ProfNet Experts Available on the Olympic Games

NEW YORK, April 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss various topics regarding the Olympic Games taking place this summer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

You can also find experts by sending a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network – it's easy and free! Just fill out the query form to get started: http://prn.to/alertswire.

EXPERT ROUNDUP

• The Olympics

MEDIA JOBS

• Content Producer – WMAQ-TV, NBC Chicago (IL)
• Weekend City Editor/Relief Editor – The Pueblo Chieftain (CO)
• Lead Content Producer – CBS Interactive (CA)

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

• Expert Spotlight: Dr. James Robinson, Brain Expert
• Preparing for a TV News Live Shot
• The Rise of Online Video Personalities

EXPERT ROUNDUP: The Olympics (16 experts)

Following are experts from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss various topics regarding the Olympic Games taking place this summer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:

The Games:

John K. Coyle
Olympic Silver Medalist and NBC Olympic Analyst
"Every two years brings us another Olympic Games full of fanfare and spotlight. Yet many of the 'behind the scenes' stories at the Games sensationalize relatively trivial events (condom distribution in the Olympic village, Sochi accommodations) while missing out some the most important events and activities (the Ikkos award, visits to the USA house and other countries' houses, secret parties and ceremonies). The Olympics is the biggest and best party on earth if you know how to navigate it."
Based in Chicago, Coyle is available to share an insider's view to the Olympics. He is the founder of The Art of Really Living, one of the world's leading experts in innovation and design thinking, and a thought leader in the field of horology (the study of how humans process time). He is a two time TEDx presenter, an NBC Sports analyst, SVP and professor of innovation, author and sought-after keynote speaker. He is also an Olympic medalist -- an achievement he attributes directly to his design thinking background.
Contact: John K. Coyle, [email protected]

Gale Bernhardt
Olympic Cycling and Triathlon Coach
Bernhardt, a two-time Olympic coach and leading athletic trainer, is the author of six books, including "Fat Burning Machine" (see link below). In 2014, she was honored by being selected as one of Men's Fitness magazine's top six online trainers for providing dedicated workouts and advice for athletes. She is certified as a Level I Coach by USA Cycling and a Level III Coach by USA Triathlon. She served on the USA Triathlon National Coaching Committee from 2000 to 2006.
Bernhardt is available to discuss: how a sport becomes an accepted Olympic sport; the history of triathlon becoming accepted as an Olympic sport (and the people involved); the process for teams to attend the Games; security measures taken; and more.
Book: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Fat-Burning-Machine/Mike-Berland/9781942872504
Contact: Barbara Teszler, [email protected]

Athlete/Attendee Health:

Dr. Becca Rodriguez
Medical Director, High-Performance Center
Team USA
Dr. Rodriguez is an osteopathic physician board certified in family medicine and sports medicine, with a specialization in dance medicine. She will serve as the medical director for the high-performance center for Team USA at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. She has been awarded Top Doctor of San Diego for 2014 and 2015 in San Diego Magazine. Additionally, Dr. Rodriguez is currently serving a three-year term on the USA President's Council Science Board for Fitness, Sport, and Nutrition.
Dr. Rodriguez is also the company physician for the San Diego Ballet, The Academy of Performing Arts of San Diego and The San Diego Symphony. She participates in team coverage for the California Ballet, San Diego State University Athletics, San Diego Pro Rugby, and the US Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. Prior to her medical training, she danced professionally for 12 years, and has worked with Disney, Paula Abdul, MTV, "Star Search," and Warner Brothers' "Power Rangers." She has also started her own nonprofit organization, LatinaStrong Foundation, to help Latina women shape their culture through healthy diet and exercise to prevent disease.
Dr. Rodriguez is available to discuss concussions, Zika, preventive care, dance medicine, and high-performance training. She is also available to Spanish-speaking media.
Contact: Jessica Bardoulas, [email protected]

Dr. Naresh Rao, DO, FAOASM
Head Team Physician
Men's USA Water Polo
Dr. Rao is board certified in family medicine and osteopathic manipulative treatment, and holds a Certificate of Added Qualifications in sports medicine. Dr. Rao currently serves as head team physician for Men's USA Water Polo, as well as medical liaison to the US Olympic Committee. He has been selected to the Sports Medicine team for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He serves on the Therapeutic Use Exemption Committee for the World Triathlon Corporation (Ironman, International). He most recently served as a sports physician for Team USA at the 2015 Pan American Games.
Dr. Rao is currently serving as clinical assistant professor at New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, as well as clinical faculty at NYU School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Beth Israel Family Medicine Residency, and Northwell Plainview Hospital Sports Medicine Fellowship. He recently published a book on sports performance for the everyday athlete, "Step up Your Game: The Revolutionary Program Elite Athletes Use to Increase Performance and Achieve Total Health" (Sports Publishing, February 2016). He has also been a contributing author for several medical books and articles for scientific journals, and lectures frequently on sports medicine and wellness-related topics. He is a competitive tennis player and played water polo at Colgate University. His love for sports thoroughly pervades his professional and personal life. He is a swimming and water polo coach for the New York Athletic Club's Saturday Morning Program.
Dr. Rao is available to discuss concussions, manipulative treatment, Zika, preventive care, sports performance, and water polo.
Contact: Jessica Bardoulas, [email protected]

Dr. Karen Roos
Neurologist and Infectious Disease Specialist
Indiana University Health
Dr. Roos is also a professor of neurology at the Indiana University School of Medicine. She can comment on the Zika virus and what Olympic attndees can do to protect themselves, such as liberally using repellant and wearing long sleeves and pants.

Economic Impact/Issues:

Joseph P. Fuhr
Professor of Economics
Widener University School of Business Administration, Chester, Pa.
Fuhr is available to discuss the economic impact of new construction for the Olympics on the Brazilian economy: "There will be both long-run and short-run gains for the Brazilian economy as a result of new construction to accommodate the Olympic Games. The short-run gains will be as a result of the jobs created from the building of infrastructure. This will create many construction jobs before the event. Also, during the games, there will an increase in tourists, which will have a tremendous economic impact on the hotel, restaurant, retail and transportation industries. The long-run effects from the infrastructure are the ability of Brazilians to use these facilities and the possibility of attracting future events as a result of this infrastructure in place. However, there are various negative effects from having the Olympics. One is the crowding-out effect. This occurs as a result of tourists who would have visited during these times but won't as a result of higher prices and congestion. Also, inflation will result from the increase in demand during the games. For example, it is estimated that hotel rooms could increase by 500 percent during the games. While new infrastructure will increase the ability of the country to have greater economic growth, this new infrastructure is only a benefit if it can be used after the events. To the extent that some of the infrastructure will inevitably become 'white elephants' -- infrastructures that have little use after the events they are constructed to host -- will harm the economy. For example, 12 stadiums, instead of the required eight, were built or renovated for the recent World Cup in Brazil. This has added to the cost, and some of these stadiums will have little use now that the World Cup is over. These white elephants will actually result in a drain on the economy, since they will need to be maintained. Economic analysis of stadiums shows that they generally lose money."
Contact: Allyson Roberts, [email protected]

Jonathan Willner, Ph.D.
Professor/Chairman of Economics
Oklahoma City University
Dr. Willner is available to discuss the economic impacts of the Olympics. He specializes in three main areas: sports economics, international trade, and industrial organization. Additional areas of expertise are those related to intellectual property rights and natural disasters. His research in sports economics deals with the economic impacts of the Olympics and U.S. Major League franchises. His industrial organization research deals with conglomerate effects in Korea, as well as domestic issues associated with legal structures. He teaches courses in a variety of fields including international economics and game theory.
Dr. Willner is a member of the American and Southern Economic Associations, Western Economics Association, and Southwestern Economics Association, of which he is the past-president. He has spoken at venues in Oklahoma City, numerous locations throughout the United States, Indonesia, China, and Singapore. He has taught in numerous countries and done consulting work in Ukraine, as well as Oklahoma City. He has published work in diverse outlets from academic journals such as The Journal of Economic Perspectives, The International Journal of Stress Management and Foreign Affairs, and more mainstream outlets such as PRNews Asia (online journal), Korea Times, and Blueprints. He is actively engaged with undergraduate research assisting and mentoring students through published research in a variety of fields. He also serves on the Oklahoma City Bar Association's Fee Grievance and Ethics Committee.
Contact: Rod Jones, [email protected]

Mark Davidson
Graduate School of Geography
Clark University (Massachusetts)
"The hosting of the Olympics continues to entice many cities to enter a hyper-competitive bidding process. However, recent host cities have a mixed record of success in terms converting Olympic facilities into important municipal additions. This varied record of host city outcomes is, in part, explained by the different governance approaches cities have adopted."
An urban geographer with expertise in urban politics, urban change and social theory, Davidson has conducted sponsored research on the long-term impacts of the Olympic Games on host cities and has also worked on the post-Games developmental challenges and strategies faced by cities and regions.
Website: https://www2.clarku.edu/departments/geography/
Contact: Jane Salerno, [email protected]

Albert Goldson
Executive Director
Indo-Brazilian Associates LLC
Indo-Brazilian Associates is an NYC-based boutique global advisory firm and think tank that provides international investment strategies and geopolitical risk assessments. Goldson has contributed numerous articles, including a prescient blog in May 2015 on Petrobras, Brazil's Watergate. Additionally, he is a regular guest panelist on the award-winning international TV program "Fresh Outlook," and participated on several programs with respect to the impacts of the Ebola virus.
Website: www.indobrazilian.com
Contact: [email protected]

Legal/Ethics Issues:

Mark Conrad
Director, Sports Business Concentration; Associate Professor, Law and Ethics
Gabelli School of Business
Fordham University
Conrad comments in the major media quite often on national and international sports. He can discuss the following: 1) eligibility issues (e.g., PED violations by athletes); 2) legal Issues -- bribery allegations, public health and safety liability (e.g., Zika virus); 3) security; 4) ethical Issues (related to legal issues).
Contact: Gina Vergel, [email protected]

Paralympics:

David Parish, DC, MS, CSCS, DACBSP, ICCSP
Director, Master of Science in Sports Science and Rehabilitation; Human Performance Center
Logan University
Dr. Parish is available to discuss Paralympics, ParaPowerlifting, coaching the U.S. ParaPowerlifting team, chiropractic sports injury care and rehabilitation, and the challenges a Paralympic athlete must overcome. He has served as a physician at the Paralympics in London in 2012 and recently hosted a training camp for ParaPowerlifting athletes at Logan University. One of the athletes he's trained has qualified for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio for ParaPowerlifting, and Dr. Parish will be attending the games as coach for the U.S. ParaPowerlifting team. The Paralympic Committee is partnered with the Olympic Committee, and the Paralympics were created for Para athletes to participate in the Games. The Paralympic Games will take place in September 2016 in Rio.
Contact: Maria Lemakis, [email protected]

Payments/Fraud at the Olympics:

Seth Ruden
Senior Fraud Consultant
ACI Worldwide
Ruden is a fraud/payments expert who can speak to a wide range of topics within the payments space as it relates to the Olympics. More specifically, he can also address payments fraud, credit card security, ATM skimming, cash vs. credit card use, buying tickets online, and the possibility of gas pump fraud.
Ruden is a Certified Fraud Examiner and Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist and has been working with banks in the detection and mitigation of financial crimes since 2004, in the compliance department of one of the largest global banks. Since then, he has worked with law enforcement, regulators, executives and analysts in consulting positions beyond the United States, extending to financial services organizations in Asia, the Middle East and North and South America. Interests include payments security, financial crimes, fraud, money laundering, cybercrime, biometrics, authentication, data breaches, compromises, risk management, hacking and technology innovation.
Contact: Marie Matta, [email protected]

Security:

Dr. Jeffrey Cantor
CEO
Defense Coach University
Dr. Cantor is one of the country's leading experts on personal and international security, including kidnap and ransom response, active shooter and terrorism preparedness, and personal security operations. His experience includes successfully leading security teams and event security for large crowd, high-risk venues where bomb threats had been received. He has served as a subject matter expert advisor to governments, militaries, law enforcement, corporations, security professionals and individuals in such areas as active shooter and terrorism preparedness, kidnap and ransom, kidnap-to-kill, threat assessment, risk and crisis management, travel security and dignitary protection. He is also the founder/CEO of the TRS International Group, a highly successful private security, defense intelligence, risk management and training firm. Through TRSIG, he has used his unique skills and real world experience to work for governments, corporations, organizations and private parties around the world supporting a myriad of security objectives and low signature operations including hostage recovery, terrorism, personal security operations, covert surveillance, asset transport and relocation and close and dignitary protection.
Websites: www.defensecoachu.com and www.trsig.com
Contact: Linda Popky, [email protected]

Technology and Broadcasting:

David Jones
Digital Performance Expert
Dynatrace
"Global events like the Olympics draw an increased amount of traffic to web and mobile sites, which impacts the speed and availability of all the news and other content sites in both the lead up to and during the games. Companies that prepare in advance will yield the best results from a digital standpoint. As more companies embrace digital performance strategies, it allows them to deliver exceptional end-user experiences and anticipate for some of the busiest times of the year."
Jones is an APM Technical Evangelist and has been with Dynatrace for eight years. He has close to 20 years' experience working with web technologies at organizations such as S1 Corp (Atlanta), Broadvision (Bay Area), Interleaf/Texcel (Waltham), i4i (Toronto) and SoftQuad (Toronto). He is an expert in user experience management; mobile and web performance; real user monitoring and synthetic monitoring/testing. Jones is available to discuss website and mobile performance surrounding the 2016 Olympics, as Dynatrace will be monitoring the website and mobile performance of the major advertisers, broadcasters and partners of the Olympics.
Website: http://www.dynatrace.com/en/
Blogs: http://cxblog.dynatrace.com and http://apmblog.dynatrace.com
Contact: Laura Paine, [email protected]

Jonathan Wilner
VP, Products and Strategy
Ooyala
Wilner has more than 15 years of technology leadership experience in online video and interactive TV, and has helped Ooyala partner with some of the largest broadcasters in the world. He previously founded the broadband pay TV platform Unlimited Football and was vice president of technology at Foxsports.com. He is available to discuss sports video streaming and viewership analytics.
Contact: Viviane Ford, [email protected]

Zika Virus:

Dr. Karen Roos
Neurologist and Infectious-Disease Specialist
Indiana University Health
She is also a professor of neurology at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Roos can comment on the Zika virus and what Olympic attendees can do to protect themselves, such as liberally using repellant and wearing long sleeves and pants.
Contact: Linda Jackson, [email protected]

MEDIA JOBS:

Following are links to job listings for staff and freelance writers, editors and producers. You can view these and more job listings on our Job Board: https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/community/jobs/

• Content Producer – WMAQ-TV, NBC Chicago (IL)
• Weekend City Editor/Relief Editor – The Pueblo Chieftain (CO)
• Lead Content Producer – CBS Interactive (CA)

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES:

Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line.

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• THE RISE OF ONLINE VIDEO PERSONALITIES. The Internet is giving rise to a new crop of prominent online video personalities. In many cases, these YouTube celebrities command larger audiences than traditional television news stations in some of the country's more competitive markets. For our latest Twitter Q&A, we looked at tips and best practices for YouTube marketing: http://prn.to/1qVEwXe

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