Our People
Todd Hanks
Todd's roots in remote and location production go back to his duty in the US Army. It was while in the Army that he worked as a cinematographer documenting weapons testing. After leaving the Army, he worked in television in California for Northwest Mobile Television (NMT) before becoming an Emmy award winning producer, director, and manager at KRON-TV in San Francisco.
He moved to the Midwest for the first of two "tours of duty" with Conus Communications, both times leading the Production and Satellite Services Division. Between those "tours" Todd served as President of Juntunen Media Group and Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Juntunen Mobile Television where he was instrumental in its founding and overnight success with clients like Fox Regional Sports.
Todd's experience comes from covering events such as four Super Bowls, three political conventions and national election cycles.
Todd is a graduate of San Francisco State University with a BA degree in Communications. When not hard at work, Todd enjoys peaceful getaways with his wife and their two dogs to their log cabin on Minnesota's North Shore.
Shawn Erickson
Shawn started his career as a master control operator/technician at the PBS station in Appleton, MN. He then moved to KSAX TV in Alexandria, MN to run master control and within 18 months started directing their news updates. He eventually became a photographer shooting news and commercial spots and moved on to Conus' ALL News Channel as an editor. His schedule allowed him to freelance in the Minneapolis market for KTCA TV as a master control operator and for KMSP TV as an editor/live-microwave technician.
As another of Conus' multiple-tour veterans, his first position at Conus was running satellite traffic and coordinating live news events. From there Shawn joined Crawford Communications in Atlanta as a Satellite Uplink Operator.
He later rejoined Conus as on-site coordinator for the 2000 political convention coverage season and later the position of Project Manager for Production and Satellite Services.
Shawn is a graduate of the video production program at Hutchinson Technical College, Hutchinson, Minnesota. When he's not trying to out-do his partners in providing top-notch customer service, Shawn enjoys spending time with his wife and two young boys and that includes motorcycle riding. As a matter of fact Shawn enjoys following the happenings in the motorcycle industry and motor sports in general.
Craig Bretoi
Craig is no stranger to technology. He comes to ARCTEK from KSTP-TV in Minneapolis/St. Paul where he was a microwave and satellite uplink technician, and US West (now Qwest) where he provided his expertise as a high-speed data-networking specialist. He also maintained his ties to the broadcast industry by working as a freelance camera operator for minor league baseball and college sporting events.
Craig likes technology for the most part and sometimes wears it on his sleeve … or rather, under his hat. In the past he has spent time working for the undercover unit at KSTP-TV. On this particular occasion he was working on a story that was to expose any lack of training for school bus drivers.
His mission after choosing to accept it: After obtaining his Class B license he was to apply for and gain employment at bus companies in the area. Once hired, he was to document the training process he was going through. How? By wearing a hat and wig concealing a camera and cables.
The upside of the whole experience was the nice woman at the testing center saying, "You are going to make such a good bus driver." The downside: the nasty red marks on his back from the camera's power supply.
Craig enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children. He and his family enjoy camping, canoeing, hiking, and adventure seeking.
Craig has recently taken up hockey and enjoys still photography. He's shot weddings and even sporting events.
We think you'll enjoy working with him in the field. And if his undercover past makes you nervous, just ask him to take off his hat.
Brian Stanley
Brian's career began at Conus Communications as a Satellite Control Room Technician. He then moved to the Production and Satellite Services Division where he continued his "hands-on" work as a Satellite Uplink Operator and gained extensive field and engineering experience working with clients such as ESPN, Showtime, Fox Sports, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and HBO.
Brian is also a "multi-tour" Conus veteran, leaving to join Digital Express, a private business television satellite network service jointly owned by Hubbard Broadcasting and Boeing. He was instrumental in setting up systems to manage the day-to-day network operations for various corporate clients.
Upon his return to Conus, Brian played a major role in rebuilding the Production and Satellite Services Division and was the key advocate for upgrading the uplink trucks to the new digital transmission standard.
A native of Omaha, NE, Brian attended college at St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota and majored in Television Production. When Brian is not giving stellar customer service to his clients, you will find him spending time with his family and friends, skiing, mountain biking, motorcycling and snowmobiling.
Chuck Martz
Chuck comes to ARCTEK with nearly 25 years in the industry. His resume includes Cinequipt, Inc. in Minneapolis, MN; Mid-Co A/V in Plymouth, MN; and Todd Communications in Bloomington, MN. But, most important are his 23 years working as a freelance engineer with both standard and high definition format experience in corporate, commercial and broadcast television.
Chuck likes being "on remote." He also loves to travel. If you told him that he were going to a remote near a large, warm body of water... he can't pack fast enough.
You see, aside from him being an engineer and uplink technician, Chuck is an avid diver. His diving interests have taken him to diving locations the likes of Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Belize... and he's done it all in the company of sharks, barracudas, eels, turtles and octopus. He has even been to the bottom of an old water-filled open pit mine in Wisconsin. His next great diving adventure hopes to be to Roatan in Honduras.
He also loves helping people. He's a people person. It's personally rewarding for Chuck to help a client accomplish their project. What makes it even more fun is helping a client find a solution to a difficult situation.
Chuck is a graduate of the Audio Visual and Television Production program at Lakewood Community College. He was born and raised in St. Paul, MN and lives in the Twin Cities metro area with his wife. He also has two grown sons. Chuck enjoys playing golf, tennis, hockey... and, of course, diving.
If he can keep his cool among sharks and eels, challenging technical issues are like a cool dip in the ocean!
Matt Muilenburg
Matt joins ARCTEK with extensive experience in the satellite transmission industry and television broadcasting. He started his career at CONUS Communications in 1997. He wore many hats while at CONUS but got his start coordinating news feeds from all over the country.
Matt found a passion for television news gathering after being recruited to cover the 2000 Election from the Primaries to Inauguration. After the election he found a home with CONUS Production and Satellite Services working as a Satellite Uplink Technician in one of their mobile units. That is where he formed his long time association with Todd Hanks, Brian Stanley and Shawn Erickson (ARCTEK's principals). Some of Matt's favorite jobs for CONUS were the College World Series, September 11, 2001, and the Minnesota fishing opener with Kent Hrbek.
When CONUS ceased it's news and satellite services operations in 2003 Matt joined Comcast Cable and worked his way up to Technical Support Supervisor. He was awarded for his customer focus and results driven management style.
Matt jumped at the chance to get out from behind a desk and back to his true passion for television news and sports when the position came open at ARCTEK. "I couldn't resist the opportunity to get back on open road work with the customers face to face." Matt said. "I pride myself on anticipating customer's needs and being prepared for just about anything."
Matt has an innovative way of thinking and can find a solution to just about any problem. He once tore apart the motor of a malfunctioning satellite dish, (while working for CONUS), in subzero, pre-dawn conditions, put it back together, got it working and got the client on the air on time.
Matt was born and raised in the Twin Cities. He graduated from Bethel University in St. Paul in 1999 with a Bachelors of Arts in Media Communications. When he wasn't hitting the books Matt anchored The Bethel Update and played lacrosse for the Bethel Royals.
Matt is married and he likes to spend time with his wife going to concerts, traveling and hanging out with their cat and dog, Oscar and Stella. He also likes to bike the many trails in Minneapolis, play video games and make his own beer and wine.