John Schanz & Tony Werner
John Schanz
Title: EVP & Chief Network Officer, Comcast Cable
Years in Cable: 9
Education: Bachelor’s, Engineering, Manhattan College of Engineering
Tony Werner
Title: EVP & CTO, Comcast Cable
Years in Cable: 38+
Education: Dakota County Technical College
Schanz oversees national engineering for network and systems operations for the company’s video, high-speed Internet and voice cable services for residential customers and businesses. During this transformational year, Schanz will lead the engineering team as it remains focused on delivering an even more advanced, more robust and more reliably scaled infrastructure. Meanwhile, Werner guides Comcast’s technology strategy and evolving network architecture, including supporting next-generation consumer systems and technologies. Under his leadership, Comcast has completed major platform investments including the DOCSIS 3.0, the all-digital transition and the X1 Entertainment Operating System.
Schanz
I watch most programming on this device: My big-screen television, powered by X1.
The biggest innovation in cable over the last year: We continue to take huge strides in engineering for accessibility. The talking guide is an extremely powerful tool that later this year will be paired with our cutting-edge voice remote.
Desert Island Album: With compression technologies improving all the time, I’m hoping I can take Tom Petty’s entire catalog.
If my office produced a viral video, the background music would be: “I Won’t Back Down,” Tom Petty
My favorite business/motivational book: The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
Werner
I watch most programming on this device: I love that X1 allows me to move seamlessly from screen to screen, but my favorite right now is an 80-inch Sharp TV.
The biggest innovation in cable over the last year: I’m extremely proud of the X1 Talking Guide, which dramatically expanded choice and accessibility for people with visual disabilities.
The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year: Cloud technology continues to shorten our product development cycles and allow us to enhance the customer experience at an unprecedented pace.
The last time I had a good laugh was… when I tried to cook something impressive.
Dish I can make and that would impress a celebrity chef: See previous answer.
My favorite business/motivational book: What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith ■