Cablefax The Magazine - May 2016 - 29

REGIONALS
resurgent Chicago Cubs team, not to mention 24/7
coverage of the 2015 Stanley Cup Champions the Chicago
Blackhawks. The victory included massive playoff
TV ratings and acclaimed coverage of the downtown
celebratory parade and rally.
The biggest innovation in cable over the last year:
The continuing growth of new avenues to allow consumers
to view content (i.e., Apple TV, Google Chromecast,
etc.), along with the massive growth of social media interaction
with audiences, which has changed the landscape
on viewer interaction and immediate feedback.
What does the future look like for skinny bundles
and flexible packaging? Consumers will demand
their media in the way they want and in the volume they
want. It is up to us as providers to keep delivering the
compelling programming they desire.
Last show I watched not on my network(s): " Love
It or List It " on HGTV (I enjoy watching it with my kids.)
What was your first job? Dishwasher (later, cook) at
Poppin' Fresh Pies restaurant
Best way to spend a Saturday night: Tie between
dinner/movie with my wife and coaching hockey/basketball
with my kids
My cable industry mentor and why: Without question,
the late CSN Chicago president Jim Corno Sr. He
taught me more about our industry than anyone else,
along with the importance of relationship building.
I watch the majority of programming on this
device: Television
My favorite newfound hobby: Skiing
Favorite vacation spot: Tie between Steamboat
Springs, Colorado and Cancun, Mexico
My typical breakfast is: Pineapple and apple protein
shake
7. CHICAGO CABLE
John Crowley
Title: SVP, Greater Chicago
Region, Comcast
Years in Cable: 33
Education: MBA, Southern
New Hampshire University;
BA, Colby College
One Word that Best Describes
Me: Coach
Crowley's recent accomplishments are all the more
impressive given that the Greater Chicago Region is one
of Comcast's largest. Over the last year, he's launched a
host of new products and services including Gigabit Pro,
an Internet service with download speeds of 2Gpbs.
He's also increased Xfinity WiFi hotspots by hundreds
of thousands, to hit 1.2 million. Crowley serves on the
board of City Year Chicago, a nonprofit that unites young
people of all backgrounds.
What was your first job? I've been in cable my entire
career. My first job was in direct sales.
Favorite charity event you work with: City Year's
" Ripples of Hope " dinner. City Year is an amazing organization
that helps kids succeed in school. I am proud to
be part of the City Year Chicago board.
What excites you most about DOCSIS 3.1? The opCablefax:
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portunity to be the first service provider to bring Gigabit
Internet speeds to customers across our entire footprint
this year!
" Star Trek " celebrates its 50th Anniversary this
year. So if Mr. Spock's motto is " Live Long and
Prosper, " mine is... Plan your work and work your
plan.
What should cable do to improve its image?
We're on the right path. We need to continue to work
to deliver the best possible experience to customers. I
am really proud of the progress we're making across
the board. We've delivered some amazing mobile
products and services in recent years; we're on time
for customer appointments 99%+ of the time; we're
answering the phones faster and resolving issues on
the first contact better; we're developing new easy
ways for customers to self-manage and troubleshoot
their accounts; and more and more we're able to
prevent issues before they occur.
Best way to spend a Saturday night: Dinner and a
movie with my wife
The technology that will most benefit cable over
the next year is: The implementation of DOCSIS 3.1
Favorite vacation spot: Newport, R.I. (summer) or
Riviera Maya, Mexico (winter)
8. BOSTON'S FINEST
Tracy Pitcher
Title: SVP, Comcast Greater
Boston Region
Years in Cable: 18
Education: BA, Purdue
University
One Word that Best
Describes Me: Driven
This year is Pitcher's first full one leading the Greater
Boston Region at Comcast. Her challenges will be
taking the division through Comcast's multi-year effort
to transform customer experience while at the same
time keeping employees focused on business initiatives.
Pitcher brings high-energy, sincerity, enthusiasm,
intelligence, humor and - perhaps most important of
all - approachability to her job. She volunteers with
the organization Girls Inc., which helps young women in
high-risk environments.
9. RISING TO THE CHALLENGE
Michael Parker
Title: SVP, Comcast Western
New England Region
Years in Cable: 17
Education: MBA, Northwestern
University's Kellogg
Graduate School of Management;
JD, University of Miami
School of Law; BA, Lake
Forest College; Graduate of Officer Candidates School
(Quantico, VA) - attained the rank of First Lieutenant
during service with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
One Word that Best Describes Me: Optimistic
Parker, who became SVP of the Western New
May 2016
England Region last September, remains focused on
improving and simplifying the customer experience.
He's also encouraging WNER's 1,800 employees
to RISE - Respect customers, co-workers and
business associates; take on the mantra of " I am
Comcast " ; Serve customers and co-workers, and
be Extraordinary, not just meeting expectations but
exceeding them, too.
10. NO BRIDGEN TOO FAR
Bill Bridgen
Title: President, Comcast
SportsNet New England
Years in Cable: 20
Education: BA, Gettysburg
College; JD, Temple University
School of Law
One Word that Best
Describes Me: Transparent
Like any good Boston professional sports player,
Bridgen beats the competition by staying ahead of the
game. He's committed to delivering viewers their New
England sports content when they want it and how they
want it. Be it TV, mobile device, computer, iPad or any
other groundbreaking technology that are in the process
of emerging, Bridgen is laying the groundwork now for
successes in the future.
Virtual Reality is: A future killer app. The question is
how long it takes to go from great potential to a viable
business application. In other words, what is the business
model that will support VR?
What was your first job? Concrete laborer in NYC,
Local 59. After each high rise building concrete floor
was poured & set, I disassembled and stacked the
wooden molds from the hardened concrete floors so
the carpenters could build the next floor's mold. I spent
three summers and three winters doing this during
school breaks. This job left me with an indelible appreciation
for any line of work that requires more of your
mind than your back.
Favorite Charity event you work with: Horizons
for Homeless Children Week. Horizons is an amazing
non-profit organization dedicated to improving the
lives of young homeless children and their families.
CSN holds an Annual " Horizons Week " in an effort to
garner awareness and generate donations for this
charity.
" Star Trek " celebrates its 50th Anniversary this
year. So if Mr. Spock's motto is " Live Long and
Prosper " , mine is: Choose with no regret.
Hoverboard, driverless car, or drone? Easy and it
isn't close: driverless car. Autopilot already exists on
certain 2015 model cars and it is a safe and incredible
advancement. The driverless car will be the next step
and, since I detest any time spent in a car, I can't wait
for it to arrive.
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Cablefax The Magazine - May 2016

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