Executive Team

Ronald Frankel

President and CEO
Ron Frankel has served as a member of Synacor’s board of directors and as President and Chief Executive Officer since April 2001. Prior to joining Synacor, Frankel served as CEO at Perks.com, Inc. He held the position of President of MGM Interactive, the interactive division of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc., as well as SVP, Marketing and Sales at Kenfil Distribution. From 1988 to 1991, Frankel served in several executive positions at Softview, Inc., lastly as SVP of Marketing and Sales. Frankel attended the University of California at Berkeley and received a J.D. from the University of Southern California Law Center.

Eric Blachno

Chief Financial Officer
Eric Blachno has served as Synacor's Chief Financial Officer since April 2007. He served as CFO at Eagle Broadband, Inc., Cascade Microtech, Inc., and Luminent, Inc. Blachno was managing director at PMG Capital, an investment banking firm; he was a managing director and senior communications equipment analyst at Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc. In addition, Blachno has held various positions at IBM. He holds an M.B.A. in Finance from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, an M.S. in Telecommunications, Pace University and a B.S. with High Honors in Computer Science, University of Florida.

Ross Winston

Chief Technology Officer
Ross Winston, Synacor’s Chief Technology Officer since August 2006, was previously our VP of Engineering. Winston was campus-wide Information Systems Coordinator for the University at Buffalo, where he managed the university’s Internet portals and related applications. Previously, he was an independent consultant and served as the lead developer for two software and web development companies. He holds M.S. and B.S. degrees in Computer Science, University at Buffalo.

George Chamoun

SVP, Client Services and Co-Founder
George Chamoun is Synacor’s SVP of Client Services, and has been with the company since December 2000. Prior to that time, Chamoun was co-founder of Chek.com and served as its President. Chamoun holds a B.A. in Political Science, University at Buffalo.

Julia Culkin

VP, Human Resources
As the Vice President of Human Resources, Julia Culkin is responsible for leading Synacor's global human resource efforts and managing and developing the human resource team. She also focuses on attracting, retaining and developing Synacor's employees who promote and strengthen the company culture and Synacor's unique products. Prior to joining Synacor, Culkin was a consultant with Towers Perrin where she worked with Fortune 1000 companies on various human resource related projects including executive compensation analyses, change management practices and human resources practices competitive research. Culkin's human resource experience also includes Pitney Bowes, and other companies in which she worked in the compensation, employee relations, training and recruiting departments. Culkin holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University at Buffalo.

Bobbie Herbs

VP, Marketing
Bobbie Herbs has been Synacor’s VP of Marketing since June 2006. Previously, Herbs was VP of Marketing, Programming and Video Product Management at RCN Corp. In addition, she has been Owner and Marketing Consultant of Sage Marketing Resources. Herbs also was VP of Customer Marketing and Creative Services and Director of Programming and Pay-Per-View at PrimeStar Inc. For Greater Media Cable, she served as Director of Marketing and Broadband Services, and before that, as Regional Director of Marketing and General Manager at American Cablesystems Corp. She holds an M.S. in Management, Lesley College, and a B.S. in Biology, Lynchburg College.

Frank Codella

VP, Sales
Frank Codella has served as Synacor’s VP of Sales since February 2002. Previously, Codella was VP of Sales and Business Development at Global Crossing Ltd. In addition, he served as President and CEO at Integrated Personnel & Systems Solutions, Inc.; Sales Director at Lucent Technologies, Inc., and held various positions in the Global Enterprise Division, at AT&T Inc. Codella is a co-founder and serves as a Director of MedRecovery Management LLC, a technology company that provides coordination of workers’ compensation benefits services to health insurers. Codella holds an M.B.A., Rochester Institute of Technology, a B.S. in Economics and Political Science, Brockport State College and also earned an Advanced Certificate from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Jim Turner

VP, Product Management
Jim Turner has been Synacor’s VP of Product Management since June 2007. Prior to joining Synacor, Turner was VP, Digital Media at A&E Television Networks. Prior to A&E, Turner was Co-founder and President of AvitageMedia. Turner began his career at CBS, and since then has held executive positions at Women.com, Astronet.com, Digital Media Studios (part of Digital Equipment Corporation), and Kurzweil Music Systems. Turner has an M.B.A. in Marketing, University of Connecticut, and Masters and Bachelors degrees in Electrical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and North Carolina State University. He holds two patents in the use of computers in music. He is active in the NY Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and also is a National Trustee.

Theodore May

VP, Content
Theodore May has served as VP of Content for Synacor since July 2005. Previously, May held various positions, including VP of Broadband at America Online, Inc. He served as Director of Strategic Planning and VP of New Media at Cablevision Systems Corp., and as a VP in the Controller’s Division at Drexel Burnham Lambert, Inc. May also was the Associate Director of Business Planning and Development at CBS Broadcasting, Inc. He holds an M.B.A., New York University and a B.F.A., The Julliard School.