Our Team

James S. Byrd, Jr., Chairman and CEO

Jim is a proven and accomplished public company executive who has enjoyed a distinguished 20-year career advising, building and managing high growth companies - from start-up private enterprises to successful public companies. After serving as an advisor to Gen2Media's founders and as the Company's very first private investor, he assumed the roles of Chairman and CEO in 2008 and has since led Gen2Media's rapid transformation from a start-up company to what is now a fully operational publicly traded enterprise intent on establishing global leadership in the digital media industry.

From 1987 through 1993, he was the founding and managing partner of Schoene, Byrd, Piercefield and Heinkel, an Orlando, Florida-based, full service commercial law firm specializing in corporate and securities, real estate and general business law. Since 1993, Jim has founded and served on the boards of a number of private and public companies; and has started, managed, or advised numerous publicly traded companies either as CEO, Chairman or consultant, including Interfoods of America, Inc. (CEO 1993-1996); Fortune Financial Systems, Inc. (CEO 1996-1998); and OE Source, LC (Managing Director and later Chairman 2004-2007), now publicly traded as General Automotive Company (GNAU). Jim is also the former Vice Chairman of Success Magazine in New York.

Mary A. Spio, co-Founder, President and Director

A noted digital media expert and acclaimed entrepreneur and one of Essence Magazine's featured "Top 15 Women of Power" in 2007, Mary serves as Gen2Media's President and as a member of the Board of Directors. On a day-to-day basis, she devotes a large portion of her time overseeing the Company's media sales teams operating in Orlando, Los Angeles and New York City; and advising brands and national advertisers on implementing effective brand-building strategies that leverage Gen2Media's digital media network and patented video publishing platform.

A former deep space scientist (literally), Mary began her career designing, launching and operating communications satellites for The Boeing Company. As challenging as that sounds for a then 26-year old young woman, Mary's talent and ingenuity in the field of electronic engineering and computer science led her to invent and win several patents for Customer Engagement and Demographic Targeting technology, resulting in Boeing forming a new division: Boeing Digital Cinema. Mary's disruptive digital innovation has been used to redefine how major motion pictures are distributed to movie theatres worldwide by way of satellite transmissions. High grossing pictures such as Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones; Ocean's 11; Planet of the Apes; Spy Kids and Monsters, Inc. are among numerous that have been digitally delivered to big screens everywhere using Mary's technology.

This success fueled Mary's passion for digital technology and her head-first dive into entrepreneurialism. Her profoundly 'right on' instincts for building brand affinity, combined with her proven technical and engineering prowess, led her to form her own media company that blended traditional media with the power of digital video and the Internet. Through this and other entrepreneurial ventures, she has provided technical and marketing leadership and brand building guidance to many of the world's largest media, entertainment, gaming, music and retail companies and brands, including ABC, Sam Goody, Media Play, Suncoast Motion Pictures, Trans World Entertainment (FYE Stores), National CineMedia, AOL, Coca-Cola, Toyota and many, many more household names.

Mary is a recipient of the prestigious Yueh-Ying Hu Memorial National Award for Innovation and Boeing Outstanding Achievement in Electrical Engineering Award. She holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Global Innovation Management from Georgia Institute of Technology and Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Syracuse University. Mary is also a sought-after speaker and has been quoted or featured in numerous national publications, books and broadcasts, including The Oprah Winfrey Show - The Courage to Follow a Dream; USA Today; MSNBC; the New York Times bestselling series Chicken Soup for the Soul; and Georgia Tech Alum Magazine, among many others.

When not traveling the country educating major brands, partners, customers, agencies and prospects, Mary splits her time between homes in New York City and Orlando, Florida; and, on rare occasion, tries to sneak in some time to inline skate and (when no one is looking) learn a few Hip Hop moves. She is an ardent music lover and is engaged in authoring a new book on the digital revolution. Not surprisingly, Mary is also fluent in five different languages.

Mark Argenti, co-Founder, Chief Creative Officer and Director

Gen2 Co- Founder Mark Argenti has directed, produced, and created cutting edge imagery for most of today's biggest names in entertainment. Mr. Argenti's client list reads like a Hollywood A-List Who's Who; including artists such as Will Smith, Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Justin Timberlake, Black Sabbath, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesies, No Doubt, Jessica Simpson, Ozzy Osborne. Mark has completed full digital media production for Universal Studios, Screenworks, Andre Agassi, NBC, Dreamworks, LiveWire Entertainment, Sheraton Taylor Group, Chili's, Monte Carlo Celebrity Golf Invitational, Spike TV and much more.Mark is perhaps best known for directing, producing and creating cutting edge imagery for many (if not most) of today's most prolific names in entertainment. His current and past client roster reads like a "Who's Who" in chartbusting music and on Hollywood's A-List, including Will Smith, Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Justin Timberlake, Black Sabbath, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesies, No Doubt, Jessica Simpson, and Ozzy Osborne, just to name a few. In addition, Mark has completed full digital media production for Universal Studios, Screenworks, Andre Agassi, NBC, Dreamworks, LiveWire Entertainment, Sheraton Taylor Group, Chili's, Monte Carlo Celebrity Golf Invitational, Spike TV and many more.

As Chief Creative Officer, Mark is responsible for fueling Gen2Media's global creative vision in collaboration with the Company's highly skilled and acclaimed creative team.

Ian McDaniel, co-Founder, Chief Technology Officer and Director

Ian has served as a pioneering force in the Entertainment industry for nearly two decades, driven by his knowledge of advanced and emerging technologies that enable 'off the hook' media production for the world's leading artists and broadcast media companies. Teamed with Mark Argenti, he has provided pre- and post-production design and editing expertise for numerous large-scale projects such as Justin Timberlake, Live from Memphis and Will Smith, Live in Concert. In addition, he has worked on shows for NBC, ABC, MTV, VH1, HBO, Showtime, Discovery Channel, History Channel and A&E.

Michael Mohamad, Executive Vice President

With nearly four decades of media and marketing experience, Mike has spent a luminous career in-house and at ad agencies, creating award-winning advertising campaigns and promotions for various media companies, including NBC, where he is credited with rebranding the network and reintroducing the iconic peacock symbol as the official NBC logo; and, more recently, A&E Television Networks where he helped to create The History Channel, among other popular channels and programs.

Beginning in 1996, Mike served in various senior marketing executive roles at A&E overseeing the creative implementation of major marketing strategies, including Advertising, Public Relations, On-Air and Consumer Marketing. He also managed several prolific creative partnerships, including Laura Bush and the White House; NASA and The Kennedy Space Center; Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty; Macy's and many more.

During his 12 year tenure at A&E, he served as Senior Vice President of Marketing for both The History Channel and A&E; and Senior Vice President of Marketing Partnerships and Business Development. Prior to his, albeit temporary, retirement in 2008, Mike earned industry acclaim for creating campaigns for such programs as the Emmy Award-winning BIOGRAPHY® series and Horatio Hornblower drama specials; as well as The Crossing, which earned the distinguished Peabody Award; and the drama special Shackleton, among many, many others. Enjoying many noted accomplishments, Mike and his marketing teams have been honored with numerous awards for their campaigns. In 1998, they were recognized by Advertising Age as "Marketer of the Year." He also played an instrumental role in BIOGRAPHY becoming inducted into the CTAM Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2002, A&E was awarded with the 2002 Gold Reggie Award from the Promotion Marketing Association and the Pro Award from Promo Magazine for The Impressionists "Fundraiser in a Box" campaign.

Before A&E, Mike was President of MSM Advertising and before that he served as Co-President and Creative Director of Korman Mohamad Korman. He has created print, television and radio advertising, as well as sales promotion for clients that have included Multimedia Entertainment (Phil Donohue, Sally Jessy Raphael), NBC Radio, DL Taffner, MCA TV, WWOR-TV and Spelling Entertainment. Prior to leading these two successful ad agencies, Mike served as Vice President and Creative Director at Shapiro, Budrow & Association from 1982 through 1986, overseeing advertising campaigns for the likes of Hearst/ABC Cable Networks, Lifetime and Arby's. From 1972 till 1982, he was Vice President of Advertising, Promotion and Design at NBC.

Alan De Leon Senior Vice President, Interactive

Alan brings Gen2Media over 14 years proven experience in business development, partnerships, online sales and advertising management with several highly respected industry-leading brands. Prior to joining Gen2Media in early 2009, he served as Vice President, US Digital Sales and Operations for Ybrant Digital, a Comscore Top 20 Online Advertising Network and Technology Company, where he managed all interactive agency and brand relationships.

Prior posts have included Director of New Media for CBS affiliate KFMB Stations, where Alan's team packaged broadcast television, radio and integrated online advertising for local and regional advertisers and brands. While serving as Western Regional Director for iVillage.com, an NBC Universal property, he was responsible for developing multi-year sponsorships with Consumer Packaged Goods companies, such as Proctor & Gamble and Unilever, while also helping to develop community elements within the top vertical. As Vice President, Interactive Sales for Interevco, Inc., Alan managed brand partnerships with top publishers Marvel Entertainment Group, Prevention.com (Rodale Publications), AARP and Generations Network; developing integrated campaigns with Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation and Nintendo; and further developing partnerships with all major cable networks and motion picture studios. As Director of Online and Digital Entertainment for Warner Bros Entertainment Group, he continued to develop licensing partnerships for Warner Bros Online Entertainment, winning co-branded partnership alliances with mobile partners; and integrating the Warner Bros. Characters' with home computing giants that included HP and Dell Computers.

Alan was also the former Vice President of Business Development for the Wedding Channel, Inc., now owned by "The Knot". He solely managed the 2004 NBC Strategic Alliance and the AOL Time Warner Broadband Alliance and was responsible for growing the Wedding Channel's $100 million revenue in annual ecommerce registry business. For over five years as Consultant to NBC Universal-Digital Media, he managed marketing relationships with Sony, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Proctor & Gamble, Pfizer and AT&T for packaged television media and online video advertising.

Earlier in his career, Alan served as National Advertising Director for Qualcomm/Leap Wireless International bringing their new mobile "CriKet" brand phones to 15 new markets.

Thomas Moreland, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer

Tom's sound financial, accounting and business management expertise and experience allow Gen2Media to employ consistent best practices and fiscal responsibility. He has held several senior financial roles for public companies, including Vice President of Finance for Nasdaq-listed Priority HealthCare and AMEX-listed PainCare Holdings, Inc. In these capacities, he was largely responsible for strategic planning, operational performance and SEC reporting compliance. Additionally, he served as Controller and Chief Accounting Officer for Devereux, a national non-profit provider of behavioral health care services. He began his career working as an audit manager with international accounting firm Ernst & Young.