Moderated by
Jim Louderback

Venture Partner, Social Starts
Principal, Louderback Group
Editorial Director – VidCon Industry Tracks

With more than 20 years of experience in consulting, technology, and media, Jim Louderback has pioneered significant innovations throughout his career.

Currently a venture partner at Social Starts, Jim also does strategy and digital transformation consulting with top media brands, and curates the Industry track of Vidcon as editorial director.

Previously, as CEO of online video network Revision3, Jim led the startup to huge increases in viewership and revenue before selling the company to Discovery Communications. He then led the integration into Discovery, while launching and acquiring 6 new networks and transforming the group into Discovery Digital Networks, which he ran as General Manager.

Panelist
Al Roker

Co-Anchor NBC Today Show
CEO/Owner Al Roker Entertainment, Inc.

As a host and weatherman of NBC’s Today Show, along with Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer, Al Roker has the undivided attention of the nation (over 32 million viewers per week) every weekday morning as America prepares for work.

Spanning a 35-year plus career and a thirteen-time Emmy winner, Al conducts interviews with celebrities and newsmakers around the world and does a wide variety of segments on every imaginable subject.

Al is also an accomplished television producer. He is CEO of Al Roker Entertainment, Inc. (ARE); a thriving multimedia company involved in the development and production of network, cable, and home video. ARE produces programming for a diverse clientele including NBC News, MSNBC, Spike TV, Lifetime Television, A&E, The History Channel, E!, Discovery Networks, PBS, TV ONE, Oxygen, The Cartoon Network, The Weather Channel and NBC Television Stations Group.  More: https://www.linkedin.com/company/al-roker-entertainment

As a leader in new media broadcasting, Al recently launched Roker Media http://rokermedia.live (@RKRMedia), a creative consortium combining talent, production, amplification, and brand building for live streaming platforms, leveraging audiences where they live online. Working with Facebook Live, Twitch, Twitter/Periscope, YouNow and other social broadcasting platforms, Roker Media produces a new generation of media for an on-the-go, mobile audience. Roker Media also operates Roker Labs, a data and analytics division, dedicated to compiling and publishing actionable statistics and findings on how viewers consume media content. Roker Labs tweets at https://twitter.com/rokerlabs (@Rokerlabs)

Al is a bestselling author with ten acclaimed books to his credit. His latest, co-authored with his wife, Deborah Roberts, is entitled “Been There Done That: Family Wisdom For Modern Times.”

As an avid social media contributor, Al regularly tweets @AlRoker; https://twitter.com/alroker, posts on his website: http://www.alroker.com/, and talks with his audience on Facebook.

Panelist
Dave Shaw

Vice President Production, NFL Media
Principal, President – Common Logic
President - Venue Services Group
SVP Technical Operations and Engineering – Madison Square Garden Network/Fox Sports NY

Head of Production planning and execution of logistics and budget for the full media group based in California, including NFL Network, and all digital platforms.  Oversee all production operations, engineering, master control operations, commercial traffic operation for NFL Media, including NFL Network, NFL NOW! OTT channel and NFL.com,  including operational, engineering and production strategies, budgeting, technical facilities, staffing, transmission, space planning, production management and full operations.  Coordinate broadcast operations with Programming, Production, Engineering and Operations by bridging communication, operations standards, and policies with NFL Films (NJ), NFL Master Control (GA), NFLN Studios (CA) and NFL Corporate (NY).

Highlights:

• NFL Media Studios - head of studio operations seven-stage facility in Culver City, CA  
• Launched buildout of two new stages, introduced new technologies including Augmented Reality, improved workflows, upgraded technologies
• NFL Thursday Night Football – lead of NFL production operation Led coordination with CBS Sports (2014-16) and NBC Sports (2016) to prepare and execute production.  Led NFL Network production (2010-13) prior to rights deal changes.  Oversee all operations, transmission, crewing, facilities, budgeting, for major national live event coverage of games, including integration of pre- and post-game shows and digital live and support coverage, with steadily increasing ratings in industry.
• NFL Now! OTT channel - oversaw implementation and launch in August 2014 Led operational, staffing, technical launch of NFL’s foray into OTT channel
• NFL Media Remote Operations – head of remote operations for all NFL media content Super Bowl – all remote and studio programming (approximately 90-hours live SB week) NFL Draft, NFL Scouting Combine, Senior Bowl, East-West Shrine Game, Hall of Fame Game, etc.
• Awards:
  • National Emmy Award – 9/11 Tribute in 2011
  • International Festival Award – 9/11 Tribute in 2011

Panelist
Marcus "djWHEAT" Graham

Director of Twitch Studios at Twitch

Marcus "djWHEAT" Graham is a globally recognized game commentator and internet personality whose focus at Twitch is overseeing various live programming initiatives from regular community shows to E3 and Twitch’s own TwitchCon. As a player, producer, and streamer, Marcus has over 15 years of experience in the competitive gaming industry and is known for offering a unique mix of entertainment, education, and history.