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SBDC Hall of Fame

Jill Holloway and Dave Weingold

Jill Holloway and Dave Weingold

Dave Weingold and Jill Holloway
Flight 9 Group, Inc.
Westchester SBDC

After 27 years with ABC news, the client decided to start his own Ku band video uplink business, working with the remote news collection industry.  Dave Weingold and Jill Holloway worked with SBDC in 1989 to develop a winning business plan that led to the acquisition of the first uplink truck. They returned a few years later to update the plan and secure financing for a second truck with production and editing capability.  Within hours of delivery, the second truck was pressed into service for such shows as Good Morning America, Monday Night Football, the Today Show, and virtually every network. Flight 9 set new standards in delivering digital sound from Simon and Garfunkel's Central Park concert to remote studios. 

In 2000, Dave and Jill were back once more to develop plans to acquire a third mobile video facility.One of the company's trucks was at a remote production site in NYC on September 11, 2001, and despite extensive damage from the attacks, remained on the air to deliver images, audio, and communications for several news agencies.  The SBDC was able to help Dave secure financing, including an SBA disaster loan, to make nearly $1 million in repairs to the damaged truck. Once the repairs were made, Flight 9 was again leading the video uplink industry.  In 1990, the client was instrumental in delivering the first SUNY multi-point origination teleconference that included speakers from Atlanta, Albany, Binghamton, and Rockland County. Flight 9 recently added the industry's most advanced digital video mobile production, editing and uplink facility again setting new standards for remote video collection.

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