Sam Craig Joins Advanced Systems Group as Vice President of Cloud Production Engineering

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Sam Craig Joins Advanced Systems Group as Vice President of Cloud Production Engineering

Industry Veteran to Manage VPCR Development and Lead Engineering Efforts within Cloud-Based Live Production Team

EMERYVILLE, CALIF., March 17, 2023 – Advanced Systems Group, LLC (ASG), a technology and services provider for media creatives and content owners, announced that Sam Craig has joined the company as Vice President of Cloud Production Engineering. Craig will be part of ASG’s cloud-based live production division, reporting to Chief Cloud Officer Claudia Souza. Craig comes to ASG with a successful track record leading collaborative teams to ensure the proper translation of engineering technicalities into a smooth, operational workflow.

Sam Craig

In his new role, Craig is responsible for managing an internal DevOps group that modifies and deploys ASG’s VPCR (Virtual Production Control Room) systems. He will also spearhead engineering and testing of cloud-based systems and coordinate with the ASG on-premise systems integration team in the creation of hybrid systems.

Craig comes to ASG from Grass Valley where he spent seven years, most recently as the Vice President of Global Pre-Sales. In that position, Craig led the global technical sales function of the company. During his tenure, Grass Valley deployed large-scale ST2110 routing infrastructures and end-to-end production workflows that leveraged the GV AMPP (Agile Media Processing Platform) cloud-native platform.

Craig joined the Grass Valley-acquired predecessor, Snell Advanced Media, as an Infrastructure Systems Architect, tasked with global systems designs and deployments of routing and control systems. Before that, he was an Engineering Supervisor at FOX Networks’ Engineering & Operations.

“Sam is the perfect addition to our cloud operations team,” said Dave Van Hoy, ASG President. “He is a proven leader that can motivate and manage teams across various functions for success. He’s led many large-scale solutions architecture initiatives in the media and entertainment industry with great results. He’ll be an asset not only to our cloud team but to all of ASG.”

Craig looks forward to bringing his talents to the ASG team: “ASG has been the leader in evolving cloud live production technologies, and I am absolutely thrilled to join an amazing team in designing multi-vendor solutions to solve the most pressing end-user challenges.”

Based in the Houston area, Craig can be reached at scraig@asgllc.com

About ASG:

Advanced Systems Group, LLC enables creativity through better technology and operations for media creatives and content owners. From acquisition to post-production to delivery, whether on premises or in the cloud, ASG’s goal is to ensure customer success through tailored solutions that create optimal outcomes. One of the largest Media and Entertainment Technology and Operations suppliers in North America, ASG provides engineering services, physical and cloud integration, training, and support. ASG’s unique Virtual Production Control Room allows clients to operate their live event control room in the cloud. ASG’s Managed Services delivers customized operations and managed services for all phases of media production, including creative and engineering. Founded in 1997, and providing nationwide services, ASG has teams based in Northern California, Los Angeles, the New York Tri-State Area, the Southeastern US, and the Rocky Mountain Region. Find your solution at www.asgllc.com.

ASG Wins OpenDrives Top Growth Partner 2022 

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ASG Wins OpenDrives Top Growth Partner 2022 

EMERYVILLE, CALIF., February 16, 2022 – Advanced Systems Group, LLC (ASG), a technology and services provider for media creatives and content owners, has been honored as OpenDrives 2022 Top Growth Partner in North America. OpenDrives is a global provider of enterprise-grade, hyper-scalable network-attached-storage (NAS) solutions designed to handle data-heavy workflows. 

“ASG deserves to be our Growth Partner of the Year,” said Joe Healy, Vice President of Sales, OpenDrives. “Their ‘customer first’ reputation earns them a seat at the table of many of the best companies in the world. We are proud to have them represent OpenDrives where we can enhance that reputation with our compelling offering. We appreciate the entire ASG organization’s increasing commitment and partnership to OpenDrive’s business.”

Dave Van Hoy, President of ASG, reflected on the companies’ mutually beneficial alliance: “The flexibility and performance of OpenDrives NAS solutions are highly valued by our clients. We’re honored to receive this award from OpenDrives. Based on our relationship thus far, we foresee a thriving partnership well into the future.”

Andy Darcy, one of ASG’s regional Chief Technology Officers, explained the reasons behind ASG’s success with the OpenDrives’ line. “OpenDrives’ ecosystem for data storage and management solves a wide range of our customers’ needs for industries ranging from media and entertainment to healthcare and education,” said Darcy. “Plus, the OpenDrives team is also a pleasure to work with. We’re thrilled to continue our relationship and look forward to working with them on many exciting projects to come.”

About OpenDrives

OpenDrives, Inc. is a global provider of enterprise-grade, hyper-scalable software-led storage solutions. Founded in 2011 by media and entertainment post-production professionals, OpenDrives is built for the most demanding and complex workflows, from Hollywood to healthcare, and businesses large and small. Powered by an open ecosystem, with the Atlas software at its core, OpenDrives delivers flexible, modular and scalable solutions that match individual performance needs, on-premises and into the cloud. OpenDrives is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA. To learn more about OpenDrives, visit opendrives.com.

About ASG:

Advanced Systems Group, LLC enables creativity through better technology and operations for media creatives and content owners. From acquisition to post-production to delivery, whether on premises or in the cloud, ASG’s goal is to ensure customer success through tailored solutions that create optimal outcomes. One of the largest Media and Entertainment Technology and Operations suppliers in North America, ASG provides engineering services, physical and cloud integration, training, and support. ASG’s unique Virtual Production Control Room allows clients to operate their live event control room in the cloud. ASG’s Managed Services delivers customized operations and managed services for all phases of media production, including creative and engineering. Founded in 1997, and providing nationwide services, ASG has teams based in Northern California, Los Angeles, the New York Tri-State Area, the Southeastern US, and the Rocky Mountain Region. Find your solution at www.asgllc.com.

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Jan Mitsumori Joins Growing Advanced Systems Group Team as Inside Sales Rep

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Jan Mitsumori Joins Growing Advanced Systems Group Team as Inside Sales Rep

Seasoned Pro Mitsumori Comes to ASG with Considerable Media Workflow Experience

EMERYVILLE, CALIF., February 7, 2023 – Advanced Systems Group, LLC (ASG), a technology and services provider for media creatives and content owners, has added Jan Mitsumori as an Inside Sales Representative to its growing U.S.-based team.

“Jan will be a tremendous asset to our sales team,” said Dave Van Hoy, ASG President. “Her knowledge of media workflows and her work ethic are just what we need, we are lucky to have Jan join ASG at this dynamic time in our company’s journey. Personally, I look forward to working with and learning from Jan.”

Jan Mitsumori

Mitsumori comes to ASG with a strong background in media workflow and business development, with a specific focus on digital and media asset management. She’s been involved in almost every facet of the media industry, from production, professional services, asset management, workflow analysis, outside sales, VAR, and is a frequent panel speaker on the benefits of a media workflow in the cloud. Most recently, Mitsumori was a business development specialist with Workflow Intelligence Nexus. Prior to that, she was Vice President of Media and Entertainment Sales for StorExcel and has held similar positions in IT workflow sales and support with Avid, MelroseMAC, and WAM!NET.

As an inside sales representative, she will support the outside sales force with thorough information that provides a deep understanding of customer and market needs. “Given my background, I can appreciate what the outside sales team expects from their internal support team, and I’m happy to deliver,” said Mitsumori. “I’m looking forward to being a part of and learning from the ASG team. It’s what brought me here – my desire to join this brilliant community at the center of the media technology universe. It’s a privilege to be part of this family.”

Based in the greater Los Angeles area, Jan can be reached at jmitsumori@asgllc.com

About ASG:

Advanced Systems Group, LLC enables creativity through better technology and operations for media creatives and content owners. From acquisition to post-production to delivery, whether on premises or in cloud, ASG’s goal is to ensure customer success through tailored solutions that create optimal outcomes. One of the largest Media and Entertainment Technology and Operations suppliers in North America, ASG provides engineering services, physical and cloud integration, training, and support. ASG’s unique Virtual Production Control Room allows clients to operate their live event control room in the cloud. ASG’s Managed Services delivers customized operations and managed services for all phases of media production, including creative and engineering. Founded in 1997, and providing nationwide services, ASG has teams based in Northern California, Los Angeles, the New York Tri-State Area, the Southeastern US, and the Rocky Mountain Region. Find your solution at www.asgllc.com.

Amy Lounsbury Joins ASG as Marketing Director Across All Business Units

Amy Lounsbury Joins ASG as Marketing Director Across All Business Units

EMERYVILLE, CALIF., January 31, 2023 – Advanced Systems Group, LLC (ASG), a technology and services provider for media creatives and content owners, has named Amy Lounsbury as Director of Marketing. In this role, she is responsible for corporate, global, and field marketing across all ASG business units. 

Previously Director of Marketing at systems integrator CHESA, Lounsbury began her industry career in home media 16 years ago during the transition from DVD to streaming and VOD. As a result, she became integrally involved in the education needed for sophisticated asset management and workflow automation. She helped launch digital asset management conferences in Los Angeles, New York, and Amsterdam; post-production master classes in Burbank and New York City; and RED Cinema’s REDucation. 

It’s that desire to educate that drove Lounsbury’s move to ASG. “I’m a believer in constant learning which is essential in one of the fastest-changing roles today – marketing. I’m looking forward to helping create more market awareness for ASG, using the latest tools.  ASG is a great place to be, and I’m thrilled to join the team.”

Amy Lounsbury

“Amy’s experience in media and entertainment technology is extensive, and her marketing skills go far beyond most others in our field,” said Dave Van Hoy, President, ASG. “We’re fortunate that we can look to her expertise as we enhance our outreach on behalf of all ASG teams. I’m excited to see how Amy will help us uplevel our marketing and customer communications”.

Amy is based in Los Angeles and can be reached at alounsbury@asgllc.com

About ASG:
Advanced Systems Group, LLC enables creativity through better technology and operations for media creatives and content owners. From acquisition to post-production to delivery, whether on premises or in cloud, ASG’s goal is to ensure customer success through tailored solutions that create optimal outcomes. One of the largest Media and Entertainment Technology and Operations suppliers in North America, ASG provides engineering services, physical and cloud integration, training, and support. ASG’s unique Virtual Production Control Room allows clients to operate their live event control room in the cloud. ASG’s Managed Services delivers customized operations and managed services for all phases of media production, including creative and engineering. Founded in 1997, and providing nationwide services, ASG has teams based in Northern California, Los Angeles, the New York Tri-State Area, the Southeastern US, and the Rocky Mountain Region. Find your solution at www.asgllc.com.

ASG Adds Seasoned Pro George Haile as Director of Strategic Accounts

ASG Adds Seasoned Pro George Haile as Director of Strategic Accounts

Haile has Won Multiple Awards, Including a Sony Samurai and an Engineering Emmy

EMERYVILLE, CALIF., January 4, 2022 – Advanced Systems Group, LLC (ASG), a technology and services provider for media creatives and content owners, has added industry veteran George Haile. As a Director of Strategic Accounts he will support ASG’s business growth in all sectors across the U.S. 

“We’ve experienced significant growth the last few years, led by our recent initiatives like cloud and growth in our managed services,” said Dave Van Hoy, ASG President. “George has impeccable credentials from his time at some of the industry’s top vendors, and we are grateful to have someone with his technical and customer relationship skills in a leading role at ASG. His talents will serve as well as we head into what looks to be a very promising 2023.”

ASG Director of Strategic Accounts George Haile

As a Director of Strategic Accounts, Haile will lead business development across all of the ASG  lines of business in Southern California and select global accounts, providing high-profile clients with complete solutions featuring best-in-class technology, products, technical and managed services. A 30-year broadcast industry veteran and Howard University graduate, Haile has held regional, national, and global sales roles in addition to managing sales teams and product lines. Haile has held high-level positions at Grass Valley, Sony Broadcast, Dolby Laboratories, and TVU Networks. He’s received numerous sales awards, including the Sony Samurai for outstanding sales achievement. While working for Dolby, he also received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Engineering Development from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. 

“I look forward to growing personally and professionally with ASG,” said Haile. “I am passionate about providing clients with new technologies and workflows working with ASG teams in sales, systems integration, managed services, and cloud technology. ASG provides a complete experience for the customer and is staffed by some of the best people in the industry.”

Based in Los Angeles, Haile can be reached at ghaile@asgllc.com 

About ASG:

Advanced Systems Group, LLC enables creativity through better technology and operations for media creatives and content owners. From acquisition to post-production to delivery, whether on premises or in cloud, ASG’s goal is to ensure customer success through tailored solutions that create optimal outcomes. One of the largest Media and Entertainment Technology and Operations suppliers in North America, ASG provides engineering services, physical and cloud integration, training, and support. ASG’s unique Virtual Production Control Room allows clients to operate their live event control room in the cloud. ASG’s Managed Services delivers customized operations and managed services for all phases of media production, including creative and engineering. Founded in 1997, and providing nationwide services, ASG has teams based in Northern California, Los Angeles, the New York Tri-State Area, the Southeastern US, and the Rocky Mountain Region. Find your solution at www.asgllc.com.

ASG Leads Audio Refresh at Renowned Bay Area Jazz Club Yoshi’s

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ASG Leads Audio Refresh at Renowned Bay Area Jazz Club Yoshi's

Collaboration with Waveworks, Meyer Sound and Predictive Audio Design Tools Contribute to Timely Upgrade

EMERYVILLE, CALIF., December 28, 2023 – Advanced Systems Group, LLC (ASG), a solutions provider for media creatives and content owners, completed a refresh of the 25-year-old sound system at the renowned Yoshi’s jazz club in Oakland, CA in record time, hastened by close collaborations with Bay Area firms and predictive audio design tools. 

The previous Meyer Sound system had served Yoshi’s well for 25 years, but typical signs of aging combined with a demand for punchier low frequency content made it time for an upgrade. “The old system held up remarkably well,” said Marcel Quiroz, Yoshi’s production manager. “But a few things were starting to go out, and over the years there had been changes in the loudspeaker processing, with various things thrown in randomly. My biggest struggle was with the low-end, where R&B acts would push the subs so hard that by the end we would sometimes get a rattle out of the boxes.” 

Photos by Steve Jennings

ASG Audio Team and Key Account Manager Tom Menrath took the lead for ASG, with design services specialist Joe Mistretta on board for Meyer Sound. Mistretta pointed to Meyer’s MAPP 3D program – a design tool that delivers predictions of sound energy distribution in a three-dimensional sound field – as a critical element in the Yoshi’s audio renovation. “Yoshi’s is an asymmetrical, pie-shaped room,” said Mistretta. “The acoustics are quite good, but the coverage is tricky. MAPP 3D really showed us how to improve uniformity, both up close and in the back corners.”

Menrath confirmed the importance of the sound design software: “Using the design tools and replacing the kludge of old processing with Galaxy units, made a huge difference. It also helped to bring the new system online quickly, which was a crucial consideration.”  Working with trusted install partner Brad Katz of the Oakland-based Waveworks was another big asset in speeding the turnaround time on Yoshi’s audio reno.

Photos by Steve Jennings

“Down time is expensive for Yoshi’s as it costs not only the performance venue but the foundational restaurant business,” said Menrath, “so it was vital to get the new system up and running as fast as possible. Working with Brad at Waveworks, we were able to get the old system out, the new one installed, tuned and back in action within nine days.”

As a passionate music fan, Menrath found this project particularly rewarding: “We do a lot of major projects with Meyer Sound, but Yoshi’s has been particularly satisfying. This new system with the most advanced loudspeaker technologies is a stunning upgrade, and the artists who perform at Yoshi’s certainly deserve nothing but the best the industry can offer.”

Among the first to hear the new system were two of Yoshi’s founders and owners, namesake Yoshie Akiba and Kaz Kazamura.  “When I turned it on, it literally brought tears to their eyes,” recalled Quiroz.  “They had never heard this room sound so good.”

Photos by Steve Jennings

It’s a sentiment echoed by Yoshi’s discriminating visitors, said Quiroz: “Every artist that has come in here has been blown away. Haley Reinhart’s engineer told me it was the best house system he’d ever heard, and the engineer for Dave Weckl said that hands down we now have the best-sounding room in the Bay Area. After his set, Freddy Jackson came up, gave me a hug, and said, ‘Thank you!’”

The new Yoshi’s Meyer Sound system comprises two UPQ-D1 wide coverage and two UPQ-D2 narrow coverage full-size loudspeakers for the mains, supplemented by three ULTRA-X20 compact wide coverage loudspeakers for downfill and seven UP-4slim ultra-compact installation loudspeakers for front fill. Ample power for contemporary R&B acts is now available through four 900-LFC low frequency control elements, mounted in pairs on the walls.  A GALAXY 816 network platform provides system drive and optimization, while artist foldback has been upgraded with addition of 10MJF-208 and two MJF-210 stage monitors.

For a more in-depth peek inside Yoshi’s redesign, please check out this feature story in Front of House magazine. 

Photos by Steve Jennings

About ASG:

Advanced Systems Group, LLC enables creativity through better technology for media creatives and content owners. From acquisition to post-production to delivery, whether on premises or in cloud, ASG’s goal is to ensure customer success through tailored solutions that create optimal workflows. One of the largest Systems Integrators in North America, ASG provides engineering services, physical and cloud integration, training, and support. ASG’s Virtual Production Control Room allows clients to operate their live event control room in the cloud. ASG’s Managed Services delivers customized staffing solutions for all phases of media production, including creative and engineering. Based in Northern California since 1997, ASG also has teams in Los Angeles, the New York Tri-State Area, the Southeastern US, and the Rocky Mountain Region to provide nationwide services. Find your solution at www.asgllc.com.

Advanced Systems Group Named in Systems Contractor News Magazine’s Top 50 Integration Firms

Advanced Systems Group Named in Systems Contractor News Magazine's Top 50 Integration Firms

ASG was named as one of the top 50 integration firms in pro AV by Systems Contractor News magazine, moving up to #14 from #16 last year. The ranking is based upon a company’s revenue for commercial AV system design and installation as well as its total revenue for the current year.

Noted by SCN editor Mark J. Pescatore, “The Pro AV industry is getting back to normal—though many would say it is a new normal resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenging environment, integrators have been able to survive and even thrive by supporting the booming live event industry, meeting the technological demands of a growing hybrid workforce, and more.”

For more detail, please read the full report.

ASG Hires John Small as Solutions Engineer

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ASG Hires John Small as Solutions Engineer

Small Joins ASG with Extensive Technical Background and Customer Perspective

EMERYVILLE, CALIF., September 29, 2022 – Advanced Systems Group (ASG), a solutions provider for media creatives and content owners, announced the appointment of John Small as a Solutions Engineer. Small joins ASG from Quantum where he served as a Pre-Sales Engineer. Previous to his work with Quantum, Small spent 16 years in technical roles at CBS where he was most recently Director of Technical Operations and On-Air Promotions.

At ASG, Small is responsible for providing technical expertise on infrastructure and workflows to clients in Los Angeles and the surrounding area. In his role, he’ll work closely with client management and technical engineering teams to identify issues and find the most efficient solutions for their media production environments.

While at CBS, Small was responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of 70 Avid Media Composer NLEs and finishing bays, ProTools audio bays and graphics workstations, as well as the management of captioning services, publicity shoots and upfront presentations.

“John’s technical knowledge and expertise in the LA media and entertainment industry is as deep as you can get,” said Dave Van Hoy, President, ASG. “He’s had several notable achievements and worked in every role you can imagine – from engineering to installation and configuration, environmental design, data center design and implementation, to project management. He’s built render farms from scraps and was part of the remastering team on the original Star Trek series. During his time as an ASG client, John was always a pleasure to work with. We’re thrilled to have his talents as part of our team.”

Small’s relationships with current ASG personnel makes the transition from his long stint at CBS far easier. “I’ve already worked with most of the ASG team in Los Angeles,” Small said. “As a customer I knew I could always count on them to come through with whatever we needed. I look forward to adding my unique experiences, problem solving skills, and overall positive attitude toward generating customer success.”

Small will be based in the Los Angeles area. He can be reached via email at: jsmall@asgllc.com

About ASG:
Advanced Systems Group, LLC enables creativity through better technology for media creatives and content owners. From acquisition to post-production to delivery, whether on premises or in cloud, ASG’s goal is to ensure customer success through tailored solutions that create optimal workflows. One of the largest Systems Integrators in North America, ASG provides engineering services, physical and cloud integration, training, and support. ASG’s Virtual Production Control Room allows clients to operate their live event control room in the cloud. ASG’s Managed Services delivers customized staffing solutions for all phases of media production, including creative and engineering. Based in Northern California since 1997, ASG has teams in Los Angeles, the New York Tri-State Area, and the Rocky Mountain Region to provide nationwide services. Find your solution at www.asgllc.com.

Andrea Thomas Q&A

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Andrea Thomas Q&A

We recently had the pleasure of interviewing Andrea Thomas, Client Account Manager with Advanced Systems Group (ASG) – Managed Services group. Her extensive consulting and recruiting experience support the growing staffing and service needs of ASG’s media and entertainment clients. As Client Account Manager, Andrea helps to maintain relationships with existing accounts and assists new clients through the entire onboarding process. Her role closely aligns with the Managed Services group’s mission to facilitate each client’s specific business challenges from building a production studio, planning and executing a live, in-person or remote event, or providing creative support on a project-to-project basis. In this interview, we get to dig a little deeper into Andrea’s position at ASG, her background, and learn a little something most of us do not know about her! Andrea considers herself a partner of ASG’s clients, supporting their own development and requirements while helping drive ASG’s growth in the Managed Services realm.

Q1:  Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your background

My career spans both the recruiting and consulting worlds across several industries including Cloud AI, healthcare, clean technology, and media & entertainment, among others. I have always found satisfaction in assisting companies around the globe find the pain points, isolate their challenges, and then helping them build successful teams through recruitment, streamlining and developing solutions, or other tactics.

Q2: Please give us more insight into your role at ASG

I joined ASG three years ago initially in a recruiting role, which quite quickly shifted to something more expansive covering multiple roles within the company. With the rapid growth of ASG’s Managed Services division and the demand for our services, we started wearing multiple hats to meet this demand. We now have more recruitment, finance, account management and resource teams in place to support this growth. Based in the Bay Area in California, my role is now to manage new customer accounts around the world, building and managing core relationships with our existing clients, and bridging gaps with our clients’ staffing, resource and even technology needs. This partnership also includes making sure our clients are aware of all the professional managed services we offer; regardless of whether they’re looking for short or long-term staffing, ad-hoc project based or flexible workforce models. I really like to present myself as a partner to our clients, connecting them to all aspects of the ASG business.

Q3: Can you please offer your thoughts (and predictions if you will) on industry shifts and trends in the coming years?

We are currently seeing an influx of activity as our clients prepare budgets for the coming year and beyond. As our clients ramp up their projects, decide on their staffing and team needs, and work on the various stages of new buildouts of production studios and other facilities, we are simultaneously ramping up our teams in preparation for this demand trend. In some cases, we’re expecting even more activity than pre-pandemic times, partly driven by the fact that clients can now see what else is possible with remote environments and remote production.

Q4: Let’s get a little more personal now if we may; please tell us something most people don’t know about you

I have a great love of dance, which I am incredibly passionate about. I am really fortunate to have enjoyed a variety of dance experiences performing with local artists such as Manuel Romero and Xavier Toscano, or back-up dancing for American rappers, e40 and Snoop Dogg, and dancing in performances for our local Filipino channel. I’ve been dancing for most of my life – and still do – across all styles and have been part of a competitive hip-hop team for over ten years. Dancing is truly my creative outlet.

ASG President Discusses How To Use The Cloud To Deliver SaaS Solutions

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ASG President Discusses How To Use The Cloud To Deliver SaaS Solutions

Dave Van Hoy explores software as a service as both a technology model and an economic model – and how systems contractors can survive and thrive as more organizations embrace SaaS – in his latest column for Systems Contractor News.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL ARTICLE