Transcending the limitations of today’s conventional display.
Photonica, Incorporated was formed in August 2007 to create a new generation of groundbreaking inventions in the field of displays and “intelligent visual media systems.” Focusing on mobile device, immersive entertainment and industrial display markets, Photonica has developed a new and unique "hybrid" technology to deliver next-generation features which existing "mono-technologies," such as LCD, OLED, MEMS, and Plasma, have failed to deliver.
THE PHOTONICA TEAM
Sutherland C. Ellwood Jr., Chairman and Chief Technologist, with 30 plus patents to his name related to display, Photonica is Ellwood’s second display technology company. Ellwood had successfully founded two software companies, and was an 18 year production and technology executive working in the digital production side of Hollywood. Prior to founding Photonica, Inc., Mr. Ellwood was the founder and CEO of Panorama Labs, a principal and co-founder of FilmWarp LLC, and served as an executive at DreamWorks SKG, The Walt Disney Company, and 20th Century Fox. He received a B.S. in Organization Management and in Economics from The Wharton School in 1985, and began studying college physics at the age of 15, continuing through University.
Ian Spenceley, Co-COO and President Photonica International, co-founded Photonica with Sutherland Ellwood. Mr. Spenceley’s background is in both entertainment and technology and the dynamic intersection of the two, with professional experience in both telecom and computer technology, participating in network rollouts in several business sectors in Australia. Mr. Spenceley has spent many years doing business with Japanese companies and Asian businesses in general, and now represents and develops Photonica’s business in Asia, from his base in Tokyo.
Katie Arons, Co-COO and Senior VP of Business Development and Marketing, is a founding member of the Photonica team. Her expertise resides in the area of business development and marketing in Internet media, traditional media, and media-tech, with over 15 years experience, both startup and corporate. In her previous role at Panorama Labs, in addition to marketing and communications, Ms. Arons established their digital cinema division and developed key strategic relationships with CE and Entertainment companies. As founder and CEO of “Extra Hip,” a successful media company, Ms. Arons helped pioneer an entirely new market in fashion, Junior Plus. Ms. Arons also has experience in network television and as a producer developing television programming and film projects.
Frank Stirling, President Digital Cinema and 3D Network Industries, has 14 years of private sector and entrepreneurial management experience in engineering, operations and management following a 25-year career in the Air Force. Mr. Stirling was Executive Director of Digital Cinema for The Boeing Company, during which time he co-invented a patent on digital cinema using bandwidth efficient modulation for satellite distribution of content. Prior to Boeing, Mr. Stirling was President of Stratcom International, LLC, and Assistant Vice-President, Surveillance Systems at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) following his career as a Colonel in the U.S. Air Force.
Harry Mathias, Chief Scientific Officer - Video & Cinema, was Director of Digital Cinema Technology and the senior Technical executive at NEC Digital Cinema. Prior to NEC, Mr. Mathias was Director of Digital Cinema, America at Barco Digital Cinema. Director of Motion Picture Technology, Worldwide, for Schneider Optics; and Senior Consultant to the CEO of Panavision Inc. (under 3 CEO's). He was a Founding Member of the SMPTE DC28 D-Cinema standards committee and has been elected as a Board Director of ICTA for 2 terms.
EXTENDED TEAM - ADVISORS
Dr. Stephen O’Brien, Nanotechnology, brings an extensive scientific background to Photonica with expertise in nanotechnology related to materials science and engineering, materials chemistry, and applied physics. He is a Professor at City University of New York and was formerly an Associate Professor of Materials, Science and Engineering at Columbia University.
Walt Ordway, Image Quality and Standards, is held in high esteem in both the theatrical exhibition and motion picture industries. In 2006 he was honored with the Inter-Society Ken Mason award and a ShoWest Digital Cinema Pioneer Award. Most recently, Ordway served as chief technology officer for Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) to create a specification that could be used to set a common format for digital cinema content and systems. Prior to that, he served the Hughes Aircraft Company for 30 years in various capacities, most notably doing a preliminary analysis in 1993 of the potential digital cinema business opportunity for Hughes, and as a vice president in the engineering group of Hughes DirecTV.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chairman – Sutherland Ellwood
Vice-Chairman – Ian Spenceley
Director - Frank Stirling
