Video Strategies Track

Andrey Kisel is Chief technologist in the Alcatel-Lucent Velocix Architecture Team. Dr Kisel is currently involved in the research of end to end architectures and video enhancements for Content Delivery Networks. He also works on high quality video delivery over managed and unmanaged (Open Internet) networks, as well as unified architectures that converge IPTV, Internet video and communication services. Dr Kisel is a Board member of the OIPF and has previously been Rapporteur of a number of ETSI IPTV specifications. Previously within Alcatel-Lucent, Dr Kisel was Chief Technologist of the Multimedia Integration Practice, Lead Technologist of the Wireline CTO group and Principal Architect for the Alcatel (thirdspace) video delivery solution OVS. Andrey Kisel was previously awarded a research scholarship from the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. in telecommunications from the Ukrainian State Academy of Telecommunications, Odessa, Ukraine. Dr Kisel has been granted 5 patents to date.

Oren Binder brings over ten years of IP video technology experience to his role as Manager of marketing for Cisco’s Videoscape. In this role, Mr. Binder is works closely with the company’s principal wireline and cable service providers on IP initiatives. Prior to joining Cisco, he was a product manager for Microsoft Mediaroom. Earlier in his career, Mr. Binder led an IPTV deployment project at service provider Bezeq.

Steve Sklar has worked in the video and communications industry since 1988, and currently oversees CenturyLink’s Video Strategy & Development team. Sklar leads the group responsible for product development, content partner management, engineering and architecture and deployment of video services.

Previously Sklar managed Qwest's partnerships with DIRECTV and Verizon Wireless, and also oversaw Qwest's broadband content and multi-channel video initiatives.

Sklar was previously director of product strategy for high-speed Internet and digital voice products at Cablevision Systems Corporation, the nation's fifth-largest cable multiple-system operator. He has also served as senior vice president of business development at Insight Communications where he was instrumental in the launch of high-speed Internet and video-on-demand services. Additionally, he has held various roles at Starz Entertainment and Home Box Office, Inc. including vice president of business development and director of international operations.

Sklar holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. Sklar lives in the metropolitan Denver area with his wife Betsy and their three children.

Mike Carney is Dascom Systems Group’s National IPTV Sales Director. Dascom is the leading IPTV systems integrator for rural telcos with over 135 customers. Mike is an expert in IPTV solutions. Mike was most recently the National Sales Director at NRTC. Prior to that, Carney assisted early adopter telephone companies in their IPTV deployments at Minerva and Skystream. He has also held several management positions at Ericsson and RCA. He holds a degree from Indiana State University.

Kevin joined Amino in October 2008 and has worked to promote the development of OTT solutions across Amino's business with particular responsibility for the Amino Freedom product range. In 2011 he joined the Amino executive team as Chief Technologist and has more than 15 years’ experience in media and technology. His early career was with Acorn Computers working on IPTV platforms design, before moving to NTL where he managed their multi-platform interactive games channel. He then worked in the US on WAP and J2ME games for mobile phones before joining Sony where he was engaged in both business development and mobile application development services. He then moved to SysMedia, spending his time developing interactive channels with global broadcasters, MSOs and governments. He was then appointed to the executive team of Fluorescent Media, an independent television production company, where as Head of Technology he was responsible for the PHOENIX Technology Platform which powered many multiple massively interactive TV shows.

Joseph Weber is Vice President of Technology Strategy at TiVo, Inc. coordinating the strategic development of technologies to meet TiVo’s corporate goals. His focus is on creating cutting edge solutions for Cable, Satellite and Telco service providers.Before joining TiVo, Dr Weber was Director, Strategic Technology at Cable Television Laboratories (CableLabs) where he analyzed technology trends strategic to the cable industry. He also was a member of the OpenCable team, developing specifications for OCAP, CableCARD and other elements of the OpenCable suite of specifications. He has taught several classes on image processing, machine vision and compression. He is the author of “IPTV Crash Course” from McGraw-Hill, a primer on the technology and business models behind Internet Protocol television services.Dr. Weber received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of California at Berkeley, a Masters in Physics also from Berkeley, an MBA from the University of Colorado, and a B.S. in Physics from the University of Notre Dame.

Scott Roe is the Video Solutions Manager of Nex-Tech, Inc., headquartered in Hays, Kansas. Nex-Tech is a subsidiary of Rural Telephone Service Company, Inc., an independent telephone company headquartered in Lenora, Kansas. Scott has more than 15 years of experience in the technology and telecommunications industry. In his position at Nex-Tech, Scott oversees the Video Solutions business unit. He is a native of Kansas and a graduate of Fort Hays State University.