NAMIC Previews Speaker Line-Up For 23rd Annual Conference

NAMIC Previews Speaker Line-Up For 23rd Annual Conference

Top Business Leaders Join NAMIC To Present Conference Agenda Focused On Corporate Diversity & Inclusion, Digital Media, Leadership Development And Multi-Ethnic Content/Programming

NEW YORK, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association for Multi-ethnicity In Communications (NAMIC) today announced a preview of the sessions and speakers being confirmed for the 23rd Annual NAMIC Conference. Scheduled for October 26-28, 2009, the 23rd Annual NAMIC Conference will be held at the Grand Hyatt in Denver, Colorado as part of Cable Connection-Fall. Cable Connection-Fall is a week of events uniting major industry associations, conferences and meetings in a single location.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060705/NYW092LOGO )

Top business leaders will join this year's Honorary Chair, Robert B. Clasen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Starz, LLC to take part in a rich Conference agenda highlighting four educational tracks: Corporate Diversity & Inclusion, Digital Media, Leadership Development and Multi-ethnic Content/Programming. The robust program will be anchored by two compelling general sessions. Technology superstar, Chris Hughes will deliver a keynote address on Tuesday, October 27 at a session sponsored by Rainbow Media's WE tv. Hughes is the Co-Founder of Facebook and the mastermind behind My.BarackObama.com, two of the most successful start-ups in modern history. On Wednesday, October 28, NAMIC will present "Imagery on Television: Past, Present and Future." The thought-provoking forum will be presented as a frank and open dialogue focused on the imagery of people of color in television and video entertainment, its evolution and where the diverse roles will be created in the future.

Special events highlighting the 23rd Annual NAMIC Conference include the annual Mickey Leland Humanitarian Award Luncheon honoring Dr. Sanjay Gupta, chief medical correspondent for CNN; the L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program Luncheon; CableFAX: The Magazine's 2009 Most Influential Minorities in Cable awards breakfast; presentation of the Excellence in Multi-cultural Marketing Awards (EMMAs); and evening receptions providing opportunities for strategic networking and more.

"The Conference theme, Diversity Rules, re-emphasizes the business case for multi-ethnic inclusion," said Kathy Johnson, president, NAMIC. "The challenging times we are facing in light of the down-turned economy makes this year's Conference more significant than at any other time in NAMIC's history. We are honored to be joined by such a distinguished group of leaders that are committed to diversity as we shine a spotlight on its sustainable impact on innovation, business growth and profitability."

The dynamic speaker line-up for the 23rd Annual NAMIC Conference is expanding daily. Business leaders confirmed to date include: Seth Arenstein, Assistant VP/Editorial Director, Cable Broadband Group, Access Intelligence LLC; Sheryl Anderson, SVP, Human Resources and Administration, Starz Entertainment; Matthew Barnhill, SVP, Corporate Market Research, BET Networks; Trudy Bourgeois, President, The Center for Workforce Intelligence; Donna Byrd, Managing Publisher, The Root.com, Washington Post Newsweek Interactive; Essie Chambers, SVP, Original Programming, BET; Albert Cheng, EVP, Digital Media, Disney-ABC Television Group; Sara Clarke, SVP, Strategy, Analysis & Communications, Showtime Networks Inc.; Mark Coblitz, SVP, Strategic Planning, Comcast Corporation; Bruce DeBoskey, Regional Director, Mountain States Anti-Defamation League, University of Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission on Diversity; Mae Douglas, EVP & Chief People Officer, Cox Communications; Ivelisse Estrada, SVP, Corporate and Community Relations, Univision Communications, Inc.; Chris Fager, President, TuTV; Clara Felix, VP, Consumer Research, Showtime Networks Inc.; Smokey Fontaine, Chief Content Officer, Interactive One; Brenda Freeman, Chief Marketing Officer, Animation, Young Adults and Kids Media, Turner Broadcasting Inc.; Guy Garcia, President & CEO, Mentametrix, Inc.; Michele Golden, VP, Talent Management, Turner Broadcasting; Ray Gutierrez, EVP, Human Resources, CBS Television Networks; Juan Herrera, VP, Office of Global Inclusion, MTV Networks; David Honig, Executive Director, MMTC (Minority Media and Telecommunications Council); Jamie Howard, President & CEO, Imagine Communications; Sam Howe, Chief Marketing Officer, Time Warner Cable; David Hudson, VP, Alternative Programming, TBS and TNT; Pearlena Igbokwe, SVP, Original Programming, Showtime Networks Inc.; James C. Jones, VP, Education Programs, NAMIC; Toni Judkins, SVP, Original Programming, TV One; Kay Madati, VP, Audience Experience, CNN Worldwide; Rishi Malhotra, President & COO, SAAVN; Emilio "Che Che" Mata, SVP, Creative Services, Starz Entertainment; Tom Mathews, EVP, Human Resources, Time Warner Cable; Cindy McConkey, SVP, Corporate Communications, Scripps Networks; Necole Merritt, VP, Public Affairs, Cox Communications; Ed Moran, Director of Insights & Innovation; Technology, Media & Telecommunications Group, Deloitte Services, LP; John Murchison, VP, Original Programming, HBO; Donna Northington, SVP, Strategic Planning, Turner Network Sales; Lisa Choi-Owens, SVP, Partnerships & Digital On-line Distribution, Scripps Networks; Gene Pao, VP, New Media and International Development, Fuel TV; Kerrie Peraino, Chief Diversity Officer, Global Diversity & Inclusion, American Express; Debbie Smith Rayford, VP, Diversity, Discovery Communications; Kent Rees, SVP, Marketing, IFC; Paul Richardson, SVP, Human Resources, ESPN; Bruce K. Rosenblum, EVP, Media Research, Warner Bros. Television; Viveka Von Rosen, Social Media Coach and Consultant; Evan Shapiro, President, IFC tv and Sundance Channel; Jeanette Kilo-Smith, VP, Global Inclusion & Diversity & Compliance, Motorola Home and Networks Mobility Business; Laela Sturdy, Head of Online Display & Video Advertising, Media & Entertainment, YouTube/Google; Rafael Urbina, Chairman & CEO, Batanga, Inc.; Rodney Vinegar, SVP, Human Resources, Scripps Networks; Danielle Wade, VP, Customer Service and Marketing, Bright House Networks; Omar Wasow, Founder of BlackPlanet.com and Technology/Social Media Evangelist; Denmark West, President, Digital Media, BET Networks; Alicin Williamson, SVP, Corporate Responsibility & Public Affairs, MTV Networks; Tracy Jenkins Winchester, President & CEO, CoLours TV.

Sponsors of the 23rd Annual NAMIC Conference include The Walter Kaitz Foundation, Scripps Networks, ESPN Deportes, Starz Entertainment, WE tv, A&E Television Networks, BET Networks, Carlsen Reources, Inc., Rainbow Media LLC, TuTV, Univision, Comcast Networks, TV One, Motorola, Comcast Spotlight, Cox Communications, Food Network, NAMIC-Denver, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, CNN, NAMIC ELDP Class IV, Suddenlink Communications, QVC, CoLours TV, Retirement Living TV and Wow! Media Partners include Black Enterprise, The Bridge Media Group, Broadcasting & Cable, CableFAX Daily, Denver Urban Spectrum, DiversityInc, Hispanic MPR, LatinVision Media, Portada, Multichannel News and Television Week.

For more information on the 23rd Annual NAMIC Conference or for inquiries pertaining to sponsorship, contact Sandra Girado, Director of Meetings and Events at the NAMIC national headquarters, 212-594-5985. Online registration for the 23rd Annual NAMIC Conference can be accessed by visiting www.namic.com.

About NAMIC

NAMIC (National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications) is the premier organization focusing on multi-ethnic diversity in the communications industry. Founded in 1980 as a non-profit trade association, today NAMIC comprises 2,000 professionals belonging to a network of 18 chapters nationwide. Through initiatives that focus on education, advocacy and empowerment, NAMIC champions equity and inclusion in the workforce, with special attention given to ensuring that the leadership cadres of our nation's communications industry giants reflect the multi-ethnic richness of the populations they serve. For more information, please visit www.namic.com.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060705/NYW092LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: NAMIC

CONTACT: Daphne Leroy, Vice President, Marketing & Communications,
NAMIC, +1-212-594-5985 (office), daphne.leroy@namic.com; or Charmaine Chapman,
BTB Communications, +1-310-882-5498 (office), char@btbcommunications.com

Web Site: http://www.namic.com/

---

Profile: International Entertainment