Cox Communications VP of fulfillment operations LaKendra Davis Moxie will receive The WICT Network: Southern California chapter’s Catalyst Award on June 18 during the Multichannel News Wonder Women of Los Angeles gala breakfast. 

The award salutes a WICT Network: Southern California chapter member who’s had a positive impact on the industry through their mentorship, leadership and dedication to female career empowerment through involvement with WICT programs.

In her current role, Moxie heads a team of customer-experience professionals at Cox Business responsible for some $30 million in gross revenue nationally, according to WICT. Those efforts are underscored by a commitment to diversity, employee engagement and talent development.

Prior to joining Cox in 2021, she held several leadership roles at AT&T. In 2011 Moxie founded the oxyGEN organization, an employee resource group created to attract, develop and retain future leaders in business.  

“LaKendra is the perfect fit for the Catalyst Award,” WICT Network: Southern California president Jennifer Miles said in a statement. “Her commitment to her role at Cox has inspired everyone around her, but it is her work with the WICT Network, Southern California that has made her the natural choice. She has been a critical ambassador for the WICT Network’s touchstones of leadership, which include her ability to lead, coach and mentor women in our industry. I’m incredibly honored to have her accept this award on behalf of our chapter.”

Previous recipients of the chapter’s Catalyst Award include Carmen Palmer, chief product officer at Marketcast; Bonnie O’Donnell of Fox Networks; Mary Pouliopoulos, division VP, West, for Spectrum Reach, and Holly Henderson, Hallmark Media senior VP, distribution.

The WICT Network: Southern California is the event partner for the Multichannel News Wonder Women of Los Angeles awards, part of L.A. TV Week. L.A. TV Week also includes the 40 Under 40 Awards.

The WICT Network: Southern California has named Holly Henderson, senior VP of distribution at Hallmark Media, as this year’s recipient of the chapter’s Catalyst Award, to be presented at the Wonder Women of Los Angeles gala breakfast on Tuesday, June 20.

The award salutes a WICT Southern California chapter member who has positively impacted the industry through mentorship, leadership, and dedication to female career empowerment through involvement with WICT Network programs.

 “Holly is the epitome of the Catalyst award,” chapter president Jennifer Miles said. “Not only have I known Holly through her time on the WICT board, but through our business dealings as well. She is always looking for ways to lift up those around her and is an inspiration to many. I’m so pleased to honor her with this award.”

As senior VP of distribution at Hallmark Media, Henderson is responsible for the distribution of Hallmark Media’s original content across multiple platforms. Hallmark Media is home to Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries and Hallmark Drama, and SVOD streaming service Hallmark Movies Now. She is based in Los Angeles and reports to Stefanie Nimick, senior VP, portfolio distribution and growth marketing. 

The WICT Network: Southern California is the event partner for the Multichannel News Wonder Women of Los Angeles awards, part of L.A. TV Week. For more information, visit mcnwonderwomen.com or latvweekevents.com. 

The 26th Annual LEA Awards — honoring leadership, excellence, advocacy — will be celebrated Thursday, Nov. 29, at a gala luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Women in Cable Telecommunications of Southern California will honor six leading female media executives (cited here) and welcome two special guests, former FCC commissioner Mignon L. Clyburn and former WICT national board member and past Style Network president Salaam Coleman Smith. Hosting the event are Emmy-winning entertainment journalists and producers Erica Olsen, with CBS Los Angeles, and Mark Steines. For more about the awards and event, visit socalwict.org.

Sarah Aubrey is executive vice president of original programming for TNT. She joined the network in February 2015 as a key member of the new executive team under Kevin Reilly, president of TBS and TNT, chief creative officer for Turner Entertainment. She is responsible for overseeing all development and production of original series and miniseries for the network’s rapidly expanding programming slate. Since joining TNT, Aubrey has green-lighted several series including the network’s highest-rated summer hit, Claws. She also helped to develop the TNT series Animal Kingdom, Good Behavior and The Alienist. Prior to joining TNT, Aubrey was partnered with Peter Berg in their production company, Film 44. Together with Berg, she produced such projects as the acclaimed film and television series Friday Night Lights.

Jamia Bigalow is senior vice president, distribution marketing for Fox Networks Group, overseeing strategies to support linear and nonlinear distribution and generating greater brand awareness for Fox’s portfolio of networks. She directs the development of partnership campaigns that align business objectives for the company’s network brands, which include Fox, FX, National Geographic, Fox Sports and Fox News Channel. She also oversees marketing efforts surrounding retransmission consent and channel carriage agreements. Before joining Fox, she was among the first employees of NFL Network.

Rhonda Crichlow is senior vice president and chief diversity officer of Charter Communications, responsible for the overall strategic development and implementation of Charter’s diversity and inclusion strategy. She joined Charter after 10 years with Novartis Pharmaceuticals, where she most recently served as VP and head, U.S. diversity and inclusion, president of the Novartis U.S. Foundation and a member of the Innovative Medicines Executive Committee. She joined NPC as the executive director of philanthropy and community development in 2006.

Sarah Harden is the CEO of Hello Sunshine, a media brand anchored in storytelling, creating content that changes the narrative for women. Harden partnered with founder Reese Witherspoon to form Hello Sunshine, leading the first investment into the company on behalf of Otter Media where she served as president. Harden earlier led Otter Media, a privately held joint venture between AT&T and The Chernin Group which she helped form in April 2014 to acquire, invest in and launch global over-the-top video services, with companies including Fullscreen, Roosterteeth, Ellation, Crunchyroll, Gunpowder and Sky. Otter was sold to AT&T in 2018.

Amy Introcaso-Davis is executive vice president, development and production for E!. She oversees all unscripted development and production for the global pop-culture brand, including popular series Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Total Divas, Hollywood Medium With Tyler Henry and Botched. Prior to joining E!, Introcaso-Davis served as executive vice president, programming and development at GSN, where she was responsible for the program strategy that led to five years of consecutive growth. Before GSN, Introcaso-Davis served as a production executive at Oxygen, Bravo, Lifetime and Fox.

Linda Kavanaugh is vice president of human resources for Cox Communications’ California operations. She provides leadership and strategic direction for employee relations, leadership development, training, performance management, benefits administration and safety and security for the company’s employees in Orange County, Palos Verdes, San Diego and Santa Barbara. She also leads the company’s Diversity Council of employees in California. She joined the Cox Human Resources team in San Diego in 1996, rising through the ranks to her current role in 2017.

Mignon L. Clyburn served on the Federal Communications Commission from 2009 to 2018, and as acting chair from May to November of 2013. During her nearly nine years at the FCC, she was committed to closing persistent digital and opportunities divides that continue to challenge rural, Native and low wealth communities. Previously, she served 11 years on the South Carolina Public Service Commission. Before that, she was the publisher and general manager of the Coastal Times, the Charleston-based weekly newspaper focusing on issues affecting African-Americans. She is currently a fellow at the Open Society Foundation, continuing to champion efforts to eliminate predatory rates for prison telephone services.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — The Women in Cable Telecommunications Southern California Chapter is honoring a network P.R. ace, a kids’ content and strategy expert, a content acquisition maven and an actress twice nominated for an Oscar.

The 2017 LEA Awards, their 25th anniversary edition, will be presented at a luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 9, at The Beverly Hills Hotel, kicking off with a networking reception at 11:30 a.m. followed by the awards luncheon at 12:30-3 p.m. (For more, visit LEAAwards.com.)

The program includes a panel discussion on leadership with the honorees, moderated by KCBS on-air host Erica Olsen. The four honorees, listed alphabetically, are being recognized for their contributions to the industry and their commitment to developing women leaders in entertainment.

The honorees are (alphabetically):

• Terri Hines, executive vice president, communications, Fox Sports;
• Nancy Kanter, executive vice president, content and creative strategy, Disney Channel Worldwide, and general manager, Disney Junior Worldwide;
• Mary McDonnell, actress and star of TNT’s Major Crimes;
• and Kathy Payne, head, content acquisition management, Amazon Channels.

Terri Hines joined Fox Sports as executive vice president of communications last December. She serves as Fox Sports’ chief spokesperson and is responsible for leading the development and execution of communication strategies for the sports programmer’s multiplatform portfolio. She reports to Fox Sports president and COO Eric Shanks.

Hines previously spent 10 successful years at Nike, most recently as VP of global communications for the Converse brand. Hines also was director of communications for Nike’s Jordan Brand of premium athletic footwear, apparel and accessories. Working directly with NBA legend Michael Jordan and his team, Hines was a driving force behind a number of brand firsts, notably the campaign launch for the Air Jordan XX3, at the time the biggest in Nike history. She also was responsible for rebranding and launching Jordan Brand’s philanthropic platform, Wings for the Future.

Prior to Nike, Hines spent 10 years at Nissan North America in a variety of roles in media relations, communications, public affairs and multicultural marketing, and created Nissan’s first lifestyle and entertainment practice. She started her career at Volkswagen of America.

Nancy Kanter was promoted to executive vice president, content and creative strategy, Disney Channels Worldwide, and general manager, Disney Junior Worldwide, this year. She is responsible for content creation strategy that guides the development of original live-action and animated programming for kids age 6-14 on Disney Channel and Disney XD, and all creative content for kids age 2-7 on Disney Junior. She also oversees strategy for acquired content that supports the overarching creative vision and, working with the live action and animation development and programming teams, continues attracting, developing and retaining creative talent to Disney’s portfolio of entertainment platforms for kids and families.

Under Kanter, the 24-hour Disney Junior channel has reigned as the top preschooler-dedicated TV network in total viewers, kids 2-5, girls 2-5, boys 2-5 and women 18-49. In 2016, the channel presented the top eight series among kids 2-5 and total viewers, including The Lion Guard, Elena of Avalor and Miles from Tomorrowland. Kanter also brought the Peabody-winning Doc McStuffins, the Emmy-winning Sofia the First, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Mickey and the Roadster Racers and Puppy Dog Pals to Disney Junior.

Previously executive VP, original programming, she joined Disney Channel in 2001. In 2011 and 2012, she led the successful rebrand of Playhouse Disney to Disney Junior, establishing the brand a total of 33 Disney Junior channels in 24 languages around the world. Prior to joining Disney Channel, Kanter was president, Bluecow.com, a children’s entertainment internet, following a distinguished run as an executive producer and producer of children’s programming.

Mary McDonnell is a distinguished American actress known for her work in theater, film, and television. She is highly regarded for her portrayals of strong, empathic and powerful women. Her ability to connect with roles in a way that reveals a conscious awareness of the world around her has resulted in a rewarding and long lasting career.

Nominated twice for Academy Awards for her work in movies (Dances With Wolves, Passion Fish), she has also been nominated twice each for Golden Globes and Emmy awards. Her many TV roles include the surgeon Dr. Virginia Dixon in Grey’s Anatomy and Noah Wyle’s alcoholic mother in ER. She played President Laura Roslin in Syfy’s Peabody Award-winning series Battlestar Galactica; Capt./Cmdr. Sharon Raydor in TNT’s franchise drama series The Closer and in Major Crimes; and the mysterious widow Ruby Goldfarb in Fargo on FX.

As an advocate, she has used her voice to support The National Lyme Disease Association (spokesperson), Autism Speaks, Sunshine Kids, Ocean Park Community Center and Everett Company Stage School in Providence, R.I. She recently aided the fundraising effort for The Water Protectors Legal Collective, devoted to finding legal representation for Americans arrested during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation.

Kathy Payne joined Amazon in March to lead the content acquisition team focused on live television channels for Amazon Channels. Over the course of her career, she has been at the forefront of transforming the consumer television experience, negotiating video programming rights from virtually every major media company over 25 years.

Before she joined Amazon, Payne was chief programming officer at Suddenlink Communications (now part of Altice USA) and before that, she was VP of content acquisition and an assistant general counsel at Cox Communications.

Payne served on the board of Women in Cable & Telecommunications for seven years, chairing it for two years. She has received several industry and corporate awards for leadership, commitment to customers and cost-mitigation efforts. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters and loves adventure travel, most recently trekking in Peru and Nepal and exploring Cuba and Argentina.

LOS ANGELES — The 2016 LEA Awards, hosted by the Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) Southern California chapter, is gearing up to be a night to remember.

On Thursday (Nov. 10), hundreds of media professionals will converge in Hollywood to honor the five LEA (Leadership, Education and Advocacy) Awards recipients and recognize the work they do to empower women leaders in entertainment and communications. But that’s not all that’s in store for attendees.

WICT Southern California has enlisted industry veteran and former Style Network president Salaam Coleman Smith to give the evening’s keynote address. She brings more than 25 years of experience working with some of the most powerful brands in entertainment, including The Walt Disney Co., NBCUniversal and Viacom.

Maria Brennan, current president and CEO of Women in Cable Telecommunications and former president of American Women in Radio and Television, will also be featured as a guest speaker. Actor and comedian Elon Gold will kick off the festivities and keep the crowd laughing as the evening’s master of ceremonies.

2016 LEA AWARDS RECIPIENTS

Toby Berlin

President, School of Toby

Toby Berlin is the founder and president of The School of Toby, a media consultancy that supports programmers, MVPDs, cable networks and institutional investors. She provides advice on distribution negotiations, strategic planning, business development and financial and contractual support. She also consults on regulatory compliance, content acquisition, packaging, pricing and crisis management.

Berlin was one of the first members of the Sony PlayStation Vue launch team, engaged to provide foundational cable distribution knowledge to the organization’s TV service that streams live TV, movies and sports across a variety of devices. She continues to consult with Sony on content acquisitions and strategic partnerships.

Previously, Berlin spent 15 years as VP of programming acquisitions for DirecTV. During her tenure with the satellite-TV provider, she oversaw programming acquisitions and negotiations across numerous categories including Spanish-language, international services, general entertainment, shopping, pay-per-view events, local into local, airborne and music services. She also founded and served as president of the company’s first employee resource group, the Women’s Leadership Exchange.

Berlin earned her juris doctor from the Southwestern School of Law as a student in the SCALE program, an intensive two-year undertaking. She has an undergraduate business degree from the University of Miami.

Del J. Heintz

Senior Director, State Government Affairs, Western Region, Charter Communications

Del J. Heintz is highly respected as a strategic planner, problem solver and team-builder. His talent as a motivator and mentor has been honed over a 30 year career in telecommunications. Since 2007, Heintz has been the California and Wisconsin state director for government affairs for Charter Communications, covering elected officials, community-based organizations and educational leaders in hundreds of communities. Well-versed in the analysis of legislation and regulations, Heintz sets the strategic direction for his department and develops key initiatives. He has also led community outreach projects with the company’s public relations and sales departments. He is part of the executive committee and currently serves as the treasurer of the California Cable Telecommunications Association.

Before joining Charter, Heintz spent 13 years at Time Warner Cable as the director of government affairs and general manager of operations in Southern California. There, he oversaw political, community and public relations while forging relationships with elected officials. Prior to TWC, he held positions at several networks, including A&E.

Heintz has been influential in various educational businesses and nonprofit organizations. Through his interaction with elected officials, community leaders and local philanthropists, he has executed numerous fundraising events. Del earned his degree in business administration from the University of Washington in Seattle, and has an honorary degree from Orange Coast College.

Nadya Ichinomiya

Director of IT, Television Marketing, Sony Pictures Entertainment

Starting with a business degree from the University of Southern California, Nadya Ichinomiya cut her corporate teeth at IBM in sales and management. At age 27, she became vice president of Electronic Data Systems (now Hewlett Packard) in Frankfurt, Germany, shattering the glass ceiling as the highest-ranking woman in the region and youngest VP worldwide (of 117,000 employees).

From computer screens to movie screens, she changed course and rebooted her career as a Hollywood producer.

After five years working with Bonnie Hunt in movies and TV (as a producer on ABC’s Life With Bonnie) Ichinomiya returned to the corporate world, joining MGM in TV distribution.

Currently, she is director of information techonology at Sony Pictures, leading teams that create world-class mobile apps and websites to support TV shows such as The Blacklist, Outlander and Shark Tank.

Two years ago, Ichinomiya co-founded Women In Technology: Hollywood, a cross-media and entertainment initiative with 600-plus members from all the major studios, and is also co-chair of Women in Technology at Sony Pictures. Each group’s mission is to empower women to expand their professional development and build their network, as well as to encourage girls to consider a career in technology, whether in coding or code-adjacent roles in project management or business analysis.

Donna Thomas

Senior Vice President, Studio Sales, Vubiquity

Donna Thomas is a seasoned media and entertainment executive with a passion for content. A powerful business driver, she currently serves as senior vice president of sales at Vubiquity and is responsible for the company’s studio and distributor clients.

An expert in the digital media space, Thomas has worked every aspect of the content supply chain from creation through distribution. Prior to Vubiquity, she served as vice president of sales at Technicolor, as senior VP, distribution at Deluxe Entertainment Services and as senior VP of national accounts for Discovery Networks. She is also the founder of the Thomas Angel Foundation, which partners with improv comedy troupe Upright Citizens Brigade to award scholarships to women in comedy. Since the foundation’s inception, more than $150,000 has been awarded.

Thomas is a performer at heart. A lover of comedy, you can find her performing throughout Los Angeles on any given night with one of her improv teams. She recently completed a sold out run of her solo show, “From Southern Belle to Mrs. Cartel,” at the Hollywood Fringe Festival and was a finalist in the New York New Works Festival.

Erika Nolting—WICT SoCal Board Member of the Year

Enterprise Client Executive, Neudesic

Erika Nolting is an enterprise client executive in sales at Neudesic, a technology and management consulting company that helps businesses focused on digital modernization and transformation. She is responsible for cultivating and managing relationships with businesses seeking to leverage the power of technology.

Nolting has partnered with many executives on their strategic software development and change initiatives across a wide range of industries, including media and entertainment, healthcare, retail, and finance throughout California and the Western region of the U.S.

Nolting evolved into the technology industry after seven years at Disney and ESPN. While serving as an account executive on major U.S. cable content distribution licensing negotiations and marketing partnerships, she also was a member of task forces that helped develop and launch new digital distribution user experiences, including the Watch ESPN, Watch Disney and Watch ABC Family Web and mobile applications. During her tenure with the company, she also helped develop ESPN’s syndication business and worked on ESPN’s ad sales team in account management and operations of over 25 brands advertising on ESPN’s cable networks.

She holds a bachelor of arts in communications from Cornell University, where she graduated summa cum laude with distinction in research. She currently resides in Redondo Beach, Calif.