Tag: Carrie Dieterich

EMA Executive Retires After 24 Years at Trade Group

Carrie Dieterich, SVP, Strategic Initiatives, for the Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA), is retiring after nearly 25 years with the trade group.

Her last day is Friday, May 11.

Carrie Dieterich

Dieterich joined the EMA – at the time, the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) – in 1994, shortly after the relocation of its headquarters from New Jersey to California.

She has held various positions of increasing responsibility over the years. In her most recent post, she oversees the association’s research efforts and events including the Los Angeles Entertainment Summit, Independent Product Market, Digital Media Pipeline and Digital EMA Salons.

Dieterich began her entertainment industry career in television and feature film production, working as a production coordinator on several theatrical and made-for-television movies. She also served as a production executive for the late film director Blake Edwards.  Prior to joining the EMA, she worked in the theatrical marketing department of Columbia Pictures.

Dieterich earned a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from San Francisco State University.

Mark Fisher, president and CEO of the EMA, said, “I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Carrie for her entire career at EMA (initially VSDA).  She’s been both a friend and a colleague. I’ve always been able to count on her to bring calm and reason. She’s one of the most dedicated and hard-working executive I’ve known in my career – she’s always the first at her desk and the last to turn the office lights out. I’ll miss her support, her experience, her diligence, and her smile.  But, after nearly a quarter decade, she’s earned the opportunity to retire from the workforce and enjoy life with her loving husband Joe and her adorable cats Eleanor and Rigby.”

Sean Bersell, the EMA’s SVP, Public Affairs, said, “For almost a quarter century, Carrie’s calm competence has been an integral part of the success of first VSDA and now EMA. Whether she was dealing with one of the world’s biggest celebrities or a service person at one of our events, she was always the consummate professional, treating everyone with respect while making sure that the event came off smoothly. I will always remember the large binders she compiled for each event, detailing every aspect of it. Even years later, if you asked her what we served at a particular cocktail party, she could instantly whip out the F&B order! And she did so much more for the industry in terms of research and marketing. All of us who worked with her will miss her immensely.”

Carrie Dieterich (second from right) with the EMA staff at LAES 2013.
Carrie Dieterich (left) with the EMA staff, 2007.

EMA Expands Supply Chain Efforts with Hire of Former Microsoft Exec

The Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA) on Feb. 13 announced that Eric Hanson has been named VP, industry leadership for the home entertainment trade association.

Hanson will manage all of EMA’s industry and supply chain support for both the home video and video game segments, including workgroups, committees, and councils. Hanson, who had been providing project management to the association since January 2017, assumed his new duties earlier this month.

“Over the past year, Eric has done an incredible job in driving industry consensus on digital supply chain best practices and promoting adoption of them,” said Mark Fisher, EMA’s president and CEO. “I’m really excited to bring Eric on-board on a full-time basis, as this allows EMA to invest even more deeply in promoting efficiencies in the digital video supply chain and other important industry initiatives.”

“I appreciate this opportunity, as full-fledged member of the EMA team, to stimulate industry collaboration that addresses operational friction points, help grow the home entertainment industry, enable innovation, and promote incredible consumer experiences,” said Hanson.

Prior to joining EMA, Hanson was involved in in strategic planning, operations, and process engineering work with Microsoft Corp., Intel Corp., and Amazon. He was responsible for building and leading the content operation function for Xbox Live Video from its launch in 2006 until 2012 and for build-out and management of the content operations function for Intel’s OnCue service.

Hanson has been active in industry engagement and standards since 2001, when he led the planning process for Microsoft’s media standards engagement. He later oversaw Xbox’s representation in industry and standards groups, including EMA’s digital supply chain initiatives.

EMA also announced additional staff changes:

Carrie Dieterich, SVP, strategic initiatives, will retire in May. Dieterich has 24 years of experience with the trade group, most recently overseeing EMA’s research efforts and events, including the Los Angeles Entertainment Summit, Independent Product Market, Digital Media Pipeline, and Digital EMA Salons.

Jennifer Lane Burnell has been promoted to VP, marketing and events. She will assume responsibility for planning, promoting, and managing EMA’s events and continue her current duties in brand and event marketing and creative services.

Steve Apple has been given the new title of VP, industry sales. Apple is responsible for membership growth and maintaining relationships with companies involved in digital delivery of content, as well as soliciting sponsorship of EMA events.