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News & Views

Observations

We look forward to seeing many of you at the Annual NAMIC Conference in Denver next week.  While our attendance will be down due to location and economic constraints, we continue to raise the bar on our content. This year’s Annual Conference, Diversity Rules, will feature a stellar line-up of speakers and sessions that will provide attendees with tools for personal growth as well as arm them with strategies to ensure that their companies are prepared for the new demographic reality:  Multi-cultural is Mainstream.

Just added to our amazing speaker line-up is Sunny Anderson.  She is one of the newest additions to Food Network’s popular “In the Kitchen” weekend block with her series, Cooking for Real.  Sunny will be the featured speaker at the L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship luncheon on Tuesday, October 27. 

Although many of you will not be able to personally join us in Denver, you can get the latest updates on the Conference blog as well as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

We also hope that you continue to take advantage of NAMIC’s educational offerings on the web, as well as in your local chapters.  In November and December, we will offer three more installments of our NAMIC Leadership Suite webinar series.  Many of our webinars are interactive and provide a convenient, cost-effective means for you and your colleagues to hone your skills. Click here for topics and to register.

On November 6th we will launch an all-new Executive Coaching Program that will be available to all of our Platinum-level members. The NAMIC Executive Coaching Program is unique in that it offers eligible NAMIC members and their companies access to a select cadre of multi-cultural coaches pre-screened for their knowledge of the particular career challenges faced by professionals in the communications industry. 

Click here for more information and to register for this important new professional development opportunity

Participation in your local chapter provides a great opportunity to develop leadership skills and to increase your visibility. We are currently seeking nominations for chapter officers for 2010 and strongly urge you to play an active role.  An active member is a satisfied member.

And last, but not least, we encourage you to expand your professional networks.  Are you a member of Facebook or LinkedIn?  Why not create a profile on NAMIC’s DiversityLive to increase your social networking to the most diverse group of communications professionals in the industry?  Click here for more information.

Always be sure to visit www.namic.com to stay abreast of the latest NAMIC member benefits and news. As the premier organization focused on diversity and inclusion, we don’t want you to miss out!

Regards,

Kathy A. Johnson
President

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Get your keys to the kingdom at the MUST ATTEND event of the year – the 2009 Annual NAMIC Conference!

Opening Keynoter Highlights!
Social media superstar Chris Hughes will deliver the Opening Keynote address at the Annual NAMIC Conference, October 26-28 in Denver, CO as part of Cable Connection-Fall.  Hughes is the co-founder of Facebook and the mastermind behind My.BarackObama.com, two of the most successful startups in modern history.  At 25 years old, Hughes has spent his brief career developing technologies to make social communication and political organizing easier and more efficient. Since Hughes helped hatch Facebook from his dorm room at Harvard, the site has garnered over 200 million users. Hughes’ commitment to connecting like-minded communities for a greater good was further exemplified through his success as founder of My.BarackObama.com; the campaign apparatus that helped elect Obama and revolutionize the Web as a political tool. With an instinct for building technology that networks the commonality of real people and real communities, he helps organizations understand the limitless power of social networking.  A true visionary, he is a powerful speaker on technology and its power to transform customer service, media and politics. 

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Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award Luncheon

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, chief medical correspondent for CNN, will receive the 2009 Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award.  Presented in conjunction with the Annual NAMIC Conference, the Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award was established in 1992 in memory of the late Congressman from Texas for his lifelong advocacy of social justice and equality for people around the world. 

In addition to serving as a correspondent for the health and medical unit at CNN, Dr. Gupta is an author and a practicing neurosurgeon and an assistant professor of neurosurgery at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.  Through his career as a medical professional and journalist, Dr. Gupta has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to advancing global equality in health and human services.

Since joining CNN in the summer of 2001, Dr. Gupta’s illustrious career has been marked by many high points and accolades such as working as part of CNN’s team covering the September 11 attacks in New York City and leading breaking news reporting on the anthrax attacks later that year.   In 2003, Dr. Gupta reported from Iraq as an embedded correspondent with the U.S. Navy’s medical unit.  Dr. Gupta provided CNN’s viewers with exclusive reports as the unit traveled to Baghdad.  In addition to providing live coverage from a desert operating room of the first operation performed during the war, Dr. Gupta also performed brain surgery five times himself.  Dr. Gupta’s coverage of the disaster and aftermath of the tsunami in South Asia contributed to the awarding of an Alfred I. duPont Award to CNN in 2004.  An Emmy award-winner, Gupta’s passion for inspiring Americans and people around the world to lead healthier, more active lives is exemplified through his robust reporting for many health programs such as ‘Vital Signs,” which airs globally via CNN International and “Paging Dr. Gupta,” a weekly CNN segment and podcast. 

Click here to see the most up-to-date speakers, agenda and registration information

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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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NAMIC’s Multicultural Marketing Committee Produces Session for Multichannel News and Broadcasting & Cable’s Seventh Annual Hispanic Television Summit

Held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square New York City on Wednesday, September 23 and Thursday, September 24, 2009, the annual Hispanic TV Summit serves as the premier event for those in Hispanic video media and related businesses.  The Summit was held in tandem with Advertising Week New York 2009.

On Thursday, September 24th, NAMIC’s very own Multicultural Marketing Committee produced the session: The Promotions People-How to Attract Hispanic Viewers With Experiential Promotions.

In an engaging and interactive session, our panel of experts presented strategies for generating awareness for programming and getting Hispanic viewers to watch on specific screens. 

The co-moderators were Mindy Figueroa, President, Latin2Latin; and Philip Polk, Director, Segmentation Marketing, Cox Communications; both of whom also served as the Hispanic TV Summit subcommittee co-chairs on NAMIC’s Multicultural Marketing Committee.

The panelists included:

• Ronald J. Gordon, President, Telemundo Station Group;
• Matt Grim, Director, Affiliate Sales and Marketing, Fox Sports en Espanol;
• Robyn Remick, Director, Affiliate Sales and Marketing, ESPN; and
• Renata Franco, Multicultural Marketing Manager, Cox Communications

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Career Corner

An Inside Look at Working with Executive Recruiters
By Tracy Lawrence

Tracy L. Lawrence is a management consultant who works with clients across the spectrum of consumer, technology, hospitality, and entertainment and media industries on strategic planning, marketing and human capital management issues.  You may email her with any career questions at tracy@tracyllawrence.com

• Retained Search and Contingency Search: There are two types of recruiting firms—Retained Search and Contingency Search.

• Retained search firms work with companies under exclusive contracts, and are compensated upfront for the work, with a bonus once the search is completed. In general, retained search firms work in close partnership with the hiring company (client), and often will have long-standing relationships with the executives in that company.  Retained search firms are most typically used for searches at the Vice President or higher levels.

• Contingency search firms accept search assignments with the understanding that they will be compensated only if a hire is made. Consequently, there may be times when more than one contingency firm is working on a particular assignment, so you might be contacted by several firms with the same search! Contingency firms often also have longstanding relationships with their clients, and are used more frequently to place mid-level executives. However, in this new economic climate, some companies are using contingency firms where they once would have only used a retained search firm.

As you interact with search firms throughout your career, it is important to have an understanding of how each firm conducts business, what their industry specialties are, and whether they work on a retained vs. contingency basis. It is also a good idea to ask who their major clients are and whether you can help source people through your own network for current and future searches.

• Search firms work for companies, not individual executives:  I have often heard friends in the industry express frustration because a prominent recruiter won’t return his call, or spend time giving career advice. While this is certainly good practice, it is not always possible. A recruiter’s most important asset is his time. On a typical day, a recruiter is working on five or more searches, and the client must come first. If at that time, all of the current searches are in marketing and you are in finance, that recruiter will have to delay your meeting in order to prioritize his or her existing projects. Don’t take this personally because, as I previously mentioned, recruiters need to close searches in order to get paid!

• Search firms cannot create a job for you: There tends to be a lot of mystery and speculation about what jobs recruiters know about, and how they decide to make you a candidate for that position. Simply put, recruiters have to be highly responsive to what their clients have asked for. Before a search officially begins, the recruiter and client typically develop a detailed list of qualities and qualifications they are looking for in a candidate. Some of this information will be shared with you, but some remains confidential. The recruiter’s job is to present candidates who have this specific profile. Recruiters are not generally encouraged by clients to present “out of the box” candidates for searches. Consequently, if your background is not consistent with the profile, you may need to use other avenues to get an introduction to the hiring company.

• ALWAYS return calls to recruiters: Recruiters maintain extensive databases on executives in their target industries. Most of the larger firms will track every single conversation that they have with you, whether it is about a position, or some helpful referrals you have provided on searches that were not right for you. As you progress in your career, it will be important to maintain good relationships with the key recruiters in your field. On the other hand, if you establish a pattern of not returning calls, you may miss hearing about opportunities. Keep in mind that recruiters often handle Board searches, which will become more important as you progress in your career.

• Build a bridge to the future: It is also very important to keep your interaction with recruiters positive. This may seem like a no-brainer, but in every search I have worked on, there was someone who did something inappropriate. Because recruiters are so well networked, it is important to maintain a solid professional relationship with them.

The bottom line is to always remember that successful executive recruiters base their business on relationships and so should you! Remember to take responsibility for maintaining your own relationships with recruiters, help them source great candidates and be polite, positive and helpful in all your interactions with them. Opportunities from search firms may not always arise on your preferred timetable, but they will come to you when they have the search that is right for you.

Tracy L. Lawrence is a management consultant who works with clients across the spectrum of consumer, technology, hospitality, and entertainment and media industries on strategic planning, marketing and human capital management issues.  You may email her with your career questions at tracy@tracyllawrence.com.

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Congratulations to the NAMIC Writers’ Workshop Fall 2009 Class! 

A group of twenty talented writers of color participated in an extraordinary two-day intensive workshop held in New York on October 5-6, 2009. The NAMIC Writers’ Workshop is led by Carole Kirschner, veteran television executive and architect of the CBS Diversity Institute Writers Mentoring Program. Congratulations to all!

Writers' Workshop Fall 2009 Class attendees:

Farhan Arshad
Marcia Best
Angela Black-Sarumi
Timikal Bobo
David Brown
Huy Chau
Gabriel Franco
Sonja Gracy
Carla Jeanpierre
Ann  Kim
Coung Lam
Allison Lee
Sean Lightner
Teresa Lo
Jacqueline McKinley
Mark Anthony Mills
Terrence Reese
Shanae Sharon
Alicia Tilque
Brian Young

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NAMIC Announces 2009-2010 Class Roster For Executive Leadership Development Program Designed to Increase Pipeline of Executives of Color

The NAMIC ELDP is presented in partnership with UCLA's Anderson Graduate School of Management. This 11-day prestigious program is tailored specifically for the empowerment and advancement of executives of color. ELDP graduates are equipped with a competitive advantage that bolsters career success in a dynamic global industry.  More than 250 industry executives have completed the program since its inception in 2001.

ELDP Class IX Participants:

Angelynne Amores, Regional Director, Corporate Communications, Comcast
Deric Bomar, Vice President, Labor and Employee Relations, Comcast
Michelle Brooks, Director, Content Distribution & Marketing, MTV Networks
Damon Burrell, Vice President, Consumer Marketing, MTV Networks
Julio Cardiel, Director, Technical Operations, Comcast
Maureen Carter Gordon, Creative Director, Interactive Media, Comcast
Mitchell Christopher, Vice President, Technical Operations, Time Warner Cable
Sarah Chung, Director, Finance, MTV Networks
Lee Dang, Director, Engineering, Comcast
Shabnam Dewji, Vice President, Operations - West Region,     Time Warner Cable Media Sales
John Douglas, Vice President, Employee/Labor Relations, Comcast
Henry Fore, Area Vice President, Comcast
Darrel Hegar, Regional Vice President, Operations, Carolina Region, Time Warner Cable
James Hendricks, Senior Director, Human Resources, ESPN
Toni Herron, Senior Director, Communications and Press, VH1
Krandall Jones, Vice President, Application Development, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc
Navine Karim, Senior Associate Counsel, BET Networks
Deborah King, Vice President, Sales Invoicing, News & International Sales Operations, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
Alysia   Long, Assistant General Counsel, Cox Communications
Nathalie Lubensky, Senior Vice President, Affiliate Marketing, Disney & ESPN Media Networks
Kay Madati, Vice President, Audience Experience, CNN Worldwide
Dennis  Mathew, Senior Director, High Speed Data Operations, Comcast
Tendai  Muronda, Director, Finance and Operations, Comcast (Exercise TV,) LLC
Sonya   Nelson, Regional Vice President, Human Resources, Comcast
Oke Okaro, Vice President, Mobile ESPN
Julie Oleynick, Senior Director, Human Resources, Comcast
Sergio  Penaloza, Director, Video & MTC Technology, Cox Communications, Arizona
Gerald  Raines, Senior Director, Theme Parks and Attractions, MTV Networks
Wayne Ramprashad, Executive Director, Call Management and Architecture, Comcast
Michelle Ray, Senior Director, Program & Strategic Initiatives, Walter Kaitz Foundation
Freddy Rolon, Senior Director II, Strategy - Content Business Division, ESPN
Shari Rouleau-Hellhake, Director, Competitive Analysis, Comcast
Kamini (Connie) Sarvanandan, Director of Marketing and Sales Communications, HBO (Warner Brothers)
Shaun Williams, Vice President, Business Operations, BET Networks
Bilai Joa Silar, Vice President, Channel Director Discovery Kids & US Hispanic, Discovery Networks Latin America/US Hispanic
Patalia  Tate, Vice President, Creative, Food Network
Janet Uthman, Regional Director, Product Management, Comcast
Ernest Watts, Senior Director, Technical Operations, Live Events and Field Ops, Turner Studios
Vin Zachariah, Regional Vice President, Operations, Southwest Ohio, Time Warner Cable
Jennifer Zaldivar, Senior Director, Communications, TV Land, MTV Networks

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Connect!  Engage!  Share!  Learn!  Get Involved! With the new ELDP Community Portal

The ELDP Community Portal is now active and serves as an exclusive social and professional networking space for members of the ELDP community, past and present. This tool serves as an outgrowth of NAMIC's on-going commitment to unite individuals from across the NAMIC membership spectrum for continuous learning and self-empowerment.

The ELDP Community Portal includes the following dynamic features:

CLASS - Connect directly with members of your ELDP class. Strengthen old relationships and establish new ones.  Share information and ideas.

PHOTOS - Post pictures of ELDP class activities and others of general interest.

VIDEOS - Create and upload original content.  Access video learning materials especially for the ELDP community.

BLOGS - Create a diary of your professional journey and share with other ELDP members to the pressures and successes of your career.

EVENTS CALENDAR - Share personal and professional event information with your ELDP colleagues.  Stay abreast of the latest NAMIC national and chapter events

DISCUSSION BOARD - Post a topic of interest to the ELDP community; get answers to questions from your colleagues, or just start a discussion. The discussion board is a place to post career information and all your professional development related concerns.

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New Executive Coaching Program for Platinum Members Launches In November

NAMIC is pleased to announce an all-new Executive Coaching Program launching in November and available exclusively to our Platinum level members. The NAMIC Executive Coaching Program is unique in its capacity to offer eligible members and their companies access to a select cadre of multi-cultural coaches pre-screened for their knowledge of the particular challenges faced by professionals in the communications industry. 

A three-tiered approach will offer both time and cost options to participants, while ensuring that any choice of program elements or combination of elements will present an optimum coaching experience and ROI.

TIER #1 (Mandatory)
Professional Development and Self-awareness with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator© (MBTI)

• Webinar No. 1: Self-Discovery and Career Empowerment - November 6, 2009
• Webinar No. 2: Understanding Type Dynamics - November 13, 2009
• Webinar No. 3: Type and Diverse Team Effectiveness - November 20, 2009

TIER #2
One-on-One MBTI Profile Feedback

TIER #3
One-on-One Executive Coaching

Visit http://www.namic.com/profdev/executivecoaching/index.php for more information.

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NAMIC Leadership Suite Webinars – Only 3 Remaining!

In May, NAMIC kicked off its 2009 webinar series, providing an attractive, cost-effective solution for members and companies with limited training and education budgets to gain access to a range of professional development and industry specific topics and experts.

Sponsored in part by the Walter Kaitz Foundation, the hour-long webinars include audience participation through a chat environment with Q&A and polling capabilities.

Webinars start at 4 pm (ET) and end at 5 pm. Participation fee for each is $40 for NAMIC members, and $50 for non-NAMIC members.  Package discounts are also available.

We hope you’ll consider participating in the remaining four webinars on the 2009 roster:

• November 5: Why Good People Make Bad Decisions (and how to avoid making those choices in the workplace
• November 19: Brand Strategies and the Fragmented Media
• December 10: “Cultural Scripts” At Work: Enhancing the Gifts and Managing the Challenges

For more information and for a detailed description of each webinar, click here

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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

NAMIC Across the Nation

As we enter the fall season, let’s take a look at some of the best summer chapter events across the nation.

NAMIC-Atlanta
August 19, 2009          
Mentoring Dinner
Villa Christina
Atlanta, GA

NAMIC-Atlanta’s Signature Mentoring Dinner brought together participants of the L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program to share their experience in the program and to encourage the importance of mentorship.  An estimated 30 people came to the event which was sponsored by Food Network.

The event included an overview of the L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program presented by NAMIC’s Faride Precil, Manager of Education Programs.

The following L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program participants (mentors and mentees) described their experiences in the program:

• Patrice L. Brown, Financial Analyst, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
• Lashana Williams, Director, Financial Analysis, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
• Nicole Jones, Director, Strategy, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
• Lynnette Smith, Manager, Special Advertising, The Weather Channel
• Vicki Hamilton, SVP, Enterprise Digital Operations and Performance, Turner
• Broadcasting System, Inc.
• Ivy Scott, Network Strategy T3, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
• Joyclan Sumpter, Director, Affiliate Operations, The Weather Channel
• Christine Lew, Manager, Network Strategy, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
• Michael Hewitt, Regional VP, Operations, Comcast

Pictured above (L to R): Chandra Towler, Production Assistant, Scripps Networks & NAMIC-Tennessee Secretary; April Smith, Assistant, Ad Sales, Scripps Networks & NAMIC-Atlanta Programming Chair; Lynnette Smith; Faride Precil, Manager, Education Programs, NAMIC National

 

NAMIC-Carolinas
July 15, 2009  
Black in America 2 Screening/Mixer
Raleigh Business and Technology Center
Raleigh, NC

On July 15th NAMIC-Carolinas presented a special screening of CNN’s Black in America 2 – an in-depth, comprehensive report on the African American experience. More than 40 people were on-hand for this special screening.

Sponsors: CNN HD/Turner, Time Warner Cable, MTV Networks, Discovery Channel, Inspiration Networks, and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

 

NAMIC-Carolinas
June 11, 2009 
¿Hablas Español?
Time Warner Cable
West Columbia, SC

We all have heard that the Hispanic population is the fastest growing in the U.S. and that their purchasing power is growing right along with the population. How should companies target U.S. Hispanics? On June 11th NAMIC-Carolinas presented a best practices discussion from Hispanic marketing experts.  More than 30 people were on-hand for this informative panel and discussion about Hispanic marketing. The event was followed by networking between guests and speakers. 

Speakers: George Douglas, VP, Marketing, Time Warner Cable, Carolinas Region; Cristina Morales, Managing Director, ROJO Marketing; and Veronica Islas, Marketing Director, TuTV Inc.

Sponsors: Time Warner Cable, MTV Networks, Discovery Channel, Inspiration Networks, and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

 

NAMIC-Minnesota
July 22, 2009  
What’s your Brand? Branding – Career Success Experience
The Metropolitan
Minneapolis, MN

This career development discussion led by Ron Phillips,West Division, VP, Human Resources, Comcast, was designed to help members build a better understanding of the importance of branding.  The slide presentation and discussion were supported by past experiences, statistical data and open dialogue and feedback from the audience.  Approximately 60 people were in attendance for this event which was also sponsored by Comcast.

Moderator: Mohammed Haroon, Director, Telephone Operations, Comcast

Pictured above (L to R): Kelly Schultz, Public Relations Associate, Comcast & NAMIC-Minnesota Events Chair; Bill Wright, Twin Cities Region SVP, Comcast; Kellie Maw, Supervisor-Information Technology, Comcast & NAMIC-Minnesota Secretary;  Ron Phillips;  Melissa Danielsen, Retail Sales Account Executive, Comcast & NAMIC-Minnesota Membership Chair;  Bethany Rector, Manager, Customer Care, Comcast & NAMIC-Minnesota Communications Chair;  Tommy McNeal, Supervisor, Sales, Comcast & NAMIC-Minnesota Vice President;  Byron Berry, Manager, Business Services, Comcast & NAMIC-Minnesota Communications Chair;  Chris Wong, Supervisor-, Residential Field Sales, Comcast & NAMIC-Minnesota Treasurer;  and Mohammed Haroon. 

 

NAMIC-Philadelphia
August 25, 2009
Political Savvy In the Workplace
Comcast Center
Philadelphia, PA

NAMIC-Philadelphia was treated to an informative workshop on “Political Savvy in the Workplace”. This was a very timely event considering the economy and the tendency for organizations to reinvent themselves and re-evaluate their human resources in times like these. The workshop was delivered by none other than dynamic entrepreneur and networking guru, Kim Reed, Managing Partner of the Reed Development Group, LLC. Kim spoke about the importance of networking, communication, the difference between mentors and sponsors and understanding the rules of the game. She shared stories from her personal experience to help illustrate the guidance she offered and to create a relaxed environment for participants to ask questions and share their experience’s too. 

Pictured above (L to R): Lea Satterfield, Manager, Contract Administration & Services, Comcast Cable & NAMIC-Philadelphia Treasurer; Nicole Anderson, Senior Director, Performance Management, Comcast Business Services & NAMIC-Philadelphia
Chapter Membership Director; Lischele Knight, Media Planner, Razorfish & NAMIC-Philadelphia Program Committee Member; Kim Reed; Keesha Boyd, Director, Organizational Effectiveness, Comcast University & NAMIC-Philadelphia Program Committee Director; Veronica Stickelman, Board Member; Tina Waters, Senior Vice President, Customer Service Operations, Comcast Cable & NAMIC-Philadelphia Board Member; Deborah Buhles, Senior Director, Administration, Comcast & NAMIC-Philadelphia Vice President.

 

NAMIC-Philadelphia
June 23, 2009
2009 Paragon Awards
Ritz Carlton
Philadelphia, PA

Oh what a night…! Nearly 100 chapter members and guests gathered for the 2009 Paragon Awards.  This year NAMIC-Philadelphia honored Al Ulozas, SVP of Affiliate Sales & Marketing, QVC for his continued dedication to diversity and demonstrated excellence in leadership.  NAMIC guests and members were not only able to reach for the stars (the event’s theme), they were able to meet and greet a few as well.  Director of Urban Marketing and External Relations, Radio One Inc., E. Steven Collins delivered a poignant keynote speech and Lori Wilson, News Reporter & Co-host of NBC 10’s The 10! Show was a delight as the mistress of ceremony.

This was also the first year that NAMIC-Philadelphia presented the Unsung Heroes Award in recognition of key contributions within the chapter leadership. Omar Bowers, Manager, Business Operations, Comcast & NAMIC-Philadelphia Director of Mentoring, and Rakia Reynolds, Publicist/Producer, Skai Blue Media & NAMIC-Philadelphia secretary were honored for their ‘above and beyond’ efforts.

Pictured above (L to R): Al Ulozas, Paragon Award winner; Barbara Gee, VP, Strategic Sales Alliances & NAMIC-Philadelphia President; Lori Wilson, News Reporter & Co-host of NBC 10’s The 10! Show; Angie Simmons, EVP, Multichannel Platforms, QVC; and E. Steven Collins, Director of Urban Marketing and External Relations, Radio One Inc.,

 

NAMIC-Philadelphia
June 18, 2009
2009 Mentoring Program Launch
Comcast Center
Philadelphia, PA

Vice President of Strategic Sales Alliances, Comcast & NAMIC-Philadelphia Chapter President, Barbara Gee’s warm welcome to the interns and their future mentors set the collaborative and information sharing tone of the mentoring program.  The event also provided an informal forum for program participants to begin networking and getting to know each other.

The chapter’s Director of Mentoring, Omar Bowers described the overall goals of the program, followed by presentations from Mentoring Program Coordinator, Nia Campbell and Comcast National Director Marketing and Sales, Michael Soileau.  The event sponsor, The Discovery Channel, closed the evening with a video presentation and discussion.

Pictured above (L to R): Bill Williams, Director of Learning, Discovery Communications; Jennifer Iras, VP, Affiliate and National Accounts Marketing, Discovery Communications;, Nia Campbell, Program Host and Mentoring Committee Member; Riyad Mohammad, Summer Intern Committee Member; Barbara Gee, Omar Bowers; Bella Metcalf, Marketing Director, Discovery Communications; and Ajamu Johnson, Mentoring Committee Member.

 

NAMIC-Southern California
August 19, 2009
Mentoring Breakfast
Universal Hilton
Studio City, CA

Attendees of NAMIC-Southern California's mentoring breakfast were treated to a candid table discussion lead by Kim Lewis, SVP of Midwest and West Coast Sales, BET Networks. Lewis spoke about the need to prove one's competence in any job market and especially during the current recession. She said all executives should deliberately brand themselves as an expert in their area of focus both internally and externally. Attendees left motivated. "We're our own walking billboard," said Lewis, adding that “reporting one's accomplishments goes hand-in-hand with devising a personal marketing plan.”

 

NAMIC-Tennessee
August 25, 2009
Mentoring to the Next Generation
Hutton Hotel
Nashville, TN

Four speakers from Nashville area nonprofits spoke about their mentoring programs to guests and encouraged them to get involved in helping to shape the next generation of NAMIC members.  The event exposed NAMIC members to the power of mentoring.

Speakers: Chris Suitter, Director of Special Projects, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee; Jessica Bliss, Board Member, Girls on the Run Nashville; Suzanne Warner, Program Director, PENCIL Foundation; Amber Frye, Mentor Liason, Youth Villages Nashville.

Pictured above: (L to R): Chris Suitter; Brian Bailey, Youth Villages; Amber Frye; Suzanne Warner; Jessica Bliss; Lucia Folk, Director, Public Affairs, CMT & NAMIC-Tennessee President.

 

NAMIC-Tennessee
June 18, 2009.
“The Time is Now: Remodel Your Skills to Target New Career Opportunities”
Scripps Networks
Knoxville, TN

This career development panel discussion was designed to teach participants how to utilize their current skills and abilities to create a new career path. Over 30 people were on hand to hear a panel of leaders in their respective fields discuss how they utilized their experience to transition into new careers.

Moderator: Andy Atkinson, Sr. Account Executive, Scripps Networks

Panelists: Lysette Aviles-Kok, Recruiter, Scripps Networks; Carrie McConkey, Career Services Director, Maryville College; and Kay Watson, Director of Public Relations and Special Events, Alzheimer’s Association East Tennessee Chapter

Sponsors: Scripps Networks and IBIS Communications

Pictured above: (L to R): Kay Watson; Carrie McConkey; Lysette Aviles-Kok, Recruiter, Scripps Networks & NAMIC-Tennessee Career Development Programming Chair ; Andy Atkinson, Sr. Account Executive, Scripps Networks & NAMIC-Tennessee Treasurer.

 

NAMIC-Western PA
May 21, 2009   
“Women of Power”
Comcast 2nd Floor Conference Room
Pittsburgh, PA

This career development & leadership panel discussion was designed to allow members to share their insights on maximizing career development strategies.  After the panel discussion, the panelists met with attendees and provided candid feedback and critical insight. More than 35 people were on-hand for the event. This event was sponsored by Comcast.

Moderator: Rayna S. Smith, Corporate Escalations Specialist, Comcast

Panelists: Monica Pons, Executive Director, Strategic Sourcing & Talent Acquisition, NBC Universal & NAMIC-New York Treasurer; Pamela Ford, Director, Communications, NCTA & Past NAMIC-Mid-Atlantic President; Carla M. Moore, Regional Director, Affiliate Sales, HBO Services & NAMIC-Chicago President; Barbara Gee, VP, Strategic Sales Alliances, Comcast Cable Communications Inc. & NAMIC-Philadelphia President; and Anji Corley,WAMO-FM, & Board Member, Saltworks Theatre Company &  American Federation of Television and Radio Artists Broadcasting System, Inc.

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PEOPLE

Q&A with Charisse Lillie
NAMIC sat down with Charisse Lillie, VP, Community Investment, Comcast Corporation & EVP, Comcast Foundation to talk about her role as Planning Committee Co-chair for the 23rd Annual NAMIC Conference, “Diversity Rules”

Q: In a year when companies are tightening their belts on expenses, why do you consider the Annual NAMIC Conference to be a wise investment? What is the ROI to attendees and their companies?

A: The NAMIC conference is a wise investment for companies, even when they are tightening their belts, because it provides educational and networking opportunities for any employees who are interested in fostering diversity in their organizations.  If diversity is a value which governs the operations of your business, the NAMIC conference offers the highest quality programming available in the industry. It is more than a recitation of best practices. You are hearing from the experts and the innovators.

Q: This is your third year as a planning committee co-chair. How have you seen the NAMIC Conference evolve since 2007?

A: As I finish my third term as a conference co-chair, I am heartened to see the conference take new approaches to the issue of fostering diversity in the telecommunications industry. We have been cognizant of the changing discourse around diversity issues.  We also have to be willing to look at the results of our efforts to diversify the industry and we must be willing to continually challenge ourselves on how to increase diversity, measure it and maintain it.  The conference committee tries to keep its ear to the pulse of our constituents.   

Q: What is unique about the NAMIC Conference?

A: This conference is unique because we try to speak in the voice of every person in an organization or institution that is concerned about fostering diversity in their company and in the industry.  This is not a conference for minorities only. It is a conference for the diverse leaders and those who want to continue to foster growth in diversity and inclusion in the workplace.  If you are a champion of diversity and inclusion, the NAMIC conference is the right destination for you.

Q: What is the one thing on the conference agenda that you are most excited about?

A: It is hard to settle on one thing, since the panels are packed with fantastic speakers and topics. But if you insist, I am most excited about participating in the Mickey Leland Award luncheon and meeting and hearing Dr. Sanjay Gupta speak. I admire his work on air, and I think he is very deserving of the Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award. I knew Mickey well when I was growing up in Houston, Texas. He was a student of my Mother’s, and I believe that he would be pleased that we are honoring Dr. Gupta in his name. He gave his life in pursuit of a humanitarian mission to Africa, and Dr. Gupta is a worthy keeper of the flame.

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Movers & Shakers

Nicole Anderson, NAMIC-Philadelphia Membership Committee Director, was promoted to Senior Director Performance Management with Comcast’s Business Services Operations Team.

Lisa Chang has joined Turner Broadcasting System as SVP, Human Resources.  She was formerly EVP, Human Resources, The Weather Channel.

Angi Corley, NAMIC-Western Pennsylvania won Washington DC’s WPGC, American Top Jock contest.

NAMIC-New York’s Venus Dennison’s team at HBO demonstrated their creative excellence at the Promax|BDA North America 2009 Awards winning five awards.

NAMIC’s Sandra Girado has been promoted to Director of Meetings and Events, from Manager of Meetings & Events. 

Rashana Hooks, NAMIC-New York Programming Co-Chair has been promoted to Specialist, Distribution Marketing at A&E Television Networks. Rashana was formerly Coordinator, Distribution Marketing and Business Development.

NAMIC’s Vice President of Fund Development Danny McGlone has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rican Family Institute, the Hope for Families and Children Foundation. 

NAMIC-San Francisco’s event, Multi-ethnic Marketing: Trends. Challenges, Successes, held on Wednesday, April 29 was taped and will be broadcast on educational channels in local San- Francisco communities.

Michael Parker, NAMIC-Chicago, formerly the VP of Connecticut and New York for Comcast’s Western New England Region has been promoted to VP of Operations for Comcast Greater Chicago Region.  He was an alumnus of ELDP Class II.

Ron Phillips, NAMIC ELDP Class VII alumnus and NAMIC-Denver member, has been promoted to SVP, Employee Engagement, Comcast Cable. 

Rakia Reynolds, NAMIC-Philadelphia Secretary and her daughter Skai appeared in Marie Claire Magazine this month.  Check out the feature here http://www.flygirls.typepad.com/.

Rich Roberts, NAMIC-Philadelphia Membership Committee member, was recently promoted to Vice President of Customer Service for Comcast’s Atlanta Region. 

LeAnn Talbot, NAMIC-Chicago, formerly the VP of Operations of Comcast’s Greater Chicago Region has been promoted to Comcast’s SVP Greater Chicago Region.

Steve Thomas, NAMIC-Chicago, formerly VP of Technical Operations for Comcast Michigan Region has been promoted to VP City of Chicago, Comcast Greater Chicago Region.

NAMIC welcomes its newest staff member, Monique Wells, Manager of Operations.  Although Monique is not new to the industry, she is new to NAMIC as a full-time staff member. 

Vin Zacharia, has joined Time Warner Cable as Regional VP, Operations, Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.  He is also a member of the current NAMIC ELDP Class IX.

NAMIC Advisory board members, Patrick Esser, Abbe Raven and Johnathan Rodgers, will be inducted into Broadcasting & Cable’s 19th Annual Hall of Fame.

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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.

 

October

 

October 26: NAMIC Continuing Education Workshop
Where Do You Draw the Line?”  An Ethics Simulation 
For ELDP and Leadership Seminar Alumni
By invitation only


October 26-28: 23rd Annual NAMIC Conference "Diversity Rules"

Grand Hyatt Denver

1750 Welton Street (between 17th and 18th Streets)
Denver, CO

(As part of Cable Connection-Fall which unites several industry meetings and events in asingle location)

Click here to learn more about the conference and view the preliminary agenda
Click here to register online
Click here to download a registration form and pay by check or credit card
Click here to learn more about Cable Connection

November

November 4: NAMIC-New York Non-profit Boards: The Benefits and Rewards of Getting Involved
HBO
1100 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Opition # 1 time: 9:00am-12:00pm
Option # 2 time-2:00pm-5:00pm

Members: $50
Non-Members:$75

NAMIC-New York invites you to a non-profit board training seminar presented by BoardSource. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced board member, you can benefit from attending this event. BoardSource is an organized renown for its consulting services, workshops and dynamic training sessions that promote effective non-profit board leadership.

Seminar Leader: Michael Diagneault, Esq., Senior Governance Consultant, BoardSource

 

November 5: NAMIC Leadership Suite Webinar Series
WHY GOOD PEOPLE MAKE BAD DECISIONS (And How To Avoid Making Those Choices In The Workplace)
Time: 4:00pm - 5:00pm (Eastern)
Presenter:  Dr. Steve Salbu, Dean, Georgia Tech College of Management
Participant Fee:

NAMIC Members: $40
Non-Members: $50

“You may not want to face it, but while we often have the best intentions, we tend to fall into nine pits that affect our decision-making. We don’t have a natural intuitive awareness of this stuff.” This quote from Steve Salbu is a call to action! In this webinar, you will learn about the wrong stuff and the right stuff to use for making high-quality ethical decisions at work. Dr. Salbu uses robust research to show us how we have all fallen into those pits at one time or another, and also offers us a quick way out if we do not avoid them. This is a high-energy, super informative, research-based webinar.

 

November 11: NAMIC-Philadelphia
Building Your Personal Brand
Comcast Center – Floor 42 (Amphitheater)
1701 JFK, Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA
Networking: 5:15pm – 6:00pm 
Program: 6:00pm-7:00pm

NAMIC Members: $20
Non-Members: $25

What is your personal brand? How do you create it and maintain it throughout your career? This seminar is all about the importance of building and maintaining an effective personal brand to market your skills and abilities throughout your career. 

Featured Speaker: Grace Killelea, Vice President of Talent Management and Leadership Initiatives, Comcast Corporation

NAMIC Members: $20
Non-Members: $25

 
November 19: NAMIC Leadership Suite Webinar Series
BRAND STRATEGIES AND THE FRAGMENTED MEDIA
Time: 4:00pm - 5:00pm (Eastern)
Presenter: Sanjay Sood, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Marketing, Faculty Director, Entertainment and Media Management Institute, UCLA Anderson School of Management
Participant Fee:

NAMIC Members: $40
Non-Members: $50

The world’s strongest brands combine excellence in strategic positioning with excellence in execution across the entire marketing mix. Products can be copied, but what the customer thinks and feels about a brand cannot be so easily duplicated.
Building a strong brand involves recognition of the vital customer relationship.
Sanjay Sood will draw upon best practice examples from a variety of industries to illustrate the potential power of a strong brand and will:
• Provide a framework for conceptualizing, building, and leveraging strong brands
• Explore how companies develop a strong connection to the customer that goes beyond product excellence
• Demonstrate how companies stay relevant in the eyes of their customer base
 

December

December 2-4: ELDP Class IX (by Invitation Only)

UCLA Anderson School of Management

Los Angeles, CA

 

December 10: NAMIC Leadership Suite Webinar Series
“CULTURAL SCRIPTS” AT WORK : ENHANCING THE GIFTS AND MANAGING THE CHALLENGES
Time: 4:00pm - 5:00pm (Eastern)
Presenter:  Dr. Evangelina Holvino, President, Chaos Management, Ltd.
Participant Fee:
NAMIC Members: $40
Non-Members: $50

This webinar will help participants explore the “cultural scripts” that most impact their work-lives. Based on research with Hispanic mid-level managers in Fortune 1000 corporations, Dr. Holvino identified eight “cultural scripts” that impact their careers and experiences at work. In this session, she explains the concept of “cultural scripts” and discusses how these scripts both support and challenge Latinos’ career and leadership development. Drawing on the understanding and identification of cultural scripts among diverse groups, she will discuss strategies to enhance the leadership and career success of individuals as well as the effectiveness of organizations in a diverse world. These strategies range from enhancing our bi-culturalism to building alliances and strategic relations across differences.

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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 Preci,l Manager, Education Programs
Susan Waldman, Manager, Research & Publications
Monique Wells, Manager, Operations
Maria Acevedo, Project Coordinator

2009 Issue 3