LETS meet the virtual experts at Leading Edge Training Solutions

Lee Deaner

President, Owner
Philosophy: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill Learning is the key to life. We have to continue to learn to improve on our successes and grow in order to continue to be successful. Secondly “…failure is not fatal…”, all too often we do not have the courage to take accountability for our failures and learn from them so we do not repeat them. Everyone has failures, it is how you handle them that is most important. The knowledge gained from these failures is what leads to innovation, and innovation leads to success. Our goal at Leading Edge Training Solutions is to use the knowledge we gained from the hurdles, speed bumps, and road blocks we encountered to lead you down a path that avoids them, so you can achieve success faster than we did.

Education: I have a Master of Science in Physical Therapy and a Bachelor of Science in Health Studies from Boston University. I went to college on an ROTC scholarship and completed 4 years in the United States Army as an Armor officer.

Activities/Interests: I like to spend my free time with my wife and two amazing daughters. I love to continue to learn by reading and listening to a number of different podcasts. I also enjoy running, being outdoors, and playing with technology.
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Stanley Saint-Louis

VP of Sales
Philosophy: Throughout my daily work, a quote I always keep in mind is, “Our attitude toward life determines life’s attitude towards us.”  No matter the size of your business, excellent customer service attitude needs be at the heart of your business model if you wish to be successful. Over the course of twelve years in the pharmaceutical sales and training industry, I have developed a unique skill set in the area of virtual training.  My experience in sales, management, and adept training skills, combined with my passion for technology is why I feel Leading Edge Training Solutions and I are perfect fit. The biggest challenge, but also the most rewarding in my day to day work, is establishing a customer service attitude that treats customers respectfully, provides timely follow up, handles concerns gracefully, understands customer needs, and exceeds customer expectations.

Education: I graduated with honors and hold a bachelor’s degree in Communications Marketing from Delaware State University.

Activities/Interests: Most of my time is spent with my amazing wife and two children.  When I am not with them you can find me working out, golfing or enjoying my love of independent films.
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Gary Deamer

Director of Production
Philosophy: A successful webcast relies are the tireless efforts of a dedicated production crew. It’s not just choosing the right cameras, placing the lights at correct angles, or making sure the audio is set at the correct level.   More importantly, it’s the ability to step back and look at the entire show as one functioning machine. Over the course of the past fifteen years in the film and video production industry, my passion for film production has been my driving force.   I’ve worked on national magazine spots, Hollywood movies, independent films, and countless corporate commercials. These experiences have allowed me to develop a skill set unique in the areas of technology, customer service, and problem – solving. This is why I think Leading Edge Training Solutions is a perfect fit.

Education: I graduated with honors and hold a bachelor’s degree in Film and Media Arts from Temple University.

Activities/Interests: I spend most of my time with my lovely wife. We enjoy museums, independent films, and community art shows. When I’m alone, you can find me flying my drone.
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Josh Kotzen

Virtual Production Manager
Philosophy: "The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjust the sails." - John Maxwell
As a Production Manager with Leading Edge Training Solutions, I am able to use my decades of live production experience to keep the sails trimmed correctly to lead you, your trainers and your trainees towards impactful and successful productions time after time. The back of my baseball card says that I am a multiple Emmy award-winning producer, director, photographer, designer and writer with over 25 years of live event experience in webcasting, television, radio and print media. My professional palette covers everything from Good Morning America, 20/20, Primetime Live and other ABC News programming, FOX Sports and NBA, NHL, MLB and NFL games, pharmaceuticals and companies just like yours. I have worked solely in the virtual training space since 2010. Also, I am a two time published author.   A producer's job is to make you comfortable enough to forget about the camera and focus on your content. That's what I do for Leading Edge, my only job is to do everything that comes with a production, so you can focus on the only thing that matters - doing your job.

Education: I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications from Rowan University.

Activities/Interests: Besides spending time with my family and friends, I'm an avid Philadelphia sports fan and I also love to read Western fiction.
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Harry Snodgrass

Director of Operations, Technology and CyberSecurity
I have over 35 years of senior management and creative experience in the entertainment, technology, Internet and patent industries. In Hollywood I am known as a top Sound Supervisor, Sound Designer and Mixer – with numerous award nominations and wins including an Emmy for Sound and a CAS award for mixing on "Flight 93" for A&E. I began my career at 20th Century Fox with credits on films including Predator 2, Alien 3, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, The Beverly Hillbillies and Hot Shots! Part Deux, in both a creative and management role. During my subsequent tenure at Universal Studios, I contributed to films and television shows including Mall Rats, BASEketball, McHale’s Navy, The Beast and Roar.

I also have extensive experience in sound remastering and restoration with credits including Vertigo, Rear Window, Touch of Evil and other classics. Other notable credits include the breakout hit Napoleon Dynamite. After my time at Universal Studios I have worked on over 50 more Independent films, documentaries, reality shows, numerous television shows and television movies in addition to the Need for Speed and True Crime Video game series which garnering numerous Video Game and BAFTA awards. More recently, I was employed by Sony Studios working on such shows as Homeland, Taken, Scorpion, Preacher, Futureman, The Good Doctor, Empire, Blacklist, and Philip K Dick’s Electric Dreams.

Other experience outside of Hollywood includes work at the National Archives in a technical and business development capacity as well as numerous years in the Internet and Patent industries in various management, sales, and creative roles. My technology background also encompasses a former role as Vice President of Production for Activate and COO of Popcast – the precursor dot com companies to YouTube.

Through these roles I am recognized as a pioneer in the Streaming Media Industry, creating and webcasting many entertainment-based programs as early as 1998 while playing a key role in the development of many of today's streaming media software and technologies.  I also developed the first automated streaming system in the financial industry that made earnings calls available for the first time to a wider audience via audio streaming. Recently, I worked as a Program Director and Consultant in the Patent industry for numerous IC and Technology patents. I have been Published in multiple magazines and technical journals including; Mix, Film & Video, and Post
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Amanda Abt

Executive Assistant
My career started predominantly focused in the banking industry, where I started in banking I was a teller, in college, for a small local bank in the town I grew up in.  17 years and 7 bank mergers later, I worked for one of the largest, most technically advanced banks in The United States.  

I have seen training and learning from all sides.  My career in the bank(s) went from Part-Time Teller to Assistant Manager, to Training Coordinator to Banking Center Manager.  I spent most of my time in the training division, focusing on developing and training Customer Service and Regulatory programs.  It’s amazing how quickly technology has improved what a trainer has the ability to teach and do.  They can now train a group of people, in multiple time zones, without anyone leaving their office.

I have always been an early adopter.  I love when I can help someone learn something new or an easier/faster way to get something done.  Leading Edge Training Solutions, LLC allows me to use my skill set to help our team and focus on our clients.Education:I graduated with high honors and hold a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and an Associates degree in Travel Management from Daniel Webster College in Nashua, NH.Activities/Interests:My family enjoys traveling to visit friends and family in New England. We recently started fostering rescue dogs.
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Colin Becker

Virtual Event Manager
Philosophy: My philosophy revolves entirely around communication. Clear, effective, and purposeful communication is the key to my success as a virtual event producer. My sainted Irish Grandmother always said, “you have two ears, and one mouth so you can listen twice as much as you speak.” I carry that with me into the workplace and always focus on listening to the client first.

Education:  
I studied English with a focus in Creative Writing at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA.

Activities/Interests:  
When I am not working, I enjoy diving into my writing projects. I also enjoy golfing and running around with my dog in the yard!
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Samantha Washington

Virtual Production Manager
Philosophy: When you start looking at all of the roles you’ve had in your life, you may notice some patterns. When I reflect on the roles in my life I notice a few commonalities: educator, communicator, and leader. I believe these are also necessary characteristics of a producer. I have always loved learning and actually picked my college major knowing that digital media was a quickly evolving world that would require a lot of learning as things grow and change in the digital landscape. I also thought in college that I would be preparing myself to work in the world of post production, that is until I stepped inside a studio and learned that I love live production environments. Leading Edge Training Solutions brings 2 of my favorite things together, learning and live productions!

Education:
I graduated Manga Cum Laude from East Stroudsburg University with a Bachelors of Science in Digital Media Technology. I also hold an associate degree from Northampton Community College.

Activities/interests:
I am a lifetime Girl Scout. I love spending time with my family, reading, and binging watching some great (and some not so great) shows!
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Karen Driscoll

Virtual Production Manager
My Philosophy is simple
"The best way to predict the future is to create it." —Abraham Lincoln.
After being in the hotel, restaurant and hospitality business for over 25 years a turn of events for myself as for many, shifted in 2020.  With the world changing, I knew that I had to change with it! Realizing that I have a strong background in customer service, organizing events and ensuring that the show goes on no matter what, I found a natural fit in virtual event production!  Applying my knowledge of the hospitality industry combined with expertise in technology, I have enjoyed and created lasting relationships with clients by helping them design and run their virtual events in an expert fashion!
We all have control of the future. What will your future hold?

Education:
Bachelors in Business Management - Pennsylvania College of Technology / Penn State

Loves in life:
When I'm not working I enjoy spending time with my Granddaughter, golfing, traveling, swimming in the ocean, live music and eating amazing food!
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Jon Trotta

Account Director
Philosophy: Technology has become a huge part of everyone's daily lives within the past two decades. At this point, almost everyone has had to learn and adapt to the virtual online space with very little training and experience. Leading Edge Training Solutions has stood out in assisting with the planning, production, and fulfillment of online trainings providing an effective fulfillment of customer goals. With over eight years of experience, I have managed marketing projects from conception to completion and I am adept in using digital marketing platforms to increase sales and overall company productivity. Leading Edge Training Solutions has given me the opportunity to add to this skillset. My goal is to provide clear goals and expectations, while allowing our customers to fully concentrate on their needs for a successful event to provide an exceptional user experience for their participants.

Education:
I graduated with honors and hold a Bachelor of Science in Biology/Small Animal Science from Delaware Valley University.

Activities/Interests:
Being able to spend time with my family and friends is most important to me. You will also find me either in the gym or on the golf course. I could be considered somewhat of a foodie and I enjoy taking random day trips to look for our next favorite place to spend a day!
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Jason Todor

Virtual Production Manager
Philosophy:
I started swimming competitively when I was about 10 years old and one of my first coaches always said a variation of Bruce Lee’s famous quote...“Perfect practice makes perfect.” A few decades later this quote still resonates with me. Is everything always perfect? No, not always, but I believe we should all strive to be in everything we do. I always keep this belief close to me in all that I do, and In ow pass this philosophy down to my sons and the young athletes I coach today.

Education:
I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a focus in Social Sciences from Rider University. I also attended George School in Newtown, PA.

Activities and Interests:
I love coaching sports and have been coaching since I graduated from George School. Currently I coach my sons’ baseball and basketball teams. After that I love to watch a good show or movie, cheer for all the Philly teams and hit some golf balls. If I could be anywhere, I’d be at the beach or a mountain lake
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