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News & Views

Observations

Happy Holidays to all of our NAMIC members!

There is no more appropriate time than the beginning of a new year to wish you every success and to express our appreciation for your support of NAMIC during this past year. 

NAMIC remains more committed than ever to advancing diversity in the telecommunications industry and our programs exemplify that goal.  We hope that you and your companies have personally benefited from the leadership development programs, professional networking opportunities and educational conferences and events provided by NAMIC throughout the year.  NAMIC’s 18 chapters continue to produce local programs to enhance the career growth and development of our members and they appreciate your support, as well.

We look forward to another year of excitement, change and opportunities.  On behalf of the NAMIC Board of Directors and staff, thank you for your generosity and commitment to our mission.

Best wishes for a happy holiday season and a prosperous, healthy new year.

Regards,

Kathy A. Johnson
President

 

Diversity Ruled and Content was King at the 23rd Annual NAMIC Conference!

Many thanks to all of you who came to the 23rd Annual NAMIC Conference, Diversity Rules, in Denver.  Once again, attendees enthused that “this year’s content was the best-ever and is among the most relevant offered in any forum.”

From the opening keynote by Chris Hughes, co-founder of Facebook and founder of MyBarackObama.com, to the Mentorship Luncheon interview with Food Network star Sunny Anderson, to the Conference close with CNN Chief Medical Correspondent and Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award Honoree, Dr. Sanjay Gupta--and all of the sessions in-between--conference attendees came away energized, informed and impressed.

However, don’t just take our word for it.  Visit the Annual NAMIC Conference blog at www.namic.com for participant commentary on:

• The “Ethics” workshop and reception for alumni of NAMIC’s Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP) and Leadership Seminar
• The inaugural CableFAX Most Influential Minorities in Cable breakfast and panel discussion with Albert Cheng (Disney ABC Television Group), Raymond Gutierrez (CBS Television Networks) and Charisse Lillie (Comcast)
• Popular sessions, including, Diversity in White: Personal Journeys of White Male Executives; Leading With Your Right; and My Content Anywhere: Changing the Rules of Engagement Between Content Providers and Distributors
• Presentations from the panel of marketing dynamos at the Excellence in Multi-cultural Marketing Awards (EMMA)

We hope that you’ll keep the buzz alive by contributing to our blog.

In addition, C-SPAN broadcasted the keynote address presented by Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes on Sunday, November 29, 2009.

Thanks, also, to our Honorary Chair, Robert B. Clasen, Chairman & CEO, Starz LLC; and to all of our planning committee members and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to ensure that the 23rd Annual NAMIC Conference was a success. 

You rule!

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NAMIC Announces Results of 2009 Board Elections

NAMIC announced the results of its 2009 Board Directors election. Newly elected Directors include ten of the communications industry’s top business leaders. Additionally, five incumbent Directors were re-elected.  All Directors begin serving terms effective immediately.

The newly elected members of the NAMIC Board of Directors are: Michael D. Armstrong, SVP and GM, BET International; Matthew Barnhill, Jr., SVP, Corporate Market Research, BET Networks; Mark DePietro, VP, Strategy & Business Development, Motorola; Raúl de Quesada, Assistant GM and SVP, Fox Sports en Español and Fox Soccer Channel; Sherisse Hawkins, VP, Customer Premise and Navigation Systems, Time Warner Cable; Juan Herrera, VP, Office of Global Inclusion, MTV Networks; Robert Mendez, SVP, Diversity for ABC, Disney-ABC Television Group; Necole J. Merritt, VP, Corporate Public Affairs, Cox Communications; Pragash Pillai, SVP, Engineering and Technology, Bresnan Communications; and Belinda Turner-Patterson, VP, People Services, Cox Communications.

James G. Brown, SVP, ESPN Rise; Lino Garcia, GM, ESPN Deportes; Mark Horn, Principal, Technology, Media & Telecommunications, Deloitte; Winston P. Warrior, Senior Director of Marketing, Cox Media Group; Akihiko Washington, EVP, Worldwide Human Resources, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. are among the re-elected incumbents.

The NAMIC Board of Directors also approved the appointment of Raymond Gutierrez, EVP, Human Resources & Administration, CBS Television Networks, Inc. to the position of Vice Chair.  In his role of Vice Chair, Gutierrez joins the board’s Executive Committee, which is Chaired by Mark Garner, SVP, Distribution, Marketing & Business Development, A&E Television Networks, and includes Kathy Johnson, president, NAMIC; Marsha J. Conaway, Regional VP, Human Resources, Midwest Region, Time Warner Cable (Treasurer); Lucinda Martinez-Desir, VP, Acquisitions and Multicultural Marketing, HBO (Secretary); and Alicin Williamson, SVP, Corporate Social Responsibility and Public Affairs, MTV Networks (Immediate Past Chair).

Additional members of the NAMIC Board of Directors include: Patricia Andrews-Keenan, Chief Strategy Officer, The Tallulah Group; Kenetta Bailey, SVP, Marketing, WE tv Networks; Lisa Choi-Owens, SVP, Partnerships & Digital On-Line Distribution, Scripps Networks; Jason Eanes, VP, Eastern Region, Affiliate Relations, Univision; Clara Felix, VP, Consumer Research, Showtime Networks Inc.; Earle F. Jones, Senior Director, Federal Government Affairs, Comcast Corporation; Mark Kang, SVP, Affiliate Relations, The Sportsman Channel; Reinaldo Llano, Director, Corporate Community Relations, Bright House Networks; Filemon Lopez, Regional SVP, South Florida Region, Comcast Cable; Joiava Philpott, Attorney At Law; Loretta Polk, VP & Associate General Counsel, NCTA; Michelle Rice, EVP, Affiliate Sales & Marketing, TV One; Danielle Wade, VP, Customer Service & Marketing, Bright House Networks; Lenore Washington; and Loretta Young Walker, SVP & Chief Human Resources Officer, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

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Join NAMIC On Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter

Looking for new ways to stay connected to NAMIC?

Become a fan of NAMIC on Facebook - also be sure to search for your local chapter's page.
Search for "NAMIC - National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications"
under "Pages"

Join the NAMIC group on LinkedIn - also be sure to search for your local chapter's page.
Search for "NAMIC (National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications)"
under "Groups"

Follow NAMIC on Twitter
Search for "NAMICNational"

Check out DiversityLive.
NAMIC's user-generated online destination presented in partnership with Motorola.

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Career Corner

What Are The Most Common Mistakes Made By Job Candidates?

Please visit www.diversitylive.net and click on “blog” to read Tracy Lawrence’s new post on the six most common mistakes job candidates make.

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Looking For Diverse Candidates?
Looking For Your Next Big Career Move?

The NAMIC Job Bank is the leading resource for connecting employers and highly qualified diverse job candidates in the communications industry.

NAMIC members may search the Job Bank for FREE.
Click here to access the Job Bank.

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CHAPTER NEWS

Please visit www.diversitylive.net and click on “channels” to find your chapter's latest happenings.

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PEOPLE

Q&A with Juan Herrera - VP, Office of Global Inclusion, MTV Networks

Q: As you are just coming off of leading the NAMIC-New York chapter as president, are there any words of wisdom you have to the incoming 2010 chapter presidents?

A: Surround yourself with talented people.  I was fortunate enough to have committed officers who made my job easier.  Identify the right individuals to serve as committee heads.  Weave a sense of fun into the job – make sure you enjoy what you’re doing and people will want to attend your events.  If you make sure the events are fun, that will create a buzz.

Q: How did NAMIC’s Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP) impact your career?

A: Before I attended ELDP I heard from alumni what an experience it was.  I did not realize the impact it would have on my life until I graduated.  I am grateful to NAMIC for the opportunity.  The professors helped me to pinpoint areas of my professional and personal life that needed improvement.  My classmates have turned out to be an invaluable soundboard to bounce ideas and thoughts off of.  The teachings from ELDP helped me to be a better chapter president. I am a better leader for going through ELDP.

Q:  What factors in your career helped you achieve a seat on NAMIC’s Board of Directors?

A:  I am fully committed to NAMIC’s mission and feel strongly that there should be diverse leaders in the communications field.  My company is a huge supporter of NAMIC and I feel that it is so important to have people of color sitting on the board of directors. NAMIC has given me so many opportunities (networking, speaking on panels) which have helped develop me as a leader.  I want to give back to NAMIC by serving on the board and pave the way for other individuals in the industry.

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Movers & Shakers

Andrea Agnew, Director of Diversity & Inclusion, Comcast, received the Volunteer Award at the Urban League of Philadelphia’s Annual Community Empowerment Awards Luncheon. She is also an alumna of NAMIC ELDP Class VIII

NAMIC-New York Secretary, Denise Bennett moved from Manager, Integrated Marketing, MTV Networks to Manager, Integrated Sales Marketing, Women @ NBC Universal

Ola Ekundare has been promoted to Director of Standards, Comcast.  Formerly she was Manager, Purchasing, Comcast

Grace Killelea has moved up from VP of Talent Management and Leadership Initiatives, Comcast to Senior Vice President of Talent, Comcast

Ron Phillips has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Comcast.  He was formerly VP, Human Resources, West Division, Comcast. He is an alumnus of NAMIC ELDP Class VII

Tina Waters, Senior Vice President of Customer Care, Comcast, was named as one of the Women Worth Watching in 2010 by Profiles in Diversity Journal

NAMIC board member, Akihiko "Kiko" Washington has been promoted to EVP, Worldwide Human Resources, Warner Bros. Entertainment

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Welcome New NAMIC Members!

NAMIC extends a warm welcome to all of our new members.  We look forward to providing you with the resources you need to accelerate your careers and to advance multi-ethnic diversity in the communications industry.

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Upcoming Events

Please visit www.namic.com/events for more information.

Upcoming Events

February
February 3-5: Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP)
Class IX – Session 3 (by invitation only)
UCLA Anderson Graduate School of Management
Los Angeles, CA

Spring
Vision Awards Luncheon Ceremony
Presented by NAMIC-Southern California
Beverly Hills, CA

April
April 21-23: Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP)
Class IX – Session 4 (by invitation only)
UCLA Anderson Graduate School of Management
Los Angeles, CA

April 22: Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP)
Class IX – Graduation (by invitation only)
UCLA Anderson Graduate School of Management
Los Angeles, CA

May
May 13: Annual Awards Breakfast
(as part of Cable Connection-Spring)
JW Marriott at LA Live
Los Angeles, CA

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NAMIC Staff

Kathy A. Johnson, President
James C. Jones, VP, Education Programs
Daphne Leroy, VP, Marketing & Communications
Daniel J. McGlone, VP, Fund Development
Sandra Girado, Director, Meetings & Events
Faride Precil, Manager, Education Programs
Susan Waldman, Manager, Research & Publications
Monique Wells, Manager, Operations
Maria Acevedo, Project Coordinator

2009 Issue 4