Benjamin F. Copeland, IV (just2day@together.net)
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
A television producer, writer, host, and director with experience on talk and variety programs. Studio experience with lighting, audio, camera operations, and editing (including non-linear). Seasoned manager with significant experience in the fields of technical, project, and resource management in real-time and mission-critical environments. MBA graduate with strong presentation, instruction, mentoring, and marketing skills.
SELECTED ACHIEVEMENTS
Television, Multi-media, and Entertainment
Producer
* Producer and creator of The Modern Renaissance Man variety-talk television show that is taped as a live telecast and airs on local cable network (twice monthly).
* Responsible for crew and cast selection, production schedule, set design and set-up. Also, direct and/or perform the lighting and audio setup.
* Responsible for station contractual requirements including program scheduling expectations, station personnel engagements, and use of equipment and facilities.
Director
* Experience directing talk and variety programs. Frequently perform concurrent roles relating to lighting, audio, set design, and graphics.
* Current and previous Director engagements:
- Wellness, Wholeness, Holiness (June 2005 – present): A weekly show on health and family.
- This is Where the Fish Live (March 2005 – October 2005): A weekly young adults talk show. Also, aired
on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network, Manhattan, NYC.
- Stylin-n-Profilin (April 2005 – September 2005): A monthly young adults variety show.
- Views with Joyce (June 2005): A show concerning Charlotte's African-American community.
- Vision (July 2005): A show concerning Charlotte's Hispanic community.
Editor
* Experience with studio and PC based editing. Primarily utilize Sony MovieShaker and Adobe Premier for linear and non-linear editing.
* Regularly create “special” programs composed of segments (video and audio) from footage of previously aired shows. Also, incorporate footage taken from concurrent hand-held camera recordings in linear and non-linear video construction.
* Responsible for all editing of The Modern Renaissance Man
Writer and Host
* Creator and host for The Modern Renaissance Man variety-talk television show. Responsible for creating all content, except music, performed on the program including humor, editorials, and interview material.
* Excellent writing ability with significant experience in research papers, business proposals, stories, poetry, and prose. Can produce quality work under demanding constraints.
Miscellaneous
* Small scale DVD movie production from miniDV, VHS, VHS-C, and digital stills mediums.
* Fictional documentary movie on Native American abuse – author, actor, and co-director.
Program Portfolio
* Producer, creator, and host for The Modern Renaissance Man variety-talk television show.
* Direct and/or provide production support for Public Access Channel 21. Contributed to the following programs:
- “Wellness, Wholeness, Holiness” – a biweekly show on health and family abuse issues (Director).
- “Where the Fish Lives" – a weekly young adults talk show (Director).
- “Stylin and Profilin" – a young adults talk and musical variety show (Director).
- “Vision" – a show on Charlotte's Hispanic community. (Director).
- “Views with Joyce" – a show on Charlotte's African-American community. (Technical Director)
- “Smarter Computing” – a show on personal computers. (Multiple camera operations)
- “Eve’s Orbit" – a twice monthly variety and talk show. (Cameras)
- “Wizard of Chess" – a weekly show on basic and intermediate chess playing. (Cameras)
- “Carolinas Aviation" – a weekly show on aviation for Carolinas Historic Aviation Society. (Cameras)
- “Vision" – a weekly show on issues related to the Charlotte Hispanic community.
- “Giving the Answer" – a weekly show providing a Christian evangelistically related message. (Cameras)
- “True American History" – a weekly show presenting early American history. (Cameras)
- “Aging With Attitude" – a weekly show concerning persons living in the "autumn of their lives". (Cameras)
- “Art a la Mode" – a weekly show concerning Charlotte's artistic community. (Cameras)
Management and Business Administration
* Intuitive ability to make positive decisions in time-critical situations. Seasoned in high-stress occupations and situations.
* Developed articles of incorporation for non-profit organization. Served as charter Board of Directors member for non-profit corporation with two-year term.
* Consultant to vice-presidents’ quality steering teams for total quality efforts and strategic planning.
* Perform analysis of business and accounting processes. Developed and implemented stream-lined ledger function and methodology. Reduced data entry requirements and eliminated systemic calculation problems.
* Successfully negotiated outsourcing staffing contracts with primary vendors that minimized costs for temporary personnel while providing lowest cost options to hire any qualified contractors.
* Manage multiple functionally diverse groups concurrently. Responsible for budget, planning, resource scheduling, staffing projections, and team and individual performance objectives.
* Perform employee interview, hiring, evaluation, mentoring, career counseling, and morale improvement.
Project Office and Project Management
* Perform customer relation and expectation management.
* Manage complex projects with short and long life duration and multimillion-dollar budgets with diverse teams ranging up to 75 personnel. Regularly delivered projects early resulting in significant revenue bonuses ranging up to $50,000.00.
* Ensure all components of projects will achieve internal and external customers’ objectives budget, schedule, communication, and quality.
* Develop project management matrix organization, project office structure, project management methodology project manager/analyst roles and responsibilities, and service level agreements.
* Perform evaluation, training, mentoring, and career planning to project managers and project analysts within the organization on the practices and standards of project management and corporate software development life cycle methodology.
Information Technology
* Systems, O/S, and security administration, network administration, and database administration in real-time electrical utility control environment. Operating systems and applications programming.
* Design and implement information technology strategy including development and installation of business contingency plans, platform, and processes. Increased efficiency on digital image file transfers.
* Resource coordination of personnel (inside and outside department) performing complex system and network installations. Designed and conducted training sessions for various internal and external groups on many different aspects of computer system and network usage.
Consulting
* Provide generalist consultation services to individuals and organizations.
* Focus on information technology management, project management, adult education, general aviation, marketing, substance abuse recovery, personal computers, and home repair/remodeling.
* Worked with non-profit organizations on development of corporate entity and technology implementation.
* Provide individual career counseling utilizing a combination of likes/dislikes and SWOT methodology.
* Design and implement information technology strategy including development and installation of business contingency plans, platform, and processes. Increased efficiency on digital image file transfers.
* Perform analysis of business and accounting processes. Developed and implemented stream-lined ledger function and methodology. Reduced data entry requirements and eliminated systemic calculation problems.
EMPLOYMENT
TEK Systems, Charlotte, NC (2007 – Present)
Manage complex software/hardware projects related to electrical and gas transmission and distribution systems. Successfully manage multi-million dollar projects to completion. Responsible for internal and external resource management including creation of statement of works and vendor negotiations.
Positions: 1) Senior Project Manager - Contractor
Equifirst Corporation, Charlotte, NC (2005 – 2007)
A national mortgage company specializing in wholesale loan origination.
Positions: 1) Senior Project Manager and Program Manager of Information Technology
Independent Consultant, Charlotte, NC (2004 – 2005)
Provide various consulting services and support on diverse industries including technology, business continuity, and accounting.
DST Innovis, Charlotte, NC (1998 – 2004)
A software development company specializing in customer management for large-volume, high-transaction billing, reporting, and customer service systems used by satellite and cable television broadcasters.
Positions: 1) Manager of Systems Support Group and Quality Assurance Test Team, 2) Project Office Group Manager / Senior Project Manager
Montreat College, Charlotte, NC (2000 – 2005)
An accredited liberal arts college providing both traditional and accelerated schools of study.
Position: Adjunct Professor (part-time work, presently on hiatus)
Duke Energy, Charlotte, NC (1981 – 1998)
An international company that supplies energy products and services in both the retail and wholesale markets.
Positions: Systems Programmer / Project Manager and Total Quality Management Facilitator
EDUCATION
Montreat College, Charlotte, NC
Master of Business Administration Degree.
Montreat College, Charlotte, NC
Bachelor of Business Administration Degree.
Additional education
* Have attended numerous courses, seminars, and symposiums related to project management, total quality management, and information technology including programming and systems management.
* Television production courses including lighting, audio management, editing, directing, and producing.
ORGANIZATIONS AND HONORS
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Project Management Institute, Who’s Who Among Students In American Universities & Colleges (1999-2000), Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Access Channel 21 Television Producer certification.
