Russell Whitaker - President
President and founder of the Dallas Sound Lab Russell Whitaker designed Ruff Cedar Recording Studio in 1975 in Austin, TX, and was certified as an electronics technician by the SouthWest School of Electronics in 1977 he then went to the University of Texas at Austin and received a Bachelor of Science in Radio, Television and Film in 1980. While in Austin Russell recorded such artist as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Asleep at the Wheel, Willie Nelson, Marcia Ball etc.... As President/Owner of Dallas Sound Lab from 1980 through present, Russell manages the everyday operation of this multi-studio audio facility involving employee training, scheduling and bookkeeping, as well as lending his decades of experience to students attending Mediatech Institute. Russell is also the inventor and patent holder of the Wordy Birdy Digital Speech Training Device, used world-wide by pet bird enthusiasts.

Tracy Terrell - Vice President
Vice President Tracy Terrell knows the Media and Film industries from the ground up. Starting as a teen she quickly worked her way through the ranks at the acclaimed Levenson & Hill Advertising agency getting the acting bug through her work there in both the movie and creative departments. After grooming her skills attending KD Studios the Actors Conservatory of the Southwest, she affirmed her talent for working behind the camera and Tracy headed off to the world of film production. While working for production houses such as Bass Communications and AMS Productions Group, Tracy also found time to freelance in production for a variety of players in the sports television market. FOX Sports, ESPN, NBC, and CBS all have utilized her expertise. The success of her freelance career led her to strike out in 2002 and form her own company, T Squared Productions which provides producer and casting director services for film and television shoots all over the country. Notably, Tracy co-produced the feature film "Shtickmen" which you can rent today at any Blockbuster across the country. As Casting Director, Tracy has cast just about every Texan you've seen on the prime-time reality TV shows such as "The Biggest Loser", "Trading Spouses", "The Bacholorette", "Star Search" and more. Tracy's recent credits include production manager for The Speed Channel’s number one rated show "PINKS All Out" and casting director of the feature film "Dusk" to be released in theatres summer 2008.

In 2006 Tracy joined MediaTech institute as faculty. Serving in the dual roles of teaching the Business Communications course and co-developing the new Digital Film Program from concept to reality, her leadership skills became immediately clear to school owner Russell Whitaker and she was quickly promoted to the vice-presidency she holds today. Tracy is dedicated to our students determined to see her concept of the Digital Film Program rise beyond it's immediate success, keep the Recording Arts Program as viable and exciting as it is today, and expand the MediaTech Institute academic offerings into new areas of entertainment industry education. To learn more about Tracy check out her myspace page and add her as a friend. www.myspace.com/tracyterrell

Mike Sandusky – Director, Dallas Campus
Mike Sandusky graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1998 with a Bachelor of Music, majoring in Music with a minor in Business. He began engineering at the Dallas Sound Lab as an intern during his senior year of studies at UTA, and just prior to graduation, was hired as an assistant engineer. One of the challenging duties Mike assisted with at that time was the preparation and installation of the vintage Neve 8058 console, which included totally re-wiring the control room for Studio "D". Not long afterwards, Mike began instructing one of the Audio Engineering and Studio Techniques classes in the summer of 1999, and still continues to help students to understand the technical and creative aspects of audio engineering. Mike is part of the administrative staff of the studio and the school, and continues to engineer recording sessions and teach classes for the Dallas Sound Lab. Some clients Mike has worked with include: Playskool, NFL Films, Disney, USA Films, Tiger Woods PGA Golf, Madden Football Challenge, HD Vision, Vocal Majority, Acoustix, Kirk Franklin, Tim Posey, Fallen from the Nest, IBM, DART, various UNT Jazz ensembles, and others.

Rob Fedson - Director, Austin Campus
Rob Fedson has an extensive background in Music, Technology, Business and Education. As a Performer he has appeared on national television, stage and recordings with industry giants like George Strait, Paul Shaffer, Dave Brubeck, Marvin Hamlish and many more. Rob still maintains an active schedule as a jazz performer. As an Educator he has taught music from primary grades through University level and has been published in several educational and music industry trade journals and textbooks. A recognized authority on music technology, Rob spent years as a clinician for various software and hardware manufacturers such as Yamaha, Opcode Systems and Coda Music Technology. As a business leader and administrator Rob spent over a decade with Apple Computer, Inc. Managing training organizations around the world. Rob holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree and a Master of Music degree focused on Percussion Performance

Ben Hargrove - Director, Houston Campus
In August 2001, Ben Hargrove received a degree from the Sound Recording Technology department at Texas State University in San Marcos. After being a studio intern at Sunrise Sound Studios for three months, Ben became the studio manager and a staff audio engineer. From 2002 to 2006, Ben worked professionally as a live sound engineer for two popular Houston area bands. Ben has been intimately involved with the creation and daily operation of the Mediatech Houston campus since it opened in 2003 and always takes time to assist students when they need it. Currently, Ben still manages Sunrise Sound Studios, runs professional recording sessions after hours, and plays in a local rock band. Ben became Director of Mediatech Houston in August 2006.

Abe Kotara - Admissions Representative
Abe is currently enrolled at MediaTech Institute in the Recording Arts Program and will graduate Sept 2007. Given his fervor for the program and knowledge of the curriculum & studio facilities, Abe is a great fit as our Admissions Representative for Mediatech. Abe will most likely be your first point of contact at MediaTech Institute as your personal tour guide of the campus. He is eager to answer your questions and help you through every step of the enrollment process. Music has been his passion since he began playing drums about a decade ago. He has engineered and produced a number of albums through the course of his education, as well as some of his own projects. While he still remains somewhat of an avid drummer Abe has found a calling in sound for motion picture and is involved in the development of a local production company specializing in all aspects of film and television production. Abe will take the role of Sound Supervisor and Chief Engineer while he continues his education here at Mediatech. He plans to enhance his knowledge of the entertainment industry by enrolling in the Digital Film & Video Program later this year.

Cameron Rogers - Admissions Representative, Austin Campus
"Cam", as he likes to be called, is a product of the MediaTech Institute Recording Arts Program and remains an active part of the Austin music scene while serving as the specialist in admissions and enrollment for the Austin campus. As well as recording & engineering many local Austin bands, Cam plays the drums and creates electronic beats. He has provided rhythm tracks for several Texas hip-hop, rock and electronica artists. Recently, his music was featured in the independent documentary film "$2.13/hour". Among numerous other performances with his rock band, SpaceTruck, Cam has twice performed on stage at the prestigious Austin City Limits Music Festival. Cam and his band also won an Austin Music Award in 2003 for 'Best Experimental-Jam-Space Rock Band'.

Bradford Cox - Instructor & Administrator, Dallas Campus
Brad grew up in a musical family. His mother teaching piano and dance and his grandfather owning a music store in Annapolis, Maryland where he was allowed to explore all aspects of instrumentation, developing an intimacy for the intricacies of many instruments. Having settled on the trumpet as his primary instrument Brad’s first jobs were as an orchestra pit player for various high school and colleges that did not have a music program to support their musicals. Brad has a Bachelor’s in Music Performance degree having attended North Texas State University as a trumpet major, then due to certain degree program requirements, ended up changing major instrument to a keyboard instrument, the pipe organ. In following his teacher, Donald Willing, into retirement to El Paso, Texas, Brad graduated magna cum laude in 1984. Upon moving back to the Dallas, Fort Worth area he began study in non-linear edit, MIDI sequencing on the Synclavier II with Lightening Sound and Music then with the Dallas Sound Lab. In 1989 Brad moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career a sound editing. As an independent contractor he has worked for such studios as Universal, Sony, MGM, Warner Brothers, ToddAO, Westwind Media and Nickelodeon where he was Foley and Dialogue editor for Ren & Stimpy for three seasons. He has also been Music Editor for Peter Bernstein, son of Elmer Bernstein, Sound Effects Editor and SFX Designer for Martin Marysaka, owner of RoadRunner Sound and SFX, DLG and FLY editor for Brian Mendelsohn of BAM Productions, Los Angeles.

With the ever increasing need for a multimedia person at churches Brad had been director of media, including web site design and layout; internet broadcasting of church services; creation of recorded audio and video productions for University Bible Church in Westwood Village near UCLA and is currently running the audio console at Rockway Church of Arlington Texas.

In 2005 Brad re-establishes Dallas contacts from 20 years ago, reconnecting with Mark Menza of Menza Music and DNA Productions in Irving, Texas working on the Warner Brothers feature animation “The Ant Bully” in Production and Post Production as SFX editor for animatics and broadcast interstitials.

James Dumaine – Instructor, Dallas Campus
James DuMaine holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Science in Management and Marketing from McNeese State University and an Associates Degree in Music/Video business from the Art Institute of Dallas. He owns and operates Dumaine Street productions, which produces tracks for various styles of music. James works closely with the artists and producers to create, edit and produce songs, commercials, voice-overs and music beds. He has extensive working knowledge of various aspects of the music and video industry. James is also an accomplished musician. He plays guitar, drums and keyboards. His musical background combined with many years of experience in the music and video industry will prove most beneficial to our students of Audio Engineering and Contemporary Music Theory.

Mike Musal - Instructor, Dallas Campus
Mike has a BA from the University of North Texas with a Major in Music and a minor in Radio/TV Film. He worked at TM Communications as a house editor before accepting a teaching position with The Art Institute of Dallas as an Audio Production Instructor for their music/video program as well as teaching multimedia. Mike joined Dallas Sound Lab in December of 2002 as an instructor for our Audio Engineering and Studio Techniques course, with plans to teach our multimedia course as well. Our staff and students are honored to have Mike here at Dallas Sound Lab, we know his experience and knowledge will be very beneficial to us all.

Patrick Keel - Instructor, Dallas Campus
Patrick Keel is a record producer and co-owner of Dragon Street Records in Dallas, Texas. He teaches the Business of Music course at Dallas Sound Lab as well as Collin County Community College, sharing his inside knowledge of all things related to the music business with his students.

Dan Childers - Instructor, Austin Campus
Dan holds a BA in Music from the University of Texas at Arlington where he studied among other things, classical guitar with Charles Postlewate. After moving to Austin Texas, and after additional study and an internship, he became part of the recording staff for the University of Texas / Fine Arts Recording Studio and recorded various classical and jazz artists as well as UT students and faculty. Concurrent with the Fine Arts Studio position, he took on the job of Studio Manager for the then brand new Austin Community College Recording Studio. He also worked on various projects in the Austin area such as the solo debut by local artist Bill Small. After some time in Austin, Dan moved to Atlanta Georgia where he did work for commercial facility Summerhouse Sound Productions. While at Summerhouse, Dan worked with various Atlanta artists such as The Marianne Faithfuls, The Charms, Too Far Gone, and local indie rock favorites, Nillah. In addition, Dan held a position at Rising Star Records doing mostly remote classical recordings. Projects include The Georgia Music Educators Association Band, Choir, and Orchestra Competitions and the Six Flags Over Georgia Music festivals. Dan also held a position as Mastering Engineer for New Age Voice. After his tenure in Atlanta, Dan returned home to Texas where he teaches Audio at Dallas Sound Lab's Austin branch and Austin Community College. He also holds a staff position at UT Austin Fine Arts Recording Studio where his work includes recordings for the UT Jazz Orchestra, The Austin Symphony Orchestra, and production for the weekly KMFA radio show Performance at UT.

Mike Mordecai - Instructor, Austin Campus
Michael Mordecai is a freelance trombone player whose credits include recording and performing with the Austin Symphony, the Capital of Texas Brass Quintet, Beto y los Fairlanes, Carole King, the Temptations, Ray Charles, Maynard Ferguson, Jerry Jeff Walker, and many more. His travels in music have taken him from Los Angeles, to New York, Mexico, Canada, Hawaii, Japan the French Riviera, England, the Panama Canal, Amsterdam, and Transylvania. As a professional trombonist, he plays an average of 250+ gigs per year and can be heard every Monday at the ELEPHANT ROOM. As Owner of BBA/Management & Booking, he contracts musicians for Bass Concert Hall, the Paramount Theatre, Austin City Limits, and several larger churches and handles talent coordination for the Elephant Room, One World Theatre, and several Austin restaurants His Company also books and manages several Austin bands. he served as talent coordinator for the Texas Allnight television network in the late 70's. He founded Fable Records in 1975 and has produced ten record albums. He has also produced many local and national jingles. He is past state president of Texas Music Association, and has served as chairman of the Artists and Venues committee of the Austin Music Commission, a member of the Austin Federation of Musicians Union board of directors, co-founder and board of directors of the Austin Music Umbrella, and co-founder and past chairman of the board of the Austin Jazz Society. He now serves on the board of governors of the National Association of Recording Arts & Sciences.

Craig Robinson - Instructor, Austin Campus
Craig holds a BA in Music with an emphasis in Sound Recording Technology from Southwest Texas State University. He teaches MIDI and Pro Tools classes as well as the freshman recording labs for SWT. Over the years Craig has consulted with a hundred plus clients regarding their MIDI/recording needs and has engineered over a dozen projects with local bands from the Beaumont and Austin areas. We welcome Craig's experience and enthusiasm as an audio instructor for Dallas Sound Lab in Austin.

Jacob Meador - Instructor, Houston Campus
Jacob is an audio engineer, as well as a musician, playing the guitar, bass, and drums. While training at The Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences, Jacob turned a passion for recording that he developed in high school into his greatest skill. Jacob also received intense electrical training in the Coast Guard. In addition to teaching the Audio Engineering and Studio Techniques course and the Live Sound Reinforcement course at Mediatech, Jacob is actively recording, mixing, and mastering local musicians. He also freelances at other studios in Greater Houston and spends most of his weekends mixing live sound for popular clubs, large churches, or for top Christian artists’, Caedmon’s Call. If that isn’t enough, Jacob also finds time to finance and operate a small independent record company called Moshmellow Records. His company helps local rock bands in the production and marketing of their music. Jacob’s small amount of free time is spent vacationing with his wife, Jill and playing in a rock band called Auralift.