Barbara Lange recently stepped down after 12 successful years at SMPTE, the global professional association that supports the technical framework and professional community which makes quality motion imaging available to consumers in a variety of media formats. As Executive Director, Ms. Lange was responsible for executing the SMPTE Board’s strategic vision to ensure continued relevance in a fast-paced global media technology ecosystem. Under Ms. Lange’s leadership, membership grew by more than 30%, more than 200 leading-edge industry standards were published, and the Society educated thousands of professionals through virtual and in-person events. Ms. Lange oversaw the Society’s centenary year in 2016, including its first ever capital fundraising campaign which became the basis of a subsequent 3-year strategic business plan. This work furthered SMPTE’s visibility with an emphasis on attracting a younger and more diverse membership demographic while rebranding the Society and expanding its technology brief. In 2021, Ms. Lange led the launch of SMPTE’s newest initiative, Rapid Industry Solutions, a concept that enables a proactive approach to solving industry problems across commercial and academic organizations. The program has attracted many new corporate members as well as securing a prestigious MegaGrant from EPIC Games. Ms. Lange holds a BA in Chemistry and German from Washington and Jefferson College and completed the Executive Development Program at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She has been recognized for her leadership by Washington & Jefferson College, the IEEE, StudioDaily50, and TVNewscheck’s 2020 Woman in Technology Award. In 2021, she was honored by TVB Europe as a 2021 Technology Leader to Watch and by Broadcast & Cable with the 2021 Tech Leadership Award.
