The Cable Center's highly-credentialed training team is well-suited to guide you and your organization toward a better understanding of all aspects of the cable telecommunications industry.
Our training team includes:
Ph.D., Finance and Economics, New York University
M.B.A., New York University
B.S., Finance, University of Colorado
Dr. Rizzuto is professor of finance at the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver. His specialty areas include capital expenditure analysis, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate financial planning. Rizzuto has extensive consulting experience in evaluating the financial viability of new technologies related to the cable telecommunications industry. He is also one of the leading authorities in the U.S. on the economics of telecommunications overbuilds. His consulting experience on a variety of strategic initiatives includes work with CableLabs, Charter Communications, the City and County of Denver, Connective Communications, Net Fone, Sweetwater Cable, Tele-Communications Inc./AT&T Broadband, Time Warner Cable, and United GlobalCom. In addition, Rizzuto has co-authored two books (Costs, Benefits, and Long-Term Sustainability of Municipal Cable Television Overbuilds and Managing by the Numbers) and has published numerous articles and essays in scholarly and professional journals and books.
back to top »
Ph.D., University of Illinois (Major: Advertising; Minors: Marketing, Sociology)
M.S., University of Illinois (Major: Advertising)
B.A., University of Illinois (Majors: History and Literature)
Dr. Patti promotes a balance of administration leadership, teaching, and scholarship in variety of academic settings, from small private universities to large, internationally-focused, state-assisted universities. His leadership and administration experience include area coordination, department and school head, director of executive MBA, associate dean, acting dean, and chair of committees at university, college, school, and department levels. Patti brings deep experience with fund raising, financial management, accreditation, program development, community relations, and international collaborations. He has extensive teaching experience in a wide range of settings, including doctoral seminars, MBA and other specialized post-graduate courses, undergraduate programs (including small and large lecture formats), and executive training. His special expertise is case method learning. He has been an early adopter of online teaching and learning technologies. His scholarship includes publications in international journals, proceedings, books, case studies, book chapters, book reviews, and industry/consulting reports with focal topics in marketing management, marketing communications (particularly advertising), and learning and teaching issues. Patti has maintained an active profile in industry through consulting, boards, collaborations, and expert witness assignments with over eight years of full-time employment in business.
back to top »
Ph.D., Stanford University
M.Acc., University of Denver
M.A., Stanford University
B.A., Queen University, Canada
Dr. Frakes teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in the area of financial reporting. Her primary focus has been the development of accounting curricula for both accounting majors and those with little or no accounting background. She has been recognized for her excellence in teaching by numerous awards, including the Cecil Puckett Award from the Daniels College of Business and the Huizingh Award for Excellence in Teaching Accounting. Frakes has been involved in the development and delivery of customized accounting seminars for almost twenty years. She has participated in several certificate programs for the Center for Management Development at the University of Denver and for Women in Cable and Telecommunications. She has provided in-house programs for numerous companies such as Time Warner, US West, HBO, Showtime, Jones Intercable, and ICG. Frakes is a member of the American Accounting Association, the American Institute of Certified Accountants, and the Colorado Society of CPAs.
back to top »
Ph.D. candidate, Curriculum and Instruction, University of Denver
M.S., Communication Technology, Eastern Illinois University
B.A., Graphic Design/Visual Communication, Eastern Illinois University
Conley is a full-time marketing professor at the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver. Her scholarly interests include innovation theory, marketing communications, and business development. Conley applies her professional corporate experience and academic background as a marketing consultant to a variety of small to mid-sized businesses with a focus on product development, segmentation analysis, branding, and positioning. Conley came to DU after a lengthy career in corporate business. Most recently, she was vice president of new product development and marketing at AT&T Broadband and was responsible for product strategy and marketing planning for a number of high-profile product launches including high speed data services, digital cable, interactive TV, digital recording, and video-on-demand. Previous to AT&T, Conley was the vice president of marketing for TCI Internet Services. Additionally, she has held a variety of marketing leadership positions at US WEST, now Qwest. Conley has spoken extensively at national industry forums on product development and commercialization, consumer marketing, brand awareness, and technology business trends. She has received numerous prestigious industry awards, including the Women in Cable and Telecommunications “Woman of the Year-Walk of Fame” award in 2001. Conley serves on the board of directors (Business Advisory) for the Emily Griffith Foundation, and has been awarded repeatedly for outstanding teaching and student mentoring.
back to top »
J.D., University of Denver
M.A., Communications, University of Denver
B.S., Communications, Northwestern University
Madie D. Gustafson is a partner with Cole, Raywid, and Braverman, a law firm that specializes in telecommunication and cable law with offices in Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and Denver. Before joining Cole Raywid, Gustafson was senior vice president of franchising and local government affairs of AT&T Broadband where she was responsible for local government relations, franchise renewal, transfer and compliance for AT&T Broadband. She entered the cable industry fifteen years ago as corporate counsel for United Cable Television Corporation. She subsequently served as General Counsel of United Artists Cable Systems and senior vice president of franchising and local government affairs TCI. She was national treasurer and a member of the executive committee of WICT. Gustafson also provides training in the areas of franchise renewal, transfer and compliance, government affairs, and negotiation skills. She taught telecommunication law at the University of Denver and currently serves as chairperson and president of the board of directors of Stories on Stage and is on the executive committee of the Council of 100 for Northwestern University.
back to top »
