SBCA ANNOUNCES SIX STAFF PROMOTIONS

  Ashurst, Breckon and Chang Named Senior Directors; Convention, SkyTRENDS

and Legislative Staff Move Up

ALEXANDRIA, VA, December 20, 2001 -- The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association (SBCA) today announced the promotion of six Association staff members. James Ashurst, director of communications, was promoted to senior director of communications. SBCA director of business development, Alex Breckon, was promoted to the position of senior director of business development. The Association’s marketing director, Eric Chang, was promoted to senior marketing director. Three other members of the SBCA staff  -- Brian Lynch, Amy Miller, and Joy O’Brien -- were promoted following annual reviews by the Association Finance Committee.  All promotions become effective January 1, 2002.

Ashurst joined the SBCA staff in March of 2000 as communications director. Prior to SBCA, Ashurst served as senior manager of communications for the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), the world’s largest travel trade association. Prior to his tenure at ASTA, Ashurst was an account executive at Ogilvy Adams and Rinehart (now Ogilvy PR Worldwide) and Devillier Communications in Washington, D.C. He holds a BS in Communications from Radford University and is a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).  Ashurst will oversee all Association communications activities and will report directly to SBCA president, Andy Wright.    

A member of the SBCA staff since 1998, Alex Breckon is responsible for developing Association membership, as well as creating programs that advance the interests of the satellite consumer services industry. Before joining the SBCA, Breckon worked for three years at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Western European studies and, prior to that, was an archaeology research assistant at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. He graduated from Ursinus College with a BA in political science in 1992. Breckon was chiefly responsible for the successful launch of the SBCA National Standards and Testing Program (NSTP), and will continue to oversee the development of a wide variety of Association initiatives. Breckon will now report to Association president, Andy Wright.

Eric Chang joined the SBCA staff in June of 2000 and is responsible for all Association marketing functions. Prior to working with SBCA, Chang spent six years in affinity program marketing at the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA). He is a 1992 graduate of Cornell University and holds a BA in Business Management and Marketing. An accomplished musician, Chang plays bass guitar for the popular D.C. indie rock band, Yuma House.  

A SBCA staffer since 1999, Brian Lynch was promoted from the position of SkyTRENDS coordinator to manager of SkyTRENDS Programs. He graduated from Radford University in 1999 with a BS in Business Administration and served as a civilian employee of the United States Air Force, 11th Wing, in the office of Ceremonies and Protocol. Lynch will oversee all SkyTRENDS programs and activities and report to SBCA senior vice president, Pat Andrews.

After graduating from James Madison University in Virginia, Amy Miller was hired as the SBCA convention and meetings assistant and exhibits coordinator before her promotion to exhibits manager.  In her new role as senior manager of meetings and events, Miller will oversee all exhibits and events sales and marketing functions. She participates actively as a member of the International Association of Exposition Management and has served two terms as the Washington, D.C. chapter secretary. A five-year veteran of the SBCA, Miller is an active musician and was recently seen on stage in the production of Don Carlo with the Washington Opera.

Joy O’Brien joined the SBCA last year as legislative coordinator and has been promoted to the position of manager of government affairs. She holds a BA in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was a member of the Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity. In her new position, O’Brien will manage all legislative and regulatory affairs for the SBCA under the guidance of SBCA president, Andy Wright.      

“We are fortunate to have a combination of veterans and newcomers so dedicated to serving the interests of the satellite communications industry,” said Andy Wright, SBCA president.  “The coming years pose a great many challenges and opportunities for our industry, and I believe we have a core group of motivated staff members ready to meet those challenges and capitalize on those opportunities,” he added.

The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association of America (SBCA) is the national trade organization representing all segments of the satellite industry.  It is committed to expanding the utilization of satellite technology for the broadcast delivery of video, data and voice services.  The SBCA is composed of DBS, C-band and other satellite service providers, programmers, equipment manufacturers, distributors, retailers, encryption vendors, and national and regional distribution companies.