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Michael Childers
WIN Editor, WAEA
LightStream Communications
Michael Childers has worn many hats in IFE since 1979. He ran IFE’s first and largest independent content distribution company from 1984 until 1996, was CEO of LightStream Communications Group supply chain integration specialists until 2001, and then took LightStream into independent consulting. He was one of the co-founders of the original DMD-TC that drafted WAEA 0395, has been active in more than a half dozen of the TC’s Working Groups, and is approaching 10 years as chair of the Digital Content Management Working Group.
SARAH DAVANZO
Strategic Planning Director - Trends + Culture
Kaplan Thaler Group
Sarah DaVanzo is a trendwatcher, futurist and culture cartographer for the Kaplan Thaler Group in New York, NY USA (a Publicis company). Her cultural curiosity started in her teens, when she circumnavigated the globe on a ship studying international marketing in 12 countries. She then went on to live, work, explore and absorb cultures in a dozen more countries. Sarah has 20 years work experience on the agency and client sides of the branding and marketing business, and as an entrepreneur starting up and running her own ventures, including her own advertising agency in South Africa. Her macro-micro view of the world has given her a unique ability to spot trends and subtle cultural shifts, propelling her career as a brand strategist. For KTG's clients, she contributes to strategy discussions, oversees research about consumer behavior, "listens" to social media to monitor American culture and spot trends, writes about the future and "what if" scenarios and drives innovation workshops.
A seasoned public speaker, Sarah travels the globe speaking at conferences such as those sponsored by The Financial Times of London, The International Herald Tribune in Paris and The Sunday Times of South Africa. Sarah is an alumnae of Harvard Business School and Bucknell University, and is currently pursuing a master's in education from Pace University. She is a patented inventor and an active member of the Manhattan Inventor's Association, as well as an avid technophile and blogger.
Sarah's Blog
David Ernst
Vice President - Digital Media,
Market Resources
Discovery Communications, LLC.
In his role , David leads efforts focused on developing digital media sales using new and traditional research. To accomplish this, he provides expertise in media measurement and sales strategy/positioning for all Discovery Communications digital media properties. These responsibilities extend to demonstrating the value and effectiveness of Discovery’s 360 and cross-platform campaigns. In addition, David directs many proprietary research studies and represents the company in public and industry forums.
Throughout his career, David has a record of leadership in the development of successful, consumer-driven media strategies and tactics designed to achieve marketing and communications objectives. His experience includes developing applications for consumer targeting platforms, budget determination/allocation, advertising productivity measures, and optimizing media investments. In addition, he has broad-based experience focusing on strategic planning and marketing effectiveness for many of the nation's leading advertisers, where his experience includes development and assessment of effective integrated marketing programs (advertising, direct response, promotion, public relations).
He has published a number of papers, participated in leading industry panels and also serves on several committees at the Advertising Research Foundation, Media Ratings Council, and the Interactive Advertising Bureau. David also initiated and directed Initiative's exclusive research partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) School of Comparative Media Studies, which resulted in breakthrough research on a number of key industry issues, including consumer behavior, interactivity and media convergence.
Raymond Girard
Vice President, Media & Publishing
Spafax
As Vice-President, Media & Publishing at Spafax from 1997 to 2009, Raymond led the team who reinvented Air Canada’s enRoute magazine, turning it into one of North America’s most successful travel lifestyle publications, twice winning the coveted NATJA Best Travel Magazine award against major “terrestrial” competitors. He also created the IN magazine / IFE brand for LAN and helped make Spafax become a major branded content agency.
Raymond is now President of Spafax Interactive, where he’s leading global digital and interactive activities for the group including the evolution and development of digital magazines and applications.
Raymond also publishes sparksheet.com, an influential online magazine that speaks with marketers who target the global “transumer”. Raymond’s thoughts on the future of media and airlines can be followed at http://twitter.com/spafax_raymond
Mary Kirby
Senior Editor
Flight International
For the last 11 years Mary Kirby has worked as both a journalist and editor for Flightglobal’s suite of online and print publications. She joined Flightglobal’s premium real-time news service Air Transport Intelligence in 1999 as regional reporter (Americas), and was promoted to deputy editor (Americas) in 2003 and later to US editor. Since September of 2007, Mary has worked as a senior editor at Flight International magazine and become a regular contributor to the industry’s premium monthly publication, Airline Business. She is also the proprietor of Flightglobal’s popular Runway Girl blog, which focuses on in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) and aircraft interiors.
Jack McHale
President and CEO
ORBIS International
Jack McHale has been an active member of the ORBIS International family since 1989. In 2009, Jack stepped in as President and CEO of ORBIS. Before his current position, Jack held dual positions at ORBIS and FedEx until retiring from FedEx, when he formally joined ORBIS in a volunteer position as Director of Aviation Affairs in 2008. Jack’s responsibilities included oversight of the maintenance and operations of the current ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital, a DC-10, as well as the acquisition and conversion of a new aircraft, an MD 10, destine to be the third generation Flying Eye Hospital. Jack has had more than 44-years experience in management and aviation. Beginning 1965, Jack enjoyed a 22-year career at McDonnell Douglas in various management positions in the sales and marketing arena. This was followed by another 22-year career in aircraft acquisitions for FedEx, the world‚s largest transportation and shipping company and a global sponsor of ORBIS.Jack serves on the boards of ORBIS Canada, Taiwan and Macaw. He is also the Chairman of the Board of Thompson Aerospace, an industry innovator redefining airline solutions to improve airline economics.
Jack lives in Tustin, CA with his wife Charlene. They have four children and eight grand children. Jack holds a degree in International Marketing from California State University in Long Beach, CA.
Jack's photo taken by: Adam Tageldin
Bowen Payson
Manager of Online and Digital Marketing
Virgin America
Bowen Payson joined Virgin America in the early 2008 to lead the digital team in the marketing department. His team manages online advertising, search marketing, SEO, web analytics, front end site development, social media, and email marketing to drive guest acquisition and retention. Since graduated University of Washington in 2002, he has worked in digital/online marketing with such brands as Apple, Expedia, Visa, and Yahoo!. Outside of work, you’ll likely find Bowen outside on his bike or skis enjoying the rush of fresh air.
Fran Phillips
Senior Vice President, Airline Solutions
Aircell LLC
Ms. Phillips is responsible for overall airline sales activities and relationship management. She has an extensive background as an executive and consultant developing the in-flight customer experience for major commercial airlines. Her background includes the successful launch of the first full aircraft in-seat video system for American Airlines, and she has been involved in the development of in-flight products and programs with companies such as Rockwell Collins and Sony. She served as Marketing Director and later consulted with Connexion by Boeing to identify customer requirements and lead the development of Web portals, content acquisition and web alliances. She holds an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Advertising from the University of Maryland.
Nina Plotner
Account Director, Project One Stop
Post Modern Edit, LLC - Part of The Post Modern Group
Nina joined PME two years ago after working at Inflight Productions for eight years as the Senior Account Manager for a major U.S. carrier and five years prior to that in travel industry sales. With fifteen years of experience, her strengths are her creative negotiation skills and her ability to analyze and adjust current processes to promote efficiency and increase savings. Furthermore, she has had significant involvement in the initial development and successful implementation of airline digital/AVOD systems. Nina is currently Accounts Director for Project One Stop, a new division of the Post Modern Group that focuses on third eye AVOD file and metadata QC and rack testing supervision.
Rich Salter
Chief Technical Officer
Lumexis Corporation
Rich Salter is Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of Lumexis Corporation, the company that has developed the Fiber-to-the-Screen™ IFE system based on an onboard fiber optics network. He has been an active participant in WAEA and its committees, including the Board of Directors, and is currently Chairman of the Technology Committee. He received the WAEA Lifetime Achievement award in 2001. Prior to his last seven years at Lumexis, he spent 8 years as an independent IFE consultant, and 15 years as cofounder and VP Engineering of Airshow, obtaining the original patent for the Airshow mapping system.
ROBERT SMITH
Senior Analyst
IMDC
IMDC is the world’s leading organisation in training and management development in the Inflight Technologies, communication and media industries. Robert has 4 years experience with IMDC after joining the company from the bmi, the UK’s second largest airline. Robert manages the Market Intelligence Unit at IMDC, in this role he his responsible for IMDC’s annual IFE Outlook Report and managing the IFE market intelligence database.
Robert has worked on major consulting projects for IMDC including those for Royal Brunei, Southwest, and LAN Airlines. He holds an honours degree in Business Economics from Exeter University and has lectured on Airline Marketing at Cranfield University.
SCOTT THOREAU
Managing Director
Emphasis Media, Ltd.
Scott is a senior media professional with 25 years experience, 13 of those in Asia. He has proven experience in developing media strategies for the inflight, B2B and B2C sectors. Scott is the Managing Director of Hong Kong based Emphasis Media Limited which produces inflight media for Singapore Airlines, SilkAir, as well as consumer titles such as CNN Traveller. Prior to joining Emphasis, he was with The Financial Times where he was the Regional Director for the Western US in charge of all commercial activities. Scott has appeared on BBC Asia and CNN Asia Pacific and is past Chairman of The Society of Publishers in Asia.
Alfy Veretto
Manager, IFE Content/Partnerships
Virgin America
Alfy was introduced to the world of TV and movies from a very young age. He started working at the local TV station in El Centro California. By the age of 18, Alfy had assumed the role of Program Director, scheduling syndicated programming and movies around a CBS/Fox affiliation. Wanting to please his parents and their pursuit of flying for free, Alfy went to work for Frontier Airlines. There he created the IFE department and became one of the first to deal directly with each of the major movie studios and introduce a pay-per-view model. Alfy spent 7 years at Frontier until Virgin America stole him away in 2008. Since then, Alfy has been leading the IFE department, looking for ways to improve the system and enhance the passenger experience.
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