Meet the 2024 RLP Participants

Director, SDIT

Shreejana is an innovative leader and motivator with strong leadership skills that promote team productivity, effectiveness, and growth. She believes in empowering her team by giving them authority and responsibility, setting clear expectations, and welcoming ideas and inputs. She approaches her role with empathy, authenticity, and a desire to inspire and motivate others. Through mentorship, she strives to help her team understand the organization’s vision and work towards achieving its goals.

Shreejana holds an MBA in Finance and MIS from Bellevue University, Nebraska. In her professional career, she has accomplished many notable things. These include reorganizing processes to optimize efficiency, identifying and solving complex problems, innovating and successfully implementing new ideas, and creating new procedures and systems.

Shreejana joined Charter twelve years ago. At Charter, she has worked in three different verticals, exposing her to different portfolios, teams, and leadership styles. For the first seven years at Charter, Shreejana worked in strategy, leading a PPM application. Shreejana earned Charter’s most significant Distinction Award, for leading her team with an integral integration during the company merger.

Shreejana moved on to lead the Mobile back Office under Spectrum Mobile vertical. This role allowed her to work with a startup mentality, leading a large organization. Her responsibilities included structuring a large team and leading them to develop and implement the initiative to launch Mobile 2.0.

Currently, Shreejana is leading a department in Charter’s service activation area. Her responsibility is to help the team innovate and evolve from the existing platform to modernizing them.

Senior Product Marketing Specialist

Jordan joined the telecommunication, media, and entertainment industry as a post-graduate from CU Boulder. She began her career in a business development role, cold calling and emailing prospects in the B2B tech world. She quickly learned how to think on her feet and align a value proposition to solve business problems. To hone these abilities, she made the jump to the marketing organization, quickly rising as a product marketing leader at CSG. Her current role involves leading and developing strategic product marketing programs designed to advance CSG’s competitive market position as a customer experience leader.

As is the case working for a lean organization, Jordan wears many hats in her day to day. From marketing and sales enablement to storytelling and content writing, she thrives on collaboration and thinking of out the box. She is known to inspire and challenge others, to question the status quo, and uses her wit to make every day exciting.

When she is not at work, you can find her skiing the Colorado mountains or hunting for the best breakfast burrito in the greater Denver metro area.

Director, Strategic Relationships

Jac Alfano is a Director of Strategic Relationships at FreeWheel, a division of Comcast Advertising, where she serves as client lead for NBCUniversal. She leads a cross-functional team of business, strategy and client success functions driving cross-channel sales growth strategy and facilitation of direct, programmatic and marketplace demand. Her expertise spans a portfolio across linear TV, CTV/OTT and digital, with a focus on 1st and 3rd party audience enablement and post-campaign attribution.

Jac joined FreeWheel in 2021, and plays an integral role in scaling FreeWheel’s broadcast programmer vertical. Jac began her career in programmatic data enablement at eXelate, which was later acquired by Nielsen, where she managed relationships with publishers and DSPs for 3rd party data activation. She led the relationship with Google, commercializing Total Ad Ratings reach & attribution measurement for YouTube. She later worked in publisher client strategy at VideoAmp.

She is a graduate of Villanova University with a Bachelor of Arts in Global Interdisciplinary Studies and minors in Business and Japanese.

Sr. Manager, Sales Sustainment

Sarah Bateman is the Sr. Manager of Sales Sustainment, supporting the Northeast Inside Sales Division at Comcast Business. In this role, Sarah drives performance and strategic initiatives in the areas of  Organizational Readiness, Huddle Development and Delivery, New Hire Experience, and Leadership Development. She also serves as point of contact for various Division and HQ and serves as co-lead for the Women’s Network and the Comcast Business Connections team.

Sarah has implemented several key programs including a Leadership Investment series, New Hire Development series and monthly strategic huddle series. These initiatives have resulted in best-in-class selling behaviors and improved results in many key areas of the business. Sarah believes in fostering a culture of partnership and inclusivity and regularly hosts feedback forums to get gain valuable insights and perspectives. Sarah’s contributions to providing quality content, education and coaching have become a pillar of the NED Inside Sales culture. In 2022 Sarah earned the Connect to Excellence award and is a current nominee for the 2023 Circle of Success award at Comcast Business.

Sarah attended Franklin Pierce College for Communications, and prior to her transition to Sales Leadership, she spent the first 6 years of her professional career as a TV and Radio News Reporter, News Anchor and News Director.

Outside work, Sarah is an award-winning landscape photographer, and serves as Treasurer for the NH Seacoast Artist Association. She is also the proud mother of two teenage boys, and loves taking them along on her photography adventures.

Manager, National Client Solutions

During my college years, I discovered a passion for media sales while pursuing a degree in Communication with a focus on Advertising. I took the initiative to establish and lead the student Ad Club, fostering connections between students and the local advertising community.

Recognizing the value of mentorship and networking, I leveraged these resources to secure numerous interviews upon graduation, ultimately finding my calling in cable advertising sales during my interview with Cox CableRep.

Over the past two decades, I’ve earned a reputation as a highly regarded sales professional and leader in the advertising industry, both locally and nationally. With a focus on inspiring my teams to exceed expectations and nurturing strong partnerships, I’ve been honored with multiple awards for sales performance and leadership, including Cox Media’s prestigious Winner’s Circle and multiple LEIO Sales Awards.

As a media consultant, I managed significant budgets for both local and national clients, while also dedicating myself to mentoring new hires and driving revenue through innovative strategies. This passion for coaching and development led me to pursue a local sales manager position in San Diego, where I successfully led a team to generate $4.5 million in annual revenue.

Now, as National Client Solutions Manager at Cox Media, I continue to drive revenue through strategic marketing campaigns, including the successful launch of our new product, In-Grid Advertising. With a track record of success and a commitment to excellence, I look forward to continuing to make meaningful contributions to the media industry.

I live just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina with my lifelong partner, Gregg and our children, Jersey and Dylan.

Director, Customer Service Ops

Manager, Technical Product Sales Support

Tracey Carter is an exemplary Comcast leader based in Jacksonville, Florida, renowned for her balanced and dynamic leadership style.

Her professional journey has taken her across different locations including Jacksonville and Atlanta, she currently operates virtually from the Central Division BSC. In this capacity, Tracey has played a pivotal role in the centralization of the BSC, showcasing her strategic acumen and operational competence.

She leads a team of Supervisors and Coordinators dedicated to ensuring that business customer orders are meticulously processed with a high degree of accuracy.     

Passionate about the success of Comcast, Tracey’s strengths lie in Engagement, Collaboration, Communication, Flexibility, Open Mindedness, Employee Advocacy and Operating with a High Level of Integrity. Tracey leads by example, embodying a Growth Mindset that she encourages her team to adopt for their own professional development.

Apart from her role as an exceptional leader, Tracey is approachable, relatable, and finds joy in music and quality family time.  She explores various facets of family life and music, making these pursuits an integral part of her work life balance. 

Sr. Manager, Digital Acquisition

A former manager once described Laura Coleman’s biggest weakness as chocolate, an apt testament to her ability to drive results, her innately strong work ethic, and her deep-rooted cultural impact. Laura Coleman is a distinguished marketing and sales professional known for her strategic prowess in planning, implementing, analyzing, and optimizing marketing campaigns and online experiences to meet company goals. She has honed her skills through diverse experiences in both agency and corporate settings across service and retail industries. Laura’s academic achievements–graduating Summa Cum Laude from the Honors College with dual degrees in Marketing (BBA) and Advertising (ABJ)–reflect her commitment to excellence.

In her current role as Digital Acquisition Senior Manager at Cox Communications, Laura leads a team of four high-performing individuals and has spearheaded initiatives that significantly increased online sales, growing the channel to become the largest relationship and revenue generator in the company. Her contributions in designing impactful website experiences, championing brand positioning, and fostering positive internal and external relationships have earned her recognition as a key contributor within the organization.

Prior to joining Cox, Laura worked in account management for full service advertising agencies, managing day-to-day agency workflows and client relationships for a Fortune 100 national insurance provider (Nationwide) and a regional supermarket (BI-LO).

Outside of work, you’ll find Laura meticulously maintaining her rose garden or enjoying nature hikes with her husband, 4-year-old daughter, and beloved pup. Born and raised a Georgia peach, you’ll find her passionately cheering on the Dawgs on Saturdays in the Fall.

Sr. Manager, Human Resources

Kelly Crane has been with Comcast for eight years where she has operated in various HR and Talent roles. She currently serves as Manager, Talent Programs where she oversees talent and development programs to support the growth of Comcast Business employees. Previous to her Talent Management roles in Comcast Business, Kelly has held various roles within the Comcast Technology, Product and Xperience (TPX) organization, which gave her experience in HR, Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, HR Operations and HR Analytics. Kelly has a passion for developing others and enjoys helping others reach their full potential and achieve their career aspirations.

Kelly graduated from the University of Scranton with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resources, with a minor in Business. She currently resides in Philadelphia with her husband and enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, country music and cheering on all Philly sports.

Director, Acquisition Marketing & Promotions

Megan David is an accomplished e-commerce and marketing professional with over 15 years of experience, currently as the Director of Acquisition Marketing & Promotions at Comcast NBC Universal. She is a dynamic leader with a proven track record in strategic planning, team building, and brand initiatives, consistently driving sales on digital platforms through her analytical expertise and focus on business growth opportunities.

In her current role, Megan is instrumental in building demand generation promotional strategies for acquisition growth, particularly for Xfinity Mobile service and device subsidy strategies. She collaborates closely with Marketing, Finance, Strategy and Product teams to align marketing efforts with budget considerations and leads the development of acquisition marketing campaigns across email and SMS channels.

Prior to her current position, Megan served as the Director of E-commerce at Comcast NBC Universal from January 2020, where she played a pivotal role in overseeing acquisition and customer site merchandising on Xfinity and Xfinity Mobile platforms. Her responsibilities included implementing go-to-market strategies for new products and sales, leading partnership discussions, and developing personalization strategies.

During her 12 year tenure at Destination Maternity, Megan held various roles, including managing the implementation of strategic e-commerce plans, drove corporate revenue growth, and oversaw new functionality development sprints. Her expertise in identifying and championing emerging best practices, analyzing web metrics, and cross collaboration contributed significantly to the success of the fastest-growing channel, constituting 25% of total revenue online.

Megan demonstrates proficiency in various content management systems, e-commerce platforms, and project management tools. Her commitment to excellence, strategic vision, and strong leadership skills have solidified her reputation as a results-oriented professional in the ever-evolving landscape of e-commerce and marketing.

Director, Pricing & Strategy

Alyssa DeAngelis serves as Director, Pricing & Strategy for NBCUniversal’s Content Distribution Finance division.

In her role, Alyssa supports domestic distribution negotiations that secure significant carriage agreements with both multi-channel video programming distributors (MVPD) and over-the-top (OTT) providers. In addition, she oversees the pricing and economics for NBCUniversal international linear distribution deals and helps to develop the pricing strategy across NBCUniversal’s full portfolio of networks to grow distribution revenue as the industry evolves. Alyssa and her team are also pivotal to long range plan development and sports acquisition valuations.

Prior to her current role, Alyssa started her career at Comcast NBCUniversal in the CORE Finance Rotational Program. In this program, Alyssa worked in FP&A rotations in Comcast’s Central Division in Atlanta and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment group in LA and spent her last rotation in a strategy role with Cable Entertainment HQ in NYC. Following this program, Alyssa joined the Content Distribution team in 2018 in a strategy and FP&A role that focused on analyzing media competitors and the Pay TV industry to inform subscriber forecasting and quantify business risks/opportunities. She joined the Pricing & Strategy team in 2019.

Alyssa is an active member of The WICT Network, first joining in 2018. She currently holds a spot on the board of the NY Chapter as co-chair of Prime Access and is passionate about mentorship.

Alyssa is a 2016 graduate of Villanova University where she spent a semester at City University London, Cass Business School and received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance with Accounting and Business Analytics minors.

Director, Contracts

Manager

My name is Julianne Dinsmore and I’m a Manager on the Media Planning team at Effectv, Comcast’s advertising sales division. After graduating from Villanova University, I began my career in media as a buyer at an ad agency in New York City. I moved to Philadelphia after a few years which is where I transitioned to the planning side of the business, starting as a Sales Planner at Comcast. I now lead a team of 12, guiding them in the creation of multi-screen, data-driven ad campaigns and I act as a consultant to our Sales partners on the strategic utilization of our inventory and the capabilities of our product portfolio. Over the past few years in leadership, I’ve discovered my passion for uplifting all voices and I act as a facilitator of DE&I initiatives and trainings at Comcast. I live in New Jersey with my husband, and I can typically be found walking our dog Eli, reading a book, or baking bread.

Sr. Product Owner

Shradha Doshi is an innovative leader dedicated to crafting solutions that positively impact lives and businesses. With a MS in Engineering from the University of Southern California and a BS in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering from Pune University, Shradha possesses a strong academic foundation.

Currently as a Senior Product Owner at Comcast Business (CB), Shradha leads the development of CB’s internal Quote to Cash platform. She oversees the launch of sales platform features for over 20 Ethernet and Cybersecurity products, driving significant revenue. Shradha’s commitment to user-centric design is evident in her conduct of monthly end-user feedback sessions, resulting in a 40% increase in user satisfaction.

Prior to her role at Comcast, Shradha served as a Product Owner at FSSolutions, where she led the development of a Case Management Software for medical professionals undergoing Substance Abuse Recovery. Her contributions included launching the software to 6 recovery centers across North America and increasing customer adoption significantly.

Shradha’s career journey includes impactful roles at organizations like the National Board of Medical Examiners and St. Jude Medical, where she demonstrated exceptional leadership and technical prowess. As a mentor, Shradha guides junior product managers in agile methodologies, sets up onboarding processes, and conducts training sessions, ensuring smooth assimilation into their roles.

Driven by a passion for problem-solving and continuous learning, Shradha embodies the principles of extreme ownership and servant leadership. With her strategic vision and dedication to excellence, she is poised to make significant contributions to any organization or initiative she undertakes.

Sr. Director, Consumer Insights

Cindy has more than 20 years of customer insights experience, with a proven record of delivering research that drives business results. She has extensive consumer and B-B experience across a wide array of segments and verticals. She is highly proficient in all forms of qualitative and quantitative methodologies (e.g., brand health, journey mapping, brand positioning, segmentation, and sizing growth opportunities). Cindy has led the B-B insights function for Cox Communications for 10 years. Prior to this assignment, she also worked for Newell Brands, BellSouth, Cartoon Network and United Parcel Service.

Cindy holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Colorado and an M.B.A. from Emory University.

In her personal life she is married to Brent and mother to teenage Claire. She regularly volunteers at local charities, including Habitat for Humanity, WSB Care-a-Thon, Zaban Paradies Center, Girl Talk Camp, Special Olympics, and MedShare. Her hobbies include travel, photography, hiking, kayaking, and cooking. She currently resides in Atlanta, GA.

Sr. Director, Insights Technology

Meghan is a Senior Director of Insights Technology at Comcast with 19 years of experience, helping customers and employees to have improved experiences. Specializing in CX, NPS, and technical solutioning, Meghan uses that experience to create interaction level data and metrics that drive customer experience improvement throughout the organization.

The last 7 years of Meghan’s professional career have been spent at Comcast, and prior to that, she spent 12 years at Verizon supporting various functions, including B2B sales and operations, account management, and marketing.  Meghan received her degree in Marketing from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

Meghan is passionate about putting customer and employee feedback into action and finding seamless and easy ways to continue to gage interaction success through technology.

When not at Comcast Meghan can be found routing for her Philadelphia sports teams, running around with her little dog Cappy, or doing her best to stay healthy by hiking or doing yoga.

Sr. Director, Brand Production

Leilani Gushiken is the Senior Director of Brand Production at Hallmark Media (Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Mystery and Hallmark Family networks) where she supervises the Physical Production of promo and branded content shoots, behind-the-scenes videos and photo galleries. Prior to her work at Hallmark Media, Leilani was part of the team that launched Participant Media’s Pivot TV, where she conceptualized and created social impact videos and events.

Leilani began her career at DreamWorks Pictures as the Executive Assistant to Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald, Co-Presidents of DreamWorks Pictures.  She later moved over to the post production department and worked on films such as I LOVE YOU MAN, HOTEL FOR DOGS, THE RUINS, and THE KITE RUNNER.

As a freelancer, Leilani was the Post-Production Supervisor and Production Manager of “The Polar Bears,” a short, animated film, produced by Scott Free, directed by John Stevenson and starring Lin-Manuel Miranda for The Coca-Cola Company which reimagined the iconic Coca-Cola polar bears and reintroduced them to the world for a global marketing campaign.

Leilani is a member of the Producers Guild of America and the Television Academy. Prior to her Hollywood career, she taught English as a second language in Japan, where she immersed herself in her family’s Japanese heritage and culture. In her free time, she loves to explore far-flung places off the map, send snail mail and create mini-stop motion animation videos to surprise and delight her family and friends.  She is excited and honored to have been chosen to participate in the 2024 WICT Rising Leaders program.

Supervising Director

A 23-year television industry and ESPN veteran, Higgins has been with the company since 2001, when she began as a graphics operator.  In her current role as Supervising Director, Higgins works with production management to provide support and guidance on content philosophy and execution, managing personnel and facilities as they relate to show execution.  Higgins currently provides technical and creative support for ESPN NHL Studio, ‘SC@Night’, ‘SVP’, ‘Outside the Lines’, and ‘E:60’.

Before undertaking her current initiatives, Higgins was integral in the launch of ESPN’s linear ACC Network in 2019.  Higgins also launched ‘Get Up’ in 2018, and she directed several high-profile events including Super Bowl LI Media Night, the 2016 and 2017 WNBA Drafts, and live coverage of Muhammad Ali’s Processional.

Higgins is an active member in the ESPN Directing 360 Mentor Program, designed to provide opportunities for focused development specific to individual needs.

Higgins holds Bachelor’s degrees in both Mass Communications and Computer Science from Quinnipiac University, graduating summa cum laude in 2001.

Recognized for her outstanding contributions to the industry, Higgins is a proud 5-time Sports Emmy Award winner, a testament to her dedication and skill in television production.  She also holds a Disney 20-year service award.

Higgins was born and raised in Richmond, MA, and now lives with her husband in Bristol, CT.  In her spare time, Higgins enjoys travel, gardening, and amateur photography.

Manager, Margin Assurance

Chandra Hinke currently serves as Manager of Margin Assurance, more specifically Wholesale Bill Validation and Carrier Access Billing Disputes (CABS) teams.  Her primary specialties are leadership, creating and managing multi-functional teams, process improvement, and problem-solving.  She continues to focus on her goals of building strong diversely talented and skilled teams focused on continuous personal and professional development, building strong partnerships across business units, championing inclusion, encouraging innovative ideas, while supporting strategic finance, and accounting initiatives.

Prior to her current role, Chandra held various leadership roles in Outsource Support, Quality & Compliance, Customer Care, and Collections.   During her tenure, she has been recognized and awarded the Jim Robbins award, an award recognizing top leadership contributors across the entire Phoenix market, on two occasions.  The first for Leadership and then again for Outstanding Team Performance.  She led and was named the subject matter expert on training tools launched across the Care organization that helped to develop and deliver training more efficiently to frontline employees, improving the employee experience.

Chandra graduated from National University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and went on to earn a Master of Business Administration from Keller School of Business.  She is active in both her organization and community, working with non-profits that address issues around education, wellness, homelessness, and hunger.  She has also served on the Cox Charities committee.  Chandra is a foodie, loves to travel and spend time with family when not at work.

Manager, Content Operations

Cat Jackson is the Manager of the Content Operations group at A&E Networks. She has been with the company for 13 years and has been in her current role for the past 2. Cat leads of team of technical and creative professionals who are responsible for ensuring content is ready to distribute to any of the 200+ end points the company fulfills to. Cat manages complex workflows and relationships between departments to cultivate efficient and aligned processes.

Her entry into the business nearly 20 years ago provided her the foundation elements of television production, working on sets and then later working as a technical edit assistant. This base knowledge of the technology of media was critical in future success. Cat is an expert-level problem solver and sees issues from all sides, making her a vital asset to her department as well as others.

Cat grew up in Westchester County, NY. She attended the University of Scranton in PA, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communications; Television and Radio Production.

Outside of work, Cat is a mother to 3 daughters, a loving wife, and avid animal lover.

Sr. Manager, Digital Marketing / Communications

Morgan Jarrett is a technology leader with an enthusiasm for driving marketing success through analytics, technical enablement, and collaboration.

She is currently Senior Manager of Advertising Technology at Cox Communications. In this role, her team leads strategy, execution, and deployment of ad technologies to increase media efficiency and drive high quality prospects to Cox.com. She partners closely with digital media, data governance and external teams to position Cox as a leader in the digital space.  She has had several roles within Cox Enterprises, all focusing on using her technical skillset to advance digital sales and marketing.

Prior to joining Cox, she worked with automotive and power & utility clients with KPMG and PwC. Her international clients gave her the opportunity to work closely with teams in Asia and Europe and unlocked her personal passion for immersive travel experiences.  Morgan graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a B.S. Industrial Engineering (’14) and M.S. Supply Chain Engineering (’17).

Morgan lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her significant other Omar. Outside of work, Morgan enjoys spending time with loved ones, staying active outdoors, and perfecting the art of espresso.

Sr. Manager, Brand Multiplatform

Jennifer Kennedy is a Senior Manager of Brand Media Strategy at Hallmark Media and supports the Multiplatform Planning team. Jennifer is responsible for strategizing and scheduling promotional opportunities on three networks (Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Mystery, Hallmark Family) and SVOD.  She works cross functionality to coordinate synergy opportunities, analytics, and process optimization.  She fuels up with Christmas cookies and Matcha Lattes to keep her powered through the biggest event of the year at Hallmark, Countdown to Christmas!

Prior to life in the snow globe, Jennifer served as a Media Planner at Disney where she was responsible for live gaming coverage operations and linear scheduling for Disney XD, Freeform and SOAPnet.  She got her career start in Marketing at an internship with the FBI, where she organized and led focus groups for their recruitment campaigns.  After her stint with the FBI, she was hired as an Account Executive at an ad agency improving digital search visibility for B2B and B2C corporations which involved executing SEO and PPC strategies, implementing A/B testing and rolling out landing pages. She has served on various organizational culture clubs which were focused on fostering an inclusive, positive culture in the workplace.

Jennifer graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee with a Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communications, and an Advertising focus in 2009.  She now resides in Los Angeles with her husband and enjoys nature hikes, reading a new book each week, trying recipes and yearly family trips to Door County, WI (the ‘Cape Cod’ of Wisconsin).

It’s an honor to be chosen to participate in the 2024 WICT Rising Leaders program. I look forward to connecting with other talented and inspiring leaders around the country!

Sr. Manager, Performance & Business

Sr. Manager, Contact Centers, Sales & Field

Molly is a strategic and forward-thinking Supply Chain professional who thrives in fast paced and innovative environments. Molly started at Cox and stepped into the telecommunications industry only three years ago and, in her short tenure there, has delivered $200M+ in savings and financial risk mitigation to the business, proving her results driven work ethic.

Molly specializes in creating dynamic partnerships and leading strategic, arduous negotiations. With a proven record of managing complex workstreams and navigating roadblocks, Molly is a go-to for delivering strategic, partnership-minded solutions to the business.  Molly’s passion for what she does was recognized this year as a recipient of the Institute for Supply Management’s Global 30 Under 30 Award.

Molly is currently the Senior Manager of Strategic Sourcing and Category Management for Enterprise Indirect Supply Chain focusing on Contact Centers, Sales, and Field Services. Molly leads a fast-paced, high performing team and is passionate about inspiring thinking to take results to the next level.

Prior to this role, Molly came from the world of Hospitality and Marketing. Molly joined Cox from InterContinental Hotels Group where she was the Global Manager of Marketing Procurement leading end to end sourcing for Marketing solutions. During her time at IHG, Molly was also the Co-Lead of their Young Professionals ERG, HyPE, where she delivered out on her passion of giving young professional a platform to develop and advance.

Molly attended the University of Georgia where she earned her Bachelor of Business Marketing from the Terry College of Business. She still very much looks forward to cheering on the Dawgs every football season. Molly currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her fiancé, Cameron, and two dogs, Hazel and Miles. She enjoys using her free time to stay active, check out new restaurants, and spend time with friends and family.

Director, Product Management

Michele Knickrehm is a Director of Product Management at FreeWheel and leads the global Agency Finance and Master Data team for the Strata Platform. In her 21+ year career at FreeWheel, Michele has specialized in developing software solutions for agency media buying workflows, with a particular emphasis on media finance. In her role, Michele shapes product strategy around all financial functions within the Strata Agency suite. She defines features that empower agencies to streamline billing processes and manage vendor payments efficiently using data within the Strata software, including establishing connections with leading financial packages such as Microsoft Dynamics products, NetSuite, and various others. Michele is particularly passionate about refining processes, leveraging automation, and fostering exceptional customer solutions through active collaboration with global and remote teams. Additionally, Michele spearheads discussions on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) and Employee Net Promoter Scores (eNPS), highlighting her commitment to fostering an inclusive work environment.

Michele received her B.A. in International Relations from Knox College and is a Project Management Institute certified Project Management Professional (PMP). She resides in a small town outside of Chicago with her two spoiled dogs. In her free time, Michele enjoys reading, travel, listening to true crime podcasts, and cheering for the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Director, Business & Legal Affairs, Digital

Sr. Manager, Program Management

Jeannine Kubik is a Senior Program Manager working in the Engineering organization at FreeWheel, a Comcast Company. She has over 20 years of experience in information technology, leading strategic multi-million dollar software programs for Fortune 500 companies.  She is a firm believer that how we accomplish things is just as important as what we deliver, and as such fosters collaborative environments, removes impediments, and champions continuous improvements to streamline processes and increase efficiencies. She joined FreeWheel in 2020 and currently leads a team of technical project managers whose mission is to help drive platform success and engineering outcomes.

Jeannine was born and raised in Chicago, and she continues to reside there today with her husband and children.  She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree.  She also holds a Masters Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University. She enjoys being outdoors, hiking, and spending time with her family.

Sr. Marketing Manager, AMRs

Assistant General Counsel

Sr. Manager, IT

Sr. Manager, Carrier Ethernet

Kendra Lonning is a Sr. Manager, within Carrier Ethernet, for Comcast Business. With over two decades in the telecommunications industry, she began her journey learning the ropes within Provisioning and Circuit Designing roles.  Kendra quickly learned that her passion steered towards Project Management and People Leadership.  This allowed her to blend her technical expertise with her passion to execute on complex solutions. All while empowering creativity and cultivating collaboration.  A natural leader, Kendra has orchestrated teams through periods of change and growth, consistently achieving and exceeding organizational objectives. As Carrier Ethernet was an evolving new business, she saw the opportunity to apply her expertise with ASOG guidelines and implemented standardizations that ultimately grew that business to where they are today.

In her down time, you will find Kendra on the basketball court or baseball field, passionately cheering on son.  Kendra resides in the beautiful PNW with her family and her trusty 4 -legged companion.

Sr. Manager, Trust, Standards & Risk

Sr. Manager, Program Management

Kerry McMichael is a Senior Manager in the People & Integration organization at Comcast within Technology, Product and Experience (TPX.) She is currently responsible for enhancing and expanding employee-facing programs that enable teammates to be more innovative for our business and our customers. She’s passionate about creating connections, building plans, and maintaining organization amongst chaos.

Kerry started her career at Comcast in 2015 and has worked in a variety of HR functions over the years. She transitioned to project/program management in 2019 when she discovered what she enjoys most. She loves partnering with different teams across the company to bring to programs to life and learning about the many organizations that make up Comcast along the way.

Keen on helping others build connections, she served as a Membership Lead for a company-wide mentorship program for the last two years. She now serves as Strategic Partnerships co-lead on the TECHWomen Philly board.

Kerry lives in Philadelphia with her husband and her dog. She’s a fitness and wellness addict, passionate about strength training and always experimenting with nutritious recipes. She’s also an avid reader and loves learning something new every day.

Manager, Digital Product

Dani is a Manager of Digital Product at A+E Networks, operating as the lead product manager for A+E’s subscription video on demand applications across web, mobile, and connected tv devices. Her responsibilities include defining a product roadmap that supports business strategy, focuses on customer acquisition and retention, and ensures the best user experience for subscribers. Dani collaborates closely with development, UX, and marketing in order to bring the product vision to life.

Prior to joining the Digital Media team, Dani worked within Technology at A+E as a Sr. Business Analyst where she built solutions to support A+E’s enterprise portfolio. Dani partnered with various teams across the organization, analyzing their existing processes, and defining new and improved solutions based on changing business needs. She was responsible for documenting requirements and working with development to ensure the proper delivery of solutions.

Dani received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Dani lives in New York City and in her free time enjoys dining out, seeing Broadway shows, and exploring all the amazing experiences Manhattan has to offer. She loves to travel, read, and play pickleball.

Sr. Manager, Data Customer Experience

Hello, I’m Juliana! I work in product management for Comcast’s Data Experience department. I lead a team that specializes in enhancing data user experience, focusing on areas such as data management, technical documentation, and communications strategy. My primary responsibility revolves around overseeing Comcast’s enterprise-wide self-service data portal, offering users functionality to interact with data, search metadata, access support, and more. One of the most rewarding aspects of my role, aside from being a people leader, is engaging with users to grasp their experiences and pain points in leveraging data. Subsequently, our team collaborates closely with engineering teams and product owners to devise solutions and introduce new features to enhance the user experience and customer journeys. I am based out of NYC and am on the WICT NYC Board, serving as the co-lead for the Prime Access Mentor Program. In my free time, I love exploring new restaurants and cafes, or strolling around Central Park. I am an avid runner and spend a lot of time running along the Hudson River in Battery Park. I also love to cook and curated a fun Spotify playlist called “Happy Cooking Music” – give it a listen! I’m looking forward to meeting you all during our week together in April!

Director, Management Operations

Jenna Noel is long time employee of ESPN joining the company in May of 2000 in their Collegiate Projects group, then splitting the last two decades between ESPN’s Owned and Operated Events and Production/Management Operations departments.

Over the last 24 years, Jenna has contributed to many areas of expansive change at ESPN including growing the company’s portfolio of owned and operated College Football Bowl games and early season basketball events as well as in her current role overseeing all Remote Production Employees who span the country working in a number of different production roles.

Beyond her day-to-day role, Jenna also contributes to many business employee resource groups (BERG) such as ESPN Women, ESPN Families and ESPN Emerging Leaders.

Jenna’s overall strengths and skills support continual learning and adapting in an ever-changing fast paced work environment, relating to the challenges of others while looking to strategically achieve more effective and balanced workflows which maximize both the business and the employee experience.

Outside of her work at ESPN, Jenna is the mother of two and spends most of her time traveling with her children for sporting events or hanging out with her family and their dog Faith.

Sr. Manager, Account Management

Director, Onboarding and Development

Bonnie Ouellette is a seasoned leader with over 28 years of leadership experience, fueling performance excellence in contact center and retail environments in the telecommunications industry. As the current Director of Onboarding and Development for Sales and Retention Contact Centers at Cox Communications, she has been sculpting talent through innovative hiring strategies, immersive onboarding experiences, and cutting-edge development programs for over 800+ employees.  Her knack for igniting team spirit propels her teams not only to meet but exceed expectations. It’s no wonder she’s clinched the coveted top sales performance award for Winners Circle three times and facilitated the first national development program for front-line emerging leaders in sales and retention to inspire greatness in others.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Bonnie is deeply involved in fostering talent and cultivating future leaders. She plays an important role as the Mentor Circle Leader within the Cox Communications EmpowHER employee resource group and as a valued member of the Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT): Virginia Board, where she serves as the Mentoring Program Co-Chair. Leveraging her expertise, Bonnie dedicates herself to providing invaluable guidance and support to aspiring professionals in the industry.

Having earned her bachelor’s degree in business from Capella University in 2020, Bonnie has consistently demonstrated a thirst for knowledge and a drive for personal and professional growth. Currently, she is furthering her education at the University of Phoenix, pursuing a master’s degree in industrial-organizational psychology, underscoring her commitment to understanding and optimizing organizational behavior and performance.

Sr. Manager, Marketing Operations

Stacy is Senior Manager of Marketing Operations for Cox Communications. She manages a team responsible for building, QA/proofing, and deploying all emails, SMS messages and direct mail for residential marketing. This not only includes strategic and marketing communications, but operational communications as well regarding customer products and services.

She began her career at Cox in 1999 as a marketing coordinator focused on the video product. Her primary responsibility was to market and drive revenue for premium and pay-per-view products. Stacy’s career grew along with the growth of the Cox portfolio, moving on to a manager role in product marketing and then acquisition marketing. She began her role as senior manager on the Marketing Operations Team in 2017 and led a team accountable for the execution of marketing tactics across all Cox residential markets. In 2023 her role shifted to focus on 1:1 tactics of email, SMS messages and direct mail. During the last two decades, she’s had the opportunity to be exposed to many parts of the business. Shifting between roles that supported revenue and customer growth to more operational roles like her current position.

Stacy received her undergraduate degree in Marketing from Oklahoma State University, and her MBA from Oklahoma City University shortly thereafter. She is fortunate to live and work in a Cox market, Oklahoma City, which presents her a unique opportunity to provide feedback as a Cox customer as well. She enjoys spending time with her husband and three kids, who keep her busy!

Sr. Director, Data & Analytics

Accomplished and seasoned technology leader with a focus on process improvement, best practices, business intelligence, data governance and operational/project management.  My career in Information Technology (IT) has provided opportunities for me to experience many facets of various organizations from healthcare to my time in Comcast since 2016.  With a diverse skill set encompassing development, quality assurance testing, production support, business analysis, project management, and data modeling, I have consistently demonstrated a strong aptitude for driving innovation and delivering successful outcomes throughout my career.

I have remained resilient and flexible through varying aspects of my career, including organizational acquisitions and data migrations. A key factor in my success has been to apply lessons learned, and to lean into my network of resources.  I am a questioner who is motivated by reason, logic, and fairness.  In my current role, I undertook the task of establishing a team to support the infrastructure and production needs of our Comcast Business data warehousing team from the ground up, starting with just four members and expanding it to a robust workforce of 21 individuals.  Through meticulous recruitment, mentorship, and strategic leadership, I have fostered a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability with the team. In addition to team building, I played a pivotal role in optimizing operational efficiency by recognizing the potential benefits of offshore support, spearheading the initiative to recommend and implement offshore resources.   I have lead organizational change by creating a compelling vision, aligning team efforts, and fostering innovation, along with process improvement by introducing structure and consistency to approach in developing data products. I endeavor to build trust and inspire confidence with my team and our customers. I continue to evolve professionally, remaining committed to growth and empowering teams to reach their full potential.

Director

I was born and raised in the city of Los Angeles. I am a first generation Mexican American and proud of my Latina roots. I have worked within the Telecom industry for over 20 years; I started my career at Charter in 2020 as an Account Executive and currently manage the Direct Retail Sales Channel for the West Region, as a Director of Sales .  I attended CSULA, where I studied Sociology for five years. My passion for Telecom, strategy, and leadership, propelled me into further exploring a career path within the industry, where I was exposed to a wonderful team of mentors and a spectacular organization (Charter) that has continuously supported my career aspirations.

At the heart of my drive and career aspirations, lies a powerful inspiration: my three children. I strive to demonstrate to my children that opportunities abound. My dedication to progress spills over into every aspect of my life, hoping that I can inspire individuals within my organization, as well my three children and young women that come from similar backgrounds.

I am grateful and honored to have been accepted into the 2024 Rising Leaders Program.

Sr. Manager, Human Resources Business Partner

Veronica Robinson is a Human Resources professional in the HR Business Partner function at Cox Communications. She is a seasoned HR professional with over 15 years of experience in multiple functional roles in the Human Resources field.

In her current role as Sr Manager HRBP, she serves as a trusted business partner to business leaders and colleagues. In addition to establishing credible relationships with business leaders, she designs and implements workforce strategies as well as organizational transformational projects to achieve business results and sustainable growth. Since joining Cox, Veronica has been involved in multiple business transformation initiatives leveraging her strengths in teamwork and connecting strategy with action.

Veronica lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband Jeff, and one very spoiled Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Buzz. In her spare time, she enjoys gym fitness activities, water sports and long walks with her dog. She also enjoys spending time with close friends and family in Columbus, GA and Birmingham, AL.

Sr. Manager, Field Marketing

Amy Rowe is Senior Manager of Field Marketing at Spectrum Reach, overseeing a team of eight in the company’s Northern Region, a territory that covers DMAs in New York, Maine, and Wisconsin.

Born and raised in Rochester, NY, Amy is a proud graduate of Siena College. She began her career in Sports Marketing with the Rochester Americans Hockey Club (AHL affiliate), followed by several years in the non-profit sector, serving in a variety of roles, including Marketing Communications and Development.

Rowe joined Time Warner Cable in February 2004 as Promotions Manager for their locally owned channel, WB16. In 2006, Amy transitioned to Time Warner Cable Media (now Spectrum Reach), overseeing all Ad Sales Promotions and Network Relations. She moved into her current Senior Manager, Field Marketing role in 2017, where she led markets in Upstate New York and Maine. At the end of 2020, this territory expanded to include the New York City DMA, followed by the addition of Wisconsin and Minnesota in the fall of 2023.

In addition to receiving three Quarterly Achievement Award nominations (with a win in 2022), Amy was awarded Spectrum Reach’s highest honor, Reach Elite, in 2023. This annual award recognizes top performers across Spectrum Reach for their significant contributions to the organization. As a marketer, Amy was nominated by her peers for her excellent performance to receive this award.

Amy is active in her community. She’s served as a volunteer, board, or committee member for organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Arthritis Foundation, and Rochester Broadway Theatre League. She is a dog lover, enjoys reading and spending time with her family. Amy lives in Pittsford, NY with her husband Steven, two children, and a very active puppy.

Senior Treasury Manager

Brittany Rybinski is the Senior Treasury Manager for Cable One. As Senior Treasury Manager, she oversees all aspects of treasury operations, including managing cash and investments, analyzing bank fees, ensuring regulatory and control compliance, and executing treasury operational processes. She also drives process improvements and digital optimization within treasury and participates in strategic initiatives to support Cable One’s growth strategy.

Before joining Cable One, Brittany held several positions of increasing responsibility at Hargray Communications. When Hargray was acquired by Cable One, Brittany transitioned into her current role, expanding the scope of her Hargray responsibilities. She has been with Cable One/Hargray for over 8 years.

Brittany was raised in the Chicago suburbs. She is a graduate of North Central College, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. She is also a Certified Treasury Professional and an active member of the Association for Financial Professionals.

Brittany currently lives in Bluffton, SC. She has been married for over 12 years to her husband, Chris. Together they have two daughters, Nora (8) and Aubrey (5), and two German Shepherds (Ana & Atlas). In her free time, she enjoys working out, reading, volunteering at her daughters’ school and spending time with her family out on the water.

VP, Communications

Joyia Sandoval is a seasoned communications executive with a strong passion and background in entertainment for almost 10 years. Currently serving as Vice President of Communications at SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks portfolio in the West Coast office, she develops and executes communication initiatives across the SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks portfolio – connecting audiences and consumers to the company’s iconic IP and brands. Key franchises that she’s worked on include Yellowstone (TV’s #1 show), Lawmen: Bass Reeves, 1923 1883, Mayor of Kingstown and more. Additionally, she’s orchestrated global campaigns across the unscripted and special event division including Jersey Shore Family Vacation, The Hills: New Beginnings, MTV Video Music Awards, America’s Next Top Model and more. Leading up to her career in entertainment, she received her bachelor’s degree at California State University, Fresno with a major in Mass Communication/Media Studies; and a Master’s Degree from the University of Southern California in Strategic Public Relations.

Sr. Manager, Billing Solutions

Tania Santamaria is a Senior Manager in the Billing Solutions department at Charter Communications. She oversees the execution and deployment of billing development strategies for the Mobile line of business.  She is a high-performing people leader with 10 years of experience, ranging from manufacturing and process engineering to program management. During her tenure at Charter, she has led software initiative migrations, and managed a reporting and analytics team providing meaningful metrics and automation solutions. She’s an active member of the Women Business Resource Group where she has mentored other professionals.

Tania attended Arizona State University where she received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and a minor in Mathematics.  Tania believes in investing time to streamline processes to create meaningful work for team members and the organization. She prides herself in transparent communication and genuine efforts to grow her team’s culture and professional progression by encouraging them to take part in problem solving with innovation and creativity.

Originally from Mexico City, Tania now resides in Stamford Connecticut. She is a fierce advocate for organ donation and support for low-income kids in sports and advanced education. During her free time, she enjoys hiking with her fiancé Nick and two dogs, practicing aerial arts (particularly Lyra), and teaching paddleboarding during the summer months.

Sr. Manager, Treasury, Debt & TX Risk

With over 20 years of experience spanning Corporate Finance, Retail, and Media & Telecom, I bring a diverse skillset and unwavering passion to my role at A+E Networks. Currently, I oversee FX Risk, Debt Management, and Cash Management, demonstrating my ability to handle complex financial functions.

Throughout my career, I’ve consistently championed innovation, strategic thinking, and collaboration. A particular source of pride lies in fostering strong teamwork across diverse departments. This experience has instilled in me a deep understanding of leadership, accountability, and the factors that motivate individuals and teams.

Beyond professional pursuits, I actively volunteer in my community, honing my leadership and project management skills through hands-on experience at soup kitchens and school events.

The WICT Rising Leaders Program deeply resonates with me. I believe it offers the ideal platform to refine my leadership skills, expand my professional network, and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of women in Cable & Telecom.

My collaborative spirit, unwavering dedication, and infectious enthusiasm make me a valuable asset to any team. I am eager to learn from experienced mentors and fellow participants, while actively contributing to a dynamic learning environment.

Sr. Product Manager

Deirdre Small is a certified Project Manager and leads at Effectv as a Sr. Product Manager. During her 14 years with Comcast, she has gained key insight and knowledge managing high value programs while working closely with IT, Product Marketing and Finance partners.

In her role with Effectv, Deirdre focuses on implementing and enhancing systems utilized by Financial Operations, Sales, and Customer Success teams with a laser focus on the external customer experience.

Deirdre obtained her B.S. degree in Communications from St. John’s University. After graduation, she landed an internship with local news station WXYZ Fox 5 NY in the finance department. Through this opportunity she learned the business aspect of the communications industry and gained understanding on daily operations.

Shortly after, Deirdre transitioned into full time work and joined the WAGA Fox 5 Atlanta finance team, relocating her to Atlanta, GA.  While working closely with leadership, Deirdre processed payroll for partnered with Credit & Collections, Accounts Receivable departments and managed weekly check runs for Accounts Payable. This expanded her expertise within various tools and software used to support operational business.

When Deirdre joined Effectv as a Billing Rep for the South Florida region, she processed client, agency and rep firm billing while working closely with Sales. Her passion for continuous development and subject matter expertise in business software grew. She then shifted into a leadership role as a Financial Applications Manager, problem solving and working along tiered support groups.

Deirdre obtained her MBA in May of 2019 from the University of Georgia and recently obtained her project management certification in January 2023.

In addition to her daily Product functions, Deirdre is currently serving as a workstream lead for a high priority accounts receivable program where she is expanding her technical PM skillsets and driving solutions to obtain notable program milestones. Outside of work, Deirdre serves as a community youth mentor for 6^th grade girls and currently resides with her husband and 4 sons in Dacula, GA.

Sr. Manager, Product Management

Jocelyn currently serves as the product lead for the P2 ecosystem at Comcast which consists of a suite of tools that house Comcast’s national construction platform. In this role, she works across finance, operations  and multiple engineering teams to continually improve the way in which construction activities and costs are managed across the entirety of the Comcast footprint.

Before entering the telecom industry, Jocelyn spent over a decade in financial services and management consulting where she built up a diverse skillset within the technology delivery space. Her passion for problem solving and natural affinity in bridging business problems with technical solutions led her to hone in on her skillset in product management. She leans heavily on her cross-industry experience as she implements best practices and processes within the product team she currently leads.

Jocelyn holds a BBA in Finance and International Business from The George Washington University. She currently resides in Brooklyn where she can be found training for her next half marathon or planning her next trip.

Sr. Manager, Sales Operations

As a dedicated advocate for growth, empowerment, and positive change, Alma embodies the essence of effective leadership. With a profound commitment to excellence and a relentless pursuit of success, Alma has continually demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities in various spheres of life.

Raised in a single-parent family in Southern California, Alma learned the value of hard work, perseverance, and compassion from an early age. Inspired by her mother’s entrepreneurial spirit, she pursued an education in Business Management, where Alma developed an early passion for business, leadership, and service.

Following her academic pursuits, Alma embarked on a professional journey characterized by dedication, resilience, and a thirst for knowledge. She quickly rose through the ranks, assuming roles of increasing responsibility and leadership across various telecom companies and organizations attaining top team and individual performance accolades. Her ability to inspire and motivate others, coupled with her strategic vision and determination, has earned her the respect and admiration of colleagues and peers alike.

In addition to her professional endeavors, Alma is deeply committed to giving back to the community and empowering others to reach their full potential. She actively volunteers, serving as a mentor, coach, and advocate for future leaders and young professionals. She believes in the power of experience, mentorship, and community engagement to unlock human potential and create a more just and equitable society for all.

In her pursuit of excellence, Alma remains guided by her core values of integrity, empathy, and resilience. She believes that true leadership is not about individual achievements but rather about empowering others, fostering collaboration, and inspiring positive change. With her determination and a clear vision for the future, Alma is poised to make a lasting impact and leave a legacy of leadership that inspires generations to come.

Director, Strategic Operations

Diane Tan is the Director of Marketplace Operations at FreeWheel, A Comcast Company where she plays a critical role in maintaining the operating rhythm, driving strategic initiatives, and streamlining business processes. During her 7-year tenure at FreeWheel, Diane transitioned through a number of different teams before landing in her current role; this includes project management and heading up business operations for AudienceXpress.  Her achievements at FreeWheel include integrating company acquisitions, globalizing service functions, revamping client support models and mobilizing the company to drive scaled adoption of next-gen technology.

Diane is a seasoned executor and change accelerator, who builds deep trust with stakeholders to drive decision-making and foster cross-team collaboration. She is committed to driving operating efficiencies in any role she is in. By employing operating frameworks, clear communication paths, and standard processes, Diane is able to remove friction and boost team productivity.

Prior to her ad tech/media career, Diane earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing at Binghamton University and worked at Goldman Sachs for 6-years supporting the credit derivatives trading desk.  As part of her tenure there, Diane lived in Bangalore, India for 6-months building out a team to automate reporting processes to meet global derivative regulatory requirements.

Outside of the office, Diane spends her time sketching, playing RPG video games, and discovering new restaurants in Queens, NYC with her equally-foodie husband.

Senior Program Manager, Strategic Management Office

Megan Tankersley is a dedicated professional with a passion for bridging communication gaps and expanding access to essential services in remote communities. Born and raised in Alaska, Megan’s journey in academia began at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where she pursued dual bachelor degrees in Communication and Sociology. Building upon this foundation, Megan furthered her education by earning a Masters in Professional Communication with a specialization in Intercultural Communication, demonstrating her commitment to understanding and addressing the diverse needs of communities. Upon graduation, Megan embarked on a dynamic career path with GCI, one of Alaska’s leading telecommunication companies, where she has made significant contributions over the past 14 years. Starting in an entry-level role, Megan’s dedication and expertise quickly propelled her through various positions within the organization.

Currently serving as the Senior Program Manager for Healthcare and Education, Megan leads initiatives focused on delivering telecommunications services to underserved Health and Education customers in rural Alaskan communities. Throughout her tenure at GCI, Megan has remained steadfast in her mission to ensure that even the most remote villages have access to vital internet services. Her unwavering commitment to serving these communities has not only improved connectivity but has also fostered opportunities for education, healthcare, and economic development.

Megan holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, underscoring her expertise in leading and executing complex projects with efficiency and precision. Additionally, she recently completed the TechConnect program with WICT, further enhancing her skills and knowledge in the rapidly evolving field of technology and telecommunications.

Sr. Manager, Software Development & Engineering

Laura Ajaeb Taylor is a Senior Manager, Software Development and Engineering for the Data Experience (dx) team within the GTO organization (Global Technology Organization) at Comcast. She currently leads the Data Foundry product team and is product manager to all Data Processing Pipeline components (including Open Ingest and data pipeline products). In addition to her role as product manager, she also works on business process management programs within the organization. Laura has completed her Product Management Certification from Cornell University in April 2023 and is also a Certified Professional of Business Process Management (CPBPM). Laura’s career started as a stockbroker and financial advisor (FINRA Series 7, 63 & 65) before she transitioned to Comcast. At Comcast, Laura has worked as a business process design analyst, a financial operations auditor in Comcast Global Audit (CGA) and a manager of portfolio management in Enterprise Solutions and IT. Laura holds a bachelor’s degree in business economics and finance from State University of New York at Oneonta.

Outside of work Laura enjoys time with her husband Jesse and their borderdoodle Poppy. Laura also is creator and owner of Laura Taylor Weddings LLC, where she works as a wedding planner in the greater Philadelphia area.

Manager, Content Services Digital Media Technology

Manager, Learning & Development

Quatresa Triplett has more than 30 years of experience in the telecommunications industry having worked for Nielsen Media Research and Cox Communications in various leadership roles within production supervision, product/project management, sales leadership, sales operations, and learning and development.  Currently, Quatresa is a Learning and Development Manager at Cox Communications in Atlanta, GA, where she supports the learning initiatives for the Cox Business (CB) Product division by proactively consulting on business solutions for CB product launches.  Quatresa joined the Cox Communications family in March 2013 as Manager, Sales Operations for their new home security division.  She was promoted to Sr. Manager within 2 years before moving into Human Resources as a Sr. Manager, Learning Strategist to support learning initiatives for several lines of business.

As a continuous learner and ever evolving servant leader, Quatresa is always looking to better herself and take her career to the next level.  She is driven and motivated to lend a hand and make a positive impact everywhere she goes. She welcomes new challenges as learning opportunities and always has a hand raised for stretch assignments and “passion” projects.

Quatresa has a BS in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from the University of South Florida.  She is enthusiastic and intentional about mentoring, volunteering, and building relationships.  Her passion for people and the well-being of others has led her to become a CASA Volunteer for children in foster care. In her spare time, Quatresa loves spending quality time with family and friends.  When she’s not working, you can find Quatresa sailing, gardening, traveling, reading, golfing or cooking.

Sr. Manager, CX Strategy & Journey Design

Haley Urueta is currently a Sr. Manager of Journey Strategy and Design within the Customer Experience organization at Comcast. Skilled in project management, leadership, strategy, financial analysis, and change management.  Her primary responsibilities include CX Journey governance, ensuring the best customer and agent experiences for cx journey interactions and strategic journey design. Haley has been with Comcast for 6 years and worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLC in public accounting and business development prior to joining Comcast.  When not working, Haley enjoys spending time with her family and listening to music. She holds her Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) focused on Accounting from La Salle University and maintains both a PMP and Prosci Change Management Certifications.

Director, Machine Learning

Katherine Verbist is the leader of the Solution and AI Development team at Comcast Central Division, where she oversees the development of IT, Reporting and Analytics, and Machine Learning Solutions. She joined Comcast in 2018 and has since led several innovative projects that leverage data and technology to enhance customer experience, optimize operations, and generate insights.

Katherine is passionate about creating value from data and empowering decision-makers with actionable insights. She has extensive experience in building and deploying data pipelines, dashboards, reports, and machine learning models that support data-driven decisions. She is also interested in exploring the ethical and social implications of artificial intelligence and how to ensure its responsible and fair use.

Prior to joining Comcast, Katherine had a long and successful career at IBM, where she held various positions in the Technology Solutions Services organization. She started as a software support specialist and progressed to senior roles that included technical delivery leader, business operations advisor, global program and offering manager.

Katherine lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband, who is also a leader of advanced analytics and artificial intelligence. They enjoy spending time together and sharing their love for technology. Katherine also has a keen interest in gourmet cooking, wine tasting, and traveling the world. She likes to experiment with different cuisines and flavors, and to discover new cultures and places.

PMO Senior Manager

Senior Portfolio Manager, Assisted Product Experience

Ro has over 20 years of experience driving business excellence through process effectiveness, portfolio management, and data-driven decision making. As a Senior Portfolio Manager at Comcast, she orchestrates the seamless execution of 200+ quarterly projects across multiple platforms for sales, tech, and customer service teams. Her expertise lies in strategic prioritization and planning ensuring project portfolios align with business objectives. She has a keen understanding of resource limitations and has been instrumental in developing the capacity management and optimization strategy for the product team. Ro also leverages data analytics to identify potential roadblocks and proactively address them, ensuring smooth portfolio execution and optimal delivery.

Prior to Comcast, Ro’s leadership at Verizon Wireless was instrumental in transforming Knowledge Management and spearheading digital-first initiatives. Her exceptional contributions earned her multiple leadership awards.

Beyond her technical expertise, Ro is a strong collaborator, fostering open communication and building trust across teams. Her dedication to continuous improvement ensures a culture of excellence and drives sustainable success.

When not navigating complex portfolios, Ro who is based out of Atlanta, GA embraces her love for exploring the world with her husband, son and two adorable miniature schnauzers. She is also a passionate foodie and a DIY enthusiast, always seeking that next DIY project for her husband to build.

Director, HR Business Partner

Executive Political Producer

Mariya Abedi is an Executive Political Producer at Spectrum News NY1, based in New York City. In this role, she leads a team of eight reporters and three producers for the nightly public affairs show Inside City Hall. The team covers all political issues and policies affecting New York, from the White House to City Hall to the Albany state house. During election cycles, Mariya collaborates with technical teams, reporters, and editorial staff to produce candidate debates and hours-long election night coverage. Mariya has also covered key political breaking news events, including the sudden resignation of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, for which she received an Emmy Award nomination. She is also the recipient of an Edward R. Murrow award and several New York Press Club Awards.

In 2019, she launched a weekly political podcast, You Decide with Errol Louis, which is often ranked as the most-downloaded podcast across the network. To mark the 30th anniversary of the inauguration of New York’s first Black mayor, Mariya produced and edited a special series, The Making of a Mosaic, exploring the rise and fall of David Dinkins. Mariya started at Spectrum News in 2016, working on different shows and in the business unit at the New York Stock Exchange, before joining the political team. Prior to Spectrum New, Mariya worked at two other local TV stations, WNBC New York and Pix11 News, where she worked her way up from an intern. Mariya is a graduate of New York University, majoring in journalism.

Director, Product Quality & Reliability

Gin Adams has been working in the TPX (Technology, Product and Experience) Reliability Engineering team for 5 years at Comcast.  She has over 15 years of experience, working in a wide array of functions including project management, program management, business analysis, operations support, and release management.  Her most recent role as Director of Product Quality & Reliability focuses on driving continuous improvement in the reliability and customer experience of globally supported video products. During her tenure at Comcast, she progressed in her career through leading multiple quality programs, and constantly strives to support the growth and development of her team and others around her.  Prior to working at Comcast, Gin has held project management roles at United Parcel Service and Hewitt Associates (now Aon Hewitt).  She holds a bachelor’s degree in Management Science & Information Systems from Rutgers University.  Outside of work and professional hobbies, Gin enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, exploring new restaurants, and skiing.

Sr. Manager, Data Analytics

Marian Allen is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of diverse experience in the telecommunications industry. Originally from Austin, Texas, she began her telecommunications career at Southwestern Bell, now known as AT&T. She gained a strong foundation at this organization and, through various roles, steadily climbed the ranks to acquire invaluable expertise. While working at AT&T, she pursued her bachelor’s degree in business management from Park University. She effectively balanced her work responsibilities with academic pursuits, showcasing her dedication to advancing her knowledge and skills in the telecommunications field while pursuing higher education.

Marian is a Senior Manager of data analytics for Fulfillment Operations at Cox Communications in Atlanta, Georgia. She is passionate about utilizing data to drive leadership decisions and improve operational efficiency. In this role, she leads a dynamic team and uses data to make strategic decisions.

Apart from her professional pursuits, Marian has several hobbies and interests. She is a passionate cook and baker who loves experimenting with flavors and techniques to create delicious dishes. She also enjoys traveling, immersing herself in diverse cultures and cuisines, enriching her experiences, and broadening her horizons.

Despite her busy schedule, Marian is deeply committed to her family. She is married, has four children, and cherishes quality time spent with her loved ones. Marian’s relocation from her hometown to Atlanta for the Cox opportunity underscores her unwavering commitment to personal and professional growth. It also embodies resilience, adaptability, and an insatiable thirst for knowledge and adventure.

Senior Production Manager

Passionate broadcast professional with a dynamic 12-year journey in the media industry. Currently serving as a Senior Production Manager at ESPN, where she orchestrates seamless and captivating broadcasts that engage audiences globally.

Tonya is a proven leader, with excellent communication skills.  She thrives on growing her team and encouraging career growth. Her approachable leadership style fosters a collaborative and innovative team environment, driving success in high-profile broadcast productions.

With over a decade of hands-on experience in the fast-paced world of media, Tonya is very good at teaching and slowing down the pace in order for learning and growth to occur. From live events to behind-the-scenes productions, she has honed her skills to deliver top-notch content that captivates and resonates.

One of her professional passions is her desire to cultivate talent. By empowering her team members, she has witnessed not only individual growth but also the collective success of the teams she has had the privilege to lead.

Sr. Manager, Ad Integration & Strategy

Kaity Baker is a Senior Manager on the Ad Integration & Strategy team at ESPN and oversees a portfolio of Premium Integrations as well maintaining oversight of the Multimedia Sponsorship Integration team. With her roots in Studio Production, Kaity manages the production of highly custom, innovative sponsor integrations that run across ESPN linear programming. A complete team player, Kaity works with partners across studio production, sales and ESPN Creative Studio to bring these ideas to live and drive incremental revenue for the company.  Kaity also leads the Multimedia Sponsorship Integration team which is the catalyst for sponsor integration across all ESPN programming. As a 16-year veteran of the company she has seen many leadership styles and philosophies but believes that leadership should be collaborative with feedback from partners as the best path to get a desired result.

Kaity is a proud mom to her twin toddler girls, Samanatha & Elizabeth, she lives with her husband, Bart, and dog, Shea, in Southington, CT.

Manager, Partner Relationships & Operations

Since starting in the telecommunications industry as an Off Net Quoter nearly a decade ago, I’ve found my happy place in my role of Manager, Partner Relationships and Operations.  I’ve enjoyed all of the personal and professional growth this industry has offered me.  From the engineering and product knowledge I’ve gained to the mentoring and supervising skills I’ve sharpened to the relationship building and fostering skills I’ve honed, my growth from this industry has been incredibly robust.

Growing up on a ranch in rural Idaho, I have a heightened interest in expanding Comcast’s Off Net Partner profile to include coverage of the more rural areas of the United States.  I value every one of the relationships I’ve built with the Partners I work with and enjoy discovering creative ways to facilitate mutual growth in business.

Finally planting roots, I recently moved into my forever home in Savannah, GA from Denver, CO by way of a short stint in Edgewood, NM.  Beaches and Spanish Moss stole my heart and I’m loving new home!  Besides long walks on the beach, I enjoy simply being outside, tasty beverages, delectable food, hiking, camping, puzzles, Sudoku, International travel, collecting sand and shells from travels, and I’ve been known to have a healthy addiction to every Gordon Ramsey series.

Sr. Manager, Corporate Communications

As Senior Manager, Corporate Communications for Cox Communications, Andi Bledsoe primarily supports the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) organization. The CFO organization includes finance and accounting, business operations, strategic sourcing and supply chain, content acquisition and programming, Cox Media, and the Integration Management Office.

In this role, Andi serves as the communications lead for the Integration Management Office (IMO) – a team that is responsible for pre and post investment business acquisition activities, including the integration of new business acquisitions that align with Cox’s new growth strategy.

Andi began her tenure with Cox Communications in 2015. Before Cox, Andi spent more than 10 years in the television broadcast industry in both the Oklahoma City and Dallas, Texas markets. Andi is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Broadcasting. Additionally, she holds an Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) and a certificate in Crisis Communication. She is the President of the WICT Heartland Chapter and is on the Executive Board of Infant Crisis Services.

Andi lives in Edmond, Oklahoma with her husband and two children. She enjoys traveling, running and spending time with her family.

Director, Platform Distribution Sales

Sarah has been with Disney for 10 years, spending the entirety of her career on the affiliate sales/platform distribution team.   Starting as a Coordinator, Sarah has grown within the group and now serves as a Director on the Platform Distribution Sales team.  Sarah and the platform distribution team are responsible for negotiating distribution deals across Disney’s properties including ABC, ESPN, Disney, FX, Nat Geo, Freeform, and the direct-to-consumer Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu applications.  In addition to contract negotiations with clients, Sarah and team help manage the ongoing relationships with pay-tv, device/platform, and transactional partners. She is a proud UConn graduate and lives in Cheshire, CT with her husband Colin and one year old daughter, Emilia.

Director, Product Management

My name is Huiqiong Chen, and I am known as HQ. I currently hold the position of Product Director at Freewheel, a subsidiary of Comcast specializing in video advertising technology for media companies that offer premium video content.

With over a decade of experience in this field, my journey began as a software engineer before progressing to my current role as a Product Director, where I focus on designing industry solutions tailored for major media corporations. Over the past few years, my primary focus has been on programmatic advertising from a publisher’s perspective. Presently, I serve as the product owner for two programmatic offerings within my company, which empowers billions of dollars in advertising expenditure annually.

Throughout my career trajectory, I have found immense satisfaction in fostering creativity and exploring innovative technological solutions to address client needs. While navigating the complexities of ad tech presents its challenges, I derive great fulfillment from working within such a dynamic environment.

Recently, I relocated my family to the United States, where we have embraced our new home with great enthusiasm.

Director, Knowledge Management & Strategy

Kate is dedicated to bridging the gap between people and technology. Her journey began at SmithKline’s R&D Help Desk, where she discovered her passion for project work during their merger with GlaxoWellcome. Transitioning to IT consultant sales at Robert Half, she found herself drawn to understanding companies’ goals rather than focusing solely on winning billing hours. This desire for leading and building on innovative projects led her to pursue a career in IT Project Management.

In this role, Kate explored the intersection of content and intent while analyzing search logs for a prominent medical journal. She later facilitated publishing platform migrations for STEM membership organizations, where she encountered a pivotal moment. A skeptical customer said in a meeting, “All these changes are great, and we need them, but I feel like if I don’t say no to something, you’ll win.” That did it. From that point on, Kate wanted projects that transformed a user’s workday in a big way, the more complex the better.

Today, Kate leads a content platform serving up to frontline agents and customers, integrating industry best practices into its development. She thrives on overcoming challenges with her project teams and cherishes the moments when the seemingly impossible becomes achievable. Outside of work, Kate resides in the suburbs of Philadelphia with her two daughters and a perpetually grumpy cat.

Corporate Administration

Aurora Davis leads strategic initiatives for Comcast Business, the B2B side of Comcast NBCUniversal. In this role, she facilitates sales development through internal partnerships into large opportunities. Prior to Comcast Business, she worked for Comcast’s Corporate Administration organization where she oversaw onsite wellness programming for the Comcast Center Campus employee population. This role was focused on management of amenities, services and events encompassing onsite offerings including fitness, physical therapy, medical, wellness training, ergonomics, and dietetic programming. Aurora started her career in Political Affairs at Comcast helping with special projects and fundraising for the 2016 Democratic National Convention, hosted in Philadelphia. 

Aurora is a graduate of Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA, where she received a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Health Services and was a Division I Varsity Athlete on the Women’s Tennis team. She resides in Philadelphia with her husband, Tyler, and their Golden Retriever, Calvin.

Director, Sales Effectiveness

Laurel de Bruijn is the Director of Sales Effectiveness at Comcast Business with 13 years of experience generating leads across multiple referral programs and motivating and engaging sales teams through sales incentives and recognition programs. Challenging the status quo to find efficiencies and process improvements. Laurel specializes in cross functional partnerships and strategic thinking to achieve results.

Before joining Comcast Business, Laurel spent 3 years in Talent Acquisition and Recruiting for Comcast. Developing a process to bring in top talent to a newly created organization. The process is still in use today.

With a growth mindset, Laurel has adapted to a rapidly growing business and organizational changes throughout the years, while consistently demonstrating an innate ability to optimize sales processes and uncover opportunities which have supported the now $10 billion business that is Comcast Business.

A thorough, practical, and careful contributor, Laurel has a unique combination of steady reliability and quite depth. These characteristics have paved the way for her success. She is also a highly regarded leader, ensuring her team has visibility amongst the senior leadership teams and feel recognized for their hard work and dedication. She is proud of her past and present team members and feels a strong team and positive culture are key contributors to success.

Laurel is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University, she holds a BA in Media Studies and resides with her husband, 12-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son in Penn Valley, PA.

Sr. Manager, Talent Operations

As Senior Manager of Talent Operations and Production Scheduling at ESPN, Kelly Demko manages talent utilizations for over 700 talent spanning ESPN’s extensive portfolio of networks and oversees the production scheduling of more than 100 exempt resources. Kelly is a member of the ESPN Management Operations senior leadership team where she initiates cross-departmental communication, financial planning, reporting and analysis. She is passionate about creating efficiencies, streamlining processes, and collaborating with her ESPN teammates.  Kelly’s people-centered approach to leadership, investment in teamwork, and strong partnerships has positioned her team as a trusted and valued resource for numerous production operational needs.

Kelly was born and raised in Connecticut, and resides there today with her husband John Paul, daughter Payton, and son Quinn. She is a graduate of The University of Connecticut and an avid Huskies fan. She cherishes time spent with family, trips to the Bahamas, and working out.

Sr. Manager, Human Resources

Roberta L. Dougherty (Bobby) currently works as a Senior Manager of Human Resources for Comcast. In this role, Bobby serves as an HR Business Partner focusing on strategic consultation with leadership, driving employee engagement, attracting and developing talent, cultivating a collaborative team culture & experience, and incorporating Diversity, Equity & Inclusion into all aspects of the workplace.

Previously, she held key roles at Goldman Sachs within the Human Capital Management organization. Her responsibilities included supporting Senior leadership talent strategy, succession planning, workforce analytics, and compensation.

Bobby graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor’s degree from the College of Arts & Sciences. While at Cornell, she was recognized for her service contributions and leadership. She currently serves as a Committee Chairperson in the Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Program in the Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey areas. To continue growing her career in Human Resources, Bobby earned the SHRM-CP certification and is a member of the Philadelphia Regional SHRM Chapter.

Bobby resides in the Philadelphia area. She delights in traveling, playing bridge, discovering new restaurants, and solving critical thinking puzzles. Bobby enjoys running in local races and continues an annual tradition of the Independence Blue Cross Broad Street Run, a ten mile road race through the heart of Philadelphia.

Sr. Director, Advertising Strategy & Operations

Lynn Eckenrode is a seasoned professional with over 18 years of experience in the advertising industry. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Temple University and has dedicated her entire career to navigating the dynamic landscape of advertising. Lynn thrives on the ever-changing nature of the industry, constantly seeking out new challenges and opportunities for growth.

Lynn is currently Senior Director of Strategy and Operations within Comcast Advertising, playing a pivotal role in leading strategic partnerships focusing on both Xfinity Marketing and Ampersand. Her strategic acumen, operational expertise, and exceptional ability to drive partnerships through building strong relationships with key stakeholders have been instrumental to her success. Lynn has a talent for truly understanding the needs of partners and aligning them with Comcast’s objectives and priorities, ensuring mutually beneficial outcomes.

Lynn’s journey with Comcast spans over 12 years. Prior to joining Comcast Advertising, Lynn held a role within Comcast Cable managing owned media focused on current customer retention and upgrade messaging. Lynn has experience successfully managing a small team, demonstrating her leadership capabilities and commitment to fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment.

Originally from Northeast PA, Lynn now calls Philadelphia home, where she resides with her wife, Nadya, and two children, Gabe (10) and Piper (7). Beyond her professional endeavors, Lynn finds joy in various hobbies, including exercising, cooking, baking, and nurturing her garden. She also embraces the role of a dedicated baseball/gymnastics mom, actively supporting her children’s athletic pursuits.

Sr. Manager, Data Architecture

Melissa Eder is a Senior Manager of the Data Architecture team within the Enterprise Business Intelligence team at Comcast. In her role, she’s responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive data strategies that align to Comcast’s Product and Network business strategies, goals, and objectives. She collaborates cross-functionally with business and technical teams to establish long-term plans that define the people, processes, data, and technology needed to solve business problems. Her favorite aspect of her job is leveraging both her technical and business knowledge to distill and articulate complex concepts in a clear, concise manner to ensure alignment, build trust, and gain adoption from stakeholders.

Over the course of 8 years, Melissa’s career has spanned across different roles within business and data analysis, data reporting, and data architecture in the HR, Insurance, Telecommunications, Media, and Technology industries. Her expertise encompasses data strategy development, overseeing complex data solutions, managing cross-functional collaboration, ensuring data governance and compliance, and enabling data visualization. As a participative leader, she encourages unique ideas and perspectives that promote inclusivity, creativity, and innovation allowing her team to adapt to the ever-changing business needs.

Melissa graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Management Information Systems. She is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Strategic Technology and Innovation Management.

Melissa is currently based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she resides with her husband, daughter, and cat. Outside of work, she likes being outdoors, running, crafting, and baking.

Director, Product Management & Development

Raised on the vibrant island of St. Thomas, my journey from the Caribbean to the academic halls of Howard University shaped my juvenescence. As a proud graduate with a B.S. from Howard University, my curiosity about the human body and the tools used to service it, gave me a foundation that propelled me into the world of leadership and technology and thus set the stage for a multifaceted career. Pursuing an M.S. in Technology Management at UMUC expanded my expertise, fusing my scientific background with strategic insights. My professional journey has been a tapestry of diverse roles and impactful contributions. I’ve thrived in leadership positions, steering teams through complex transitions and disruptive technology shifts. I’ve also extended my leadership to volunteering for STEM programs, fostering the next generation’s interest in science and technology. It’s a testament to my dedication to education, empowerment, and the convergence of science and leadership.

Personally, I am a devoted family person, celebrating 23 years of marriage to my high school sweetheart. Our shared journey includes the joy of raising two wonderful children. Away from my career, you’ll find me immersed in the world of fictional books, exploring diverse realms of storytelling. Gardening is my therapeutic retreat, where the soil becomes a canvas for cultivating life.

In essence, my journey reflects a fusion of science, leadership, and technology with the personal tapestry of family, love, and passions. It’s driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence and commitment coupled with the simple joys that make life rich.

Sr. Manager, Human Resources

I grew up in central New Jersey. I played field hockey in high school and continued playing club field hockey at Villanova University. After graduating with a Bachelors degree in Psychology and Masters degree in Human Resource Development, I moved to Philadelphia. I started my professional career as an HR business partner at SAP and then moved to Hay Group where I delivered employee surveys and facilitated action planning for companies. From there I moved to Comcast where I started in Total Rewards, collecting employee feedback and market competitiveness of our benefit offerings, and moved into a strategic HR Business Partner role for the past 3 years, supporting a variety of groups including Sales, Marketing and Product.

I have been married for 4 years and we have a 7-year old Siberian Husky and a 1-year old son. I spend most of my spare time navigating being a new parent and chasing around the 1-year old who just learned to walk, but I also enjoy hanging out with friends, going out to eat, trying a new brewery, and running or cycling. My parents have a lake house in the Poconos and we enjoy spending summer weekends with family and friends up there.

Sr. Manager, Adoption, Transformation Office

Sr. Manager, HR Business Partner

Cynthia Germscheid is a Senior Manager, HR Business Partner currently supporting Technology at Cox Communications. She provides HR Business Partner support to 1,500 employees responsible for the planning, design, implementation, and maintenance of Cox’s physical network infrastructure that connects customers to Cox’s services. Cynthia is passionate about assessing organizational needs and delivering creative solutions to strengthen organizational effectiveness particularly employee development and engagement. She works across her functional HRBP team and peers to share knowledge, best practices, and opportunities to develop others whenever possible.

Prior to joining Cox, Cynthia worked for Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health as an Associate HR Director providing HRBP support to their Commercial Operations organization. She also spent eight years at The Coca-Cola Company in various human resources capacities, including organization effectiveness, learning and development, and business partner support.

Cynthia holds a Master of Human Resources and Industrial Relations from the University of Illinois. Outside of work, Cynthia enjoys hiking in the mountains, serving as an active leader in several ministries at her catholic church and spending time with her 17-year-old son Russell and adorable Cavalier pup, Sophie.

Senior Manager, Financial Planning & Analysis-Revenue Planning

Senior Corporate Counsel

Sarah is Senior Corporate Counsel for GCI Communication Corp., an Alaska-based telecommunications company.  With a background in employment law, especially that applicable to complex corporations with multi-state reach, and employment and business litigation, Sarah is the primary legal advisor to the Company with respect to HR, labor and employment, dispute resolution and litigation matters.  She also has responsibility for the Company’s leasing and real estate legal functions, managing a team of leasing professionals and advising the Company’s site acquisition and land use teams.  Rounding out her in-house counsel duties, Sarah also manages the Company’s multistate and federal privacy obligations and the company’s trademark portfolio.

Before joining GCI, Sarah worked as in-house corporate counsel for a Fortune 150 retailer and for a large private law firm advising corporate clients on employment matters and litigating single plaintiff, class, collective, and mass arbitration matters.

Sr. Manager, Sales Development

Director, OSP Residential Portfolio

As Director of Outside Plant Construction Residential Delivery for the East Region,  Cindy  leads residential construction delivery for nine Cox Communications’ markets.  Cindy’s technology career started more than 30 years ago as an administrative assistant, shifting to project management then progressing  to various leadership roles. She joined Cox Communications in 2008, with a focus on software development delivery.

A native of Virginia, Cindy is a graduate of Virginia Tech.  Early in her career, she served as Development Director for the Appalachian Girl Scout Council in Johnson City, TN and Public Relations Director for King University in Bristol, VA.

Relocating to Atlanta in 1990, Cindy joined GE Computer Service as an administrative assistant, quickly moving to Technical Project Manager.  Prior to joining Cox Communications, she also worked at Alltel/Fidelity Information Services as a Senior Technology Program Manager.

Cindy has 30+ years’ experience managing development, deployment, and operations for projects and applications designed to support frontline personnel in data gathering, problem identification, analysis and restoration activities for network and customer premise equipment issues.  In her current role, she is responsible for driving delivery of residential construction for Cox Communications’ nine East Region markets.

She takes pride in having a reputation as a leader who consistently delivers on commitments while building collaborative relationships across all boundary partners.   Cindy has served as Treasurer and Senior Programming Director for The WICT Network Southeast.

Cindy lives in Lawrenceville, GA with her husband and miniature Golden Doodle, Piper.  She is “Mom” to three adult children and “Lolli” to her granddaughter.

Senior Manager

Stephanie Koenig is a Senior Manager for Charter Communications’ Field Operations PMO and Operational Readiness team.

Since joining Charter Communications in 2016, Steph has been focused on implementing solutions and driving efficiencies across Field Operations. As Senior Manager within the Field Operations PMO, she has embraced the opportunity to lead numerous complex, company-wide initiatives benefitting customer experience, service continuity, and operational efficiency. At present, she is principally engaged in project managing Field Operations’ activity for a multi-year, enterprise-wide, transformational network upgrade.

Prior to her role with Charter, she spent 10 years in telecommunications expense management, first in client support, then in project management with a focus on strategic business initiatives. She experienced particular success in managing the migration of several end of life billing systems to a unified platform, driving standardization and a consistent client experience across the enterprise.

Originally from New Jersey, Steph moved to Southwestern Connecticut as a child and has been a proud Nutmegger ever since. When not spending time with friends, family, and her three adorable canine nieces, she enjoys perfecting new baking techniques, catching Broadway shows, and completing her quest to hike through all 110 of Connecticut’s State Parks.

Sr. Manager, Carrier Sales Support & Analysis

Olivia Lerario has been in the telecom industry for over 18 years. She started at Comcast Business in 2018 as a Customer Support Manager on the Carrier Services team. In 2019 she was promoted to Manager of the Customer Support Managers. In 2021 she was promoted to Senior Manager. As a Manger and Senior Manager, she managed operations for the Ethernet line of business under Carrier, which brings in over $220M a year in revenue. She is still a Senior Manager, but her role has changed to a reporting and analytics role in the Carrier Services department. In this position, she focuses on sales reporting, analytics, and also acts as a contract management liaison with the contracts and legal team.

Prior to joining Comcast Business, she worked at Verizon Wireless in sales operations for 12 years. The last five years at Verizon she focused on IoT Operations and Operations for the Verizon Partner Program for the Philadelphia region.

In 2019 she received her bachelor’s degree from Ashford University in Organizational Leadership.

Olivia lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia, not far from where she grew up. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, playing video games and crocheting.

Senior Managing Producer

Rayna Banks is a senior managing producer in ESPN’s Investigative and Enterprise Unit, a mother of three daughters, a community leader, and former college athlete. In her current role, she manages production of in-depth, accountability-driven investigations and leads teams on quick-turn news stories, longform features, and documentary filmmaking. Rayna started at ESPN as a production assistant in 2004. An enthusiastic, passionate, and selfless leader, she moved from PA to associate producer and then to feature producer before becoming a manager in 2016. She and her team’s work has been honored with a Peabody Award, four Sports Emmy Awards, and multiple Gracie Awards, among others. She recently led a team that produced an ESPN Films short film that was selected into more than a dozen film festivals. This past year, a 90-minute documentary, “LISTEN,” whose production and distribution efforts she led debuted as an ESPN+ Original, was adapted into an ABC 20/20 special, and is available on YouTube, where it has topped more than 5 million views. The documentary serves as the centerpiece of a teaching and impact campaign for universities and police departments nationwide. 

Rayna is a community asset in her hometown of Avon, Connecticut, where she serves on the Avon Little League Board of Directors as the Vice President of Softball. She is on the advisory board for St. Bonaventure University’s Sports Journalism master’s degree program. She is multiple marathon finisher, relishes coaching her daughters’ softball teams with her husband, and enjoys time with her beloved Bernese Mountain dog. 

Born and raised in Alaska, Kristina Beckstead is a Senior Manager for Network & Systems Delivery at GCI. Specializing in Healthcare and Education Programs, her responsibilities include providing essential services to remote clinics and schools across Alaska. This involves overseeing the design and engineering of network connectivity, navigating the challenging remote terrain of Alaska. Kristina’s passion for her role is evident in her dedication to bridging the connectivity gap between rural villages and urban markets, ensuring that healthcare and education services in these remote areas are on par with those available in the cities.  

Kristina joined the telecom world immediately after high school, starting in Local Telephony Services. Through continuous learning and progression, she transitioned to the Business side of things, climbing the ranks from Analyst to Network Administrator and ultimately an Engineer. Simultaneously, she pursued a degree, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology.  

For the past five years, Kristina has served in a management role, leveraging her engineering and leadership expertise to contribute significantly to her company’s success. Looking ahead, Kristina aspires to maintain her upward trajectory, setting ambitious goals and starting her mentor journey. With a vision to be a trailblazer in the industry, she remains dedicated to making a positive impact in the world of Telecommunications. 

Jama Berryhill is the Director of Workforce Analytics for Cox Communications. Jama joined Cox in 1994 and has had the unique opportunity of supporting several positions within the Customer Care Organization. Jama is responsible for managing the Contact Center Intraday team for Cox Enterprises. This feeds her passion for supporting the agent and customer experience while managing business initiatives. Jama leads a highly experienced team who manages the business ensuring call delivery goals are met and instituting mitigation tactics in a fast-paced environment. Over her tenure, Jama has supported several strategic launches and is a key player in introducing change into the Contact Center environment. Her business acumen and collaboration has contributed to Cox’s success. Jama’s personal brand is to be a transparent, knowledgeable, trusted, passionate, and accountable partner. Jama graduated from Central State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree. She has two adult sons, one of which is currently gaining his Master of Science in Finance degree while wrestling for the University of Oklahoma, and the other who graduated from the University of Oklahoma with his Bachelor of Science in Multidisciplinary Studies with Distinction while both wrestling and playing football. Jama and her husband of 29 years enjoy traveling, playing with their five fur babies, and spending time at the lake. 

Nancy Berube is the Senior Director Human Resources (HR) at GCI, Alaska’s largest integrated telecommunication company. GCI is committed to closing the digital divide in Alaska. Nancy began her career in telecommunications over 6 years ago. She provides leadership and direction for the core functional areas of HR. She provides guidance to the organization’s people leaders and supports GCI’s principles, values, culture, and mission.     

Nancy has twenty plus years of experience across various HR functions. Prior to coming to GCI she managed benefit plans for Alaska Native Corporations. She also managed the daily operations of a trade show display distributor where she got to dabble with display design. Currently, she is implementing employee engagement software. The insights gained from the surveys will help make decisions and drive meaningful change in the organization.   

Nancy is a Senior Certified Professional (SCP) with the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). She also holds a SHRM Workplace Investigation Specialty Certification. She also holds these designations through the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP): Group Benefits Associate (GBA), Compensation Management Specialist (CMS) and Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS).  

Nancy was raised in St. Louis, MO. She followed her siblings to Clearwater, FL before moving “North to Alaska.” Nancy has been a proud Alaskan since 2001. When she is not providing HR guidance, Nancy can be found biking year round in the woods of Alaska. She also enjoys camping, kayaking, and traveling with her husband.   

As a seasoned Human Resources Director with over two decades of hands-on experience, Alysa Bovell brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to every aspect of HR management. With a proven track record of success in cultivating positive workplace cultures, implementing strategic HR initiatives, and driving organizational growth, Alysa Bovell is committed to fostering environments where employees thrive and businesses flourish. 

 Having started on her career path with Wakefern Food Corporation, Alysa spent many years in payroll-centric roles, learning the importance of confidentiality, communication, forward-facing skills, collaboration, and teamwork for the business while studying at Community College. 

 Within the past twenty years, Alysa has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to becoming a Human Resource professional focused on development and continuous learning.  Alysa’s experience in HR includes various industries, manufacturing with focus in unionized workforces, and technology currently with Comcast.  Alysa prides herself with providing a diverse perspective and cultivating partnerships.  In 2021, Alysa was promoted to Human Resources Director supporting Cybersecurity, executing HR strategies, and championing the importance of HR partnerships into a function that proactively contributes to the achievement of key business results. 

 Throughout her career journey, Alysa has consistently leveraged peer leadership abilities and strong interpersonal skills to build and nurture talent at all levels of the organization. Having a keen eye for talent acquisition, retention, and development strategies that align with organizational goals and drive sustained success. 

 Outside of the professional realm, Alysa finds fulfillment in her roles as a devoted spouse and parent. Married with two adult children, she understands the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance and strives to inspire others to achieve harmony in their personal and professional lives. 

 Currently residing in the vibrant state of New Jersey, Alysa remains deeply rooted in her Caribbean culture, local community and is actively involved in initiatives that support coaching, engagement, diversity, and inclusion.  Driven by a passion for commitment to making a positive impact, Alysa continues to strive, one innovative solution at a time. 

Sarah has been with Disney for 10 years, spending the entirety of her career on the affiliate sales/platform distribution team.   Starting as a Coordinator, Sarah has grown within the group and now serves as a Director on the Platform Distribution Sales team.  Sarah and the platform distribution team are responsible for negotiating distribution deals across Disney’s properties including ABC, ESPN, Disney, FX, Nat Geo, Freeform, and the direct-to-consumer Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu applications.  In addition to contract negotiations with clients, Sarah and team help manage the ongoing relationships with pay-tv, device/platform, and transactional partners. She is a proud UConn graduate and lives in Cheshire, CT with her husband Colin and one year old daughter, Emilia. 

Alia Bravo, Senior Engineering Manager, leads her Wireless Operations support team with determination, facilitating Spectrum Mobile data offload for customers across Charter and partner networks. Recognizing the crucial role of communication and coordination in wireless services, Alia guides her team with unwavering dedication, prioritizing product integrity and customer satisfaction.

Joining Spectrum in 2017 as an Advanced Technical Support Agent, Alia’s journey has been defined by resilience and a relentless pursuit of growth. Alia acknowledges the positive impact of her mentors who motivated her along the way and now pays it forward, passionately advocating for young girls in STEM by collaborating with schools, churches, and Latina Leads programs. Alia also extends mentorship in Spectrum Scholars, and local community programs to help empower others on their professional journeys.

Acknowledged as a high-potential leader, Alia encourages team members to engage in personal and professional development through WICT and NAMIC, earning recognition through her selection for the 2024 WICT Rising Leaders Program. Alia is pursuing to enhance her leadership skills through Cornell University Certificate Programs and continuing her Master’s Degree in Management, setting an example for higher education and fostering growth within opportunities offered in Spectrum.

Alia’s greatest achievement lies in raising her two children, Abraham and Sarah, who serve as her constant motivation. Together they are embracing Colorado’s outdoor lifestyle, where she instills values of exploration, community engagement, and strong faith in her children. Encouraging them to embrace a love for God and others, remain open to new knowledge, confront challenges with curiosity and persistence, and always believe in their boundless potential while building a strong support system along the way. 

Margaret Brownell currently resides in Plymouth Meeting, PA right outside of Philadelphia with her husband and dog. She is expecting her first baby, a daughter, in April 2024. In her spare time, she loves to cook, listen to podcasts, spend time with family and friends, hike with her family and watch TV.  

Margaret has worked at Comcast for over 10 years and is the Director of Editorial Operations within the Programming & Partnerships group. Margaret currently manages a cross-functional team of eight responsible for building out new platform experiences and maintaining editorial operations across Xfinity and Xumo. In addition, her team manages the editorial prioritization process, merchandising, priority on platform scheduling, targeting and apps programming.  

Margaret is the go-to person/expert for production operations and important product rollouts and enhancements. Margaret regularly leads meetings where she sets and communicates strategy and solutions with VPs. She is an empathetic leader who leads with integrity and authenticity. She is self-aware and able to communicate and delegate effectively. She has courage, advocates for the customer experience, and uses data to make business-led decisions. We have additional platforms planned for rollout within the next year for which she will play a crucial role in onboarding those platforms.   

My name is Natasha Bush and I’m currently a Mid-Market Sales Manager for Cox Communications in Las Vegas, NV.  Originally from Lakenheath, England I began my career in the wireless industry working for multiple different providers including Alltel and Verizon Wireless. After being laid off in 2009 I made my way from Alabama to Las Vegas and found myself applying for a role with Cox Communications. 

I have worked for Cox Communications for over 14yrs where I initially started as a front line sales representative. Since then, I have held a variety of roles including an Inbound Sales Supervisor, Customer Care Channel Sales Manager, and Cox Business Security Sales Manager. In each of these roles I successfully delivered on my results while maintaining a strong commitment to my customers.  

Although I love sales and have done it my entire career my true passion is people. I was inspired to join leadership because I believed I could help those around me. I am driven by the success of my team and have a proven ability to build strong relationships that are mutually beneficial and contribute the overall success of the business. 

I attended Western Governors University where I earned a B.S. in Business Administration Management and am currently pursing my Master’s in Business Administration. In my off time I enjoy spending time with family and friends, working out, and traveling. 

Customer Service Director offering over 30 years of experience and proven success in customer service and production, quality assurance, and leadership. Accomplished in building high-performing teams and inspiring staff to achieve personal and professional goals. Proven ability to organize and drive operations, develop goals, and increase organizational operational efficiency. Advance strategic plans and staffing objectives set forth by management. A forward-thinking leader with expertise in setting goals, quality standards, and business initiatives while leading quick and efficient attainment of objectives.  

 Enhanced my professional skills with the completion of my Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification in 2023. This accomplishment was years in the making, but determination and resilience made it possible. A member of two Veteran’s Committees within Charter, obligated to diligently assist with the pursuit of continuous support of our veteran population.  

 Beyond my professional pursuits, I enjoy finding solace and joy in my free time. Whether immersed in the warmth of familial bonds with my new granddaughter, exploring the great outdoors with my 10-year-old Golden Retriever, or channeling my creativity in the kitchen through baking as a part time baker. I embrace a well-rounded life that reflects my passion for both people and personal fulfillment. Time spent with my Women’s Bible Study group weekly or sharing life’s experiences with a Teen Mentorship program at the local Middle School are my desires to give back to the community where I reside. 

Laura Coristine is a highly accomplished and results-driven leader, currently serving as the Director of Sales at Cox Media in the Northeast region. With an extensive background spanning over 30 years in the advertising industry, she has cultivated a wealth of expertise in effectively increasing revenue through coaching and developing individuals, crafting strategic solutions for both internal and external business partners, and fostering a collaborative and inclusive workplace culture.  

Laura is recognized for her unwavering commitment to leading by example. Setting a standard of excellence for her team. She actively promotes collaboration with individuals who bring diverse perspectives to the table, recognizing the value of different viewpoints in achieving shared goals.  

Throughout her career Laura has dedicated herself to consulting with businesses of all sizes, including business owners, marketing executives and ad agencies. Her specialization lies in the creation of targeted video campaigns that rely on data-driven solutions, delivering measurable and impactful results.  

Laura is not only a dedicated professional but also an avid runner with a passion for making a meaningful impact. She has participated in multiple Boston marathons, using these running endeavors as a platform to support the cause of finding a cure for cancer through Dana Farber. Her motivation lies in reaching the ultimate finish line: a world without cancer.  

Outside of her professional and philanthropic pursuits, Laura calls Newport, RI home, where she resides with her husband Keith and Luther, their third rescued greyhound.  

Ashley is an impact-driven marketer at CSG, a leading SaaS organization, where she supports all growth marketing programs for the telecommunications industry across the Americas. She does this through accelerating pipeline opportunities and revenue growth through the strategy and execution of bold, data-driven initiatives, including integrated campaigns, partner marketing, events and product launches. She is a 2x Spotlight of Excellence winner for her innovative and inclusive approach and a participant in CSG’s invite-only Emerging Leaders program. Ashley prides herself on igniting positive energy and collaboration, achieving success in a constrained world, creating compelling strategies, and inspiring team members through servant leadership. She brings a diverse breadth of experience to CSG, including sales, project management, advertising, and entrepreneurship. Ashley holds a B.S. in Business Management from the University of Missouri and in her spare time, she travels with her husband and kids, enjoys photography and all outdoor activities, and resides in Greenville, SC.   

Laura Dempsey is Director of Client Experience Research & Design for Comcast Advertising. She joined Comcast in 2022, and is responsible for developing a deep understanding of client needs, and helping to leverage that understanding into client-centric experiences. She enjoys the thrill of discovering new insights to explain business behaviors.  

 Laura began her career in B2C eCommerce, becoming a student of human-computer interaction and human-centric design. From there she moved into B2B Digital Product Management, applying best practices from the consumer space to complex business interactions. Her work has focused on digital transformation, helping her teams make the leap into next-gen experiences. Across her career, she learned that her best strategies were anchored in a deep understanding of her client. Because of this, she moved into her current role, focusing full-time on discovering and demystifying that perspective. Peers would tell you some of her strengths are divergent thinking and innovative curiosity. 

 Laura champions empathetic leadership and authenticity. She believes that one of the greatest potentials in business is the innovation of how teams and people do their best work. She places a great deal of emphasis on starting with inclusivity and empathy, empowering people to do ambitious work in new and different ways, and creating space for people to be their best selves outside of work.  

 Laura is a native of Southeastern PA, having also lived for a long time in South Florida. She is currently based in the Philadelphia area with her family where she spends time skiing, biking, and traveling. 

Kati Fernandez is an Afro-Latina born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Cambridge, MA, with a wealth of experience in content creation, strategy, production, management, operations, and marketing. As ESPN’s Senior Director of Development, Kati currently leads the strategy and development team. In this role, she oversees the creation of compelling content across ESPN Originals, ESPN Films, 30 for 30 documentaries, and Special Projects. Her journey in the industry has seen her contribute to platforms such as the NFL Network and Hulu. Kati is also a HearstLab Scout, actively participating in evaluating potential HearstLab investments at pre-seed and seed stages, TechStar Mentor, and the current Vice President for WISE Boston (Women in Sports and Events).

Erika is a brand marketing professional with a passion for leading advertising, creative and brand strategy. Partnering with creative agencies and cross-functional teams, she develops marketing campaigns that elevate brand perception and drive customer demand.  

 In her role as Senior Manager, Brand Marketing at Comcast Business, she leads advertising strategy and creative development for enterprise brand campaigns across TV, digital and social tactics to drive growth through integrated mass communications, custom content, and vertical strategy.  

 In her prior role as Director of Corporate Brand at Aramark, she developed integrated marketing campaigns earning both a Telly Award and Chief Marketer’s Best B2B Campaign recognition.  

At Right Management, a subsidiary of $22B ManpowerGroup, Erika built global marketing campaigns and thought leadership launched across the United States, Asia Pacific, and EMEA.  

 Erika started her career in the non-profit sector, forging relationships between businesses and arts organizations, and her passion continues in her work as a board member at the TILT Institute for the Contemporary Image.  

 Erika earned a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership Studies from the University of Richmond and resides with her family in Philadelphia.  

Biography: Media has been a part of my life, and in my blood, since the day I was born. My Father worked as a News Director, then General Manager, of WLUC TV in Michigan, and was later inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame.  I spent many weekends at WLUC TV, tagging along with my Father, to learn and watch him at work, in his element.  I loved the excitement and fast-pace media environment so much that I decided to study media at North Carolina State University, graduating Cum Laude with a degree in Mass Communications.  After trying my hand in on-air radio, I quickly realized that my journey/destiny would be more on the sales side, transitioning to account executive positions at WJLA-DC, WBTV-Charlotte, WTKR-Norfolk.  After 10+ years in sales, I was ready for a new challenge and accepted a role in leadership as Digital Media Sales Manager with Cox Media, overseeing digital sales revenue for Virginia.  Since joining CMI in 2019, we have seen digital revenue growth of +700%, multiple years of #1 across markets, 3x Winners Circle awards, 2x Torch Awards, much of which has been a direct result of the team I’ve been blessed to work with (MC’s, leadership and direct reports).  The trust, dedication to success, collaboration across departments/markets have all been key factors, and will continue to be, in our success.  

Laura Gaines currently serves as the Director of Development & Original Programming at Hallmark Media. Since joining the Network in 2022, she has shepherded 16 original titles to air, overseeing Hallmark’s first Indian American Rom-Com as well as launching two original franchises on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Gaines played a key role in launching “Make Her Mark,” Hallmark’s Women’s Directing Initiative and continues to serve on the nomination committee.  

Prior to Hallmark Media, Gaines served as Director of Development at Skybound Entertainment where she worked on first-look deals with both Amazon Studios and Sony Television, with an eye towards their vast publishing arm and past success in genre storytelling. Gaines spent 4 years in Series Development at FX Networks and FX Productions in Original Programming, having the distinct honor to work across comedy, drama and limited series. She started her career in Toronto, working on “Degrassi: The Next Generation” and worked as an assistant in creative development at DreamWorks Animation and Warner Bros.

Laura Gaines is a member of the Hollywood Radio & Television Society, where she previously served on the Executive Board for the NextGen Membership. She received her BA in Television from Pepperdine University and holds an MBA from The Graziadio School of Business and Management. She is based in sunny Los Angeles where she resides with her husband and their little one.  

Lexi Gilbert is a dynamic product manager who began her journey at Comcast as an intern and rapidly ascended to her current role as a Senior Product Manager on the Emerging Growth Segments Internet team. She leads product strategy, drives development, and orchestrates go-to-market launches for key projects, such as NOW Internet, NOW WiFi Pass and Fastest Mobile Speed Boost, skillfully steering a comprehensive connectivity suite to meet strategic organizational objectives. Her adept leadership in navigating both immediate and future goals has been crucial in cultivating collaborative success. 

  Lexi has demonstrated continuous commitment to driving innovation by placing customer needs at the forefront of our product development process, ensuring Comcast delivers value and excellence in a competitive market. Her contributions to the organization’s products and culture have earned her the prestigious “President Product Pathfinder Award” and the “Rising Star Award”. 

  Besides her corporate accomplishments, Lexi founded and successfully expanded a niche artwork business, The Texture Muse, achieving global recognition. She is also active as an Alumni, sharing her knowledge as a guest speaker at her alma mater, where she facilitates workshops and mentors college students on their path to professional development. In her free time, Lexi can be found in her reading nook on her Kindle or painting in her studio. 

  Lexi has dual degrees in Marketing and Entrepreneurship & Technology Innovation from the University of Delaware. She currently resides in Philadelphia, PA.  

I am a graduate of Loyola University Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.  I have been with Comcast for 24 years in multiple finance roles.  In my current role as Senior Manager of Financial Planning & Analysis – Revenue Planning my team is responsible for the budgeting, forecasting, and reporting of revenue for Effectv.  I have learned that collaboration and communication are key to being successful.  I have met many different people that helped me learn to navigate through diverse ways of thinking and being open to trying different processes.  I have also had the opportunity to complete the NAMIC Leadership Seminar (2021) which also gave me great insights into leadership and thought diversification.  Those experiences and interactions have been instrumental in my career and personal growth.  I hope to be able to pay that forward and help others with their goals. 

Outside of my career and the most important aspect of me is that I am single mother of a wonderful son. I was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland and still reside here with my son.  Spending time with my family and friends is my favorite past time.  I also enjoy traveling but have yet to get a “stamp” in my passport and I like reading romantic crime novels. 

I am looking forward to the exciting experience! 

With over a decade of dedicated service in the telecommunications industry, I am Jenna Jack, a Field Operations Manager committed to driving operational excellence and nurturing team success. Since joining Cox Communications in 2008, I’ve had the privilege of spearheading initiatives that streamline processes, optimize resources, and foster a culture of collaboration and innovation. 

Armed with a Master’s degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, I bring a unique blend of psychological insights and strategic acumen to my role. My academic journey has equipped me with a deep understanding of human behavior, organizational dynamics, and effective leadership principles. Now, embarking on a new academic pursuit, I am excited to broaden my knowledge base with a Post-Master’s Certificate in Business Administration, aiming to enhance my ability to lead with purpose and vision. 

Outside of my professional endeavors, I delight in the simple joys that life has to offer. Whether it’s relishing precious moments with my loved ones—including my pup—or embarking on adventures across the US and, hopefully soon, abroad, I find solace and excitement in exploring new landscapes and cultures. I make it a priority to uphold my mental and physical well-being, whether through staying active or diving into the enchanting realm of literature. Driven by an intense passion for wellness and personal development, I am on a mission to empower individuals to unlock their full potential and lead fulfilling lives. Whether through mentorship, coaching, or advocacy, I am dedicated to supporting others on their journey to holistic well-being and professional growth. 

BJ Jones is a Senior Manager in the Project Management Office with GCI.  She began her career at GCI almost 29 years ago in Customer Service and pivoted through different areas of the organization to include Training, Quality & Data Assurance, IT Business Analyst, Product Manager and Project Management.  Most recently she has been working on Transformational and Continuous Improvement initiatives as the company moves to a CTO model with a focus on driving successful adoption of business changes across the organization.  Due to her extensive history and ability to look across the entire organization for impacts, process alignment and strong ability to collaborate, the executive leadership team looks to and relies on her well-rounded leadership perspective.   

BJ was born and raised in Alaska, and calls Alaska home but has spent the last two winters snow birding in Nevada.  In her free time, her happy place is to be fishing and camping with family and friends and enjoys traveling.  You can also find her volunteering monthly at The American Legion, coordinating events for veterans and military families.   

My current role is an Accounting Manager supporting Effectv, Freewheel and Comcast Advertising. My focus in this role is primarily expense driven and reporting.  I am also responsible for providing variance explanations to budget and forecast while reporting financial results and key metrics to leadership.  I began my career with Comcast 12 years ago, prior to my current role, I was on the corporate accounting and reporting team.       

I was born and raise in the suburbs of Philadelphia and continue to reside there today with my husband, twin boys, stepson and two English bulldogs. I am embarking on a new journey this year as a mom of twins, so I am excited to see the new challenges and adventure ahead.  I graduated from Widener University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.  In my free time, I am a soccer coach and sit on the board of one of the largest soccer organizations on the east coast. I enjoy connecting with others and giving back to the community in this manner as I love the sport and played throughout my childhood.   

Mona Kilcoyne’s life has been a rich tapestry of exploration, family, and a deep love for nature. From her early days in Bombay, India, to her adventures around the globe, Mona’s journey is one marked by curiosity, resilience, and a profound appreciation for the world around her.  From the majestic peaks of the Himalayas to the serene beaches of Goa, India, Mona’s wanderlust knew no bounds. She embarked on countless journeys, each one offering new experiences, friendships, and insights into the beauty of the natural world. Whether trekking through dense forests, camping under the stars, or marveling at ancient ruins, Mona found solace and inspiration in the great outdoors.  Central to Mona’s life was her role as a mother to her three beloved sons. She approached parenthood with the same sense of wonder and adventure that defined her travels, nurturing her children’s curiosity, creativity, and compassion.  Mona approached life with grace, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to her family. She understood the importance of fostering a sense of curiosity and wonder in her children, inspiring them to explore the world with open hearts and minds.  A 25 year + HR professional,  Mona approaches work with the same unwavering commitment; assuming positive intent and curiosity.   

Marketing in Comcast’s West Division. In her role, Jennifer leads a team that partners with division office business leaders on leadership development, organizational health, talent management, and other HR activities. Additionally, Jennifer’s team serves as the liaison between division office channel leaders and region HR leaders on executing field initiatives related to compensation, performance management, staffing and retention for our residential sales channels. 

 Jennifer joined Comcast in 2015 as Director of Internal Communications on the West Division Human Resources team, and also served as HR Director, Customer Service, prior to her current role. She has a background in internal communications, strategic planning, leadership coaching, organizational development, change management, and employee engagement. Prior to joining Comcast, Jennifer served as Manager, Executive Communications, at Walgreens Boots Alliance in Deerfield, Ill. She held roles in training, communications, and project management for The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company and OfficeMax. In 2018, she received the Woman to Watch Award from the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Women in Cable and Telecommunications. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University and previously served a two-year term as Co-Chair of Comcast’s Women’s Network Employee Resource Group. 

 Jennifer lives in Denver and loves spending time outdoors and being active with her two children, Elena and Declan. 

Jane is an advertising technology leader with over nine years of experience delivering innovative solutions for media owners and buyers through exceptional client service and strategic partnership. Jane currently works on the Beeswax business, a Demand Side Platform (DSP) within the larger FreeWheel organization. Jane leads the Account Management team for Beeswax Tech customers across North America, helping drive success and growth for Beeswax’s key technical enterprise customers. Prior to Beeswax/FreeWheel, Jane worked on the Publisher Client Services team at TripleLift, a Supply Side Platform (SSP), for four years and was awarded the TripleLift Founder’s Grant for outsized contributions to the business. Outside of work, Jane enjoys tennis, going to the beach, and exploring all the amazing museums and restaurants in New York City, where she has lived for almost 15 years.  

Katherine Marra is a distinguished Senior Marketing Manager with a decade of expertise in spearheading strategic, data-driven marketing initiatives that significantly enhance audience engagement, market penetration, and revenue growth. Katherine excels in crafting innovative omnichannel marketing campaigns, content, and partnerships for the media and entertainment industry. 

At Paramount, Katherine has been instrumental in formulating and implementing high-impact marketing campaigns in collaboration with distribution partners like DirecTV/AT&T, ensuring robust demand generation, customer retention, and revenue increase. On the Portfolio & Trade Marketing team, she leads efforts that amplify the value of Paramount brands, content, audiences, and product ecosystem to distributors and trade. Her leadership in partnership events has solidified Paramount’s market presence and fostered vital industry relationships. Before her current role, she significantly contributed to ViacomCBS and Viacom, where she began her journey as a Marketing Coordinator, progressing through roles that honed her expertise in partner marketing and account management. 

Katherine’s professional journey commenced at ERM Research LLC, where her insights informed film development and marketing strategies for notable clients. Her academic foundation from New York University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Media, Culture, and Communication with a minor in Business of Entertainment, Media, and Technology, underpins her strategic approach to marketing and brand growth. 

Acknowledged for her exceptional leadership and innovative approach, Katherine has received accolades from Paramount’s top executives and has been instrumental in pioneering a Culture, Training & Development, and DE&I program within her department. Her dedication to excellence is further demonstrated by her acceptance into the 2024 WICT Rising Leaders Program. An avid skier, sailor, and film enthusiast, Katherine brings passion, creativity, and strategic vision to the forefront of the marketing industry. Originally born and raised in Weston, CT, Katherine now resides in New York, NY. 

Michelle McDerby began her career in the Telecommunications industry in 1998 when she joined Comcast in the Information Systems area and has continued to thrive in that space today. Throughout her career, she has consistently excelled by embracing diverse opportunities. A pivotal moment arose when she played a key role in establishing the Strategy team in the Standards and Governance department under the newly formed IS Solutions organization. Recognizing a perfect union of her organizational acumen, love for order, and proficiency in critical thinking, problem-solving, and data analysis, Michelle found her niche. When she was promoted to Manager, Standards, Strategy, she was able to continue to do what she was excited about, while also being able to grow and foster the success of her team. 

 Michelle leads a dedicated team who is committed to creating efficient and effective policies that streamline processes, allowing other teams throughout Comcast to operate within the billing system more seamlessly. This initiative requires in-depth research, close collaboration, and the cultivation of consensus through a multi-faceted approach. The comprehensive nature of this undertaking ensures that diverse perspectives are considered, fostering a well-rounded and successful outcome, which ensures a refined and effective billing system, benefiting the entire company.  

 Based in New Hampshire, she lives with her husband and a pampered cat, while her adult son has embarked on his own journey outside the family home. In her leisure time, Michelle enjoys tracing her family tree, crafting, exploring new destinations, and spending time in the great outdoors. 

Joy McLeod is a Senior Manager in Customer Experience Operations at Cox Communications. With a decade-long tenure at Cox, Joy has honed her expertise in designing and implementing transformative initiatives to enhance both customer and employee experiences. Recognized for her inclusive leadership style, she is noted for her strategic approach in driving organizational success.  

 Beyond her professional endeavors, Joy is deeply passionate about fostering engagement in her community. From serving as a county election poll worker to facilitating roundtable meetings and trainings across five countries, she takes great pride in bringing people together—locally, regionally, and internationally—to drive positive change.    

 Joy holds a BA degree in Economics from Spelman College and an MBA from Duke University, complemented by process improvement, change management, and human centered design certifications. Prior to Cox, Joy worked at IBM and the US Government. Joy currently resides in Atlanta, GA.  

Paige McPherson is a Senior Manager of Talent Development, supporting clients in Comcast’s Technology Product Experience (TPX) group. She has spent her career in human resources and the telecommunications industry holding roles in leave of absence management, compensation, HR technology, benefits, and compliance, talent management, DE&I, and as an HR Business Partner prior to her current role.  

Paige is dedicated to growing careers at Comcast through creative, people-focused strategies, with an added lens on talent from historically overlooked groups. She loves serving on internal committees for mentorship, functional career growth, and early career development programs that utilize employees’ skills to help them achieve their next career goal. 

Paige holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Missouri – Columbia and grew up in St. Louis. She currently lives in Denver, Colorado where she enjoys attempting to cook new recipes, reading, and spending time with her husband, Ben, and their cat, Callie. 

Tina Mergenthal is a Director of Workforce Management with experience in driving Best Practices, Forecasting and Analytics across the U.S. for Vendor Management and Customer Care. Tina has 20+ years of experience in Workforce Management increasing customer experience and driving business growth. In her current position, Tina leads a team focused on aligning best practices, creating consistencies, and driving strategic business decisions through reporting and analytics. Her responsibilities also include the platform allowing for strategic staffing and immediate invoicing of all Comcast Cable vendors.   

 Since joining Comcast in 2015, Tina has aligned best practices and implemented new initiatives to improve forecasting, reporting and customer service.  She works with teams from across the organization to ensure proactive communication regarding projects and business impacts.  Tina is Prosci Change Management Certified.   

 In addition to Tina’s work at Comcast, she is an active member of her community.  Tina has served on the Board of Advisors for the American Cancer Society’s Philadelphia Chapter and leads a team for the ACS Relay for Life.  She is a Leadership Philadelphia Core Class of 2015 Member and participates in many other community activities including being a mentor to the local high school Robotics Team.   

 Tina holds a BBA in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.  She enjoys spending time with her family playing games, attending her children’s sporting events and is pickleball enthusiast.   

Mindy Mew-Palmer is driven by her community spirit and professional dedication as the Mid-South Senior Regional Community Marketing Manager for Vyve Broadband. With a commitment to uplifting her community, Mindy channels her passion into multifaceted roles, serving on various boards and committees dedicated to enhancing the Mid-South region. 

Mindy’s journey towards community empowerment began when she earned her Bachelors in Mass Communication from East Central University in Ada, OK. Armed with her expertise, she has worked hard to bridge the gap between communities and corporations, leveraging her skills to foster meaningful connections and drive positive change. 

Beyond her professional scope, Mindy finds inspiration in the world of literature, often immersing herself in the pages of captivating books. Her love for the arts extends to her other hobbies, like attending concerts, or enjoying new restaurants with friends. Additionally, Mindy is an advocate for cultural enrichment, serving on the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art board, a renowned museum in Shawnee, OK. 

Mindy’s dedication to her community is unending.  She actively seeks opportunities to contribute to its growth and prosperity. With her enthusiasm, profound knowledge, and compassion, Mindy Mew-Palmer continues to be an example of inspiration and positive influence in the Mid-South region. 

Rian Miller is the Senior Manager of the Enterprise Cloud Platform (ECP) Solution Architect team for GCI. She provides servant leadership to a team of four solution architects and manages the customer intake and engagement programs for the department. She is focused on driving solutions that provide value to our customers and reduces risk and costs to GCI. 

Rian started her career with GCI in 2022 as the customer engagement manager. With her breadth of knowledge of communications and service within the IT industry, Rian was able to provide value to the teams immediately. Rian spent the first few months interviewing customers and stakeholders of the team’s products and services, which culminated in a service report that was shared among IT leadership teams and resulted in several improvement paths. Rian also worked to create the first service catalog for the team within six months. 

Before joining GCI, Rian spent 12 years with the State of Montana. In her most recent role, Rian served as the first Chief Customer Success Officer for Montana and had the opportunity to create and manage the programs from the ground up. This provided her an opportunity to learn more about executive leadership in a public service role, while still having hands-on experience of implementing new programs simultaneously.  

Rian received her undergraduate degree in Communications from The Ohio State University. She is married with two children and four cats and lives in the middle of nowhere, Montana. She enjoys outdoor activities like camping, hiking and sports, delicious foods, and reading a good book. 

Carol has supported Employee Engagement efforts at Comcast for the past 6 years. In her role she is responsible for supporting business objectives through the employee experience. She has been involved in creating and implementing a division-wide recognition strategy, focused efforts to support organizational health, strategic input into organization design as well as serving as a trusted partner for Human Resource matters throughout the organizations she supports. Carol has a passion for the employee experience and programs that focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.  

Carol currently resides in Southern California with her husband Eric and her two children, Chloe (13) and Dylan (9). In her spare time, she loves to spend time at the beach and getting massages. However, you are more likely to find her outside a dance studio or on a sports field supporting her kid’s various activities. 

Melanie Mueller is a Research Manager at A+E Networks. She graduated from the University of Florida in 2018 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations and a minor in Business Administration. In 2017, she was selected as an International Radio & Television Society Summer Fellow, which sparked her interest in research, analytics, and consumer trends. Melanie began her career at A+E Networks after graduation and has now been on the Lifetime Content Research team for over 5 years where she helps clients make data-backed recommendations based upon research trends and findings. She leads various research initiatives and oversees the data management for multiple research systems. She particularly enjoys leading the intern program every summer and finding innovate ways to automate and improve reports and processes. In her free time, Melanie enjoys playing board games (especially Catan), binge-watching TV shows (especially The Office) and cooking with her friends and family (especially Colombian and Mexican dishes). She is currently living in Miami, Florida and is expecting her first baby with her husband in March 2024!  

Kristine Nguyen was born and raised in Denver, Colorado and graduated from Colorado State University, majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Corporate Finance and Computer Information Systems. She has been in the telecommunications industry since 2012 and joined Charter Communications in 2018. While at Charter, Kristine completed her masters in Data Science at Regis University. She started as a contractor in the role of Sr. Product Intelligence Developer and from there she transitioned into a manager role in 2021. Recently, she was promoted to Director and currently leads a team of developers, overseeing the ingestion of data from various data sources, ensuring data quality, integrity, and security throughout the process. Her work day consists of meetings and collaborating with stakeholders on new requirements around curated datasets. 

  Kristine’s accolades are many and her career fruitful, but she attributes her success to the significant sacrifices made by her Vietnamese immigrant parents. Kristine’s experiences growing up as a first generation child of immigrants include examples of her parents’ hard work and resilience. They ensured she learned the true value of having kindness, compassion, and respect for everyone. These traits and values are the bedrock to Kristine’s career accomplishments and she remains committed to carrying them forward as examples for her children so they too have a solid foundation for their futures.  

  In her free time she enjoy traveling, eating, and spending time with her husband and two kids. Some of her favorite travel destinations are Hawaii, Thailand, and Iceland. 

Amanda Paschal is a Managing Producer for ESPN’s Creative Content Unit (CCU), which is responsible for the company’s largest creative projects for marquee live sporting events. Amanda leads the team producing the opening teases & creative content for all NFL properties, including Monday Night Football & the NFL Draft. Additionally, Amanda’s robust knowledge of unions and shoot production has made her the go-to producer and consultant on all large-scale productions for CCU content. These projects include the opening teases for the 2019 US Open Tennis Championships with Shania Twain, the 2021 NBA Finals directed by Spike Lee, the 2023 XFL launch starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Dany Garcia, and the 2023 CFP National Championship Game featuring John Williams.  Most recently, she produced the new Open for the 2023 Monday Night Football season featuring Chris Stapleton, Snoop Dogg, and Cindy Blackman Santana. 

  A five-time National Sports Emmy Award winner & a four-time Clio Sports Award winner, Amanda worked for Al Roker Entertainment (ARE), a small NYC production company with a large scope, before joining ESPN in 2015.  Prior to her time at ARE, she freelanced on various productions – including the audition tour of American Idol for FOX, docu-style shows for Discovery Channel and HGTV, and the 2012 London Olympics. Amanda graduated from Asbury University with a bachelors degree in Media Communication with an emphasis on Film and Production Management. 

  Amanda currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, Aneesh, and their two pups, Higgins & Biscuit. 

As a Senior Manager of Customer Experience Data & Analytics at Comcast, Kinsey is responsible for a small but mighty team who analyzes current and future trends in customer experience.  She began her career in analytics 11 years ago and has been at Comcast since 2019.  Kinsey is passionate about using data to drive the business and customer experience forward and training the next generation of analytics leaders. 

Kinsey attended the University of Georgia, where she received a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Psychology and a minor in Spanish.  She then spent several years developing analytics skillsets in various roles at iHeartMedia and Larson-Juhl.  Since joining Comcast, Kinsey has held multiple analytics roles and has been focused on developing both leadership and technical skills.  Kinsey is excited to participate in the Rising Leader’s Program and to evolve into a more effective leader. 

Outside of work, Kinsey enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with family. She’s looking forward to visiting some new countries this year and creating new memories. 

Sukai Qin is the Senior Director of Product at Beeswax, a division of Freewheel under Comcast Advertising. For the past five years, Sukai has been dedicated to enhancing the company’s product offerings. She led the complete overhaul of the user interface (UI) and application programming interface (API), focusing on improving user experience and system integration. Additionally, she heads the Serving Product team, which handles the core Real Time Bidding technology for Beeswax’s demand-side platform (DSP).

In her role, Sukai embraces and exemplifies the start-up culture of agile development. She enjoys working in dynamic environments where she can contribute to developing and refining processes that drive efficiency and innovation. Her approach is hands-on and collaborative, ensuring that product goals align with business needs. Sukai believes in fostering an open environment where team members feel valued and empowered to share ideas and feedback. By emphasizing mentorship and professional growth, she helps her team members develop their skills and reach their full potential. 

Before joining Beeswax, Sukai spent five years at Moat, where she worked on the viewability and verification reporting suite. During her time there, she contributed to advancements in digital advertising measurement. Moat was later acquired by Oracle, reflecting its industry impact. 

Sukai graduated from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities with a degree in Statistics and Finance. She lives in New York with her family, including her two children. 

Christine Robison-Sargent is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in telecommunications, currently serving as the Senior Director of Retail Sales for Arizona at Cox Communications. With over 25 years of experience in the technology sector, Christine’s career began in wireless communications, where she spent over a decade honing her skills and expertise in sales leadership roles. 

 Throughout her tenure, Christine has demonstrated a remarkable ability to drive results and inspire her teams to achieve greatness. Her hands-on approach to sales leadership has been instrumental in cultivating a culture of success within Cox Communications. Christine is known for her strategic vision and her knack for identifying emerging opportunities in the ever-evolving telecommunications landscape. 

 As a proactive and highly accountable leader, Christine has led her teams to numerous successes, earning accolades and recognition along the way. Her dedication to mentoring and developing her team has resulted in a track record of high-performance sales teams that consistently exceed targets and deliver exceptional results. 

In her role as Senior Director of Sales, Christine Robison-Sargent continues to inspire and empower her team to achieve new heights of success, embodying the values of integrity, perseverance, and excellence in everything she does. 

 Outside of her professional endeavors, Christine remains deeply committed to her family and community. Alongside her husband Mark, Christine cherishes spending time with their five children, finding joy in their shared experiences. She actively volunteers in her community, leveraging her skills and passion to make a positive impact. In her leisure time, Christine indulges in her love for shopping, exploring new destinations through travel, and enjoying leisurely walks with her two dogs. 

My name is Bryony Ruby and I’m the VP, Corporate Finance at GCI based in Anchorage, Alaska.  I am originally from Texas but moved to Colorado when I was a freshman in high school.  My first professional job was working at a bank as a teller.  I was in banking for ten years and worked as a teller, lead teller, loan adjuster, and a staff accountant in the finance department.  In 2009, I decided to move to Alaska.  I found a job in the accounting department at Cook Inlet Region, Inc native corporation.  I worked there for a little over a year and then accepted a role at GCI in 2011. 

 I started off as a financial analyst in the Cost & Capital Management group.  I was responsible for the financials for Cost of Good Sold for the company.  I was in the department for five years and was promoted from Financial Analyst to Senior Financial Analyst to Manager to Senior Manager, Finance & Administration.  In 2016, I transferred to the Accounting department as a Manager, GL Accounting.   I was in the Accounting department for a little over a year and then transferred to Finance as a Manager, Corporate Finance in 2017.  In 2021 I was promoted to VP, Corporate Finance.  I am responsible for $365.7M in operating expense, cash, debt, and our fleet department.  

Jennifer Sabo is an experienced Sr. Business Development and Sales Leader with Spectrum Enterprise focused on driving innovation and network modernization supporting US Based and Global companies in the Fortune 500, private and National Account sector.  A multiple Presidents/Achiever Cup winner, she currently leads a team of 31 sellers and managers with a focus on uncovering a company’s strategic initiatives, technology roadmaps and guiding customers through their buying journey.  Jennifer brings over 20 years of experience in the Telecom and Network Connectivity industry and is currently seeking to hone her skills in developing herself as a strong people leader and coach her team to tap into their full career potential.    A former collegiate volleyball player, Jennifer resides in Southern California with her husband and their 4 daughters and is passionate about cooking, outdoor adventures, yoga, hiking and exploring every corner of the globe! 

Chang was born and raised in Mainland China and came to the U.S.A to study business and earned the Master of Accounting Science degree. She joined Comcast in 2017 and currently is serving as the marketing manager who provides the region with competitive and market intelligence to help shape the company’s strategy to compete. Chang is known as an expert in data analytics and an accomplished storyteller using data. She uses these skills to help peers understand the business and leaders make crucial decisions. She is also co-lead of NED APA ERG and has helped organized a series of high-impact events across the entire company. 

Outside of her Comcast career, Chang is the Principal of the Pittsburgh Chinese Academy, a private school that offers Mandarin as a second language on Sunday afternoons (she also teaches in the school when needed!) When not working, Chang enjoys spending time with her family and posting on social media about her squirrel friends, whom she met while working from home during the pandemic. 

Alexandra (Alex) Siegel serves as Director, Legal & Business Affairs in A+E Networks’ scripted content group, in which capacity she supports A+E Studios and the Lifetime network with a wide variety of needs: from drafting and negotiating rights and talent contracts; to advising on production issues as they arise; to reviewing and updating policies and forms to ensure the company is observing best practices and keeping up with industry trends.  Alex is also a member of the Legal & Business Affairs Department’s Social Responsibility Committee and Connection Committee, a council member of the Women’s Employee Resource Group and head of its Volunteer Subcommittee, and both a mentor and a mentee in A+E Networks’ mentoring program. 

Prior to coming to A+E, Alex was a litigator in Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP’s Entertainment Group, where she had the opportunity to represent diverse entertainment industry clients in their most significant disputes, and at Irell & Manella LLP, where she gained valuable early experience in an array of intellectual property, entertainment, securities, and pro bono litigation matters. 

Alex earned her Juris Doctor Degree at UCLA School of Law, and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and French from Amherst College and a Master of Arts Degree in French from Middlebury College, in association with The University of Paris IV: La Sorbonne.  She lives in Los Angeles and in her non-working hours can be found enjoying musical theater, watching baseball, traveling, and singing karaoke. 

Sarah Silander is a Sr Finance Manager who works for Cox Communications. She is a Finance business professional who is a results driven and respected leader with more than 20 years of experience in the accounting/finance industry. Her career has been working with numbers in many different capacities. This includes Accounting (month-end closes, balance sheet reconciliations, auditing, etc.), Accounts Payable, Cash Management and Finance (building budgets, sales compensation, completing analyses, capital expenditures, etc.).  In her current role, she provides finance support/strategy to the West Region (Arizona, California and Las Vegas) for Cox Media, the advertising division of Cox Communications. During her career, she has been a member of Cox Communications Las Vegas Nevada Executive Senior Team (NEST) where she represented the Business Operations and Cox Media organizations of the company. She is also a former trustee of Olive Crest, whose mission is to prevent child abuse by strengthening, equipping and restoring children and families in crisis. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 kids (Evan 15, Ava 13). She enjoys family gatherings, hanging by the pool and traveling, especially to the beach.

Sandy Stanton is a Senior Manager of Project and Program Management at Cox Communications with 18 years of experience in the telecommunications industry.  She has held roles in knowledge-based content development, technical training, and customer service and is known for her innovative mindset and exceptional leadership skills.  As a dedicated people leader, Sandy prioritizes the growth and development of her team, fostering a culture of collaboration, creativity, and continuous learning. Her servant leadership approach empowers individuals to reach their full potential while ensuring that the collective goals of the organization are met.

As a Senior Manager of Project and Program Management, Sandy leverages her diverse background and expertise to drive successful outcomes in complex initiatives critical to Cox Business’ strategic objectives. Her unique blend of technical proficiency, leadership acumen, and customer-centric focus enables her to navigate challenges and deliver tangible results that exceed expectations.

Sandy holds Bachelor’s degrees in Communication and Organizational Leadership, an MBA, and certification in Adult Learning and combines academic rigor with practical expertise to drive innovation and excellence in her role. Outside of her professional responsibilities, Sandy is committed to giving back to her community and is the founder of a non-profit foundation called Hearts and Wings, which strives to support families within her local community in a variety of ways. She believes in the importance of making a positive impact within and beyond the workplace, embodying the principles of servant leadership in all aspects of her life.

Katie has been with Cox Communications for 11 years and has almost 20 years of experience in marketing, communications, and sales support. Her current role on the Consumer Marketing Strategy team focuses on delivering timely, compelling, and consumer-centric claims and messages in advertising across Cox’s internet, mobile, entertainment, and home automation products.

One of Katie’s previous Cox roles includes Product Engagement and Education Manager on the Consumer Product Marketing team, reaching thousands of frontline employees with tactics like Product Fairs, videos, and internal media channels to drive education, engagement and excitement around Cox’s latest product launches and enhancements.

Katie was also previously the Cox Video Product Marketing Manager for the Southeast/Central Region, managing all channel lineups across the Region and partnering with Engineering to launch, drop, rebrand, and troubleshoot video content.

Katie received her Master of Business Administration degree in 2011 from Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business and graduated Magna Cum Laude, with concentrations in Consumer Behavior Marketing and Strategic Management & Leadership. During this time, she also attended graduate-level modules in Mexico City, Paris, Shanghai, Bogota, and New Orleans for a secondary Master of Global Management degree, with a concentration in Global Leadership.

In 2005, she graduated from the University of Richmond in Virginia, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and a minor in French.

In her free time, Katie loves spending time with her husband and three children, reading thriller novels, going anywhere with live music, and traveling to beautiful places around the world.

Jess Torres holds the role of Manager within the A+E Motion Graphics Team, stationed within A+E Networks dynamic Production Operations Department. While pursuing her education at Pratt Institute, initially with aspirations of carving a path in video game design, Jess encountered an After Effects Professor whose influence steered her towards the fields of VFX/Compositing and Motion Graphics.

Following her graduation from Pratt, Jess dove into the professional arena as a freelance Motion Designer at A+E, concurrently managing various freelance commitments, primarily focusing on Compositing. After a stint of approximately two years in the freelance realm post-graduation, she embarked on an international journey, seeking diverse experiences within the Print and Web industry outside the United States. Three years later, she returned to A+E as a freelance Motion Designer, ultimately transitioning to a permanent staff position in June 2015. Over time, her natural leadership qualities and prowess in her craft propelled her into a managerial role within the team, where she continues to excel and inspire.

Julie Vance is a corporate communications director for Cox Communications supporting Field Operations and Cox’s West Region.

Prior to her current role, she was internal communications director for Cox’s Southwest Region, where she managed communications for 4,500 employees in a three-state region. An 18-year employee, Julie got her start at Cox as a communications contractor.

Before joining Cox in 2005, Julie worked in Public Relations for the Harlem Globetrotters and Toronto’s The Fairmont Royal York.

She earned her master’s in mass communications from Arizona State University and has a B.A. in political science from Carleton University. She resides in Scottsdale, AZ.

Terra Walker is Senior Director, Social Media and Talent Brand Marketing for Comcast Advertising.

In this role, Terra leads social media and talent brand marketing for Comcast Advertising, which includes FreeWheel, Effectv and AudienceXpress. Since 2015 her focus has been on raising awareness and affinity with clients, partners and prospective talent through creative marketing strategies that strengthen our brands, engage audiences and fill the talent pipeline.

Terra also spearheads Comcast Advertising’s employee social advocacy program that empowers employees to grow their digital reputations as industry thought leaders while also significantly expanding brand awareness. As a part of this program, Terra provides comprehensive personal branding, social media and social selling trainings to internal teams and leaders.

Prior to Comcast, Terra honed her social media marketing skills for various tech and tourism companies, capitalizing on the early days of the internet when social media first came to the forefront of marketing practices. She started her career managing travel operations for one of the largest private tour operators in the world.

Terra holds a Bachelor of Arts in Italian Language and Literature from the University of Pittsburgh. She resides in the New York area with her son.

Kenisha “Kasey” White is a Sr. Director in OSS Technology for Cox Communications, a privately owned company and the third largest telecommunications provider specializing in digital cable, data and home automation services. In her role, as a strategic leader, Kasey drives resources, planning, execution and implementation of programs, projects and platforms representing multi-millions of financial investments. Currently, her portfolio accounts for over $50M in capital investment to deliver strategic imperatives such as All IP, Network Evolution, speed and performance enhancements; IoT for Cox Communities; as well as new growth features to expand the Cox syndicated product areas of entertainment, broadband, panoramic Wi-Fi, home automation, voice, email and identity management.

Since beginning her Cox journey as a contractor in 2009, Kasey has served in several roles which have prepared her for continued success. Kasey is responsible for delivering next generation technologies such as real time payments for Cox billing systems, growing the self-service experience within the IVR Call Center Voice portal platform and syndicating Cox products such as Broadband, Voice and Home Security.

With Kasey’s vast experience at Cox and the intense industry competition, Kasey is fierce, equipped and energized to continue to help lead Cox into the future. While she is frequently called upon to design, structure and build teams to execute and drive “the work’; her biggest joy is identifying and growing talent to help others thrive and show up at their best. Kasey actively serves as a mentor and advocate for future female leaders and other rising stars within technology and beyond.

Kasey is a graduate of Georgia State University, having completed a dual degree program in Business Administration and Marketing. She holds an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management. In addition, Kasey is an active member of NAMIC Atlanta and WICT Southeast Chapter where she previously served as a board member for two years.  Having been recognized as a high potential leader at Cox, Kasey has had the honor of being selected to participate in the annual NAMIC leadership conference (2020) and recently inducted in the 2024 WICT Rising Leaders Program.

In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, working out, bowling, party planning, skating, and spending time with family. Kasey is a native of Atlanta, GA, wife, and proud mother of a five-year old daughter.

Andrea is a Senior Manager with the Employment Practices and Compliance team at Cox Communications. Since joining Cox in March of 2022, Andrea has made an indelible impact as an SME in highly complex employment matters such as high-risk terminations, reductions in force, reorganizations and acquisitions, EEOC charges and high-level investigations – specifically involving AVP and above and issues that have a disparate impact on the company at large. Prior to joining Cox, Andrea spent 5 years at McKesson Technologies.  At McKesson, Andrea served as a legal consultant on the Legal & Compliance team, overseeing privileged investigations, responses to EEOC administrative charges, and compliance with the annual Code of Conduct and policy training. After that role, Andrea transitioned to Employee Relations where she became a point of contact for employee issues in the areas of company policy, unlawful activity, and people leader training.

Andrea holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Pre-law from Spelman College (cum laude) and received her Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) from Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Bloomington (Order of the Barristers). In her spare time, she enjoys traveling (both domestically and internationally), trying new culinary experiences as a self-proclaimed foodie, and spending quality time with her husband, their four-year-old daughter and six-month old son. Andrea is also a bit of a thrill-seeker, having gone cliff diving into the ocean three times in three different countries, and skydiving more times than she’s willing to admit.

Andrea looks forward to meeting and learning from her RLP cohort!

Roxanne Wingate is a corporate social responsibility leader with experience in community relations, employee engagement and event planning.

Roxanne currently serves as Public Affairs Manager for Cox Communications.  In this role, Roxanne manages Cox’s corporate social responsibility programs, including Cox Charities, Cox Volunteer, Board Leadership, ID&E outreach and Cox’s Digital Equity program.

Prior to joining Cox, Roxanne served as Traffic Safety Specialist for AAA Arizona where she led the Club’s traffic safety programs and initiatives and served as the spokesperson for Spanish-language media interviews.  Before AAA, Roxanne spent three years with Valley of the Sun United Way as Public Relations Coordinator where she focused on media relations support and Hispanic marketing initiatives.  Roxanne’s experience also includes working for Entravision Communications where she assisted with various promotional events in the marketing department.

Roxanne is a recipient of Univision Radio’s 40 Hispanic Leaders Under 40 award and Cox Communications Rising Star award. Roxanne was also recognized as one of 30 Millennials changing Arizona’s Business landscape by Arizona Business Magazine in 2018. She is a 2008 graduate of Valle del Sol’s Hispanic Leadership Institute and Class 41 Alumni of Valley Leadership. Roxanne currently serves on the YWCA board and previously served on the Friendly House board.

Roxanne holds a B.A. in Communications and a minor in Spanish from Arizona State University.  She resides in Goodyear with her husband, Geraldo, and three sons Nicolas, Cristian and Mateo.

I’m Angela Wood-Richter, Director of Product Experience at Comcast, leading a team within the Tools, Technology and Experience organization. As a seasoned professional with experience in Higher Education, Sales and Consulting, and Cable and Technology, I have cultivated a growth mindset and commitment to lifelong learning. I graduated with Honors from Northern Arizona University with a degree in Psychology and Communication. I’ve completed various leadership programs including Half the Sky Leadership for Women, most recently. I am a passionate Yoga and Reiki practitioner, certified in both. In my free time, I enjoy hiking and love to travel. My favorite title is that of mom to two remarkable humans and two adorable fur-babies.

Throughout my career, I have held diverse roles, ranging from Sales Associate to Vice President of Admissions. Regardless of position, one constant has remained- my deep compassion for people. As volunteer staff for The Ties Program, I spent two transformative summers in Guatemala serving the communities and families who I will forever cherish. Currently, my team is responsible for User Experience, Product Strategy and Design for employee tools that support Performance Engagement. I am an active member of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and our Ally and Mentorship program. I look forward to opportunities afforded by WICT, to connect with and support other professionals in this space.

Ellen Wray currently serves as a Senior Manager of Publicity at A&E Network where she is responsible for communication strategies and campaign development for a variety of network series and specials.

Ellen joined A&E in 2014 as a Publicity Coordinator and has progressively advanced to her current position. During her tenure with the company, she has worked on a variety of launches including hit series Secrets of Playboy and The Clinton Affair, documentary events James Brown: Say it Loud, and Garth Brooks: The Road I’m On, and across network programing partnerships including high priority launches with WWE and baker Buddy Valastro.

Prior to her role at A&E, Ellen interned with Showtime Networks where she held several roles within the public relations team honing her skills in events, awards, and publicity for high profile series including The Affair and Homeland.

 Ellen is a graduate of Fordham University where she earned a BA in Communications & Media Studies. When not at work, Ellen enjoys cooking and exploring local restaurants, reading, and spending time with friends and family. She is an Indianapolis, IN native and currently resides in New York City.