Erik J. Russell 

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SUMMARY 

  • Excelled in leadership positions in the fields of television & film production, marketing, technology, and telecommunications

  • Accomplished photographer, director of photography, digital cinema camera operator and drone pilot with more than 30 years of combined experience in these disciplines

  • Video editor, audio mixer (studio & live) and multi-camera technical director

  • Advanced hands-on experience in audio and video systems and engineering (signal path, troubleshooting)

  • Executive manager with first-rate interpersonal skills and the ability and passion to develop and deliver the vision of any company he manages

  • Uncommon commitment to excellence, and an ability to seek out and grow new revenue opportunities through creative communication, strategic planning, and methodological execution

  • Committed to human capital development, creating new growth and development opportunities for his teams, and empowering people to make great independent decisions

WORK EXPERIENCE

Renew Church / multi-campus church
 in the GTA
Production Manager — January 2020 to present

Serving as key member of church staff overseeing all aspects of AV production, developing production concepts, and training and managing technical crew.

  • Produced more than 300 hours of live content in 18 months

  • Produced 380 recorded productions in 18 months

  • Technical director, lighting director, audio engineer and editor for live and pre-recorded productions

  • Managed all encoding, streaming and distribution of content

  • Managed YouTube channel and Facebook Page

  • Managed and trained tech crew

  • Specified, installed and maintained all equipment and software

  • Report to pastoral team

    
 https://www.youtube.com/c/RenewChurchCA/videos


BONA VISTA MEDIA, INC / ONTARIO, CANADA
Owner & PRESIDENT: January 2019 – PRESENT

Created a nimble and responsive media and marketing company that provides creative services locally, nationally and internationally to companies of all sizes.

Primary services include:

Keen i Media Ltd / Freeport, Grand Bahama
Owner & Creative Director: January 2007 – November 2018

Founder and leader of one of The Bahamas’ foremost advertising agencies and media production companies. Leader of a team of up to 23 employees. Provided creative direction for all aspects of work, including design, web projects, public relations, social media, and TV and film projects. Oversaw all capital purchases, software implementation, vendor relations, and business expansion.

Key responsibilities and accomplishments:

Work Examples:  YouTube

Cable Bahamas Ltd / Freeport, Grand Bahama
General Manager: March 2000 – December 2006

  • Directly responsible for all commercial client management and sales, tripling revenue in six years to over $6.3 million, growing subscriber base by 30.1%

  • Managed day-to-day operations of the company’s second largest market (pop. 45k)

  • Coordinated marketing & product launches across three markets in The Bahamas

  • Successfully launched impulse pay-per-view service, digital audio services, broadband Internet service and digital TV service to the Grand Bahama and Abaco markets

  • Oversaw development of consumer collateral, print advertising, TV & radio commercials and live broadcasts

  • Managed the development of the corporate web presence

  • Created corporate press releases, managed public relations efforts, press statements, and company updates

  • Managed workforce emergency and operational response during and after Hurricane Frances & Jeanne (Sept 2004) and Hurricane Wilma (Oct 2005)

Cable Bahamas Ltd / Nassau, New Providence
Director of Marketing & Pay-Per-View: 1996 - 2000

  • Successfully planned, developed, installed and launched the world’s first digital video server-based pay-per-view service serving residential and hospitality markets

  • Grew pay-per-view buy rates to more than 24-times the U.S. national industry average

  • Negotiated contracts with major movie studios Disney, 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros; sought and received approval of MPAA for adequate security and management processes

  • Negotiated exclusive distribution license for NFL Sunday Ticket in The Bahamas, making Cable Bahamas the second cable company in the world to be licensed

  • Managed all aspects of the company’s marketing, including TV and radio commercial production, print, digital and cross-channel advertising

  • Increased profit margins through cost cutting initiatives by introducing content with higher margins & lower delivery costs

  • Developed products and brands for the company, yearly marketing and advertising campaigns, forecasting, annual budgets and reporting to directors

  • Other responsibilities: communicating with the press on issues relating to television services, management and ongoing development of a near video-on-demand PPV business

Media Enterprises Ltd / Nassau, New Providence
Production Manager & Senior Account Executive: 1993 - 1996

  • Oversaw all areas of television & radio production at this leading advertising agency

  • Produced work for international clients Esso Oil and Royal Bank of Canada, major local clients including Cable Bahamas Ltd, Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts

  • Wrote, produced and directed series of television commercials to extend local implementation of RBC’s existing 'One Customer at a Time' campaign

  • Produced DANSA Awards national performing arts programme for national television two years in a row

  • 1996: Received Bahamas & Caribbean Awards of Excellence in Health Journalism by the Pan American Health Organisation for documentary on disease vectors. Writer, producer, director & co-editor.

TECHNICAL & CREATIVE SKILLS

  • Cinematographer and TV & film director

  • Television producer

  • UAV/drone pilot: HGTV, Malibu Rum, Isopure

  • Non-linear editor (Adobe Premiere and Final Cut Pro X)

  • Advanced skills with TriCaster live multi-camera video switcher

  • Still photographer & photo editor

  • Advertising creative director

  • Copywriter

  • Web designer & web hosting administrator

  • Social media manager

  • Mac OS experience (12 years)

  • Advanced software skills:

    • Adobe Premiere, Lightroom & Photoshop

    • Apple Final Cut Pro X

    • NewTek TriCaster

    • WordPress, cPanel, WHM

    • Function Point client management system

    • MS Office

    • Apple Keynote

    • Slack administrator

    • PeopleHR administrator

    • Frame.io

    • Social Report

    • Facebook Ads Manager

    • Google AdWords

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

 

  • Film & television

  • Creative direction

  • Leadership

  • Communication

  • Strategic planning

  • Cutting costs

  • Business development

  • Technology

  • Media management & strategy

  • Revenue growth

  • Staff development

 

COMMUNITY SERVICE