Brad Fortner

Brad Fortner – Program Director, Operations and Technology, Rogers Communications Centre, Ryerson University – Brad’s role is to ensure that Ryerson’s Rogers Communications Centre stays on the cutting edge of media production and its operation remains community focused. His efforts proved essential to the initial technology planning and the installation management stage of the Centre’s start-up. He has since provided leadership in establishing the Centre’s pioneering efforts in Digital Cinema, Digital Signage, Presentation Media, HDTV production, Non Linear Editing, Visual Computing and Interactive Television. Having just completed a design strategy for the University’s rollout of the Centre’s 10 gig Ethernet plant, Brad rolled out the Faculty of Communication and Design’s first SAN system along with a faculty wide fiber optic strategy. Brad’s current projects include developing a knowledge base around ATSC M/H content production and the sports television installation for Maple Leaf Gardens, an “original six” hockey arena that Ryerson University is rebuilding.

In 2005, Mr. Fortner supervised the installation of three television studios that included a five-camera HDTV studio, the first of its kind in Canada. In 2002 he negotiated the country’s largest acquisition of HDTV production equipment for use in education and research. He has been recognized by Ryerson University for his decades of service, receiving the prestigious “Ryersonian of the Year,” awarded in 1999. In 2004, the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers honored him with the “Citation for Outstanding Service,” based on his work with the Toronto SMPTE Section. His commitment to education twice earned him a finalist position in the “Educator of the Year” category of the Canadian New Media Awards.

Currently serving in a dual capacity as SMPTE Toronto Secretary Treasurer and Education Director for the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, Mr. Fortner has chaired Toronto’s New Media Trainers Alliance, has been a contributing editor to Broadcaster Magazine, and was heavily involved with Canadian Digital Television Inc. concentrating on ATSC data transmission and interactivity. He currently sits as Promotions Advisor to the Toronto Section of SMPTE, the Canadian Governor of the SMPTE and sits on the executive of the Toronto Final Cut Pro Users Group.