Sunday, July 20, 2008

Peter J. Boylan - from burgers to buzzers, but no - I repeat, no - television experience (and that's a good thing)

I missed this when it came out, but NTN Buzztime issued this press release on July 15:

Buzztime Adds Boylan to Top Sales Spot
Hospitality Industry Expert Brings Vast Relationship Network and Innovative Sales Strategies to Interactive Leadership Team

CARLSBAD, Calif., Jul 15, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- NTN Buzztime, Inc. (Amex: NTN), an out-of-home interactive entertainment company, today announced the appointment of Peter J. Boylan III to the position of Executive Vice President of Sales. Joining NTN Buzztime, Inc. (Buzztime) from Enterprise Media Networks - EMN8, Inc., a San Diego-based provider of customer self-service solutions for quick-service and fast casual restaurants, Boylan's extensive business development experience within the restaurant industry combined with his technology vendor relationships fit flawlessly within the Buzztime team.

"Peter has been pairing ground-breaking technologies with restaurant businesses throughout his career. He brings an impressive track record of revenue growth for partners in both sectors," said Buzztime's Chairman and interim Chief Executive Officer, Michael Fleming. "We have great confidence in his ability to grow the existing business while taking Buzztime into new channels."

Boylan adds his own extensive hospitality industry contacts and 17 years of professional and executive experience to Buzztime, including a strong strategic focus and a track record of leading successful teams and outperforming financial targets. Prior to his Vice President of Sales position at EMN8, Boylan held increasingly responsible executive positions within The Coca-Cola Company between 1995 and 2005. He joins Buzztime effective immediately.

Boylan earned an MBA from Wake Forest University's Babcock Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

About NTN Buzztime, Inc.

NTN Buzztime, Inc., a leader in interactive entertainment for more than 20 years, is based in Carlsbad, CA. Buzztime is distributed in-home and out-of-home across broadband platforms including online, cable TV, satellite TV and in approximately 3,800 restaurants, sports bars and pubs throughout North America. Buzztime entertainment is also available on electronic games and in books. For more information, please visit www.buzztime.com.

Buzztime is a proud member of the OVAB/Out-of-home Video Advertising Bureau.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements which reflect management's current views of future events and operations including but not limited to estimates of financial performance and cash flows, trends in subscriber preference and engagement and results of marketing strategies. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include the risk of changing economic conditions, failure of product demand or market acceptance of both existing and new products and services and the impact of competitive products and pricing. Please see NTN Buzztime, Inc.'s recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for information about these and other risks that may affect the Company. All forward-looking statements included in this release are based on information available to us on the date hereof. These statements speak only as of the date hereof, and NTN Buzztime, Inc. does not undertake to publicly update or revise any of its forward-looking statements, even if experience or future changes show that the indicated results or events will not be realized.

SOURCE: NTN Buzztime, Inc.

October Strategies for Buzztime
LaRae Marsik, 303-471-4511
larae@octoberstrategies.com
or
Joanne Dant, 303-346-5527
joanne@octoberstrategies.com


I read up a little on Boylan's time with EMN8, and found this press release from March of this year:

Boddie-Noell Enterprises and EMN8® Introduce Self-Service Kiosks at Hardee’s Largest Franchisee

New Self-Service Kiosks Provide Quick and Easy Ordering for Hardee’s Customers

SAN DIEGO, Calif., March 10, 2008 – Boddie-Noell Enterprises (BNE), the largest Hardee’s franchise operator in the United States with 345 restaurants in four states and EMN8®, the leader in technology-based, rich-media self-service systems for quick service restaurants (QSRs), today announced the introduction of EMN8® kiosks in BNE Hardee’s restaurant locations.

According to BNE Director of Field Information Systems Jody Smith, a three restaurant pilot is underway that will test the level of guest adoption of the technology, improvement in speed of customer service, and lift in average check the franchisee can achieve. “The pilot period enables us to learn and improve the self-service program from both a customer service and store integration perspective,” said Smith.

EMN8®’s self-service software features vibrant graphics and a user friendly interface that allows Hardee’s customers to order their food quickly and easily. The menu presents products, suggestions and options in such a manner as to influence customers’ decisions at the point of purchase, increasing average ticket and menu awareness. “We are in the early stages, yet customer feedback has been very positive and the increase in the average check amount exceeds our expectations,” noted Mike Boddie, president of the BNE Restaurant Division.

BNE’s selection of EMN8® as its self-service partner was driven by EMN8®’s experience in the QSR industry, its expertise in user interface design and point-of-sale (POS) integration, and its product’s ability to accept both cash and credit card payments. More than 60 percent of the orders processed to date at the kiosks involved cash payments.

“The Boddie-Noell program is a true collaboration between our two companies that successfully leverages the knowledge EMN8® has gained through our ongoing market research, previous QSR implementations and POS integrations,” said Peter Boylan, vice president of sales at EMN8®.

About Boddie-Noell Enterprises Inc.

Boddie-Noell Enterprises, www.bneinc.com, is a diversified family-owned business engaged primarily in restaurants and land development. It is the largest Hardee's franchise operator in the United States with 345 restaurants across four states. The company owns the Texas Steakhouse & Saloon and Café Carolina and Bakery restaurant brands. It also operates Moe's Southwest Grill franchises and the historic Rose Hill Conference Center in Nashville. Boddie-Noell has major land-development projects completed or underway along the North Carolina coast and in Virginia. It employs more than 12,750 people and is headquartered in Rocky Mount.

About EMN8® Inc.

EMN8®, www.emn8.com, is the leading developer of consumer self-service order and payment systems for the quick service restaurant and fast casual dining industries. Its products leverage innovative technology and designs, cash and payment card handling capabilities, integration with leading point-of-sale (POS) application, and compatibility with industry leading kiosk and POS hardware. EMN8® systems increase average check, improve speed of service and deliver consistent in-store brand messaging while reducing an enterprise’s overall operating costs. EMN8® systems have been deployed within major QSR brands including Arby’s, Burger King, Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s and Jack in the Box. EMN8® is headquartered in San Diego.

Press Contact:

Jerry Allsbrook
Boddie-Noell Enterprises
252 937 2800
jerryallsbrook@boddienoell.com

Madeline Pantalone, Vice President of Marketing
EMN8®, Inc.
858.784.0800 X106
mpantalone@emn8.com


So Boylan definitely knows machines, and he definitely knows restaurants. But Buzztime neglected to note that Boylan definitely knows resorts, according to this June 24, 2008 article from The Oklahoman:

The Grove Public Schools superintendent voiced his opposition Monday to a tax proposal designed to rebuild a Grand Lake luxury resort....

The proposal would provide $25 million in tax revenue over 25 years to developers of the Peninsula Resort, a four-star hotel where Shangri-La Resort once stood....

Shangri-La Resort, a luxury resort near Grove, was known for its golf courses in the 1970s and 1980s before hard economic times produced multiple ownership changes and bankruptcies.

The resort was purchased in 2005 by Peter J. Boylan III, who has spearheaded the drive for the tax district.

Revenue would be redirected from Grove Public Schools, several Delaware County agencies, Emergency Management Services, and the Vo-Tech facilities, said Leon Hurt, Delaware County assessor.


But the interesting part of that article was the sidebar. According to the story as printed in the sidebar, Boylan also knows about the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is normally a good thing for a publicly traded company. Normally.

One point of criticism levied against Peter J. Boylan III was a $600,000 fine imposed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Boylan disputed the accusation, saying there was no admission of fraud.

Boylan is the former co-president, co-chief operating officer and a member of the board of directors of Gemstar, parent to TV Guide. He was later reprimanded by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for inflating the company's revenue figures.

Without either admitting or denying guilt, Boylan consented to a fraud injunction and agreed to pay a $600,000 fine in disgorgement and civil penalties, SEC records show.


Funny, NTN Buzztime didn't mention Gemstar in its press release.

And there's a good reason - Peter J. Boylan III never worked for Gemstar. Peter C. Boylan III did:

Peter C. Boylan, III

Director

BOK Financial Corporation (BOKF)
www.bokf.com Industry: Finance

Overview

Mr. Boylan, CEO of Boylan Partners, LLC (investment management and advisory organization) since March 2002. From April 2002 through March 2004, Mr. Boylan served as Director, President and Chief Operating Officer of Liberty Broadband Interactive Television, Inc. (technology company providing software, services and products to cable and satellite television network operators worldwide), a company controlled by Liberty Media Corporation. Prior to April 2002, Mr. Boylan was Co-President, Co-Chief Operating Officer, Member of the Office of the Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. (media, entertainment, technology and communications company).


Compare with the press release for J's promotion at EMN8:

Prior to joining EMN8®, Boylan served as director of national sales for the Coca-Cola Company. During his ten-year tenure at Coca-Cola, he assumed increasing responsibilities culminating in the management of a national account team that generated $66 million in annual revenue.

Boylan earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1984 and his Master of Business Administration from Wake Forest University in 1996.


I just hope that the SEC can tell Peter J. Boylan III and Peter C. Boylan III apart.

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