Steve Simmons, Jim Holanda, John Gdovin, C. Matthew Rohre, Chris Fenger, Rob Roeder, Pat Murphy, John Feehan & Jeffrey B. Kramp

Steve Simmons

Title: Chairman, Patriot Media, RCN & Grande Communications.

Years in Cable: 35 y

Education: Cornell University ‘68; Harvard Law School ’72

One Word that Best Describes Me: Entrepreneur

Jim Holanda

Title: CEO, Patriot Media, RCN & Grande Communications

Years in Cable: 28

Education: BA, The Ohio State University

One Word that Best Describes Me: Passionate

John Gdovin

Title: EVP & Chief Administrative Officer, Patriot Media, RCN & Grande Communications

Years in Cable: 36

Education: Bachelors’ Degrees in Math & Economics, Kings College

One Word that Best Describes Me: Integrity

C. Matthew Rohre

Title: SVP & GM, Grande Communications

Years in Cable: 26

Education: BA, University of Texas at Dallas

One Word that Best
Describes Me: Balanced

Chris Fenger

Title: EVP & COO, Patriot Media, RCN & Grande Communications

Rob Roeder

Title: EVP & Chief Development Officer, RCN, Patriot Media, Grande Communications

Years in Cable: 36

Education: BA

One Word that Best Describes Me:              Inquisitive

Pat Murphy

Title: EVP & CTO, Patriot Media, RCN & Grande Communications

John Feehan

Title: EVP & CFO, Patriot Media, RCN & Grande Communications

Jeffrey B. Kramp

Title: EVP, Secretary & General Counsel, Patriot Media, RCN & Grande Communications

Years in Cable: 5

Education: JD

One Word that Best Describes Me: Adaptive

Too many cooks in the kitchen? Nah, this executive suite functions like a well-oiled machine. They sold Patriot Media to Comcast for one of the highest prices on record, and also turned around Choice in Puerto Rico before making money for their investor group. In other words, these executives are committed to the cable industry. Among individual achievements and qualities, Simmons executive-produced a documentary educational issues that earned a Regional Emmy Award. Holanda brings diversity to the company, having worked throughout the U.S. including Missouri, where he was Regional VP of operations for Charter, Gdovin handles negotiation of programming and retrans consent agreements and Rohre provides management for technical and business operations.

Steve Simmons

Biggest Innovation in Cable Over the Last Year: Most MSOs putting serious capital investments into DOCSIS 3.1

Last show I watched: “House of Cards” on Netflix

First job: Assistant Professor at the University of California teaching law and government to undergraduates

What excites you most about DOCSIS 3.1? The ability to offer our customers faster access to what they want from the Internet

How can cable improve its image: All cable companies need to continue to improve their customer service and NPS scores.

Favorite Vacation Spot: Martha’s Vineyard

Favorite Newfound Hobby: Learning to surf

Future of skinny bundles and flexible packages: The programmers are inevitably causing this to happen by offering much of their product online while at the same time driving customers from the expanded basic offering with higher prices. There has to be give here that accommodates cable distributers as well as customers. It will happen in the future.

Jim Holanda

What does the future look like for skinny bundles and flexible packaging? As a distributor for our programming partners, it looks bleak. As a consumer, it is getting better all the time.

What was your first job? My first job in cable was as installer for Comcast in 1988

Name of my favorite Spotify playlist: Don’t have one, I’m still old school and have my album collection from the ‘70s & ‘80s

My cable industry mentor and why: That’s easy. Steve Simmons. He is simply the best person I know.

Hoverboard, driverless car or drone: Definitely drone…. after all, we were the generation that were promised jet packs.

I watch the majority of programming on this device: The good old fashion TV (now in 116”)

My Starbucks order: Egg white turkey bacon and a Grande bold with room

What was the last costume that you wore and why? Starlord from Guardians of the Galaxy. I’m a closet sci-fi fan and that was a GREAT movie!

Best way to spend a Saturday night: With friends and family over a great meal and awesome bottle of Napa Cabernet

John Gdovin

What was your first job? In the business was right out of college with the local phone company that quickly became a startup cable MSO

“Star Trek” celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year. So if Mr. Spock’s motto is “Live Long and Prosper,” mine is… There is plenty of time to sleep later

Best way to spend a Saturday night: With family and a cold beer or a Napa Cabernet

My cable industry mentor and why: Steve Simmons, Cable HOF member, an industry founder and entrepreneur; Jim Holanda, extraordinary cable CEO and leader; Mike Mahoney, cable industry executive; Mark Haverkate, cable friend, partner and visionary.

My personal theme song is: “Takin’ Care of Business” — BTO

Favorite vacation spot: Annual Virginia Beach trip with family

My typical breakfast is: Bacon and eggs or Cheerios with banana

My Starbucks order: Venti Bold with cream

Matthew Rohre

What was your first job? My first job in cable was demonstrating to customers how to watch one channel and record another at the same time using an A/B switch or Panasonic Switcher.

“Star Trek” celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year. So if Mr. Spock’s motto is “Live Long and Prosper,” mine is… The journey is more important than the destination.

Name of my favorite Spotify playlist: Texas Country

Hoverboard, driverless car or drone: Apparently they are all too dangerous!

Favorite Podcast: TED Radio Hour

Favorite vacation spot: Seaside, Florida

My Starbucks order: Plain old coffee with nothing in it…

Chris Fenger

The biggest innovation in cable over the last year: DOCSIS 3.1

What does the future look like for skinny bundles and flexible packaging? Very Limited

Virtual reality is: The Riches Are In the Niches

What was your first job? Manager trainee, New Channels

What excites you most about DOCSIS 3.1? Promise

What should cable do to improve its image? Change its name

Best way to spend a Saturday night: Napa Cab with my wife

My cable industry mentor and why: Bob Miron/Steve Simmons, Lou Bonelli

Hover board, driverless car or drone: Drone

Favorite vacation spot: St. Michaels, MD

Rob Roeder

The biggest innovation in cable over the last year: DOCSIS 3.1

What does the future look like for skinny bundles and flexible packaging? Operators reside directly in the middle of a chasm between what consumers want and what programmers demand. I don’t see this untenable position dramatically changing in the near term.

My dream would be for golf balls to be connected to the Internet of Things so it could be found (golfers will understand)

Virtual reality is: The promise of immersive technology creating a new interactive platform for the medical, educational and entertainment industries

Last show I watched not on my network(s): “Mozart In the Jungle”

Patrick Murphy

Favorite charity event you work with: YWCA, my wife was the president local chapter, I worked bingo every Friday night as a fundraiser.

What excites you most about DOCSIS 3.1? It’s not the speed that excites me but the ability to give a better experience to the customer on multiple devices.

“Star Trek” celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year. So if Mr. Spock’s motto is “Live Long and Prosper,” mine is… Take action now!

If this election year was a reality TV series, it would be called… “The Silly Season”

My favorite hashtag is: #getitdone

What does the future look like for skinny bundles and flexible packaging? Unfortunately the future doesn’t look too promising unless the programmers realize they have to be in partnership with us and stop forcing bundled packages.

My dream would be for my kids to be connected to the Internet of Things so it could provide them with a better quality of life.

Virtual reality is: a seamless world where one could communicate in full A/V to anyone all over the world as desired.

Last show I watched not on my network(s): “Banshee” – I’m constantly side-loading content from my DVR to my iPad.

What was your first job? Installing microwave dishes on towers (technician)

“Star Trek” celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year. So if Mr. Spock’s motto is “Live Long and Prosper,” mine is… Take action now!

If this election year was a reality TV series, it would be called… “The Silly Season”

Best way to spend a Saturday night: With friends and family possibly a nice dinner at home or out!

New favorite binge: Napa Valley wines

My cable industry mentor and why: Steve Simmons, for providing an unbelievable work effort.

I watch the majority of programming on this device: iPad as I travel a lot and I’m downloading inside loading content from the Apple Store in my DVR.

Favorite Podcast: Coffee break Spanish

My favorite newfound hobby: Driving to work, just got a Porsche

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is: Higher data speeds on fiber and DOCSIS 3.1 platforms

Favorite vacation spot: Kona, Hawaii

My Starbucks order: Extra large black coffee

John Feehan

The biggest innovation in cable over the last year: DOCSIS 3.1

My dream would be for my keys to be connected to the Internet of Things so it could not drive me crazy when I lose them!

Virtual reality is: A platform for fantastic entertainment as well as immense innovation in a number of industries including medical, etc..

Last show I watched not on my network(s): A Netflix movie

“Star Trek” celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year. So if Mr. Spock’s motto is “Live Long and Prosper,” mine is… Bears and Bulls get rich… Pigs get slaughtered!

If this election year was a reality TV series, it would be called… “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?”

What does the future look like for skinny bundles and flexible packaging? I think in today’s environment it is going to be a tough road based upon the somewhat difficult relationship between providers and programmers… It is what the consumers want but not what the programmers want to provide.

Best way to spend a Saturday night: Dinner and wine with friends and family

Name of my favorite Spotify playlist: “ JF Look Back,” which is my own playlist dedicated to ‘80s rock music

Hover board, driverless car or drone: Drone…. I have always wanted to learn how to fly… this way I can crash and not kill myself

Favorite vacation spot: Love to cruise as I love being on the water

Jeffrey Kramp

What does the future look like for skinny bundles and flexible packaging? It will all be dictated by customer demand and cable’s competition

My dream would be for nothing to be connected to the Internet of Things so it could not be a threat to the future of mankind (SkyMet. . . ahem).

Virtual reality is: Fascinating but not ready for prime time

Last show I watched not on my network(s): “Schitt’s Creek”

The biggest innovation in cable over the last year: 4k and HDR program transmission