Getting to Know ... Marla Krueger

1. What do you do at PBS Interactive?
I provide front-line customer support for all member station inquiries related to PBS Interactive products, including all inquiries about how to implement and customize PBS Interactive products on station web sites. I’m also fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work with the system’s most provocative leaders in helping manage the Interactive Station Advisory Council meetings and conferences. I also manage communications to stations such as weekly e-newsletters and product notifications.

2. How did you get involved with Public Media?
Studying foreign affairs helped me discover that public media provides information and outlets that are vital to civil society. As a high school ESL teacher, I used resources from the public media as classroom aids and illustrators and these proved to be essential in helping to promote equal access and opportunities for learning. When the opportunity to work in the interactive department of “America’s Largest Classroom” came along, I couldn’t turn it down. Since then, I’ve been amazed and proud to support station innovation in their efforts to bring public media to communities and classrooms.

3. How will the Interactive Landscape change over the next few years?
I drafted up a geological analogy about digital media and its temporal experience that is choreographed by the user, but Snuffy is waiting for me and I would like to make introductions over at the Fix-It Shop.

In sum, it all comes back to doing more with less.

4. If the Internet didn’t exist, what job would you have?
I would be teaching students the core knowledge they need to create the Internet.

5. What is your favorite gadget and why?
Noise canceling headphones.

6. If you could have dinner w/ any 3 people from history, who would they be and why?
Christa McAuliffe – I’d ask her what she would recommend adding to my “To Do list.”

Audrey Hepburn – We’d talk UNICEF, Lac Leman and hopefully a mere dusting of her grace and eloquence might take hold on me.

Jane Addams – I’d ask her if she’d consider being my running mate for ’12.

*I’d also probably need to conference in Cokie Roberts to help moderate the dinner conversation.

Getting to Know ... Max Duke

1. What do you do at PBS Interactive?

As Video Manager, my main responsibilities revolve around helping stations develop their online video experiences, whether through phone calls about strategy, or implementing products like COVE. The most enjoyable part of my job is probably speaking with stations. Whether in-person on a visit, at conferences or over the phone, I spend much of my time speaking with stations to understand their needs and then translating those needs to various project teams here at PBS. I think being able to advocate for stations is the most important aspect of my job.

2. How did you get involved with Public Media?

I graduated college in December of '98, and had planned on getting a Masters Degree in Education. The semester didn't begin until August, so I got a job at a Sunglass Hut in the meantime (which I'm sure my parents loved after helping finance a college degree). Plans changed and I needed something a little more career-focused so I applied for a job as a Publicist at the local PBS station, WPBT Channel 2. After a year, I moved into the role of Webmaster to begin building the station's fledgling Interactive Department. Eight years later I left to join PBS.

Somewhere in those nine years at WPBT, I fell in love with Public Media, with the idea that I was helping those in the community that could not traditionally speak up have a voice. I think Public Media has that affect on most people. Come for the job, stay for the community.

3. How will the interactive landscape change over the next few years?

I think the next few years will see a continued increase in the alternative platforms consumption of media. The success of this media consumption is beholden to two areas - distribution mechanisms and reception devices. Ways of delivering content are growing more complex, adding incredible capabilities. At the same time, revolutions are being made in the ways consumers can ingest this content. I'm really intrigued by the possibilities of touch control display devices, like the iPhone and Microsoft Surface. Already so much has been done with this technology, and over the next few years, I think we will see a convergence of ideas and applications to combine in amazing ways, specifically in the area of media consumption.

Although, I never would have predicted what has happened over the last five years, so take this Nostradamus moment with a grain of salt.

4. If the Internet didn't exist, what job would you have?

Honestly, retired would be nice. However, since independent wealth has not graced me with the Internet in existence, I doubt I be so lucky if the Internet never existed. I remember when I was a kid; I wanted to own a toy store. I still think that would be fun. But if I could do anything at all, I'd like to own a restaurant. Nothing fancy, just a nice neighborhood joint with good ol' American fare - hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos, wings, etc. If that didn't work out, then I'm going with party animal, like Stiles from Teen Wolf.

5. What is your favorite gadget and why?

I go hot and cold on gadgets. Usually, whatever I bought in the last three months is my favorite gadget. For example, right now my favorite gadget is a computer mouse I got for Christmas. It's lightweight, wireless, low profile with a slick silver finish. It has your standard left- and right-click buttons, plus a four-way scroll button. Flip it over and you see the real magic - five button presenter wheel activated by the flip of a switch. It lets you control presentations, media playback and more. It even has a laser pointer. Only thing it doesn't have is a HEMI. Love the thing!

However, I'm sure my adoration will fade eventually. The one gadget I love that has real staying power would have to be Men's dress shirt collar stays. Those things are Manna from Heaven. Old school gadget!

6. If you could have dinner with any three people from history, who would they be and why?

Ben Franklin: Inventor. Statesman. Politician. Founding Father. What more can you say about the guy. Mostly I want to see what happens when he starts talking to the next guest on my list.

Kurt Vonnegut:  Prolific novelist (Slaughterhouse Five, Cat's Cradle, The Sirens of Titan), known for his blending of satire, dark comedy and science fiction. His works have had more influence on my worldly perspective than anything else. His sense of humor, intelligence and beliefs would make for an interesting evening.

Don LaFontaine: The greatest voiceover artist in history, responsible for over 5,000 film trailers. He would have to speak in his movie trailer voice the whole time, and he would have to begin every sentence with, "In a world where ..."

Getting to Know ... Kristin Calhoun

1. What do you do at PBS Interactive?

Whatever my boss tells me to do..  word.

2. How did you get involved with Public Media?

I did what you're never supposed to do, I was at a job in Reston, VA that made my head hurt daily.  I quit without another job and 2 young kids at home. 

I thought long and hard about the type of organization I wanted to work with/for.  NPR was at the top of my list, so I applied for a job in their Distribution Division and got it!  For 3 years I worked with hard core engineers as the project manager for the ContentDepot.

After that, I took a job here in PBS Interactive.  My first assignment was to establish Operations within the division.  That was hard.  My current assignment is to strengthen our products and services for member stations.  This is hard too, but a lot more fun and rewarding.  And I work with the bestest group of people ever!

3. How will the interactive landscape change over the next few years?

I have no idea, but what I do know is that it's going to be fun and exciting to watch.

4. If the Internet didn't exist, what job would you have?

Oh, I know this answer!  I would operate an organic farm and rescue dogs.  I'd then train the dogs to help me farm. Who is with me?!

5. What is your favorite gadget and why?

Hmmm, my secret is that I'm actually a luddite disguised as a new media type.  So I don't really have a lot of gadgets, but I do like my hair dryer.

6. If you could have dinner with any three people from history, who would they be and why?

Katherine Graham.  One super classy lady and I heart the Washington Post.

Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII.  I've always been fascinated by her.

Thomas Calhoun.  My Dad, English professor, rock and roll singer, black lab lover, volunteer.  Boy I wish he was still around.

Getting to Know ... Amy Baroch

1. What do you do at PBS Interactive?

I am the Senior Manager of the Station Products & Innovation group at PBS Interactive.  Currently I am working in tandem with Sara Terpeny on getting stations across the system on-boarded to Project Merlin.  I also work with stations on social media and new media strategy for their web sites.

2. How did you get involved with Public Media?

I grew up on PBS and NPR and have always had a passion for public media. My first internship after graduating from college was at Maryland Public Television in Owings Mills near where I grew up. I worked in the publicity and promotions department with some wonderful women who really inspired me to continue working for the common good. I moved to NYC and worked at The Jim Henson Company and then Sesame Workshop for about 5 years – getting to see the production side of high quality children’s programming made specifically for PBS. A move to DC several years later lead me back to PBS where I’ve been for nearly 6 years now.

3. How will the interactive landscape change over the next few years?

It’s changed so much in just the past 2-3 years. For a long time, new media was the wild west. Now I think it’s more of a fast moving metropolis with lots to offer and new things coming along all the time. As for PBS Interactive, we have a lot of very smart people working here and a lot of plans – it’s going to be a fun ride.

4. If the Internet didn't exist, what job would you have?

I would definitely be working for a non-profit organization somewhere doing promotions, communications, and special events – it is what my career was before moving to DC.

5. What is your favorite gadget and why?

I’ve never been a huge gadget person but I am in love with my HTC Incredible phone. It really is incredible.  Coming in a close second would be my Wii at home – what other gadget could you have that gets you hoola-hooping, shooting zombies, AND watching streaming videos on Netflix?

6. If you could have dinner with any three people from history, who would they be and why?

It would be hard to choose just three but I’d limit my invitation list to the following:

My grandfather, Pop, who recently died at the young age of 92 ½ - he was a true hero both in WWII and in my life. I miss him tremendously and wish he was still here to have a crab feast with.

George A. Romero whose film “Night of the Living Dead” sparked a passion for zombies ever since I attended a 4^th grade slumber party. Romero is a brilliant filmmaker and someone who probably has a really great sense of humor.  I’d like to pick his brain.

Marie Antoinette who history and text books have completely maligned into a villainess but who was actually a very accomplished, smart, diplomatic, brave, and caring stateswoman.  She would probably be a little haughty at first but I’m sure she and my Pop would get along very well. He never judged anyone.