Our Staff

Maria E. Brennan, CAE, is the President & CEO of The WICT Network: Empowering Women in Media, Entertainment and Technology, a 10,000 member global nonprofit celebrating 40 years of serving women in the cable industry. During her time at The WICT Network, Brennan has worked collaboratively with its leaders and stakeholders to steer the organization’s strategic vision, resulting in record levels of membership, sponsor support, and program participation. Brennan has over 25 years of executive management experience with non-profits ranging in size from 2,000 to 33,000 members, with particular expertise in the areas of strategic planning, communications and advocacy.

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

Brennan is an award-winning writer, having received an EXCEL Award for her byline, “Hear Me Roar.” She was elected to serve on the Women’s Leadership Board at Harvard University in 2007. She is a charter member of the FCC Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment, where she recently finished her sixth term. She is a coalition member of WIPP — Women Impacting Public Policy — and a Commissioner for the Girl Scouts Healthy Media Council. Brennan was recognized with a Vanguard Award by NCTA–The Internet & Television Association, in recognition of her contributions to the media industry’s innovation, growth and progress. Brennan has been named among Cablefax’s list of Most Powerful Women in Cable annually since 2010 and in 2022 received Cablefax’s Women’s Advocacy Champion award.

Jason E. Brown joined The WICT Network team in September 2019 as the Senior Director of Educational Programs. He brings with him over 15 years of experience in program planning in the association world.

Jessa Cooke is Vice President of Educational Programs at The WICT Network, based in Washington, DC. Jessa is an experienced executive with more than 15 years of experience in designing high-quality programs, cultivating partnerships and generating revenue growth. With expertise in content and curriculum design that supports the career development of executives and high-potential talent, she specializes in women’s leadership development. Prior to joining The WICT Network in July 2021, Jessa served as Vice President of Leadership Development and Operations at the International Women’s Forum, a global membership organization of leading female executives. She began her career in the Press Office of the House Committee on Rules, Chaired by Congresswoman Louise Slaughter. Jessa earned a BA in Journalism at the University of Pittsburgh and completed the Georgetown University Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate program in 2014. An avid traveler, Jessa has visited 26 countries, and has experience living and working abroad in Sheffield, England and Shaoxing, China. She currently resides in Washington, DC with her husband, son and rather handsome cat.

Kristin joined The WICT Network in 2010 and brings a strong association background to the organization with over 15 years of experience as a non-profit executive specializing in gender equity. In her current role, she serves as the Vice President of Member and Chapter Development, where she is responsible for directing the strategic growth of The WICT Network’s membership and guiding the success of the organization’s 24 domestic and international chapters. Prior to taking on her current role, Kristin held positions inside the organization’s Marketing & Communications and Business Development departments, overseeing The WICT Network’s external messaging and branding and providing stewardship to its sponsors and stakeholders.

​​​As the Chief of Staff for The WICT Network, Lesa is responsible for the solicitation and implementation of a broad range of activities that fuel growth in non-dues revenue for the organization. This includes sophisticated partnership and portfolio development, and other avenues of revenue-generating activities. In pursuit of these new relationships, Faris collaborates with key industry leaders to create strategies that identify high-potential target sectors and campaigns to convert them.

Faris has over 20 years of fundraising and high-end event planning experience, encompassing sales and marketing in the corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors. She has orchestrated both domestic and international events for up to 15,000 attendees, experience that has provided a strong understanding of the return-on-investment expectations of prospective corporate partners and sponsors.

Faris has remained steadfast in her focus on business development for several exceptional nonprofits within the hospitality and women’s community – namely, the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association, the American Society of Women Accountants and the National Association of Women Business Owners. She has also consulted for the SCORE Association, a nonprofit dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small businesses start, grow, and succeed nationwide. Faris produced remarkable results acting as executive director for a small, charitable nonprofit in the health arena. During her time with the Ehlers-Danlos National Foundation, she turned the nonprofit from red to black by appealing to a small, but passionate and loyal membership base and a close cadre of corporate supporters nearly doubling revenues within a year. However, her business acumen and strong judgment is best utilized when following her passion of working for organizations that are in support of women in growth and leadership positions in all areas.

Faris is a social sciences graduate from Michigan State University, where she pursued a multidisciplinary major focusing on labor law, economics, and sociology. At present, she is an active member in both American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and Meeting Professionals International (MPI). Faris received her Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) certification in 2008 and is a believer in ongoing professional development.

Audrey Hayes joined The WICT Network in February 2023 as the Programs & Events Manager. Audrey brings a wide variety of experience with her. Prior to The WICT Network, she has worked for the House of Representatives, various NGOs, and government-funded research grants. Audrey graduated from George Mason University with her Bachelor of Arts in Government and International Politics.

She is passionate about empowering the underrepresented. In her spare time, she volunteers at domestic violence shelters and mental health advocacy organizations, along with mentoring young women at George Mason University. Her passions outside of advocacy include wheel-thrown pottery, trying new recipes, and her two three-legged cats, Bug and Worm.

​Greg brings more than 25 years of experience working with non-profit and government organizations. He joined The WICT Network team in 2004, and in his current role as EVP, Technology & Digital Communications, Greg oversees the organization’s efforts to stay on top of technological trends that benefit the organization overall.

He brings to The WICT Network his knowledge and skills in member services, electronic media and technology, as well as marketing, communications and member services, along with a healthy sense of humor and a desire to support others in their pursuit of excellence. He strongly and genuinely believes in diversity, equity and inclusion on multiple levels, and desires a world where equality is valued above all else.

From 2011-2015 Greg was named by Cablefax to its Digital Hot List, an annual “who’s who” of the top technology executives in the cable industry. He was the only non-profit executive named to the list in each year.

Greg earned his Bachelors Degree in 1992 from Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, where he double majored in Business Management and French Literature. He began a Masters of Business Administration program in International Business at the George Washington University before deciding to pursue his passion for nonprofit work.

Cindy joined The WICT Network in 2014. As the VP of Business Development & Operations for The WICT Network, Cindy focuses on maintaining a strong ROI for the company’s current partners as well as expanding its sponsor portfolio by establishing relationships with potential stakeholders. Additionally, she assists in the solicitation and implementation of activities that fuel growth in non-dues revenue for The WICT Network & manages Governance for the organization.

Cindy has been a non-profit association professional for over 12 years, with extensive experience in governance management, sponsor development, and event planning. Prior to transitioning to the business development team at The WICT Network, she supported The WICT Network’s President & CEO as the Executive Assistant. She has also served in professional roles at other nonprofit organizations, managing many functions with members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. Cindy started her career in Professional Development & Career Services at both Liberty University and its School of Law.

Cindy graduated summa cum laude from Liberty University in 2006 and lives in Washington, DC.

Ella Krygiel joined The WICT Network in October 2022 as Publications & Social Media Coordinator of Marketing & Communications. In this action-packed role, Ella works closely with The WICT Network’s VP, Marketing & Communications to help spearhead the organization’s external communications. She aligns with The WICT Network’s mission to create women leaders that transform industries−and is thrilled to join one of the largest and oldest professional associations serving women in media.

Prior to joining The WICT Network, Ella worked at Stride, Inc., a for-profit education company that provides online and blended education programs for students in grades K-12. As a Communications Professional at Stride, she led various outreach initiatives that helped contribute to her passion for empowering individuals and highlighting their unique experiences.

Ella received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

In her spare time, Ella enjoys being outdoors, trying new recipes, and spending time with her family.

​Megan serves as The WICT Network’s AVP of Program Administration. In this role she manages the day-to-day operations for The WICT Network’s suite of programs consisting of over a dozen professional development programs and two conferences annually. Megan joined The WICT Network in 2012.

She first became involved in the non-profit world interning for Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, where she managed their Auxiliary social media and assisted with fundraising events.

Megan received her bachelor’s degree in Communications from San Diego State University. She lives in San Diego with her husband and two children.

Kathleen serves as the AVP of Membership Operations. In this role, Kathleen works closely with the leaders of The WICT Network’s chapters to provide guidance and oversee implementation on all database operations. Additionally, she assists in developing strategies to strengthen and grow the chapters and overall membership.

Prior to joining The WICT Network, Kathleen became involved in the non-profit world through her work with an organization raising awareness and funds for young adult cancer research. During this time, she managed merchandise inventory and represented the organization at fundraising events.

Kathleen graduated from George Mason University in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. Having completed several courses regarding social inequalities and gender inequalities in the workplace, Kathleen joined The WICT Network in 2011 with a genuine passion for the mission.

Elena Montañez first joined The WICT Network in 2010 and returned in 2021 after working in the healthcare industry during the pandemic. In her role as Executive Administrator, Elena provides support to the President & CEO, as well as to the Senior Staff, Administration and Operations departments to ensure the organization runs smoothly day-to-day.

Elena comes to The WICT Network with 25 years of hands-on administrative experience in both the non-profit and private sectors, and has held roles at The Mason Companies, AdvantEdge Workspaces (formerly Chevy Chase Executive Services), IBA Molecular and Valley Health.

Elena lives in the beautiful Northern Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, Virginia, with her family. In her spare time, Elena enjoys spending time with friends and family (preferably while at the beach), cooking Puerto Rican food, and fighting racial and social injustices, causes that are near and dear to her heart.

Avery Reeves joined The WICT Network in September 2022 as the Member and Chapter Services Coordinator in the Membership department. In this role, Avery works closely with The WICT Network’s chapter leaders and provides administrative support to the Member and Chapter Development department.

Prior to working at The WICT Network, Avery served on her sorority’s executive council as the Vice President of Recruitment. Through this experience, Avery gained a love for women’s empowerment and the importance of spaces created for female leadership development. She draws on this experience, among others, to bring a passion to this role.

Avery received her Bachelor of Arts in Government and History from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Senior Manager, Membership & Development

Sydney joined The WICT Network in February 2019. As the Senior Manager of Membership & Development, she contributes to two of The WICT Network’s largest departments: membership & business development. In this role, she assists the fundraising efforts of the organization by researching and developing new sponsor leads and helping to identify potential member portal companies, both of which are critical to The WICT Network’s future and sustained growth. Lastly, she travels to local and global programs and events in support of our stakeholders, while working to diversify The WICT Network’s portfolio and revenue streams.

She previously served as the Manager, Programs & Events, providing support to The WICT Network’s global programming and events teams to ensure successful events from the content to the execution and logistics. She began her time at The WICT Network in the membership department and still provides support to the network of chapters as needed.

Sydney has been involved in the non-profit sector almost her entire life. She began working for various organizations in high school, primarily focusing on children and those with disabilities. Having served as her chapter’s CEO during her undergraduate years, an educational leadership consultant post-graduation, as well as currently being an advisory board chairman for Kappa Alpha Theta, Sydney has a long history of women’s empowerment and leadership development. She draws from all her past experiences to bring a high level of professionalism and passion to this role.

Sydney earned a B.S. from James Madison University and then furthered her education by gaining a Masters in Management from George Mason University. In her spare time, you can find Sydney figure skating, walking her dog, or exploring new places to eat in D.C.

As the Vice President, Events, Kiersten Walker is responsible for making her innovative visions realities. An award winning meeting professional, Kiersten was named a Smart Meetings Magazine 2020 Planner of the Year.

Bringing more than 12 years’ experience in association and nonprofit planning to The WICT Network, she is a detail-oriented professional with strengths in event strategy, planning and execution.

Prior to joining The WICT Network, Kiersten oversaw the meetings and events portfolio at the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), having earned her stripes at the American Society for Association Executives (ASAE). She has always had a knack for enhancing special events (from 5k Fun Runs to Golf Tournaments to Fashion Shows & Fundraising Galas) with her unique creativity and flair.

In November 2020, Kiersten graduated from San Diego State University, becoming a member of the very first cohort in North America to earn a Master’s degree in Meeting and Event Management. Partnered with Meeting Professionals International (MPI), this program sets the standard for meeting professionals everywhere.

Hailing from the Steel City, Kiersten is a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan and a Pennsylvania State University graduate. Her love for sports is only matched by her love for global travel, having explored over 25 different countries with her sights set on 25 more!

Rebecca L. Walker is the Chief Financial Officer at The WICT Network. Prior to joining The WICT Network, Walker served for three years as the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at American Forests, a national conservation charity. She has more than 15 years of experience as a leader in the not-for-profit sector including roles at Reading Is Fundamental, United Way of the National Capital Area and The Summit Foundation.

Walker received an MBA from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business and is a Certified Public Accountant. She lives in Virginia with her two daughters.