Lights, camera, action! David Riley does it all—he is The Man. As Creative Director of the studio, David is not only an idea man, but a technical wizard as well. After working for nearly 10 years with major production studios in Hollywood such as 20^th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios, and Walt Disney Studios, David has a solid foundation of experience and the insider’s view of the production process. Prior to joining lab51media, he worked as the Technical Director at Trailer Park, one of the world’s largest entertainment marketing firms. Motivated to excel, David is set on fast-forward—he knows how to get things done, and get quality results quickly. He frames a concept, pans across the possibilities, zooms in on a plan, makes changes with agility, puts you in the best possible light, operates the cameras and sound equipment, and edits all the pieces together into a polished finished product. While earning his bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications from Ball State University, David worked as an on-air radio personality and was general manager of WCRD—the station founded by David Letterman. This experience is evident in David’s upbeat communication style and sense of humor. An avid musician, former band member and married father of a baby girl, David knows all about collaboration. When you’re ready for your close-up, or even if you’re not, David is ready to make some audiovisual magic out of it.

Born in Norway and relocating to the United States as a child, Erik Knutson (the Viking) has always had the drive, determination and discipline of the immigrant coursing through his veins. He sets his mind on a destination and is willing to weather any storm to get there, while passionately committed to living by the Golden Rule. As President and CEO of Design Laboratory and Lab 51 Media, he confronts difficulties head on, welcoming the challenges presented by change management. After earning a BS degree in Business Administration and an MS degree in Computer Systems, Erik worked for Microsoft as a Senior Infrastructure Manager and Product Manager. Prior to that, Erik’s entrepreneurial spirit fueled his decision to found two other businesses—Washington Dried Foods and Icon Sportswear.. More recently, his love of speed and high performance inspired him to attend Bondurant Racing School, and now Design Laboratory enters its own car in racing events. Erik’s passion for starting businesses is motivated by his keen ability to identify that which is broken and fix it. When he imagines a possibility, he is willing to take whatever real-world steps are necessary to manifest it. A dynamic leader with a talent for assembling a crew of consultants who succeed at make others successful, Erik keeps our ship afloat. He steers it straight ahead through both calm seas and inclement weather, and navigates by reaching for the stars.

If you’re holding out for a hero—you’ve finally found her! Our Lead Producer, Heather Lader (also known as the Power Princess), can take on any production challenge that comes her way and emerge victorious. Are you struggling with a stubborn script problem? A perilous production schedule? Dragon-like deliverables? Heather to the rescue! Undaunted by the complexities of the production process, Heather uses the vast array of tools in her arsenal of talents to courageously conquer production tasks with energy and agility. An excellent strategist with a keen sense of aesthetics, Heather will help you determine what you need from your production and keep you updated on progress as she manages the production process. Born into a Navy family, Heather developed flexibility, versatility, and outstanding people skills as her family relocated every few years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Development from George Mason University, while working as the Manager of Training and Development for the corporate university of an international property management company. Heather managed an international team of facilitators and instructional designers while leading the corporate university to place in Training Magazine’s Top 100 Training Organizations for two years in a row. Her extensive experience developing classroom-based and online learning solutions led to her dual role as Lead Producer and Learning Solutions Manager at lab51media. Heather thrives on helping people realize their potential and meet their goals. Whatever you need to accomplish, the Power Princess will join you in battle, help vanquish your opponents, and save the day!

Kyle Bishop was trained under the harshest conditions from birth—from the scorching desert sun of California where he fended off evil font types, to the frigid conditions of the Pacific Northwest where he created negative space. It was when he was recruited to Lab 51 Media that he became a ninja master of animation, and disappeared into the shadows of the illuminated screens of his monitors. When the studio needs a job done by the Ninja, it’s finished before they can even find him. Kyle delights you with his creativity, dazzles you with his drawing skills, and amazes you with his animations. He has a bachelor of fine arts in Multimedia with a minor in Design, and has worked as an animator, graphic designer and production artist. Multi-talented Kyle not only designs and animates, he can also spice up your video and audio projects with his original musical compositions. Recently married, Kyle met his wife via Twitter—he is truly a man of the times. Outside of work, Kyle plays keyboards and composes songs for the rock band Hexxus. While the Ninja is the master of stealth, his talents come through loud and clear. 

Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, and behold the wonder that is Lyndsy Atkins! Ringmaster and operations manager, her task-juggling and organizational skills will amaze you. Watch her schedule a complex array of production tasks, communicate with clients and consultants, juggle human resources paperwork, and tell us what to do—ALL at the same time! She keeps the show (and the office) running smoothly, balancing everything with the focus and concentration of a high-wire performer. Supplying consultants with the tools they need to do their jobs, she even remembers the details of employee benefits packages—a feat unto itself! She handles the acrobatic demands of her position with grace and aplomb. Lyndsy earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing from Montana State University while serving as President of the Marketing Club, and worked for Starbucks Corporation for five years prior to working for Lab 51 Media. Outside of work, Lyndsy dedicates herself to physical fitness, which is evident in her high energy, quick reflexes, and mental acumen. She also volunteers as the Service Director for the Children’s Ministry at her church. Now, that’s a performer with heart. From the little kids at church to us big kids at the studio, she gives us our cues and keeps us all on our toes.

Our lead writer, Rosanne Conroy (also known as Lois Lane), is very curious and will ask you questions to find out which superhero lurks beneath your Clark Kent-like exterior. Rosanne has more than 20 years of professional experience as a technical writer and user advocate, primarily for Microsoft, and loves to use her imagination to write from scratch. Always fascinated by people and their interactions, Rosanne performed as an actor while earning a bachelor’s degree in Humanities with a minor in Psychology. Her knowledge of the ways people think and interact informs her writing. She thinks words are fun, and will happily select the right ones to communicate to your audience and tell your story. Rosanne is a published poet, and volunteers at Literacy Source where she records books on tape for ESL students. Born into a big, Irish Catholic family in Seattle, Rosanne loves getting together with her family to collaborate on video projects and play games. She carries a pen and paper in her back pocket when she exercises (the more oxygen, the more ideas); so if you find yourself in dire need of words, Rosanne will run like the wind to your side and scribble to your heart’s content.