THE MENTORS

A key to how the Media Camp Academy works is the direct relationship that is created between the startups and key Turner and Warner Bros. executives. Each startup in each Media Camp Academy is directly matched with two or more executives who can assist with commercializing their technologies and products within the Turner and Warner Bros. ecosystems and beyond. Here are a few of our mentors.

Darcy Antonellis, President, Technical Operations, and Chief Technology Officer, Warner Bros. Entertainment

Antonellis and her team work across the Studio solving today’s technology challenges and enabling new technology-based businesses. Appointed to her role in 2008, Antonellis oversees the Studio’s technical operations and engineering/development talent. With hundreds of development talent, she orchestrated the creation of DETE (Digital End-to-End), the first studio digital supply chain, which cleared the way for Sales and Distribution to rapidly expand digital distribution partnerships and revenues in film and TV. Additional credits include the creation of a wholly digital syndication distribution system (Syndistro) that enables highly flexible HD content distribution to broadcast and cable partners across North America, the creation of a Joint Venture (Javelin) with Deluxe to provide high quality and reliable spot delivery for advertisers, and positioning WB as a founding member of Digital Cinema Distribution Coalition (DCDC) to distribute digital cinema from content distributors to exhibitors directly and at low cost via a consortium and utility model.

Antonellis implemented a typical tech company hack-a-thon model for team ideations; OutMyWindow, a private photo-sharing application, was created within 29 hours. By seeing photo sharing as media and entertainment and the opportunity to introduce professional content to users, OutMyWindow is the first application of its kind created by a studio. Additionally, Antonellis and her team have created WBHive, a Studio-wide ideation platform to allow any employee at any level to submit ideas and for executives to post challenges seeking creative solutions.

A veteran of both hard news and network sports, her diverse experience includes being stationed in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War for CBS News as well as three Olympics stints for CBS Sports, earning her two Emmy Awards for technical production. A US Patents holder, she holds honors in electrical engineering and has received a number of industry honors – most recently the 2011 NAB TVNewsCheck Women in Technology Leadership Award and India’s 2012 NASSCOM Innovation Award.

Debra Baker, Senior Vice President, Global Business Development, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group

Debra Baker, Senior Vice President, Global Business Development, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, leads a team focused on driving new business partnerships, models, channels and products across Warner Home Video, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, the three divisions of WBHEG. Debra and her team create strategy, a cross divisional communication matrix and cross platform, cross content business deals with key strategic partners with whom the divisions have multiple touchpoints and business dealings. She is also charged with seeking out forward looking opportunities and recommending new businesses, products and revenue streams consistent with front line innovation to support and drive WBHEG divisional priorities. She develops, evaluates and negotiates opportunities for acquisitions and partnerships, and represents the divisions’ interests in Warner Bros. and Time Warner Corporate activities such as public policy, financial investments, and development of new businesses within WBHEG.

Before her current position, Debra joined Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment when it was formed in 2004 and served as General Counsel and SVP, Business Operations, overseeing Business & Legal Affairs, Business Development and Operations for the video game business. Before joining WBIE, Debra was Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs for Warner Bros. Corporate Business Development & Strategy, following a role as Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs, General Counsel for Warner Bros. Studio Stores.

Paul Condolora, Vice President Digital & CNE Animation, Young Adults and Kids Media Group, Turner Broadcasting System

Paul is responsible for leading the development and implementation of the digital strategy and product development across multiple platforms for Cartoon Network and Adult Swim-branded products and services. Additionally, Condolora oversees creative development and day-to-day operations for two industry leading Web sites CartoonNetwork.com and AdultSwim.com, and also oversees digital strategy and operations for the investigative website, TheSmokingGun.com. He also oversees the CNE teams in Atlanta and New York with John O’Hara, executive vice president, Cartoon Network Sales, Marketing & CNE. Based in Atlanta, Condolora reports to Stuart Snyder, president and chief operating officer of Turner Broadcasting System’s Animation, Young Adults & Kids Media, a portfolio of cable networks, digital properties and entertainment businesses for kids and young adults.

Condolora came to Cartoon Network Online in 2000 as vice president of business development. Previously, he was the head of the Multimedia Department at Sony Pictures Imageworks. At Sony, Condolora supervised more than 20 projects, many award winning, including visual effects for feature films and television shows, Internet games and promotional Web sites. He has also managed the U.S-based software development for Sony’s AIBO entertainment robot. Prior to his role at Imageworks, Condolora was the Director of Special Projects for Sony Pictures Entertainment focusing on business development. Condolora began his entertainment career as a member of Columbia Pictures Management Associates Program.

Jennifer Dorian, SVP Strategy Development, Turner Entertainment Networks and Animation, Young Adults & Kids Media Group, Turner Broadcasting System

As SVP, strategy development, for Turner Entertainment Networks and Turner’s Animation, Young Adults & Kids Media group, Jennifer Dorian is a strategic business and branding consultant for TBS, TNT, TCM, truTV, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. Dorian won a Brandweek Brand Builders award for leading the TNT and TBS re-brands.

Thomas Gewecke, President, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution

Thomas Gewecke was named President, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution in December 2007. In this position, Gewecke works to extend Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group’s digital strategy and reach across current and emerging platforms. Charged with global responsibility for the strategic growth initiatives around all of WBHEG’s assets, Gewecke guides development and execution of activities in the wireless, online, transactional video-on-demand/pay-per-view and electronic-sell-through sectors. He is also responsible for identifying strategic partnerships and next-generation distribution channels to open new revenue streams.

The Home Entertainment Group, of which WBDD is a part, brings together all of the Studio’s businesses involved in thedelivery of home entertainment content to consumers,including home video, online, wireless and games, and is focused on protecting and maximizing the value of the Studio’s content, while fully harnessing the benefits of emerging technologies.

Lisa Gregorian, Chief Marketing Officer, Warner Bros. Television Group

As Chief Marketing Officer of the Warner Bros. Television Group (WBTVG), highly respected marketing innovator Lisa Gregorian interfaces with the Studio’s internal television marketing teams as well as television networks and stations worldwide to maximize and fully exploit the promotional marketing opportunities for all of the Studio’s television properties, including network, first-run, cable and animated series, of which there are more than 50 for the 2012-13 season.

She is also the architect of the trade and consumer marketing efforts related to WBTVG’s multiplatform digital media business strategy and its entertainment destinations, including CWTV.com, TheWB.com, Studio 2.0 (the company’s digital venture for original programming) and more. Gregorian continues to collaborate on the marketing and promotion of WBTVG series along with its series broadcast and cable partners, to include traditional, new media and product licensing as well as integration initiatives with blue-chip advertisers. Gregorian has also been instrumental in creating digital promotional opportunities for WBTVG series, both in subscription video-on-demand and EST.

Gregorian has worked at the studio for 26 years, beginning her association with Warner Bros. when she joined Lorimar Telepictures in 1986 (the company was later acquired by Warner Bros.). She also serves as co-chair of the board of directors of PromaxBDA — the leading global association for marketing, promotion and design professionals in the entertainment industry.

Don Loheide, VP Advanced Video, Turner Broadcasting System

A leader within the company’s Audience & Multi-Platform Technologies organization, Don Loheide is responsible for leading Turner’s research and development in the areas of automatic content recognition, video-on-demand services, connected TVs, over-the-top TV, delivery of 3D content to the home and various other enhanced interactive TV applications. He advises Turner senior management on these technologies and directs the resources of Turner’s Emerging Technology Labs to provide simulation and testing of advanced video products. He is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Northern Kentucky University with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering technology.

Rhonda Lowry, Vice President Emerging Social Web Technologies, Turner Broadcasting System

Rhonda is a media and technology strategist and the company’s resource for understanding emerging digital and Social Web technologies and behavioral trends. Rhonda helps Turner’s businesses understand and employ social technologies across the spectrum of social computing – networking, blogs, virtual worlds, gaming and online collaboration – to extend and enrich the multi-platform media experience.

Rhonda is based in Atlanta and reports to Scott Teissler, chief technology and digital strategy officer. She was recently named to Cable Fax’s Digital Hotlist, and has been listed on Cable World’s Top 50 Women in Cable for several years.

Tricia Melton, SVP Entertainment Marketing for Turner Entertainment Networks, Turner Broadcasting System

Tricia Melton is SVP of entertainment marketing for TBS, TNT and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). In this capacity, Melton is responsible for the strategic and creative development of marketing for the networks. She also oversees interactive and affiliate marketing, as well as emerging markets. Melton is based in Atlanta and reports to Jeff Gregor, EVP and CMO of TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and general manager of TCM.

Michael Quigley, Vice President of Business Development & Multi-Platform Distribution, Turner Broadcasting System

Michael focuses on initiatives such as TV Everywhere, Dynamic Ad Serving, Application Development, Connected Devices, Content Search & Navigation and traditional digital businesses. Quigley is based in Atlanta and reports to Jeremy Legg, senior vice president of business development & multi-platform distribution.

Within his role, Quigley oversees broadband syndication, digital and social gaming distribution, and electronic sell-through for multiple Turner brands, including TNT, TBS, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. He also leads the authentication integration efforts for TV Everywhere initiatives, oversees the new product application development, and works with emerging technology companies, CE manufacturers, and pay TV providers to cultivate innovative partnerships. Quigley additionally creates new business models with both internal and external constituencies including mobile, web and emerging platforms, develops advance video products and evaluates new IP video distribution technologies.

Scot M. Safon, Executive Vice President for CNN Worldwide, Turner Broadcasting System

Scot is Executive Vice President for CNN Worldwide, where he is responsible for managing the domestic US television network HLN. Safon joined CNN Worldwide in August 2002 as its Senior Vice President of Marketing and Promotion and was appointed Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer in 2007.

Scot has supervised the development of all consumer and trade communication for CNN US Television, CNN.com, CNN International, HLN, CNN Mobile and all CNN branded services. He has overseen the marketing and promotion of programs including Anderson Cooper 360, Nancy Grace, Joy Behar, Larry King Live, The Situation Room and Fareed Zakaria GPS. His team has been responsible for handling marketing and sales communications during CNN’s award-winning coverage of the 2008 and 2004 Presidential Elections, Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, the war in Iraq and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. He has also overseen the Emmy-winning campaign for the top-rated God’s Warriors and campaigns for award-winning primetime documentary series such as Black in America and Planet in Peril.

Diane Simone, Executive Producer, Turner Broadcasting System

Diane provides business development and cross-functional team leadership at Turner Studios for all the Turner Networks on multidisciplinary projects including promos, VFX pilots and episodics, and interactive environment design that span all disciplines: Shoot production, post production, sound design, visual effects, 2D & 3D animation, art direction and digital and motion graphic design.

Alex Wellen, Vice President of Video Products & Business at CNN, Turner Broadcasting System

Alex leads CNN Digital’s video, TV and connected devices product and business portfolios, which include both authenticated and unauthenticated live and VOD content across all platforms. He is based in CNN’s world headquarters in Atlanta and reports directly to KC Estenson, senior vice president and general manager of CNN Digital.

Alex has helped set the vision and implement a globally integrated programming and product strategy to build highly scalable, innovative global products that resonate with consumers, grow revenues and strengthen brands. In 2011, he oversaw the reinvention and launch of the new CNN.com video experience as well as CNN’s “TV Everywhere” product line, which streams the linear TV channels 24-7 to more than 80 million subscribers.

Joe Wilson, Vice President of Enterprise Analytic Platforms, Turner Broadcasting System

Joe heads the Enterprise Analytics Platforms team for Turner’s Audience Data and Analysis Platforms organization, developing cross-platform analysis solutions for Turner’s Ad Sales, Content and Marketing teams. He previously had roles at Turner leading Strategic Product Development within Strategic Audience Solutions and the Enabling Software team in Platform Research and Development.

With more than 25 years of experience in software development and systems architecture in fields as diverse as gaming, scientific simulation and publishing, Joe was an early pioneer on the Web developing an Internet presence in 1993 for Gannett’s flagship newspaper, USA Today.

Amy Zehfuss, VP Network Strategy, Turner Entertainment Networks, Turner Broadcasting System

Amy Zehfuss is Vice President Strategy Development for Turner Entertainment Networks (TEN), which includes TBS, TNT, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and truTV. In her role, Zehfuss leads growth planning, strategy development and executive communication for TEN. She sets the vision for these functions and leads the staff and other teams in developing innovative strategic results to maximize revenue and ratings for business growth.

Zehfuss holds an MBA in strategy and marketing from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and an undergraduate degree in financial management from Clemson University. She has served as a mentor for WICT and several programs within Turner Broadcasting. Zehfuss is married to husband Jonathan Loegel and has a 5-year-old son, Carter.