Bios
Listed in alphabetical order
Rick Brown
Network Systems Engineer
NC State University
Rick is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the CATV head end and HFC distribution system at NC State. He has been running an IPTV pilot consisting of 26 SD and 5 HD channels for the past several years with plans to replace the current HFC system with IPTV in 2013.
Rick has been at NC State for 26 years where his initial experience with RF distribution was on the campus’ broadband data system. He has been involved with all aspects of data communications and video networking which includes installing and configuring Layer 1 and 2 infrastructure, and a tenure as the network manager. He is also involved in network design including 802.11 a/b/g/n.
Rick spent 10 years in the US Naval submarine force where he was responsible for systems such as radar, sonar, electronic surveillance and countermeasures, LORAN, and the predecessor to the current global positioning system. He also taught naval courses in electrical and electronic fundamentals.
Mayumi HirtzelIT Project Leader, Penn Video Network
University of Pennsylvania
Mayumi oversees the technical and programmatic facets of the University of Pennsylvania's closed-circuit SMATV system. Over 60 channels, including a Video Bulletin Board and two Movie Channels, serve the entertainment and educational needs of Penn's 8000 students in residence. She has been in her current position since 2001, producing program themes, marketing materials, and anything else to make use of her BA in Victorian Literature and Classics from Fordham University.
Mayumi has been an enthusiastic attendant and presenter at several AHECTA conferences since she joined in 2001. She was the Content Committee Chair for CCC2007 in Portland, Conference Chair for CCC2008 in Providence, and most recently served as President in 2009.
Carmela Laber
I have been with Campus Televideo for 12+ years. I started as the Company’s Corporate Controller then in 2008 I added the title of Director of Account Management. In 2010 gave up my title of Controller and was promoted to Sr. Director of Customer Operations and manage all aspects of our existing customer base as well as being the account manager for 150 customers.
Besides my corporate positions over the past 30 years I have Chaired several committees and worked as a liaison on two political campaigns so I have extensive leadership experience.
I have several hours a month I can devote to the association as need.
I believe by experience in cable tv, digital tv, iptv and data services gives me the knowledge base the members of AHECTA need. Since CTV is a third party delivery of services I have the vast knowledge of many platforms. My experience working with two political campaigns will also benefit the association. I have had to bring many people to a table to agree on strategy, budgets and timelines. The association would also benefit from my financial background and fundraising skill. Last I have organized a successful Customer Technology Seminar over the past 5 years.
Linda Lashendock
Manager- Video Services and Event Production
Elon University
Linda Lashendock functions as the Manager of Video Services and Event Production in Teaching and Learning Technologies for Creative Services at Elon University. She oversees both video/audio projects and event production.
Lashendock has produced videos for departments and large events including The Love School of Business 25th Gala where she received a faculty award of service for her participation in the success of this event. Since 2003, Lashendock has produced and directed numerous Commencements Convocations, fundraiser & special events. In 2009, she began teaching a non-verbal & verbal communications, Elon 101 class. Currently, one of her passionate initiatives is researching, proposing and implementing a video digital asset management system.
She has served as Elon University’s Assistant Director of Instructional Technologies with Elon Television from 2003 to 2009. She oversaw the daily School of Communications office operations, videos, advised student award winning shows, assisted students in obtaining Washington, D.C. internships and developed budgets and strategic equipment planning with successful vendor negotiations for the School of Communications.
Before coming to Elon, Lashendock worked for more than 15 years at CNN. She started in Washington, D.C. as an intern and was soon producing live interviews with White House officials, legislators and international leaders. Later, Lashendock became the producer-editor covering the White House beat under Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton and then advanced to manager of all of CNN’s Washington productions. She has travelled over 60 countries during her White House tour. Three of her produced pieces rest in the Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush Presidential libraries
Lashendock has earned several awards for her work, including several Emmys, an Edward R. Murrow Award, and acknowledgement by the Overseas Press Club of America.
She has presented at AHECTA on digital conversions and feels she can bring her enthusiastic energy & talents to further grow AHECTA as an organization.
Her education includes a Masters of Arts from UNC-Greensboro, N.C., Bachelor of Science from Michigan State, and Associate of Arts from Green Mountain College, VT.
Hobbies include her family, video shooting and editing, painting, gardening, skiing and volunteering.
Tom Marentette
Manager of Video Services
University of Notre Dame
Tom Marentette serves as Manager of Video Services at the University of Notre Dame. In this capacity, he has operational oversight for the cable television systems on campus and assists with strategic direction for other video technologies. Additional responsibilities include video streaming, project management, collaboration technologies and exploring multicast IP video applications.
Since 1998, Tom has been a member of the Network Engineering team at Notre Dame, concentrating on the administration and operation of the University data communications network during years of tremendous growth. He advanced from Network Technician to Senior Network Engineer, focusing on project management for campus wide upgrades to the wired and wireless infrastructures. He joined the University of Notre Dame in 1997 as a Media Equipment Technician. In this role, he assisted with various academic technologies, including media control systems, video conferencing, streaming and satellite technology. Prior to joining the University of Notre Dame, Tom worked as a video contractor for Ford Communications Network (FCN) in Dearborn, Michigan, as well as other clients in the Metro Detroit area.
Tom currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Michiana Chapter of the Society of Cable Television Engineers. He has been a member of AHECTA since 2006. Tom holds a Bachelors of Science Degree in Telecommunications and Film from Eastern Michigan University. When he is not spending time with family, Tom can be found on the golf course, reading a good book, playing with technology, or in the great outdoors.
Murdell McFarlin
Murdell Walker McFarlin is the Station Manager at CAU-TV, Comcast Channel 23 in Atlanta. CAU-TV is licensed to Clark Atlanta University where Murdell is also teaches advanced television production courses. As station manager for CAU-TV Murdell is responsible for all administrative and management functions and activities associated with the twenty-four hour, seven day a week station. Murdell’s responsibilities to the station developing program schedules, meeting FCC and PBS regulations, producing programming and maintaining congenial media and community relations with the larger media community in metropolitan Atlanta. She is an independent producer of features and documentaries. Murdell has worked as a public affairs electronic editor and scriptwriter for WTBS-Superstation 17 original programs and as talent and producer on local network affiliate sponsored programs in Atlanta. Murdell is a graduate of Spelman College (Bachelor of Arts - English and Philosophy), Jackson State University (M.S. - Educational Media Technology) and Clemson University (Ed.S. –Educational Leadership)
Bill Naivar
Video Manager, Academic and Research Technology
Office of Information Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
Bill is the Video Manager for the Academic and Research Technology division of the Office of Information Technology at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.
Bill began his cable television career in 1980 as an Auditor for Calcasieu Cablevision in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He progressed to Installer, Bench Technician, Trunk Technician, and System Designer. Bill moved to Port Arthur, Texas in 1983 and became Chief Technician. He then moved to Mineral Wells, Texas as Chief Technician, and then to Douglasville, Georgia in 1988 as Plant Manager. Bill came to Georgia Tech in 1996 just prior to the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. Bill operates a 750 MHZ hybrid fiber/coax SMATV system on the Georgia Tech campus. In addition, Bill designs and oversees construction of extensions to the system.
Bill has been a member of AHECTA since 1999 and has presented technical sessions at the last six Campus Cable Conferences.
Trisha Patterson
Director of Local Ad Sales
Fox News Channel
Trisha Patterson is currently the Director of Local Ad Sales for Fox News Channel. She has been with Fox News Channel in a sales capacity since 2000, and prior to that was in sales at the Food Network.
Originally from New York, Trisha spent 14 years in Chicago where in her non-existent "free time" coached crew at Northwestern University (go Big Ten!). Trisha has served on various industry boards and committees over the past few years and has been attending AHECTA conferences since 2001. She is looking forward to working with other Board members as well as university members and exhibitors.
Tim Polk
Video Services Manager
University of Michigan
Tim Polk has worked in some aspect of the communications industry for the past 36 years. He began his career in the industry in 1972 at a CATV company as a Contract Installer. From 1978 through 1984, Tim held numerous positions with different cable companies: installer, construction lineman, installation manager, service technician, service manager, system engineer and plant manager.
Tim worked at Clover Communications from 1984 through 1994 developing, designing, installing and maintaining two-way broadband communication systems for Ford, GM and Chrysler as well as for area hospitals and public schools.
In 1994, Tim accepted a position with the University of Michigan to build a two-way broadband institutional Cable TV system. In 1998, he assumed the position of Service Manager for all of the voice, video, data maintenance and repair services for the University of Michigan campus systems. In 2007, Tim was involved in replacing the Comcast CATV system in 5,500 dorm rooms with the university's own 110-channel UMTV cable system. He is currently the Video Services Manager which includes all of the CATV engineering and design, system management and documentation and, of course, the maintenance and repair of the system. They also offer campus digital services of encoding, streaming, storage and playback service for classes and athletic events.
Tim's hobbies are golfing, walking, home improvement, observing nature and car rides with his wife.
Brenda Rockswold
Team Leader, Video Services
Academic and Administrative Information Technology
Emory University
Brenda serves as team lead for Video Services within the Academic and Administrative Information Technology division at Emory University. She is enjoying her 12th year at Emory and continues her role in IT focusing on video broadcasting technologies for Emory's campus and its affiliates. She works closely with the Network Communications division providing these services. Brenda's Video Services team provides consulting and operational management of central services for current and future technologies in campus TV programming and delivery, streaming, live event broadcasting, videoconferencing and any new video initiatives for the campus. She is also the student media (electronic) Technical Advisor and helped initiate EV53 - Emory Vision, the student video channel in 1998.
Brenda has a B.A. in Communications from West Georgia College (now the University of West Georgia). She worked in the Engineering department at Convergent Media Systems, a satellite business television company, for eight years prior to coming to Emory.
Brenda became a part of AHECTA in 1997 when the conference was held at Emory University and has enjoyed all but two of the yearly conferences. She hopes to bring fresh ideas and continued great leadership to the organization.
Phil Sherman
I have been the lead technician/engineer in the Telecom and Media Services Department since 1994. It all started with building the campus infrastructure for a fiber backbone, coax CATV distribution, and telephones in the dorms. Since then my diverse background has allowed me to play a key role in the evaluation, selection, implementation and support of all new technologies/directions with which our department is involved. We have begun migrating to VOIP, upgraded parts of our CATV system to HFC, and added a small contingent of digital channels (locals and digital signage). I currently manage/support the enterprise digital signage system, the telecom call accounting/billing system, and assist with the administration of the university’s legacy/VOIP pbx.
I am involved in the design and installation of the communication infrastructure for every major construction/renovation project, and for most of those I am the IT project manager representing the interests of the Telecom, Network and A/V installation.
As the system manager of the telecom call accounting/billing system, I was invited to serve on a user focus group, for the software developer, as they re-developed and re-packaged their system.
In 2002 the Telecom office absorbed the media support group and since then I have been involved in the design, installation, troubleshooting and support of the classroom technology used across campus. In the past year I oversaw the design and installation of the broadcast video system in our new stadium, as well as the design and installation of a movie-theatre quality projection and sound system in a new 218-seat auditorium.
My varied background enables me to look at situations from many perspectives and be an effective problem solver. I can lead, and I can follow, and I can usually tell which role I need to take. With respect to my role with AHECTA: I can assist with conference details, and take on responsibilities as needed. While my job can be very busy, I feel that I can commit as much time as is necessary to help AHECTA achieve it’s goals of expanding it’s commercial membership and institutional involvement from the A/V technology side. I would enjoy working with prospective conference session presenters, as well as developing sessions around specific topics.
Tim Sullivan
Educational & Government Sales Manager
Nickless Schirmer & Co., Inc.
While attending Northern Kentucky University, Tim was hired by NSC (Nickless Schirmer & Co., Inc.) in March of 1998, and since that time has worked in every area of operation within the company. As is the case in many small companies, he has been asked to wear new or multiple hats from time to time. In 1999, Tim began sales account management as a member of the Government Sales Division where he has dealt with city and local government agencies to federal & military installations from all over the globe. In 2001, he started the Educational Division to include K-12, and Higher Educational Institutions across the country. His current position is Educational & Government Sales Manager.
Tim was first introduced to AHECTA not long before CCC2001 in Chicago. Over the last nine years, he has made many good contacts and friends and is looking forward to continuing to build upon these relationships for many years to come. For the last year, Tim has served on the AHECTA Corporate Council in support of the vendor member base, and looks forward to helping all members prosper as a result of their affiliation with AHECTA.
Raymundo Vilca
Manager, Technology Resources Centers and Academic Computing Services
El Paso Community College
Raymundo is the Manager of Technology Resources Centers and Academic Computing Services for El Paso Community College in El Paso, Texas, a position he has held for over four years. During his tenure at El Paso Community College, Ray has been instrumental in planning, implementing, and managing various district wide projects and initiatives for the college with tremendous success. These projects include the project management for a district-wide 1900 instructional computer project that required coordinating with all of the instructional programs together with the division of information technology. Another initiative was the development and implementation of a district-wide Kiosk project that provides media assisted information to all students and other users with relevant college information. Digital El Paso is a city-wide initiative that provides wireless capabilities to community residents and El Paso Community College has partnered in the development of a refurbished computer program coupled with the appropriate training for residents. He is currently participating in the development of a comprehensive business continuity plan with the Division of Information Technology and also part of a SharePoint Taskforce.
Ray possesses a unique, powerful skill set in planning, coordination, analysis, and other management and analytical competencies that can be proven useful in assisting AHECTA on accomplishing their tactical and strategic initiatives.
Ray is new to AHECTA, but is anxious to assist with facilitating communications and networking with members; helping develop effective/dynamic educational workshops; and conducting research of any required areas that the board may need help on such as legal/pedagogical/social issues related to the use of campus communications, content, and video services in higher education.