Our AVX 2025 Presenters

Steve Dupaix, Key Code Media

Steve Dupaix is the Senior Director of Broadcast Innovation at Key Code Media. He will moderate the Panel Discussion with Denver Podcast Creators.

David Kroger, Extron

David Kroeger brings over 25 years of experience to his role as Regional Application Specialist. With a background in Bachelor of Science Engineering and a Master of Business Administration, David combines technical expertise with business acumen. He collaborates closely with Extron resellers, consultants, and educators to provide innovation solutions in the audiovisual industry. David’s passion for education extends beyond his work. As a former instructor for organizations such as AVIXA, NSCA, CEDIA, and AVXPO, he has shared his knowledge with aspiring professionals. In addition, David has led highly successful Online Instructor-Led courses for Extron’s Authorized Programmer, Global Configuration Professional, and various technology workshops.

Shawna Shultz, CFVA Vice President, Panel Moderator

Shawna Schultz is known for her creative leadership as co-founder of Mass FX Media and 38th & Post, focusing her time in design-forward storytelling. She is the vice president of the Colorado Film and Video Association and creator of the FAMCO initiative, bringing together the leaders to form a unified plan for the growth of the film industry in Colorado.

Javon Manning, Glass Valley Productions

Javon Manning has spent the past seven years working as a freelance producer and now serves as a Creative Producer for Rocky Mountain PBS. In addition to his work in broadcast media, he teaches a monthly class at Denver Community Media, where he guides members through the art and craft of successful filmmaking.

Stephen Ellison, The Light Source USA

Stephen Ellison recieved a BFA in Lighting Design from NC School of the Arts in 1979, He has been designing lighting systems for the last 25 years specializing in the HOW market. He has been writing and teaching for those 25 years. He is a member of IES and the treasurer of the Charlotte Chapter.

Christine Bowden and Stephanie Sunata, CFVA

Christine is a 1st generation First Nations Shawnee and Cherokee Activist and Conservationist. She has spoken on national and regional Panels for AAPHERD and TAPHERD as well as university panels throughout the US. She is a 12 year combat veteran and has been in the performing arts industry for over 25 years. As a professional First Nation's actress and award-winning screenwriter, she is cultivating safe environments to have conversations regarding historically silenced people groups so that all can be seen and heard.

Panel Host: Chris Lennon, Ross Video

Chris Lennon serves in Ross Video’s Office of the CTO as Director, Standards Strategy. He is responsible for Ross’ activities in standards and trade organizations, as well as its global thought leadership program. Chris also serves as Executive Director of the Open Services Alliance (OSA), a global industry organization focused on interoperability among microservice oriented media systems, now a part of SMPTE’s Rapid Industry Solutions. The OSA produced the media industry’s first microservices standards and continues to lead the way in this rapidly evolving area. Chris has held a variety of leadership positions in the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), including Standards Director, Western US Governor, Local Section Chair, and Chair of multiple Technology Committees. He is a SMPTE Fellow and recipient of SMPTE’s prestigious 2008 Citation. He currently is a manager of the SMPTE Rocky Mountain Section and serves on the IABM Board. He is a regular speaker at industry events around the world including NAB, IBC, Broadcast Asia, SMPTE MTS, NAB NY, and many more.

Dr. Ruth Bryant White, Breaking News Journal

Dr. Ruth White, a Denver native, spent time working for the United States Air Force, before moving to Hollywood. She received an award from Changing Images in America, a non-profit organization that focuses on diverse representation in media and was awarded the Salvatore Prize from The Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC. which is given annually to an American citizen or organization who exemplifies the spirit of independent and entrepreneurial citizenship in the United States.

Alan O'Hashi, Executive Producer and Director

Alan O'Hashi is the volunteer Executive Producer and Director at Boulder Community Media (BCM). This is his third appearance at the AVExpo presenting about AI. He's spoken in the past about diversity in the media and fundraising for your projects.

Mark Rushton, Panel Host

Mark Rushton, VP Sales & Solutions for Mediaproxy, is a product specialist providing consultive sales services to broadcast and cable television networks, television stations and streaming media companies. His 6-years with PESA Switching Systems gave him a strong working knowledge of core facility routing and distribution networks. His work shifted during the Grand Alliance, joining Triveni Digital for 7-years during the analog to digital transition in the television industry. There he gained a deep understanding of the underpinning of digital television that now serves him well at Mediaproxy. He now works with independent operators and the world’s largest media and entertainment companies to deployment Mediaproxy LogServer compliance logging, monitoring and analysis toolsets. A long time member of the SMPTE Rocky Mountain industry trade organization, Mark routinely presents at national and regional conferences.

Megan Lowery, TV & Video Director and Multimedia Technician

Megan made the leap from Pennsylvania to Colorado in 2021, drawn by the change to produce in the community media realm. Fueled by a background rooted in communication, media studies, and production, along with a passion for education, creating more accessibility, and sharing impactful stories, Megan joined the DCM team with the intention of demystifying content creation and empowering communities often silenced or overlooked. The highlight of her past 4 years in community spaces has been working one-on-one with members, witnessing their confidence soar as they grasp the tools to tell their own stories. This is Megan’s second speaking engagement at AVXPO!

Richard Fleming, Owner

Richard is a certified creativity coach who has spoken at a dozen international conferences on the subject of creative innovation, including the AVXPO, the International Association for Talent Development, and the Dubai International Food Safety Conference. He is an award-winning commercial director and Colorado-based filmmaker who has worked for twenty Fortune 500 companies, and even edited a Super Bowl commercial. Richard now combines neuroscience, creative innovation, and video production to make training films that change behavior.

Robert Ottinger, CEO

Robert Ottinger is the founder of Reality Garage, a VR production studio specializing in high-impact training and immersive experiences. With a background spanning software development, media production, and interactive storytelling, Robert has presented at industry events including ATIA and tech showcases across Colorado. His work blends technical innovation with creative vision, producing VR applications for clients in education, workplace training, and experiential media. Robert’s hands-on expertise with Unity, spatial audio, and immersive design provides a practical, real-world perspective for A/V professionals looking to navigate the shift from traditional content to fully interactive 3D worlds.

Ryan Sachetti, Project Manager

Ryan Sachetti is a Project Manager at Ford Audio Video. Before joining Ford AV, Ryan worked as an audio engineer with high-profile clients, including PBS and the Denver Broncos. His passion for audio has also led him to collaborate with over 50 recording artists on their audio, production, and marketing needs. Ryan holds an engineering degree from Colorado Mesa University and is certified with his CTS and CTS-I by AVIXA.

Michael Kammes, Senior Director, Innovation

Michael Kammes, Senior Director of Innovation at Key Code Media, helps shape their suite of solutions in the marketplace, speaking at industry events across the country. Michael has over 20 years of post-production experience, with extensive knowledge of trends, products, production, and post-technology workflows through roles at Shift Media (now EditShare) BeBop Technology (now Cree8), and Key Code Media, plus various podcasts, keynotes, panels, and user groups. His recent experience encompasses applied Analytical and Generative AI.

Jess Stainbrook, Chief Entertainment Officer

With 8 Emmy Awards and 34 nominations, Jess Stainbrook is the Founder and Chief Entertainment Officer of FSPN, the Faith+Sports Programming Network that produces a wide variety of inspirational content through talking with professional athletes about their faith for broadcast networks and faith-based outlets around the globe and online. Jess has been shooting and directing media all over the world since he started his first creative services ad agency while still in college at Temple University in Philadelphia. Jess’ credits include producing/directing programming around major sporting events such as the NFL Super Bowl, Olympics, Grand Prix/NASCAR Racing, World Cup Skiing, and many more. His clients include broadcast networks like ESPN, PBS, MTV, A&E, AT&T, and international corporations such as Bell Atlantic and ARAMark just to name a few.

Jess is the Director of Digital Media and a Professor of Communication at Colorado Christian University, leading the new Strategic Communication Major teaching digital media, visual storytelling, graphic design and visual culture. Jess served as an Exclusive Advisor on The Bible series and Son of God movie by Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Apprentice, Shark Tank) and Roma Downey (Touched By An Angel). Jess led the creative and business efforts as the Executive Producer for Seven Days in Utopia, the inspirational major motion picture featuring Academy Award winners Robert Duvall and Melissa Leo. The movie was Movieguide®’s “Teddy” Award winner and the Templeton Foundation’s Nominee for Most Inspirational Movie of the year. Jess has been invited as a keynote and breakout media speaker at conferences and events such as the Milan International Film Festival, National Association of Telecommunication Officers & Advisors Government Programming Awards, the International Television & Video Association, Media Communications Association International, The Secret Knock, and many others.

Kent Youngblood, Owner and Executive Producer

Kent Youngblood is an award-winning producer with more than 30 years of experience in film and television. Known for his ability to bring compelling stories to life across platforms, Kent has produced projects ranging from TV series and documentary films to national ad campaigns and branded digital content. A frequent speaker on production strategy, creative team leadership, and creative use of artificial intelligence, Kent is passionate about empowering the next generation of visual storytellers communicate with purpose through media. He has been invited to speak at a wide range of industry events, including prominent film and television festivals (Denver International Film Festival, Aspen Shorts, SeriesFest), leading universities (UCLA, University of Colorado, University of Denver) and high-profile marketing summits (Denver Startup Week, Colorado Ad Day).

Stephanie Sunata, Co-Founder

Stephanie is a documentary filmmaker with over a decade of experience in the industry whose primary focus is outreach and impact for social-issue documentaries. She specializes in using grassroots methods that transform films into engagement tools for positive change. Stephanie built her career at Kartemquim Films in Chicago before returning to her home state of Colorado. She has worked across every phase of the filmmaking process, including development, production, post-production and distribution. Recent collaborations include Sundance premieres "Speak." and "Third Act," Lucia Small’s final film “Girl Talk,” and the award-winning “Subject.” She is also the acting director of the Colorado film non-profit Cine Fe, and is a co-founder of the Mountain Media Arts Collective.

Clayton Beutler, Head of Post-Production

Clayton Beutler is the Head of Post Production at Colorado Arts Productions, a Denver-based video production and creative agency. With a background in editing, color, and workflow optimization, Clayton specializes in DaVinci Resolve and leads technical standards for both commercial and narrative content. His focus is helping teams deliver visually consistent work across platforms.

John Tayer, Panelist, President & CEO

As President and CEO of the Boulder Chamber, John is honored to lead the organization that serves as Boulder’s unified voice for business interests, advances the community’s economic vitality, and provides valuable business support services. Prior to joining the Boulder Chamber in 2012, John was Public Affairs and Communications Director for the pharmaceutical manufacturing company, Roche Colorado Corporation, and Policy Development Director in the Boulder City Manager’s Office. John also spent six years as the Boulder area’s elected representative to the Regional Transportation District. A native of Brookline, Massachusetts, John earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, spent a couple of years working on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, and moved to Boulder 35 years ago to earn a law degree from the University of Colorado. He now resides in South Boulder with his wife, Molly, and enjoys playing in the outdoors, accessing local cultural attractions and generally loves his community.

Julie Speer Jackson, Panelist, Executive Producer

Julie Jackson is a multi Emmy award-winning writer, producer, director, and editor with over 20 years of experience in digital film and documentary storytelling. As Vice President of Culture Content at Rocky Mountain PBS, she created the Emmy-winning Colorado Experience and produced acclaimed documentaries including The Sand Creek Massacre and Standing in the Gap. Her recent feature, The Flamingo Effect, is the first fair-trade film on Truce+ and VEEEU, revolutionary platforms that split micro-payments with all cast and crew daily. She is the Founder & CEO of Julie Speer Productions Inc., Truce Studios and Truce+, with a portfolio encompassing thousands of productions on social issues, historical dramas, and arts programming. She also serves as Treasurer of the Board for Women in Film and Media Colorado (WIFMCO), an Advisor for TODAQ Micro, and is the Regional Film Commissioner serving Chaffee County in Central Colorado.

Gary Siebein, Associate Principle Consultant

Gary has over 17 years of experience consulting with Siebein Associates on more than 450 projects. He leads the A/V department and specializes in Site Acoustic Studies. His expertise and certifications in sound system and A/V design allow him to design state-of-the-art functional and practical sound, audio and video systems for sound stages, amphitheaters, indoor and outdoor entertainment venues, recording facilities. performing arts centers, religious facilities, educational facilities, theme parks and many other building types. In addition, he designs specialty spaces for studios, control rooms, sound booths, editing rooms, and production and broadcasting spaces. Gary also leads the environmental and site noise team, leading many environmental noise impact and soundscape compatibility studies in the field. His technical dexterity and extensive experience allow him to operate specialized equipment and advanced digital software under any conditions to gain insight into custom sound mitigation techniques and design solutions.

Bryce Boynton, Mix Engineer, Audio Production Sales/Biz Dev

Bryce began his career recording classical music as a Senior Audio Recording Engineer at the Aspen Music Festival and School, which laid the foundation for his subsequent sales roles at DPA Microphones and Redding Audio. At Flatirons Community Church, he served as Audio and Production Director, overseeing all production operations for 5 facilities and a large broadcast audience. As a Senior AV Project Manager for ME Engineers, he managed large-scale AV system designs for major sports facilities. Throughout his career, Bryce has enjoyed freelance mixing, training others, and performing as a musician.
At Lawo Bryce is responsible for developing and executing sales strategies tailored to the unique needs of audio professionals, particularly within performing arts and higher education. Bryce holds a diploma in audio recording, several industry certifications, and a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a focus on music performance in piano and double bass. He lives outside of Denver, Colorado.

Mathew Pomeroy, Regional Director, Commercial - Northwest

Mat Pomeroy lives in Bend, Oregon and has been with Crestron since 2016. He has held several roles with Crestron, including Education Account Manager, Enterprise Account Manager, Channel RSM, Director of Education Sales, and Regional Director. Prior to Crestron, he led an integration division for a Southern California AV Contractor and before that he ran a department that managed AV systems and equipment across the campus for Loyola Marymount University. He also received a Bachelor’s degree and a Masters in Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University.

Austin Anderson, Multiplatform Storyteller

Austin is an instructor at Denver Community Media and an independent writer and director of documentary and narrative films. He has a bachelor’s degree in Photojournalism from Metropolitan State University of Denver and over a decade of experience in video editing, cameras, lighting, graphic design, and motion graphics. When he is not working with moving images, he loves to spend time with his wife and two dogs, make music, run and ski or take in an old movie.

Luke Antonio, Producer/Director - A-Z Productions

Luke is an award-winning Denver based filmmaker who’s earned a Bachelor's Degree in Digital Filmmaking & Video Production and an Associate’s Degree in Screen Acting. He’s been in the industry for over 10 years and has worked on documentaries, music videos, shorts, features, video games, and more! Luke has also spoken on multiple panels at the Denver Fan Expo.

Nahla Zenati, Director/Writer/Co-Producer - A-Z Productions

Nahla graduated from the Colorado Film School and is an award-winning filmmaker. Her films have been screened at festivals both nationally and internationally garnering awards, and her screenplays have placed in multiple competitions. Her stories often revolve around groups of people from different backgrounds, orientations and walks of life. She believes that film has an important role in society, with the ability to show people a world where everyone can come together as one.

Ryan McLaughlin, Regional Account Executive - PRG Group

Ryan began his career by founding and running a New York based theatre production company after graduating from Western Connecticut State University, becoming a proven leader in live event and entertainment production. He sold his successful business to move to Colorado, quickly rising through the ranks at VER and becoming the General Manager. After VER was purchased by PRG, he transitioned into sales as a Regional Account Executive.

Joe McCullough, Chief Operating Officer - National Western Center

Joe has spent much of his career as an Operations, Event and Project Management specialist in the entertainment field. His past roles include serving as the Director of Operations for the Colorado Convention Center and managing production and payroll for Red Rocks, Denver Coliseum, Buell Theatre, Ellie Caulkins Opera House, and Boettcher Concert Hall.

Spencer Mueller, Owner - Spencer Mueller Films

Spencer brings nearly 15 years of experience to AVX working with most major networks on national events. These include the X Games 2012-2023, Food and Wine Festival 2015-Present, Aspen Ideas Festival 2015-Present, and Manning Cast 2022-Present. He’s worked on film productions, concerts at Red Rocks, and live music events at the Mission Ballroom, along with various other live streams and live event productions.

Jordan Goodfellow, CEO - GigRent

Jordan Goodfellow, Founder and CEO of GigRent, began his AV career at 18 while touring with rock and roll bands. After a client paid him with two Barco HDX projectors, Jordan saw an opportunity to start renting out professional-grade gear. In January 2015, operating out of a small storage unit in Arvada, Colorado, GigRent was born. What began as a modest sub rental operation has since grown into a multi-warehouse corporation serving the AV industry across the nation. Passionate about hands-on learning, Jordan regularly hosts product demos, training, and lunch-and-learn sessions to help professionals expand their technical skills and stay ahead of evolving AV technology.