ATLANTA, Ga. – The Atlanta Chapter of Women in Cable Telecommunications is pleased to announce its 2011 Board, led by President, Kathy Hatala and an executive committee consisting of Vice President Barbara Linebarger, Immediate Past President Paula Wagner and Chapter Advisor/National Mentor Veronica Sheehan. The 2011 Board includes 25 WICT members from leading companies in the cable and telecommunications industry: Cox Communications, Inc., Comcast Communications, Scripps Networks, The Weather Channel, Turner Broadcasting, Inc., Blue Shift Media Group, and MTV Networks.

WICT Atlanta gratefully acknowledges the 2010 Board for their many contributions. In 2009, WICT Atlanta was the recipient of its national organization’s Enterprise (1st place) and Mentoring Excellence (1st Place) awards. The 2010 awards will be announced later this year. With a membership of more than 1020, WICT Atlanta was founded in 1980 and was one of the first local chapters established after the founding of the national organization in 1979.

“Under Paula Wagner’s leadership, we were able to continue focusing on WICT’s mission of developing women leaders,” said Hatala, who held the position of vice president on the 2009 Board. “Our achievements in 2010 were tremendous, including an inspiring Red Letter Awards ceremony, educational programming events, membership growth, sponsorship opportunities and top-notch mentoring programs. All of this was possible because of a talented and dedicated Board who truly exemplify the WICT Touchstones. I look forward to our 2011 Board building off this success and developing leaders in our industry.”

2011 WICT Atlanta Board: Executive Committee:

• President: Kathy Hatala, WICT Executive Member
• Vice President: Barbara Linebarger, Vice President Network Partnerships/ Turner Broadcasting
• Previous Past President: Paula Wagner, Director/Turner Broadcasting System, Inc
• National Advisor: Veronica Sheehan, SVP Network Operations/ Turner Broadcasting
• Secretary – Mary George, Director Sales Operations/ Turner Network Sales
• Sr. Treasurer – Natasha Prewitt, Manager Financial Planning & Analysis/The Weather Channel
• Treasurer – Shannon Ponsell, Vice President Business Operations/ Turner Network Sales
• Sr. Director Membership & Partnership – Cathy Evans, Director Enterprise Applications/ Turner Broadcasting System
• Director of Partnership – Sheri Weidner, Sr. Director, National Accounts/ MTV Networks
• Director of Partnership – Lisa Byas, Account Executive, Affiliate Sales/ The Weather Channel
• Director of Membership – Stacy Cole, Director of Government and Community Affairs, Southern Division/Comcast Communications
• Director of Membership – Kenley Smith, Consumer Marketing Manager, HGTV/Scripps Networks
• Sr. Director of Programming – Brent Clark, Project Producer/Turner Studios
• Director of Programming – Kelly Dyar, Partner/BlueShift Media Group
• Director of Programming – Lillie Hackney, Nat’l Learning Consultant/ Cox Communications
• Director of Programming, Tennessee – Sandi Ionelli, Director of Programming Branded Entertainment/ Scripps Networks
• Director of Outreach – Eileen Lichtenfeld, WICT Member
• Director of Red Letter Awards – Mandy Carranza, Original Content Video Producer/ Turner Broadcasting System
• Sr. Director of Mentoring – Stacey Rivers, Director Broadcast Production/ Turner Studios
• Director of Mentoring – Kate Silva, Sr. Manager Marketing/ Cox Communications
• Sr. Director Communications – Brandii Toby-Leon, Director of Public Relations, DIY Network/Scripps Networks
• Director of Marketing – Michelle Cooper, Product Marketing Mgr/Cox Communications
• Director of Technology & Design – Elizabeth Needham, Coordinator Ad Operations/ Scripps Networks Digital
• Director of Golf & Tennis – Lisa Craig, Applications Implementation Mgr Enterprise Applications/ Turner Broadcasting System
• Director at Large (Mentoring Tennessee) – Melissa Sykes, VP Content Diversity/Scripps Networks

About WICT Atlanta
Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2010, the Atlanta Chapter of Women in Cable Telecommunications covers the Greater Atlanta metro area and adjacent regions throughout the states of Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. Established in 1980 as one of the national organization’s first local chapters, WICT Atlanta consists of more than 900 members and has been named WICT's “Chapter of the Year” three times. The Chapter is also the recipient of WICT’s 2009 Inspire, Mentoring Excellence (1st Place) and Enterprise (1st Place) awards.. Turner, Amdocs, Scripps Networks, Convergence Acceleration Group, and Convergys are WICT Atlanta’s Strategic Partners. Please visit www.wictatlanta.org for more information.

About WICT
For over thirty years, Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) has partnered with cable and telecommunications leaders to provide professional development programs, research, and services that help advance women in cable media. With over 7,800 members, WICT is the oldest and largest professional association serving women in the cable and telecommunications industry. Comcast, Rainbow, Time Warner Cable and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. are WICT’s Strategic Partners. Please visit www.wict.org for more information.