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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.
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.
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.
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.
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, 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. She was the recipient of the 2009 Excellence in Media Award bestowed by the Tampa Mayor's Alliance for Persons with Disabilities. 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.
John joined TBCN in February 2009 after five years with Access Pinellas. He was previously with Bay News 9 in Pinellas Park and Cox Communications, JM Digitalworks, Spector Entertainment Group and Merchandising Entertainment TV, all in California. In the TV field since 1992, John has worked as a trainer, editor, videographer, master control and satellite transmission operator and also as a technician on video production equipment and computers. On his days off, he covers the Tampa Bay Rays baseball games as a freelance camera operator. John has an A.A. Degree in Radio and Television from Palomar College in California and completed coursework in Television Production and Consumer Electronic Repair at Bergen College. He holds a Certificate in Electronic Engineering Technology from RETS Electronic School in New Jersey and has taken continuing education classes in Adobe Premiere and Adobe Photoshop at St. Petersburg College.
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 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. She also produces "The Scoop," a series that airs on our channels and on Sinclair Broadcasting's WTTA, which airs over cable and satellite in seven counties. Erica is a Level 6 Apple-certified Final Cut instructor. She 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.
Gregory Service, Trainer/Liaison and Member Services Representative
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 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, website monitoring/content management 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 is a member of Greenpeace International.
A.J. splits his week between the Programming and Training departments. As a Programming Assistant, his responsibilities include program scheduling, quality control monitoring and website monitoring/content management. As a Trainer/Liaison, he teaches video production classes and provides production support to our members. He assists with location equipment inventory, checkouts and returns and performs an assortment of recordkeeping tasks. 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.
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.
Linares "Lehua" Reynaldo, Member Services Representative
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