SVG All-Stars: Pam Chvotkin, Remote Operations Management Freelancer

The D.C. native brings her skills to major broadcasts all over the country

In an era when sports production is evolving faster than ever, a new generation of leaders is making its mark on the industry. Our new SVG All-Stars series explores the journey of the industry’s rising professionals, showcasing their experiences and career highlights in the business, overarching philosophy and leadership strategy, technological and creative innovation, and where they see the industry headed. Join us as we uncover the story behind their ascent and the impact they are having in our ever-evolving industry.

She’s one of the hardest-working people in the sports-television business; that’s the name of the game for freelancers like her.

You’d be hard-pressed to walk around the production compound of a major national broadcast and not bump into Pam Chvotkin. With her fire-red hair and electric personality, you’d spot her quickly, too.

Residing in the D.C. Metro area, Chvotkin is a battle-tested leader in remote operations. Whether it’s a scalding-hot set day before the MLB All-Star Game or a bitter winter night at the scorer’s table during a basketball game, things get done efficiently and correctly when Chvotkin is at the top of the crew list. And, because she’s a freelancer, many broadcasters (FOX, ESPN, CBS, and others) benefit from her hustle and intuition.

In this week’s edition of SVG All-Stars, Chvotkin shares her career journey while offering her opinions on industry innovations she has her eye on, how to get started in the industry, and why not all professional networking is created equal.

What are the key responsibilities of your current role?
I work with other operations managers/directors as well as the technical managers. Whatever they need onsite during an event/broadcast, which varies from network to network, is the primary focus. Additional responsibilities include distribution of schedules, managing of production assistants, vendor/equipment needs, parking, catering, travel, vendor/heavy-equipment needs, shipping, and administrative duties. Depending on the show, it will vary by game-side or studio-side; we often support both sides onsite.

This job is primarily to ensure that logistics of any remote productions run smoothly. I have experience working high school, collegiate, and professional sports and entertainment shows including award ceremonies, pageants, and reality television.

Organization is key with this job, along with having flexibility and adaptability so we can troubleshoot and resolve any issues that could happen.

What key industry trend do you see as having a major impact on your organization right now?
One key industry trend is that traditional-TV viewership is declining, but the need for sports and entertainment is increasing! Recently, more fans are consuming sports content on digital platforms. In order to have a clean broadcast, one has to deal with challenges, such as buffering, streaming, bandwidth, etc. As with any new technology, there are going to be hiccups with producing events; it is still being perfected. There is a need not only for content but for authenticity with any brand. Producing television is no different. We’re starting to see many organizations revising their marketing and operating models to integrate current digital capabilities across all aspects of their organizations. The industry is constantly changing, and there have to be revisions to these models to keep up with the consumption.

What core philosophy do you try to live by when managing your team/operation?
There are three core elements in my work philosophy: people, action, and feedback. It’s important to have an energetic, thoughtful, and collaborative team that can deliver a great product. It’s important to understand that we’re managing people, not work. Establishing everyone’s communication styles early will help with organizing and distributing what needs to be done among the team. Everyone wants to be successful, which also includes mentoring and helping each other. The expectation in the industry is that there is zero room for error. However, people will make mistakes. We strive to minimize them by problem-solving issues as soon as they arise. I always want to foster creative freedom amongst the team to ensure open communication and feedback regarding any situation.

What is your favorite event(s) you’ve ever worked?
Some of my favorite events include the Army–Navy game, Little League World Series, any Game 7’s (World Series, Stanley Cup Final, NBA Finals), US Open tennis, WKC Dog Show, Super Bowl, Field of Dreams, MLB at Rickwood Field, Miss World pageants, International soccer friendlies, conference-rival college football and basketball games. There’s nothing like being onsite for any event.

How did you get started in sports production? What was your first real job in the business?
My first real job was timeout coordinator for a basketball game because the person who was hired for the job was stuck in traffic. I volunteered. After seeing a production truck for the first time and how many people it took to create a seamless event, I was hooked. I’ve been in production ever since.

What one piece of advice do you have for someone just starting their career in this industry?
Network strategically! Start by attending industry events, join online forums, etc. Continue to follow industry trends and new technologies/innovations. They could also reach out to alumni, former colleagues, or professionals within the industry for informational interviews. When just starting out, it’s important to understand their strengths, such as technical skills (editing, camera operation), creative storytelling, or organizational skills. Learning and absorbing as much as they can early in their career will help them figure out where they might fit best long term.

To read more of the SVG All-Stars series, CLICK HERE.