Executive Team

Jeff Chen is the Senior Vice President and Chief Relationship Officer at CableLabs. As a member of the executive team, Jeff is valued for his 360-degree view from cable operators and vendor partners. The cable industry owes its success to collaborative innovations from all players in the ecosystem. Jeff and his team work together with members and vendors to understand their needs and help bridge communications with CableLabs resources.

Jeff started his career as a cable engineer at Rogers in Toronto, and later joined the team at Bright House Networks as SVP, Advanced Technology. He worked closely with industry partners including CableLabs, NCTA and fellow cable operators to ensure smooth and speedy adoption of new technology to serve customer needs.

Jeff received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Connecticut, and has completed executive training programs at the University of Toronto and Dartmouth College. He has served as a guest lecturer for executive training programs at the University Denver. During his leisure time, Jeff enjoys skiing and he is a passionate supporter of SkiTAM, a charity for the U.S. Paralympic Ski and Snowboard Teams.

Maria Popo is the president and CEO of SCTE, a CableLabs subsidiary. SCTE is dedicated to enhancing the broadband industry by aligning corporate goals with transformative learning solutions, fostering workforce technology skills and innovation, while leveraging its global network of over 60 chapters for industry engagement and insights.

Popo’s journey from trade school to academia and boardrooms has been shaped by tenacity, adaptability, and lifelong learning. From customer service representative to senior executive of Global Fortune 50 Foxconn, CEO/president of Ubee Interactive Americas, leadership roles at 3Com(HP)/Ambit Microsystems/3M, and now as a technology education innovator, Maria has shown a profound ability to drive transformative growth.

Maria blends executive acumen with advanced business expertise. Her knowledge spans AI, data analytics, and VR, while her specialization in learning technology and design sets her apart. This unique tech savvy, coupled with timely award-winning research on sociotechnical workplace skills conducted at Stanford University in 2022/2023, places Maria at the forefront of strategic insights for businesses navigating the complexities of the AI era. Popo’s business acumen is demonstrated through numerous achievements, including financial oversight in preparation for a potential IPO, delivering a $150 million top-line gain at Ubee Interactive and transforming 3Com’s exit strategy into a $1B startup. Her talent for crafting data-driven product roadmaps and forging high-volume contracts has consistently delivered strong financial outcomes. Maria’s strategic vision and ability to identify new markets, foster high-performing teams, and forge international partnerships shine through in her collaborations with global industry leaders.

Popo currently serves as an Independent Board Director at Four18 Intelligence, a cyber threat hunting PaaS for analyst training. Prior to this, she was an Executive Board Director at Ubee Interactive Inc., a global provider of carrier class networking products, and was also president and chair of the Rocky Mountain Region’s Women in Cable & Telecom (WICT), a non-profit organization empowering women leaders in cable and media. Popo is a Stanford University Distinguished Careers Institute (DCI) fellow, and Master of Science graduate in Learning Design and Technology. Maria has received recognition such as: 20 Female Founders to Watch, CableFax Most Powerful Women in Cable, Multichannel News Women in Technology, and 8th Fastest Growing Woman-Led Company. Popo has also mentored entrepreneurs in programs like Techstars, The Commons – Denver, Thailand’s AIS, and Stanford’s LeanLaunchpad.

Phil McKinney is the president and CEO at CableLabs, a non-profit research & development lab funded by the global cable industry. With a strong focus on innovation, McKinney is responsible for leading the development of technologies and specifications for the secure delivery of high speed data, video, voice and next generation services. He oversees testing, certification facilities and guides the technical leadership for the industry, charting the course for future technology and innovation.

Prior to CableLabs, McKinney held technology and innovation leadership positions in major companies including serving as the vice president and CTO for Hewlett-Packard’s Personal Systems Group, where he was responsible for long-range strategic planning, research and development for the company’s PC product lines. In addition, he was the founder and leader of HP’s Innovation Program Office (IPO). The IPO was chartered to identify, incubate and launch adjacent and fundamentally new technologies, products and services that would become the future growth engines for HP. The success of the IPO is now shared in widely used case studies at Stanford University and Harvard Business School. McKinney also served as senior vice president and CIO at Teligent, and as a director at CSC.

Author, speaker and innovation guru, McKinney shares his rule-breaking approach to innovation and creativity in his book “Beyond the Obvious.” He has been credited with forming and leading multiple teams that Fast Company and BusinessWeek have listed as being one of the “50 Most Innovative.” His recognition includes Vanity Fair naming him the “The Innovation Guru,” MSNBC and Fox Business calling him “The Gadget Guy” and the San Jose Mercury News dubbing him the “chief seer.” In July 2015, his podcast, Killer Innovations™, became a nationally syndicated radio show that is carried by more than 30 radio stations across the U.S. In 2017, The Cable Center named McKinney an Innovation Laureate, in recognition of his role as a trailblazer and key influencer who is mentoring, teaching and motivating the next generation of cable industry leaders.

McKinney serves on the advisory board for Hacking Autism and he is chairman of the board for Pioneer Education Africa. In his spare time, he oversees his family VC fund, the Techtrend Group, that invests in for-profit start-ups to create economic growth as an alternative to traditional charity models.

Jeff Leget is President and CEO at Kyrio, and Senior Vice President of Infrastructure at CableLabs, a non-profit research & development and innovation lab funded by the global cable industry. Since joining CableLabs in 2015, Jeff’s responsibilities have expanded to include IT, lab and office facilities, public key infrastructure (PKI) operations and mid-tier operator relationships. At Kyrio, a subsidiary of CableLabs, Jeff leads a growing provider of services for the connectivity industry, including broadband device testing, security analysis and software services.

Jeff is responsible for the CableLabs-managed ecosystem that issues millions of new PKI certificates each year, ensuring the secure transmission of data for all cable modems throughout the world. Most recently, he has also been managing relationships with CableLabs’ North American mid-tier operators – a diverse group of public and privately owned network operators that provide services that are often in geographically challenging locations with unique needs.

Prior to joining CableLabs, Jeff held executive operating and strategy roles at (i)Structure, a subsidiary of Level 3 Communications, and Keynetics, a mid-sized internet retailer and fraud management company. He broadened his role at Keynetics and became the head of risk management and international expansion. Jeff began his career as a consultant with Accenture before moving to Corporate Express (Staples) during an era of rapid expansion.

Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado State University, and a Master of Business Administration from Colorado State University. He lives with his wife and children in Broomfield, Colorado.

Mark Bridges is the Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at CableLabs, a non-profit research & development and innovation lab funded by the global cable industry. He leads CableLabs’ long-term vision by driving the development of technologies critical to the industry’s evolution including wired, wireless, network convergence and security. His areas of expertise include research and development of software-defined networks, network as a service/platform and cloud native architectures.

Mark previously served as the Vice President of the Future Infrastructure Group as part of the Office of the CTO at CableLabs, where he spearheaded strategic planning for the future of access network technologies and software platforms. With nearly 30 years of experience in communications and software development, Mark is a seasoned industry professional with a deep understanding of the communications and technology industries. His tenure at CableLabs began in 2010, and over the years, he has made significant contributions to the company’s technological advancements and strategic direction.

Prior to joining CableLabs, Mark was Director and Chief Architect at Avaya where he was instrumental in defining the technology strategy and architecture for Avaya Global Services’ next-generation service delivery platforms. Before joining Avaya, Mark was the founder and CEO of VCS, Inc., a systems integrator, and platform development company focused on creating business operations and service delivery support systems for various industries, with a particular emphasis on OSS/BSS platforms for the telecommunications industry. He led VCS to a successful merger in 2001.

Mark studied Information Systems at the University of Georgia where he met and married his wife of over 30 years. During his leisure time in the fall season, Mark can be spotted on Saturdays at his favorite breweries in his hometown, Longmont, Colorado – always cheering for his Dawgs!

Lori Spencer is the Chief People Officer at CableLabs. As a member of the executive team, her focus is on the organizational and cultural development of CableLabs and its affiliates. She leads the alignment of strategic talent management with the overall business strategy and vision of CableLabs. One of Lori’s priorities is to provide professional development opportunities to all employees which enable high functioning teams to thrive. Equally important is an emphasis on building high trust relationships and developing exceptional leaders. Inspired by encounters with diverse and interesting people, she is passionate about helping them increase their capacity and confidence in their roles across the organization.

Prior to CableLabs, Lori held various positions in Human Resources at National Jewish Health in Denver. Most recently she was the Director of Learning and Development where she developed a leadership academy to provide “knowledge and wisdom to lead” to create a highly engaged workforce.

Lori received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management from Pacific Lutheran University and Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Regis University. She holds the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification, as well as certifications in a variety of organizational development and personality assessment tools. A native of Colorado, Lori enjoys spending time at her mountain cabin, and loves all things musical including singing, playing the piano, and attending concerts and music festivals. She has two children who are budding musicians.

Mike Mehrtens is the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at CableLabs. As a member of the executive team, Mike is responsible for all aspects of finance, accounting, information technology and facilities. Mike and his team work to provide a superior level of service to the business, with a focus on process efficiency, financial insight, safeguarding company resources and consistently improving the customer experience. There are numerous metrics to focus on, but a fundamental equation that guides Mike’s professional experience is a simple one: if you exceed the expectations of your customers, provide an engaging and fulfilling experience for your employee, you will solve for the goals of your stakeholders.

Prior to CableLabs, Mike held various positions in finance, accounting and Six Sigma process improvement at OmiTRAX, TTEC, INTUIT and General Electric in Denver.

Mike received his Bachelor of Arts in economics from Western State University and Master of Business Administration from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Mike is also a certified public accountant licensed in Colorado. Out of the office, Mike is an avid outdoorsman, skier, and hiker with a deep appreciation for the natural world.

Ron Reuss is Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at CableLabs. He is responsible for the development and evolution of CableLabs’ strategy. Ron and his team work with CableLabs colleagues, members, and across the cable ecosystem to develop and deliver insights about customers, network behavior, markets, costs and competition. Ron’s team is also responsible for the management of innovation processes and working with teams to develop innovations, helping to ensure CableLabs’ ability to consistently bring game-changing solutions to the cable industry.

Ron has over 30 years of experience in the communications industry and was formerly Vice President of Technology Strategy at CableLabs. Prior to his tenure at CableLabs, he held roles in product management, product development and venture investment at
companies including Level 3 Communications, BellSouth, and Gray Ventures.

Ron holds a Master of Science degree in Management from Georgia Institute of Technology, a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from University of Pennsylvania and Bachelor of Science degrees in Computer Science and Humanities from MIT. He is also a certified competitive intelligence professional.

Courtney Seely is the Chief Legal Officer at CableLabs. She is responsible for leading
all legal, regulatory and patent activities for CableLabs and its subsidiaries, supporting
telecommunications and Internet industries around the world. In this role, Courtney is
directly involved in complex business transactions and manages the transaction-
based legal function, including all legal and regulatory compliance, corporate
governance, intellectual property protection and technology transfer functions.

Prior to CableLabs, Courtney held various executive-level legal and risk management
positions within global public and private companies of all sizes and at all life-cycle
stages across a broad array of highly regulated industries. In such roles, she focused
on mergers and acquisitions, complex commercial transactions, corporate finance and
corporate governance and led multi-jurisdictional and multi-functional teams. Courtney
began her career in private practice at Dechert LLP in Philadelphia, PA as an
Associate in the Corporate and Securities Group where she focused on general
corporate and securities matters, concentrating on mergers, acquisitions and
dispositions, venture capital financings, corporate finance transactions and federal
and state securities matters for leading private equity fund sponsors and their portfolio
companies, as well as strategic buyers and sellers.

Courtney received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Lehigh University in
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and Juris Doctorate degree from The Villanova University
Charles Widger School of Law in Villanova, Pennsylvania. She currently serves as a
member of the Board of Directors for the Colorado Chapter of the Association of
Corporate Counsel. Outside of the office, Courtney enjoys spending time with her two
sons and two dogs and is an outdoor enthusiast with a particular passion for running,
skiing and hiking.