September 12, 2008

2008 Most Influential Minorities in Cable: More Execs with Influence

A look at more of cable's diverse leaders.

Audrey Adlam
VP, Communications & Partnership Marketing, HGTV
In her new role overseeing HGTV’s partnership marketing team, Adlam identifies and builds strategic alliances that expand HGTV’s off-screen visibility.

Andrea Agnew
Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Comcast Corp.
Agnew works with Comcast senior leadership to integrate diversity and equity practices into institutional employment and workplace practices. She also develops diversity training collateral and diversity presentations.

Jess Aguirre
SVP, Research, Hallmark Movie Channel
Aguirre oversees teams in New York and Los Angeles that spearhead overnight ratings, data analysis, focus groups and research studies, and consult on programming acquisitions and development.

Deanna Andaverde
SVP, Field Operations, Univision Communications
An 18-year cable veteran, Andaverde secured one of Univision’s first carriage agreements for all three network signals, helping set the benchmark for other agreements.

Maria Badillo
SVP, Programming, Sorpresa!
Since joining Sorpresa! in April 2007, Badillo has launched a second satellite feed to support network growth, premiered the channel’s first original series and was instrumental in its rebranding campaign.

Bernard Bell
SVP, TV One
OK, Bernard Bell has a heavy gig, working in Johnathan Rodgers’ office, but we mention him here also because his winning personality and good nature have made him a cable favorite for years.

Christine Bragan
VP, Marketing & Communications, Rainbow Media Holdings
Bragan is responsible for the company’s rainbow of corporate and industry marketing and public affairs initiatives, including trade and promotional activities, CEO and executive presentations and special cross-divisional projects. All that and she’s one of the nicest people we know.

Collie Burnett, Jr.
President/CEO, Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters Inc.
Burnett oversees the strategic direction, mission and goals of AIB and has brokered and been responsible for negotiating and decision making on several high-profile deals.

Clemente Cabello
Executive Director, AlternaTV
Clemente Cabello is responsible for the development, launch and operation of Mexico-based distribution company AlternaTV.

Nilda Cid Gumbs
Senior Director, State & Local Government Affairs, NCTA
Gumbs is responsible for lobbying local and state intergovernmental groups on policy issues ranging from net neutrality regulation to a la carte programming.

Keith Clinkscales
SVP, ESPN
Clinkscales plays a leadership role in negotiating relationships across ESPN’s various platforms, from its branded magazine to books to content rights and acquisitions.

John Coleman
Director, Program Network Policy, National Cable & Telecommunications Assn.
Coleman focuses on the legislative and regulatory issues that influence NCTA program network members.

Michael Cooper
VP, Affiliate Sales & Marketing, Fox Cable
Cooper has the final say in most contracts, and lately has spent his days pumping operators up about Big Ten Network and Fox Business Channel. His other priority is helping operators win local sponsors for both networks.

Mo Davenport
SVP, ESPN Radio, ESPN
Davenport makes an impact via his strong work on diversity both within his department and externally to the larger ESPN population.

Jatin Desai
Co-Founder/CTO, itaas Inc.
Desai serves as the chief architect and technical visionary of itaas, and is responsible for innovative contributions to the cable industry such as the cross-platform solution switched digital video and VOD test tools.

Rosalyn Durant
VP/GM, ESPNU
Recently named to her post at ESPNU, Durant is responsible for setting the network’s strategic direction, including overseeing all programming and leading the inter-departmental team responsible for growth and development.

Enzo Francescoli
Founder/CEO, GolTV
Francescoli has helped GolTV make its goal of becoming one of the fastest-growing Hispanic cable networks, currently in 16 million-plus homes.

Jamie Howard
CEO, Imagine Communications
Howard leads deal-making for Imagine’s products with MSOs and other key industry partners.

Tammy Franklin
VP of Business Development, Turner Broadcasting System
Franklin is charged with developing and executing all non-linear distribution for the Turner properties across broadband, interactive television and wireless platforms, with a primary focus on wireless initiatives.

Lisa Hsia
SVP, New Media & Digital Strategy, Bravo
Hsia leads Bravo’s ever-expanding efforts on the Internet and across digital platforms, whether it’s promoting the kitchen wizards of Top Chef or décor darlings of Top Design.

Charita Johnson
VP, Production Performance & Development, ESPN
Johnson oversees daily operations of studio production news and information, which covers production, finance and operational logistics for all news and information studio and on-site productions.

Rob King
Editor In Chief, ESPN.com
King oversees daily editorial operations of ESPN.com and the array of digital assets that its content feeds.

Veenod Kurup
VP, Data Product Services, Cox Communications
Kurup is overseeing the development of an integrated service provisioning and management system, as well as network management of e-mail and news services for Cox’s 3.5 million high-speed Internet accounts.

Jerry Lambert
Associate General Counsel, Bresnan Communications
Lambert focuses on Bresnan’s advanced services and is responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance at all levels.

J. Edward Lee
President/COO, ImaginAsian Entertainment
Lee is a deal maker helping orchestrate the company’s new overseas agreements that have delivered capital for expansion and strategic partnerships.

Daphne Leroy
VP, Marketing and Communications, NAMIC
Leroy has taken NAMIC’s message of diversity and inclusion to new heights by launching innovative initiatives and industrywide partnerships.

Vivian Leykamm
President, Scott Cable Communications
Leykamm oversees vendor Scott Cable, which sells nationwide and abroad, competing with much larger companies with much larger infrastructures.

Steve Liu
Director of Product Management, Mixed Signals
Liu has helped vendor Mixed Signals win deals with such MSOs as Comcast, Time Warner and Bright House Networks.

Rodrigo Lombello
COO, GoITV
Since Lombello joined in 2003, GolTV has experienced rapid growth and become one of the leading Hispanic cable networks.

Sonya Lockett
VP, Public Affairs, BET
This recent NAMIC Luminary Award winner oversees BET’s multifaceted public affairs initiatives, including its long-standing Rap-It-Up HIV/AIDS testing awareness campaign.

Monisha Longacre
VP, Product Strategy and Development, The Weather Channel Interactive
Longacre spearheaded The Weather Channel’s subscription products and the first mobile application with radar.

Gaurav Misra
VP, Programming, MTV/VH1
Misra works on the U.S. linear channels and with international channels on development and programming.

Catherine Mitchell
VP, Field Services, Cox Communications
Mitchell is one of only a few women in cable who serves as a field services manager. She was Cox’s corporate go-to in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Linda Moffat
VP, Southeast Region, AmericanLife TV Network
Cable vet Moffat handles all the sales and contract negotiations for MSOs such as Cox, Bresnan, Mediacom, Insight and Charter.

Ariela Nerubay
VP, Sales & Marketing, TuTV Networks
Nerubay heads campaigns for the Spanish-language nets TuTV markets and distributes in the U.S., including Bandamax and De Pelicula. She also was one of NAMIC’s Luminary Award winners this year.

Tiffany A. Norwood
President, Product and Marketing, Next Generation Broadband
A cable veteran, Norwood recently secured two large deals for Next Generation Broadband with Cox.

Joseph Ortiz
VP, On Air Promos, MTV
Ortiz leads creative direction and on-channel promotional strategies for MTV programming.

William Ortiz
Senior Director, Multicultural Marketing, Time Warner Cable
Ortiz is pioneering a dedicated multicultural function at the MSO, whose footprint comprises 46% of the U.S. Hispanic population.

Shari Pace
VP, Licensing, The Weather Channel
Pace has excelled at generating both incremental revenue and brand exposure for The Weather Channel.

Steve Paulus
SVP/GM, NY1 News/NY1 Noticias
Paulus creates and evaluates all programming, marketing and branding for NY1’s six channels, and spearheaded the launch of NY1 Noticias.

Maria Perez-Brown
SVP, Programming, SiTV
Perez-Brown develops and produces content for Si TV’s linear network, broadband, VOD and mobile platforms.

Damon Phillips
VP, ESPN360.com
In overseeing the strategic product vision for ESPN360.com and its programming, Phillips is directly involved in deals and works closely with high-speed providers.

David. M. Porter, PhD
Executive Director, Walter Kaitz Foundation
Porter helms one of the industry’s most influential organizations working to promote diversity.

Paul Richardson
SVP, Human Resources, ESPN
Richardson oversees all aspects of ESPN’s human resources efforts, supporting 50 different business units and some 5,000 worldwide employees.

Radame Rodriguez
Director, Content Acquisition, Comcast Cable
At Comcast, Rodriguez oversees licensing Spanish-language content for linear channels, VOD and broadband.

Ian Rowe
VP, Strategic Partnerships and Public Affairs, MTV
Rowe oversees MTV’s on-and off-screen pro-social campaigns that build awareness about issues of importance to the network’s audience.

Guhan Selvaretnam
New Products Group Lead, Turner Broadcasting System
Selvaretnam leads Turner’s new products team in the development and execution of new businesses, and manages the group’s product portfolio, budget and overall project pipeline.

Nigel Sonariwo
VP, Affiliate Marketing, HSN
Sonariwo manages HSN’s marketing opportunities with the network’s distributors.

Luis Torres-Bohl
President, Mexicanal
Torres-Bohl is the driving force behind a diverse staff responsible for creating content partnerships with broadcasters throughout Mexico.

Robert Traynham
Bureau Chief/Host, "Roll Call TV," CN8, The Comcast Network
Traynham’s keen understanding of the congressional landscape and public policy leads CN8’s D.C. coverage of major political events and figures.

Sebasatian Trujillo
SVP/Operating Manager, Galavision
Trujillo is responsible for day-to-day operations at Galavision and has been instrumental in developing multi-platform deals with various agencies and national clients, including Ford Motor Co. and S.C. Johnson.

DeEtta West
Director of Ministry Partnerships, Gospel Music Channel
West implements the network’s outreach to ministries nationwide, fueling a grassroots effort that has helped the channel grow to 40 million homes in just three years.

Lisa Williams-Fauntroy
SVP, Business Affairs & Programming Legal, Discovery Communications
Williams-Fauntroy’s work in the production and business development areas has helped to move many key programs from concept to screen, most recently noted in the launch of the Planet Green channel.

2008 Most Influential Minorities in Cable: The Top 50

2008 Most Influential Minorities in Cable: The Second 50

2008 Most Influential Minorities in Cable: Regional Executives

Back to table of contents for CableFAX: The Magazine's 2008 Most Influential Minorities in Cable issue.