Chantilly, VA - Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) today announced significant additional confirmed speakers for the WICT Leadership Conference, which will take place October 3-4 in New York City.

The WICT Leadership Conference brings together industry leaders, media luminaries, business leaders from other industries, and subject-matter experts in gender diversity and leadership. Among the notable speakers announced are Michael Powell, President and CEO, NCTA; and Dan Abrams, Legal Analyst for ABC News, Founder and CEO of the Abrams Media Network. The gender diversity experts will include Jan Combopiano, Vice President and Chief Knowledge Officer, Catalyst; and Joanna Barsh, Director, Organizational Strategy, McKinsey & Company. Ursula Burns, Chairman and CEO of Xerox, was previously announced as a keynote speaker.

"The WICT Leadership Conference is the one time each year that we convene all levels of WICT members from across the country," said WICT Chair and Leadership Conference Co-Chair Kathy Payne (Vice President, Content Acquisition, Cox Communications). "The goal is to provide an incredible leadership development program, along with networking opportunities for WICT members and other attendees at every career stage."

"We are thrilled to announce such an amazing range of top leaders from the industry, in addition to leaders from other industries and subject-matter experts in gender diversity and leadership," said WICT Leadership Conference Co-Chair Mary Murano (Executive Vice President, NBC Universal). "We will have additional speakers moving forward, but this certainly establishes the high level of quality programming we will deliver."

Following are confirmed speakers and moderators for the WICT Leadership Conference:

Dan Abrams, Legal Analyst for ABC News, Founder & CEO of the Abrams Media Network
Adria Alpert Romm, SEVP, Human Resources, Discovery Communications
Seth Arenstein, Senior Staff Writer, Government Relations, Time Warner Cable
Joanna Barsh, Director, Organizational Strategy, McKinsey & Company
Dan Buchner, Director of Innovation, Center for Creative Leadership
Ursula Burns, Chairman & CEO, Xerox
Jennifer Caserta, EVP & GM, IFC
Shannon Cassidy, Executive Director, bridge between, inc.
Dick Clark, President & COO, B3 BroadBand Bridge
Jan Combopiano, Vice President & Chief Knowledge Officer, Catalyst
Kelly Day, EVP & GM, Digital Media and Commerce, Discovery Communications
Rabia de Lande Long, Managing Director, Chartwell Advisors
John Dooney, Manager, Strategic Research, Society for Human Resource Management
Mark Dzuban, President & CEO, SCTE
Tara Gidus, Registered and Licensed Dietitian and Nutritionist, known as the "Diet Diva"
Cindy McConkey, SVP, Corporate Communications, Scripps Networks
Dr. Sharon Melnick, CEO, Horizon Point, Inc. 
Tonia O' Connor, President, Distribution Sales & Marketing, Univision Communications
Kathy Payne, Vice President, Content Acquisition, Cox Communications
Michael Powell, President & CEO, NCTA
Ron Rizzuto, Professor of Finance, University of Denver
Geoff Roman, CTO, Motorola
Scot Safon, EVP, CNN & GM, HLN
Jim Toomey, Syndicated Cartoonist, "Sherman's Lagoon"

The WICT Leadership Conference is the preeminent conference for educating women in the industry through inspiring keynote sessions, innovative workshops and opportunities to interface with industry colleagues. The conference will also feature The WICT Touchstones Luncheon, where the 2011 Woman of the Year and Woman to Watch honorees will be recognized. Registration information can be found at www.wict.org

WICT proudly recognizes Comcast and the Comcast Foundation as the Gold Sponsors of the 2011 WICT Leadership Conference. Further support is provided by Viacom as a Silver Sponsor, and Suddenlink Communications as a Bronze Sponsor of the event.
 
WICT gratefully acknowledges Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. as the Premier Sponsor of the 2011 WICT Touchstones Luncheon.

About Diversity Week
The cable industry celebrates, for the second consecutive year, the return of Diversity Week to New York City, October 3-7, 2011. Diversity Week will feature multiple events held by cable's diversity organizations: Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT), the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC), and The Walter Kaitz Foundation. All three groups will celebrate and promote the critical role diversity plays in the cable telecommunications industry. The Association of Cable Communicators (ACC) and the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM) will also hold events in New York during that time.

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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