The Team
Our team’s deep knowledge of what goes into designing, building, operating, and maintaining networks informs every aspect of the technology, support and sales efforts of CoolSign. This goes all the way back to day one, when CoolSign was the technology group of AdSpace Networks, the largest digital mall network operator in the world.
We take a consultative approach with our business partners and end-user clients, providing the help and advice needed to ensure success. We’re able to do that because we’ve been at this for more than a decade, and have a deep well on insight, experience and ideas on what’s going to work.
The best advice someone starting a digital signage network will get goes something like this: “Make sure you surround yourself with experts.”
That would be the CoolSign team, and our partners:
Louis D. Giacalone, Jr., President & Founder
Mr. Giacalone is a recognized pioneer and expert in the digital media field. He is the original inventor of the CoolSign Digital Signage software suite and founder of AdSpace Networks, the company that began developing CoolSign, in 1998. Under Mr. Giacalone’s direction, CoolSign has set the bar as a premier digital signage software package. Also at AdSpace, he pioneered the deployment of digital advertising networks, launching what is now the largest network of screens in shopping malls. Mr. Giacalone became an independent consultant in 2006 and helped high profile clients like the Pentagon in Washington DC and the Playboy Club in Las Vegas deploy their digital signage networks. In 2007, Mr. Giacalone joined Titan Worldwide, as SVP of Digital to develop and launch their digital initiatives. The result was cutting edge network deployments at CTA and MTA on buses, trains, and rail stations. Mr. Giacalone rejoined CoolSign following its acquisition by CS Software Holdings in 2009.
Mr. Giacalone brings a unique set of skills to CoolSign, blending technical competence with management experience in sales, marketing, multimedia content development, engineering, and field operations. Prior to founding AdSpace, Mr. Giacalone served in a variety of technical, marketing, and product management positions at Silicon Gaming. There he was a designer of the first high-volume multimedia slot machine for the gaming industry, established the creative group responsible for content development, and personally handled securing regulatory approvals for the machine. Before joining Silicon Gaming, Mr. Giacalone was an engineering group manager with Electronic Arts and developed 3D graphics tools for use in the creation of art for the company’s next-generation video games. Earlier, Mr. Giacalone was a founder of a variety of companies, including Infinidisc Corporation, developers of an advanced Compact Disc jukebox system; Solid Ideas, developers of sophisticated computer graphics software; and Advanced Entertainment Associates, producers of 3D computer graphics and animation for both television and print media.
Mr. Giacalone studied Computer Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, and at Polytechnic University, and holds seven patents.
- 1998 Inventor of CoolSign
- 1998 Founded AdSpace Networks – world’s largest mall advertising network
- 2007-2008 SVP Digital Titan Worldwide – developed and implemented their digital media initiative
- 2006-2007 Independent consultant – deployed networks including the Pentagon
- Broad background in technology, management, and content development
- Holds 7 patents
Leo Bull, Senior Vice President – Global Sales
Mr. Bull is responsible for managing the global sales efforts for CoolSign. He joined the team at the end of 2009 in order to focus on building the reseller channel globally. With 18 years experience in the Pro AV Market and 12 years experience in the digital signage market, he specializes in building channel sales and managing sales organizations.
He has experience with both hardware and software manufacturers in the Pro AV Market. Prior to CoolSign, he was Vice President of Sales at Wireless Ronin for a brief period. He spent several years with Avocent as their Vice President of Sales, heading up their digital signage division. He has also worked with LG Electronics as their Director of Sales where he led their system integration division. He started the division for LG/Zenith in 2002 and built it to $45M before leaving in 2005.
Mr. Bull also worked for Fujitsu Electronics from 1999 to 2002 introducing the first plasma TV to both the Pro AV and Consumer Markets.
He has a bachelor’s degree from Clemson University in South Carolina.
Drew Topel, VP of Technology
Mr. Topel directs the engineering and development of the CoolSign digital signage system while building partnerships with companies that have strategic technology. He was the earliest technologist to join Lou Giacalone in delivering on the promise of digital signage started at AdSpace networks 10 years before where he was VP of Engineering and the CoolSign technology was born.
Previously in what was effectively a two year hiatus from working on CoolSign itself, Mr. Topel worked at companies that used CoolSign for their digital signage solutions. This time was effectively a school of customer applications and what it was like on the other side of the table. While at Titan Outdoor, he developed solutions to tie the needs of a new digital advertising system into the business requirements of a traditional media selling company. At Progressive Gaming Inc. (PGI) he directed the sales strategy, software development, and marketing efforts for digital signage. The major point of this role was to take an important part of the systems that drive slot revenue and made it accessible and easy to use for the customers.
Prior to AdSpace, multimedia and game development were the primary themes. At Silicon Gaming, the first true graphics-intensive multimedia casino gaming company, he served as the architect and manager of the creative and technical development of the game software. There he developing the organization, tools, and common software base that allowed Silicon Gaming to create a new multimedia game every month. Prior, Mr. Topel was a senior software engineer at Electronic Arts, developing 3DO titles; before that he was Manager of Technical Design at Philips Interactive Media, developing both tools and titles for CD-Interactive technology.
Mr. Topel has more than 27 years of hands-on experience with cutting-edge multimedia technologies.
Raffi M. Vartian, VP Business Development
Mr. Vartian manages strategic alliances directs through the CoolSign Partnership Program, manages strategic relationships and handles marketing for the company. His diverse experience features leadership roles in several industries over the last 10 years including government, non-profit, mobile marketing and now leverages that experience with CoolSign.
Prior to joining CoolSign in August of 2009, Raffi was the founder of ContinuumMobile, a mobile marketing and analytics company focused on the Digital Signage market, one of the DailyDOOH’s “Companies to Watch” in 2009.
He helped found LCHR in 2005, a non-profit organization that advocates for human rights, and became one of the youngest people ever to testify in front of the House of Representatives International Relations Committee. He was a key staff member to Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ) where he helped author legislation, wrote dozens of speeches and represented the Congressman in several speaking engagements.
Mr. Vartian holds a bachelor’s degree from James Madison University in Virginia.
Chris Colt, Vice President of Sales – Americas
Chris Colt directs the development efforts of CoolSign’s reseller and channel partners within the Americas. With a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and 15 years of selling cutting edge software and technology, he brings his passion for emerging technology to CoolSign. Chris has actively been working with our existing partners for the last 3 years and continues to drive home the CoolSign vision with these partners.
Mr. Colt has spent the last 5 years in the digital signage industry and 6 years prior in the streaming and videoconferencing industry. The majority of Chris’s career has revolved around solutions that deliver content.
Teo de Lange, VP of Sales EMEA / ASPAC
Teo de Lange directs the development efforts of CoolSign’s reseller and channel partners within the European, Middle East and African region. Besides that he’s developing the market in the Asian Pacific region. With a Bachelors degree in Marketing and Economics and 20 years of international sales experience in hardware, components and cutting edge software and technology, he brings his passion for emerging technology to CoolSign. Teo has actively been working with our existing partners for the last 2 years and continues to drive home the CoolSign vision with these partners.
Teo has spent the last 2 years in the digital signage industry and 15 years prior in the component and the Display industry. The majority of Teo’s career has revolved in setting up strategic partnerships and growing key accounts around the globe.
Bill Taylor, Director, Sales Engineering
Bill Taylor directs the technical execution of CoolSign networks for clients, as well as conducting training programs for reseller networks throughout the Americas. He is one of the most experienced engineers in the Digital Signage industry, with over 12 years of experience selling and deploying enterprise-level networks.
Prior to joining CoolSign, Mr. Taylor was Director of Sales Engineering for Reflect Systems and helped deploy some of the largest digital signage networks in the country, including Best Buy, Target, Verizon Wireless, and GameStop. His long history in the Digital Signage industry also includes his work at Convergent Media Systems (now Sony) and NetEffect.
Mr. Taylor holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism from Georgia College and State University.
Stefan Reinke, EMEA Senior Sales Engineer
Mr. Reinke supports the international CoolSign partners in designing their CoolSign networks, as well as giving training, both web based and on site, to partners and potential partners. With his extensive IT background, Mr. Reinke provides technical support to his partners being part of the 24/7 international support team.
Mr. Reinke has more than 10 years experience in pre-sales, with more than 7 years in the digital signage market. Prior to joining CoolSign, Mr. Reinke worked for a German Sun Microsystems reseller and a French display specialist.
Mr. Reinke holds a Diplom-Ingenieur Degree (Masters Degree) for mechanical engineering from the University of Karlsruhe, Germany.
Tim Cornell, Platform Architect
With a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a master’s in business administration, and 15 years of software development experience, Tim brings a broad range of technical and business expertise to the table. Tim is a veteran of digital signage, having started at AdSpace networks in 2001. He contributed significantly to the design and implementation of Coolsign from version 2.0 through its current 4.x version. Tim is responsible for the overall system architecture, encompassing networking, command set semantics and protocol, and data storage and distribution. He also implemented the Coolign Agent as well as the connector libraries used by the Network Manager and the Media Player programs.