Kyler “Ktad” Tandal is an accomplished broadcast engineering professional, production executive, entrepreneur, and operational strategist with more than a decade of experience spanning technology, digital media, esports, live broadcasting, and event production. Recognized for his ability to combine technical innovation with practical business leadership, Kyler has built a career transforming complex production challenges into efficient, scalable, and results-driven operations. His professional philosophy centers on objective decision-making, organizational accountability, and continuous improvement. With a strong foundation in production finance, workflow optimization, technology integration, and team development, he brings a distinctive combination of creative insight and analytical discipline to leadership environments across the technology, media, and healthcare sectors.
Currently serving as Senior Broadcast Engineer at ʻŌlelo Community Media in Honolulu, Hawaii, Kyler continues to advance his expertise in broadcast technology, technical infrastructure, and production systems. Since joining the organization in October 2025, he has brought extensive experience in live broadcasting, engineering, and operational management to an organization dedicated to community media and accessible communication. His background enables him to approach technical operations with a comprehensive understanding of both the engineering requirements and the organizational processes necessary to support reliable media production. Through his work, Kyler remains committed to strengthening operational capabilities, identifying opportunities for technological advancement, and supporting systems that enable teams to deliver consistent, high-quality results.
Before joining ʻŌlelo Community Media, Kyler held significant leadership responsibilities with Collegiate Sports Management Group (CSMG) and its esports division, EsportsU, from January 2022 through September 2025. Serving in production and studio operations leadership, including as Head of Studio Operations for EsportsU and Digital Programming Manager for CSMG, he played a central role in developing and overseeing esports-focused broadcasting infrastructure. His responsibilities included establishing production environments, coordinating staffing, managing studio operations, and supporting collegiate esports programming. This experience strengthened his capabilities in organizational design, resource allocation, operational planning, and cross-functional collaboration. By balancing the technical demands of live productions with business priorities, Kyler demonstrated the importance of disciplined execution and adaptable leadership in a rapidly evolving digital entertainment industry.
One of Kyler’s notable accomplishments during his tenure with EsportsU was producing and directing the CECC May Madness event, the largest multi-conference, multi-title collegiate esports LAN Event in North America. Managing large-scale live production requires precise coordination among technical personnel, creative teams, event organizers, and broadcast stakeholders. Kyler’s involvement reflected his ability to navigate high-pressure environments while maintaining a focus on production quality, operational efficiency, and collaborative execution. His experience managing complex esports broadcasts also reinforced his understanding of how effective organizational structures, clearly defined workflows, and responsible budgeting contribute to successful outcomes. These capabilities extend beyond entertainment production and are applicable to organizations seeking to improve productivity, manage resources, and scale their operations.
Kyler’s entrepreneurial journey represents another defining dimension of his professional development. As the founder of EMP Live Designs, established in 2019 in Honolulu, he created a specialized production company focused on esports broadcasting and live event services in Hawaii. Through this venture, he has provided production capabilities for events ranging from local conventions to scholastic esports competitions. Building a business in a technically demanding industry has given Kyler firsthand experience with the challenges of entrepreneurship, including operational planning, service delivery, financial oversight, client expectations, and sustainable growth. His entrepreneurial perspective allows him to evaluate organizational decisions from both a leadership and ownership standpoint, understanding that innovation must be supported by disciplined financial management and efficient execution.
Throughout his career, Kyler has contributed to prominent national and international productions that demonstrate his technical versatility and ability to perform in demanding environments. In September 2024, he worked as an independent contractor with OS Studios for the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championships, serving as a vMix integrator and side-stream producer. His responsibilities included developing a customized vMix production package, overseeing its on-site integration, and producing the Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links side stream. In January 2025, he further expanded his experience as a remote control room producer and engineer for the United States Presidential Inauguration, working with Amagi Media. In that capacity, he supported remote production operations and the technical management of cloud-based vMix systems. These assignments highlight his adaptability, technical judgment, and capacity to manage sophisticated broadcast workflows across diverse production environments.
Earlier in his career, Kyler served as a producer for the Risen Esports Champions League from November 2020 through January 2022. During this period, he contributed to competitive esports broadcasting, including production for an early Tier 2 tournament within Riot Games’ restructured Proving Grounds circuit. This experience further developed his knowledge of live event coordination, broadcast execution, production scheduling, and competitive gaming audiences. Across his broader broadcasting career, Kyler has accumulated approximately 4,000 hours of on-air broadcast production experience and1,000 hours as an on-air commentator. This combination of behind-the-scenes production leadership and on-camera communication provides him with an unusually comprehensive perspective on media operations, audience engagement, and the relationship between technical execution and the viewer experience.
Kyler’s technical expertise encompasses a broad range of broadcasting platforms and production technologies, including vMix, Adobe Suite, OBS, , NDI tools, Bitfocus Companion, Central Control, and TriCaster systems. He also holds Dante Level 1 and Level 2 certifications from Audinate, further demonstrating his commitment to professional development and technical proficiency in networked audio systems. Beyond individual technologies, his greatest strength lies in understanding how people, processes, equipment, and financial resources must function together to achieve organizational objectives. His experience in workflow analysis, production budgeting, operational efficiency, and performance evaluation allows him to identify inefficiencies, recommend improvements, and develop practical strategies that support measurable results.
In addition to his operational accomplishments, Kyler has demonstrated a commitment to industry education, professional dialogue, and knowledge sharing. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, he participated in speaking engagements at the University of Southern California and the University of Hawaii, discussing topics related to broadcasting, media production, and the evolving production landscape. These engagements provided opportunities to share practical industry knowledge with students and emerging professionals while contributing to broader conversations about technical careers and media innovation. His professional background also includes recognition associated with event production excellence, including Tempest Awards recognition referenced for 2023 and 2024. Together, these experiences reflect his engagement with the professional community and his interest in advancing the next generation of production and technology leaders.
A defining characteristic of Kyler’s leadership approach is his emphasis on facts, measurable performance, and sound judgment. He believes that effective leaders must be capable of separating personal emotions and external pressures from the information necessary to make responsible decisions. Rather than focusing solely on identifying problems, Kyler seeks to understand their underlying causes, assess their operational and financial implications, and develop actionable plans for improvement. His approach combines analytical reasoning with practical execution, ensuring that recommendations are grounded in organizational realities. Whether evaluating production workflows, allocating budgets, reviewing team structures, or assessing technology investments, he prioritizes clarity, accountability, and sustainable outcomes.
Kyler’s interest in serving on corporate boards and advisory committees is rooted in both professional ambition and a genuine desire to contribute to the success of others. Having navigated the challenges of building a business, managing technical teams, and advancing within competitive industries, he recognizes the value of experienced guidance and informed strategic oversight. He is particularly motivated to help entrepreneurs and emerging leaders avoid obstacles similar to those he encountered earlier in his career. By sharing lessons learned through firsthand experience, he hopes to support organizations in making stronger decisions, developing more effective operating models, and building resilient leadership structures. He views board service as an opportunity to expand his professional network while creating meaningful value for the organizations and individuals he advises.
With primary interests in technology, media, and healthcare, Kyler brings transferable expertise in digital infrastructure, operational governance, production finance, organizational efficiency, and strategic problem-solving. His experience is particularly relevant to companies navigating technological transformation, expanding digital communication capabilities, strengthening internal processes, or seeking more effective resource management. While his direct professional background is concentrated in media technology and live production, his analytical approach and operational leadership provide a foundation for contributing to strategic discussions across adjacent industries. He understands that successful organizations must continually evaluate how their systems, people, and investments support long-term objectives, and he approaches these considerations with a balanced perspective that values innovation alongside financial and operational responsibility.
As Kyler looks toward the next chapter of his professional journey, he remains focused on leveraging his technical knowledge, entrepreneurial experience, and leadership perspective to create lasting organizational impact. His career reflects a consistent willingness to embrace emerging technologies, accept complex challenges, and pursue practical improvements in the way organizations operate. More importantly, his commitment to mentorship, objective analysis, and collaborative problem-solving underscores his belief that leadership is measured not only by individual accomplishments but also by the opportunities and improvements created for others. Whether contributing as an executive, entrepreneur, technical specialist, or prospective board advisor, Kyler Tandal strives to turn complex challenges into clear strategies, efficient operations, and meaningful progress.
Character:
Kyler Tandal demonstrates integrity, accountability, and a genuine commitment to helping others succeed through the lessons he has gained throughout his professional journey. His leadership philosophy emphasizes fairness, objectivity, and the importance of making responsible decisions grounded in facts rather than emotion or external influence.
Knowledge:
With more than a decade of experience in broadcasting, technology integration, production management, and entrepreneurship, Kyler possesses extensive practical knowledge of complex technical and operational environments. His expertise in workflow optimization, production finance, organizational structure, and digital media enables him to evaluate business challenges from multiple perspectives and recommend effective solutions.
Strategic:
Kyler approaches organizational challenges through analytical evaluation, operational assessment, and the development of actionable improvement plans. His experience establishing production infrastructure, managing teams, and overseeing technically demanding projects equips him to contribute valuable perspectives on resource allocation, organizational efficiency, technology investments, and sustainable growth.
Communication:
Combining executive-level operational communication with extensive experience as a broadcast producer, on-air commentator, host, and university speaker. His ability to translate technical concepts into understandable insights, collaborate across diverse teams, and provide constructive feedback supports informed decision-making and effective stakeholder engagement.
