JJ Parker

JJ Parker is a media technology entrepreneur and co-founder of Tightrope Media Systems, the Minneapolis-based company behind Cablecast Community Media and Carousel Digital Signage. Founded by Parker and Andrew Starks in 1996, Tightrope helped pioneer web-centric broadcast automation and digital signage systems, beginning with tools for schools and later building Cablecast to help PEG stations manage scheduling, playback, video servers, streaming, and local channel operations more efficiently.

JJ continues to serve as CEO of Tightrope Media Systems and, as of January 2025, stepped into a more active CEO role with Cablecast Community Media while continuing to oversee Tightrope's Cablecast and Carousel businesses. His work has had a lasting practical impact on community media by giving stations with limited staff and resources more reliable tools to stay on the air, manage programming, and serve their communities through changing media technology.