financial, and marketing leadership roles spanning multiple industries.

Ben Huang holds a bachelor’s degree from UCLA as well as both a masters in business administration and Juris Doctor degree from the Kellogg School of Management at the Northwestern Law School, and a bachelor’s degree from UCLA. He is also a licensed attorney with the State Bar of California.

Recent speaking engagements: Digital Hollywood Spring (June 2007); Digital Hollywood at NXTcomm (June 2007); ITVT TV of Tomorrow Show (March 2008); and Digital Living Room (March 2008); Future of Television Forum/West (March 2008); and Broadband TV World at NAB (April 2008).
 

Teemu Huuhtanen, President, N.A.
Sulake Inc.

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.
 

Alistair Jeffs, Exe. Producer, Chief Operating Officer
Oil Productions

Alistair Jeffs is the award-winning Executive Producer and Chief Operating Officer of Oil Productions' operation in Los Angeles. Alistair has over 16 years experience in the interactive digital market at digital agencies, entertainment companies and communication service providers in the US and Europe. He was previously a producer at DIRECTV in the Advanced Services and Original Content Department producing the DVR Scheduler remote record service for web and mobile phones, the text-to-TV service Havoc on The 101, NFL Supercast, and NFL Mobile, winner of Best Adapted/Companion Program award at the 2008 Mobile Excellence Awards.
 

Jason Kirk, VP, Video & Entertainment
MySpace.com

In his current capacity, Jason Kirk is Vice President of Video and Entertainment at MySpace, the social portal averaging over 75 million unique visitors who spend an average of 4 hours on the site each month. He oversees all business, sales and marketing for the company’s major content verticals including video, movies, sports and comedy.

Prior to this current role, Jason was head of MySpace Video with the goal of creating a platform of discovery, consumption and sharing around video for existing and new users of MySpace. He helped to successfully launch the company’s video platform, oversaw their 200+ video content partnerships (including Hulu, Sony, TMZ and Warner Bros) and built their profitable flagship original video business.

Prior to MySpace, Jason's experience included work in both the traditional entertainment world (most recently as the Director of Sales & Marketing at HBO in their new business development group) and the Internet start-up world with companies including Alpha Virtual, Ditto.com and Piratenet. He’s a graduate of the University of Colorado-Boulder, loves the ocean and the game of golf and lives with his wife in Los Angeles, CA.
 

Tim Kring, Creator, Exec. Producer and Writer
Heroes

Tim Kring is creator and executive producer of “Heroes,” NBC’s Emmy nominated epic saga that chronicles the lives of ordinary people who discover they possess extraordinary abilities. 

Kring grew up primarily in Northern California.  Eventually, his parents, who were both teachers, moved the family to Santa Maria on the Central California coast.  Kring studied film at nearby Allan Hancock Junior College before transferring to the University of Santa Barbara, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in religious studies.

Kring later attended the master of fine arts program at the University of Southern California’s renowned film school and worked his way up in production as a grip, gaffer and on camera crews.  He continued working in production until selling his first pitch for an episode of “Knight Rider” in 1985.  Kring spent the next eleven years writing feature films, including the sequel “Teen Wolf II,” series pilots and television movies such as “Bay Coven” and “Falling for You.”

In 1996, Kring became a producer on the popular television series “Chicago Hope” and became the supervising producer on the series a year later.  In 1998, he co-created the series “Strange World” and served as co-executive producer on the drama “L.A. Doctors.”  Kring joined the staff of NBC's “Providence” in 1999 as co-executive producer and signed an overall deal with NBC Studio.  In 2001, Kring created the procedural drama “Crossing Jordan,” which ran for 6 seasons and over 100 episodes.

In 2008, Kring expanded his horizons, from the film and TV world by pairing with New York Author Dale Peck to sell a pitch for a trilogy of books to Crown Publishing. The trilogy is to be titled THE FLAG OF ORPHEUS with the first book in the trilogy entitled SHIFT.

Kring resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Lisa, who is a social worker, and their two children, Amelia and Ethan.  In his spare time, he enjoys photography and collecting acoustic guitars.

 

John Lawson, Executive Vice President
ION Media Networks

As Executive Vice President of ION Media Networks, John Lawson is responsible for distribution relations, policy strategy, and strategic initiatives for the nation's largest broadcast network. He is broadening the reach of the flagship ION Television Network beyond ION’s 60 local stations, and helping launch new digital networks focused on children, active lifestyles, and minority audiences. Lawson also is pursuing new content alliances and ION's deployment of a commercial mobile video service in 2009. He is a major participant in broadcaster efforts for the successful transition to digital television.

Lawson came to ION from the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) in Washington, DC, where he was president and CEO. Over his seven years at APTS, Lawson secured federal funding, policy support, and business alliances that ensured the successful digital conversion of public television and the expansion of its services to the American public.

Lawson secured new and increased funding for PBS and stations in children's programming, education and rural development, while helping preserve the First Amendment rights of journalists, producers, PBS and stations. A campaign he led resulted in a two-to-one victory on the House floor to restore deep cuts approved by the House Appropriations Committee.

In partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, Lawson guided the deployment of the new Digital Emergency Alert System for the nation, built on the digital broadcasting capacity of public stations.

In 2005, Lawson negotiated the most extensive agreement in the history of broadcasting for the carriage of multiple digital programming streams on America’s cable systems, followed by digital carriage agreements with Verizon and DIRECTV. The landmark cable agreement and the restoration of funding by Congress were documented as case studies in successful advocacy by the research team at the National Journal.

New York Times "On Language" columnist William Safire has credited Lawson with introducing the word "firewall" as a political term while he was managing a Presidential caucus campaign in 1984.

Prior to his work with APTS, Lawson founded and managed Convergence Services, Inc., a consulting and lobbying firm that focused on educational technology. Previously, he was the national award-winning director of public information at the South Carolina ETV Network. In 2007, Lawson was a founding board member of the Open Mobile Video Coalition and was elected to its Executive Committee. He also served on the FCC’s Commercial Mobile Service Alert Advisory Committee, the FCC's Media Security and Reliability Council, and the board of the National Coalition for Technology in Education and Training. He earned BA and MA degrees in International Studies from the University of South Carolina.
 

Ariella Lehrer, President & CEO
Legacy Interactive

As Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and President, Dr. Lehrer is the Company’s visionary leader, and has been the driving force in establishing Legacy as a leading edge innovator in the mainstream, mass appeal, gaming space. She has over 24 years of management experience in the digital entertainment industry, and has capitalized on that experience to make Legacy a segment leader in today’s casual game market. Dr. Lehrer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a PhD in Cognitive Psychology from Claremont Graduate University, and completed post-doctorate work at the University of California, Los Angeles. She has been included in many articles and segments appearing in the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Reuters, CNN, Los Angeles Business Journal, and National Public Radio (NPR) among others.
 

Phil Lelyveld, Ent. Tech. and Business Development Consultant
reelword.com

Phil Lelyveld is an independent Entertainment Technology and Business Development consultant with reelword.com. He is currently building the Consumer 3D Experience program at the USC Entertainment Technology Center, assembling a multi-school project at USC on the next generation in-car entertainment experience, and driving bus dev efforts to involve gaming, enhanced reality, and related companies in the activities of the ETC@USC. He has worked on projects that address the future of museums, new revenue strategies for the postproduction industry, and innovation within large organizations. Phil was the VP of Digital Industry Relations in Disney’s corporate New Technology and New Media group. During his 10 years at Disney he helped shape, coordinate, and negotiate Disney’s global entertainment technology strategy; covering digital cinema, DVD/physical media, content management, enhanced/interactive TV, and HDTV. He also evaluated investment opportunities for Disney’s VC arm, Steamboat Ventures.
 

Lydia Loizides, VP, Product Management
Canoe Ventures

Ms. Loizides is Vice President, Product Management at Canoe Ventures LLC, a company founded by the nation's leading cable operators including Bright House Networks, Cablevision Systems Corporation, Charter Communications, Inc., Comcast Corporation, Cox Communications Inc., and Time Warner Cable. Based in New York City, the company is focused on making cable's advanced advertising solutions easier to buy, use and measure.

Ms. Loizides has served as an Adjunct Lecturer at the Center for Design, Digital Arts and Film at New York University and currently serves as a Trustee of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, a member of the Board of Governors of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, NY, and Chairs the Advanced Media Committee of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, NY, that awarded Emmys for excellence in advanced media. She writes a weekly installment for Media Post Publications as part of the Television Board and is an active member of the New York Women’s Foundation, a cross-cultural alliance of women helping low-income women and girls in New York’s five boroughs to achieve sustained economic security through expanded opportunities for low-income women and girls.

Most recently, Ms. Lozides was Vice President, Interactive at Paradigm Talent & Literary Agency, where she was responsible for the development and negotiation of cross-platform initiatives, working across all divisions of the company including Music, Comedy, Television, Motion Picture and Book Publishing. Prior to her tenure at Paradigm, Ms. Loizides served as Vice President & Director, Technology and Media Engagement at the Consumer Experience Practice, part of Interpublic Group of companies, where her objectives were to drive greater understanding of consumers’ changing relationships with traditional and emerging media on behalf of brand advertisers and programming networks, cultivate strategic alliances and partnerships with media technology vendors and advise IPG Media agencies and their clients on how to best use media technologies in their communication plans. Prior, Ms. Loizides was Principal of Paphion Inc., a media consultancy where she worked with companies including Sony USA, Advanced Newhouse Communications, Scripps Networks, Arts & Entertainment Networks, ASCAP and others, to build and deploy media properties across multiple platforms. As part of Ziff Brothers Investments, she led qualitative and quantitative research efforts in the communications, media and entertainment equities sectors. Previously, she served as Senior Analyst with Jupiter Research, leading the research efforts in cable and satellite markets, personal entertainment technologies and entertainment and media industries.

Before her tenure with Jupiter, she spent six years in software development and product marketing. She served as Senior Product Manager for VSystems Inc., now part of Eskar Inc., and Product Marketing Manager at Ncompass Labs Inc., now part of Microsoft, were she was instrumental in bringing the first OLE component browser and leading edge component and content management software technology to market.
 

Jim Louderback, CEO, Revision3Jim Louderback, CEO
Revision3

Jim Louderback joined Revision3 as the CEO in July 2007. Jim has spent 16 years in various media and technology management roles, including leading editorial and lab efforts for PC Week, and being on the launch team for ZDTV/TechTV - the first 24 hour cable network devoted to technology. He most recently served as senior vice president and editorial director for Ziff Davis Media's Consumer group, along with being Editor in Chief of PC magazine. Prior to jumping into the media world, Jim built computer systems for Fortune 500 companies, managed the ticketing and ground operations for regional airlines, and attended various institutions of higher learning in the Northeast. He has a Math degree from UVM, and an MBA from NYU's Stern School, but don't hold that against him. When he's not working, Jim likes sailing, biking, hiking and travel -- occasionally simultaneously.
 

Jarvis Mak, SVP, Global Research and Insights Director
Havas Digital
 

Jarvis Mak is SVP, Global Director of Research and Insight, at Havas Digital. Jarvis is responsible for company research as it relates to digital, direct, and relationship-based media, and works with Havas Digital's clients worldwide to help guide communication strategy through an insights-driven approach.

Jarvis originally joined Havas Digital as head of research for Media Contacts in the US. Before joining Media Contacts, he was with DS-IQ, a marketing services firm in retail digital media, translating in-store campaign results into recommended targeting & optimization strategies. Prior to DS-IQ, Jarvis was at Yahoo!, providing insights and solutions to select retail and travel clients. Jarvis also served as a Director of Analytics for Nielsen//NetRatings, where he spearheaded the MegaPanel research effort and managed a custom research team. He is often quoted in the press and is a regular speaker at industry conferences.

Jarvis holds a B.A. from UC Berkeley and lives in San Francisco with his wife and two sons.

Joy Marcus, US General Manager
Dailymotion
 

Joy Marcus joined Dailymotion in early 2007. In her role as US general manager, she is responsible for spearheading the Company’s growth and development in the region.

Ms. Marcus has an extensive background in media and entertainment. Most recently, she served as senior vice president of Time Warner Global Marketing, where she was responsible for developing partnerships with marketers for integration with Time Warner media and entertainment properties including AOL, Turner television networks, Time Inc. magazines, Warner Bros. television and film, New Line Cinema and HBO. Prior to her role at Time Warner, she was head of business development for Barnes&Noble.com. Ms. Marcus was a key member of the senior management team at the time of the Company’s IPO. Her functions included oversight of online distribution and affiliate marketing programs, responsibility for product launches and strategies, and P&L responsibility for approximately 25% of the business. Prior to that, she served as vice president of business development for MTV International, where she negotiated arrangements for new channel launches in Asia, South Africa and Russia and contributed to the restructuring of operations in Brazil.

Ms. Marcus attended Princeton University and New York University School of Law where she focused on Intellectual Property law. She began her career as an M&A lawyer, practicing at international firm Debevoise & Plimpton. She also served as in-house counsel at MTV networks. Focusing on content development, she negotiated the first record label deals for MTV as well as numerous agreements for original series including The Real World.

Sharon Metz, VP, Vertical Marketing
Macrovision Solutions Corporation
 

Sharon Metz is the vice president, vertical marketing with Macrovision Solutions Corporation. Sharon oversees strategic and product marketing for Macrovision’s entertainment metadata solutions and interactive program guides (IPG) for cable service providers in the US, Canada, Mexico and Latin America. Sharon joined Macrovision with the acquisition of Gemstar – TV Guide. At Gemstar – TV Guide, Sharon lead strategic marketing and national accounts sales, with responsibility for strategic marketing, affiliate marketing and market launch of Gemstar’s interactive program guides for cable, TV Guide Network On Demand, TV Guide Select an iTV guidance application on Dish, and TVG Interactive Horseracing Network which include advanced interactive applications enabling in-home account wagering in select states. Sharon is a 25+ year veteran of the cable industry, a member of Women In Cable & Telecommunications, Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing, and the CTAM’ Advanced Cable Solutions Consortium.

Steve Mitgang, CEO
Veoh Networks

Steve Mitgang was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Veoh Networks in July 2007. A Silicon Valley and start-up veteran, Steve has 22 years of experience in general management, strategic planning, product management and business development for some for the country's best-known brands, as well as experience with enterprise software and Internet ASPs.  Prior to joining Veoh, Steve was Senior Vice President of the global team leading the definition, creation, and marketing of Yahoo!'s advertising products, platforms, and services. While there, Steve was the senior executive credited with creating the vision and managing the production of Project Panama (Yahoo's new monetization platform). Before his tenure at Yahoo!, Steve led a variety of consumer marketing and technology companies, driving them to leading market positions or successful exits. He joined Yahoo! after its successful acquisition of Overture Services, where he led the company's Performance Marketing group. Prior to joining Overture, he was president and CEO of Keylime Software, a web analytics company acquired by Overture Services under Steve's stewardship.
 

Ed Montes
EVP, Managing 
Director North America
Havas Digital
Ed Montes, EVP, Managing Director North America
Havas Digital

Based in Boston, Ed Montes is responsible for the development and leadership of Media Contacts US and Canada, managing MC staff spread across five North American offices: New York, Boston, San Francisco, Chicago and Toronto. Previously, Montes served as Managing Director of the Boston office, the largest of Media Contacts’ US operations. Within this role, Montes demonstrated an exceptional rapport with clients and a proven ability to not only lead the organization, but drive strategic new business objectives as well.

Prior to joining Media Contacts, Montes worked at Yahoo! Inc. During his tenure he served as the Director of Special Projects for Yahoo!’s Media, Entertainment, Information, and Finance Groups and the General Manager of Yahoo! Delivers, Yahoo!’s direct marketing advertising product. In these capacities, he implemented successful global advertising and marketing initiatives for a wide array of clients, including those within the Finance, Travel, CPG, Tech, and Entertainment categories. He was also handled marketing initiatives for Yahoo! Consumer, a group that oversees programs and policies surrounding customer contact and engagement. This included work within such departments as Yahoo! Travel, Yahoo! Finance, Yahoo! Games, and Yahoo! Mail.

Immediately following his tenure at Yahoo!, Montes served as a consultant to the wireless technology industry providing insights into the data application sector and the delivery of advertising to mobile handsets. Prior to Yahoo!, Montes served as the Director of Corporate Development and General Counsel at TechTarget, a leading business-to-business technology network. Here he led all business development and e-commerce efforts.

Before entering the interactive industry, Montes was a Prosecutor in the Middlesex District Attorney’s office of Massachusetts, where he prosecuted numerous major felonies and appellate actions. He is a graduate of the Boston University School of Law, and a Cum Laude graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
 

Tricia Parks, Founder and CEO
Parks Associates

Tricia Parks is the founder and CEO of Parks Associates, a market analyst and research company dedicated to providing meaningful information and counsel to companies offering technology-based products aimed at improving people's lives. She presents worldwide on consumer trends, market requirements, and industry structure, with an eye to meshing visionary and progressive ideas to consumer needs and wants.

Parks Associates hosts CONNECTIONS™, an international conference and showcase for the digital home hosted in the U.S., and CONNECTIONS™ Europe, hosted in Europe focusing on market opportunities for digital products and services in the many nations of Europe. Tricia Parks also developed the Relevancy Theory, a forecasting model for sales across a broad range of digital electronic products and services.

Tricia has served on a variety of industry boards including CEA's Home Networking and Information Technology division, the National Research Council's Committee for a Partnership to Assess Technology for Housing (PATH), the AMD Board of Global Consumer Advocacy, and CABA. Tricia Parks has a BA from Sweet Briar College and graduate studies from the University of Texas.
 

Kevin Reilly, President of Entertainment
Fox Broadcasting Company

As President of Entertainment of the Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX), Kevin Reilly is responsible for all primetime series and development, late-night programming and creative strategy for the network. He joined FOX from NBC, where he was President of Entertainment from 2004 to 2007.  Considered one of the sharpest minds in the industry, Reilly is the man behind such hits as "The Office", "Heroes", "Law and Order" and "ER". Variety calls Reilly "a guy who gets it."
 

Keith Richman, CEO
Break.com

Keith Richman, a recognized industry leader and successful entrepreneur, is chief executive officer of Break Media. Keith is responsible for providing the company’s overall strategic direction and leading the company in the areas of business development and marketing.

Since launching Break, Keith has grown the site to one of the world’s most trafficked online entertainment destinations with more than 18 million unique visitors and 600 million page impressions each month. He was a pioneer in enabling the use of video content on user-generated sites and was also the first to develop the paid content model for user-generated market.

Prior to co-founding Break.com, Keith was the Director of Business Development for Billpoint Inc. Keith was integral in developing the business plan and raising venture funding, which ultimately led to the company’s successful acquisition by eBay in 1999.

Previous posts also include Business Development Manager at Excite and Classifieds2000, as well as director of Corporate Planning at the Walt Disney Company, where he focused on consumer products, cable and emerging media.

A sought-after panelist at top industry conferences, Keith is considered an leading expert in marketing to the coveted young male demographic; he was recently included in TV Week’s 2006 Hot List and recognized in the prestigious annual “40 Under 40” by Multichannel News.

Keith holds an MA and a BA from Stanford in International Policy Studies and resides in Los Angeles with his wife and daughter.
 

Stan Rogow, CEO/Founder, Electric Farm Entertainment Executive Producer & Director, "Gemini Division"vision"

Stan Rogow three-time Emmy-nominated producer is executive producer and director of "Gemini Division," roles he first undertook with "Afterworld," Electric Farm Entertainment's Webby-nominated, post-Apocalyptic epic about a man trapped in a world without technology.

Following his huge success as executive producer of the popular series and feature film "Lizzie McGuire" Rogow was the executive producer of the Discovery/Kids on NBC series "Darcy's Wild Life" and co creature "Flight 29 Down," and THE ABC FAMILY, multiple humanitas nominated, STATE OF GRACE..

His long list of credits also include NBC's "Shannon's Deal," the critically acclaimed show that was nominated by the Television Critics Association for Best Show of the Year - Tom Shales from the Washington Post called it "an extraordinarily good series." The series "Middle Ages" was given four stars by USA Today and Entertainment Weekly called it "easily one of the most thoughtful, well-written and beautiful acted series of the year." Rogow executive produced and co-created both series.

Other Rogow credits include the series "South of Sunset" Which he co- created and "Nowhere Man.”

Rogow's success in the feature film arena includes "The Clan of the Cave Bear," "Men of War," "All I Want for Christmas" and "The Lizzie McGuire Movie."

Also on the film side, Rogow has been prolific in the area of made-for-TV movies, including a series of three movies for Showtime based on the acclaimed television show “The Defenders” with E.G. Marshall reprising his Emmy winning role, which won The American Bar Association Silver Gavel Award. As well as "Nowhere to Hide," "Murder in High Places," "Help Wanted: Kids," "Rock 'N Roll Mom," the multiple Emmy Award-winning "Playing for Time" and "Hard Hat & Legs."

Rogow has a J.D. from Boston University School of Law and and A.B. Degree from Boston University. He is also a guest lecturer at the American Film Institute, USC Film School and UCLA Film School. He resided in West Los Angeles.
 

Ken Rutkowski, Host & President
KenRadio Broadcasting

Ken Rutkowski is one of most broadly-informed and connected people in the media, entertainment and technology (MET) market. A true industry insider, Ken’s relationships span senior managers of leading technology companies to studio executives; from small software companies innovating the next generation of MET products/services to IT outsourcers and consultants.

Part pundit, part matchmaker, part strategist – Ken helps start-ups to multi-national corporations understand the trends shaping their industries and connect with the people that matter.

As pundit, Ken’s daily Internet and radio talk show, World Tech Round-Up, is a must-listen-to source of inside information for over 186,000 Internet listeners in over 40 countries – regularly scooping the major media and giving perspective to emerging trends, developments and industry maneuvers. His Daily Tech Clicks newsletter and IQ Report are distributed 5 days/week to the technology, entertainment and business elite.

As matchmaker, Ken opens doors for clients across the media, entertainment and digital technology landscape. In 2000, he founded METal, a networking group of 100+ MET industry influencers that meet for breakfast and information sharing each Saturday in Los Angeles. Additionally, he co-hosts MET Salon, one of Los Angeles’ premier invitation-only networking events.

As strategist, Ken helps clients utilize emerging technology developments to create new business models, identify revenue opportunities and out-maneuver competitors. Combining his deep understanding of MET convergence with an insider’s perspective of the problems facing the industry today, Ken crafts breakthrough strategies that leverage innovations in the digital economy. On an international level, Ken works with countries such as Finland, Australia and Holland – helping them fortify their technology outreach story and strategy.

In his public role, Ken is a founding member of the Streaming Media Executive Committee and is on the board of several media, entertainment and technology companies. He is a much-sought-after speaker/moderator at conferences around the world. He regularly appears as a guest correspondent for Fox 11 KTTV and Fox’s Good Day LA – talking about everything from new tech gadgets to important websites.
 

Bill Sanders, President
Pervasive Media

Bill Sanders is President of Pervasive Media. Prior, he was Vice President of Mobile Networks Programming and Digital Product Development at Sony Pictures Television International. In that role, he drove the strategic planning and implementation of Sony Pictures Television International’s (SPTI) emerging digital network business, through both the expansion of SPTI network brands and opportunities into ubiquitous mobile and online destinations, and the digital exploitation of network-derived products. Prior, he served as president of Pervasive Media where he consulted businesses which focused on entertainment content for mobile devices; in particular, video for cell phones. Prior to that position, Sanders was senior vice president for Big Ticket Television, a Paramount/Viacom company, where he oversaw all current network and syndicated programming and spearheaded Big Ticket’s entry into enhanced television. Throughout his career, Sanders has served as vice president of original programming for HBO and supervising producer for the channel’s award winning comedy series "Dream On". In addition, he has held positions at Universal Television, Warner Brothers Television, and ABC. Sanders has a bachelor of arts degree in communication from Stanford University.
 

Ned Sherman, CEO & Publisher
Digital Media Wire

Ned Sherman, CEO & Publisher
Digital Media Wire

Ned Sherman is CEO and Publisher of Digital Media Wire, Inc., where he works at the center of the rapidly growing digital media industry. Under his leadership, Digital Media Wire has grown from a small newsletter publisher into a well-respected B-to-B brand that owns and produces five annual conferences - Digital Music Forum, Games & Mobile Forum, Digital Media Conference, Future of Television Forum, Digital Commerce Summit and The Billboard Digital Entertainment Conference & Awards (now DEMXPO) - and provides daily news, information and community to 30,000+ executives and professionals at entertainment, media and technology companies throughout the world.

As digital media community-builder, Ned has established partnerships with the leading B-to-B media companies and educational institutions, including VNU Business Media, Billboard Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, Reed Business Information, Multichannel News, Business 2.0, Business Week, CableFax/CableWorld, VIBE/SPIN, MidemNet, NYU’s Stern School of Business, USC’s Center for Telecom Management and UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, and hundreds of the leading digital media companies, including Microsoft, Real Networks, Sony Corporation of America, AOL Time Warner, Napster, Yahoo! and many more.

Ned’s background is in law. Before joining Digital Media Wire, Ned spent 7+ years as a corporate and entertainment attorney practicing at several of the leading law firms in the world with an international client base across industries including technology, Internet, media and entertainment.

As a founding member of the iLaw Group in the Entertainment Department at Loeb & Loeb LLP in Century City, he handled complex licensing transactions and financings for media and entertainment clients including Universal Studios and MGM and launched dozens of Internet and new media start-ups. He has counseled company founders from initiation of a business plan to seed, angel, venture capital and later-stage private financings and managed all legal aspects of Internet clients from corporate organization, stockholder relationships, board compositions and dynamics, stock option plans, capital raising and security regulatory matters, Internet law issues, trademark, copyright, content and technology licensing, advertising and privacy issues.

He sits on the Board of Directors of Wild Way, a non-profit dedicated to cultivating environmental awareness and developing educational programs for inner-city and “at risk” kids and has traveled extensively from Europe to Asia to South America to Northern Africa. Ned is married and lives with his wife and son in Hollywood Hills, California.
 

Anthony Soohoo, SVP & GM, Entertainment & Lifestyle
CBS Interactive/TV.com

Anthony Soohoo is SVP and GM of Entertainment at CBS Interactive. In this role, Anthony is responsible for driving the direction and development of CBS Interactive’s entertainment division. Anthony joined CBS in 2007 with the acquisition of Dotspotter, one of the fastest growing community-powered pop-culture properties on the web where he served as co-founder and CEO. Prior to founding Dotspotter, Anthony was Vice President and General Manager at Yahoo responsible for the strategy, management, development and financial performance for various business units. Prior to Yahoo, Anthony was COO of ALWAYSi, a user-generated video startup, leading the daily operations of the business, and shepherding the company towards a successful acquisition by Hollywood Media Corporation (NASDAQ: HOLL). Previously, Anthony held management positions in products and brand management at early web search company Inktomi and Apple Inc.

Anthony earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California, Davis and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
 

Michael Terpin, Founder
SocialRadius

Michael Terpin founded SocialRadius in 2007 as a spin-off of his high-technology public relations firm, Terpin Communications, which specializes in emerging technologies. SocialRadius is a social media marketing company, focusing on thought leadership content creation and syndication, social media outreach and strategy. Success stories include the outreach for recording artist Will.i.am’s “Yes We Can” video for the Obama campaign (which won 2008 Emmy, Global Media and Webby awards); the “Spirit of Exploration” blog and outreach for Bombay Sapphire gin; social media event marketing for Live8, LiveEarth, the Green Inaugural Ball and the David Lynch Foundation; and the social media launch of start-ups ranging from Software.com to Shapeways, a division of Philips.

Terpin also founded Marketwire, one of the world’s largest international newswires. Originally known as Internet Wire, Market Wire was funded by Hummer-Winblad and Sequoia Capital in 2000 and was acquired in April 2006. It is now majority owned by OMERS Capital Partners, Toronto, and is the world’s third largest distributor of press releases by revenues.
 

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.  

 Previously, Tibbets served as Vice President, Entertainment for Fireworks Television, where he developed live-action children’s half-hour series’ for Nickelodeon and NBC/Discovery Kids including Strange Days at Blake Holsey High. Tibbets was also responsible for the U.S. sale of the eight-hour miniseries Robocop: Prime Directives to the Sci-Fi Channel as well as the two-hour MOW Stolen Miracle to Lifetime.

 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.
 

Mike Vorhaus, President
Magid Advisors

Mike Vorhaus is the managing director who founded the Magid Internet and New Media research and consultation practice in 1995, beginning with projects for AOL and Excite. Mike has participated in hundreds of studies for our clients and personally consults a number of leading Internet and gaming companies. Mike has been involved in strategic and tactical consulting, including the launch of new services and programming, as well as development and implementation of online and offline marketing programs. Mike has also been extensively involved in video and PC gaming strategies for a number of major gaming companies, as well as the development of game concepts. Mike has also consulted on a number of film projects such as You've Got Mail and The Matrix. He holds a B.S. in psychology and sociology from Wesleyan University and has worked as a fundraiser and transfer of technology officer at the California Institute of Technology and the University of California. Mike also worked for the U.S. House of Representatives, The U.S. Senate, and for two administrations in the White House.
 

Andrew Wallenstein, Deputy Editor
The Hollywood ReporteAndrew Wallenstein, Deputy Editor
The Hollywood Reporter

Andrew Wallenstein is the television critic for NPR's Day to Day. He is also an editor at The Hollywood Reporter, where he covers television and digital media out of Los Angeles. Wallenstein is also the co-host of the weekly TV Guide Channel series Square Off. His essay on Holocaust films was published in Best Jewish Writing 2003 (Jossey-Bass), and he has also written for The New York Times, The Boston Globe and Business Week. He has a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University.
 

David Wertheimer, Executive Director
The Entertainment Technology Center @ USC

David Wertheimer has been at the intersection of technology and entertainment for many years. After starting his career in high-tech in the Bay Area, working with leaders like Steve Jobs and Larry Ellison, he was recruited to be the first president of Paramount Digital Entertainment and started one of the first digital content delivery studio/networks (WireBreak Entertainment). Today, he runs the Entertainment Technology Center @ USC (ETC@USC). The ETC@USC is a non-profit consortium, funded by the Hollywood studios (Disney, Fox, Paramount, NBC/Universal & Sony) and a variety of leading technology and service companies (e.g. Cisco, Thomson & Deluxe), that looks at how technology is changing the entertainment landscape. Through its "Anytime/Anywhere Content Lab," along with students from USC, the ETC provides a space where the industry can explore how real users will consume content in emerging combinations of technologies and networks. Wertheimer was named one of five entertainment executives to watch by USA Today and one of three individuals leading the next generation of convergence by the Hollywood Reporter. With his appointment in early 2007 to head the center, Wertheimer has brought his expertise to bear on the technological and sociological implications of providing content to consumers who desire it at any time and any place. ETC@USC is headquartered in the School of Cinematic Arts digital collaboratory annex, located in the heart of Los Angeles.
 

Blair Westlake, Corporate Vice President, Media & Entertainment Group
Microsoft Corporation


As corporate vice president of the Media & Entertainment Group at Microsoft Corporation, Blair Westlake serves as the liaison within Microsoft for the media and entertainment industries, including Hollywood, broadcasters, cable/satellite programmers and the music industry. He directs a cross-organizational group responsible for business development, policies and content licensing for services and products including Xbox Live Marketplace Video store, Windows Media Center Edition PCs and Zune. He joined Microsoft in August 2004 and is based at the Company's Redmond, WA headquarters.

Westlake is a seasoned media and entertainment industry veteran, with more than 25 years of diverse experience encompassing home video, pay and free television distribution, video-on-demand and pay-per-view, non-theatrical content distribution (airlines, hotels, etc.), television production, physical studio operations, international thematic channels development and management, strategic planning for a global television business unit, magazine publishing and theme parks.

Before joining Microsoft, Westlake consulted for various media companies including Comcast Corp. and NBC Universal and was corporate executive vice president of Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. Westlake was also an executive of Universal Studios, Inc. (formerly known as MCA INC.) for nearly 20 years, where he was Chairman of Universal Television & Networks Group. He joined Universal as an attorney in the Law Department (1982 - 85), and subsequently held positions as Director of Business Affairs for Studio Operations (1985-87), Vice President and Senior Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs, Home Entertainment Group (1987-93), Executive Vice President, Home Entertainment Group (1993-96), and President, Worldwide Pay Television and Television Business Development (1996-97). Following graduation from law school, he was an attorney with Great Western Financial Corporation, later acquired by Washington Mutual Bank.

Under Westlake's leadership, Universal Studios broke new ground in creating strategic alliances to build the Universal brand in the global television arena, including long-term, multibillion dollar channel carriage and content licensing agreements with Germany's KirchGruppe, France's Canal+, Stream in Italy and Sogecable in Spain. He was instrumental in the formation of various multi-party joint ventures, leading to the creation of a dozen international channels including HBO Asia, Telecine premium movie channel in Brazil, Cinecanal premium movie channel in Latin America, the Premium Movie Partnership (Showtime and Encore movie channels) in Australia, TV1 Channel in Australia, RTL7 channel partnership (with CLT/UFA and Bertelsmann) in Poland, and Star Channel in Japan.

Westlake oversaw the global of the licensing of Universal's motion pictures (output and library comprising 5,000+ titles) and television libraries (40,000+ episodes), through all forms and means of television. In 1993, Westlake negotiated a groundbreaking agreement with Tele-Communications Inc. and Encore Media for Universal Studio's motion pictures, which led to the formation of what later became known as Starz, a premium movie channel which competes with HBO and Showtime. In 2000, he was responsible for crafting and negotiating the first-ever "split-slate" output deal with HBO and Starz.

A recognized leader in the media and entertainment industries, Westlake was the first recipient of the Whittier College School of Law Alumni Award for Business Excellence in 2002, and in December 2007 received the Special Founders Award from the Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel (AMEC), the leading trade association serving general counsel and business affairs attorneys at media and entertainment companies.

He is a member of a number of industry organizations including The Paley Center for Media (The Museum of Television & Radio) Media Council, the Executive Branch of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (Academy Awards®), Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Emmy Awards®), the Executive Committee of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (iEmmy® Awards) and The Pacific Council on International Policy. Westlake is a member of Board of Directors of the Digital Entertainment Group (DEG); ContentGuard, Inc.; and Digital Coast Roundtable; he is a former member of the Consumer Electronics Association Board of Directors and the Board Industry Leaders and board of the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE).

Westlake is admitted and an active member of the California State Bar.

 

Brett Wilson, CEO
TubeMogul


Brett leads the strategic direction for TubeMogul. He spent the first three years of his career as a consultant for Accenture. Next, he founded and led YouCanSave.com, a profitable e-commerce company that obtained over $69 million in revenue and was successfully acquired. Brett is undefeated at Risk, is the reigning Foosball champion at TubeMogul and a lousy (but aspiring) windsurfer, sailor and investor. He is also married and has two beautiful children. Brett received his MBA from UC Berkeley.
 

David Wolf, Partner & Senior Executive Digital Transformation
Accenture Media and Entertainment Practice Group 


A technology trendsetter with more than 17 years experience, David Wolf is an industry luminary best known for his innovative use of mainstream and nascent technologies. From content creation to distribution, David has been a driving force in moving many of the world’s foremost M&E companies toward high performance in the new digital age. His deep industry knowledge was key in developing and defining the vision and implementation plan for a global entertainment company to reposition it as a digital media powerhouse. In this manner David has been pivotal in launching many of the world’s iconic M&E companies’ digital content and ecommerce initiatives. From global giants to startup’s, throughout his entire career, with rolled sleeves, David has delivered leading edge digital content services. For example, during his career David has launched an interactive gaming business and helped a startup technology company pioneer eCommerce. David leads Accenture’s worldwide Digital Media practice for the M&E industry group. In this role David has been instrumental in developing Accenture’s worldwide digital content service offerings, authored white papers addressing many of the industry’s most pressing issues, established and managed relationships with a number of emerging technology companies and lead strategic engagements for many of Accenture’s marquis clients. David graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a BS in Computer Science.
 

Mark Wurtzel, West Coast Sales Manager
Google TV Ads
 

Mark joined Google in 2007 and now oversees the west coast sales operations for Google TV Ads: a digital system for buying better targeted and measured television advertising. Combining his work experience in traditional and digital media, Google TV Ads offers Mark the opportunity to help clients and agencies leverage technology to drive advertising results.

Prior to Google, Mark spent 15 years at Sony Pictures Television where was Senior Vice President, Western Region Syndication and responsible for managing the company’s regional syndication sales efforts across all SPT off-network and first-run television series, library product and motion pictures. Earlier at SPT, Mark managed the division’s syndication research effort. Following Sony, Mark was a key contributor at AOL Media Networks where he helped drive significant regional sales growth by efficiently and creatively matching AOL’s diverse suite of content and targeting solutions with the individual needs of each campaign.

Mark is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where he received his B.A in History with Honors Distinction. He and his wife Stacey reside in Los Angeles with their daughter.
 

Kevin Yen, Head of Strategic Partner Management, YouTubeKevin Yen, Director of Strategic Partnerships
YouTube

As Director of Strategic Partnerships, Kevin Yen is responsible the performance and expansion of YouTube's content and distribution deals, as well as the industry marketing of the YouTube platform. His online video expertise spans monetization models, marketing strategies, research methods, and rights management. At YouTube, Kevin created the Four R's marketing framework of Revenue-Reach-Research-Rights, and established and chairs the partner Video Advisory Board.

Prior to the Google acquisition of YouTube in October 2006, Kevin built and directed the partner management team for Google Video, and negotiated over $250 million in large-scale ad syndication deals with Google's top partners such as AOL and InfoSpace.

Before joining Google, Kevin held senior product positions at Netscape and AOL, where he also led technology and distribution deals with Sun Microsystems and Macromedia, among others. In addition, he helped pioneer advertising optimization systems at a Silicon Valley startup.

Kevin earned his BA with distinction in Applied Mathematics from UC Berkeley, MS in Engineering from Stanford, and MBA from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley.