Staff

Attention: open in a new window. PDFPrintE-mail

Louise Thompson, Executive Director

TBCN’s executive director since May 2003, Louise Thompson is responsible for the recruitment and retention of staff and volunteers, a $1 million dollar operational budget, a 5,200-square-feet facility with three studios and edit suites and an additional 1,500-square-feet set/prop garage, the maintenance and upgrading of a million-dollar inventory of video production equipment, revenue generation activities, community outreach efforts and contract compliance with local government.  Since July 2002, Thompson has also hosted a live, hour-long, call-in TBCN series called “Speak Up Presents,” where she interviews panels of three or more guests who are generally related through their work, charitable activities, community leadership or special interests.  They convey information of interest to viewers.

A former employee of General Foods, IBM, Boise Cascade and CNA Financial corporations, Thompson was CEO of an award-winning advertising, marketing and public relations firm for two decades, a freelance writer, author and speaker.  Thompson is a USF honors graduate with a B.A. in Mass Communications.

The recipient of many awards, she was chosen “2006 Executive Woman of the Year” by the Network of Executive Women and a finalist for Tampa Bay Business Journal’s 2005 "Business Woman of the Year in Media.” In 2003, the national Alliance for Community Media presented her with its Director’s Choice Award for defense of public access and the First Amendment.  Tampa’s Italian Club Auxiliary named her 2002 Italian-American Woman in Business.  She was previously named “Woman of the Year” by a chapter of Business & Professional Women, “One of the Bay Area’s 50 Most Influential Women” by Tampa Bay Life Magazine and was listed in Who’s Who in Editors, Writers & Poets.  Creative Loafing Newspaper named her “Best of the Bay” four times: in 2000, for her efforts on behalf of public access television; in 1996 for women’s issues; in 1994, for community issues and in 1993, for leadership and ethics.

Pamela T. Garron, Outreach Coordinator

Pam joined TBCN in August of 2004. She is responsible for increasing and promoting the use of the channels by Hillsborough County non-profit organizations and neighborhood groups. She helps plan and schedule community event coverage with our Production and Remote Production Vehicle coordinators, encourages non-profits to take training and produce programming, schedules guests for Outreach productions and coordinates member events. Pam assists with the distribution of press releases and keeps members informed about volunteer opportunities to crew Outreach productions. She helps local groups make use of our overnight Community Bulletin Board and other methods of creating awareness about the services they provide to the community. Pam was previously employed by TMP Worldwide/Lamalie Amrop International, USF’s Career Information Library and a local marketing, advertising and public relations firm. She has an M.A. degree in Library and Information Sciences from University of South Florida and a B.A. in Telecommunications from University of Tampa.

Mary Geraci, Production Manager

A graduate of USF with a B.A. Degree in Mass Communications, Mary Geraci joined the TBCN Staff as Production Coordinator in October 2003. She is an Emmy Award-winning producer, videographer and editor with 20 years experience in film, broadcast and cable television.

A former video journalist for local Channel 28 [for nine years] and Channel 13 [for 2.5 years], Geraci also produced programming for Cayman Islands access television, where she helped showcase local heritage, culture and the environment. She previously also worked for TCI Cable Vision of Dunedin, where she created documentaries, covered community events, governmental meetings and the local arts scene in addition to producing a city magazine-style series. In the 1980's, Geraci produced programming for our own local public access cable Channels 19 and 20. Asa community producer, she won a Golden Cassette Award for her hour-long documentary on the "Life and Art of Gluck Sandor."

The recipient of a 2006 Hometown Award from the Alliance for Community Media for a TBCN Outreach production, Mary also received the 2003 Images and Voices Hope Award for coverage of uplifting community news by the local media. She won an Emmy in 2001 for "Women Documenting Cancer." In 1998, a series she produced on and in Cuba won an Associated Press Second Place Award and was nominated for an Emmy Award.

Mary oversees production of all our Outreach programming.

Brian Hill, Technician

Brian joined TBCN in the Fall 2000 as a Master Control Operator, later becoming Assistant Programming Coordinator and then-part time technician under the tutelage of engineer Larry Nadler. In October 2006, he was promoted to full-time technician. He is responsible for the maintenance, repair, modification and installation of video production and computer equipment. Brian provides staff with computer training, manages our equipment inventory database, prepares technical bid specifications for the acquisition of video, audio and computer equipment and operates test equipment. He also serves as a back-up driver and technical director for our Remote Production Vehicle. Brian also helped produce "Community Forum."

Erica Hudnell, Acting Studio/Training Manager

Erica has overall responsibility for member training and production support, studio and location equipment usage and inventory, trainer/liaison supervision, the creation and upkeep of props and sets and an assortment of recordkeeping and related tasks. Erica was hired as a Trainer/Liaison when she joined TBCN in June 2005. She has an A.A. degree in Television Production from Orlando Technical Institute and was previously employed as an assistant director for Orlando Television and as a journeyman with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Motion Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Craftspeople union.

Antonia McCutcheon, Programming Coordinator

A graduate of USF with a B.A. in Philosophy, McCutcheon joined the access center as a community producer in late 1997. She was hired as a Trainer/Liaison in February 1998, when the cable operator managed the facility. After working as a Master Control Operator and Receptionist, she was promoted to Programming Coordinator in 2002. McCutcheon handles our website and produces "Community Forum." While in college, she served on the Student Broadcasting Association board and co-produced "Bullvision," the first USF student-run program.

Dora Pavlidis - Programming Assistant

Dora has been employed with TBCN since June 2004. A graduate of Florida State University, she holds a B.A. in Humanities with an emphasis in Art History.   As a Programming Assistant, her responsibilities include program scheduling, quality control monitoring, archiving, external program inventory and overnight bulletin board messages.  She has co-produced TBCN's Community Forum and many of TBCN's public service announcements.  She worked formerly as a gallery director at Michael Murphy Gallery and and is a member of Greenpeace International.

Tien Pham, Office Manager

Tien began employment with TBCN in the Spring of 2004 as Administrative Assistant. She was promoted to Office Manager in May 2006. Tien is responsible for equipment and office supply purchasing, accounts payables/receivables, facility-related issues, human resources, recordkeeping, report distribution and the setting up and recording of meeting minutes. She provides administrative assistance to the Executive
Director, helps with special events, assures that inventory is maintained, keeps track of warranties, etc. Previous employment was with Jewish Community Services of South Florida, Inc. and United Home Care Services, inc. She has experience in bookkeeping, office management, customer service and operations management. Tien graduated from the University of South Florida with B.A. in Gerontology.

Anthony "A.J." Rose, Programming Assistant and Member Services Representative

A.J. splits his week between the Programming and Member Services departments. As a Programming Assistant, his responsibilities include program scheduling and quality control monitoring. As a Member Services Representative, he books member class and studio reservations, collects fees, maintains member files, answers phones, etc. A.J. began his employment with TBCN in October 2006, after receiving an Associate of Science degree in Digital Productions from the International Academy of Design and Technology where he gained experience in Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, After Effects, DVD Studio Pro, Cubase, Reason and Pro Tools. He studied business management at St. Petersburg College and served as manager for America Multi Cinema in Oldsmar, where he held positions as a projection technician, trainer and customer service manager.

Frederica Russell, Member Services Manager

Freddie joined the access center as a community producer in 1987. She produced and hosted 200-plus live episodes of "Save Our Earth," a weekly series on Jones Intercable, when that company managed the access center. She also produced a radio version of "Save Our Earth" for WMNF community radio for five years. Freddie was employed by the access center in 1989, serving as a Member Services Representative, Master Control Operator, Production Liaison/Trainer and the producer/host of Community Forum before being named Operations Manager. Her responsibilities include overseeing the Member Services and Training departments. Freddie also serves as the instructor for Orientation, Policies & Procedures and Producer Basics classes. She attended Washington State University, Northern Virginia Community College, Washington School of Theatre and Art, University of South Florida and Anderson University. Freddie served on the Sulphur Springs Action League for five years and coordinated the clean-up of the Alaska Spring in that neighborhood for nine years.