EmpowerHer: A Returnership Program Participants

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Kennedy graduated from Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she was active in the student government association and eventually held the position of president. Her campaigns centered on raising awareness of mental health issues and empowering women. Her field of study was Business Administration, with a focus on Marketing.  After a transformative internship at BET Networks in 2018, led by Louis Carr, President of Ad Sales, she relocated to New York City in to start her career in media and entertainment at Viacom. Later Kennedy joined The Walt Disney Company where she pivoted from sales to marketing.

Kennedy has expertise in sales, digital marketing, affiliate marketing and brand partnership strategy marketing. Her responsibilities have included creating, developing, and executing industry-leading marketing strategies that drive growth across linear, direct-to-consumer, OTT, device, and other digital platforms.

She took a career sabbatical at the end of 2021 to spend more time with her first daughter and get used to being a mother. She chose to continue her skills by doing freelance marketing and consulting whenever she could because going back to the workforce had its own set of obstacles. When Kennedy isn’t spending time with her spouse and their two young daughters, she enjoys going on walks around New York City, serving on career panels at her alma mater, cooking new dishes, and hanging out with friends.

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I am Alexandra Ceron, a seasoned Production Designer and Photo Manager with a wealth of experience in the entertainment industry. During my time at Warner Bros. Discovery in New York from September 2013 to December 2022, I specialized in crafting show art tailored to diverse networks, ensuring strict adherence to brand guidelines while optimizing for platforms like Discovery GO apps, Discovery+, FireTV, Apple TV, and Roku. My role also involved overseeing image delivery processes, enhancing efficiency in collaboration between creative teams and network producers.

Prior to my tenure at Warner Bros. Discovery, I contributed significantly to A+E Networks in New York from November 2012 to August 2013, where I played a pivotal role in the final delivery of graphic assets and marketing materials for renowned shows such as Project Runway on Lifetime. This involved daily production tasks such as image optimization for web platforms and close collaboration with creative directors on advertising campaigns.

Before these roles, I held various contract positions at Artisan Talent and Onward Search, where I showcased my versatility across print and digital platforms for esteemed clients including HBO, M.A.C Cosmetics, Condé Nast, Viacom, A&E Networks, and Macy’s.

My journey in the industry began as a Print Production Designer at Free Range at BBH in New York, where I collaborated closely with print producers and creative directors on projects for clients such as Vaseline, Levi’s, and British Airways.

With a proven track record of delivering high-quality work and a diverse skill set spanning various aspects of production and design, I am dedicated to making a significant impact in the entertainment and design industries.

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Alyssa Corcoran is a communications leader and strategist, with 20 years of experience. She has a proven track record in business, trade and consumer press. She is accomplished in crisis communications, strategic press plans and executive media training.

Corcoran, served as Senior Vice President, Communications, TV Networks & Digital Distribution, NBCUniversal where she was the primary public relations lead for the preeminent media company’s affiliate sales and digital distribution teams. She was responsible for the media and communications strategy for a multi-billion dollar content portfolio that consisted of top-rated cable networks. In this role, Corcoran played a pivotal role in leading key-deal announcements with cable and satellite operators, telco carriers and digital platforms.

Before joining NBCUniversal, she served as Senior Director, Corporate Communications for TechTV where she oversaw the company’s media relations, marketing and events divisions both domestically and internationally. She was responsible for formulating and executing internal and external communications for all divisions of the company. In addition, she was influential in the creation and implementation of the company’s first national advertising campaign.

Prior to TechTV, Corcoran was Director, Media Relations for Turner Broadcasting, leading the press efforts for the affiliate sales team for Turner’s cable networks. She spearheaded the press outreach for the launch of CNN/SI and was a part of the media team that launched CNNfn.

Widely recognized in the cable industry, Corcoran was chosen as “PR Executive of the Year,” one of “The Best Public Relations Professionals in Cable” and one of the “Top 100 People in Cable” by Cable Fax Magazine.  Corcoran participated in NBCUl’s Leadership Mentoring Program. She was a member of WICT, CTAM (president of the Silicon Valley/Pacific Northwest chapter), and the Association of Cable Communicators (board member).

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Kris Crenwelge, an award-winning communications and creative director, is a Houston native who has lived and worked in eight different countries.

Kris landed her dream PR job straight out of college with a travel company in the Caribbean. Shortly after, her boss quit, she narrowly escaped decapitation-by-ceiling-fan during a Category 5 hurricane, and a disgruntled coworker put a curse on her because she wanted her job.

Quickly pivoting, Kris earned her master’s degree from Ohio University and worked for ABC Sports, NFL Europe, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Houston Rockets.

Upon moving to L.A., Kris launched her firm, Sports Publication Design, which produced branded content for more than 20 teams in the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, and NCAA. She multitasked as communications director for Promax & BDA, two entertainment-industry associations, winning awards for feature writing and magazine design from the Association for Women in Communications and the Public Relations Society of America. She also served on the board of directors for the Junior League of Los Angeles, receiving their Presidents’ Cup award for outstanding league leadership.

Kris wrote for the CBS spy comedy True Lies and the Netflix animated action-adventure series Spirit Rangers, which was nominated for seven 2023 Children’s and Family Emmys. She contributed as an essayist for O, the Oprah Magazine and has spoken for nonprofits including Gilda’s Club and the Native American Media Alliance.

These days, Kris lives curse-free in Los Angeles with her husband and their much-loved rescue pup.

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Upon Graduating from Appalachian University with a degree in Business Education, I tossed off my small-town-girl boots traveling the world working on a  cruise ship. I met wonderful people, made lasting friendships, all whilst enjoying the most beautiful and wondrous places in the world

Not done yet – when my final tour ended, I dropped anchor in New York CIty.

Years pass, the tickle of youth settles, and, seemingly suddenly, I was 10 years into careers, first in corporate finance, and academia thereafter.

I flourished as a Human Resources and Executive Operations professional. I honed skills in critical thinking, communications, and executive problem solving. I managed projects. I managed teams and collaborated with company leaders and stakeholders. I was the kind of leader that was trusted by all and felt fulfilled by the impact she made.

In all this exploration and hardwork, my heart nonetheless lies with my family and community. Thus, when parenthood called, I took a pause, raised my daughter full time (something that was, for sure, a challenge, but also, a mighty gift).

Again, restless and ready, I seek a new challenge to return to work in a way that utilizes my professional attributes, but, this time, in more dynamic, innovative industries such as the ones represented by The WICT Network.I am honored to participate in WICT, look forward to connecting with each of you, and, with WICT’s help, find my next adventure!

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Teresa Dokey has decades of experience working as a senior level executive in the film/TV industry specializing in global distribution including acquisitions and co-productions.

Under her own banner, ParalleLines Entertainment, Teresa consulted for Showcase Entertainment regarding the distribution of its film/TV library and RTL Television, a German broadcaster, acquiring programming in a competitive environment. Teresa also developed film/TV projects with writers and producers.

Teresa previously worked at Showcase as Vice President of Distribution where she was elevated to Senior Vice President of Distribution. While there Teresa licensed the rights to 200+ films/TV programs to 300+ distributors/broadcasters worldwide. A major accomplishment was negotiating a long-term multi-million-dollar deal with a major Scandinavian distributor licensing 150+ films/TV programs in a market, at the time, few direct competitors could penetrate.

As the Vice President of Acquisitions and Distribution, Teresa helped EuroArts, a German entertainment company, launch its feature film division. Her most notable accomplishment there was negotiating a three-picture multi-million-dollar US/German co-production partnership.

Teresa has a bachelor’s in Global Studies and a master’s in Global Affairs from the University of Denver. Currently pursuing a PhD in Film and Television Studies at the University of Glasgow, Teresa is researching the Outlander television series to determine what viewers learned about Scotland’s history and Scottish/Highland culture watching the series.

Combining her global distribution expertise and PhD research, Teresa is shifting her career focus to developing and producing films and high-end TV programs that inform viewers about topics (e.g., history, culture, society) because the past is prologue.

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Joan Humes profile statement:

• The past 25 years I have been with 2 companies:  AT&T and Charter Communication.
• Areas of experience and leadership include- Information Technology, Human Resources, Project Management, Business Analyst, Sales Professional, Integration & Release Engineering, Agile & Scrum Methodology, Requirements Engineering, System Analysis, Risk & Change Management, Strategy & Execution, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• As a Project Manager I have overseen numerous successful and exciting projects launch from beginning to end.
• In my role as a Business Systems Analyst I have written hundreds of IT requirements, User Stories, and business stakeholder requirements.
• As a sales representative I achieved Elite Sales status which ranked me in the top 1% of sales nationally in 2021 for Charter Communications.
• I have my Master of Business Management from Webster University and Bachelors in Public Relations from University of Houston.
• Looking forward to new career opportunities and I am seeking fulltime employment.
• I am very passionate, professional, respectful, and would love the opportunity to bring my expertise and experience to work for your company.
• Hobbies include Pickleball, walking, wine, book club, and traveling with my husband Jack.  We have two children: Danielle living in Stamford, CT and Jack living in Denver, CO.

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As a southern California native growing up watching Trojan football and determined to study at a top accounting school, Tracy dreamt of attending the University of Southern California (USC) where she graduated with a BS in Accounting.  She served as member of the Student Honor Council, Accounting Society, and Accounting TA for esteemed Emeritus Professor and former Assistant Dean Merle Hopkins.  USC’s strength of community and strong academics aligned with Tracy’s values and upbringing. Tracy is first generation American.  Both of her parents were born in Samoa and were huge advocates of education and family.  Growing up as the middle of five children gave Tracy the tools to navigate multiple personalities and complex challenges in any group setting.

Tracy’s natural curiosity and work ethic led her to critical finance roles at major turning points in the digital media and entertainment landscape.  She was able to combine her passion for numbers, ability to simplify complex concepts, and desire to be at the cutting edge of entertainment by becoming an expert in the digital media and tech space. With experience spanning from social network pioneer MySpace (Fox ACQN) to Maker Studios (Disney ACQN) based out of London, and most recently Riot Games, creator of League of Legends, Tracy has been at the forefront of where technology, media and entertainment meet.  She entered each role with no direct industry experience and quickly became a subject matter expert.

Beyond Tracy’s professional roles, her current role as mother proves to be unlike the others, as she’s not a subject matter expert, but enjoys learning from the tiny teacher in her house.  In her spare time, she enjoys Brooklyn life and the four seasons of NYC with daughter, Penelope, and partner, Jake.  Tracy loves to travel, is a certified kundalini yoga instructor and enjoys meditation and hikes.  Fashion, vintage clothing/jewelry and random facts spark joy!

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With over two decades experience in Product Development, Product Management, Growth + Digital Marketing, I have a keen understanding of what it takes to build, launch, market and manage award-winning products and services. Specializing in media, entertainment, healthcare, education and software industries, I have led teams in both start-ups and large organizations. My experience includes product lifecycle management, market research and analysis, customer experience (CX) design solutions, growth marketing and support management. As the Director, Digital Products at HBO, our team developed a new D2C streaming service (HBO NOW) including launching an MVP version and leveraging market and competitive intelligence to identify market “fit” and pricing analysis.

I pivoted to working for start-ups that are mission driven in early stage, business dev and growth capacity. In 2021, I joined an ed tech company developing a go to market strategy for a new audience that disrupted the existing marketplace for reading software. My role included creating a growth marketing playbook across inbound (web, SEO, content) and outbound channels (email, PPC, events).  Ultimately, I have a passion for understanding and solving customer needs and designing engaging customer solutions leveraging qualitative and quantitative data and analytics to derive actionable insights.  I am a team player and bring my collaborative work-style to each engagement to drive results for your organization.

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I started my career in TV production as an intern and began freelancing at Viacom (VH1, MTV) after college. I experienced a lot during 15+ years of freelancing, it was never easy but I still pushed forward one-step-a-time with full faith and confidence in myself and my dreams. After my brother passed away suddenly, I realized everything I worked so hard building could simply disappear. After 15+ years, I found that I had lost my initial motivation and drive that made me pursue TV production – despite all the challenges and obstacles (but, now, I see I could’ve also used it as a creative force). Since I have a tendency to dive deep into whatever I am doing, I dove deep into spirituality and healing on many levels. Now, I see myself as a jigsaw puzzle. All the thousands of pieces and experiences that I’ve had so far all happened for a reason and it was all to remember who I truly am. I am not any of my past experiences, I am always rebirthing, and I am truly empowered to choose the life that I would like to co-create. With this wisdom, I hope to remind others that they too are always free to heal, to rebirth, and to create again. By doing so, we are choosing to be an example and living proof of the seemingly impossible.

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Ritza Olivier is a self-motivated, passionate, and innovative leader with over 15 years of experience in public safety, emergency management, and non-profit management. As the Director of the Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) South Florida Chapter, she leads the chapter’s efforts in providing high school students with awareness, education, and information about the economic, financial, and social advantages of graduating from high school and matriculating out of college and into the work force. Ritza is skilled in managing projects from concept to completion, making critical decisions during challenges, and demonstrating exceptional communication skills. She also has an extensive background in developing strategies that serve a diverse group of youth from underprivileged communities, with a reputation of cultivating relationships that further the organization’s mission.

Before joining the Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) – South Florida Chapter, Ritza worked with the Florida Atlantic University Police, where she oversaw the daily operations of the communications center, along with managing the records, data, and technical compliance for FBI and Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) systems in alignment with technical, strategic, and quality initiatives. Ritza also developed and maintained the training curriculum for the center, while also being the dedicated incident commander for emergency management and large sporting events. She holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), with a concentration in Business Analytics and a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from Florida Atlantic University.

In her spare time, Ritza volunteers with two international, non-profit organizations and enjoys CrossFit as her means of self-care.

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Michelle Ray is a former media and entertainment industry executive with extensive non-profit leadership experience. She started her career with the National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA) in marketing and managing and producing special events. Her last 18 years have been dedicated to DEI advocacy at the helm of the Walter Kaitz Foundation where she worked to improve representation in the industry through annual fundraising events and grants distribution. She has deep experience in creating organizational infrastructure, capacity building, project management, and strategic partnership development in media and entertainment.

In 2024 Michelle launched her consulting practice, Michelle Ray Strategies, focused on marketing, program development, and strategic alliances. Her clients include non-profit organizations, professional associations, and start-ups championing access and opportunity for underrepresented and underserved communities.

Michelle is a graduate of McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Certifications and professional development include WICT’s Betsy Magness Leadership Institute, NAMIC’s Executive Leadership Development Program at UCLA, and CTAM’s Executive Management Program at Harvard.

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Melissa Watkins is an award-winning Graphic Designer and Founder of Watkins Design Services LLC, from the NYC metropolitan area. With over twenty years of hands-on experience in the design field, with a focus on the healthcare industry, Melissa has successfully worked with both small creative departments and larger international organizations. The hallmark of her work is her ability to take complex subject matter and visually translate it into compelling graphics that are easily understood by the audience. A love of art, a fascination with typography, and an interest in technology led Melissa into the world of graphic design, after earning her BFA from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts. Over the last decade, Watkins Design Services has grown its’ client base to include Abbott, Alere, Frontline Medical, and WebMD, helping bring clarity to medical communications projects for both print and digital. Looking to the future, Melissa’s goal is to grow as a designer, expanding her knowledge of UX/UI design, while collaborating with a creative team to continue producing quality design products.