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Group Inc. Bio
Group
Incorporated conceives develops and implements a full range of
strategic communications services. It is a Washington, DC-based
company that specializes
in designing and producing
high-profile events, and taking complex communications projects from concept
to completion for governments, political candidates, associations and
corporations both in the United States and internationally.
Projects that Group Incorporated specializes in usually include
event production, event management, meeting planning, video production,
entertainment booking and handling, script writing, IT and technical services,
satellite services,
transportation management, ticketing, audio, video, lighting, staging,
communications project management, multimedia production and graphic design.
Led by Executive Producer Tom Gorman, Group Inc. has led production teams of
varying sizes to produce and direct such events as:
The 50th Anniversary
of NATO celebration at the Mellon Auditorium in
Washington DC, April 23-25 1999
The Global Tech Summit,
held in Washington, DC on 2001 and 2003 for the
Business Software Alliance.
The International
Brotherhood of Teamsters' National Convention, held in Las
Vegas in 2001 for the IBT.
MED
Week (Minority Enterprise Development Week), held annually in Washington, DC
in
2001, 2002 and 2003 for the Minority Business Development Agency, a branch
of the Department of Commerce.
The Pennsylvania Gubernatorial
Inaugural Ceremony, Parade, Gala and Ball
held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in January 2003, for Governor Ed Rendell.
The annual CREF (Commercial Real Estate Financing) Convention, held in the
San Diego Convention Center. 2003 and 2004 for the Mortgage Bankers
Association
America 2000, the Democratic National Convention held in Los Angeles in
August 2000. Tom Gorman was the Executive Producer.
East Timor's two-day
celebration of its independence, held in Dili on May
20, 2002 for the Goverment of East Timor
The Remembrance Ceremony
of the Berlin Airlift, held at Templehof Airport in
Berlin in May of 1998
The Eastern European Stability Pact Summit, held in Sarajevo in July 1999
The E-911 Institute Honors held at the Reserve Officers Association on
February 24, 2004 for E-Copernicus and the E-911 Caucus with Sen. Hillary
Clinton, Sen. Conrad Burns, Rep. Maria Eshoo, Rep. John Shimkus, Assembly member
David Koon, Kristy Wickliff, Jim Moore and The Animal Band.
Tom
Gorman has assembled a professional staff of event and video production
talent including:
Tom Gorman - Executive Producer, Director
Joseph Finneran - Producer, Technical Director
Dana Voorhees - Producer, Video Producer
Josie Hinnegan - Producer
Bill Goodwin - Producer, Technical Producer
Patrick Wilson - Graphic Designer
Rita Gorman - IT Engineer
Kate Amick - Coordinating Producer
Sameer Zavery - Graphic Designer
Group Inc. draws from
its experience assembling teams from the Group
Incorporated Production Consortium (GIPC - pronounced gypsy). The consortium
includes production companies such as:
RK Productions - Ricky Kirshner
National Capital Concerts - Michael Colbert
ESM Productions - Scott Mirkin
Future View Inc. - David Hanrahan, Tom Hanrahan, James Hanrahan
Staff and Consortium Bios
Tom Gorman has nearly two decades of experience in communications consulting, media relations and the management of campaign communication strategy and events. He is regularly hired to ensure that high-profile, politically sensitive communications projects and programs succeed at every level, from concept to completion.
In the last four years, Mr. Gorman has undertaken several projects that combine high-stakes politics, complex logistics and sophisticated message management and distribution: He directed a group of designers, producers, technology experts, technical crew and political consultants to produce "America 2000," the Democratic Party's presidential nominating convention. He served as the White House's managing director of events and communications for NATO's 50th Anniversary Summit in Washington, D.C., directing a 70-member staff, developing and refining summit themes, devising and implementing NATO TV (a multilingual television broadcasting matrix serving media outlets throughout the world), overseeing a state-of-the-art media center serving 3,000 media representatives, and briefing leaders from more than 40 countries. He was U.S. representative and special advisor to the European Union, organizing the 44 heads-of-state Stability Pact Summit in Sarajevo on the rebuilding of the Balkans. And he oversaw the budgeting, planning and implementation of the 2001 International Brotherhood of Teamsters Convention. In each of these positions, he supervised every aspect of event design and production, from themes, concepts and logistics to protocol, security, media arrangements and live-camera coverage.
Most recently, in January 2003, he served as executive producer of the inaugural ceremonies of Governor Edward G. Rendell of Pennsylvania, where he oversaw all aspects of production, including the inaugural ceremony, a parade of more than 5,000 participants, a gala concert and an inaugural ball for more than 2,000 guests.
During the Clinton Administration, he orchestrated dozens of live, televised White House and campaign events, managing visits by the President, Vice President and First Lady to more than 30 states and 12 countries. He has managed the creation of broadcast and webcast architecture, supervised video coverage and directed the production of high-quality digital content for use in Internet, cable and broadcast applications. He has substantial experience in designing and implementing high-tech strategies that integrate Internet, cable and satellite communications technology to expand the communicative power of events.
Dana
Voorhees
Executive Producer, Group Pictures
As Executive Producer of Group Pictures, Ms. Voorhees oversees all aspects of production for national and regional advertising campaigns, public service campaigns and corporate communications pieces. She has taken on the role of visual strategist, ensuring a client’s message is clearly communicated through the final product. Dana builds and manages each project’s creative team, and oversees project budgets and schedules for clients such as PBS, ABC/Nightline, Allegheny Power, Time Warner’s Road Runner Broadband, MedStar Health, the Federal Highway Administration, the Children's Defense Fund, ETS and the Department of Commerce, among others. She has also produced commercial campaigns and long format pieces for national political clients at the Gubernatorial, Senatorial and Presidential level.
Over her 15 years in the production business, Dana has also spearheaded the development of co-production ventures and the creation of strategic alliances between producers and broadcast networks. She has brought numerous programs to the market for Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, National Geographic and PBS and has directed package design and distribution for the related home video efforts.
Joseph
Finneran
Group Dynamics
Joseph Finneran is executive producer, creative director and co-founder of FRESH Technologies, specializing in complex digital systems that integrate media, data and commerce. FRESH combines traditional entertainment production experience with a detailed understanding of emerging technologies for digital content creation, management, network distribution and display. Finneran is a director, writer, and producer whose credits include work in media production, post-production and high-tech display and installation. He recently supervised 16 interactive exhibits, including informational touchscreen games and a range of multi-platform media for Copia: The American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts. Finneran was supervising producer for digital media production and distribution for the 2000 Democratic National Convention; creative director of the Universal Studios City Walk Hollywood 2000 Expansion; and executive producer, show director, media producer and director for "BodyWorks Theatre," a 200+ capacity theater currently on exhibit at the new California Science Center in Los Angeles. He also line-produced behind-the-scenes projects for an arm of Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, directed and produced visual media for "Discovery Theatre" at Landmark Entertainment's Puroland theme park in Japan, and designed and produced videowall displays for broadcast, including those for the 1992 and 1996 Democratic National Conventions. He also produced and edited the opening segment for the 1993 Presidential Inaugural Gala on CBS.
Josie Hinnegan has a diverse background in documentary and commercial filmmaking and more than 10 years of production experience. She is expert in the assembly of all elements relating to the production of long-form documentary programming, including in-depth research, story development, script writing, logistics coordination and finding and qualifying personalities for interviews. She is also skilled in researching stock footage and still images and in casting and managing talent.
Josie’s film projects have covered subjects as diverse as "Hidden Worlds: Pyramids” (for the Travel Channel), for which she won a 2002 CINE Gold Eagle Award as producer/writer; "Inside the Pentagon" (for the National Geographic Channel); "Wine 101" (for PBS); and "Inside the Inferno" (a 2-hour special on firefighters for The Learning Channel). These and other projects have taken her to countries throughout the world to conduct meticulous research and coordinate elaborate staging and interviews. She has also worked on commercial productions ranging from political spots and public service announcements to corporate advertising campaigns.
With Group Incorporated, Josie has expanded into the event world, serving as the coordinating producer of the federal Minority Enterprise Development Week Conference in 2002 and 2003, the Mortgage Bankers Association's Commercial Real Estate Finance (CREF) Convention and Expo in 2003 and 2004, the Global Tech Summit 2003 for the Business Software Alliance, the “911 Honors” for the E911 Institute, and all events surrounding the inauguration of Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell.
Bill
Goodwin
Technical Creative Director
Bill
Goodwin has enjoyed more than 5 years in events-based sales and training for
Bose Corporation, then joined Future View, a full-service video communications
and satellite networking company, in 1997, and now plays multiple key roles
in the production environment for Group Incorporated, its subsidiaries Group
Dyanamics and Group Pictures in addition to his continuing business development
with Future View. He brings a range of talents to the demands of event, video
and multimedia production and management. These include; sales and management
for rental and staging services; executive production-level management for large-venue
corporate and political events and galas; event budget management; design and
engineering of audio, video and computer based systems including multi-screen
video-enabled sets; DVD mastering; video editing; and Macromedia Flash and Director
authoring as well as other technical, pre- and post-production services to support
live events together with a healthy dose of computer and IT related experience.
His technical and engineering skills, creative and design related talents together
with his ability to capture and express a clients key messages through various
live and pre-produced mediums, make him a coveted asset to any production. His
list of recent clients and events includes the CREF Convention 2003 and 2004
for the Mortgage Bankers Association, Minority Enterprise Development Week 2001,
2002 and 2003 for the Department of Commerce, Global Tech Summit 2001 and 2003
for the Business Software Alliance, systems installation and integration for
the100th Anniversary of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the 2003
Gala for the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, the International Brotherhood
of Teamsters Convention 2001, the 2000 State of the World Forum,and the 2000
GM Auto Show, .
Kate
Amick
Associate Producer, Group Inc.
Kate Amick brings six years of documentary and news reporting experience to Group Inc. Prior to joining Group Inc. Kate was a Production Associate for NOW with Bill Moyers. At NOW, Kate produced and supported Sr. Washington, D.C. Correspondent Roberta Baskin covering the nexus of business and politics through investigative reports.
Kate began her television career in 1998 at Oregon Public Broadcasting. As an Associate Producer for OPB, she split her time between assignments for The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer with Correspondent Lee Hochberg, and various PBS documentaries including Sinking the Lusitania, The Sixties and Warnings from a Small Town for Discovery Communications.
In 2000 Kate was part of the proposal team for the PBS series Life 360, a co-production between OPB and ABC News-Nightline. In 2001 she moved to Washington, D.C. to launch Life 360 as its Production Manager. During the series’ two seasons, Kate traveled to various U.S. cities to produce host Michel Martin’s monologues, and attend several PBS national conferences as a representative for the series.
During the week of September 11, 2001 while Kate was in production for Life 360 in New York, ABC World News Tonight and Nightline recruited her to support the monumental coverage of the terrorist attacks. She booked Peter Jennings’ first interview with a Twin Tower survivor. Her work that week earned her a National Emmy Award Certificate.
Kate graduated from Linfield College with a B.A. in Mass Communications and a Spanish minor. She enjoys writing, travel and horse-back riding.
Jonathan Adashek
Jonathan Adashek has extensive public and private sector experience in the areas of communications, events management, scheduling and advance, fundraising and policy development. As Coordinator of Independence celebrations in East Timor, he advised the President-elect and Foreign Minister on aspects of transition from UN rule and managed and international team that produced the official, and cultural, aspects of the celebrations.
Presently he serves as the Director of National Delegate Strategy and Ballot Access for the John Kerry for President Campaign. In this role he acts as the campaign’s principal liaison to delegates across the country to develop strategy to recruit the requisite number needed to be nominated by the Democratic Party. He also established a national network of lawyers and activists to deal with election law issues and authored the $20 million dollar finance plan for the campaign. In his position as Manager of Communications and Events for the California-based Pulsent Corporation, he coordinated and managed the company’s communications, including its relationships with investors and strategic partners as well as the design and development of the company’s web portal.
He previously worked in the U.S. Treasury Department, first as a Senior Advisor on issues ranging from Social Security and Medicare to electronic commerce, and then as Advisor to the Secretary and Director of Strategic Planning, Scheduling and Advance. During his career, he has held senior positions on a number of high-profile international events, including the Stability Pact Conference of the Sarajevo Summit (July 1999), the NATO 50th Anniversary Summit (April 1999) and the Denver Summit of the Eight. He also served in the White House Special Projects Office during the Clinton Administration and was an associate director for the 1996 Presidential Inaugural.
René
Lagler
Scenic Designer
René Lagler is an Emmy Award-winning scenic production designer with over 2,500 television shows and major international events to his credit. He designed the 57th Academy Awards, for which he won an Emmy. He also designed the Grammy Awards from 1983-1987 and the Emmy Awards and the Country Music Awards from 1991—present. Lagler has also designed such high-profile events as the 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000 Democratic National Conventions; the 1997 Presidential Inaugural Gala; the opening and closing ceremonies for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles; and Liberty Weekend in 1986, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty. He recently redesigned CNN’s main studios in Atlanta and studios and shows in Washington, New York and Los Angeles. Other recent projects include “Encore: Three Tenors” at Dodger Stadium, “Three Tenors” at Eiffel Tower in Paris, Disney’s “American Teacher Awards,” Pope John Paul’s “Mass in Central Park” and the American Film Institute’s “Lifetime Achievement Awards.”
David
G. Hanrahan
CEO, Future View
www.futureview.com
David
Hanrahan is the CEO of Future View, which he cofounded in 1975. The first company
to introduce large-screen image display systems to the Washington, D.C. metro
area, Future View now offers full-service video
communications and staging services. Its team of seasoned professionals represents
broad experience in communications, computer technology, management, marketing
and public affairs. Hanrahan’s primary focus is the continued development
of the latest cutting-edge technology innovations, including webcasting and
private subscription-based television networks that use Direct Broadcast Satellite
(DBS) technology. Future View’s high-profile clients range from the White
House, the Pentagon and the Democratic and Republican parties to top-tier Fortune
500 companies. Recent events include the Global Tech Summit 2001, the 2001 Christmas
Pageant of Peace, the 2000 State of the World Forum, the 2000 Democratic National
Convention and the 2000 GM Auto Show.
Emmy and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Susan Koch has directed, produced and written documentaries and non-fiction programming for worldwide distribution and televised broadcast. Her work has appeared on ABC, NBC, HBO, PBS, The Discovery Channel, National Geographic Explorer, Turner Broadcasting, American Movie Classics, The Learning Channel, MTV and the Travel Channel. Most recently, Koch directed the AMC television special, “Barbra Streisand Presents: Reel Models - First Women of Film," which received a 2000 Emmy and the Gracie Allen Award from American Women in Radio and Television. Koch has also produced videos and television programs for the National Center to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, the Barker Foundation, Childhelp USA, the Grady Memorial Hospital Teen Pregnancy Project, Planned Parenthood, the Minority Business Development Agency, the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, the NATO 50th Anniversary Summit, the Department of Commerce and the National Institute of Justice. Koch directed the critically acclaimed film "City at Peace," which premiered at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and Lincoln Center in New York City and was broadcast on HBO. Susan and Christopher Koch produced and directed the Peabody Award-winning documentary "Normandy: The Great Crusade," broadcast on The Discovery Channel and distributed throughout the world. It was one of the highest shows on cable television the year it aired. In association with the Smithsonian Institution, Koch TV Productions also created and produced, for six years, the "Invention" series, broadcast on The Discovery Channel. Their documentary "Blacklist: Hollywood On Trial" received the President's Emmy, which recognized high-quality and socially responsible programming.
Jeff
Werner
Director and Editor
Jeff Werner has worked as both director and editor on feature films and theatrical documentaries. He recently finished directing and editing the feature length documentary “Camp Scott Lock Up,” which aired on MTV and has played in film festivals throughout the world. Last year, he edited "Beyond the Mat," a theatrical documentary that was an Academy Award finalist for Best Documentary and was nominated by the Directors Guild of America for Best Documentary. He also edited the documentary feature film "Go Tigers," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Werner's other work includes editing "The Mirror has Two Faces," his fifth film in collaboration with Barbra Streisand; directing the HBO documentaries "The Godfather Family" and "Bloodlines"; and editing "City at Peace," a documentary about racism in Washington, D.C. that was broadcast on HBO and was featured at numerous film festivals around the world. Werner has also produced and edited many movie trailers for major Hollywood studios and directors, including Steven Spielberg.
www.esmproductions.com
Scott Mirkin is one of the nation’s most talented event professionals. His unique experience enables him to bring together a great mix of technical superiority, creative vision, and diplomacy, essential qualities for producing large, high profile events. Scott’s Producer Credits include; the President’s Summit for America’s Future (1997), the United States Navy’s Commissioning of the USS Donald Cook DDG75 Destroyer (1998), Millennium Philadelphia (1999), RNC 2000 Light Boat Parade and Fireworks, Lockheed Martin Space Station IMAX Premiere, (2002), and Pennsylvania Governor Rendell’s Inaugural Ball (2003). Scott’s 13 years of experience in the corporate, government, and institutional events industry makes him a valuable member of any production team. Most of the 200 events Scott has produced have been televised, or heavily covered by the press, so he has an understanding of what looks good to the live audience, and on television, and how to get it done. His use of a sophisticated CAD system, as well as computer modeling of stage sets and site lines always leaves the client with a clear vision of what the show will look like. Scott plans for every cable, light, and movement of the production.
Sarah
Orrick
Writer and Editor
Sarah Orrick is one of Washington, D.C.'s top writers and editors on public policy and government affairs. For the past 11 years, she has been the editor of Congressional Digest magazine, a pro and con monthly providing in-depth coverage of issues before Congress. She has also worked as a legislative aide and speechwriter on Capitol Hill and as editor of the Almanac of American Politics. She currently provides writing and editing services for various associations, think tanks, government entities, political campaigns and private sector organizations. She has written speeches for top government and corporate officials and scripts for national media events. Recent projects have included writing and editing web text for virtual conferences and distance learning programs. She is the co-author of Environmental Profiles: A Global Guide to Projects and People, an authoritative reference on environmental programs worldwide.
Patrick J. Baltzell
Audio Designer
Patrick Baltzell’s experience encompasses design consultation and mixing for television specials and large events. The scope of his work on these projects includes complete sound system design, coordination of vendor bids and maintenance of data from industry manufacturers for use in choosing design options to meet budgetary requirements. Projects he has worked on include the International Brotherhood of Teamsters 2001 Convention, the 2000 Democratic National Convention, the 1998 and 1999 Superbowls, the 1993 and 1997 Presidential Inaugural Galas, the 1992 and 1996 Democratic and Republican National Conventions, and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
John
W. Bradley
Stage Supervisor
John W. Bradley has worked for more than 20 years as a staging supervisor and production supervisor, handling the physical aspects of the budgeting, preparation, load in, operation and load out at numerous major television productions, conventions and other high-profile events. These have included the Democratic National Convention in 1996 and 2000; the Presidential Inaugural Galas in 1973, 1977, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1993 and 1997; the Academy Awards in 1993, 1994 and from 1998–present; the American Music Awards from 1988–present; the Grammy Awards from 1990–present; the Kennedy Center Honors from 1978–present; the Tony Awards from 1995–present; the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games; “Christmas in Washington” from 1981–present; and many others.
Mark
Carver
Lighting Designer
Mark Carver offers expertise in television, film, live events and system design and consultation. He has worked as an independent lighting designer and director since 1999, utilizing the latest technologies available with a unique perspective. From 1984 to 1999, he was lighting designer and director for CBS Cable (TNN and CMT). He has recently provided lighting design services for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters 2001 Convention, the “32nd Annual Dove Awards” and the “73rd Annual Academy Awards Pre-Show,” among other events. Selected credits include Election Night 2000 honoring Al Gore and Joe Lieberman, “The Grand Ole Opry 75th Anniversary Show,” “Backstreet Boys Millennium Tour,” “Larry King Live,” KGAN News 2 in Cedar Rapids, the “CNN 20th Anniversary Special” and the “Woody Guthrie Tribute.”
Michael Colbert is one of the country’s top event producers specializing in live national events, with more than a decade of experience working in the Washington, D.C. area. His list of credits includes some of the most visible national patriotic celebrations, including Memorial Day, Christmas and Fourth of July holiday events. He is particularly experienced in managing complex live events with multifaceted production concepts and complicated political relationships. He has worked extensively with Members of Congress and congressional committee staff, the National Park Service, the Department of Defense, the Kennedy Center, the National Symphony Orchestra and the Metropolitan Police Department. His long list of event production credits includes "A Capitol Fourth" in 1999, 2000 and 2001 and the "National Memorial Day Concert" for PBS. In November 2000, he was production manager for Election Night 2000 honoring Al Gore and Joe Lieberman. He was associate producer for the “75th Grand Ole Opry Celebration" and the 32nd and 34th Annual "Country Music Awards," both of which aired on CBS. Colbert also was associate producer for the "NFL All Star Comedy Blitz" (CBS) and "Viva Variety" (Comedy Central). Other credits include the 53rd Presidential Inaugural Gala, the Kennedy Center Honors and "Christmas in Washington."
Ricky
Kirshner
Executive Producer
Ricky Kirshner is a leading entertainment industry production executive whose credits include television specials, stadium spectaculars and corporate events. His more than 15 years of production experience include work with ABC, Radio City Music Hall, Smith-Hemion Productions and others. His recent work includes the 2000 Democratic National Convention, the 2000 and 2001 Tony Awards, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters 2001 Convention and the “AFI Salute to Barbra Streisand.” He was also Senior Producer of Entertainment Segments for “ABC 2000” (ABC News’ Millennium coverage), which proved to be one of the most watched television events of all time; NATO’s 50th Anniversary Summit; and the World University Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Prior to that, Kirshner was Executive-in-Charge of Production for the 1992 and 1996 Democratic National Conventions, the 1993 and 1997 Presidential Inaugural Galas, the 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 Tony Awards, the 1996 Grammy Awards, the 25th Anniversary of the Kennedy Center, the 1994 World Cup Soccer Final Game Ceremony and many other events. He has been a freelance production executive since 1992.
Bryon
Elsom
Writer/Director, Atomic Dog
Bryan
Elsom’s ability to bring real people and real emotion to the screen is
manifested in his extensive commercial and documentary film work. His astute
visual sense is coupled with a talent for eliciting authentic performances that
translate into truly genuine moments. Bryan has won numerous national and international
awards for his work including ten national Addy awards and fifteen national
Telly awards. His energetic and informative style of storytelling has taken
him to work in the wilds of Patagonia, on the glaciers of Alaska, into the bush
in Africa and onto the streets of Hong Kong. Bryan started his career making
experimental and documentary films. His work is part of the collection at the
Museum of Modern Art. His documentaries on American jazz and First Amendment
rights have been broadcast extensively in the US, Europe and Australia. In the
late '90s, Bryan's work began to draw international attention as he began directing
in Europe and South America. His clients include Coca-Cola, Brugal Rum, General
Motors, Cristal Beer, Ferrari, Nivea, Atrix, Ericsson, Aiwa Electronics, Panasonic
and St. Maarten Tourism.
His domestic work has remained strong with national projects for MCI, Nissan,
Omnipoint, TDK, Mannington, Acterna, the Department of Education, USC, University
Healthcare, PBS, the Federal Highway Administration and Road Runner Broadband,
among many others.
At Atomic Dog Bryan is responsible for the development and creation of original
material as well as directing commercials and sponsored films.
Nick
Friendly
Event Management
Nick Friendly has more than 20 years experience in public affairs/special event organization and political campaigns. He worked as a lead advance for the Gore-Lieberman 2000 Presidential Campaign and was the Director of Events for the NATO 50th Anniversary Summit. Prior to that he was an associate with Smith, Dawson & Andrews, a public affairs company. At Smith Dawson his clients ranged from the PGA Tour to Southwest Airlines. Friendly also served in the Clinton Administration from 1993 to 1995 as the Director of Conferences for the White House Conference on Small Business. In this position he was responsible for the schedules and budgets of 55 state, four regional and one national conference. He also chaired two of these events. A native of Washington, D.C., Friendly also worked at the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration in the Carter Administration.
Lisa
Geers
Producer
Lisa Geers' production credits include the 2000 Democratic National Convention, where she served as associate producer, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters 2001 Convention, where she served as coordinating producer. She was recently associate producer for "Backstreet Boys - Larger than Life" (CBS); the 2000 and 2001 Blockbuster Awards (Fox); "Elton John Greatest Hits Live" (CBS); Lifetime's Breast Cancer Benefit "Women Rock! Girls and Guitars"; "Sports Illustrated's 20th Century Sports Awards" and network specials featuring Faith Hill, Christina Aguilera and Shania Twain. For the past two years she has worked as a field producer for the official Grammy Awards webcast. Prior to her career in television, she produced special events geared toward major gifts fundraising for the Nature Conservancy of California and for UCLA, where she was Director of Special Projects and Events. At UCLA, projects included the UCLA 75th Anniversary, with a keynote address by President Clinton; the presentation of the Iris Cantor Humanitarian Award to Hillary Rodham Clinton; an address by Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres; and a reception honoring Benazir Bhutto, Prime Minister of Pakistan.
John
Halloran
Coordinating Producer and Production Manager
John Halloran’s experience as a coordinating producer, line producer, production manager and project manager encompasses the fields of television, theater, corporate communications, trade show exhibitions, themed attractions, concert production and special events. High-profile events on which he has served as coordinating producer and line producer include NATO’s 50th Anniversary Summit in Washington, D.C., the Special Olympics World Games opening and closing ceremonies and the “Windows 95” launch, reviewed in the media as the largest product introduction ever. Projects on which he has served as production manager/project manager include Stanford University’s Centennial Stadium Celebration; the Welcoming Ceremonies of the Goodwill Games in Seattle; the U.S. Olympic Festival opening ceremonies in Norman, Oklahoma (1989) and Minneapolis (1990); the IBM/Innovations exhibit at EPCOT; the inaugural “NASCAR World” event in Indianapolis — a 500,000 square foot interactive fan theme park that was reassembled during the Daytona 500 speed week in Daytona Beach; American Honda Motors new vehicle roll outs and dealer events; and a variety of other corporate television projects for such clients as Anheuser-Busch, Andersen Consulting, Pepsi-USA and American Express.
Chris Kepferle
Media Consultant and Senior Producer
Chris Kepferle has nearly 20 years of experience in advertising, political media consulting, public relations and event management. He has produced over 2,400 television and 1,300 radio spots, press conferences, media tours, satellite teleconferences, video news releases, corporate videos, documentaries and events. He has worked on the last five Democratic National Conventions and planned and implemented ten annual leadership conferences in Washington, D.C. for Johnson & Johnson’s National SAFE KIDS Week. In August 2000, he was the supervising producer for the Democratic National Convention’s first-ever television and Internet broadcast coverage, and directed the DNC’s first live interactive webcast event and podium chat. Kepferle began his career with Greer, Margolis, Mitchell, Burns & Associates, where he was director of production and a pioneer in the use of satellite technology in political campaigns. In 1992, he was director of production for the Clinton/Gore ad campaign, overseeing a $5 million production budget and the production of more than 300 commercials. Other illustrative campaign and event experience includes the “Disney Channel 10th Anniversary Tour” and producing and directing the live television and Internet broadcast launch of www.netaid.org, including a satellite teleconference with world leaders.
Michelle
LeTarte
Production Executive
Michele
LeTarte is one of the country’s most accomplished production executives.
Her background includes a range of events and entertainment specials for which
she has developed detailed budgets, managed crew and staff and overseen complex
logistics. She is regularly called on to see that events are loaded in on time
and on budget. She has considerable experience in managing event and production
budgets, generating cost reports, and hiring and coordinating a team of producers
and directors, including crews in multiple cities. Michelle also supervises
travel and lodging.Recent events include: Pennsylvania Governor’s Inaugural
(2003), where Michele managed the overall budget and logistics for all inaugural
events, including the Swearing In Ceremony, the Inaugural Parade, the Inaugural
Gala and the Inaugural Ball. She hired, scheduled and coordinated staff, crews
and producers for all venues under the direction of the executive producer.
The Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games, where she was schedule coordinator
for the Opening & Closing Ceremonies. In this capacity she coordinated the
production schedule of the live event, working directly with the producers,
directors and choreographers. She managed the schedule needs of both the technical
and talent departments to make sure that the load in, set up, rehearsal, show
and strike were done as efficiently as possible. She also managed all departments’
scheduling needs on a daily basis and acted as liaison with NBC, ISB and SLOC
regarding the schedule as it pertained to the live broadcast.
Michele has also served as a freelance associate producer and production manager
on various live and live-to-tape variety shows, award shows, network television
specials and live events
Christine
Paull
Transportation and Security Logistics Coordinator
Christine
Paul offers an in-depth knowledge of multi-venue planning and operations, particularly
in the areas of sports and entertainment. Many of her jobs have entailed audience
procurement, vendor selection, and event-based sales and marketing. She has
assembled and supervised teams ranging from 5 to 1300 people (both paid and
volunteer). Her many projects include:
The 2002 Commonwealth Games Manchester, England, where, as security manager,
Christine was responsible for the design and implementation of an "Island
Site" Security protocol consisting of four venues and a large common domain
area. She worked with the Greater Manchester Police to determine levels of search
and acceptable levels of risk; integrated a (1,000+) workforce of paid contract
security, military and volunteers; devised a training program for all employees;
and worked with protection officers to ensure the safety of persons traveling
to each of the venues.
The 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games, where Christine served as regional manager/operations consultant with responsibility for assessing parking needs for the entire Olympic Games. She worked with the Salt Lake Organizing Committee to build a seamless plan integrating the bus systems, pedestrian flow and parking operations.
The 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, where, as California operations Consultant, Christine worked with the Finance Committee to develop special services needs. She created a multi-venue transportation system that serviced the 5,000+ Finance Committee members, served as contact for the bus providers and the DNC Transportation Department, and provided online system analysis and adjustment for the Delegate Transportation System.
National Summit on Africa Washington, DC, where, as operations consultant, Christine developed a bus system to transport delegates from the Summit to sanctioned after-hours events. She assisted with Delegate recruitment and registration, and worked with venue managers on all operational aspects of the Summit, including security, credentialing and load-in/out.
America’s Millennium Washington, DC Deputy Manager, where she assisted with transportation for all show talent, maintaining contact with limousine and bus companies, scheduling all moves and confirming all departure plans, and working with the producer to organize and manage the motor pool.
Richard A. Pizante specializes in producing televised specials, concerts and events, comedy festivals, national political conventions and corporate events. He has served as Executive-in-Charge of Production for high-profile events such as the 2000 Democratic National Convention and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters 2001 Convention. Other production credits include his contributions to the “32nd Annual NAACP Image Awards,” “Christmas in Washington” from 1997—2001, “American Film Institute Salutes…,” the “Latino Laugh Festival” and “NetAid,” a concert financed by Cisco Systems viewed by millions “live” around the world (via satellite and on the Internet) benefiting the United Nations Development Project. Pizante launched his career in freelance production in 1994 and resides in Los Angeles, CA.
Paige Reffe
In a career spanning more than 20 years in Washington, D.C., Mr. Reffe has worked in both the private and public sectors. Trained as a lawyer, he has enjoyed roles that range from behind the scenes to very public, from detail oriented to global strategist. As a political appointee in the Carter Administration for three years, he worked at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the General Services Administration (GSA) developing an intimate knowledge of the workings of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government. At OMB, he worked on the President’s First Reorganization Project on the Executive Office of the President, and at GSA became the principal assistant to the Administrator.
From 1979-83, Mr. Reffe was a trial attorney with the Tax Division, United States Department of Justice where he concentrated primarily on bankruptcy and civil tax matters. As a litigator, Mr. Reffe refined his advocacy skills in a public forum. From 1985-87, Mr. Reffe served as the chief of staff for Tim Wirth as a Congressman/Senator where he managed a staff of more than forty, a multi-million dollar budget and learned the intricacies of the Legislative Branch.
Mr. Reffe joined the law firm of Cutler & Stanfield at its inception in 1988. While in private practice, he has represented a variety of clients from public instrumentalities and universities to multi-national corporations. From 1990-93, Mr. Reffe was the chief outside counsel for the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority - the largest water utility in North America. The Agency employed more than 7,000 people, had a budget in excess of $700 million and a long-term capital construction program of $2 billion. In addition to supervising legal matters, Mr. Reffe provided guidance and advice on both the day-to-day management of the agency and developing long-term strategies.
As a Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Advance at the White House in 1995-96, Mr. Reffe supervised a staff that grew to more than 200 and a multi-million dollar budget. His office was responsible for the successful execution of the President’s and First Lady’s trips including: ten major overseas visits to more than 30 countries, more than 400 trips in the United States and numerous events in the Washington, D.C. area. Mr. Reffe led the site survey and preadvance teams for all of the President’s foreign travels and in that capacity was the principal negotiator with foreign governments regarding the President’s visits.
The negotiations ranged from whether the President would visit (Sarajevo) to how long (Japan state visit), from whom he would meet to where he would speak (Northern Ireland) and on what suggested topics. Each decision had an impact both substantively and strategically and ramifications for the Administration’s foreign policy. The President’s foreign travel included visits to: Australia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Russia, Spain, Thailand and the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland. By far the most difficult assignments were his work in Bosnia and Croatia, Egypt and Israel, and Northern Ireland. These visits required sensitive negotiating skills, a keen understanding of the diplomatic intricacies of American foreign policy, and a heightened level of political sophistication.
In 1997, Mr. Reffe rejoined the law firm of Cutler & Stanfield as a partner and in 1998, Mr. Reffe established his own law office where he advises clients on federal and international matters. In 2000 Mr. Reffe also established the Reffe Group which specializes in internal events.
The Reffe Group planned and executed all of the Vilnius Group Summits including: a Ministerial in Vilnius, Lithuania in May 2000; a Prime Ministerial summit in Bratislava, Slovakia in March, 2001; a Presidential summit in Sofia, Bulgaria in October 2001; a Prime Ministerial summit in Bucharest, Romania in March, 2002; and a Prime Ministerial Head of State summit in Riga, Latvia in July, 2002. Mr. Reffe presently represents the Governments of Albania, Lithuania, Romania, and Slovakia in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Reffe presently serves on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Committee to Expand NATO. He also served on the Visitor’s Board of the United States Airforce Academy from 2000-2002. He is a graduate of both the college and the law school of Emory University.
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