The unveiling of the 2024 AIM/PAR Workplace Diversity Study highlights the annual Diversity Week of gatherings recognizing diversity and inclusion efforts within the media and entertainment industries. 

The week of events begins October 21 with the WICT Network Leadership Conference, followed by the October 22 NAMIC Conference and the October 23 Kaitz Dinner, now under the auspices of the NCTA Educational Foundation (formerly the Walter Kaitz Foundation).

WICT and NAMIC will once again team to offer the latest AIM/PAR Workplace Survey, a biennial report on the current state of ethnic and gender diversity within the media and entertainment industry. Industry executives hope the new survey will surpass the results from the 2022 report, which showed major gains for women in the workforce but a decline in the share of people of color employed compared to 2019. (The 2022 survey was delayed a year due to the pandemic.)

“It’s going to be fascinating to see how the industry fared in terms of women and people of color,” WICT Network president and CEO Maria E. Brennan said. “Depending on what kind of company you keep there’s either a stronger commitment than ever to diversity, or one that looks at DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) as some sort of entitlement program where it personifies the complete misunderstanding of what diversity and inclusion means for everyone across the board.”

NAMIC president Shuanise Washington also hopes this year’s survey will show an improvement. “Those companies who are absolutely committed to diversity see an ROI (return on investment) in terms of better outcomes and better business results, as well as positive work environments and work cultures in those companies,” she said. “Those efforts hopefully will continue to grow despite the tangential conversations that will be taking place to some degree.” 

WICT, NAMIC Set To Gather

The two-day WICT Network Leadership Conference & Touchstones Luncheon kicks off Diversity Week October 21 under the theme “Fuel­ing Your Power and Purpose,” and will focus on the leadership qualities and the importance of fostering an inclusive workforce culture.

The Touchstones Luncheon will honor its 2024 Women of the Year winners Amy Blair, Liberty Global chief people officer; Johnita Due, CNN Worldwide executive VP, integrity and inclusion; and Sandy Howe, ATX Networks board director. The organization will also honor three Women to Watch during the luncheon: Charter Communications head of operations, sales and marketing Julie Unruh; AMC Networks executive VP, linear and streaming products Courtney Thomasma; and Amazon Web Services Global director of solutions architecture for media & entertainment, games and sports Steph Lone. 

MSNBC president Rashida Jones is honorary chair of the NAMIC Conference, set for October 22-23. “We are honored to have Rashida Jones as this year’s honorary chair,” Washington said. “Her leadership and vision are transforming the media landscape, setting new standards for excellence and inclusion.”

Essence Ventures CEO Caroline Wanga will keynote NAMIC’s 38th annual conference. Washington said the conference’s theme, “Diverse Voices! Defining the Future …,” will focus not only on empowering diverse voices not only within the industry, but exploring potential partnerships with tangential companies.

“This year’s conference embodies a pivotal moment of change and progress as we navigate and shape the future of our industry together, ” Washington added. 

“Do Good. Be Better. Impact Tomorrow.” is the theme for the October 23 Kaitz Dinner diversity fundraising event. The dinner is the first since the Walter Kaitz Foundation was fully integrated into the NCTA Education Foundation in May. The NCTA Education Foundation is dedicated to leveraging the industry’s positive impact on communities, NCTA said. 

The NCTA Education Foundation will continue the former Kaitz Foundation’s grant-making programs and support for legacy industry organizations and efforts, according to NCTA. 

The Kaitz Dinner will honor two ChangeMakers “who have made a significant impact and resonance around diversity and inclusion in our industry over the last year,” said the organization. Comcast NBCUniversal is the Ambassador Sponsor, with Charter Communications the Champion Sponsor. 

Last year’s 40th anniversary Kaitz fundraising dinner raised more than $1.1 million toward the media and connectivity industry’s DEI efforts. 

The National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications honored its 2023 Annual Awards recipients during the 37th Annual NAMIC Conference in New York on September 20. This year’s theme — “Our Legacy, A Mosaic of Possibilites” — honored NAMIC’s efforts to empower diversity, equity, access and inclusion in the media, entertainment, and technology industries, as embodied by the recipient of each award.

The event was part of the annual Diversity Week series of events in New York, which also includes the WICT Network Leadership Conference and the Walter Kaitz Foundation Annual Fundraising Dinner. 

Among those honored were the Next Generation Awards winners, NAMIC’s top honor recognizing the best of the best. These four honorees have distinguished themselves as thought leaders, trendsetters and change agents who embody NAMIC’s mission and have actively worked to advance multiethnic diversity by educating, advocating, and empowering people and organizations.

The 2023 Next Generation Leaders are:

• Chara-Lynn Aguiar, Senior VP, Strategy & Office of the Chairman, ESPN
• Catherine Mitchell, Senior VP, Product Development and Management, Cox Communications
• Puru Patnekar, Group VP, Marketing Planning and Operations, Charter Communications
• Valerie Spiller, Senior VP, Production Finance, A+E Networks

The Luminary Awards recognize up-and-coming leaders who show the most potential to become tomorrow’s movers and shakers. They are rising industry figures who demonstrate strong leadership skills and embrace NAMIC’s mission of working to advance multiethnic diversity.

The 2023 Luminaries are:

• Heather Anderson, VP, Programs and Acquisitions, ESPN
• Marcus Best, Senior VP, Allied Multicultural, Allied Global Marketing
• DeAdria Wright Davis, VP, Customer Service, Charter Communications
• Mark Leon Guerrero, VP, Inbound Retention and Sales, Charter Communications
• Ileana Lagares, VP, Multicultural Marketing, HBO and Max, Warner Bros. Discovery
• Kevin Martinez, VP, Corporate Citizenship, ESPN
• LaRawn Robinson, VP, Inside Plant Network Operations, Charter Communications
• Trent Taylor, VP, Market Analysis, Charter Communications

In addition to the Leaders and Luminaries, the awards luncheon recognized the 2023 Diversity in Technology Award winner, Mark Walker, head of sports business development & innovation at ESPN. The Diversity in Technology Award, presented in partnership with the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers and Multichannel News, recognizes a leader of diverse ethnicity or race who has contributed to the advancement of digital innovation, customer experience, connectedness, digital infrastructure, operations, or intelligence in the media, entertainment, and tech industries.

Also recognized at the luncheon was the 2023 Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award winner, José Díaz-Balart, anchor of Noticias Telemundo, MSNBC’s José Díaz Balart Reports and NBC Nightly News Saturday.

For more on this year’s Next Generation Leaders, Luminaries and the Diversity in Technology Award winner, please read the following profiles. 

Next Generation Leaders

Chara-Lynn Aguiar
Senior VP, Strategy and Office of the Chairman
ESPN

In June 2021, Chara-Lynn Aguiar was promoted to her current role at ESPN, and this year she added research to her purview. She oversees integrated strategy efforts across all aspects of ESPN’s business as well as the research department. She serves as an adviser to chairman Jimmy Pitaro and his direct reports to provide insight and manage a wide variety of internal and external relationships. With varied experiences covering measurement, distribution, digital and content strategy, the New York-based Aguiar serves as a key partner across ESPN and The Walt Disney Co. leadership.  

Aguiar began her career at ABC in 2009 as a research analyst before transitioning in 2011 to the global distribution strategy group for Disney & ESPN Media Networks. She then moved to YouTube in 2015, working in content partnerships, and to Fox Sports, where she was VP, strategy and content from October 2015 to February 2018 before returning to ESPN that March.  

A Daly City, California, native, Aguiar graduated from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in economics and international and area studies. 

“I’m truly honored and humbled to have received this award from NAMIC and to be honored with such an esteemed group,” Aguiar said. “I’m very thankful for everything this organization does to advance the incredibly important work of diversity, equity and inclusion within our industry.”

Catherine Mitchell
Senior VP, Product Development and Management
Cox Communications

Catherine Mitchell has earned a reputation as a difference-maker in the telecommunications industry by taking on some of Cox’s toughest challenges and delivering transformation. She leads innovation, development and management across the company’s product portfolio. 

She joined the cable operator in 2000 as VP and general manager of the Roanoke, Virginia, market and continued to support growth and innovation at Cox through operations and product development roles. The course of her career began at companies such as Scientific Atlanta and IBM. 

Mitchell earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Tufts University. She is a WICT Betsy Magness Leadership Institute fellow. She is also a graduate of the NAMIC Executive Leadership Development Program and a 2010 recipient of the NAMIC Luminary Award. She also serves on The Episcopal School of Jacksonville board.

“Being part of the NAMIC community gives a voice and an empowerment to be unapologetically Black,” Mitchell said. “I am privileged to be recognized by this inspiring community of great leaders and friends that have encouraged me throughout the years.”

Puru Patnekar
Group VP, Marketing Planning and Operations
Charter Communications

Puru Patnekar leads a team of marketing and analytics professionals with a focus on customer acquisition and retention. Over the past decade at Charter, he has held leadership posts across financial planning, sales and marketing. In each of these roles, he advocated for business needs while building teams with individuals from diverse backgrounds with multiple skill sets and the ability to work together towards a common goal. 

Patnekar is a champion of Charter’s diversity and inclusion (D&I) strategy. Using a combination of D&I principles and mentorship, many of his team members have seen their aspirations grow and careers develop. He strives to maintain a culture of open communications, rooted in respect and collaboration, that supports the business at the highest level. 

As a first-generation immigrant and now a proud U.S. citizen, Patnekar has been educated and has worked both in India and the U.S. These experiences have been formative in his outlook and leadership attributes. He is an alumnus of the NAMIC Executive Leadership Development Program. 

“To me, diversity and inclusion means everyone has access to opportunities and can contribute at their highest potential,” Patnekar said. “In my association with NAMIC, especially through the Executive Leadership Development Program, I’ve learned that the organization cultivates ambition and passion toward achieving success. Being named a NAMIC Next Generation leader is a tremendous honor and makes me even more aware of my responsibilities to create opportunities for others.”

Valerie Spiller
Senior VP, Production Finance
A+E Networks

Valerie Spiller is responsible for cost management, financial planning, analysis, tax incentives and financial reporting for scripted series and movies of the week for A+E Studios and Lifetime Production. Her responsibilities extend to collaborating with numerous business segments and leaders within A+E Networks, fostering and promoting a culture that includes distinguished brands such as A&E, History Channel, Crime + Investigation, H2, Blaze, Lifetime, LMN, FYI and History.

As a member of the senior management team, Spiller spearheads numerous progressive initiatives, effectively championing A+E's diversity and inclusion directives. These initiatives are consistent with the company’s mission to be a pioneer in the human experience. Among these initiatives are Diversity Behind the Camera, the Diverse Supplier Initiative, and the Multicultural Advisory Council (MAC), where she fervently advocates and sponsors diversity across the company.

“NAMIC has been committed for the past 43 years to empowering diversity in the communications industry and to be recognized with their Next Generation Leaders Award is truly an honor,” Spiller said. “I am humbled, inspired and remain committed to championing inclusion and positive change in the media landscape. Words can’t express my gratitude enough.”

Luminaries

Heather Anderson
VP, Original Content and Business Affairs
ESPN 

Heather Anderson, an entertainment and technology attorney for 25 years, joined ESPN as VP, programming and acquisitions to assist with its sports betting strategy. She was also an ESPN lead for large, multisport opportunities and audience-expansion initiatives, including alternate presentations and programming for the Black Sports Business Symposium. 

Recently, Anderson transitioned to the ESPN content organization to lead business affairs and business operations for the original content team. In her new role, she will assist the creative teams that bring ESPN’s engaging content such as the 30 for 30 and In the Arena series, as well as ESPN Films.

Anderson came to ESPN from the Disney legal department, where she served for more than eight years as a digital media, marketing, production, product and technology attorney. She has been very active in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. 

“I am honored and humbled that an organization as influential as NAMIC supports my efforts to bring visibility and opportunity to supporting multiethnicity in our industry,” she said. “For 35 years, these efforts have been of utmost importance to me. I try to lead by example and leverage my voice in my sphere of influence — and none of that is possible without the reinforcement of organizations completely committed to the cause like NAMIC.”

Marcus Best
Senior VP, Allied Multicultural
Allied Global Marketing

Passionate and persistent are words that describe Marcus Best. Best heads Allied’s targeted division focused on publicity, marketing, digital and social media campaigns for major film studios, broadcast and cable networks as well as streaming platforms. Projects include Hulu's Aftershock, Prime Video’s Swarm, Peacock's Best Man: The Final Chapters, Focus Features’ A Thousand and One, Amazon Studios’ Air and Paramount's Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Before joining Allied, Best worked in the music and cable industry at BET, Warner Records, Interscope, and Fuse TV. Best is actively involved in organizations and contributes annually to youth empowerment in his hometown of Washington D.C.

“I am incredibly honored and grateful to receive this award from NAMIC an organization that I admire so much,” Best said. “Being recognized for something that I am passionate about is a privilege. Thank you for championing me and other individuals who are curating and celebrating the brilliance of the multicultural landscape.“

DeAdria Wright Davis
VP, Customer Service
Charter Communications

DeAdria Wright-Davis is the dynamic VP of customer service operations for Charter’s Charlotte, North Carolina, market. With a rich professional journey spanning more than two decades, she possesses unparalleled expertise in operations, customer service, diversity and inclusion and employee development. Wright-Davis’s remarkable leadership extends across diverse sectors, including cable, telecommunications and finance.

An alumna of Columbia Southern University, she holds an MBA in Project Management. Beyond her corporate prowess, Wright-Davis is a trailblazing entrepreneur and a savvy real estate investor. She serves as a board member for a nonprofit youth Track and Field club in Johnston County, North Carolina, highlighting her commitment to community enrichment.

Amid her many roles, Wright-Davis is a devoted mother of three daughters and relishes quality time with her husband of 22 years. 

"Gratitude swells within me as I accept this incredible honor from NAMIC,” Wright Davis said. “Their unwavering dedication to celebrating diversity and fostering inclusivity mirrors a passion close to my heart. Together, we illuminate the path towards a more equitable industry, empowering voices and transforming lives. Thank you, NAMIC."

Mark Leon Guerrero
VP, Inbound Retention and Sales
Charter Communications

With a career spanning more than 24 years in the telecommunications industry, Mark Leon Guerrero oversees more than 2,000 employees in Charter’s revenue-critical customer retention call centers. He possesses extensive experience in sales strategy and training, business development, process improvement and in leading and mentoring high-performing teams. 

Guerrero is a strong advocate for creating a diverse and inclusive workplace to help bring together the best talent from among the broadest range of people, backgrounds, and perspectives. He currently serves as co-chair of Charter’s Sales, Marketing and Community Solutions D&I Council. Guerrero and his team are committed to driving diversity and inclusion strategy across the organization through inclusive leadership, mentoring, participation in Spectrum’s Business Resource Groups, and more.

He enjoys traveling, cooking, spending time with his family and the San Francisco Giants and 49ers. 

“Receiving the NAMIC Luminary award is truly an honor,” Guerrero said. “It is my goal to leave a legacy that inspires others to continue to advance diversity and inclusion in this industry. Thank you for this recognition of what we can accomplish when we push boundaries — we all have unlimited possibility.”

Ileana Lagares
VP, Multicultural Marketing, HBO and Max
Warner Bros. Discovery

Ileana Lagares is responsible for developing the strategy and execution of marketing campaigns across HBO and Max programming that reach multicultural audiences. For more a decade, Lagares has created high-impact, high-visibility campaigns for such programs as Game of Thrones, Watchmen and Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.

She launched “InsecureFest,” a multiseason activation that captured the zeitgeist for the award-winning HBO original series Insecure. For her campaign for The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, she commissioned the creation of the only existing portrait of Henrietta Lacks, by Kadir Nelson, which was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution and now hangs in the National Portrait Gallery. 

Lagares also leads evergreen marketing initiatives for Black and Asian-American Pacific Islander (AAPI) audiences such as “Scene in Black,” a platform dedicated to authentically engaging Black audiences; and Our “Stories to Tell,” a pop-up activation during Sundance Film Festival that celebrates diverse creators and stories.

“It's an honor to be named a NAMIC Luminary and to be recognized as being a leader in our industry,” Lagares said. “Advocating for multicultural diversity and its importance is personally gratifying and it’s a privilege to create authentic, culture-first work. Congratulations to my fellow Luminaries. I’m grateful for this acknowledgement.”

Kevin Martinez
VP, Corporate Citizenship
ESPN

Kevin Martinez oversees ESPN’s citizenship initiatives, including corporate giving, volunteerism, cause marketing and sustainability. He is responsible for strategic programs that enable both greater access to sports and leadership through sports. 

He leads ESPN’s sponsorship of Special Olympics, which has helped more than 1.8 million athletes, teammates and coaches join the Unified Sports movement.

Martinez and his team have received numerous industry awards, including most recently Engage for Good’s The Golden Halo Award. He is a two-time winner of The Cause Marketing Forum’s highest award, The Halo Award, and has won a Gold CLIO Award, a Telly Award, the U.S. Chamber’s Award for Corporate Citizenship, the Association of Cable Communicators Beacon Award and the 2006 Large Corporation of the Year Award from the Corporation for National Community Service and Points of Light Institute.

A native of ‘Ewa Beach, Hawaii, Martinez graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and advertising.

“Throughout my career I have taken great pride in using the platforms I serve to advance multiethnic diversity — especially during my time at ESPN in our Access to Sports and Empowerment Through Sports programs as DEI is a company priority,” Martinez said. “It is a tremendous honor to have the responsibility to champion strategic CSR and diversity programs, and I am proud to be recognized as a recipient of the Luminary Award as part of the 37th Annual NAMIC Conference.”

LaRawn Robinson
VP, Inside Plant Network Operations
Charter Communications

LaRawn Robinson is responsible for the implementation, augmentation and maintenance of all network components and critical infrastructure in Charter’s New York City market area. His expertise lies in leading corporate development efforts, operational strategies and improvement initiatives to achieve defined goals.

Robinson demonstrates top-flight leadership and management talents while propelling corporate profitability and productivity through dynamic program management and communication. His team partners with network and field operations teams to deliver a world-class customer experience across all products and services in the market area.

Robinson joined Charter in 2019 with extensive technology and telecommunications experience. For more than 20 years, he worked in network and headend engineering at Altice USA and its predecessor company, Cablevision Systems. He’s also active in his community as a volunteer youth coach and mentor. 

Robinson has been happily married for 20-plus years to his high school sweetheart and is the father of three children. 

“As a proud member of ELDP Cohort XXI, I am truly humbled and honored to count myself among those who have been recognized by NAMIC for this honor,” he said. “I am not only honored to continue the mission of NAMIC, I remain motivated to make an impact in our industry that continues to open doors for others. Thank you!”

Trent Taylor
VP, Market Analysis
Charter Communications

Trent Taylor leads Spectrum Enterprise Market Analysis at Charter. His team uses advanced predictive analytics (machine learning) to inform strategic decisions on sales coverage and proactive network expansion, as well as develop targeted marketing lead lists. 

Taylor has a track record of monetizing investments in data and analytics by leading programs across boundary partners to optimize sales and operational execution. 

Prior to joining Charter’s predecessor company, Time Warner Cable, Taylor served as strategic marketing director at XO Communications where he led transformational projects utilizing predictive analytics to reduce churn rates by 1.0 pp. He holds an MBA from The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business and has completed the Management Development Program and NAMIC Executive Leadership Development Program at Darden College of Business (University of Virginia) and the CTAM Executive Management Program at Harvard Business School.

“I am truly honored to be named a NAMIC Luminary in 2023,” Taylor said. “It is humbling to be in the company of current and past recipients of this recognition, given their impressive contributions to the industry and DEI initiatives. This has re-energized me to help others on their journey through mentorship.”

Diversity in Technology Award

Mark Walker
Head of Sports Business Development & Innovation
ESPN

Mark L. Walker joined ESPN in 2019 and leads the sports programmer’s business development center of excellence, with focus on driving sports media innovation in business, products and experiences.

In his role, Walker is responsible for driving ESPN Edge — a collaboration with other technology leaders to enable new ways for fans to experience sports — while leading ESPN’s strategic efforts in the sports betting space.

Walker brings a wealth of experience to the innovation and business development disciplines, having led all of product development, marketing, programming, content and operations for The Walt Disney Co.’s network of digital gateways, social-media presence and content-delivery apps.

Walker earned a JD from Stanford Law School, a masters degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT. Additionally, he served as a member of the Media Arts and Sciences Visiting Committee for the MIT Media Laboratory.

“Winning this award is a testament to ESPN’s unwavering commitment to inclusivity. It’s not just an accolade; it’s a recognition of ESPN’s dedication to shaping a tech industry that embraces diversity,” Walker said. “This award fuels ESPN’s drive to create a world where innovation knows no boundaries.” 

Members of the content and connectivity industries gathered in New York during the week of September 18 for the annual Diversity Week events. The WICT Network’s Leadership Conference, the 37th Annual NAMIC Conference and The Walter Kaitz Foundation’s Annual Fundraising Dinner emphasized the industry’s valuing of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts to stay competitive in an evolving entertainment marketplace. Click on the gallery below for snapshots from all three events.  

NBC News anchor Lester Holt will serve as the headliner fortThe National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications’s 37th annual NAMIC Conference this September in New York. 

Holt, host of NBC’s Nightly News with Lester Holt and Dateline NBC, most recently earned the 2022 Edward R. Murrow Award in the Newscast category. The NAMIC Conference, which takes place September 19-20, looks to promote a shared industry responsibility for diversity, equity, access and inclusion, with attendees learning about best practices, building valuable networks and gaining actionable solutions to advance DEAI within their companies, according to the organization. 

“We are honored to have Lester Holt as the headliner for the 37th annual NAMIC Conference," NAMIC president and CEO A. Shuanise Washington said in a statement. “His remarkable career and dedication to diverse storytelling align perfectly with NAMIC’s mission. We are excited to hear his insights and perspective as we continue to build a more inclusive industry together.”

The NAMIC Conference is part of the cable industry’s September 18-20 Diversity Week festivities in New York, which also includes the WICT Leadership Conference and the Walter Kaitz Foundation Fundraising Dinner.

James Hendricks, a 49-year-old group VP at Charter Communications's Spectrum Reach ad-sales business, died in September while on a visit to the New Jersey Shore, only weeks before he was set to be honored as a Next Generation Leader at the annual NAMIC Conference in New York. At the NAMIC conference on Wednesday, David Kline, the Spectrum Reach president and an executive VP at Charter, said Spectrum Reach was establishing an annual James Hendricks Award "to recognize an employee who exemplifies integrity, tenacity, collaboration and intelligence."

"Simply put, James was an agent of change," Kline said after relating how he and other Charter employees had traveled to a memorial service for Hendricks in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, and learned about non-work aspects of his life, including his devotion to family and community organizations in Ohio and New York. Hendricks had only been at Spectrum Reach for about two years, after working in human resources at ESPN and NBCUniversal, so most of his Charter colleagues only knew him professionally, Kline said.

Spectrum Reach also noted the Next Generation Leader honor for Hendricks in a social post. 

Other Next Generation Leaders honored at the ceremony paid tribute to Hendricks as well. Freddy Rolón, senior VP, programming and scheduling at ESPN, said he and Hendricks were in the same Executive Development Leadership Program class at NAMIC and then worked together at the sports network. He said Hendricks was someone who would encourage people he knew to step up when he saw opportunities for them. "If he believed in someone, he would want them to succeed," said Rolón.

Rolón asked leaders at the conference, inspired by Hendricks's memory, to look for chances to "lift someone up," encourage them and if appropriate coach them "or just let them know that you believe in them."

The NAMIC Conference is part of the cable industry's Diversity Week, which continues Wednesday night with the Walter Kaitz Foundation annual fundraising dinner, supporting foundation grants to organizations including NAMIC. ■

The NAMIC Conference will return to New York’s Marriott Marquis Hotel and in-person status on October 11-12, and with it, the organization’s Annual Awards Luncheon set for October 12. And once again, the spotlight will fall on a new group of Next Generation Leaders and Luminaries. 

The Next Generation Leader Awards are NAMIC’s top industry honor, recognizing four individuals who have distinguished themselves as thought leaders, trendsetters and change agents, as well as for their work to advance multiethnic diversity in the industry by educating, advocating and empowering people and organizations.

This year’s Leaders honorees are:

• Kia Painter, Executive VP, Chief People Officer, Cox Communications
• Freddy Rolón, Senior VP, Programming and Scheduling, ESPN;
• Monica Williams, Senior VP, Digital Products & Operations, Content Distribution, NBCUniversal.
• James Hendricks, former Group VP of HR and Administration at Spectrum Reach, who will be honored posthumously.

The Luminary Awards honor up-and-coming leaders with the potential to be tomorrow’s movers and shakers. They demonstrate strong leadership skills and embrace NAMIC’s mission by working to advance multiethnic diversity.

The Luminaries to be honored by NAMIC are: 

• Denise Bennett, VP, Brand Strategy & Idea Lab, iHeartMedia;
• Rahman Khan, VP, Community Impact, Charter Communications;
• Noel Manzano, VP, International Programming and Development, AMC Networks;
• Grace Moss, VP, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Programs, Warner Bros. Discovery;
• John Singleton, VP, Operations, Charter Communications;
• Tonya Walley, VP, Field Operations Strategy, Cox Communications;
• Chin Wang, VP, Visual Storytelling, Digital Media, ESPN;
• Sophia Zeinu, VP, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Workforce, Warner Bros. Discovery.

This year, NAMIC is introducing a new honor, the Diversity in Technology Award, which will go to Franklyn Athias, senior VP of emerging technology and services at Comcast Cable (see profile below). Juju Chang, co-anchor of ABC’s Nightline, will receive the Mickey Leland Humanitarian Award. 

The 36th annual NAMIC Conference, themed “Resilience: The Courage to Lead,” is part of the cable industry’s Diversity Week, set to feature in-person events for the first time since before the pandemic. For more information or to register, go to namic.com/annual-namic-conference. 

Next Generation Leaders

James Hendricks
Group VP, HR & Administration, Spectrum Reach
Charter Communications
December 8, 1972-September 18, 2022
(Presented posthumously)

James Hendricks was group VP, human resources & administration for Spectrum Reach, the advertising sales and production services division of Charter Communications. With more than 25 years of progressive HR leadership experience, James led a team of 85 people, supporting 3,000 employees in 182 locations. Hendricks was responsible for Spectrum Reach’s HR generalists, talent acquisition, Diversity & Inclusion, learning and development, facilities and in-house project-management organization. He previously held key HR leadership roles at ESPN and General Electric (NBC, Telemundo, MSNBC). 

Hendricks was a participating member of NAMIC, CTHRA/C2HR, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and the National Black MBA Association. He also served on the board of directors for Safe Horizon as well as the board of directors for New Light Baptist Church. James earned his MBA and bachelor’s degrees in business management and psychology from Case Western Reserve Unviersity. He participated in the GE Human Resources Leadership Program and the International Scholar Program at the University of Seville in Spain.

“It’s my honor to receive this prestigious award and to be included with this group of accomplished fellow award recipients in the media industry,” Hendricks said. “I’m proud of the efforts that our Spectrum Reach team has made in advancing D&I since I joined, and I remain focused on continual improvement and accountability.”

Kia Painter
Executive VP, Chief People Officer
Cox Communications

Kia Painter is Cox’s incoming executive VP and chief people officer, responsible for leading the  cable operator’s HR and talent organization. Prior to this role, Painter was senior VP, HR business bartnerships. She has led the company’s key talent practices including compensation, inclusion and diversity, leadership development, organization design, and succession planning, and employee engagement.   

Painter joined Cox in 1998, after college, as a part-time HR assistant in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Over more than 24 years, she has risen through the company’s ranks and led HR in Cox regions and markets across the Southeast, notably in Virginia, Florida, and Louisiana.  In 2015, she moved to Atlanta to establish the company’s employee experience and organization design practices.  

She was named a 2021 Horizon Women to Watch by The WICT Network Southeast and was named a NAMIC Luminary in 2011, to the Multichannel News 40 Under 40 in 2014 and was on CableFax’s Diversity List in 2019, 2020 and 2021. 

She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from James Madison University, a master’s degree in human and organizational development from The George Washington Unversity and an MBA from Tulane University.  

“I have had many career-changing experiences because of NAMIC’s impact on my life,” Painter said. “My time in NAMIC’s Mentoring Program, Leadership Seminar, and ELDP prepared me for today. To receive the Next Generation Leadership award from an organization that has enriched me so tremendously is the apex and quite extraordinary. Thank you NAMIC.”

Freddy Rolón
Senior VP, Programming and Scheduling
ESPN

Freddy Rolón was promoted into the role of senior VP, programming and scheduling at ESPN last September. He is responsible for leading the overall content strategy and schedule for ESPN’s linear networks, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPNEWS. He also oversees all aspects of the ESPN Deportes business. 

Rolón has played an integral role in the development of the company’s content strategy to reach bilingual Hispanics consuming sports content across all of ESPN’s English-language platforms.  He works closely with ESPN’s programming, production, audio, digital and print media teams, to maximize the relevance and appeal of its English-language products to U.S. Hispanic fans.

Rolón serves as a member of The Walt Disney Co.’s CEO Diversity & Inclusion Council and is on the board of NAMIC and Partnership with Children.

“I thank NAMIC humbly for this award and for decades of vital leadership in our industry,” Rolón said. “I am grateful to be recognized by an organization I so deeply respect and for impactful work I feel immensely proud to be a part of at ESPN and The Walt Disney Co.”

Monica Williams
Senior VP, Digital Products & Operations, Content Distribution GroupNBCUniversal

Monica Williams’s current role at NBCUniversal encompasses content fulfillment of on-demand and linear channels, as well as developing innovative experiences through product and data solutions. Following consumer attention, Williams and her team apply a human-centered design approach and developed a metadata optimization initiative that drives efficient content discovery to meet business needs. 

Williams is a founding member and leader of “Asian Pacific Americans@NBCUniversal,” She is also a founding member of Chief in Los Angeles, serves on the advisory board for StreamTV, the global advisory board for NBCU TechWomen and is on the board of directors for Youth Design Center.

She graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor of science in industrial operations engineering and earned an MBA from Claremont Graduate University’s Peter Drucker School of Management. She isa graduate of Harvard Business School’s Cable Executive Management Program.

“I am honored to accept NAMIC’s Next Generation Leaders Award alongside such deserving peers,” Williams said. “Recognition like this inspires me to continue to bring an all-important diversity lens to everything we do and leverage diversity as a business imperative in the industry. Thank you to NAMIC for helping us create cultures of belonging in our industries and workplaces.”

Luminaries

Denise Bennett
VP, Brand Strategy
iHeart Media

As VP of brand strategy at iHeart Media, Denise Bennet specializes in multicultural marketing partnerships. Her 20-year career has included roles at WarnerMedia, NBCUniversal, the NBA, TV One and Viacom. 

She has held various leadership roles with NAMIC New York, including two terms as chapter president, and in 2019 completed the NAMIC Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP) at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. She also serves as a professor at both the Fordham University Gabelli School of Business and New York University. 

Her many accolades include The Network Journal's 2019 40 Under 40 Achievement Award; 2020 Council of Urban Professionals (CUP) Technology Catalyst; 2021 Advertising Club of New York Rock Star Award; and Black Women in Media Trailblazer Honoree.

Bennett has a bachelor of science in music business from Indiana State University and an MBA in marketing and media & communications from Fordham University.  

Away from the office, she is a classically trained pianist, an avid world traveler and a proud and active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

“I owe so much of my fundamental career development to NAMIC,” Bennett said. “NAMIC provided me with access to relationships and leadership opportunities that I value and evangelize daily. It’s from NAMIC that I learned my most valuable mantra of ‘build your bridge before you need it.’ ”

Rahman Khan
VP, Community Impact
Charter Communications

Rahman Khan leads strategic philanthropic and employee engagement programs for Charter under the Spectrum brand. As VP, community impact, he develops and executes the company’s mission to improve communities. He led the 2021 launch of Charter’s largest-ever philanthropic program, Spectrum Community Center Assist, a $30 million, five-year effort to revitalize local community centers and invest in job training. 

Khan also led the development of Spectrum Digital Education, a grant program that helps seniors and families understand the benefits of broadband and how to use it to improve their lives. To date, this program has committed more than $8 million to local community organizations. The work of his Community Impact team for Charter has been recognized by the state of Connecticut and the Los Angeles City Council, among other distinctions.

Khan received his business and graduate education degrees from Florida A&M University. He is a graduate of NAMIC’s Executive Leadership Development Program.
“It is a great honor to be recognized as a Luminary by NAMIC, an organization I’ve long supported,” he said, “NAMIC’s efforts to advance diversity and inclusion in our industry, paired with the actions we take as individuals, make us all stronger.”

Noel Manzano
Head, International Programming
AMC Networks

Noel Manzano is head of international programming at AMC Networks, working across AMC, AMC Plus, SundanceNow and BBC America. He identifies and develops original content with creative talent around the world, and works within the AMC Networks Entertainment Group to move existing projects forward. Notable projects include epic crime saga Gangs of London, from Gareth Evans, and 61st Street from visionary creator Peter Moffat. 

Prior to AMC, Manzano was the director of development for Hoodlum Entertainment, where he ran the company’s U.S. content development slate and strategy and drove internationally produced projects. He started his career at WME in feature films and then moved into television at Sierra/Affinity and Dynamic Television. Manzano is a graduate of New York University.

“It’s an honor to be recognized amongst so many outstanding executives by NAMIC — an organization I’m proud to be a part of,” Manzano said. “An honor like this inspires me to do more of what I can to champion and lift up the voices of my colleagues from all communities. Thank you.”

Grace Moss
VP, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Warner Bros. Discovery

As VP of diversity, equity and inclusion, Grace Moss helps oversee Warner Bros. Discovery’s efforts to expand the pool of historically-excluded talent and to break down barriers through a comprehensive suite of pipeline programs and extensive engagements with prestigious film festivals and creative conferences.

Prior to WBD, Moss was the head of talent development and inclusion for NBC Entertainment, where she spearheaded multiple programs that focused on cultivating and showcasing talented writers and directors of diverse backgrounds. Before NBC, she was a development executive at the Style Network, and prior to that a freelance reality producer and director.  

Moss’s leadership training includes the Johnson & Johnson Corporate Athlete Training Program, Comcast’s Know Your Value initiative and Harvard Business School’s Leadership Consortium. She graduated from UCLA with a bachelor of arts in English, minoring in Asian-American Studies.  

“Back in 2011, I was a newly promoted manager and experienced my very first leadership seminar through NAMIC,” Moss recalled. “I was well-equipped with important, foundational knowledge that I have implemented along my professional journey over the past decade. To now be honored with this Luminary Award is truly a full-circle moment.”

John Singleton Jr.
VP, Network Operations
Charter Communications

John Singleton is VP of network operations at Charter Communications, responsible for solution acceptance, product improvement, troubleshooting and vendor analysis across the video infrastructure. These primary functions require close coordination with Charter’s Product and Engineering organizations to ensure optimal deployment and operation of all products.

His current focus is on centralizing and consolidating distributed architectures to enhance reliability and availability across Charter’s footprint, while ensuring the landscape remains competitive and up-to-date.  

Previously, Singleton served in various capacities across Charter’s Network Operations team at Charter and assisted in post-acquisition activities involving Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks.

Before joining Charter, he worked at Cox Communications, where he was responsible for video operations, strategy and product development.  

With more than 20 years of telecommunications experience, Singleton enjoys mentoring engineers and leaders on their paths to successfully achieve their career goals.

“Being a NAMIC Luminary award recipient serves as not only a personal achievement but an accomplishment on behalf of all diverse talent within our industry,” he said. “This opportunity is only possible due to the individuals who have come before me, dedicating their careers to ensuring professional development is possible for all.

Tonya Walley
VP, Field Operations Strategy
Cox Communications

Tonya Walley leads Cox’s field operations in 21 states, including residential and business customer installations, maintenance of 116,000 miles of network and the company’s continued focus on customer excellence. She began her cable industry career more than 25 years ago as a front-line field technician then progressed to various leadership roles. When she joined Cox in 2018 as VP of field operations in Virginia, Walley immediately focused on delivering a data-based approach to the customer and employee experience, all while paying it forward. 

A native of New Jersey, Walley completed her undergraduate degree at Saint Peter’s College, majoring in computer science. She also holds dual master’s degrees from Stevens Institute of Technology in telecommunications management and network engineering. She is passionate about continuous learning and has demonstrated that through her most recent Strategy and Execution certificate from Harvard Business School and completion of NAMIC’s Executive Development Leadership Program. 

“I am thrilled and honored to receive this recognition from NAMIC and will continue to live and breathe the values of NAMIC by mentoring, giving back and paying it forward,” Walley said. “I am truly humbled and will continue to inspire, encourage, and engage our future leaders with impact.”

Chin Wang
VP, Visual Storytelling
ESPN

Chin Wang was promoted to VP, visual storytelling in ESPN’s creative studio department in September 2021. Wang, who joined the sports programmer in 2012 as senior art director of ESPN The Magazine, had worked for 11 months as senior director, visual storytelling.  

Wang leads a team of visual journalists, photo editors, web developers, designers, concept artists and animators whose work reaches every ESPN platform. She is responsible for editorial design and photography on the ESPN website and app, including custom microsites, special projects, branding, key art, illustration and data visualization. She also manages the team that concepts, designs and directs television graphics packages from studio shows to live events across all networks, as well as ESPN Plus and 30 for 30 Films & Originals. In addition, she defines the visual identity for Andscape (formerly The Undefeated).  

“As someone who strives to embody the mission of NAMIC, I am beyond honored to be recognized as a Luminary,” Wang said. “Advocating for diversity in our industry is more imperative now than ever and to play a part in that effort at ESPN truly adds meaning to my work.”

Sophia Zeinu
VP, Equity & Inclusion Strategies
Warner Bros. Discovery

Sophia Zeinu, VP of equity & inclusion strategies for Warner Bros. Discovery, uses a data-driven, systems-based approach to develop and operationalize global diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies. She focuses on redesigning talent and organizational systems with an equity lens, building leadership and employee DEI capabilities, fostering a more inclusive culture and enabling measurement and accountability at the enterprise and business-unit level.

Prior to WBD, Zeinu worked in Deloitte Consulting’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) practice where she helped numerous global organizations navigate DEI transformations and facilitated DEI sessions for thousands of employees at Fortune 500 organizations. She has also authored and contributed to DEI thoughtware, including Support Your Black Workforce, Now; 10 Ways HR Can Support the Black Workforce; and Becoming an Equitable Enterprise. 

Zeinu has a bachelor of arts in sociology from Georgetown University and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. 

“I feel deeply honored and grateful to be recognized by NAMIC amongst so many incredible leaders,” she said. “NAMIC has a long history of advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion and I am committed to continuing to champion the work to make a lasting impact on our industry and beyond.”

Diversity in Technology Award

Franklyn Athias
Senior VP, Emerging Technology and Services
Comcast Cable

Franklyn Athias leads the convergence of Comcast’s mobile product with its broadband connectivity services. He drives the roadmap for delivering new converged connectivity services as well as the growth strategy for related platforms and features for both mobile and broadband.

Since joining Comcast in 1995, Athias has been responsible for developing and deploying strategic growth opportunities to launch services for TV, internet, digital voice and wireless, most recently leading the integration of Xfinity Mobile into Comcast’s next-generation product portfolio.

During his 27-year career with Comcast, Athias has spearheaded several IP architecture programs for cable-modem broadband services. Notable accomplishments include serving as lead architect for the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) voice strategy, for Comcast’s first residential and business broadband launches and for the Comcast.net internet service, as well as leading the evaluation of the industry’s first VoIP service using cable modems.

Athias is an executive sponsor of the BENgineers, technologists and engineers who are part of Comcast’s Black Employee Network (BEN). He actively participates in many standards-making and professional advocacy organizations in the technology and engineering industries, including SCTE, NAMIC, NSBE, NSPE, and IEEE, and founded computer-coding programs in his local community to develop STEM/STEAM skills among minority youth.

Athias holds more than two dozen U.S. patents and received his bachelor’s degree in computer science from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

“I’m honored and grateful to be nominated by my peers and to be selected by NAMIC for this inaugural award,” Athias said. “Diversity in technology and a mission for change have always been a passion of mine and I’m inspired by the progress that is being made to strengthen inclusive opportunities in our industry.” ■

The National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications will honor Nightline co-anchor Juju Chang with its 2022 Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award during its October 12 NAMIC Conference luncheon.

Chang, who also reports regularly for Good Morning America and 20/20 as part of a more than 30-year journalism career, is being recognized for her in-depth personal narratives set against the backdrop of pressing national and international news, according to NAMIC. Among Chang's recent career highlights are two, hour-long specials in 2021 revolving around the rise of hate crimes toward the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

Chang, who began her career in 1987 at ABC News as an entry-level desk assistant, has also profiled newsmakers like Facebook COO Sheryl Sanderg, Joe Biden and Oprah Winfrey, as well as entertainers like Chris Pratt, Tom Hanks and Nicki Minaj. 

Also: NAMIC Set to Honor Next Generation Leaders, Luminaries at Conference

“Juju Chang’s storytelling, career and philanthropic endeavors represent what NAMIC stands for at its core: empowerment and advancement of diversity, equity, access and inclusion,” NAMIC Inc president and CEO Shuanise Washington in a statement. “Chang has boldly shared the lives and perspectives of people, who are too often underrepresented and marginalized. She’s given them a voice and shined an important light that will illuminate for generations to come.”

The 36th annual NAMIC Conference will take place October 11-12, part of the cable industry's Diversity Week festivities.■

The cable industry’s Diversity Week suite of conferences and networking activities will welcome attendees for the first time in two years, as The WICT Network, NAMIC and The Walter Kaitz Foundation hold in-person events recognizing diversity and inclusion efforts in media and entertainment.

WICT and NAMIC will hold their respective conferences in person beginning Monday, October 10, after being virtual since 2020 due the pandemic. Both organizations plan to also offer virtual access to select general sessions, panel discussions and awards ceremonies. 

NAMIC and WICT will once again team to deliver the latest AIM/PAR Workplace Survey, which focuses on the current state of ethnic and gender diversity within the media and entertainment industry.

The most recent AIM/PAR survey, in 2019, reported a slight increase in the representation of people of color and women in executive and senior management positions compared to the 2017 report. 

The WICT Network’s two-day 2022 Leadership Conference at the New York Marriott Marquis kicks off the week’s activities on Monday, October 10. Under the theme “The Great Reset,” the conference’s program will explore work trends most relevant to media, entertainment and technology professionals and the big picture concepts — from diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) to flexible workplaces to transformational approaches in building personal and organizational resilience — that are shaping today’s future workplace, WICT Network president and CEO Maria Brennan said.  

“Following a two-year hiatus of our in-person Leadership Conference, we’re excited to bring our community back together under one roof for two jam-packed days of education and inspiration,” Brennan said. “Our industry is built on connecting people, so it’s no surprise that our stakeholders are rearing to reconnect.” 

Cox Enterprises president and chief people officer Jill Campbell is set to receive WICT’s first Fearless Leader Award at the conference.

The 36th annual NAMIC Conference’s theme, “Resilience: The Courage to Lead,” will focus on challenges facing the industry in the year ahead and will feature a lineup of industry executives tasked with navigating the economic and social turbulence that marked the last two years, according to
the organization.

ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro will serve as NAMIC’s honorary chair of the conference, to be held October 11 and 12. Along with general sessions, breakout panels and receptions, the gathering will feature the organization’s annual awards ceremony saluting NAMIC’s Next Generation Leaders and Luminaries, emerging executives of diverse race or ethnicity who show the most potential to become tomorrow’s movers and shakers.

“The pandemic dramatically altered our landscape, from the shape of our workforce to shifts in consumer spending,” NAMIC president and CEO A. Shuanise Washington said. “It was an unprecedented level of change in just two years, and it required incredible resilience. NAMIC’s 2022 Annual Conference is dedicated to drawing the most important lessons from those changes and exploring possibilities for the future.”

Kaitz Dinner Returns

The Walter Kaitz Foundation closes out Diversity Week with the return of the annual fundraising dinner on Wednesday, October 12, at the New York Marriott Marquis. The dinner’s theme, “forward + together,” speaks to a renewed movement around inclusion and equity, according to the foundation. Dinner proceeds fund grants to NAMIC, The WICT Network, the Emma L. Bowen Foundation and the T. Howard Foundation. 

While not officially part of Diversity Week, media diversity-focused organization the T. Howard Foundation will hold its annual diversity fundraising dinner in New York on Wednesday, September 14. 

The organization, which has not held its awards dinner since 2019, will this year honor A+E Networks president and chairman Paul Buccieri, CBS president and CEO George Cheeks and NBCUniversal executive VP and chief diversity officer Craig Robinson. CNN anchor Abby Phillip will receive a Diversity Advocate Award. The dinner recognizes and celebrates industry leaders and companies committed to increasing diversity and inclusion in media and entertainment. ▪️

NAMIC will look to shine a light on the advancement of the cable industry’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts during its virtual 35th annual NAMIC Conference, which launches Tuesday (Oct. 5) as part of the industry's Diversity Week festivities.

The theme of the three-day conference is “Removing Obstacles. Magnifying Opportunities” and will feature a lineup of industry leaders and experts discussing the pressing DEI issues facing the communications and cable industry, according to NAMIC.

The conference will open Tuesday with its L. Patrick Mellon Mentoring session featuring a discussion with Music World Entertainment president Mathew Knowles. Other conference highlights include NAMIC’s annual Next Generation Leaders and Luminaries Awards; the “Meet the Execs” panel session featuring Walt Disney Company VP, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution Christian Divino, Kishshana & CEO CEO Kishshana Palmer, and Arrington Coaching LLC COO David Arrington; and the” Setting the Course of International Allyship” panel featuring WarnerMedia SVP, Equity and Inclusion MyKhanh Shelton and A+E Networks EVP, Corporate Brand Strategy and Chief of Staff Juliana Stock.   

NAMIC president and CEO Shuanise Washington spoke to Multichannel News about this year’s virtual NAMIC Conference goals and objectives and provided an early look at plans for the diversity organization’s in-person NAMIC Conference in 2022. An edited version of the interview appears below. 

MCN: What are your goals for this year’s NAMIC Conference? 

Shuanise Washington: Our 35th annual conference will provide a global platform for emerging and thought leaders to discuss topics ranging from culturally competent marketing to racial equity. Attendees will engage in professional networking sessions, delve into best practices with industry leaders, and learn the emerging industry trends that will shift the future of cable and communications. 

MCN: Has going to a virtual format for a second straight year helped or hurt attendance sign-ups? 

SW: Our registration numbers have already exceeded last year and people are still registering. A virtual format has expanded our ability to reach more people and in turn allowed more people to be a part of our conference. We are thrilled that the cable, media and entertainment  industry continue to rely on NAMIC and our annual conference for tools, strategies and professional connections to empower diversity, equity and inclusion in their companies. 

MCN: Has the virtual format made it easier to secure key speakers? 

SW: In some ways, it has. We have been able to expand the breadth and depth of our speaker pool because we do not have to contend with travel and a fixed timeframe, so to speak, as many of the sessions are pre-recorded. I am really excited about so many of our sessions and speakers this year, like the L. Patrick Mellon session on mentoring with Dr. Mathew Knowles. Dr. Knowles and Julissa Bermudez, television personality and actress at CLEO TV, will engage in a lively discussion about the importance of mentoring in establishing a successful career and legacy.  They will tackle issues many underrepresented employees feel might have already existed within their companies—even before the COVID pandemic: isolation, lack of support, barriers to access, and so on. 

MCN: Will you continue to feature virtual elements at next year's conference when it's back to in-person status? 

SW: Yes. The virtual format has been quite successful in expanding our reach and in making the conference more accessible. Accessibility is central to our mission. We are exploring ways to enhance the virtual experience so that we can draw attendees from every state in the nation—and from people committed to DEI work in the media, entertainment and cable industry around the world. 

The industry’s Diversity Week festivities may not have been in person this year, but issues of diversity and inclusion remained front and center at the virtual events held by Women in Cable Telecommunications and the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications.

Both WICT and NAMIC reported higher-than-expected attendance for their virtual presentations, which ran through most of last week. Between live registrations and on-demand signups, WICT said it has surpassed all previous WICT Leadership Conference attendance numbers with more than 843 registered attendees, while NAMIC reported registrations were up 40% from last year’s in-person event in New York.

COVID-19-related disruptions in both the office and the studio  — as well as the social unrest initiated by the May 25 death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody — provided a backdrop to the industry’s continuing efforts to become more diverse and inclusive within the executive ranks and on the screen.

NCTA–The Internet & Television Association president and CEO Michael Powell said during a WICT Oct. 5 session that Floyd’s killing, as well as other high-profile deaths of people of color at the hands of police, has galvanized both individuals and businesses toward a social justice movement within the country. 

“Business really had a wake up call in a way that I had not seen happen before,” Powell told session moderator Lori Hall, of marketing agency Pop’N Creative. “You’re seeing a lot more willingness by a new generation of business leaders to speak up and commit their company culture resources to important social questions facing the nation.” 

ViacomCBS president and CEO Bob Bakish said during NAMIC’s virtual town hall on
Oct. 8 that the conversations on race relations within companies are taking on greater relevance due to the events of this year. 

“I would say that eight minutes and 43 seconds really jolted us,” Bakish said of the time police kneeled on Floyd’s neck prior to his death. “It’s created a reckoning that’s led us all to confront systematic racism and bias that lives around us.”

Executives said part of that reality is further diversifying the executive ranks, as well as creating content that more accurately depicts the images and stories of people of color. While those efforts continue, speakers said the pandemic had created a new normal that the industry is still grappling with. 

The pandemic “has enabled us to think so much more creatively and pivot and work very quickly in brand new ways that we never thought we could,” Discovery Inc. chief lifestyle brands officer Kathleen Finch said during an Oct. 5 WICT session called “Navigating Chaos in a COVID World.”

Black News Channel president and CEO Princell Hair added it’s important for the industry and the country to stay diligent in diversity and inclusion efforts while not turning a blind eye to the plight of those who may have different experiences. 

“There’s a call to action that hasn’t been there in the past,” Hair said. “You can’t change what you don’t see, and it feels like society at large is really seeing what the problem is. It’s not just the people that are impacted by these various social injustices, coronavirus or the economy.” 

The coronavirus pandemic has altered the makeup of the cable industry’s 2020 Diversity Week festivities as the annual Walter Kaitz Foundation fundraising dinner has been canceled and both the WICT Leadership Conference and the NAMIC Conference will be held online. 

In a joint statement, the three organizations announced that they are “forging ahead with new plans for virtual initiatives” to supplant the Diversity Week festivities that were scheduled for the week of Oct. 4

“The coronavirus pandemic has affected nearly every event planned for the remainder of 2020, and large group gatherings in major American cities are tightly restricted,” according to the statement.

WICT (partial agenda) and NAMIC will proceed with virtual conferences during the week of Oct. 4, with each organization communicating directly with members and conference participants regarding their plans.

The Walter Kaitz Foundation has canceled its traditional dinner this year as a result of the pandemic, and will “pivot to a major fundraising campaign to support the deliberate work of its grants programs and bridge the fundraising gap caused by the cancellation,” according to the statement.

In March, the T Howard Foundation canceled its diversity fundraising dinner due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

The cable TV industry this week will be closely watching the results of diversity employment surveys from Women In Cable Telecommunications and the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications as the annual Diversity Week festivities kick off in New York.

The highlight of the three-day confab — which includes Monday’s WICT Leadership Conference, NAMIC’s 33nd Annual Conference on Tuesday and The Walter Kaitz Foundation’s fundraising dinner Wednesday evening — is Tuesday’s Town Hall meeting that will reveal WICT’s PAR Cable Telecommunications Industry Diversity Survey and NAMIC’s AIM (Advancement Investment Measurement) report. Both research studies are geared to help companies identify the factors that influence the industry’s ability to recruit, retain and advance a diverse workforce.

While the final results of the surveys were not available at press time, WICT, NAMIC and Kaitz executives said they are encouraged by preliminary results. The 2017 PAR and AIM surveys reported increases in women and people of color in senior level positions, but also showed a drop in promotion rates.

PAR for the Course

WICT president and CEO Maria Brennan did not disclose specific numbers for its PAR survey, but did say the share of women in executive and senior-level jobs is up, along with promotion and hiring rates.

”We’ll continue to not only showcase the good things about the survey but more importantly showcase the challenges, and help our industry enact practices and policies that will improve the numbers exponentially quicker than if they were doing it alone,” she said. “We’re grateful that the industry allows us to measure — that’s a big deal, because there are a lot of industries out there that don’t allow that at all.”

NAMIC president A. Shuanise Washington also said that this year’s AIM survey shows signs of improvement regarding minority hiring, retention and advancement compared to the previous 2017 survey: “There will be some progress that we can talk about but there will also be opportunity areas. I believe the results of the survey will certainly be indicative of that.”

Kaitz Foundation executive director Michelle Ray said she’s not discouraged by early results from the reports. “Sometimes no change or a little bit of change can be better than going backwards,” she said. “Whether the message is good or bad, it just makes me know that there’s still work to be done.”

Other key Diversity Week events include the WICT Leadership Conference, themed “Forge the Future,” which is expected to draw nearly 800 attendees to the conference. The conference’s opening session will feature a fireside chat with U.S. women’s hockey gold medalists and gender-equity advocates Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando.

“We’re so busy trying to get through the day to day and think of mid-term or near-term, but we want our members and women in the industry to think about long-term as well,” she said. “While the overarching theme of the sessions is leadership development, we are going to be forward-looking and forward-facing, so that we can help our members read the tea leaves.”

WICT is expecting more than 1,000 attendees for its annual Touchstones Luncheon, which will feature an artists’ panel with the co-creators and stars of IFC’s Baroness von Sketch Show, Meredith MacNeill and Jennifer Whalen. The organization will also present its Women of the Year and Women to Watch awards during the luncheon.

NAMIC Seeks a Dialogue

NAMIC will kick off its 32nd annual Conference — themed “Breaking Barriers: The Multicultural Media Agenda” — Tuesday with an opening keynote with the conference’s co-chairs, Cox Communications president Pat Esser and NCTA: The Internet & Television Association president and CEO Michael Powell. “Traditionally, the organization has brought in an outside person to do a keynote, so for me it was really about having a dialogue with leaders within our industry,” Washington said.

Other NAMIC Conference highlights include the organization’s L. Patrick Mellon mentoring luncheon on Tuesday, featuring a moderated discussion with former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele, and the annual awards luncheon on Wednesday, when NAMIC will award its Mickey Leland Humanitarian Award to Urban One founder and chairperson Cathy Hughes, as well as present the organization’s annual Next Generation Leaders Awards.

“The goal is trying to create opportunities for people to hear from those who have broken barriers in their professional lives,” Washington said. “We’ve been focused on making sure that when NAMIC members and other attendees get to the conference, it’s a cohesive and meaningful platform — not only informational but educational — and most importantly, something that they can take with them back to their day jobs.”

With its tagline “We’re All In,” the Walter Kaitz Foundation is expecting a strong showing for its annual fundraising dinner despite recent industry consolidation. Kaitz’s Ray said the organization is hopeful of matching or surpassing last year’s tally of $1.4 million in fundraising revenue.

“Given that we’ve had a lot of movement in the industry in the past year and that different financial decisions are being made in organizations that now have three or four other companies that we used to work with separately, we have seen a decrease in our fundraising efforts,” she said. “However, we’re encouraged because the numbers remain fairly robust, and we want to continue to build on that.”

Actor/comedian Chris Spencer (Aspire TV’s Icons, Idols + Influencers) will host the dinner, which will honor Comcast with the organization’s Diversity Champion Award and education-based, non-profit organization City Year with the Diversity Advocate Award, according to Ray.

“Inclusion has been the big play across the industry,” Ray said. “It’s no longer the notion that we’re just talking diversity — without speaking to the inclusivity piece of it, it’s hard to talk about diversity. Some people are pushing back and see diversity as differences; what we’re talking about is how to engage people that don’t have a voice.”

The National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications, in partnership with Multichannel News, will celebrate the recipients of the 2019 Next Generation Leaders Awards this week. Honorees will be recognized during the NAMIC Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, Sept. 18, from noon to 1:30 p.m., during the 33rd Annual NAMIC Conference at the New York Marriott Marquis, sponsored by Univision Communications.

The 2019 Next Generation Leaders Awards will be presented to the following executives:

• Keith F. Holmes, senior VP, residential sales, Cox Communications.
• Rashida Jones, senior VP, specials, NBC News and MSNBC, NBCUniversal.
• Satya Parimi, group VP, enterprise data, products & smart cities, Charter Communications.

These emerging executives are honored for demonstrating exceptional business acumen, while exemplifying NAMIC’s mission to educate, advocate and empower for multiethnic diversity and inclusion in the communications industry.

NAMIC will also induct the following executives into the 2019 Luminaries class:

• Ricky Frazier Jr., division VP, customer service strategy and retention, Comcast.
• Jae-Min Han, VP, law, chief counsel, Charter Communications.
• Alexis Johnson, VP, programming acquisition, Charter Communications.
• Camille C. Joseph-Goldman, regional VP, state government affairs, Charter Communications.
• Patricia Estrada Martin, SVP, service assurance, Cox Communications.
• Marcella Milliet Sciorra, VP, ad sales & product marketing, Charter Communications.
• Wayne Thompson, VP, telecoms, connectivity and capacity management, Altice USA.

“Each of these amazing Next Generation Leaders and Luminaries is a beacon that guides NAMIC, media companies, and the entire industry towards a future of extraordinary possibilities,” NAMIC president and CEO A. Shuanise Washington said. “They represent what it means when opportunity meets preparation and when visionaries have the courage to step forward and change the course of history.”

LEADERS

MSO: Keith F. Holmes
Senior VP and Head of Residential Sales Cox

Keith F. Holmes oversees a $9 billion division and is responsible for sales, retention, sales operations, sales strategy and performance, as well as multiple dwelling units. He drives sales and retention through inbound and outbound sales centers, retention centers, Cox-owned retail, third-party retail (local and big box), direct sales channels and vendors.

Prior to his role at Cox, Holmes was VP and general manager, AT&T Mobility.

He received his bachelor’s degree in management from Georgia Tech and his MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Holmes also dedicates time to nonprofit community service, serving as a board member for the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta and Gwinnett Technical College. He lives with his wife, Bridget, and their two children, Kaci and Keith, in Atlanta.

PROGRAMMER: Rashida Jones
Senior VP of Specials NBC News and MSNBC

Rashida Jones spearheads cross-platform coverage and special news productions, major planned news events and long-form specials, as well as live breaking news reports, for both NBC News and MSNBC. Her responsibilities include election nights, primary and presidential debates, political conventions and other major coverage initiatives. She also leads the NBC News Decision Desk, a team of data scientists responsible for making all race call decisions on primary and election nights.

She is a graduate of Hampton University, where she was inducted into the Scripps Howard Journalism Hall of Fame. She is also an ambassador for the Alliance for Women in Media, a board member of the Carole Kneeland Project for Responsible Journalism and a member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Association of Black Journalists.

TECHNOLOGY: Satya Parimi
Group VP, Data Products and Smart Cities Spectrum Enterprise

Satya Parimi is group VP of data products and smart cities for Spectrum Enterprise, a suite of scalable, fiber-based technology solutions offered by Charter to many of America’s largest businesses and communications service providers. Parimi manages the Data Product portfolio, driving product performance and creating new services, including Spectrum Smart Cities.

He previously held leadership roles in product management, new business development and corporate strategy. Parimi started his telecommunications career in technology startups.

Parimi earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, an MBA from the University of Massachusetts and executive leadership certification from the Anderson School of Management at the University of California through the NAMIC Executive Leadership Development Program.

LUMINARIES

Ricky Frazier Jr.
Division VP, Customer Service Strategy and Retention, Comcast

Ricky Frazier Jr. has a proven 16-year track record of developing innovative strategies designed to improve the Comcast customer experience. In his current role, he is responsible for end-to-end customer experience initiatives and process improvement in the Central Division, comprising 13 states and more than 10 million customers. He is also responsible for shaping the employee experience of over 6,000 professionals through employee engagement and communications. Frazier has served as a formal and informal mentor to countless professionals of all ethnicities across Comcast and the industry. He has helped to guide cultural transformations and to catapult the success of multiple professionals and leaders at Comcast. His leadership has resulted in major customer experience improvements and operational efficiencies.

Jae-Min Han
VP, Chief Counsel, Spectrum Networks

Jae Min-Han counsels and advises Spectrum Networks, Charter’s news and regional sports network businesses, on a range of issues, including licensing, content production and distribution, newsroom and editorial matters, and marketing and sponsorships. Prior to joining Spectrum, she was an associate at the law firm Akin Gump, where she worked with NY1 News — a role that ultimately led her to join the company to work on litigation, advertising and marketing review and newsroom matters. She is a graduate of SUNY-Binghamton and University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Alexis Johnson
VP of Programming Acquisition, Charter

At Charter, Alexis Johnson leads negotiations for distribution agreements and develops programming strategies that accelerate subscription growth with general market and multicultural consumers. From DirecTV to Verizon to Time Warner Cable/Charter, Johnson has worked on the front lines of content delivery to consumers and continues to help shape industry standards for programming operations and content acquisition.

Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from the University of California, Berkeley, a master’s in communications management from the University of Southern California and a J.D. from the Southwestern University School of Law. A strong believer in the power of community service, Johnson is a board director for the Wake Forest University School of Divinity and personally supports NAMIC, the T. Howard Foundation and other community-service organizations.

Camille C. Joseph-Goldman
Regional VP, Government Affairs, Charter

Camille C. Joseph-Goldman oversees and manages government affairs, strategic partnerships and investments, consumer protection and telecommunications regulation from New Jersey to Maine. Previously, she worked in politics and public policy, serving as New York City’s youngest appointed deputy comptroller, as director of intergovernmental affairs and special adviser to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), as well as national African-American vote deputy director for the 2012 Obama presidential campaign. Born and raised in the Bronx, Camille earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in politics and history from New York University, where she was a Presidential Scholar. She serves on the National Action Network board and is a trustee for the Citizens Budget Commission of New York City.

Patricia Estrada Martin
Senior VP, Service Assurance, Cox

Patricia Estrada Martin oversees the network operations centers (NOCs) and Tier 2 support teams for both residential and Cox Business support models, with an enhanced focus on the customer experience and process governance. She joined Cox Communications in 2005 as a senior manager and has since held numerous positions, such as director of network services in Oklahoma and VP of engineering and operations for Cox’s Northeast team in 2012. In 2015, she joined Cox’s Atlanta team as VP of service assurance, and streamlined the NOC to one operating model in 2017. Martin has led several key initiatives at Cox, including the creation of the first national team of virtual construction estimators and Cox’s first-generation Video Back Office National COE. She resides in Roswell, Georgia, with her husband and four children.

Marcella Milliet Sciorra
VP of Ad Sales & Product Marketing, Spectrum Reach

Marcella Sciorra oversees marketing for all Spectrum Reach products, including local linear advertising inventory, advanced ad products and more. She manages a team of 25 ad-sales and product-marketing professionals who support sales teams in 41 states and nearly 100 designated marketing areas. Prior to joining Spectrum Reach, she managed new business development and spearheaded marketing strategy for global brands, including Unilever and NFL International. She is an alumna of NAMIC’s Executive Leadership Development Program at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing’s Cable Executive Management program at Harvard University, and the University of Santa Ursula in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She lives in Palisades, New York, with her husband Nick and two children.

Wayne Thompson
VP, Telecoms, Connectivity and Capacity Management, Altice USA

Wayne Thompson oversees voice engineering and operations, voice and data expense management, vendor relationship, contract management and circuits and capacity management for Altice. He is also a board member of the Black Employee Affinity Network. Prior to joining Altice, Thompson owned a telecom and engineering company and worked at Verizon. He earned his bachelor of science in electrical engineering from Columbia. Thompson is founder and executive director of Strategic Opportunities Achieving Results (S.O.A.R.!) a nonprofit organization focused on mentorship, scholarship and educational assistance. He also is a board member of Urban League of Long Island, Child Care Council of Nassau and Bethel Christian Church. He is the chief organizer of the Long Island Entrepreneurship Conference.

The news media is under siege but its role in society has never been more important and needed than in today’s hyper-political environment, according to CNN news anchor Don Lemon.

“Everyday it’s like drinking from a fire hose of news … it is exhausting,” said Lemon, who serve as the keynote speaker Tuesday at the 32nd annual NAMIC Conference. “Everything has changed when it comes to this new world order and beyond in the media.”

Lemon, who anchors CNN Tonight with Don Lemon, said he never expected to experience the current level of vitriol and attacks directed at the mainstream news media when he first began his TV journalism career.

“It was never my intent to be fighting people who write and say the most vile and racist things about me on social media and television,” he said. “It was not what I intended [to see] that my profession would constantly be under attack by the Oval office and from masses of Americans. But let me tell you, I’m here for it and I’m ready to live up to that challenge.”

Lemon, the only African-American journalist currently hosting a primetime cable news show, said that right now is the most important time in recent history to be a journalist to serve as a reliable check and balance to often misleading and unreliable information coming from all corners of the political spectrum. He added it’s also a perilous time for reporters, pointing to the recent disappearance and suspected murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

“In the context of this new world order of dramatic political, social, and unparalleled technological change, the role of media has never been more important, and it's also never been more dangerous,” Lemon said. "Foreign reporters in war zones, as well as domestic reporters and journalists like me in war zones of our own here at home, are facing angry people and the threats of violence.”

Lemon also said traditional news media outlets also face threats from social media, which often posts inaccurate news and information. “It is incumbent upon the owners and managers of those sites like Facebook and Twitter to do their due diligence, and it’s incumbent upon you and the rest of America to make sure that they do it,” he said.

The National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) Tuesday named its 2018 Next Generation Leaders Awards honorees.

NAMIC, in partnership with Multichannel News, will honor the executives – recognized for their emerging multicultural business leaders in the media and entertainment industry for their career successes and commitment to fostering diversity in the workplace – during its annual NAMIC Awards Luncheon, scheduled for Oct. 17.

The 2018 Next Generation Leader Awards in four categories are as follows:

Cable MSO: Tamara Bowens, Group VP, Field Marketing and Sales Enablement, Spectrum Enterprise, Charter Communications

Cable Programmer: Veronica Molina, Executive Director, News Standards & Practices, CNN Worldwide

Creative Discipline: Jennifer Perri, VP, Univision Creator Network, Univision Communications Inc.

Tech Company/Discipline: Saleem Malkana, VP, Product, New Digital Business, AMC Networks

“This year’s class of Next Generation Leaders and Luminaries are powerful advocates for inclusion and diversity in the workplace and are bringing tremendous value to their companies and our industry,” said Joiava Philpott, vice president, Regulatory Affairs, Law & Policy Department, Cox Communications and chairperson of the NAMIC National Board of Directors in a statement. “We should all be inspired by the talent, leadership and commitment of these honorees and the paths they are creating for those who follow in their footsteps.”

In addition NAMIC will also recognize 10 emerging executives in its 2018 Luminaries Class. Those honorees include James An, VP, Business Integration and Implementation, Charter Communications; Darshan Arneja, Executive Director, CRM Strategy and Planning, Cox Communications; Angel Arocho, Executive Director, Compliance, Comcast Cable; Tom Chiang, VP, Video Products, Charter Communications; Roy Cho, VP, Distribution, AMC Networks; Brendan Gabriel, VP, Production & Creative Director, The Africa Channel; Cherisse McKenzie, VP, Production, REVOLT Media & TV; Toni Murphy, VP, Comcast Business, Comcast Cable; Sheereen Russell, VP, Ad Sales & Partner Solutions, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network; Jose Zamora, SVP, Strategic Communications, News, Univision Communications Inc.

The National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) has named CNN journalist Don Lemon as the keynote speaker for its 32nd annual NAMIC Conference this fall.

Lemon, who hosts the news network’s CNN Tonight news series, will open the Oct. 16-17 conference, which will feature as its theme “Empower Leaders, Create Superheroes,” according to the organization.

“We are honored to have Don as our opening keynote speaker,” Joiava Philpott, vice president of regulatory affairs, Law & Policy department, Cox Communications, and chair of the NAMIC National Board of Directors said in a statement. “He is the consummate journalist who brings his authentic self to everything he does, and I know everyone attending the NAMIC Conference will walk away with something from his story and the insights he will bring during his talk.”

Along with education sessions and networking events, the 32nd Annual NAMIC Conference will be highlighted by the L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program Luncheon, which honors the recipient of the Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award, along with the 2018 class of Next Generation Leaders and Luminaries. NAMIC will also present the Excellence in Multicultural Marketing Awards (EMMA) during the conference, according to NAMIC. 

NAMIC announced Thursday that Viacom President and CEO Bob Bakish and Comcast Corp’s senior executive vice president and chief diversity officer David Cohen will serve as honorary co-chairs for next month’s annual NAMIC Conference.

The 31st annual NAMIC Conference will be held Sept. 26-27 as part of the cable industry’s Diversity Week festivities. The theme of the 31st NAMIC Conference will be “Diversity At the Speed of Change,” according to the organization.

“Multiculturalism will take center stage at our 31st Annual NAMIC Conference,” said NAMIC president and CEO Eglon Simons. “Especially in the era of globalization, business innovation and shifting workforce dynamics, Bob and David bring a wealth of experience and strategic vision as we prepare diversity advocates for our industry’s future.”

 Presenting Sponsor for the 31st Annual NAMIC Conference is Comcast NBCUniversal with ARRIS, BuzzFeed, Cox Communications, Charter Communications, NCTA, REVOLT, Scripps Networks Interactive, Turner, Univision Communications Inc. and The Walter Kaitz Foundation serving as conference sponsors, according to NAMIC.

NAMIC, WICT and The Walter Kaitz Foundation on Monday (Sept. 19) will partner to offer a panel discussion on the successes and challenges of women of color in business, one of several conversations on inclusion within the cable industry during its annual Diversity Week.

The week’s festivities — which will include Women in Cable Telecommunications’ day long Leadership Conference and Touchstones Luncheon on Monday, the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications’ 30th annual conference on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the annual Kaitz Foundation fundraising dinner Wednesday evening — will be highlighted by a Monday afternoon, jointly presented general session titled “Leadership Lessons for Women of Color.”

The event will feature some of the industry’s top female executives providing insights and strategies on how to transcend the challenges facing women of color in the workforce and make it to the top of their respective fields, according to the organizations. Slated to appear: Monica Diaz, vice president of diversity, inclusion and wellness at ESPN; Tamara Franklin, executive vice president of digital for Scripps Networks Interactive; Susan Jin Davis, senior vice president of operations and compliance for Comcast; and Michelle Rice, executive vice president of content distribution and marketing for TV One.

Dr. Ella Bell, associate professor of business administration at Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business and founder of nonprofit organization ASCENT-Leading Multicultural Women to the Top, will moderate the panel, which will provide a strong, informative kickoff to the rest of the Diversity Week activites, Maria Brennan, president and CEO of WICT, said.

“We will be presenting a perspective from women of color and looking at what are the common denominators of these powerhouse women in the industry who have really overcome the statistics and really risen through the ranks inside the media world,” Brennan said.

Overall, executives from WICT, NAMIC and Kaitz said that the industry’s focus on diversity during and beyond this week continues to make good business sense as its subscriber base becomes more diverse.

“Whenever we talk about diversity we couple it with inclusion because there’s nothing inside of the research that says diversity and inclusion is bad for business,” Brennan said. “It’s quite the opposite — if you ignore the research and the data, you would be doing so at your own risk and probably at your own peril.”

Added Kaitz Foundation executive director David Porter, “Diversity Week is a critical industry effort that allows us to recognize excellence while fostering leadership development and networking opportunities for our employees.”

Here are some of the highlights of Diversity Week:

WICT Leadership Conference: Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner Kersee and Comcast Corp. senior executive vice president and chief diversity officer David Cohen will be the guest speakers at the opening general session of the conference, which will feature several keynote speeches, master classes, talks, interactive roundtables and think tank discussions.

“What’s unique about the Leadership Conference is that we deliver the teaching in many different learning platforms, and we do that because everyone learns differently,” Brennan said. “By breaking up the formatting and the content, we have the best chance of ensuring that people assimilate the information and it sticks with them.”

The Leadership Conference’s tent-pole event, The Touchstones Luncheon, will feature as its keynote speaker Danai Guira, co-star of AMC’s hit series The Walking Dead. During the luncheon, WICT will honor Kathleen Finch, Scripps Networks Interactive chief programming, content and brand officer, as its Woman of The Year. The organization will also highlight its Women to Watch honorees, Laura Gentile, ESPN’s senior vice president of espnW and Women’s Initiatives, and Mary McLaughlin, Comcast Cable’s senior vice president for the Beltway region.

NAMIC Conference: NAMIC will field a star-studded lineup of speakers for its conference. The two-day event will kick off Sept. 20 with a general session keynote address delivered by Reggie Love, former assistant to President Barack Obama, NAMIC said.

ABC News’ 20/20 co-anchor Elizabeth Vargas will be the special guest speaker for NAMIC’s 2016 L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program Luncheon, in partnership with WICT and Kaitz.

Music industry icon and New Edition/Bel Biv Devoe member Michael Bivins will discuss his career and BET’s upcoming New Edition biographical miniseries during the conference’s Excellence in Multicultural Marketing Awards presentation, according to NAMIC.

In between the high-profile keynoters, the conference’s theme, “Diversity 3.0: Innovation Through Inclusion,” will be executed through sessions aligned with three educational tracks of Business Solutions, Leading and Learning, and Content and Imagery, said the network.

“NAMIC is honored to present such a distinguished line-up of speakers and session facilitators. Our sincere thanks is extended to this year’s planning committee co-chairs and all of the sponsors that have provided support for this milestone 30th anniversary conference,” said Eglon Simons, NAMIC president and CEO.

Kaitz Foundation Dinner: Inclusion, impact and inspiration are the themes for Kaitz’s Sept. 21 annual fundraising dinner, which is on track to raise more than $1.6 million to fund diversity-themed programs and organizations within the cable industry. CNN’s Weekend Edition anchor Fredricka Whitfield will host the gala, which will feature on-stage appearances from dinner co-chairs John Martin, Turner chairman and CEO, and Tom Rutledge, Charter Communications chairman and CEO, as well as Michael Powell, CEO of the NCTA – The Internet & Television Association.

Kaitz will honor A+E Networks with its Diversity Champion Award and The National Association of Latino Independent Producers with its Diversity Advocate Award, Porter said.