Executive Staff

General Manager

Ryan Balton
rsbalton@citrustv.net
Class of 2011
Hometown: Milford, Pa.

Office Hours:
Mon. 1-3 PM.
Wed. 2-4 PM.
Thur. 11AM-Noon.
Fri Noon.-2 PM.

Office phone:
(315) 443-2041

Ryan Balton is a junior dual majoring in television, radio, film and education policy studies. Ryan took on nearly every spot behind the camera for the news department during freshman year, and now, he is a director/tech producer for CitrusTV News and Juice & Java, weather anchor on Friday news, associate producer of Orange Press Pass, a sports photographer, and technical director for a bunch of shows at the station. As CitrusTV Web media director from 2008 to 2009, Ryan oversaw the transition to the new CitrusTV Web site you see today. 

On campus, Ryan also is the engineer in charge for SUper Sports over at the Orange Television Network. He works at the computer help desk on the first floor of Bird Library.

Since running his high school’s newspaper, podcast, TV program and Web site, Ryan has been a freelance Web designer and video editor for a variety of clients. He's worked as a camera jib assistant and utility on ESPN College Basketball and Football, Inside the NFL, Rescue Me, the Tony Awards and many other TV and film productions. Back home, Ryan volunteers for his hometwon school board and library, and works as a freelance photographer and writer for local newspapers.

Assistant General Manager

Christina Orazio
corazio@citrustv.net
Class of 2011
Hometown: Suffern, N.Y.

Office Hour:
Wed. 3-4 PM.

Christina Orazio is a junior Television/Radio/Film major and a dual sociology and fine arts minor. She started at CitrusTV her sophomore year where she was a Production Assistant in the News Department. Since then, she has dedicated her time in the news department directing, technical directing, working audio, floor directing, editing, and helping with VTR. She looks forward to helping keep the station organized as the new Assistant General Manager, and hopes she can keep doing what she loves to do with the people she calls her new college family.

Other than CitrusTV, Christina can be found taking photos around campus, as the Photo Editor of The Onondagan Yearbook. She also volunteers with Big Brother, Big Sister and with her church at home. When she's not working like crazy, she enjoys Broadway musicals, freshly baked cookies and is an unofficial Gleek.

Operations Manager

Bill Sharp 
wrsharpi@citrustv.net
Class of 2012
Hometown: Glenside, P.A.

Office Hour:
Fri. 3-4 PM.

Bill Sharp is a Sophomore TRF Major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. He is from Glenside, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. He started working at Citrus his freshman year as a photog in the News Department. He enjoys long walks on the beach, watching TV and movies, and tinkering with video equipment. This semester he is working in the News department as a Technical Producer and TD, the Sports department as a TD for SUper Sports (occasionally) and the Operations department as Ops manager. He is a Philosophy minor.

Web Media Director

Kevin Luk
kluk@citrustv.net
Class of 2011
Hometown: Hong Kong

Office Hour:
Wed. 4-5 PM.

Born and raised in the snow-less city of Hong Kong, Kevin Luk is a dual television, radio, film and information management & technology major. He joined CitrusTV in Fall 2009 in the operations and programming department. He is very proud of the amazing shows put out by station members, and even more excited to increate online viewership in his capacity as Web Media Director.

Kevin has previously worked as an intern reporter at Now BroadBand TV, a leading 24-hours news station in Hong Kong. He is also actively involved in Cru, a Christian student ministry on campus.

News Director

Marissa Perlman
mperlman@citrustv.net
Class of 2012
Hometown: Chicago, I.L.

Office Hour:
Fri. 3-4 PM.

Coming from the big city of Chicago, Marissa Perlman is more than thrilled to join the executive staff of CitrusTV. While only a sophomore, this vivacious Broadcast Journalism student has had plenty of experience-including both in front of and behind the camera. Marissa has an extreme passion for producing great news content. She is looking forward to leading an excellent team of ‘Newsies’ with her coiffed management and communication skills.

Marissa has worked multiple technical positions at Citrus and has acted as a production assistant and a reporter for two semesters. Marissa interned and became a columnist for her local newspaper “The Glenview Journal,” in her hometown. Last summer, Marissa could be found on Michigan Avenue working as a digital media account management intern at an advertising agency.

When not getting down to business at the station, Marissa acts on the Vice Presidents board in her sorority, Delta Gamma. She also enjoys running, skiing, watching award shows, random dance parties and the color yellow.

Sports Director

Scott Grodsky
sgrodsky@citrustv.net
Class of 2011
Hometown: Glenview, I.L.

Office Hour:
Thur. 9-10 PM.

Scott Grodsky has followed sports since the first time he saw a baseball game at Wrigley Field when he was three. It is that passion for athletics that makes him so excited to join the executive staff of CitrusTV as the Sports Director. The Junior Broadcast Journalism major brings experience gathered from work at ESPN, CBS, WGN, and as the Sports Director at WGBK.

Scott has worked at CitrusTV in both on and off-air capacities. He has served as a reporter, analyst and host. Scott was also the Executive Producer of 'Cuse Countdown for one year. He is excited to help bring the Syracuse community complete sports coverage for all the teams they care about.

Entertainment Director

Ali Mierzejewski
amierzejewski@citrustv.net
Class of 2012
Hometown: Reading, P.A.

Office Hour:
Wed. 7-8 PM.

Ali Mierzejewski is a sophomore magazine journalism major from Reading, Pennsylvania. She is also pursuing minors in English and textual studies and drama. She has been involved in Citrus TV since her freshman year as a cast member of the show After Hours. With a true passion for the entertainment industry, she hopes to one day be a journalist in that area.

Outside of Citrus, Ali writes for magazines on campus, performs at community theaters back home, and absolutely loves random dance parties and her excessive scarf collection.

Business Manager

Kevin Hirst
kmhirst@citrustv.net
Class of 2011
Hometown: Erie, P.A.

Office Hour:
Tue. 2-4 PM.

Kevin Hirst is a dual television, radio, film and marketing management major with a minor in theater. Kevin joined CitrusTV News in fall 2008 as a production assistant. He has worked as a news producer since. Kevin plans to continue building the CitrusTV brand, to work with local companies to increase sponsorships for the station, and to lead the HD fundraising campaign.

When he's not taking care of business at CitrusTV, Kevin is a staff member of First Year Players and a brother of Delta Sigma Pi. Kevin was a production assistant for the 63rd Annual Tony Awards and an intern for the History Channel in 2009. In his free time, Kevin enjoys Broadway musicals, eating Ben & Jerry's ice cream, traveling to new places and watching Disney movies.

Computer Systems Manager

Ben Slutzky
benrs@citrustv.net
Class of 2013
Hometown: Fayetteville, N.Y.

Office Hour:
Fri. 12:15-1:15 PM.

Ben Slutzky is majoring in information management and technology. He maintains, troubleshoots, and enhances the station’s computing infrastructure to better meet the needs of its staff and viewers on a day-to-day and strategic long-term basis. He also works with the Operations Department to maintain the station’s production infrastructure, and with the HD and Budget committees to research and plan the transition to High Definition. In addition, Ben enjoys working in News and Sports show production with other Citrus staff as Technical Director, VTR operator, and camera operator.

When he’s not at Citrus, Ben loves to read, travel, snowboard, bike, and keep up in current events. He also serves as Sadler Hall’s Residence Hall Association representative.

Promotions Director

Evan Davis
edavis@citrustv.net
Class of 2012
Hometown: Longmeadow, M.A.

Office Hour:
Fri. 2-3 PM.

As Promotions Director, Evan Davis manages all marketing, advertising and public relations for CitrusTV. His responsibilities include building and managing the station’s brand, overseeing the creation of all advertising communications, and promoting the station. Evan has been an active member of CitrusTV since the fall of 2008, when he joined the News department as a videographer. The following semester, along with being a News producer, he joined the Promotions Department as a graphic designer. During the summer of 2009, Evan designed the new graphics package for CitrusTV News. That same summer, he interned at Andrew Associates, an award-winning direct marketing agency in Enfield, CT.

Along with CitrusTV, Evan is Promotions Editor of The Onondagan Yearbook and a freelance graphic designer. He is an Advertising major, Strategic Management minor and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program. He is the recipient of the 2009 CitrusTV “Designer Who Designs Beyond Normal Lines” Award.

Alumni Relations Director

Erica Taylor
etaylor@citrustv.net
Class of 2012
Hometown: Fairhope, A.L.

Office Hour:
Mon. 1-2 PM.

Erica Taylor is a sophomore dual public relations and marketing management major. She is from Fairhope, Alabama. Erica started at CitrusTV in fall 2008 working as a camera. She is also a member of the Promotions department.

When not working at Citrus, Erica volunteers with Comm.UNITY, is a U100 member, and is a part of Hill Communications, a student-run PR firm. She hopes to improve relations with Citrus alumni and plan an amazing end of the year banquet.