SCTE Cable Tec EXPO 2008

SESSIONS

SCTE Conference on Broadband Learning & Development 2008 Subcommitte

	Fritz Amt Owner AMT Consulting Fredric "Fritz" Amt started his career in the cable industry with his move to Times Fiber Communications in 1981. While at Times Fiber, Amt operated the fiber optic cable business unit and began consulting services for cable operators deploying FM optical transport products. Interim marketing positions with RF passive component and GaAs amplifier manufacturers prepared him for his move to C-COR Electronics and subsequently to General Instrument/Motorola. While heading marketing at C-COR Electronics, Amt introduced the Flexnet amplifier and doubled deployment of fiber optic network products. Amt began his General Instrument relationship in 1994 as a product-marketing consultant, bringing together programmers and cable operators for development of interactive set-top boxes. In various marketing roles for the GI Transmission Networks Systems group, Amt introduced the TNS products to the utilities and over-builder markets. Amt lead the TNS International Marketing teams to 40-70% growth in sales and was instrumental in developing solutions for the German cable market upgrade using GaAs amplifier hybrids. Amt joined P & A Development Inc. in 2001 to lead business development and partner relations for P&A's Tech Trainer and Tech Assistant software products and for the Epiphany FTTH solution now marketed by CommScope as BrightPath. During this time, Amt also provided engineering consulting support and worked extensively with all the major and many smaller cable MSOs supporting their operations, engineering and training needs. Fritz presently supports CommScope's deployment of the BrightPath products as a Consultant, and continues to provide sales support to P&A for the Tech trainer product line. He earned his BSEE in integrated circuits and RF systems at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana and an MBA in finance and marketing at the University of Connecticut, Stamford, Connecticut. He is a member of IEEE and SCTE.
	Bradley Cooke Technical Operations Suddenlink Communications Brad Cooke joined Suddenlink Communications in August of 2006, bringing 10 years of experience in the cable and telecommunications industry. Most recently, Cooke served as the System Manager in Kingwood, TX for Cebridge Connections. Additionally, Cooke has experience as the General Manager for Champion Broadband and as the Technical Operations Manager for Altrio Communications, both companies based in Los Angeles, CA. He began his professional career in 1996 with TCI Cable.
	Paul Eisbrener Curriculum Developer Jones/NCTI Paul Eisbrener has been a part of the Telecommunications Industry for 28 years. The first 3 years of his career were spent working for Western Electric Company, where he installed equipment in telephone company central offices and AT&T microwave stations throughout the state of Wyoming. He then worked 17 years at the Cable TV system in Fort Collins, Colorado. The system was built under independent family ownership, and went on to become part of TCI, AT&T Broadband, and Comcast Cable. During that time, Eisbrener held almost every technical position, from Installer to Technical Operations Manager. Eisbrener moved on, and for 5 years served the telecommunications industry as a Regional Technical Trainer throughout the states of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah for what has become Bresnan Communications. During his time with Bresnan Communications, he conducted over 100 training sessions, directed activities related to the technical career path, and acted as the safety program field liaison for the company. Most recently, Eisbrener is Curriculum Developer/Project Manager for Jones/NCTI in Centennial, Colorado; creating, writing, updating, and delivering the education and training that enhances the performance of telecommunication professionals across North America. Eisbrener has earned a Bachelor of Science Degree at Western Illinois University and a Certificate of Broadband Technical Management from Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, Colorado. Eisbrener is a Jones/NCTI Certified Master Technician and SCTE Certified Broadband Premises Specialist with a Data Endorsement. He won 3rd place overall at the 1996 National SCTE Cable-Tec Games. Eisbrener is actively enrolled in the Master of Education degree program at Jones International University. He has been a member of the SCTE for 15 years and supported the SCTE Wyoming Chapter as a board member for 4 years; holding the offices of President and Secretary/Treasurer during that time.
	Jim Eisner Senior Manager, Certification and Document Time Warner Cable
	Robert Goldsmith Technical Writer Time Warner Cable As a former college instructor, Bob Goldsmith has more than 20 years of experience in adult education, with expertise in the development of online curricula. Since joining Time Warner Cable in 2003, Goldsmith has worked in tandem with technical trainers in the field and utilized his writing experience in law, municipal codes, and banking to apply a practical approach to ATG technical training materials. Goldsmith has a Master's degree in English from Stetson University. A member of SCTE since 2003, Bob has served on two CBL&D Program Subcommittees.
	Jim Janis Senior Technical Analyst Time Warner Cable
	Brian Jeans Technical Training Specialist Comcast Cable Communications Brian Jeans is a Program Manager in Technical Operations Learning and Development for Comcast University. His focus primarily concerns the learning needs of Comcast's New Hire technicians, encompassing the entire range of modalities from m-Learning to online simulations. His broadband career began in 2002 as an installer with AT&T Broadband. After working in various capacities as a field technician, Jeans moved into Comcast's technical training environment, where he actively promoted the need for a balance between technical expertise and understanding of the customer's needs. Prior to joining the cable industry, Jeans earned a degree in International Economics and worked on several dozen mineral exploration surveys around the world. He is currently pursuing his Masters Degree in e-Learning Technology and Design.
	Justin J. Junkus President Knowledgelink, Inc. Jay Junkus has been part of the telecommunications and computer industries for over 30 years. He is the President and founder of KnowledgeLink, Inc., a consulting and training firm specializing in the telecommunications industry. Since starting KnowledgeLink in 1993, Junkus has trained thousands of technical personnel in telephony and data communications, and published numerous articles that discuss digital technology applications in telecommunications systems. Junkus is a senior member of the Society of Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE), chairperson of the national SCTE training committee, and Recording Secretary of the Greater Chicago Chapter of the SCTE. He earned his MBA from Loyola University, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has held adjunct faculty positions at DePaul University (Computer Science-Telecommunications), DeVry Institute of Technology, and the College of DuPage (Data Communications). Junkus' publications include the three volume set of DigiPoints, The Digital Knowledge Handbook,Cable Telephony in North America, and regular columns and feature articles in Communications Technology magazine. Currently, Junkus spends his time developing and delivering understandable training courses on leading edge technologies, creating strategic white papers for vendors and MSOs describing how their products and services meet customers' communications needs, and advising companies entering the cable telecom industry.
	Richard LaPat Region Vice President, Learning & Development Comcast Cable Communications During his 11 years in the U.S. Navy as a submariner, Rich LaPat completed over 4 years of advanced electronics training as a Missile Technician. On shore duty, he served as a Technical and Lead Instructor. He also completed his Master Training Specialist qualification and Two-Year Certificate in Marine Computer Systems. Shortly after graduating from Southern Illinois University with a B.S. in Workforce Education and Development, LaPat left the military and joined Comcast in its Charleston, SC system. After 2 years as a Technical Trainer, LaPat moved to Philadelphia and a position on the Comcast University corporate training team where managed Comcast's Safety Training programs, CommTech Jeopardy, Technical Operations Leadership Program and various new product training and technician development initiatives. After 4 years in Philadelphia, LaPat moved South again to lead technical training operations for Comcast's Southern Division. He led 38 technical training professionals all working to provide the latest and best training opportunities to its technical workforce. Now back in Philadelphia, LaPat is the Regional Vice President of Learning and Development overseeing training and communications for nearly 4000 employees in the Philly Metro Region.
	Marv Nelson Vice President, Professional Development SCTE A 28-year veteran of the cable telecommunications industry, Marv Nelson is vice president, professional development, of the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE). He joined the SCTE staff in 1991. He has served in his current position since 1996, leading the formation and implementation of the Society's professional development opportunities. Prior to SCTE, Nelson worked 12 years for Metrovision Inc., first as a bench technician and later as a chief technician. Nelson holds a bachelor of arts in organizational management and MBA from Eastern University in St. Davids, Pa. He is an SCTE-certified Broadband Communications Technician (BCT^®) and Broadband Communications Engineer (BCE^®) and an ASAE Certified Association Executive (CAE).
	Pam Nobles Director, Education and Certification SCTE
	Terry Olson Director, Training Mediacom LLC
	Joel Welch Director, Professional Development SMPTE Joel E. Welch, Director of Professional Development at SMPTE, is responsible for the society's professional development member services through the SMPTE Professional Development Academy (SMPTE PDA). An industry technical professional since 1977, Welch's Learning & Development (L&D) career began in 1985. Most of his L&D career has been spent leading the creation of new technical L&D programs, services, and facilities in the U.S. and Australia. Welch has lent his L&D expertise to a number of premier technology companies such as Continental Cablevision, OptusVision (Australia), Lucent Technologies, SCTE and most recently SMPTE. Desiring to continue his involvement in the Cable Telecommunications Industry, Welch currently serves as an active member of SCTE's Professional Development Committee, Chair of SCTE's Certification Subcommittee, and as an active member the Program Committee for SCTE's Conference on Broadband Learning & Development (CBL&D).
	Stephen Zanetich Program Manager Comcast Cable Communications