Board of Directors

President, TV One & CLEO TV

Michelle L. Rice was named President of TV One and CLEO TV in October 2020. Previously, Rice served as General Manager since 2017. She will continue to have oversight of all business, operational and creative aspects for both networks.

Rice shepherded the development and launch of TV One’s new sister network, CLEO TV, an aspirational lifestyle and entertainment TV network serving Millennial and Gen X women of color that launched in January 2019. Since its launch, Rice has successfully leveraged relationships to expand distribution of CLEO TV on AT&T, Charter, Comcast, and Verizon’s platforms. Under her leadership, TV One solidified its first vMVPD distribution deal with Philo TV and has continued to grow its distribution footprint. She has also played a pivotal role in working with strategic partners like the NAACP to create linear and digital content campaigns in response to a myriad of political and social issues that profoundly impact communities of color.

She was previously Executive Vice President of Content Distribution and Marketing for TV One, where she developed distribution strategies and handled national accounts negotiations with major multichannel video programming distributors (MPVDs) to increase and maximize TV One’s content distribution opportunities on mobile, linear and non-linear distribution platforms. She also handled domestic and international program sales and distribution for the network.
Before joining TV One, Rice also had stints at iNDemand, NBC Cable Network and Black Entertainment Television (BET), where she started her career through the Walter Kaitz Fellowship program in 1993.

A graduate of Temple University and the University of Southern California, Rice was honored by her alma mater with the Lew Klein Alumni in Media Award. She was named one of on CableFAX’s Top 100 in Cable, Top Minorities in Cable and Top Women in Cable. She’s also been recognized as a NAMIC Emerging Leader, Broadcasting & Cable’s “Next Wave of Leaders,” “40 under 40” by Multichannel News, and one of Multichannel News’ Wonder Women. Rice was also a finalist in CableFAX’s Sales Executive of the Year Awards in 2012 and led the team, which was awarded CableFAX’s Sales Team of the Year for mid-sized cable networks. Rice has been featured in publications such as “Black Enterprise,” “Variety,” “Deadline,” “TV Week” and “The Root.” She was highlighted as a trailblazer in “CableFAX’s” Black History Month Special Report. In 2020 Rice was recognized by the Washington Business Journal’s with the Minority Business Leadership Award.

Rice is also actively involved on the Boards of several local civic, community and charitable organizations, including Jack and Jill of America, Girls Inc. D.C, and United Way of the Nation’s Capital. She currently resides in Maryland with her family.

Senior Vice President, Community Impact & Engagement, Charter Communications

Rhonda Nesmith Crichlow has spent her career serving underrepresented communities and building fair, inclusive and respectful workplaces. She joined Charter Communications in October 2016 as Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer, responsible for the development and management of the strategy supporting 100,000+ employees. In 2019, Rhonda’s portfolio was expanded to include leadership of Charter’s Community Impact function, which encompasses the company’s strategic philanthropic investments and employee volunteerism initiatives. She currently serves as Senior Vice President, Community Impact & Engagement, and continues to be instrumental in supporting Charter’s commitment to local communities within its 41- state footprint.

Prior to working with Charter, Rhonda served as a member of the Innovative Medicines Executive Committee for Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NPC), where she was the Vice President and Head, US Diversity & Inclusion, and President of the Novartis US Foundation.

Since joining the telecommunications industry, Rhonda has received numerous awards including: the Alan Reich Award for Innovation, National Organization on Disability (2024); the Diversity Advocate Award, T. Howard Foundation (2023); Next Generation Leader Award, National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (2021); Inaugural Elite 100 Black Women Changing Corporate America, Diversity Woman Media (2021); Cablefax Most Influential Women in Cable (2019-2024); Cablefax Most Influential Minorities in Cable (2018-2024); and Leadership Advocacy and Excellence Award – Women in Cable Telecommunications (2018).

Rhonda also serves on the Boards of Directors for the National Organization on Disability, The Syndeo Institute, the National Urban League and The WICT Network, and is a member of the Corporate Board of Advisors for UnidosUS.

She received her undergraduate degree from The George Washington University, a Master of Public Policy from Duke University, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia Law School.

EVP, Platform Distribution Operations, The Walt Disney Company

As head of the business operations team for The Walt Disney Company’s Platform Distribution segment, Lori LeBas supports the development and distribution of products and services that create meaningful value for the company, its partners, and consumers. She is focused on the design and implementation of business processes for efficient management and operation of all media distribution including linear networks, SVOD/AVOD/TVOD, transactional, syndication, audio and direct-to-consumer products. LeBas also leads the creation of cross-functional business requirements for new products, as well as oversight of all post-sales processes for content distribution across all platforms. 

LeBas was elevated to her current position of Executive Vice President in early 2022 after serving as Senior Vice President of Platform Distribution Operations since 2020. The Platform Distribution business unit within TWDC that manages all third-party media sales efforts for distribution and affiliate-related business operations for all of the Company’s direct-to-consumer services and linear media networks and content sales agreements for General Entertainment, Studios and Sports. 

Prior to her current role, LeBas led affiliate marketing and operations for the company’s affiliate sales and marketing division.  She was accountable for the marketing impact on the growth and success of the Disney and ESPN Media Networks businesses including cable networks, broadband, video on demand, pay per view and all emerging media businesses plus director to consumer platform partner marketing.  She also led technical and operational projects advancing the content distribution business and managing engagement across The Walt Disney Company and with distribution partners on product integration and existing service expansion including adoption and engagement of live streaming products, video on demand and newly developed products. 

Previously, LeBas was Senior Vice President, Strategy and Business Operations for the company’s sales and marketing division overseeing a global advertising sales operations team responsible for all post-sales processes for television, digital and magazine and oversight of the affiliate operations team responsible for all post-sales processes for content distribution for television and digital platforms.  She provided financial support and oversight for affiliate sales and marketing and ad sales and operational support for research and marketing. 

LeBas joined ESPN in 2000 as Director, Affiliate Sales Development and Operations, responsible for, among other things, helping develop, pricing and packaging policies for ESPN’s domestic networks and overseeing ESPN relationships with distribution partners.  Prior to joining ESPN, LeBas held a variety of positions at SNET, lastly as President of SNET Personal Vision, Inc., the company’s cable subsidiary. She also held marketing positions at The Connecticut Ballet and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. 

LeBas is a graduate of the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute and has successfully completed the CTAM Executive Development Program at Harvard University. She is an active mentor in many programs at TWDC and externally.  She has served on many Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Executive Councils and led culture development across TWDC.  She is a member of The WICT Network and formerly served as Executive Advisor for the The WICT Network New England Chapter and informal advisor for the Southern California Chapter. LeBas is also a supporter of the T. Howard Foundation and NAMIC.  She has served as Executive Champion for Employee Resources Groups across TWDC, supporting women, emerging leaders and the enabled community.  She currently serves as the vice president of the CTAM Foundation Board and is a CTAM National Board member.   

LeBas received her undergraduate degree in Economics and German from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass. She is an avid traveler, certified yoga teacher and marathon runner.  She lives in Connecticut with her husband Sean and looks forward to frequent visits with her son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter in Stockholm, Sweden. 

General Manager of Media & Entertainment, Games, and Sports, Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Samira Panah Bakhtiar is a dynamic leader in tune with the powerful relationship between digital media and technology. As General Manager of Media & Entertainment, Games, and Sports at Amazon Web Services (AWS), she leads a high-performing, multi-generational team of builders and champions diversity. Over the last decade, her work at AWS and Cisco, where she served as Director of Media Operations, led to strategic alignment and business transformations with some of the world’s largest media conglomerates. She has a proven track record in tech strategy, business development, and sales – focusing on introducing innovation and enhancing operational efficiency in the areas of content production, media supply chain, broadcast distribution, OTT, and content monetization.

Recognized for her exceptional ability to quickly understand and apply new concepts, address cross-functional challenges, and execute complex projects seamlessly, she infuses the AWS executive team with a fresh perspective. Striking the right balance between hitting performance targets and delivering at the highest standards, she’s secured $3B+ in committed contracts during her tenure. Samira also mentors numerous individuals at AWS and advocates for the promotion of team members of all levels within her organization to leadership roles. A visible female force in the M&E industry, Samira has spoken 20+ internal and external events in the last two years, including The WICT Network Leadership Conference on Driving Innovation, AWS re:Invent, yearly AWS Kick Offs, and the Metropolitan Police of London’s International Women’s Day Event. Topics ranged from ID&E, Intersectionality, and Career Planning to Owning Authenticity and Building High Performing Teams.

Passionate about advancing the status of women in technology, she is a presence in media, tech, and the NYC-based entrepreneurial community, as well as throughout major nonprofits and social impact organizations. Her humanitarian work focuses on the abolishment of human trafficking where she sat on the board of Together1Heart (an anti-human trafficking organization based in Cambodia) from 2017-2020. Samira’s philanthropic work has always been a strong personal driver, and as a result, she launched Bridge2Act in 2015, a venture focused on transforming the giving landscape through the use of technology. A graduate of the prestigious executive development program from the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute (Class 35), Samira continues to find ways to connect and inspire other ambitious women in tech. Samira was the inaugural winner of the Woman to Watch in Technology by The WICT Network in 2017, named a 40 Under 40 by NYC Television in 2019, and a Wonder Woman by Multichannel News in 2023. She is also a member of social organizations such as Soho House, Zero Bond, and Summit.

Samira graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Arizona with a B.S. in Finance and Magna Cum Laude from the Fordham University MBA program. Committed to continual learning, she obtained her Press Speaking Certifications at Amazon in 2022 (and is now an official Spokesperson) and her Solution Architect Certification in 2021. In 2022, she was cited as one of the most anticipated speakers on the IBC Website, presenting with Media Monk’s SVP on the “Future of Cloud Production.” In her personal time, Samira loves spending time with her family (including her 4-year-old son and 18-month-old daughter), traveling, practicing Muay Thai Kick Boxing, Hot Yoga, and hitting up the culinary scene with her husband, Koorosh, a restaurateur in Manhattan (Jajaja Plantas Mexicana, Gelso & Grand).

EVP, Government Affairs, Charter Communications

Catherine Bohigian is the Executive Vice President, Government Affairs, for Charter Communications, where she is responsible for developing the company’s public policy positions and directing its legislative and regulatory strategies in Washington, DC and in the 41 states Charter serves.

Brought on in 2013 to launch and build Charter’s Government Affairs operation, Catherine led the company’s successful effort to obtain regulatory and antitrust approval of its transactions with Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, which tripled the company’s size. Charter today has more than 32 million customers for its broadband, video, phone and mobile services marketed under the Spectrum brand.

Catherine previously served as Senior Vice President, Federal Affairs, at Cablevision Systems Corporation (currently part of Altice USA), in several senior capacities at the Federal Communications Commission, including Chief of the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis and Senior Advisor to the Chairman, and as an attorney at Wiley Rein. She is a graduate of Duke University and Harvard Law School.

Catherine has been the annual recipient of several awards including Washingtonian “500 Most Influential Policymakers” and Cable Fax “Top 100” media executives. She serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the WICT Network, an organization dedicated to empowering women in media, entertainment and technology, and on the Board of Advisors of Fair Chance, a capacity building non-profit. A native Texan, Catherine and her husband David live in Washington, DC with their three children.

SVP and Chief Talent Officer, Connectivity & Platforms, Comcast 

As Senior Vice President and Chief Talent Officer for Connectivity & Platforms, Loren Hudson leads the organization’s talent strategy while continuing to foster a culture of integrity, innovation, and inclusion to support Comcast’s business goals. She also serves as a senior member of the Global Human Resources leadership team and partners collaboratively with leaders across the enterprise to strategically lead talent acquisition, talent management, learning and development, leadership training, career advancement programs, and accessibility.

Loren’s experience in Human Resources spans more than 20 years. In 2000, she joined Comcast and the cable industry as a Human Resources Generalist. Since then, she has held a variety of leadership positions, including serving as Vice President of HR for the Comcast Beltway Region’s more than 3,000 employees across Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. Most recently, she proudly served as the Chief Inclusion Officer for Connectivity & Platforms.

Loren received a BA in Labor Studies and an MA in Labor and Industrial Relations from Rutgers University. In addition to her work at Comcast, she serves on WICT Network’s Global Board of Directors and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia’s committee to advance economic inclusion. Loren is also an active member of the Northern Virginia chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and the chair of the Ways & Means Committee.

She is a proud graduate of WICT’s Betsy Magness Leadership Institute, as well as a graduate of the Women’s Executive Leadership Program at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Loren is also a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR). She is honored to have been named one of “the most influential multi-ethnic executives in the industry” by Cablefax’s Diversity List since 2021, as well as being recognized on Cablefax’s 2022 Most Powerful Women in Media and Broadband and 2024 Most Powerful Women in Corporate Culture lists.

Chief Global Inclusion Officer, Warner Bros. Discovery

Asif is the Chief Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at Warner Bros. Discovery. He was previously the Global Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Social Impact at adidas and has a long and rich career in the diversity and inclusion space with senior executive roles at The Telegraph Media Group, EY Financial Services and the City of London Police. He is a board member for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and a member of the board of advisors for Hedley May. Over his 20-year career he has worked in Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa and Asia.  

Asif has been credited with impactful global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion activities and programs across organizations, that have created a strong sense of belonging for all and resulted in truly diverse workplaces. He has been key in building synergies between internal and external D&I efforts within organizations, ensuring diversity and inclusion is embedded in all elements of a business, resulting in innovative, creative and inclusive products and services.  

He is a Multi-Award-Winning Diversity and Inclusion expert with a proven track record in D&I, Sustainability and Social Impact, being listed as one of the most influential Global D&I Leaders by Hive Learning, the CIPD’s Top 20 Power list and a LinkedIn Influencer. He is winner of numerous awards including the highly commended Head of Diversity Award at the European Diversity Awards and was honoured with an MBE in 2017 by the Queen and granted the freedom of the City of London in 2016.  

In 2023 Asif was granted an honorary doctorate by The Open University in recognition of his innovative and socially responsible business developments and exceptional contributions in the field of diversity, inclusion and belonging globally. 

Head of HR Management & Planning, National Basketball Association (NBA) 

Alaka Williams serves as Head of HR Management & Planning for the National Basketball Association (NBA), where she leads enterprise-wide human resources strategy, workforce planning, and organizational effectiveness across the league’s global operations.

In this role, Alaka partners closely with senior leadership to align talent and planning strategies with the NBA’s long-term business objectives. She oversees initiatives related to workforce development, performance management, succession planning, and scalable HR operations, helping to support a dynamic, high-performing, and inclusive global workforce.

Alaka Williams previously served as Senior Vice President of Network Human Resources at Discovery, Inc. (formerly Scripps Networks Interactive), where she was responsible for providing HR leadership across six U.S.-based networks. In this role, she delivered strategic organizational, leadership, and individual performance counsel to multiple business units. She led change and transition initiatives through the assessment, design, facilitation, and implementation of targeted organizational interventions, while maintaining close connection to employee needs and human resources communities and systems. In this capacity, Alaka supported more than 300 U.S.-based employees.

Prior to this role, Williams served as Vice President of Human Resources for the Travel Channel, where she provided HR leadership in support of the network’s business and talent strategies. Williams arrived at Travel Channel in 2010 after eight years with Live Nation as both Director of Human Resources and Director of Employee Relations. She also served as a human resources manager for Clear Channel Communications. She began her career as a regional human resources manager for KinderCare Learning Centers, Inc.

In addition to her professional work, she’s also involved in the Emma Bowen Foundation’s Youth and Young Professionals program and the Year Up program in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. She actively serves as a mentor in the Scripps Networks Interactive Mentor Experience program, as well as the T. Howard Foundation’s mentor program for promising college students interested in media.

In spring 2016, Williams was selected to attend the The WICT Network Senior Executive Summit at Stanford University. She is also a member of The WICT Network’s Global Board of Directors. Williams has been recognized by the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications for her commitment to fostering diversity. She is a proud graduate of NAMIC’s 2016 Executive Leadership Development Program and one of the organization’s 2016 Luminaries. Williams was also listed as one of Cablefax’s 2016 Most Influential Minorities.

Maria E. Brennan, CAE, is the President & CEO of The WICT Network, the largest organization in the world representing women in media, entertainment and technology. The WICT Network was formed in 1979 and is currently a 10,000-member global nonprofit with 24 domestic and international chapters. During her time at The WICT Network, Brennan has worked collaboratively with its leaders and stakeholders to steer the organization’s strategic vision, resulting in record levels of membership, sponsor support and program participation. Brennan has over 25 years of executive management experience with non-profits ranging in size from 2,000 to 33,000 members, with expertise in the areas of strategic planning, communications and advocacy.

As the public voice of The WICT Network, Brennan is an experienced spokesperson and SME for the media industry, and diversity and inclusion. She is a frequently quoted expert on equal pay issues and work/life integration and has been published or featured in such magazines as Broadcasting & Cable, Working Mother, Association Trends, Selecta and Cablefax.

Brennan is an award-winning writer receiving an EXCEL Award for her byline, “Hear Me Roar.” She was elected to serve on the Women’s Leadership Board at Harvard University where she continues to serve for over 10 years. She is a charter member of the FCC Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment, having recently finished her sixth term. Brennan is a founding member of WIPP — Women Impacting Public Policy — and a Former Commissioner for the Girl Scouts Healthy Media Council.

Brennan received the Vanguard Award by NCTA–The Internet & Television Association, in recognition of her contributions to the media industry’s innovation, growth and progress. She has been named among Cablefax’s Most Powerful Women annually since 2010 and recently received their Women’s Advocacy Champion Award.

As a proud native of Washington, D.C., Maria built her career and raised her family in the DMV. And while she and her husband, Mike, still call D.C. home, their two daughters have grown and flown.

Mike Bair, Executive Vice President, Spectrum Networks

Mike Bair is Executive Vice President, Spectrum Networks, with oversight of local Spectrum News networks in 14 states, a national streaming news network, a Spanish-language news network and two regional sports networks in Los Angeles.

As a true advocate for the impact of local news, Mike has steered Spectrum News toward a mission of strengthening democracy by delivering top tier reporting to new audiences. With journalists deeply rooted in the communities they cover, this commitment to in depth coverage of locally important issues has resonated with viewers. As a result, Spectrum News often outperforms both local broadcast affiliates and national news networks.

Under his leadership, Spectrum News has grown, launching and expanding the reach of local news networks in Los Angeles, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin.

Mike also has overseen the launches of Spectrum News’ mobile and connected TV apps, bringing local news to digital audiences, and debuted Spectrum News+, a national streaming news channel serving all Spectrum customers with the Spectrum News brand of trusted, relevant, objective local reporting.

Beyond that realm, Mike also manages the Company’s regional sports networks in Los Angeles – Spectrum SportsNet and Spectrum SportsNet LA – home to the Lakers and Dodgers. He’s played a key role in forging partnerships with the NBA and MLB, coming up with innovative ways to broaden how fans can access our sports programming. In doing so, he’s added real value to Spectrum customers and ensured that fans across the region stay connected to their favorite teams.

Mike’s Early Career

Mike’s career has always been about turning both startups and legacy assets into something even more valuable than they are alone. He’s always had a vision where those companies become greater than just the sum of their parts. With a background that spans news, entertainment, sports programming, and leadership roles in both the cable industry and startup media ventures, he’s brought a unique perspective to building that kind of value.

Mike served as President of Madison Square Garden’s Media Group, where he led the strategic, operational and financial performance of MSG Networks, Fuse Music TV, MSG Interactive, MSG Radio, and all sponsorship and ad sales for the parent company. He also previously served as President, Product Management and Marketing for the cable division at Cablevision Systems Corporation (now Altice USA) and held executive positions at HBO, Showtime Networks and Ogilvy & Mather Advertising. Prior to joining Spectrum Networks in 2016, Mike was Chief Executive Officer at the startup streaming media company Bleachers Corp.

Mike received a B.A. in broadcast communications from Penn State University and, in 2014, was honored with the university’s Distinguished Alumni Award. He is currently on the Board of Directors for SportsNet New York (SNY) and Stringr, which provides tech solutions for media companies.

President, Entertainment, Versant

Val Boreland serves as President of Entertainment for Versant, where she oversees content strategy, creative development and production, marketing, and content acquisitions across the company’s portfolio of entertainment brands and platforms, including E!, Oxygen True Crime, SYFY, and USA Network. 

Previously, Boreland was Executive Vice President, Content Acquisitions for NBCUniversal Entertainment, where she led content buying and curation across NBCU’s expansive broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms—spanning NBC, Bravo, E!, Oxygen True Crime, SYFY, Universal Kids, USA Network, and Peacock. 

During her tenure, Boreland was responsible for high-profile deals across the entertainment portfolio, including Peacock’s agreement to stream the first window of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group movies following the theatrical release window. 

 She partnered with third-party studios – domestically and internationally – to acquire content for all NBCU’s entertainment linear platforms and Peacock, including original films and international series. Boreland was also responsible for bringing the enormously popular “John Wick” franchise to Peacock with prequel series “The Continental.”   

Prior to that, Boreland served as Executive Vice President, Content Strategy & Acquisitions for NBCU’s six cable networks, where she oversaw cross-platform content scheduling, acquisitions and promo strategy. She also led acquisitions for Peacock as the direct-to-consumer brand geared up for its launch in 2020. While in that role, Boreland secured the rights to multiple high-profile properties for Peacock, including “Yellowstone,” “The Office” and the “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” franchise.  

Boreland holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Michigan and resides in New York. 

President, Distribution & Partnerships, Versant

As President of Distribution & Partnerships, Roy and his team negotiate linear carriage, streaming and AVOD/FAST agreements for Versant’s portfolio, coordinate and execute marketing partnerships and campaigns and manage ongoing and source new business development opportunities with distribution platforms and partners.

Prior to joining Versant, Roy worked at AMC Networks as EVP of Distribution & Business Development.

Roy also worked as a corporate M&A and private equity attorney in the New York offices of Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Winston & Strawn LLP. While on leave of absence from Kirkland & Ellis, Roy won the Democratic primary and earned the nomination for U.S. Congress in New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District with 90.4% of the vote. During his campaign, he raised $1.3 million, earned the newspaper endorsements of New Jersey’s largest newspapers and received 43% of the vote in the general election.

Roy earned his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center where he was the Editor in Chief of the Georgetown Immigration Law Journal. While studying at Georgetown Law as an evening student, he served as Correspondence Director to U.S. Senator Byron L. Dorgan. Prior to law school, he worked as an Aide to the Governor of New Jersey and as Special Assistant to the Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Roy earned his undergraduate degree in political science from Brown University, where he graduated with honors.

Roy currently serves on the boards of The WICT Network, CTAM and the T. Howard Foundation as well as the Community Advisory Board of NJTV.

Regional Director, Americas Service Provider, Cisco

Patty Donaldson is a Senior Sales leader with experience driving new businesses, markets, and customer relationships in the U.S. and Canada. In her current role as a Regional Director in Cisco’s Segments and Countries business, she leads teams focused on sales of products and services to Service Providers in the U.S. Under Patty’s leadership, her team is responsible for aligning Cisco resources to support their customer’s business drivers and strategic priorities.  This includes sell to and sell through with direct and partner resources.

Since joining Cisco in 2007, Patty has led Service Provider teams across many different segments including cable, large enterprise customers such as The Walt Disney Company and Cox Enterprises, as well as web, media, and gaming accounts. She has built highly empowered and successful sales teams who have led the way in driving new products and business models to exceed customer expectations.

In addition to Patty’s sales leadership role, she is passionate about attracting and retaining a more diverse workforce including early in career talent. She participates not only in many Cisco initiatives but also external organizations such as Women in Cable Television. Currently, Patty serves as the Inclusion and Diversity lead for the Americas Service Provider Segment.

Patty holds a BBA in Marketing from the University of Georgia and resides in the Atlanta area. She enjoys spending time on the water and is a real estate enthusiast including building and designing homes.

Kelley Drukker, Senior Vice President of Legal & Business Affairs, A+E Global Media 

Kelley Drukker is a seasoned legal and business affairs executive with three decades of experience in the entertainment industry. As Senior Vice President of Legal & Business Affairs at A+E Global Media, she leads teams across four key areas: Global Rights, Standards & Practices, Commercial Clearance, and Budget Management. Known for her strategic leadership and deep industry knowledge, Kelley is also passionate about mentorship and staff development, with a strong track record of building high-performing teams.

Prior to joining A+E, Kelley served as Vice President of Legal & Business Affairs at Oxygen Media, where she oversaw Rights & Clearances, Standards & Practices, and Music Publishing Administration. Her career began at MTV Networks in the Rights & Licensing department, where she contributed to iconic productions such as the Video Music Awards, Movie Awards, Unplugged, and Spring Break. During her tenure at Viacom, she was honored as the company’s Employee of the Year.

Kelley serves on two industry Boards of Directors. She is a member of the TV Monitoring Board, which works to uphold the integrity and consistency of TV ratings and Standards & Practices nationwide. She also serves on the Board of The WICT Network – New York Chapter, where she leads Coaching Catalyst, an executive coaching program. A dedicated advocate for professional development, Kelley is a graduate of the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute and the Senior Executive Summit at Stanford University.

In 2023, Kelley received The WICT Network’s Woman to Watch Award, recognizing her impact and leadership across the media industry. She is a founding member and active mentor of A+E’s Spark mentoring program and has contributed to various industry mentorship initiatives, including WICT’s Prime Access, Future Now, and more. She frequently speaks at leadership and media events, bringing insight from her extensive experience in legal, business affairs, and people management.

Kelley holds a B.A. in Mass Communication from the University of Delaware. She lives in New Jersey and is the proud dog-mom of Sydney, an English Springer Spaniel.

Managing Director at Accenture; Global Strategy Lead, Software & Platforms

Stephanie advises C-suite leaders across hyperscalers, social platforms, media, software, and AI-native companies on growth and enterprise reinvention. Her work spans AI strategy & enablement, go-to-market execution, partner ecosystems, M&A, and operating model evolution. Stephanie is recognized for helping organizations stay ahead of rapid technological and market change.

In this role, Stephanie has been a driving force in scaling Accenture’s Software & Platforms strategy business, delivering sustained double-digit growth, building, and expanding multiple strategic client relationships, and advising companies through complex, AI-driven transformations. She is known for her forward-thinking advisory style, ability to see across industries, and record of solving clients’ most complex challenges. A trusted partner to senior executives, she combines strategic rigor with hands-on execution to help organizations scale, modernize, and compete in fast-moving markets. She is also a committed people leader, appreciated for developing and mentoring high-performing teams and emerging leaders. Stephanie is also recognized as one of the top 50 Women Leaders in PA by Women We Admire and is a Member of Forbes Business Council.

Earlier in her career, Stephanie was among the first employees at two government start-ups; the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) where she helped build organizational structures from the ground up and infused innovation into the public sector.

Stephanie holds an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and Bachelors in Science from American University (Major – Mathematical Statistics). She currently resides with her husband and two kids (ages – 6 & 2) in New Hope, PA. When she has free time – Stephanie loves scuba diving, attending live auctions, and supporting her father’s rare book business.

Senior Vice President, Distribution & Business Development, AMC Networks 

As Senior Vice President of Distribution and Business Development at AMC Networks, Kalosieh is responsible for negotiating and executing key ad sales and affiliate agreements with MVPD, vMVPD and digital operators in the United States and Canada to help increase viewership, secure long-term revenue and drive subscription growth across the company’s brands including AMC, AMC+, Acorn TV, BBC America, IFC, Sundance Now, Shudder, HIDIVE, ALLBLK and We TV.

An experienced business executive with more than three decades of leadership in the media and entertainment industry built on a strategy of forging meaningful relationships, Kalosieh drives the implementation of sales distribution and content delivery strategies for partners across affiliate and digital platforms. She and her team are also tasked with identifying, developing and executing on business development opportunities to unlock new revenue streams for the company.

Kalosieh joined AMC Networks in 2019 as Senior Vice President of Distribution where she has now helped close dozens of mutually beneficial agreements. Prior to joining the company, Kalosieh held several leadership roles across Discovery, Scripps Networks Interactive, NBCUniversal and TCI Media Services.

A skilled leader with a reputation for building and developing strong teams, Kalosieh has recruited, hired and mentored top talent throughout her career, many of whom have advanced into leadership roles throughout the industry.

She has been recognized as one of Cablefax’s Most Powerful Women in Cable and was selected as a Multichannel News 40 Under 40 honoree. An active member of several industry organizations, Kalosieh was a Class 26 graduate of the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute.

Kalosieh resides in Knoxville, Tennessee with her husband of nearly 25 years, their four children and two black English labs.

MD Global Talent and Chief DEI Officer, Liberty Global

Soraya Loerts is the MD Global Talent and Chief DEI Officer of Liberty Global, where she is responsible for driving and implementing the multi-year DE&I strategy. Soraya joined the Liberty Global family in 2009, leading Omni-Channel Care and Retention at the former UPC Netherlands, before serving in various global leadership roles, VP Strategic Marketing & Digital transformation, VP Customer Experience and VP Product Quality. Soraya has over 22 years of experience in driving, customer and product experience, technology, and digital transformation at Cendris, Dell and Liberty Global.

Soraya has a BA in Management and Economics and a master’s degree in Quality and Business Transformation, she also completed the INSEAD CTAM Executive Program and The WICT Network’s Executive Stanford Program. She has been named “Leader of the year” by the Customer Management association and featured in the prestigious Rijksmuseum as an” Influential woman making a difference”. She is also recognized by “Topvrouwen” a platform showcasing top women leaders in the Netherlands and a member of the World Economic Chief DEI officers Forum.

In 2019 Soraya co-founded The WICT Network Europe chapter and served as president. Soraya currently serves on the WICT Global board as chapter leader designee.

Soraya’s personal aspiration is to encourage leaders to play a pivotal role in creating a consciously inclusive culture where everyone can feel as though they belong, in addition to driving a level playing field for women in the industry.

EVP, Chief Operating Officer, Astound Broadband

Toni Murphy is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Astound, the 6th largest broadband provider in the United States. In this role, Toni oversees the daily customer-facing operations of Astound, which includes customer care, sales and technical operations. Operating in over 11 US geographic regions, Toni plays a critical role in driving the strategic vision for Astound’s long-term growth.

Prior to this historic appointment, Toni spent nearly 16 years at Comcast NBCUniversal. In her last position at Comcast, Toni was the Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Comcast’s Central Division. Based now in Atlanta, GA, she was responsible for driving customer growth and retention for a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, comprised of 12 Midwest and Southeastern states. Toni led go-to-market strategy for over 200 retail stores, field sales personnel, marketing, care operations for Xfinity-branded TV, Internet, Voice, Home and Mobile products and services.

Prior to this elevation, Toni Murphy made Comcast history as the first African American female appointed to Top Regional Executive. In her role as Senior Vice President of the Keystone Region, Toni was responsible for the organization’s operational, strategic, and financial performance across 4 states (Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Maryland)—a multi-billion-dollar business segment for Comcast. Based in Pittsburgh, she led an incredible team of 2,000 sales, marketing, engineering and operations professionals.

Toni is a Princeton University graduate and is highly regarded as one of the cable industry’s brightest talents. She has demonstrated a capacity to lead in different functional areas including Business and Consumer Sales, Finance, Project Management, and Customer Experience. Toni is a trailblazer – she is an executive champion for the industry’s DEI initiatives, focused on implementing new strategies to hire, retain and develop the next generation of diverse leaders.

Toni sits on the board of Eat N Park Hospitality Group, a premier Pittsburgh-based portfolio of food services concepts, featured in restaurants and on colleges and corporate campuses.

She has been recognized for her professional success and her commitment to community investment, including Cable Fax’s The Diversity List and Power 100 for City and State PA.

In her spare time, Toni is a jazz singer, who enjoys traveling, writing poetry and spending time with her husband, Craig Murphy, and their three children, LilyJin, Blaise and London.

EVP & Chief People Officer, Cox Communications

Kia Painter is Executive Vice President and Incoming Chief People Officer for Cox Communications. In this role, she is responsible for leading the development and execution of talent strategy that aligns with Cox’s operating principles and working through the challenges of driving continual growth in our rapidly evolving business.

Prior to this role, Kia served as Senior Vice President, HR Business Partnerships, where she was responsible for leading HR business consulting and service delivery functions for Cox Communications.

Painter joined Cox in 1998 as a part time HR Assistant in Cox Hampton Roads after completing undergraduate studies. During her twenty-four plus years with the company, she has risen through the ranks and led people functions throughout Cox regions and markets in the Southeast notably in Virginia, Florida, and Louisiana. In 2015, she moved to Atlanta to establish Cox Communication’s employee experience, employee engagement, and organization design practices for the company.

She is the recipient of various industry awards including:

• 2022 Mae Douglas Leadership Award
• 2022 NAMIC Next Generation Leader Award
• 2021 Horizon Woman to Watch Award, The WICT Network Southeast
• 2021, 2020, 2019- CableFax Diversity List
• 2014 Top 40 under 40 by Multichannel News Magazine
• 2011 NAMIC Luminary Award for up-and-coming industry executives

She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from James Madison University. She also holds a Master of Arts in Human and Organizational Development from The George Washington University and a Master of Business Administration from Tulane University.

When she is not at Cox looking for ways to create career opportunities and experiences for our employees, she spends her time reading and looking for new things to learn. She is a native of Norfolk, Virginia, and currently resides in Powder Springs, Georgia.

Executive Director, ESG & Sustainability, CSG International 

Cindy is the executive director of environmental, social & governance, and sustainability for CSG. In this role, she guides the company’s ESG strategy, reporting and disclosure process, policy development, and communications. She is also responsible for developing strategic sustainability programs designed to drive innovative approaches to inclusive and sustainable impact programs that benefit the community and preserve the planet.

Prior to CSG, Cindy served as the vice president of market planning and strategy for Comcast. In this position, she was responsible for identifying opportunities offered by a connected world for cities across the Comcast footprint. She worked with local leadership to collaborate with people, companies, not-for-profits, and government leaders to bring big ideas to life and unleash the innovation economy. Her team enabled forward-thinking cities populated with big thinkers to innovate and enable breakthroughs in business, the arts, healthcare, and education through sustained partnerships, working with city leaders to catalyze innovation and accelerate economic growth.

Prior to this role, Cindy served as the vice president of community impact for Comcast’s West Division, and in her previous role as vice president of external affairs for Comcast’s Mile High Region, Cindy has demonstrated success in creating and sustaining deep relationships with key influencers; including media, business leaders, government officials, the non-profit sector and the growing and evolving entrepreneurial and start-up communities.

She currently serves on the Visit Denver Board (Chair 2013), Colorado Inclusive Economy, and Metropolitan State University Foundation Board and previously served on the Downtown Denver Partnership, Denver Civic Ventures Board, and Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado Board among others in Colorado. She is an active member of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Foundation (Chair 2010), the Metro Economic Development Corporation, and Women In Cable & Telecommunications. Cindy is alumni of the 2006 DMCLF Leadership Denver program, served on the Downtown Denver Partnership awards jury in 2005, and chaired the jury in 2007/2008 and again in 2016.

President, Platform Distribution & Partnerships, NBCUniversal

Matt Schnaars is President, Platform Distribution & Partnerships for NBCUniversal. In this role, Schnaars leads the distribution and monetization of NBCU’s linear and streaming services to pay tv providers, NBC broadcast affiliates, consumer technology platforms and devices, and consumer brands.

Schnaars was elevated to this position after serving as President, NBCUniversal Content Distribution, overseeing distribution of NBCUniversal’s owned and operated broadcast stations, cable and regional sports networks, direct-to-consumer services, and FAST channels to the company’s distribution partners. He has had a critical role in NBCU’s growth over the past decade, including the successful launch of NBCU’s direct-to-consumer service, Peacock, in 2020. Schnaars joined NBCUniversal in 2013 as SVP, Content Distribution.

Prior to joining NBCUniversal, Schnaars served as Vice President, National Accounts in the Disney and ESPN Media Networks division at The Walt Disney Company, where he worked for nine years. There he was responsible for distribution of the Disney and ESPN stable of networks to cable, telecom and technology companies, and played a key role in the successful launch of several national television networks, including ESPN3, ESPNU and the SEC Network.

Schnaars holds a MBA with a concentration in Finance from NYU’s Stern School of Business and a BA, Economics from the College of the Holy Cross. He is an Executive in Residence at NYU Stern, serves on the Iona University Board of Trustees, and is an active participant in several media industry organizations dedicated to mentorship and development.

Jeannie Thurston, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Midco

Jeannie Thurston is the Senior Vice President of Marketing at Midco, where she leads strategies designed to drive awareness, create demand and build lasting customer loyalty. Her responsibilities span competitive insights, strategic marketing and offers, brand strategy, integrated communications, digital innovation, and social impact initiatives. Jeannie also oversees media and content strategy for Midco Sports and the Midco Sports Plus streaming platform, guiding their continued expansion in the collegiate sports media space.

With a career that spans inbound sales, telecommunications support, and creative services, Jeannie brings a uniquely comprehensive understanding of how teams, technology, and customer experience intersect. She is recognized for her ability to translate complex business objectives into clear, actionable strategies, and for her collaborative approach to guiding projects from concept to completion.

Jeannie is a graduate of South Dakota State University and has completed multiple executive development programs through The WICT Network, including Rising Leader, Executive Development, and Senior Executive. She is also a graduate of Leadership Sioux Falls.

A committed community leader, Jeannie has coached youth programs, served on local boards, and supported initiatives focused on education, economic development, and community growth. Her leadership style blends strategic clarity with a deep belief in the power of people, purpose, and partnership.

Elizabeth Wright is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Direct to Consumer segment at Paramount, A Skydance Corporation, where she oversees financial strategy and operations for Paramount+, Pluto TV, and BET+. In this role, she leads global FP&A, strategic planning, and transformation initiatives supporting one of the world’s largest streaming and digital video businesses.

Under her leadership, Direct to Consumer achieved profitability a full year ahead of plan, while the company’s streaming portfolio surpassed 79 million global subscribers. Elizabeth has been instrumental in driving margin expansion, ARPU growth, and disciplined content investment while guiding the business through major strategic milestones, including the integration of Showtime, the launch and global expansion of Paramount+, and Paramount’s merger with Skydance.

Elizabeth is known for her high-ownership leadership style, deep analytical expertise, and ability to build and scale high-performing teams through periods of rapid growth and transformation. She is a trusted advisor to C-suite executives and boards, recognized for combining rigorous financial discipline with a people-first leadership philosophy.

A passionate advocate for developing the next generation of leaders, Elizabeth serves on the Executive Advisory Council of The City Tutors and actively mentors rising talent across the media and finance industries. She is also an active member of The WICT Network, Chief, World 50, and Blend.

Her industry honors include The WICT Network’s 2025 Woman of the Year (Entertainment), Chief’s 2025 New Era of Leadership Award, Cynopsis’ 2025 Top Women in Media (Industry Leaders), Cablefax’s 2025 and 2024 Most Powerful Women, and Media Play News’ 2024 50 Women to Watch in Digital Entertainment.

Elizabeth began her career at PwC and holds a B.B.A. in Accounting from Siena University.