Ideas and Solutions

Always on the forefront of change
We at Ideas and Solutions!! have been at the vanguard of the media and technology revolution since 1995. Whether its cable, satellite TV, satellite radio, or high speed cable, we’ve known exactly how to advise our clients on how to successfully grow their businesses. More of late, we have applied our skills and expertise beyond media and technology to diverse industries such as education and insurance.

Ideas & Solutions!! is integral to many start-up companies, venture capital and private equity firms, as well as established companies with expansion plans.

We augment your team
We consider out clients our partners. The more we get to know you and understand your business problems, the better we can provide objective, active support tailored to your specific needs. For us, confidentiality and integrity are of the utmost importance.

Our staff includes specialists in market analysis, target marketing and database environment. We maintain strategic alliances with leading research, marketing and communications companies that will help you blaze your forward path.

Our Goals:

Providing objective analysis
Developing actionable plans and programs
Delivering first-rate work on a prompt and on-time basis
Maintaining the highest standards of ethics and confidentiality
Building long-term relationships

Glen L. Friedman, President and Founder

Glen L. Friedman has been helping to lead major change in technology and media for over 25 years. Recognized as a Cable Pioneer, he was a key architect in the launch strategy for DIRECV. As a new technology leader, he was a key advisor to XM Satellite Radio from its inception and was on the front lines in the launch of High Speed Internet. He is now involved in mobile video and is bringing his expertise to the new frontier of Over the Top Television.

As head of Ideas and Solutions! for the past 15 years, Friedman has brought his out-of-the-box thinking to a vast number of assignments. From start-ups to huge media conglomerates – including long-running, multi year engagements with such companies as XM, Fox Networks, the Weather Channel and Saban Capital Group – Friedman’s insights into marketing and business strategies, as well as the rapidly evolving trends in technology, have been key to business success.

Previous to founding Ideas and Solutions!, Friedman served as a communications and entertainment industry executive, including senior positions at what is now Time Warner Cable as well as Century Cable, where he developed exceptional strategic thinking with hands-on management skills. He has the keen analytical talent to structure deals, the personality to build relationships, and the persistence and tenacity that enable him to get the right deal done.

Pete Gatseos, Ph.D. Biography

Pete is a Senior Research Advisor to Ideas & Solutions for select strategic projects. He is widely known as a telecommunications and multiplatform video content expert as well as for his highly actionable consumer research data insights.

Pete is currently President of his consulting practice, Gatseos & Associates. Over the years, his consulting work has been focused on assessing the prospects of multiple cutting edge products and services for select venture groups and clients.

In prior work experience, he has served as Senior Vice President of Analytics and Strategy for The Nielsen Company, where he pioneered integrating cross-platform research findings and conducted new media growth tracking studies. Pete also served as Vice President of Strategic Research for DIRECTV, in the Los Angeles-based corporate headquarters, where he directed all programming, branding, marketing, advertising and business development research, along with all competitive intelligence activities, for the nation's largest satellite TV operator. He's also served as Senior Vice President of The Cable Center, creating and overseeing an array of nationwide higher education research and executive training programs.

Pete also built and led the TCI/AT&T Broadband consumer insights and competitive intelligence departments to become recognized as Best-In-Class. His responsibilities as Vice President of Market Intelligence, in the Denver-based corporate offices, encompassed all domestic company business units including ad sales, marketing, branding and new programming and product ventures as well as international-related market research with partnering companies in Europe, South America and South East Asia for the Liberty Media business unit. (TCI and Liberty Media merged with AT&T; which were spun off later in another merger with Comcast.)

Earlier, he ran his own consulting practice, working on a part-time basis, for retainer clients: The Monitor Channel, Home Shopping Network and the Inspirational Network as well as on a project basis for others including the Family Channel and emergent TV network ventures in the US, UK, France, Venezuela and Hong Kong. Pete created and managed the corporate American Television & Communication (ATC) consumer insights research and analytics departments as Vice President of Research and Planning, his industry Best-In-Class responsibilities included all the programming, ad sales, advertising, marketing, branding and new product research and planning. (ATC is now Time Warner Cable.)

His industry-related activities include co-chairing the annual CTAM Research Conference four times. He is a recognized market research innovator and thought leader within the cable TV industry and has chaired and served in many cross-function and cross-company committees throughout all the years to the present. He's also been a five year trustee of the prestigious (across all industries/product categories) Marketing Science Institute (MSI).
Pete earned a BA in Political Science, a MA in Speech Communications, and a MA in Mass Communications, all from the University of Denver. His Ph.D. in Communications Research is from the University of Colorado. Pete also speaks Modern Greek.

Steven P. Gavenas, Sr. Associate

Steven P. Gavenas, Sr. Associate, is an expert in strategic marketing and operations. He provides problem solving and managerial leadership to assist senior managers of major corporations in resolving key strategic, operating and organizational challenges, and realizing substantial improvements in performance. Prior to his association with Ideas & Solutions! Mr. Gavenas was Executive Vice President at XM Satellite Radio where he had broad operating responsibilities with an annual budget of >$50 million.

Previously, Mr. Gavenas was a Strategic Management Consultant for McKinsey & Company where he developed sales and marketing strategies, including market segmentation and customer needs assessments. He also designed organizational improvements for enhanced effectiveness and efficiency. Mr. Gavenas holds an MBA with Highest Honors from Cornell University.

IDEAS & SOLUTIONS! INC.
1880 Century Park East, Suite 1450

Los Angeles, CA 90067
tel: 310-286-1006

Glen@ideasolutions.com