Thursday, November 14th, 2019

11:15 AM - 12 Noon

Session I: Herscher Hall, Guerin B, Webcast Live

Podcast Leadership: The Industry Visionaries

Norm Pattiz, Founder and Executive Chairman, PodcastOne

Rob Greenlee, VP, Content and Partnerships, Libsyn

Leslie Merklinger, Senior Director, Audio Innovation, CBC Radio & Audio

Chris Bannon, Chief Content Officer, Stitcher

Todd Cochrane, CEO, Blubrry

Clint Schaff, Vice President of Strategy and Development, Los Angeles Times, (Dirty John podcast), Moderator

Norm Pattiz is Founder and Executive Chairman of PodcastOne, the founder of radio-giant Westwood One, and a member of the National Radio Hall of Fame. Additionally, he has been featured in numerous major profile pieces in Forbes, Fortune, USA Today, Adweek and more, recognizing his leadership and innovation in podcasting since PodcastOne’s founding in 2012. With over 40 years of experience in audio, under his leadership, Westwood One became America's largest provider of news, sports, entertainment, talk and traffic programming to the Broadcast Industry. Westwood One owned, managed or distributed NBC radio networks, CBS News, CNN radio, the Mutual Broadcasting System, NFL Football, NCAA Basketball, March Madness, The Super Bowl, both

the Winter and Summer Olympic Games and a wide variety of syndicated music and talk shows. In 2010, Pattiz founded and launched Courtside Entertainment Group to produce and distribute quality programming. Recognizing the untapped opportunities in the audio on-demand industry, Pattiz then launched PodcastOne at the end of 2012. The company quickly became the leading producer, distributer and revenue driver in audio on-demand programming. Today, PodcastOne’s marquee line-up of personalities and brands include Adam Carolla, Shaquille O’Neal, Steve Austin, Dan Patrick, Kaitlyn Bristowe, Tip “T.I.” Harris, Jim Harbaugh, Dr. Drew, Ladygang, Kim Zolciak, Jon Taffer, Terry and Heather Dubrow, Jordan Harbinger and many more. In 2000, Pattiz was appointed by President Clinton, and reappointed in 2002 by President Bush, to serve on the Broadcasting Board of Governors of the United States of America. The Board oversees all U.S. nonmilitary broadcasting services, including The Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, Middle East Broadcasting and others. Pattiz lives in Beverly Hills with his wife of more than 30 years, Dr. Mary Turner Pattiz.

Leslie Merklinger is the Senior Director of Audio Innovation at the CBC. She launched CBC Podcasts in 2015 and serves as its creative and strategic head. Under Leslie’s leadership, CBC has become Canada’s #1 Podcast publisher with a slate that includes hit series Uncover: Escaping NXIVM, Uncover: The Village, Someone Knows Something, Personal Best, The Shadows, Front Burner, Love Me and Alone: A Love Story. CBC Podcasts have earned multiple awards, critical reviews, regular presence on Best-Of lists worldwide and garner over 24 Million downloads per month. Prior to moving to audio, Leslie was an award winning television veteran with over 3 decades as a producer, director and Commissioning Editor.  Her career has spanned many genres, including current affairs, talk, documentary, factual and lifestyle television at various independent tv production companies and every major broadcaster in Canada. Prior to her move to audio, Leslie was head of original programming for Food Network Canada. Leslie holds a Masters in Creative Media Education from the University of Bournemouth, UK,  teaches Radio and Television Arts at Ryerson University and is a regular judge for Taste Canada, Canada’s National Cookbook awards.

Rob Greenlee, VP of Content and Partnerships, Libsyn (LSYN) and was inducted into the Academy of Podcasters Hall of Fame in 2017.  Formerly served as VP, Podcaster Relations at Voxnext’s Spreaker. He started on radio in 1999 and then podcasting in 2004 with the first nationally syndicated radio show "WebTalk World Radio Show" to begin podcasting. He also worked as Voxnest’s Head of Partnerships and Spreaker's Head of Content. Greenlee’s prior positions have included as EVP/CTO at PodcastOne.com, Business / Content Manager of Podcasts at Microsoft Zune and Xbox Live Marketplace on Windows Phone/Zune/Windows Media Center and in 2005 was Global Content and Marketing Manager at Melodeo Mobilcast. He currently co-hosts the "New Media Show", a weekly audio and video podcast that streams LIVE on NewMediaShow.com/live, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Twitch every Saturday morning at 9am PST/Noon EST.  He is on the Editorial board for Podcast Business Journal.

Todd Cochrane is the CEO of RawVoice / Blubrry - a podcast media company that represents 75,000 Audio and Video podcasters in which his company provides advertising opportunities, media distribution/hosting, podcast media statistics and other services. Todd is a podcast advertising specialist. Executing podcast advertising deals with a variety of national vendors for the past 13 years. Todd  was responsible for bringing GoDaddy into the Podcast Advertising Space as one of the first podcast advertisers in 2005. Todd founded the Tech Podcast Network in 2004. Todd is a visionary behind many innovations in the new media space, and speaks world wide. Todd's personal tech show Geek News Central, has been produced twice weekly since Oct 2004 and is the co-host of the New Media Show. Todd is a published author, "Podcasting The do it Yourself Guide" by Wiley Publishing. Todd founded the People's Choice Podcast Awards. Todd was inducted into the Podcast Hall of Fame in 2015. Todd retired from the US Navy in 2007 with experience in Advanced Airborne Avionic Systems to include EW/Radar/CSM/SAR/IR/ with in depth knowledge of RF systems and components. He retired from the US Navy as a Senior Chief with 24 years active service. Todd has worked as a government tech rep involved in design, installation, operational testing, and evaluation of new mission systems along with managing multiple aircraft modifications across multiple depot repair facilities worldwide. Experience: Project Management, Tech Rep, for EW, SAR, RADAR, Communications, aircraft avionics, CSM, acquisitions, government contracts, factory acceptance testing, uhf, vhf, hf, instructor, aircraft integrator, media, broadcast, marketing, author

Clint Schaff is the Vice President of Strategy and Development for the Los Angeles Times, where is developing innovative content, platforms and utilities in areas including audio, video, events and entertainment. He founded NEWSTORY, a storytelling event that debuted at the 2018 LA Times Festival of Books, and drives LA Times’ programming efforts, including Dirty John, Room 20, Larger Than Life, and Pound for Pound. Prior to the LA Times, he had built and led creative agency teams for The Wonderful Company, GroupM/WPP, Golin/IPG, Edelman and Vision7. His work at Edelman with Activision’s Call of Duty won a Grand Effie, a Gold Effie and a Gold Sabre.  Early in his career, Clint launched two successful startup companies, served as a White House intern and worked for David Bowie and the New York Yankees. Clint taught for a decade as an adjunct professor at USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.