Staff Bio

		John Ross President, Emerging Media Lab As President of the IPG Emerging Media Lab, John is leading the growth of Lab operations while developing Mediabrands capabilities in the retail marketing arena. Formerly VP of Advertising and Marketing at Home Depot, Inc. John oversaw one of the largest expansions of any American brand. During his 12 year tenure, the company grew from a regional retailer to become one of the best know brands in all of retail and the second largest retailer in the United States. He oversaw the company's first foray into E-Commerce, its international expansion, including entry into Mexico and China, and the growth of the Home Depot Incentives division. John holds an MBA from Tulane University's Freeman School of Business, and is a graduate of the Executive Advanced Leadership Program at Atlanta's Emory School of Business. He has also been an adjunct instructor with several national business schools. John was given the Marketing Exemplary Service Award by NNPA in 2008, inducted into the Gold Council of Contemporary Design in 2007, was named Dealerscope Marketing Executive of the Year in 1997, and won the D.D.I. Prestige Marketing Award in 1998.
		Lori H. Schwartz Senior Vice President, Director of Emerging Media As SVP and Director of the Interpublic Emerging Media Lab, Lori provides consultation and solution recommendations for the latest in broadband, wireless, and emerging media for Interpublic’s global client roster. Lori was instrumental in the establishment of the lab and facilitates emerging media “upfronts” and exclusive partnerships with companies like Joost and TiVo for the company’s agencies and its clients. She has worked with a number of clients across a variety of categories, including, Microsoft, GM, Nestle and Sony.Prior to serving as Director of the Lab, Lori was as an interactive/new media producer at McCann Worldgroup, providing interactive expertise for the agency’s Los Angeles client base. She worked with clients to create original content solutions across multiple channels. An active industry participant, Lori was recently profiled as one of the ‘30 Executives Shaping the Evolution of Media and Technology’ by Variety Magazine. Lori sits on the board for NATPE, is an executive committee member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, participates in the AFI Digital Content lab and is an active member of Producer’s Guild New Media council. Lori has also produced and lead panels for the AFI, Imedia Connection, AdTech, NAPTE, NAB and CES to name a few.
		Scott Susskind Chief Technology Officer In his role of CTO, Scott brings his 20 years of senior IT, engineering and AV experience to bear on developing unique emerging media solutions. Combining this role with his position within McCann Worldgroup's Business Information Solutions group gives him a balanced perspective on the real-world emerging technology issues facing our clients' businesses. A self-proclaimed AV geek, Scott, along with Michael Malfesi, co-designed the hybrid-media infrastructure that powers the Lab. Creating the Lab provided some unique insights on how digital content can be generated, delivered and consumed. The knowledge gained is regularly put into practice as the physical foundation for incubating pilot tests for our clients. Scott is an avid outdoorsman and amateur chef. He can often be found, spatula in-hand, exploring the national forests of North America with his two children.

		Devora Rogers Associate Director, Lab Operations As Associate Director of Lab Operations, Devora Rogers is responsible for the development and implementation of new direct-client services and vendor assimilation. She also supports the Lab’s consumer insights research and manages the Lab's on and offline publications and content. Prior to joining the Lab, Devora was a Senior Front Page Editor at Yahoo! where she produced video and news content for the homepage. A graduate of UC Santa Cruz, Devora got her start in media while on a Fulbright Scholarship to Germany. After working as a producer, reporter and host for German radio broadcaster, Deutsche Welle, she returned to Los Angeles to pursue a career in radio and television production. She has worked for television producers including Mark Burnett, Pie Town Productions, and HGTV. Devora is a passionate polyglot who is fluent in French, German and Spanish. In her spare time she writes a blog about Europe, and is at work on a novel.
		Maria Bryant Event Coordinator Maria is the event and business coordinator for the lab. After three years with MRM Worldwide as Executive Assistant and New Business Development Coordinator, Maria came on board full time at the lab in 2007. Maria comes from a show business background both in front and behind the cameras and opened her production company, The Tribunal in 1999. She and her partner had a four year run producing music videos and some television shows and pilots. Her production skills enhance her talent in event planning. Maria loves riding her bike and after a farmers market run, you will find her cooking up a divine gourmet meal.
		Sonya Rosas Senior Graphic Designer / Practice Lead, Digital Out of Home Sonya Rosas is the lead graphic designer for the Interpublic Emerging Media Lab, guiding the visual direction and branding of the Lab's presentations, collateral, and Web presence. As a brand specialist with over 15 years of design experience, Sonya has created and/or managed the execution of retail marketing campaigns across Europe, Asia, and South America for companies including Shell / Pennzoil, The Teletubbies, Scholastic, ASDA, Wal-Mart, Carrefour, and Toys R Us. As digital out-of-home lead and OVAB Advertising Advisory Board member, Sonya leverages her international perspective and CPG category expertise to help craft an overall strategy and Lab position on the rapidly evolving world of digital OOH marketing. Outside of the Lab, Sonya can be found spending time creating small paper maché sculptures, shooting portraits of loved ones, and most recently, obsessively playing online casual games.
		Josh Lovison Practice Lead, Mobile and Gaming As the Practice Lead for Mobile and Gaming at the lab, Josh helps Interpublic's agencies and clients navigate those dynamic landscapes with skill and ease. Both practices are constantly evolving, but with each change comes new opportunities. Prior to joining the lab, Josh was Content Manager at MediaPost, where he became one of the contributing Gaming Insiders. In addition to the content he writes for the lab blog and newsletter, these articles can be read every other Friday. Josh is a film school graduate from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, so when not playing or talking about games, Josh can be found writing scripts, shooting video, or possibly in the middle of a yoga class.