Chantilly, VA - Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) today announced the graduation of Class XXII and Class XXIII of WICT’s Betsy Magness Leadership Institute (BMLI), its flagship executive leadership program. BMLI, sponsored by WE tv, provides intensive, yearlong leadership training and is lauded for its record of increasing the presence of women among the industry’s executive ranks.

The classes, comprised of 54 senior-level women executives of the cable telecommunications industry, joined the more than 525 alumnae who have graduated from the highly respected Institute over the last eighteen years.

“With each graduating class of BMLI, WICT contributes to the strategic leadership that is required to effectively compete in our economy,” said Maria E. Brennan, WICT President & CEO. “Study after study shows that companies benefit financially from having more women in executive roles, and for more than thirty years, WICT has remained unchanged in its commitment to develop women leaders who are integral to success in the cable industry.”

“The rigorous learning environment that BMLI provides enables each graduate to take on additional responsibilities, benefitting her career, her company, and, ultimately, the cable industry,” said Christina Vergara, WICT vice president, education & program development.

Graduates of Class XXII of the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute are:

• Kellie Appel, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Turner Trade Group, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
• Meeka Bondy, VP, Legal Affairs, HBO
• Lisa Chader, SVP of Corporate Communications, CMT
• Sara Clarke, Senior Vice President, Strategy, Analysis & Communications, Showtime Networks Inc.
• Susan Jin Davis, VP, Business Regulatory Affairs, Comcast - Headquarters
• Suzanne Fenwick, Executive Director, Corporate Development, Cox Communications
• Jodi Friedman, Account Director, ARRIS
• Beverly Gambell, Vice President, Marketing, Business Services, Suddenlink Communications
• Cindi Guthrie, VP, Internal Communications, Cablevision Systems Corporation
• Beth Hanssens, Vice President, Finance, PBS KIDS Sprout/Comcast
• Marta Harmon, Executive Director, Marketing & Advertising, The Style Network
• Margolit Hillsberg, Vice President, Human Resources, Comcast Converged Products
• Laura Koester, VP, Marketing, Time Warner Cable
• Claire Kostbar, Senior Vice President, Human Resources & Administration, In Demand
• Mary Ellen Ladieu, Vice President - International Finance, ESPN
• Kimberly Maki, VP, Corporate Communications, Bright House Networks
• Allison Marcinczyk, Senior Director, Communications & Data Services, Comcast
• Trina Maynes, SVP, Human Resources, Nickelodeon
• Heather McCallion, Vice President, Field Sales, East, NBC Universal Television Network Distribution
• Elizabeth Mulholland, Vice President, Distribution, Rainbow Network Sales
• Angela Peleschka, Director of Operations, Comcast
• Susan Perry, Senior Director of Human Resources, Comcast Spotlight
• Beth Plummer, Regional Vice President, Media Sales, Time Warner Cable
• Angela Santone, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
• Khadijah Sharif-Drinkard, Vice President, Associate General Counsel, Business and Legal Affairs, BET Networks
• Molly West, Senior Director - Business Operations, ESPN
• Narisa Wild, VP, Digital Media, Scripps Networks Interactive

Graduates of Class XXIII of the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute are:

• Shirley Born, Vice President, IT Application Development, HBO
• Sarah Bryant, VP, Finance, Comcast
• Lisa Clark, VP, Consumer Marketing & Media Strategy, National Geographic Channel
• Samantha Cooper, Senior Vice President, Content Distribution & Marketing, MTV Networks
• Sandra Dewey, SVP & Head of Business Affairs, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. 
• Tara Dunning, Executive Director, Business Services, Comcast
• Stacey Fitch, Senior Director, Production Operations, ESPN
• Tamara Franklin, SVP, Bus Development, Affiliate Sales & Marketing, Scripps Networks
• Rolanda Gaines, Senior Director, Strategy & Planning, ESPN Content Development
• Meredith Gertler, Vice President, Product Management, HBO
• Sarah Gitchell, Vice President/Deputy General Counsel, Comcast
• Denisse Goldbarg, VP, Marketing & Training, Time Warner Cable Business Class
• Suzanne McFadden, Vice President, Marketing, Comcast Cable Communications
• Elisabeth Morse, Vice President, Legal and Business Affairs, Fuse Networks LLC/ Madison Square Garden LP
• Jennifer Ostrager, Vice President, High School Partnerships & Education Strategy, Cablevision - MSG Varsity
• Theresa Patiri, VP, Production Management & Operations, WE tv & Wedding Central
• Aimee Pfannenstiel, Vice President & GM, Tennessee/Louisiana, Charter Communications
• Irene Philips, Director, Solutions Planning & Management, Comcast
• Jane Rice, Senior Vice President, Field Distribution, AETN
• Corrina Ruttkar, VP, Comcast Strategic Alliances, CSG Systems, Inc.
• Lisa Schilling, VP of Human Resources, Comcast
• Jill Stauffer, VP, Customer Care, Comcast
• Tara Sullivan, Vice President, Ad Sales Marketing, Scripps Networks: Food Network and Cooking Channel
• Jody Vaughn, VP, Video Distribution, BET Networks
• Kristen Weathersby, Assistant General Counsel, Cox Communications, Inc.
• Christine Whitaker, AVP of Operations, Raleigh/Coastal/Fayetteville, Time Warner Cable
• Regine Zuber, Senior Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

WICT recognizes WE tv - the Premier Sponsor of the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute since 2002.

The Institute’s Founding
Established by WICT in 1993 with a generous grant from TCI’s Bob Magness and J.C. Sparkman, the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute is named in honor of one of the industry’s most charismatic leaders, a cable pioneer who combined business acumen with compassion. Betsy Magness was instrumental in transforming TCI, later AT&T Broadband and Internet Services, and now Comcast, into one of the nation’s most prominent and influential cable and telecommunications companies.

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 8,100 members, WICT is the oldest and largest professional association serving women in the cable and telecommunications industry. Comcast, Rainbow Media/WE tv, Time Warner Cable and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. are WICT’s Strategic Touchstone Partners. Please visit www.wict.org or follow @WICT on Twitter for more information.

# # # #