When Steven Shipowitz was growing up in Norfolk Virginia, he “shadowed” an employee of a local TV station and had to make a speech about it for his school’s seventh grade “career day.” The experience convinced him to pursue a career in TV news production. At the University of Alabama, he majored in Communications. But instead of seeking the limelight as an on-camera personality for the college TV station, Steve discovered he liked directing better. “It’s a very high-pressure job,” he says, “but I thrive on that.”
After graduation, he landed a job back home as the Assignment Editor in the newsroom at WVEC-TV. He next moved to WXIA-TV in Atlanta as News Operations Manager, where he led a team that won three regional Emmy Awards. After five years at WXIA, Steve took on a new challenge as a freelance network producer during what would be a momentous year. As he recalls, “The summer of ‘96 was an incredible adventure for me, as I got to work for NBC News covering both political conventions, and then oversaw transmission for the launch of MSNBC at the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta.”
After that summer, Steve went to work for CNN in Atlanta, eventually rising to the position of Vice-President and Senior Executive Producer for CNN Airport Network. During his tenure at CNN, he met lots of famous newsmakers ranging from presidents and politicians to actors and entertainers. One who stands out in his memory was actor and politician Arnold Schwarzenegger; he ran into him in the network’s headquarters–literally . “I was running down the hall, he turned the corner and I ran into him and he just knocked me over. I thought I had run into a wall! “ laughs Steve. “Next thing I know, I’m lying on the floor and he holds out this big hand and says, in his distinctive voice, ‘Sorry, let me help. you. up.’”
In 2004, Steve landed in Memphis to take a job as Managing Editor at WMC-TV and to earn a Master’s Degree in Journalism at the University of Memphis, where he was also an Adjunct Professor. In 2007, he joined Running Pony as Sr. Director of Operations. His job requires a mixture of skills to assign and coordinate production crews, oversee live productions and post-production, and ensure that the day-to-day technical operations of the company run smoothly.
“The part of my job at Running Pony I like the best is getting to work with a tight knit team of professionals who excel at their crafts,” says Steve.
Teamwork also plays a big role in Steve’s life outside of work. He’s coached several high school lacrosse teams and is currently the head coach of the middle school girls’ team at Lausanne. Steve has been married for almost 35 years to his wife, Lisa. Their daughter, Jordan, works as a media buyer in Atlanta and their son, Gregory, works for United Launch Alliance, where he works on the ground control team for NASA’s Artemis project. Steve and Lisa are also “foster parents” for a rescue dog. Stormy, a pit mix, has been awaiting adoption for more than three years. But with the same resolve he puts into his job at Running Pony, Steve is doggedly determined to succeed with Stormy. “We will not ‘foster-fail’,” he says adamantly, “Not gonna happen.” (Editor’s note: Any pet lovers who are reading this, please email steve@runningpony.com if you want to adopt the loyal and lovable Stormy.)
