Chantilly, VA - Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) today announced the members of Classes 24 and 25 (XXIV and XXV) of the 2011-2012 Betsy Magness Leadership Institute (BMLI). 

BMLI is recognized as the flagship leadership development program for executive women in the cable and telecommunications industry, with nearly 600 graduates having completed the program.  Since 2002, WE tv has served as the premier sponsor of the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute.

“As both a BMLI graduate and head of a woman’s network, I personally and professionally appreciate the value that WICT’s BMLI program delivers in creating industry leaders,” said Kim Martin, President & General Manager of WE tv.  We are proud to serve as the Institute’s premier sponsor, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with WICT.”

“The members of Classes 24 and 25 are about to embark on a professional journey that will position them to take on additional leadership responsibilities,” said Christina Vergara, WICT Vice President, Education and Program Development, “and they will explore new ways of thinking that will help them develop solutions to address their companies’ business objectives and challenges.”

Members of Class 24 (XXIV) of the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute are: 

• Portia Archer, Vice President, International Distribution, HBO
• M. Elizabeth Bayes, Vice President, Employee Communications, West Region, Time Warner Cable
• Nanette Bischoff, VP, Financial Planning & Analysis, BET Networks
• Verba Brown, Vice President of Operations / North System, Comcast
• Lia Buffa, VP, New Business, Food Network
• Adrienne Byrd, Vice President, Legal and S&P, PBS KIDS Sprout
• Nancy Capocasale, Vice President, Finance, Comcast Cable
• April Carty-Sipp, Sr. Vice President of Creative Services, NBC Sports Agency, Regional Sports Division (Comcast Sports Group)
• Julie Elliott, SVP, Compensation and Benefits, Scripps Networks Interactive
• Jill Frederickson, Sr. Coordinating Producer, ESPN
• Heather Freeman, Sr Director Service Delivery, Comcast
• Maureen Green, Vice President, Care HR, Comcast
• Meg Green, Sr. Director, Talent Negotiation & Recruitment, ESPN
• Jennifer Heller, Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, Comcast Corporation
• Rhonda Holt, SVP, Digital Media Technologies, Turner Broadcasting, Inc.
• Susanne McAvoy, EVP, Marketing, Crown Media Family Networks (Hallmark Channel & Hallmark Movie Channel)
• Laure Nordholt, SVP, Media Sales, Time Warner Cable
• Shannon Orcutt, Vice President, Residential, West Region, Time Warner Cable
• Constance Orlando, Vice President, Original Programming, BET Networks
• Beth Ann Petti, VP - IT, Suddenlink Communications
• Mary Porter, Vice President, HR Talent Management & Diversity, Suddenlink Communications
• Sharmila Ravi, Project Manager, Comcast
• Vanessa Tremain, Creative Director, WE tv -  AMC Networks
• Kavita Vazirani-Helsel, Vice President, Marketing Media Services, Comcast Cable
• Sheri Weidner, Vice President, National Accounts, MTV Network
• Susan Weinstein, GVP, Content Acquisition, Time Warner Cable
• Rachel Welch, GVP, Federal Affairs, Time Warner Cable

Members of Class 25 (XXV) of the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute are:

• Dianne Brucker, Sr. Director of Operations, Comcast Spotlight
• Marilyn Burrows, Sr. Vice President & General Manager, Cox Communications
• Ruth Dawson, Vice President, Engineering, Comcast
• Nicole De Fusco, Vice President, Original Programming & Development, Sundance Channel
• Jacqueline Gadsden, Vice President, Business Initiatives, Comcast
• Cheryl Ingram, SVP, Controller & Chief Accounting Officer, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
• Patricia Kellaghan, VP, Operations and Program Management, Cablevision Systems Corp.
• Melissa Lintinger, Vice President, Production Finance, BET
• Katherine Liu, Vice President, Strategy & Business Development, Viacom International Media Networks
• Merrylue Martin, VP, Learning & Organizational Development, Comcast Cable Corporation
• Dee McLaughlin, SVP Brand Marketing and Creative, CMT / MTVN
• Danielle Mintz, Vice President, Distributor Marketing & Strategy, AMC Networks Distribution
• Lisa Neuwirth, Senior Director, Financial Planning & Analysis, Charter Communications
• Michele Parks, Vice President, Human Resources, Cox Communications
• Donna Perkins, Vice President-Custormer Service Operations, Comcast Corporation
• Punita Ramchandani, Senior Director, Accounting, ESPN
• Megan Rock, Vice President, Partnership Marketing & Operations, The Weather Channel
• Peggy Sarason, VP, Finance, Comcast
• Helen Smith, Area Director- Human Resources, Comcast
• Maria Soares-Huff, Sr. Coordinating Producer, ESPN
• Michelle Stuart, Vice President, Marketing, Bright House Networks
• Melissa Tolchin, Vice President, Marketing, TV Networks Distribution, NBCUniversal
• Jennifer Tracy, Senior Director Online Promotions Marketing, Nickelodeon
• Suzanne Underwald, Partner, Dow Lohnes PLLC
• Holly Wasson, Vice President, Asset Management, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
• Sally West, Director of Finance, Suddenlink
• Dawn Williamson, Vice President, Turner Broadcasting Sales

Classes 24 and 25 (XXIV and XXV) will be facilitated by Grace Killelea, Senior Vice President of Talent for Comcast. WICT’s content partner, the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL), is a top-ranked, global provider of executive education, recognized for its exclusive focus on leadership education and research. Additional details about BMLI and Classes 24 and 25 can be found at http://www.wict.org/PROGRAMS/BMLI/Pages/default.aspx.

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 telecommunication companies.

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

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, Time Warner Cable, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. and AMC Networks/WE tv are WICT’s Strategic Touchstone Partners.  Please visit www.wict.org or follow @WICT on Twitter for more information.

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