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We don’t just pride ourselves on our work, but our employees as well. We have a team full of different personalities, specialties and experiences. What we all share though is a passion for the industry and a passion for our clients. Together we are BML-Blackbird and we’re the leader in technical event production services throughout New York and New Jersey.
Eric Todd
President
Years in the Industry: over 40
Founded BML: 1975
What I do: When I started BML back in the 70’s, I was just a high school junior with a love of electronics and engineering and how they applied to theatrical lighting. After spending three semesters in a college theater program running the business from my dorm room, I knew without a doubt it was time to just go out on my own and devote all my time to growing the business. Through these efforts, I was able to grow the company from a garage operation through to the business it is today. I work closely with my clients, as does everyone else at BML to ensure they receive the same personal service today that they received since our inception. “We’re interested in being a part of your team, not just hired guns” has been my motto since day one and continues to drive our operations today.
Major Projects: Design, construction, and implementation of 94’x57’ LED screen for Verizon installation, provision of 1,000,000 watt lighting system for Aida performances in Mexico City, design and construction of large custom lighting installation for Coca-Cola Olympic City.
Interests: Fishing, coaching my kids’ soccer teams, tennis, and, of course, telling jokes!
Shelly Diamond
Vice President of Sales
Years in the Industry: over 40
Started at BML: 2006
What I Do: I oversee our team of Sales professionals, working to ensure that all of our clients are given the very best. Our clients are of the utmost importance to me, and each one, from the small rental to the large nationwide tour, and everything in between, are handled like they are the only project that matters. My years of production touring with acts like the Grateful Dead and managing client relationships have led me to understand the importance of client satisfaction, and I work with my team to drive this home and surpass client expectations each and every time.
Major Projects: MetLife Stadium opening with Green Day 2010, 12/12/12 Concert at Madison Square Garden, Microsoft Store Opening Tours across the US, and producing corporate sponsored concerts on military bases.
Interests: Spending time with my family, golf (breaking 90!), wine and travel
David Oakes
Director of Production
Years in the Industry: 34
Started at BML: Started in the 90’s, Returned in 2012
What I Do: I bring my expertise in design, production, and gaffing to BML-Blackbird to ensure that all events have the proper equipment and staff to make them a success. My department directly oversees all event staffing, equipment lists, and sub-rentals to best utilize all of our equipment and personnel on every event.
Major Projects: Super Bowl halftime shows 2002 – 2004, 2 Tenors PBS Special at the Coliseum in Rome 2003, People’s Choice Awards 2010-2011, 12/12/12 Concert 2012
Interests: Spending time with my family and 2 dogs, traveling – especially anywhere that I can spend long days on the beach drinking margaritas!
Meka Bethea-Lee
Video Director of Operations
Years in the Industry: 20
Started at BML: 2007
What I Do: I am responsible for overseeing the daily operations of our Video Department and making sure everything goes off without a hitch!
Major Projects: Generating content for the KTU event at the Izod Center, and being the daily liaison between our video and lighting department, ensuring seamless integration of our services!
Interests: I love spending time with my family, and, of course, my dogs. I love picking up a new hobby, recently I started playing the guitar!
Chris Ragan
Account Executive/Design
Years in Industry: 30
Started at BML: 2007
What I Do: I work with new and existing clients from the beginning stages of concept and design to the execution of the event, tours, venue installations, and everything in between.
Major Projects: Lighting installations at prestigious venues such as The Capitol Theatre, Terminal 5 and Brooklyn Bowl. Two decades of touring experience with moe., The Strokes, Common and Gov’t Mule to name a few. Lighting designer for Lockn, NYC Governors Ball and Mountain Jam.
Interests: I’m a music lover at heart, and I love being introduced to new artists.
George Schwartz
Project Coordinator
Years in Industry: 13
What I Do: I manage all of our staging projects and help clients come up with solutions for their events.
Major Projects: Global Citizen Festival, Budweiser Made in America Festival, Velvet Underground Experience, Tidal X, Governors Ball, The Meadows, Skate & Surf Festival, Lowdown Hudson Music Fest, K Con, JBL Live @ Pier 97
Interests: When Im not working you can often find me cooking up a storm in my kitchen or outside on a grill.
Chris Manganelli
Director, Client Relations
Years in Industry: 20+
What I Do: Cultivate and maintain client relationships to provide new and existing clients with the technical services of BML-Blackbird.
Major Projects: Super Bowl XXXIII, Arthur Ashe Kids’ Days at the US Open, as well as producing events for American Express, Army, Google, Coca Cola and Verizon. US Open for Time Warner and the Bud Light Hotel Activations at the 2015-2018 Super Bowls.
Interests: I am a huge Mets fan that enjoys food, wine, and golf.
Brad Kaplan
Project Manager
Years in Industry: 22
What I Do: Often First In and Last Out, I bring all the technical parts of the project together. Working with our Clients, Account Executives, and BML production team, I keep projects on time, on budget and on track!
Major Projects: Production Gaffer; CBS Broadcast Center. SuperBowl XLVII (New Orleans), Production Gaffer; The Daily Show w/ Trevor Noah (NYC), Lighting Director; Good Morning Britain (London), Studio Gaffer; Spectrum News, New York 1 & Austin TX.
Interests: Swim, Bike, Run!
Roger Page
Audio Project Coordinator
Years in Industry: 35
What I Do: I supervise the audio department and plan all audio projects.
Major Projects: For me, every project is major! Fine tuning sound is a fundamental part of every production and something that I truly enjoy doing.
Interests: Cooking, Wood Work
Al “Chip” Chipperson
Video Account Executive/Senior Project Manager
Years in Industry: 30
Started at BML: 2010
What I Do: I provide production and technical expertise from the first call to the final bill.
Major Projects: Pope John II in Central Park, Revlon Run Walk, Z100 Zootopia
Interests: Spending time with family and friends, biking, hiking, and snowboarding.
Stacey Sanjurjo
Director of Special Events
Years in Industry: 10
What I Do: Work with clients to execute their vision and ensure all events go smoothly.
Major Projects: Annual Ellis Island Medal of Honor Gala, Coca-Cola 125th Anniversary on The Statue of Liberty, New York Football Giants Reunion for Super Bowl 2007, PGA event for the President Cup, and the Budweiser event for the Fifa World Cup 2018
Interests: Originally from Miami, I’ll use any excuse to go to the beach! I love spending my free time with family and friends, traveling and cooking but will always make time to root on my NY Giants!
Scott Mack
Project Coordinator
Years in the Industry: 27
What I Do: Responsible for writing proposals and processing incoming requests for staging, lighting, video and audio rental services. I coordinate projects and offer engineering and production support for corporate meetings, event productions, product launches & road shows
Major Projects: Colgate Total Launch, Bayer Cipro Launch, HTC One Launch, BP Investor-days, ITAU Investor-days , Ford road shows, Solar Impulse Landing & Exhibit JFK, GM IPO, Visa IPO, Blackstone Group IPO, Virgin IPO, Mastercard IPO, Facebook IPO, Alibaba IPO
Interests: Tinkering in my garage, live music, carpentry, boating, camping and bass guitar. I enjoy spending downtime and weekends with friends and family. Wifey and I enjoy walking and hanging with our pup crazy Mazy
Rocco Terranova
Project Coordinator
Years in the Industry: 8
What I Do: I work closely with project managers to coordinate and organize technical needs for events.
Major Projects: I’ve had a hand in almsot every event with BML for the past 3 years. But overall my favorite events are any and all trade shows.
Interests: I’m interested in Cosplay, Esports, and anything in between truly.
