VENUESUMMIT SVGVENUE

Keynote Speaker

KATEE LAPOFF, Oak View Group, SVP of Project Management & Technology

LaPoff’s personal and professional mission is to use her curious nature, skills, and ability to thrive in fast-paced, complex environments to serve others. Whether she is helping a friend, colleague, or client, her goal is to be a problem solver, relationship builder, and mentor to those looking for growth. An executive with over 25 years of experience in multiple industries, LaPoff focuses on creating cultures of empowerment and constant learning as well as improving business performance by pragmatically working to solve common goals and driving strategy, service, and operational execution.

Speakers

CHRIS BILLOTTO, UBS Arena, Senior Manager of Digital Displays, IPTV Systems, & Arena Content

Billotto, who is nearing his 10th year in the broadcast industry, is currently the senior manager of digital displays, IPTV systems, and arena content for UBS Arena. Starting his career in TV and news production, Billotto made his way into the Arena AV world in 2018 at the Nassau Coliseum. At the coliseum, he started as a production coordinator/AV Tech and worked his way up to become the manager of creative production overseeing the control room operation for event days before moving over to UBS Arena.

MATT COY, Madison Square Garden, VP of Event Presentation

With 25-plus years in sports presentation, Coy has experience in every major sport including football, baseball, soccer, hockey, beach volleyball, and many more. His career has included three Summer Olympics, four Winter Olympics, five NFL Super Bowls, two FIFA World Cups, and many other large-scale events. One of the most well-rounded producers in the industry, Coy has entertained fans for colleges, minor league teams, major league teams, and large-scale events including the New York Knicks & Rangers, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Dodgers, AVP Pro Beach Volleyball, Major League Soccer, Oakland Raiders, and San Diego Padres.

BROOKE EVELER, New York Red Bulls, Director of Event Production

Eveler is a former NCAA athlete turned live sports producer, with over a decade of game presentation experience. In her current role with the New York Red Bulls, she is responsible for developing and calling the show for Major League Soccer (MLS) matches, spearheading all AV and control room technology upgrades, and overseeing the production of major third-party events hosted at Red Bull Arena. Eveler started her career in Philadelphia as a member of the Phillies (MLB), Eagles (NFL), and Union (MLS) production crews.

LEE FIELD, Verizon Business Group, Managing Director – Global Solutions

Field leads the 5G and Enterprise Solutions team for the Sports & Venue and Investment segment for Verizon. Verizon’s Sports & Venue team supports professional sports leagues, teams, and large venues across the U.S.A. making use of Verizon technology innovation to transform the fan experience, open new revenue streams, and improve game day operations. Field leads a team of professional technology architects that span wireless, wireline, security, unified communications and customer experience.

ERIC GAZZILLO, Quince Imaging, VP of Innovation

Gazzillo is an experienced designer and media server programmer, specializing in emerging video technologies. With over 10 years of experience, Gazzillo has worked across all market sectors of live performance, including events that host fortune 500 companies, Grammy award winning musical artists, and nationally televised athletic events. Always one to push the envelope, he is perpetually researching and testing the most innovative new products, slowly amassing experience with over 10 separate media server platforms.

RYAN HALKETT, New York Islanders, SVP, Event Presentation and Content Experiences

Halkett is an award-winning engagement specialist with 25+ years of experience in the development and execution of innovative fan programs for major sports leagues, teams, brands, and events all around the world. These have included such global events as the 2010 Olympics, Super Bowl XLIX and LII, and NHL Premier Games. Halkett currently oversees the gameday presentation team, content production team, event operations group, and the arena AVB team.

KEVIN HENNEMAN, KMH Integration, President and Director of Engineering

Henneman started KMH Integration with one goal in mind: to reimagine every aspect of system integration and define his company’s role as a partner customers can rely on for the long term. Henneman and the experienced KMH team support customers in sports, broadcast, education, finance, media and entertainment, and the arts – removing the complexity for any organization installing or upgrading an AV system. Henneman’s background also includes working as an audio recording engineer and educator, as well as designing and building AV editing suites.

SHAWN HUTCHESON, Ross Video, Business Development Manager –North American Sports & Live Events

Hutcheson is a seasoned broadcast professional with 17+ years of experience as a product trainer at Ross Video. In his most recent position, he specialized in optimizing sports workflows and helped dozens of professional sports teams across the NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA to streamline their in-venue productions while creating the best possible experience for fans. Hutcheson’s success lies in his ability to listen to the unique challenge of the customer to uncover new efficiencies in their workflows.

GREG HUTTIE, Grass Valley, VP of Production Switchers

Huttie is a broadcast industry professional from both the equipment vendor side and creative side. His experience includes time at Grass Valley (15 years); Videotek / Leitch / Harris; Primestar (DirecTV); QVC Network; and as a freelancer director and editor / writer.

PAUL JENNINGS, New York Islanders, CTO

Jennings has over 15 years of experience specializing in the design, procurement, and delivery of technology to optimize the guest experience and operation of large-scale developments in sport, hospitality, leisure, retail, and entertainment. He has worked internationally as far afield as Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. Notable projects in the UK, where Jennings emanates from, include leading the delivery of technology for Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium, as well as ensuring the UK’s 90,000 capacity National Stadium (Wembley) had the technology and people in place to open its doors and host a Cup Final.

JOE KUCHIE, New Jersey Devils, Senior Director of Live Experience & Production

Kuchie is responsible for the development and execution of all Devils game presentation elements.Additionally, he oversees the control room and AV technology throughout the arena. Kuchie was integral in the implementation of major AV upgrades at Prudential Center, most notably the installation of the world’s largest in-arena scoreboard in 2017 and a brand-new, state-of-the-art line array sound system in 2022.

ALEX LEAFER, New York Islanders, Director of Video Production

Leafer is an award-winning director of production with 10+ years of experience in the development and execution of industry-renowned productions aimed at redefining the fan experience. With a background in physical, virtual, and OTT-streaming sports experiences, he looks to integrate next-gen technology into every production.

DEON LECOINTE, Sony, Director, Networked Solutions

LeCointe works with television networks and broadcasters to design and build equipment that delivers live content to millions of homes around the world. He leads a team of solution architects, engineers, and marketing professionals that oversee development, sales, and marketing of products designed for news, sports, and entertainment. LeCointe joined Sony in 2007, and has taken on a number of roles involving post-production workflow technologies, AV codecs and compression, IP video transmission, 4K production, and content management systems for broadcast and news.

JAMON LOMAX, Canon, Senior Manager of Television Broadcast & Production Sales, U.S. and Latin American Markets

Lomax leads an experienced team of industry veterans focused on sales and support of their partners in all areas of television broadcasting, and live sports and entertainment production. He has spent the last 23 years at Canon USA working in a variety of client facing roles focused on professional imaging product sales. Lomax’s time at Canon has allowed him to partner with, and support some of the most creative and influential people and companies in the world.

Nima

MALEKMANESH,

Evertz, Director of Business Development – Live Media

Malekmanesh has been with Evertz since 2001, first joining the company as a software engineer and working on the company’s first line of modular products. In his current role, Malekmanesh oversees all aspects of business development for Evertz’ live media products.

PAUL McANIFF, Canon, Senior Technical Specialist

McAniff began his career as an ENG camera operator and video editor, before pivoting into the vendor space. During that time McAniff covered the NFL, NHL, MLB, and NBA for local news outlets. Since then, he has worked for Canon, Panasonic, and Adobe where his focuses have included broadcast, digital cinema, and content development. Now in his tenth year at Canon (minus a seven-year hiatus) McAniff is one of a team of technical experts in the Education, Field, and Sales Support Division.

JEFF McFADYEN, EditShare, Regional Sales Director, Northeast

McFadyen is an industry veteran that has worked at some of the most influential and colorful media, audio, and live production solution providers. That journey continues with EditShare where McFadyen is the director of sales for the Northeast U.S. He prides himself on listening to and helping people to find the right tools to tell their particular stories, and returning their trust with quality products, partnership, value, and integrity.