Diablo Media, LLC

Ben Smith
Chief Executive Officer

Ben is the Founder and CEO of Diablo Media, LLC. Prior to founding Diablo Media, Ben joined a small Real Estate Education company in Boulder, Colorado where he leveraged his passion for marketing and technology and implemented their online sales infrastructure which he quickly grew into a multi-million dollar a year success. Ben, who specializes in the design and implementation of the technology driving the advertising industry, has also founded or invested in several other hi-tech companies including but not limited to, Bright Media Group, Bluefire Media and Inbox Data Systems. Ben is extremely proactive in the fraud-prevention community where he works to overcome vulnerabilities using new technology. Ben is also the Founder and CEO of Ad Value Technologies, LLC where he has created the industry's premier CPA tracking platform.

Ben has a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Colorado, Boulder. When he isn't working, Ben enjoys traveling, staying fit, and spending time with friends and family.

Michael Schuster
Chief Financial Officer

Mike as the Chief Financial Officer establishes and implements Diablo Media's accounting and financial management foundation. His role encompasses the execution of budgeting, forecasting, financial statements, cash-flow, tax planning, and collections. Prior to Diablo Media, Mike held a position as a Controller at a mortgage company in Scottsdale, Arizona. Mike managed more than four million dollars in Investor Private Funding every month. His position also included management and oversight of the company's financial operations, and accounting for more than 300 million dollars in loan funding annually. Mike has founded or invested in companies including Bright Media Group, Bluefire Media, Inbox Data Systems, and Ad Value Technologies.

Mike also commands Diablo Media's e-mail and list management division. He recruits new clients, grows data management monetization, and maintains quality ISP relationships.

Mike has a Bachelor's of Science degree in Accountancy from Arizona State University. As a Colorado native Mike enjoys many of the athletics the state has to offer. If Mike isn't working he is usually, skiing, boarding, or hiking. When it is extremely cold outside he enjoys hitting the gym or just getting out of town. His destinations usually accommodate scuba diving, wine tasting, and golfing.

Rick Mirsky
Vice President of Sales and Business Development

Rick joined the Diablo Media team in 2010 to help drive the sales and business development initiatives. His role as VP of Sales and Business Development include working with Fortune 1000 advertisers and building stronger partnerships with large publishers. Previously, Rick was Director of Business Development at Adperio (formerly Memolink). During his time at Adperio, he worked to help build their network and agency business. Rick’s 10 years of experience in online and affiliate marketing make him a great asset for getting the job done right.

Rick has both a Bachelors and MBA from the University of Colorado. When not in the office, Rick enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf and skiing.

Bryn Mercado
Publisher Relations

Bryn joined the Diablo Media team in 2009 to help manage distribution. His role in Publisher Relations includes day to day communication with affiliates, monitoring network campaigns, and overall development of the publisher basis and network. Previously, Bryn worked as Senior Publisher Sales for Bloosky Interactive located in Irvine, CA. During his time at Bloosky, he worked to establish the brand and growth of their CPA network. Bryn's years of experience in client management and sales make him a vital asset to Diablo Media.

Bryn has a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA. Out of the office, he enjoys playing competitive tennis, golf, time with friends and family, and especially Lakers games. You can often find him on the beaches or tennis courts of sunny Orange County.

Kent Argow
Product Manager

Kent joined Diablo Media in 2008 to assist in the planning, development, and marketing of our internal suite of products and offers. Prior to Diablo Media, Kent was the Associate Vice President of a private oil and gas firm where he was responsible for raising venture capital, funding multi-million dollar drilling projects, and maintaining client relationships.

Kent has a Bachelor's degree in Digital Cartography from George Mason University. When out of the office Kent is either enjoying the Colorado back country, traveling or spending time with friends and family. His toys are important to him, if it has an engine he is interested and probably has one, for any season.