Rob Bertrand Email & Phone Number

Washington, Dc, Us

Washington, Dc, Us

• Transformed operations over the span of eight years: modernized systems, processes, and fundamentally restructured to evolve from 1990s-era radio station to modern multi-platform media company• Brought best practices and major-market commercial experience to bear in deploying technologies and approaches not previously seen in public media. • Completed the 10-month Poynter Institute / CPB Digital Transformation Program for public media• Architected the evolution of a modern media production enterprise, supporting a daily national show distributed to 400+ stations, multiple FM transmission facilities and complex IT infrastructure (incl. an AoIP studio backbone), while ensuring reliable up-time (>99.999%) for all products• Led a major human-centered change management process to adopt a new CMS in order to improve productivity and product quality in journalism efforts across platforms (broadcast, dot com, podcast, social)• Built first digital engineering team focused on building software and tools to drive product growth and innovation• Led new CRM conversion to drive fundraising revenue, audience engagement, and cross-team efficiencies• Re-aligned disparate teams under core “technology” umbrella and built a new service-centric culture. Our division was often lauded as the healthiest and most effective at WAMU• Led a team of 20 with $4M annual budget, delivering critical production, helpdesk and operations support• Formed collaborative relationships across parent American University that enabled us to achieve outcomes previously considered impossible. • Created a tower business that morphed a cost center into a revenue stream while building a best-in-class facility that improved core audience service and drove revenue from FM radio clients and wireless carriers• Directed robust COVID response. Our tech strategy enabled office personnel to immediately shift to work-from-home; subsequently achieved shift of all studio production operations to 100% remote

Philadelphia, Pa, Us

• Top technology principal for market #1 group of seven stations, including the national leaders of the all-news and sports formats (WINS and WFAN), the flagship of CBS News (WCBS), three heritage music brands, and also launched and operated the national CBS Sports Radio Network• Provided cost-effective 24x7 onsite technical support to 500+ people at an 84,000sf broadcast complex• Protected the revenue of this critical station group, responsible for more than half of all CBS Radio earnings• Directed $5 million annual operating budget and additional $2-5 million in annual capital investments• Ensured reliable video production of 12 hours of daily live national sports TV shows across two networks• Maintained full business continuity during 5-day Hurricane Sandy disaster; later rebuilt damaged facilities• Managed blended team of 20 IBEW and non-union engineers and IT staff; negotiated three contracts• Developed diverse new technical talent via novel training programs and career pathways• Led Empire State Building Master FM Broadcasters Committee, stewards of its iconic antenna• Organized leaders across the NY radio community and facilitated the decision-making process of whether the 19 stations should continue broadcasting from Empire State or move to the new World Trade Center• Designed and built new live video production performance space within current studio complex, leveraging sponsorship and existing resources to deliver cost-neutral ongoing operations and new revenue streams• Negotiated and managed major leases for CBS Radio locations throughout New York City• Delivered 100+ capital projects over six years to modernize and standardize legacy broadcast facilities

• Led $3M relocation of the WCBS studios and newsroom in 2010-2011 as WCBS left its flagship home in the CBS Broadcast Center and consolidated with the rest of the NY station cluster; managed the difficultchange by integrating stakeholders throughout the organization; delivered within aggressive budget through careful and continuous value engineering; developed product innovations in cooperation with key vendors. When completed, the facility was considered by many to be the finest in news radio at the time• Provided daily hands-on support of studio, web streaming, and transmission operations for top 5 biller in US• Ushered reporters into digital newsgathering methodologies; built out first HD Radio systems• Managed and piloted the transition to an integrated company-wide on-air content management system• Designed and built radio broadcast booths at new Yankee Stadium in partnership with team

After I graduated from college, I continued working as a volunteer with this unique station, which operates as a novel partnership between Rutgers University & Piscataway High School that I negotiated as an undergrad. This was my was my first foray into organizational leadership, fundraising, and navigating complex bureaucracies.- Successfully led legal response to third-party license challenge; won dismissal and FCC license renewal - Launched first-ever capital campaign: “Tower of Tomorrow Radio Marathon” to fund construction of new jointly owned transmitter site; achieved revenue goals; built new site and quadrupled FM coverage- Drafted and negotiated agreements between state-run Rutgers U. and Piscataway Board of Education to establish new operating and governance relationships; created governing board & recruited members

My first professional broadcast assignment, it was here that I learned the ins-and-outs of commercial broadcast engineering and daily IT support at Greater Media's hometown pair of stations. - Coordinated major facility renovation-in-place to facilitate transition from analog to digital plant- Relocated all staff to a temporary facility and kept stations on-air as building was fully reconstructed- Delivered strategic, cost-effective infrastructure upgrades to facilitate digital transformation

• Deployed technology to protect and support this sheltered workshop for developmentally disabled people (PT 1992-2000)• Mentored in job training program for formerly incarcerated people striving for new careers, 2000-2001• Built out data infrastructure, communication systems, and security technology across all sites (FT 2000-2001)

- Marketed, sold, and installed commercial, industrial, and residential security and communication systems- Protected over 1 million square feet of commercial and industrial spaces in addition to dozens of homes- Executed all aspects of the business: management, sales, finance, field installation, and customer service

I am grateful to have been one of 34 fellows selected as part of this competitive immersive summer fellowship program. It cemented my desire to pursue a career in radio and opened my eyes to the possibility of combining my love for technology and my love for media. I will always be thankful for that summer of learning and working in New York City. This fellowship and its broad mix of networking and professional development built a solid foundation that has served me ever since. Five years following my internship at WINS, CBS management offered me a full-time engineering assignment at sister station WCBS, which led to my continued professional development and growth. I credit this program with ultimately preparing me to take the helm of technology for CBS Radio New York ten years after my fellowship. It was an incredible experience that I will work to pay forward for the rest of my career.

Master Of Science - Ms, Organization Development

Bachelor'S Degree, Visual Art (Video Production)

Electrical And Electronics Engineering

High School Diploma