Americas’ Regional Council

Michael Accardi – Chair

President, CueScript

Michael Accardi is an experienced leader in the broadcast industry known for putting his customers first. With more than 27 years in management, sales, marketing and product development for broadcast manufacturers, Michael has procured an expansive skill set that stems from his work at top-tier companies such as Sachtler, Anton/Bauer, Autoscript and Vitec Videocom. He recently tapped into that knowledge as he, along with partners Brian Larter and Peter Carey, launched CueScript, with the goal of growing this new company into a leading prompting solutions brand. Prior to launching CueScript, Michael served as Executive Vice President of Vitec Videocom, Americas, from 2010 to 2012. He managed the sales staff for the Americas, while acting as the sales liaison to all factories, including the engineering, quality control and marketing departments. Michael also led two well-known companies within Vitec Videocom, Americas, serving as Anton/Bauer President from 2008 to 2012 and Autoscript Owner/President from 2004 to 2008. As President of Anton/Bauer, Michael strategically led the company, strengthening its position as a leading expert in mobile power technology for the broadcast market. He also worked to re-establish the brand as a pioneer of mobile healthcare technology. He succeeded in his efforts and beyond, further developing Anton/Bauer’s market share in the cine industry. During his time there, Michael expanded the U.S.-based company’s reach in the EMEA and Latin America regions, doubling EMEA sales within four years. Michael also expanded the sales and marketing staff to support company advancement and improve customer relations, ensuring that the brand consistently upheld its strong presence throughout the company’s evolution. While Owner/President of Autoscript, Michael introduced the U.K.-based prompting manufacturer to the Americas, establishing its U.S. manufacturing service division in order to increase quality, customer satisfaction and profit. After achieving industry leadership in two years and building a distribution model with network support from key OEMs, vendors, and partnerships, Michael achieved exceptional growth in market share, which significantly contributed to increased sales per camera and acquisition of additional profits.
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Joe Commare

Marketing Manager, Riedel

Before joining Riedel, Commare served as an account director for Wall Street Communications, a global marketing and PR firm that caters exclusively to companies in the broadcast and digital media niche. There, he managed the Riedel Communications account globally, along with several other clients serving the worldwide broadcast and media industries. Prior to Wall Street Communications, Commare served in multiple senior-level sales and marketing roles for optical fiber-based technology companies in the broadcast industry. Most notably, he spent 14 years with Telecast Fiber Systems, where he established an international sales network and heavily participated in marketing and new product development. Commare began his broadcast career in the early 1980’s as a freelance audio technician. He has expertise in a broad range of technology areas including wireless audio and video, submixing, and technical management. Commare has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts and a master’s degree in marketing and technological innovation from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

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George Elsaesser

President, GEA & Associated

George is the Founder, President and Principal Consultant for GEA & Associates LLC, founded in 2004. He has over 38 years of successful and diverse experience in the Broadcast, Media Technology and ProAV markets, including senior positions as General Manager Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Director of Sales and Marketing, and Major Account Management. His corporate affiliations include Sony Corporation of America, AVID Technologies, BASYS Automation, A.N.N. Automation, Drake Broadcast Automation, Logic Innovations, Telemation and FortelTV. He provides counsel in all sales and marketing functions, including overall sales operations, sales planning, Pipeline forecasting, territory planning, compensation/incentive plans, organizing and managing distributor/reseller channels, direct sales organizations and manufacturer’s representatives. This is coupled with a unique interest in enhancing the financial status of suppliers, to increase revenues and profitability, by restructuring overall sales operations. George holds a BSEE degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Electronic Engineering, and has participated in Master’s Degree studies in Electronic and Communications Engineering at the University of California, Irvine and UCLA. He has studied industrial marketing and sales programs at both Stanford University and the American Management Association, with a heavy emphasis on Sales Management, Anti-Trust Regulations, and New Product Introductions. He is an active member of the Institute of Business Forecasting and Planning (IBF), St. John’s University, the academic center of excellence in forecasting and demand planning. He is also an active participating member of the International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers (IABM), the global organization promoting the cause of suppliers within our industry.
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Mary Kay Evans

CMO, Verizon

Mary Kay Evans is Verizon Digital Media Services’ chief marketing officer and oversees the company’s go-to-market strategy, planning, branding and execution. Mary Kay has a broad base of experience shaping marketing strategies, integrated communications and brand programs for technology giants and startups alike. She has spent the last ten years working with companies focused on changing the way the world watches television. Prior to joining the Digital Media Services team, Mary Kay co-founded Radi8 Creative, a marketing communications agency offering public relations, creative and advertising services. Before founding Radi8 Creative, Mary Kay was vice president of marketing for Move Networks, a pioneer in the digital media industry. She also served as vice president of corporate communications for MediConnect Global, a leader in electronic health information exchange services. She was also head of corporate communications for Ancestry.com. Mary Kay spent her early career in public relations working for agencies focused on elevating awareness for technology companies big and small.
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Andy Hurt

SVP Marketing & Business Development, Wazee Digital

Andy Hurt is responsible for the company’s global marketing and business development organization. With more than 15 years of experience in the media and entertainment industry, he is a seasoned professional that brings vast experience in marketing, partnerships, product management and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to joining Wazee Digital, Hurt’s responsibilities included leading the global strategy and product roadmap for Oracle’s Digital Medial product portfolio; including DIVArchive and DIVACloud. Preceding the acquisition of Front Porch Digital by Oracle, Hurt served as the senior vice president of marketing and product management for Front Porch Digital. He has more than 15 years of experience leading marketing, product management, strategy, and operations in multiple global technology organizations. He served as senior director of product development and delivery at Level (3) Communications, as senior director of product solutions at First Data, and general manager of product operations and finance at DISH Network. Hurt has an MBA in international management from the Fisher Graduate School of International Business at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the University of Kansas. He is certified as a New Product Development Professional from the Product Development and Management Association.
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Peer Jambor

Marketing & Comms Manager, VITEC Inc.

Peer Jambor is the global communications and marketing manager for VITEC, a worldwide leader in advanced video encoding and streaming solutions. For over 14 years, Jambor has been involved in developing, managing, and producing strategic communications in multimedia and broadcast. In 2002, founded his own media and video communications company, CoffeeCup MediaSolutions, where he most notably coordinated a robust cross-media Antarctic Geological Expedition campaign, giving him a unique perspective that blends marketing management and video expertise. Since 2007, he has been helping to lead VITEC into emerging markets as demand for broadcast-quality streaming technology increases.
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Ted Korte

CEO, Qligent

Ted Joined Qligent in 2014 as Chief Operating Officer. Shortly after the spinout and legal formation of Qligent Inc, Ted was brought on board to build a team and drive the commercialization of software based solutions for the global broadcast and telco markets. Our focus is to help broadcasters optimize workflows, reduce capital and operational expenses, and improve the overall quality of their channel and their company brand by leveraging our expertise on both the legacy distribution platforms as well as new technology platforms. Before joining Qligent, Ted gained over 20 years of experience with Harris Broadcast delivering hardware and software solutions in the areas of Terrestrial Radio and TV, Audio studios, contribution and distribution, Master Control Automation, Asset Management, Video Servers and Non Linear Editing. Ted’s focus is to keep a close eye on market and technology trends and help Broadcasters, MVPDs, and infrastructure providers adapt their workflows, investments and even approach to get ahead of market and consumer demands as efficiently as possible.
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Jason Pruett

Product Marketing Associate, NewTek

Jason Pruett is an experienced product marketer responsible for messaging, positioning, and communicating the value of existing and emerging products for NewTek, the leader in IP video technology. Joining the company in 2010, he has been integral to the launch of nearly 100 hardware and software products and technologies, including multiple generations of the award-winning TriCaster and 3Play product lines, the NewTek IP Series, and NDI, NewTek’s innovative Network Device Interface technology, which has quickly become the most prolific IP-based workflow standard in the industry. In addition to interfacing with the product, marketing, and sales teams at NewTek, he gains valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of the market by serving as a representative of the company in engagements with its worldwide reseller channel, customer base, and industry press. Prior to NewTek, Jason worked in broadcast and video production, serving as Promotions Producer, then Promotions Director, for the ABC network affiliates KXXV and KRHD in Central Texas.
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Adam Schadle

VP, Video Clarity

Adam Schadle has more than twenty five years of experience in management and leadership of companies providing video solutions to enterprises, television networks and entertainment service providers targeting a variety of applications. He has led the launch and successful implementation of products for broadcast news infrastructure, municipal security, and Telco and government IPTV applications worldwide. More recently Schadle’s focus has been to work with television networks and broadcast product companies to apply advanced methods for testing video and audio quality.
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Steve Sloane

Director Sales, Nevion

Biog to follow

Thomas Tang

President, Apantac

In 2008, Thomas Tang started Apantac as a consulting firm, and by late 2008 was building products in his home basement. By April of 2009, Apantac exhibited at its first NAB, winning a Pick Hit Award from Broadcast Engineering Magazine for its TAHOMA Multiviewer Series. Apantac now offers over 200 products in its solutions portfolio and ships products to over 40 countries around the globe. As President, Thomas strategically leads the company, and has brought Apantac to the forefront of leadership in Multiviewers, Signals Processing & Extension Solutions, HDBaseT technology solutions, and as an openGear partner. Thomas Tang, President of Apantac, is a seasoned broadcast, graphics and pro video veteran with over 20 years of experience. Previously, Thomas served as Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Avitech, where he successfully developed and implemented the marketing and sales strategy by establishing technology partnerships, dealers, system integrators, and distribution networks. Prior to Avitech, Thomas held the position of Director of Market Development for Thomson Grass Valley’s Server and Digital News Production, and Media Network & Control (Routers and Master Control) business units. Thomas holds a master degrees in Physics, Computers Science and received his executive training from Harvard Business School.
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John Tkaczewski

President, FileCatalyst

In 2000, John Tkaczewski co-founded Unlimi-Tech Software, the creators of FileCatalyst file transfer solutions. During John’s tenure as President, FileCatalyst has been deployed by almost all the major broadcasters and movie studios around the world and the company has received two Emmy awards. John is responsible for overall vision, strategy and daily operations for the company. John graduated Bishop’s University in 1999 with a BSc. in Computer Science and a Business Diploma. Prior to founding Unlimi-Tech, John worked as a programmer analyst for PWGSC, a department of the Canadian Federal Government. John also speaks at many industry events on topics related to network acceleration, IT security, big data transfer, open source file transfer, and high tech start-ups. John is also a main contributor to the FileCatalyst blog and monthly Webinars discussing topics related to file transfer, data security and software development.
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