Randy Thieben serves as the owner of Central Coast Uplink, a mobile satellite uplink and downlink operation centrally located on the California coast at Pebble Beach. In addition to owning the company, Thieben is the main truck operator and crew leader.

At Randall Thieben’s company, the truck holds a host of state-of-the-art facilities, including a full suite of satellite electronics, electronic news gathering (ENG) microwave equipment, and a power station more than sufficient to operate all the components. It has extremely powerful Wi-Fi capabilities and the interior is equipped with a comprehensive editing station that permits Thieben to produce and edit video, then upload it to a client within a matter of minutes. In his leisure time, he uses the van to send radio signals into deep space.

Pursing a successful career, Randy Thieben possesses a series of milestones, each one seemingly designed to provide him with more experience or training, all leading to the point where he could own his own video production company, complete with a satellite uplink truck. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Art Photography from Humboldt State University in 1985, Thieben earned his BA in Photojournalism from Arizona State University in 1990. Prior to graduating, he was actively involved in photography, working for various periodicals that published his news and feature photography. His website at VideoStorytelling.com includes samples from his photojournalism portfolio.

Randall Thieben’s video work commenced shortly after his studies, when he worked full-time for a television station in New Mexico, starting as a camera operator, truck operator and editor before becoming one of the station’s bureau chiefs. He followed the television work with a full-time role with the state of New Mexico, where he held responsibility for all aspects of video and CD production as an Information Specialist. Randall Thieben also served as a Visual Storyteller for Migrant Media Productions in Santa Cruz. He has maintained the relationship with this award-winning producer of documentary and instructional videos virtually constantly since 1995. He is currently the lead storyteller for a teacher-oriented program being produced for the University of California’s Santa Cruz campus.

While Randy Thieben focuses on his professional pursuits, he rounds out his life with leisure activities such as disk golf, swimming, and downhill skiing. Thieben is a strong supporter of children-oriented charities and programs like the Frostig Center in Pasadena, California, and the Big Brothers and Big Sisters programs.